African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 32: Chapter 28 ”Enclosure Movement

With a command from Ernst, new directives along with supplies crossed the ocean to East Africa. Upon receiving Ernst’s orders, the East African colony began the ”land rallying movement.”

In First Town, those immigrants who were relatively strong were selected by the sheriff to form the first Chinese army in the East African colony. The selected individuals would be filed into records.

A long queue lined up in front of the town hall of First Town, composed of initial recruits readying themselves for the ”registration” mentioned by the officer.

”Name?”

”Wang Tiegen.”

”Age?”

”23.”

The record personnel entered onto the paper: ”Name: Tiegen Wang, Age: 23, Profession: Mercenary, Number 0423.”

Then handed Wang Tiegen a small card with the number 0423 on it.

”Take this number and go to the fourth group over there to receive your equipment.”

The so-called equipment consisted of a new military uniform plus a flintlock gun produced by the Heixinggen Weapons Factory.

This uniform was ordered from Berlin, made for the regular Prussian army, displaying a light blue color. Due to the difference between African and European environments, the Prussian characteristic peaked helmet was not issued.

On the soldiers’ heads were hats similar to those broad-brimmed hats of later generations, made of cotton fabric, providing excellent sun protection and ventilation.

Also issued were a pair of yellow-green military shoes, since unmodified special military boots were not suitable for the high temperatures in Africa.

Following instructions, Wang Tiegen came to the fourth group, where many people were queued up, all of whom were hastily organized, preparing to venture deep into the East African interior as Chinese soldiers.

They were soon to set out under the leadership of German officers to establish new colonial posts in places like Dodoma and Mwanza.

Their primary task was to clear indigenous peoples along the way, opening a safe new route for subsequent immigrant migration.

Upon reaching the destination, they would also clear wildlife and indigenous tribes around the new post, given that the lands Ernst claimed in East Africa are known places in later generations.

Thus, the environment couldn’t be bad, and indigenous tribes are sure to have chosen to live there, regardless of whether they were hunting or had begun basic agricultural planting, needing places for activities.

This threatened the safety of East African colonists, so the newly formed Chinese army must clear these indigenous tribes before immigrants arrive.

New colonial posts also serve as future immigrant transit stations, which, coupled with small checkpoints along the way, establish a relatively safe and mature immigrant migration network.

”Attention!” A white-faced commander standing at the front commanded, ”I am your first officer, Andre. From today, you are members of the fourth squad of the East African Advance Team!”

Beside him stood a young student from Heixinggen Military Academy, responsible for translation work and acting as the squad’s councilor.

”Our esteemed Prince Ernst has decided our squad will head to the Kigoma area on the east coast of Soron Lake (Lake Tanganyika) and open new lands. You are all participants in this military operation.”

”The challenges you will face include not only savages and beasts but also African venomous insects and diseases, as well as harsh environments. Therefore, every one of you may face life-threatening situations. To improve your survival chances, you will undergo a three-day special training.”

Andre made way for the Heixinggen Military Academy student, Zhou Wei, one of the first batch of students, who had been studying for several months and could read and write German fluently.

After being trained by Prussian officers and the nourishing meals from Heixinggen Military Academy, he was no longer as emaciated as when he first arrived in Germany at the age of sixteen.

He now stood tall and straight in front of these temporarily recruited immigrants. Though young, he exuded a commanding presence of authority.

”Hello, I’m Zhou Wei, a graduate (advanced) from Prussian Heixinggen Military Academy. The principal chose me to come to the East African colony as your officer. You may report any issues to me.” Zhou Wei succinctly and efficiently introduced himself.

”In the coming three days, you will receive training from me and Officer Andre. You have seen the fertility of the East African colony, which will be our homeland in the future, so you are all a part of this homeland. Do not bring the bad habits from the Far East into the army. Now you have a single identity — ’soldier,’ or as it’s commonly called, a military person.”

Zhou Wei stated seriously: ”You must always remember these two words: ’obey.’ So follow military discipline and orders. If I find anyone disobeying orders or breaking military discipline, do not blame me for being ruthless.”

All members of the East African Advance Team fourth squad held their breath and listened attentively to Zhou Wei’s speech. Despite Zhou Wei’s young age, he stood backed by Germans and exhibited an evident spirit distinct from the colonial immigrants, speaking powerfully in Chinese, making the well-behaved immigrant soldiers hesitant to act rashly.

”Tomorrow morning, everyone must report here punctually within half an hour after the first bell rings. Do you all remember?” said Zhou Wei.

Only Germans in the colony had clocks to check the time, so several large clocks were transported from Europe to distribute at various posts, with dedicated bell-ringers announcing the time.

Chinese immigrants scheduled their daily activities based on the bell chimes. The first bell every morning rang at approximately eight or nine o’clock, as German watches needed winding and time adjustment, making them slightly inaccurate.

Colony immigrants had ample free time for activities because, aside from agricultural production, there was nothing else to do. Just like in the Far East, farmers had downtime, a natural order arranged by heaven, indicating not every moment was suitable for sowing and crop growth.

”Alright, you’re dismissed now.” Zhou Wei declared the troops dismissed and left with the German officer. He chatted briefly with the German mercenaries about the next day’s training arrangements and then headed to his newly assigned residence.

This was the backyard of First Town’s government, where a room had been converted into a temporary dormitory for students from Heixinggen Military Academy.

Upon returning to the dormitory, others had arrived as well. A total of six people lived in the dormitory, all of whom were excellent students from Heixinggen Military Academy.

”Zhou Wei, how do you feel?” Wang Mingdong inquired.

”It’s okay! The first day doesn’t quite show specifics, whether good or bad. It’ll become clear once training begins tomorrow.” Zhou Wei replied.

”I wasn’t asking about training; I meant how do you feel about the conditions in the East African colony?” Wang Mingdong asked.

”It’s alright! There’s a lot of potential for the future, but for now the conditions are indeed much poorer than in Heixinggen, though better than in the Far East,” Zhou Wei stated.

”Zhou Wei, do you think we have been reassigned as punishment or as appreciation?” Gao Youming, a fellow dormitory resident, asked.

Zhou Wei shook his head: ”It’s hard to say, the conditions here are indeed not as good as Europe, but the principal clearly values this place, so I can’t be sure. However, I am optimistic about everyone’s future, as long we earnestly complete tasks assigned by the principal. Regardless of future changes, if our abilities stand out, the principal will appreciate it.”

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Five days later, six fully equipped colonial teams assembled on the training ground. After holding a swearing-in ceremony, they embarked on the journey to conquer East Africa.