July 22, 1872.
London.
The British Pri Minister Gladstone has been quite content recently, as various affairs are progressing smoothly. Last year, he presided over the implentation of Britain’s national education reform, establishing governnt-funded non-religious elentary schools to improve workers’ cultural level in support of industrialists competing in the international market.
The sa year saw the implentation of civil service reform to establish a cost-effective governnt that could improve administrative efficiency while saving expenses, allowing more funds to be used for economic developnt. This year, the reforms of the British Army were completed, adapting to a short-term service system.
With the international situation improving, the arch-enemy France was dragged under by Prussia, making the British Empire’s current state not just good, but extrely favorable.
At this mont, the secretary entered, disrupting Gladstone’s good spirits: "Pri Minister, this is an urgent letter from the Cape Colony!"
"Cape Colony! What urgent matters could they have?" Gladstone asked, puzzled.
"Well, Pri Minister, you’d better read the contents of the letter before concluding," the secretary replied.
Thus, Gladstone, sowhat skeptical, began to read. He could hardly imagine what urgent matters might confront Cape Colony. Serving as an important part of the British Empire’s colonies, it should be beyond the ddling of any ignorant daredevils. After all, France no longer has the qualifications to compete with Britain for hegemony. Although Germany beca the overlord of Europe, its navy ranks among the audibly sorrowful bathtub navies, posing no threat to Britain. Lastly, there’s the Austria-Hungary and Russia, two colossi of clay, hardly worth ntioning.
After eliminating major countries, the only nation daring to challenge the British Empire would be the rebellious Arica. However, all Brits recognize Arica’s rely tough talk, only able to shout across the Atlantic at Britain.
"Where is the East African Kingdom?" Gladstone asked after reading the letter, puzzled.
The secretary responded, "Pri Minister, have you forgotten about Prince Constantine of Prussia going to Africa as king back in midyear two years ago? It was quite the joke in newspapers for a while then!"
Gladstone: "Now that you ntion it, I do rember. I even jokingly remarked on the Hohenzollern family’s lack of ambition, running off to Africa to play king and overlord."
Although Ernst made headlines, bringing fa to the East African Kingdom, its reputation wasn’t great. Africa, well, you know how it is. Had it not been followed by the eruption of the Prussian Wars, such an event would surely have beco a laughingstock for most people for a while.
"Hmm, but now is the East African Kingdom getting so domineering? Being able to bully Cape Colony! Fifty thousand troops, not too bad? Why is Cape Colony so nervous!" Gladstone asked, perplexed.
Gladstone didn’t consider the fifty thousand troops from East Africa as a threat to Cape Colony, due to his inherent assumption that East Africa composed its military using Black people.
This occurrence is too common in colonies. If possible, Britain could easily organize a million-strong army in India using local people. Cape Colony doesn’t have many whites, but there are quite a few Blacks, so they could manage a force of ten to twenty thousand.
This thought made Gladstone angry: "Let Cape Colony handle this themselves; it’s too disgraceful. Scared of a small African nation. If Arica has that many Blacks, shouldn’t they have revolted ages ago? Are we supposed to ask Prussia, ’Your colony is too formidable, threatening Cape Colony’s security’? If we don’t even trust our ability to defeat the Blacks, does that even make sense?"
Gladstone continued: "Tell Sir Henry Barkley not to send such matters to London in the future, unless the Germans personally co and invade Cape Colony. I don’t believe they’ve degraded to being bullied by natives. Just because of this matter, asking to seek Bismarck’s help, that’s not even worth considering."
Gladstone’s reasoning was sound. Given the level of the German navy, it could hardly be compared to the Royal Navy stationed at Cape Colony. Moreover, Germans wouldn’t cross the Atlantic to Africa to commit suicide.
Gladstone was chiefly angered by the loss of British Empire’s prestige, as well as his own as Pri Minister. To think that Cape Colony would consider asking him to seek Bismarck’s aid for their benefit, how absurd. The world overlord asking a forr small subordinate?
"Yes, Pri Minister!"
The secretary concurred, believing the East African Kingdom was rely a native state that went public last year, whereas Britain’s Cape Colony had undergone hundreds of years of developnt (including the Dutch). With the largest population of whites in Africa (Europe), if a century-old colony were to prove inferior in strength to a newly born native nation, that would be truly disgraceful.
Gladstone rejected Cape Colony’s plea for help not because he deed it unimportant, but because he didn’t believe it to be in danger. Any significant power daring to swallow Cape Colony under the British watch would likely be a major nation; however, the current dominance of the Royal Navy ans no one dares trouble the British overseas.
...
South Africa.
Ernst: "Now that we’ve beco neighbors with the Portuguese in the south, not visiting would be unreasonable. If we frighten the Mozambique colony, that would be unfortunate."
Settling the various forces in South Africa, especially the Orange Free State, made the southern defenses of the East African Kingdom as solid as a rock. The Orange Free State may not be large, but it now holds nearly half of South Africa’s white population (excluding East African Army). This enhanced version is capable of saying no to both East Africa and Cape Colony, Ernst believed.
Currently, Cape Colony seems oblivious, displaying no reaction whatsoever, leading Ernst to plan on letting Felix, who subdued the Zulu Kingdom, lead a delegation to Portugal for exchange (demonstration).
This was a necessary asure. Although the Mozambique colony’s northern region borders East Africa more extensively, Mozambique’s focus lies on Maputo Bay. Action and reaction are mutual; while Mozambique fears East African Kingdom threatening its capital, East African Kingdom equally worries about Portuguese attack in South Africa!
Ernst: "No need to bring too many people, a dozen will suffice. The Portuguese are now jumpy, exerting a bit of pressure might just make them explode."
Ernst spoke truthfully. Due to East African Kingdom’s arrival in this South African territory, the locals were thrown into turmoil, especially with large-scale military maneuvers and dazzling series of wars from East African Kingdom, leaving local forces trembling, fearing East African Kingdom might strike any day.
Moreover, while East African Kingdom’s military might was formidable, their lack of adherence to traditional martial virtues was maddening. Reviewing several nations annihilated by East Africa, attack without declaration was commonplace, making them worriso as neighbors everywhere.
Russia represents such behavior, though when Russia combats Europe, it adheres to European rules. East African Kingdom, on the other hand, continues its rogue-like deanor, a reflection of colonial ecological norms where, especially in Africa, rule-breaking dominates, deceit and violence abound with each colonial group fighting fiercely, using devious tricks. Among them, a country relying solely on brute force like East African Kingdom is considered pure within African standards.
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