African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 501: Chapter 179: Intelligence Warfare

Tete is over a hundred kilometers away from the nearest East African military outpost, but the East African reconnaissance cavalry have already detected the Portuguese troop movements in the Tete region.

”It seems the Portuguese plan to use Tete as a breakthrough point to attack us. We must quickly bring this news back to Songgo.”

Songgo is upstream of Tete, an East African military outpost established along the Zambezi River, located twenty kilometers downstream from the Kabula Bassa Dam in the previous world.

There exists an intelligence disparity between East Africa and Mozambique. Due to East Africa’s isolation policy, Mozambique faces great challenges in acquiring intelligence from East Africa, while obtaining Mozambique’s intelligence poses little difficulty for East Africa.

Firstly, Mozambican intelligence personnel, upon reaching the border, might be intercepted by East African border military outposts or checkpoints, or border troops. If fortunate enough to enter East African territory, they’d face a supply problem.

If they maxed out their wilderness survival skills, they could continue deeper. However, they’d then encounter identity issues. East Africa practices a household registration system; lacking identification or relevant documents, if they encounter village settlements or East Africans, there is a risk of exposure. Avoiding settlements means living alongside African beasts.

In summary, seeking intelligence from within East Africa is arguably the hardest among all nations worldwide.

Of course, Portugal had previously acquired some information during East Africa’s initial occupation of the Matebel Province (Zimbabwe).

However, at that time, East Africa hadn’t yet developed the Matebel Province, so beyond geographic data, the Portuguese gained no other useful intelligence.

Moreover, gathering intelligence in East Africa is a high-risk occupation. Initially, Portuguese agents found operations easy, but after East Africa increased the population in Matebel Province, over thirty percent of Mozambican operatives were lost. Subsequently, Portugal stopped sending agents to East Africa due to the high attrition rate; no one volunteered for a death mission. Despite East Africa claiming ignorance, the continent is fraught with peril, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Mozambican agents were snatched away by wild beasts.

Yet, in East Africa’s eyes, Mozambique is almost transparent. Using reconnaissance cavalry, East Africa can freely enter Mozambique, while the colony lacks countermeasures, mainly due to insufficient personnel.

Thus, over the years, East Africa frequently crosses into Mozambique. Especially the northern regions, almost turned into a sieve by East African penetration.

Upon detecting unusual activities in Mozambique, East African cross-border reconnaissance intensified, with Songgo’s reconnaissance cavalry venturing hundreds of kilometers to gather intelligence directly at Tete.

At this moment, the Portuguese stationed in Tete are completely unaware that their actions have been detected by East Africa. Suddenly, tens of thousands of troops pour into the chaotic Tete city; Black troops in disarray, due to Tete merely being a declining commercial outpost without the housing or capability to suddenly support such a large army.

All Black troops have to camp outside the city, turning Tete’s outskirts into a bustling ”marketplace,” easily observable by East African reconnaissance cavalry from afar.

”Did someone just ride a horse watching us from there?” one Black soldier asked his companion, pointing to the spot where East African reconnaissance cavalry had paused on a small hill.

”Oh! Maybe? Didn’t pay attention, perhaps it was a white person inspecting,”

”Doesn’t matter! It has nothing to do with us,” another soldier remarked.

And so, East African reconnaissance cavalry leisurely departed under the watchful eyes of Black soldiers. No one considered them as potential spies, nor reported it to the Portuguese within the city.

Indeed, now the Portuguese are all inside Tete city. Calling it a city is somewhat flattering; Tete resembles more of a large fortress, with two thousand white Portuguese soldiers gathered inside for leisure and entertainment.

Smoking, drinking, gambling; the city even has brothels run by Portuguese merchants, where Swahili women dance on stage as Portuguese drunks cheer below.

Tete Chamber of Commerce President Dares: ”Hahaha, Generals, you must be exhausted from your long travels. Our Tete isn’t a big place, capabilities are limited, thus can only offer you simple meals.”

Clement lit an East African cigar bought in Dar es Salaam, took a puff, crossed his legs and said: ”President Dares, you do business here, not far from East Africa, you should know it well?”

Dares flaunted his beer belly, saying: ”Sir General, you misunderstand me; although Tete is just over a hundred miles from East Africa, I truly don’t understand what East Africa is like inland. Since the Germans occupied the interior, they’ve cut off our original trade routes, and many original trade caravans left. Business like mine relies on surrounding Tete resources for some small trade.”

Clement: ”So that’s how it is. Well, East Africa clearly harmed your business interests. Why don’t you resist?”

Dares: ”Sir General, there’s something you do not know. Although East Africa cut off trade routes, they developed several trade ports in the north. Caravans can go north for goods, then sell them globally, so only businessmen like me who relied on caravan service fees suffered greatly. Therefore, not everyone detests East Africa; besides, the German military strength is formidable, not something a small merchant like me would dare offend.”

Clement: ”Oh, are you aware of the German army’s strength?”

Dares shook his head: ”I’m not aware; I only compare the strength of our Mozambican commercial arms with the Germans. They are proper armies; our commercial armed forces are at most small skirmishes.”

Clement: ”Then about the region bordering East Africa and the number of German troops present, you likely have some idea?”

Dares: ”Indeed, this can be inferred. To my knowledge, traveling north-west along the Zambezi River, there is a German military outpost about a hundred kilometers away.”

Clement: ”How large is that outpost? What about the troop numbers?”

Dares: ”It’s not large, maybe two to three hundred soldiers. It’s been established for probably over three years.”

The military outpost Dares mentioned is the Songgo outpost, carefully chosen by East Africa. Tete is actually situated on a plateau five hundred meters above sea level, with the Amotize Basin to the east and the Zambezi Basin to the west.

East Africa’s Songgo outpost is on the same plateau as Tete city, but lies at its western edge. Songgo and Tete share control over the plateau section of the Zambia River. Only, one is on the east, the other on the west, Songgo to the west, Tete to the east. East Africa built the military outpost at Songgo to confront Tete city, blocking Portugal’s westward route.

Dares: ”Sir General, I wonder if this intelligence is useful to you?”

”Hahaha.” Clement laughed heartily: ”Of course, Mr. Dares, your intelligence will substantially aid our battles against East Africa. After our victory, we will certainly take good care of your business.”

Learning that East Africa has only two hundred troops at Songgo, Clement became relaxed. Under his suggestion, Portugal chose to fight without declaration, aiming for surprise, catching East Africa off guard.

Once Songgo is captured, swiftly controlling the southern banks of the Zambezi, East Africans will be strategically passive. East Africa’s forces mainly concentrate south and north. Controlling the Zambezi River disconnects north-south forces, focusing efforts on southern East African troops, while northern German troops only need to monitor the Zambezi River’s drag. Additionally, a troop moves towards Malawi Lake; once severing the land route between Tanganyika and Malawi Lakes, East Africa won’t timely reinforce.

Tanganyika Lake, also known as Soron Lake by East Africa, is also known by the Portuguese, however, they don’t know Tanganyika Lake is a source of the Nile River; in the past, Portuguese explorers moved south to north, hence unfamiliar with Tanganyika Lake, only knowing a Great Lake lies north of Malawi Lake, likely comparable in size to Malawi Lake.