African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 190: Chapter 179: Armed Mission

February 14, 1869.

A group of more than fifty people set off towards the capital of the Yake Kingdom, led by Merk, who had declared half a month ago at the Mbeya expansion meeting that they would go to war with the Yake Kingdom.

Marching on the savanna was somewhat challenging, especially on foot. Sivert provided them with carriages, but the team could only take turns resting in the carriages. It wasn’t that Sivert was stingy; rather, carriages were strategic resources in East Africa and were relatively scarce.

This group of more than fifty people was evidently a regular East African military unit, with standard-issue Dreyse rifles, clean and tidy Prussian uniforms without any missing pieces, and simple grenades produced by the East African Armory hanging from their waists.

”The weather is really stifling!” Merk said to his companions while wiping sweat off his face with a handkerchief.

”This is nothing! You’re living in bliss without knowing it. The eastern coast is where the real heat is deadly. The highland regions of the interior are just more exposed to sunlight, but the heat from the sun is far less than that of the eastern coast,” Becker replied to Merk.

Becker was the one who interrupted Merk’s spellcasting during the expansion meeting, and his suggestion was highly appreciated by Sivert.

Thus, Becker was authorized to undertake the important mission to the Yake Kingdom, while Merk was responsible for the safety of the journey.

”Mr. Becker, do you think Mwesili will accept our goodwill?” Merk asked Mwesili.

”Heh, Mwesili is already at a dead end. Without relying on us, his kingdom risks destruction. Mwesili is a smart man; he’ll make his own choice,” Becker said with confidence.

”It’s not that I don’t understand the current situation of the Yake Kingdom, but Mwesili, like many natives, cannot be assessed by human standards. Our spies say he’s gone mad, conducting massacres within the Yake Kingdom. I don’t know the specifics, but the spies report that his moral character is worse than that of beasts,” Merk cautiously told Becker.

In East Africa, many spies were deployed around the East African colonies, some disguised as exploration teams, some as merchants. Arabs and Portuguese were their key imitation targets.

Now in Central South Africa, East Africa mainly disguised as Portuguese for various activities, gathering local intelligence and geography.

The East African colonies were seen by many indigenous forces in the west as a notorious black evil force, preserving land while eliminating people, earning an infamous reputation among the indigenous forces north and south of the Congo rainforest.

The tribes and kingdoms expelled by East Africa spread the name of the East African colonies throughout both sides of the Congo rainforest, in Central South and Central West Africa.

Therefore, spies from the East African colonies had to disguise themselves as people from various countries in these regions, never under the East African banner.

For example, in Central South Africa, although deeply inland, Portuguese merchants still conducted business there for profit.

Many Portuguese merchants even settled on Central South African land, so spies from the East African colonies often dressed as Portuguese traders to carry out activities in the Central South Africa region.

Becker smiled slightly and said to Merk, ”Mwesili may be brutal, but he is practical. He clearly knows who can bring him tangible benefits, especially as his vast ruling territories rely heavily on advanced firearms to suppress local forces and natives.

The Yake Kingdom he established has only been around for a few decades, with lands mostly taken by force, so naturally, many natives do not submit to him.

Moreover, his family once served the Arabs, making him one of the few natives in Africa who have seen the world, so he dares not act rashly against us.”

”Mr. Becker, that’s only an ideal speculation! Mwesili has been king in the Yake Kingdom for over a decade, and his character has become increasingly tyrannical. I now seriously doubt his sanity. If he really has gone mad, then we might...” Merk began to say, but was interrupted by Becker.

”Don’t speak discouragement. Our armed force of over fifty people is not to be trifled with. Mwesili’s musket troop is only about 100 in scale and poorly equipped. Their ammunition is supplied by us, East Africa. Without utilizing his full force, it’s uncertain who would win in a real battle.”

On this point, Merk quite agreed. Although Becker was a civil official, he was not ignorant of military affairs.

Most East African officials were either drafted from the military or came from the Heixinggen Military Academy. Becker had fought many tough battles in East Africa.

Moreover, Becker had been in Mbeya even longer than Merk. Merk was transferred to Mbeya from the east, while Becker was initially a soldier in Mbeya before entering the civil service system, staying in Mbeya for several months longer than Merk.

”However, it’s better to be cautious. As I said earlier, it would have been better to decide on military action directly. You have to speak the language of strength with these natives; handling them with the sophisticated ways of the civilized world may not work well. Moreover, our team is ultimately too small compared to the Yake Kingdom. I’m afraid they might overwhelm us with sheer numbers.” Although the mission to the Yake Kingdom had already commenced, Merk still insisted on his initial stance of direct military engagement.

”Although our diplomatic mission might be risky, many factors must be considered. East Africa is rapidly developing now, and every war means disrupting the development process in East Africa.

For example, during the northwestern campaign, all of East Africa’s resources were directed to the northwest region, effectively halting its development.

Fortunately, the benefits of the northwestern campaign were significant enough to justify our involvement. There would be no problem if we directly deployed troops to the Yake Kingdom.

But if we can take the Yake Kingdom at a smaller cost, wouldn’t that be even better? Although there’s some risk in doing so, it’s worth the attempt for East Africa.

After all, this is the first time we’re engaging with these natives through diplomacy. Even if we fail, we can gain experience for East Africa.

Moreover, if we succeed, our accomplishments would be no less than those from a large-scale war. Don’t you agree, Mr. Merk?” Becker said.

In reality, the last sentence was the main reason. Compared to a war, if the mission to the Yake Kingdom succeeded, Merk and Becker would surely reap considerable merit.

Moreover, military merits in war are to be distributed, and as a civil official, Becker could hardly expect significant rewards. Although Merk was the military chief of the Mbeya region, if a real war broke out, the East African colonies might bring in troops from other areas or even parachute in famous generals like Felix to command the battle.

The Yake Kingdom was a piece of cake, but with more people, each would get less. As a civil official, Becker naturally couldn’t accept this.

That’s why he proposed the diplomatic mission to the Yake Kingdom. If successful, as the proposer and executor, Becker’s achievements would undoubtedly rank in the top. After all, there are superintendents and several high-ranking officials in the Great Lakes Region, and with a superintendent present, other officials would find it inappropriate to vie for Becker’s merit. As for Commissioner Sivert, Becker understood these nuances, but wrongly suspected Sivert of such petty-mindedness.

Sivert, being one of the most outstanding graduates of the Heixinggen Military Academy, was highly regarded by Ernst, who mentored him closely.

At that time, there were only four or five top graduates from the Heixinggen Military Academy in total, and following the standard procedures, Sivert should have proceeded to a military academy in Berlin for further studies.

However, Ernst specifically sent him to East Africa to oversee military affairs, eventually making him a member of the highest decision-making body in East Africa.

Ernst’s trust in him was evident, and Sivert was grateful for Ernst’s mentorship, making him one of Ernst’s trusted aides.

Sivert was like Ernst’s alter ego in the East African colonies, strictly adhering to every command from Ernst. Sivert’s position in East Africa was already the highest attainable, and he only needed to remain under Ernst’s wing without any need for further achievements. Thus, Sivert would not covet Becker’s small amount of merit.

Merk’s goals were quite similar to those of Becker. Although he advocated for war, Becker’s proposal was more enticing.

Both Becker and Merk were originally German mercenaries, and once their contracts expired, they would have to return to Europe.

Every achievement in East Africa was rewarded with solid silver, affecting Becker and Merk’s retirement lives, which led to the undertaking of this mission to the Yake Kingdom.