African Entrepreneurship Records

  Chapter 238 Three "knives"

   "Build the iron chain bridge quickly during the dry season. We need to build at least five iron chain bridges on this river to ensure smooth traffic."

   "An iron bridge connects the north and south banks, and the army can directly enter the south from the bridge. Fortunately, East Africa mainly has light infantry, and the requirements for bridges are not high."

   "Traffic is nothing more than connecting two places. These chain bridges will also serve as the most important hub in the region for some time to come."

  Two engineers were standing on the north bank of the Zambezi River and chatting, and the overall frame of a bridge had already appeared in front of them, as long as the wooden boards were laid on the iron cables.

  Zambezi River, formerly the dividing line between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Zambezi River is the fourth largest river in Africa, with a total length of 2,660 kilometers and a basin area of ​​1.35 million square kilometers. Its water volume in Africa is second only to the Congo River and the Niger River.

  The biggest feature of the Zambia River is steepness, many canyons, rapids and rapids, and it is easy to flood in the lower reaches of Mozambique.

Therefore, if you want to cross this natural moat, you must build a bridge, but the Zambezi River is too far away from the economically developed areas of East Africa. In the Kingdom of East Africa, except for the eastern land, which has been repaired for many years and has established a preliminary road system, other areas can be said is blank.

   Therefore, it is too unrealistic to transport building materials from the rear, so it is more time-saving and labor-saving to use a chain bridge.

   "When the bridges on this river are all built, it is almost the time when the southwestern provinces are completely stable."

  The so-called soldiers and horses have not moved, food and grass go first, and now East Africa is planning to build roads in Zambia.

   There is a saying that there is no road in the world, if there are many people walking, the road will become a road.

  Indigenous Africans actually have their own roads, but they really walk out with bare feet, and East Africa just expands the roads on this basis.

  Different from the Tanganyika region in East Africa, there are some indigenous kingdoms in the southwest region, so the traffic is not zero, especially in the north, where the original Kazenbe Kingdom has the best traffic conditions.

  Some people often misunderstand that the speed of road construction in East Africa is incredible. In fact, it is completely unnecessary. The construction of roads in East Africa and the construction of roads in later generations are not the same concept at all.

   Except for the Eastern Central Province and those cities in the east, hardened roads are used, and other areas are still dirt roads. What about these dirt roads? Some areas have not even been touched, and they are used directly.

  It's just that drainage measures will be strengthened when roads are built in East Africa. This is actually the most expensive project.

  While planning to build roads, the East African government also plans to build a telegraph line from Mbeya, South Salzburg Province, to Lusaka, the capital of Southern Frontier Province, so that the central government can directly communicate with the southwestern region.

  East Africa hasn’t fully digested Zambia yet, but can’t wait to enter Zimbabwe and other regions.

  This is also the reason for the rush to build bridges on the Zambezi River. At the same time, East Africa is actively expanding its army and intends to expand the army to about 200,000.

  The role of the army is very important now. East Africa is too large and needs more troops to consolidate the country. At the same time, East Africa has planned to develop the slave economy in recent years, and the suppression of slaves also requires the army.

  The river and lake forces will be greatly strengthened as key support targets. The Zambia River Basin is criss-crossed, which is a good place for them to exert their strength.

  …

Rome, Italy.

  In a remote yard, there were more than a hundred people this day.

   "Pastor, where did you find this yard? Although it can accommodate many people, the conditions are too simple!"

"Okay, it's good to have a house to live in, and don't forget the purpose of our coming here. Of course, it is more convenient to gather together to do things. Otherwise, if things change, command will be a problem, and this place happens to be far away from the suburbs. place so that the Italians would not notice."

   "Well, to be honest, I am not surprised to go abroad. It is the most difficult for me to go abroad with bare hands. A soldier has no gun, so he is still a soldier?"

"Mr. Bryce, stop complaining. As the elite of the empire, we should continue to maintain military integrity. Sending us to Italy shows the importance of this operation. If it succeeds, we will be the heroes of the empire when we go back." The pastor taught.

  As a "pious believer" from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is natural to have a real priest to accompany him, so that it is not easy to pass through. It must be a disaster if these disguised believers of the Austrian army are really allowed to act alone.

   "Boom boom boom..."

   Then there was a knock on the door.

   "Who is it?" The pastor opened the door to check.

   "Sir, would you like an Italian pizza?"

   "What flavor?"

   "Pineapple taste."

   “Very tasty but I prefer pasta with tomato sauce.”

   Match the codes.

   "Major General Karl is the person in charge of this operation. He should have passed Ostia by now and is on his way to Rome. Two days later, at 3:00 pm, the heads of the various districts will have a meeting at this address in advance."

   As he spoke, the person who came to deliver the letter handed a note to the pastor. The pastor looked at the location above and said, "I know, but are we really doing this with bare hands?"

   "You don't need to worry about weapons. The empire will naturally solve this problem. You are all ready to receive it when the time comes."

  This is one of the strongholds for the military personnel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to insert into the Papal State. This time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire sent a total of more than 4,700 soldiers. Most of them came from the elite troops of the Empire, including the two imperial guards under the royal family.

   In addition, Franz also followed Ernst's suggestion and sent a diplomatic team to Rome, but the diplomatic team exceeded the standard, and many people entered the Papal State as diplomats.

  At the same time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire also dispatched troops within its borders. In order not to make this military operation too eye-catching, they played the banner of changing defenses.

   But if you pay a little attention, you will find that the military equipment for defending Italy has been significantly improved.

  …

  In June, Spain's cabinet meeting decided to find a suitable heir to the Spanish throne.

   Prince Leopold of the Hohenzollern family, a distant relative of King William I of Prussia, seemed to be a promising candidate for the Spanish royal family, but the news unfortunately leaked at the end of June 1870.

  The French foreign minister, Duke Gramont, immediately put pressure on Prussia to give up his support for Leopold, and at the same time asked Prussia to promise never to get involved in the Spanish throne, William I declined.

  Now East Africa is sharpening its sword in Zambia, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire is also secretly gathering strength to the south, and Prussia has been planning to change the situation in Europe since more than ten years ago.

  The strength of the Prussian army has been rising, and now the contradiction between Prussia and France has begun to emerge. Everyone is waiting for the opportunity, or waiting for Prussia's next decision, and Prussia will become the protagonist of the event. If Franco-Prussian goes to war, East Africa and the Austro-Hungarian Empire will also kill their respective targets.

  (end of this chapter)