African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 361: Chapter 40: New Players in Africa

Just as the Far East aid group was in the city of Dar es Salaam, new changes were occurring on the African continent.

May 13, 1871.

After securing support from the British, the Italian Kingdom embarked on the road to debt repayment, but as the Kingdom was so impoverished that it was left only with debts, it could only transfer these debts through colonial expansion.

An Italian infantry division landed at Asab Port on the Red Sea coast, officially beginning the Italian government’s colonial drive.

This was incredibly important for the Italian Kingdom; if it couldn’t ease public anger through colonial endeavors, the Kingdom might explode at any moment.

Asab Port.

Following a simple intimidation, on the morning of May 13, the Italian government drove the Egyptians out of Asab City.

Eritrea was simply too far from Egypt’s heartland, making it easy for Egypt’s garrison in Asab City to fend off colonial groups like Rubatino Company. However, when the Italian Kingdom’s army landed, the garrison immediately abandoned their defense, as their forces, only a battalion, were insufficient against Italy’s division.

Moreover, the worst came when Rubatino Company in the city and the port launched an opportune rebellion, capturing a series of key facilities including the port, thereby securing valuable time for the Italian land forces to land.

The Italian Kingdom’s Abysinnian expeditionary force’s first division successfully seized this crucial stronghold from Egypt.

When the first division entered Asab City, the owner of Rubatino Company, Sapetto, personally came to greet them: ”General Samuel, hello, I am the owner of Rubatino Company, Giuseppe Sapetto!”

Brigadier General Samuel: ”Mr. Giuseppe Sapetto, thank you for your support to the motherland, the Italian people will never forget your contribution.”

Samuel was the most outstanding general in the Italio-Austrian war, rising through the ranks from captain to brigadier based on merit, with no battle lost from start to finish. However, the Italian Kingdom failed due to inept allies.

After the war, during a review of the Italian command, it became evident that Samuel, a leader of civilian origin, was far superior to those Italian aristocratic officers eating their way into sinecures. Despite the army being predominantly aristocratic, they attributed Italy’s failure to a strong enemy. Yet why was Samuel so successful against the same Austria-Hungary?

Exactly! Why? It certainly shouldn’t imply that the Italian Kingdom’s army is incompetent, given that Austria-Hungary is a top world power, so it’s normal for the Italian Kingdom to struggle.

As for Samuel, his continuous victories were because he, like Albert, possessed inherent military talent. By raising the stature of the enemy and colleagues, the army could shirk its responsibilities.

Sapetto: ”Not at all, General Samuel, compared to me, you are the true hero of the Italian Kingdom. It’s a pity you appeared too late; had you been a senior general earlier, Italy would surely have achieved victory!”

Sapetto wasn’t praising out of flattery; he genuinely believed so. After the army’s endorsement, Samuel had become a national hero, essential to restoring the Italian people’s dwindling self-esteem.

Samuel: ”No, no, Mr. Sapetto, Italy needs all Italians to work together to emerge from this crisis, losing anyone is unacceptable. I am merely a slightly luckier Italian, but the fate of our country is not as fortunate as mine, which is painful for every Italian, so we should unite and resist against Italy’s tragic destiny!”

Samuel always appeared humble in front of outsiders, which kept him unknown before war arrived.

He wasn’t skilled at self-promotion, which was unfriendly to his career advancement. In peacetime, he wouldn’t have risen, but he encountered war at the Italian Kingdom’s most tragic period.

The reason Samuel held the rank of captain before the outbreak relied on his talent. His junior high education automatically qualified him during Italy’s army expansion.

Despite his civilian origin, Samuel’s family wasn’t very poor, even somewhat well-off, which enabled his educational attainment.

Although Samuel was hailed as a famous general, partly due to army packaging, he possessed true competence.

Against Austria-Hungary, he often remained cautious, avoiding risky actions amid superior enemy strength. But once a flaw was found, he fiercely countered like a Lion, swiftly withdrawing before enemy reinforcements arrived, never lingering.

Sapetto: ”General! You are overly modest. This time, our enemy isn’t a formidable presence like Austria-Hungary but merely a native state in East Africa, so I believe the kingdom’s forces will easily handle Abysinnia.”

Samuel shook his head: ”We cannot underestimate any opponent, native or not. Just like Europe, where no one pre-war expected Prussia to easily defeat mighty France, if we don’t respect our enemy and attack recklessly, it leaves gaps for them to defeat us. This is the experience I learned from the Austria-Hungary army!”

Sapetto started doubting Samuel’s skill: ”In reality, the British dismantled the Abysinnia Empire with only a minimal colonial army; the Emperor committed suicide, so Abysinnia isn’t strong, or rather very weak.”

Samuel: ”What the British can achieve doesn’t mean Italy can, as our objectives differ. The British waged war as a show of force, but our Italian mission is for our nation’s survival, inherently different. Britain’s war invited Abysinnia Empire’s ambitious figures to cooperate in toppling their Emperor, whereas our Italian aim is for land acquisition, a life-or-death matter for the Abysinnia Empire. They would unite against us throughout Ethiopia, fighting to the last person. Hence, we can’t afford any missteps, must avoid getting flipped by Abysinnia; Italy has wagered its future here.”

Samuel clearly understood the fundamental difference between Italy’s invasion of Abysinnia and the British’s approach; the British sought hegemony while Italy focused solely on annihilating ”enemy” nations, purging territory for Italy’s sustenance.

From here on, the Italian Kingdom must carefully plan every step, ensuring the Abysinnia Empire doesn’t recognize its true intentions, keeping them fragmented and unable to unite, allowing Italy to systematically defeat Abysinnia’s forces.