CHAPTER 546: CHAPTER 224: AS PRECARIOUS AS A STACK OF EGGS

Let’s set aside the matter of overseas colonies for now; since the Far East Empire has sent people to exchange and investigate, East Africa, naturally, can’t lose its manners.

However, Ernst feels there’s nothing in East Africa worthy of investigation. The way East Africa came to be is not something other countries can easily replicate. One of the biggest characteristics is that East Africa still hasn’t shed its colonial essence.

From beginning to end, there’s never been any talk of true independence in East Africa. It’s a nation that directly evolved from a colony, unlike other independent countries like the United States and Brazil, which carry the imprint of their former sovereign countries. East Africa doesn’t have a former sovereign country, besides the Heixinggen Principality, which doesn’t count, as the Heixinggen royal family’s influence further weakened after moving to Africa.

Of course, a weakened influence doesn’t mean the Heixinggen royal family has relinquished this right. After all, how many titles a monarch holds doesn’t matter. The Heixinggen Principality is small, more akin to a "duchy," so it’s perfectly reasonable for the East African King to also serve as Heixinggen Prince, and it might even come in handy someday.

For example, during exchanges with Germany, there are no burdens. The status of the Heixinggen Principality is very special in Germany. It is both a German Federation State and a part of the Prussian Kingdom, which is quite different from other German Federation States like the Kingdom of Württemberg, which is a German Federation State but not part of the Prussian Kingdom.

In reality, the Heixinggen Principality is theoretically on the same level as the East African Kingdom and the Alaskan royal territory.

All are ruled by the Heixinggen royal family, or rather, the Heixinggen branch of the Hohenzollern family. Naturally, the Heixinggen Principality is nominally ruled, while the latter two are practically ruled.

Thus, the East African Kingdom is a peculiar existence for Germany, or rather, Prussia. There are distinctions between countries, and East Africa’s position is quite intriguing.

However, forming alliances doesn’t hurt. In terms of cultural history and political economy, the two countries are interconnected.

"In fact, East Africa is unlike most countries in the world. It is a country evolving from a colony, still undergoing transformation and not yet fully formed. For instance, we still have the slave system, and our national conditions are unique; however, foreign exchanges are accessible, only requiring an additional step with the German region as an intermediary," said the Dar es Salaam City’s Cultural Bureau Director Laidler to the Far East delegation.

Laidler’s straightforward introduction left the Far East delegation bewildered. What’s going on? We’re just here to have a look; don’t think we’re here to study East Africa!

In fact, the Far East Empire’s delegation did have this little intention before, learning from the barbarians to conquer the barbarians! As a rising country, East Africa naturally also offers some valuable lessons.

However, East Africa’s path is one that other countries absolutely can’t navigate. For starters, the closed-door policy, something East Africa learned from the Far East!

East Africa can play the closed-door policy, whereas the Far East currently lacks this condition, and East Africa can draw nourishment from the German region, while the Far East Empire only has its resources siphoned off by other countries.

Of course, once the country opened its doors, it became easier for the imperial powers to exploit it, yet it adapted and grew within an environment of defeat.

Naturally, the closed-door policy isn’t necessarily a bad thing; indeed, policy changes according to circumstances at any time.

Why did the Qing Government implement that closed-door policy? It is inseparable from the overseas anti-Qing factions, while the Far East Empire’s mindset was always restricted by Confucianism, which had lost its dynamism and was unwilling to accept reform.

Confucianism can naturally adapt to the times; after all, even extreme religions like Christianity have developed new interpretations to adapt to capitalism, and even created movements like Latin American liberation theology.

However, Qing Dynasty Confucianism was like a dead pig not afraid of boiling water, showing no sign of repentance. Confucian thought has always been developing and changing, but this development and change abruptly ceased after the Qing Dynasty.

Lacking innovation leads to inevitable decline, and Confucianism is unwilling to give way to new ideas. Its status was forcibly elevated, even showing trends of evolving into a religion, called "Confucianism," lacking the virtue for its position, leaving no room for complaint when it was later harshly denounced.

East Africa doesn’t have these troubles. It simply copies the achievements of its predecessors. East Africa hasn’t formed powers capable of opposing the royal family, so the direction of East Africa’s development is entirely under Ernst’s control.

Ernst, with his strong desire for control, believes that as long as he has the energy, he must develop East Africa according to his own vision, regardless of the country’s future.

"Mr. Laidler, you’re just being modest. I heard that Germans tend to be straightforward, and there’s something to learn from every country, so there’s no need for self-effacement. Moreover, East Africa’s development is impressive, which we greatly admire."

Laidler was not being modest; he was just being blunt. He explained, "East Africa, like the United States, has developed through the slave system. We both have a great deal of undeveloped land, unlike what you have in the Far East. So, I’m not being modest; East Africa truly doesn’t offer reference value for you. You might as well directly visit Europe and the Ottoman for investigations."

Laidler’s suggestion was sincere. East Africa and the U.S. are countries drawn on blank slates, without complex intersecting interests.

The Far East Empire, on the other hand, has a long history with a complex network of domestic forces and deeply rooted interest groups. There are only two ways to reform: cut from the top down to protect oneself, or be forced to overturn and rebuild.

It’s not like Ernst looks down on the Qing Government; their blades dare not cut themselves, or rather, no one is willing to make sacrifices.

It’s like the story of the greedy monkey: a hard bottle with a small opening contains a large nut or fruit. The monkey reaches in to grab it but can’t pull its hand out. If it lets go, it can free its hand, but the monkey refuses to give up, runs around carrying the bottle, and eventually gets captured.

However, it’s undeniable that a country like East Africa, without historical depth, is extremely fragile, so Ernst created a closed-door policy. If East Africa faces an external cultural and ideological invasion, it could collapse, as seen with other colonial countries.

Ernst’s responsibility is to shield the former East Africa from storm and stress, allowing it to develop autonomously only when it becomes robust enough to defend itself.

It’s just like the chip industry. Without switching paths, a latecomer must secure its domestic market to survive when confronting the pressure from a pioneer.

Ernst knows very well how unstable East Africa’s system is. It’s even more likely to suddenly collapse than the fossilized Soviet Union. To ensure the Heixinggen royal family’s rule and maintain East Africa’s stability, it needs at least fifty years to gradually perfect its political system by addressing shortcomings.

This is the so-called cultural confidence and institutional confidence. As long as someone believes in this system, fresh blood will continually replenish it for self-renewal.

Thus, East Africa may appear large, but it is actually quite fragile. Relying solely on the military and force cannot ensure long-lasting peace and stability.

Moreover, Ernst is not a Saint. He must always prioritize the Heixinggen royal family’s interests, which places higher demands on East Africa’s political system, one misstep, and it could lead to complete ruin.