Chapter 212: The Suez Canal
After reorganization, the East African army became smaller and focused on field troops. To carry out the "Pocket" Plan, the East African government planned to send ten thousand people into the Eastern Katanga region.
Unlike before, when we aimed to drive out the local tribes, this time we simply want formal ownership of these lands. Therefore, we'll use the usual colonial methods: threaten each tribal chief with guns and cannons, forcing them to sign land treaties.
As for the local people, we'll gradually replace them with incoming settlers. This year, the number of immigrants is small, and the "labor" shortage is serious, so the natives are still somewhat useful.
November 17, 1869
Egypt
The Suez Canal – this massive project that cost 120,000 Egyptian lives – was finally completed.
East Africa is on the eastern coast of the African continent, so in the future, East African ocean-going ships only need to pass through the Mediterranean, traverse the Suez Canal, enter the Red Sea, and then sail around Somalia. As for the old African route around the Cape of Good Hope, it's not only longer but also called "Cape of Storms." Along the coast of Namibia lies the "Skeleton Coast," so that old route was both lengthy and dangerous.
After paying the transit fee, the Heixingen merchant ship – which had long awaited the canal's opening – couldn't wait to experience this great project. Originally, ships from Trieste had to travel around Gibraltar in a big loop, but now they only need to go south and pass through the Suez Canal to reach East Africa. Plus, the Mediterranean and Red Sea are relatively calm; navigation there isn't too difficult.
"Captain Modo, now that we have the Suez Canal, our good days have arrived. We used to spend so much time wandering at sea, and the African coast was mostly barren, with hardly anywhere to rest," said Fairmont, an employee of the Heixingen Oceanic Trading Company.
"Africa, hmm! Don't expect entertainment from those locals. But now that this Suez route exists, at least it's safer. Even if a big mishap happens, our chance of rescue is much higher. Look—this narrow channel is already so crowded."
"Today, there are indeed many ships in the canal—almost like a major port in Europe or the Far East!" Fairmont remarked.
"It's already surpassing those. Any country worth mentioning has ships passing through here. This will become the main artery from Europe to the Far East," Modo emphasized.
The opening of the Suez Canal was good news for most of the world, except perhaps Cape Town. Although the strategic value of East Africa's ports dropped, the route to Europe was shorter, so shipping goods and people from Europe to East Africa would become cheaper and faster. East Africa was like a young seedling, needing nutrients from Europe, so overall, for East Africa, the Suez Canal was a net benefit.
Some Austrian immigrants leaned over the ship's railing, curiously looking at the canal that cut through the desert. This was their first sight of desert.
"Laisoya, is all of Africa like this? I heard it was all desert. This doesn't look so bad. But how can Egyptians survive in the desert?" asked Blair, full of curiosity.
"You ignorant fool—next time you go out, don't say you know me!" Laisoya replied in exasperation. "Egyptians rely on the Nile and the oases in the desert. Of course they don't just live in the desert. As for those people we saw, they're the workers who built the canal. Their food has to be shipped from outside. Factories in Trieste don't grow food, but does that mean workers don't eat?"
"But wait—Trieste's factories don't produce food? Don't food factories process grain?"
"They only process it. The grain is grown in the countryside and then delivered to the city…"
"Hey, Laisoya, why are you heading to East Africa? You're well-educated. It'd be easier to get work in a factory in Austria, turning screws or something."
Laisoya lifted his head, looking at the glaring sun. "I prefer living out in the open. Sure, city wages are decent, but it's not what I want."
"Ah, if I'd gone to school or learned a good trade, I'd absolutely look for opportunities in one of Austria's big cities. A colony is my last choice—I can only gamble on it!" Blair said.
"Heh," Laisoya answered, "relax. East Africa isn't really a colony anymore. Think of it as a European country, or a German state."
"Uncle, have you been to East Africa?" Blair asked another older man.
"Of course. Can't you see his sailor uniform?" Laisoya interjected.
"Uncle, can you give us some inside information?" Blair asked.
"Sure, but I can't guarantee it's all correct. I've only been to East African ports, so I'll just tell you what I saw and heard there," the sailor said, leaning against the railing. "They call East Africa by its official name: The Heixingen East African Royal Territory. It used to be the Heixingen royal family's colony, but since that family moved there, it's going to become an independent country—so a friend told me. Keep that to yourselves. The scenery of East Africa differs from Europe, but the coast looks a bit like the Mediterranean. When this ship arrives in Dar es Salaam, you'll see what it's like. It can't match Vienna or Trieste, but it's not worse than many Austrian cities either."
"Uncle, is Dar es Salaam our final stop?" Blair asked.
"I don't know. Dar es Salaam is where this ship ends its East African route, but where you end up depends on how the East African government arranges it."
"Arranges us? Then we'll be separated?" Laisoya asked Blair.
"Uncle, Laisoya and I are very close friends. If we travel together to East Africa, might they still split us up?" Blair pressed.
"Tricky. The East African government usually breaks up groups from the same area. They prefer mixing people from different regions in the same city or village."
"Is there any way around it?"
"How old are you two?"
"Laisoya is 16, I'm 17."
"You're pretty young. Can you read and write?"
"I can," Laisoya said.
"Then as soon as you arrive in East Africa, go right away to their official in charge, and submit a written request. Usually they'll accommodate. If you say nothing, they'll assume it's fine to separate you. You're just friends, and you're young, so they might let you stay together—maybe in a city, maybe a village. Hard to say."
…
Modo the sailor spent a long time talking with the two youngsters, telling them much about East Africa—some of it genuinely helpful.
"Modo, where'd you go? You've been gone a while," Fairmont asked when Modo returned.
"Just chatting with a couple of kids. They reminded me of when I was young, heading out to sea," Modo replied.
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