African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 629: Chapter 307: Whereabouts

The Sote Pool is a salt marsh area located within the Orange Free State. As the civil war within the Orange Free State intensifies, both sides have engaged in fierce crossfire throughout the region.

However, the people of Orange, much like wild grass, have resiliently resisted the joint offensive of the British and Transvaal forces.

Although the Orange initially had poor performance against the Transvaal Rebel Army, with the arrival of weapons and equipment, improved logistics, militia coordination, and accumulated war experience, they have emerged from their predicament and are now capable of giving as good as they get against the Transvaal forces.

”Report to the company commander, we have spotted traces of the enemy’s supply convoy near Florisbad.”

”Is the intelligence reliable?”

”We learned about it from the villagers near Florisbad, reported by a man named Valshano.”

”Hmm, have you verified his identity?”

”Yes, this Valshano is indeed a villager from Florisbad. We have confirmed this with the local villagers and the village chief.”

”Bring him over, I have some questions for him.”

Soon, a shifty-eyed man was brought before Blanca. His eyes darted around the Rebel Army’s camp, his movements cautious; one could tell he was scheming something.

Blanca noticed his lack of fear and sternly asked, ”Are you Valshano?”

”Yes, sir!” Valshano responded respectfully.

”You seem quite bold, don’t you? Most people would feel a bit uneasy entering this camp, but you seem quite interested?” Blanca questioned.

Valshano quickly waved his hands, denying, ”Sir, don’t flatter me. I’m just curious about the camp since it’s my first time here. As for being bold, maybe I am, I’ve never been fearful since I was a kid.”

”Bang,” Blanca slapped the pistol at his waist onto the table, ”Not afraid of this either?”

Valshano glanced at it and swallowed, ”It’s not good if this goes off accidentally!”

Blanca noticed Valshano’s subtle reaction and thought to himself, seems like this Valshano truly has some courage; others might feel jittery under such pressure, but Valshano quickly regained his composure.

However, this only heightened Valshano’s vigilance, though he didn’t show it and continued to probe.

”How did you discover the White Bandits’ traces? And why are you the only one who noticed and reported this in your village?”

”Sir, I overheard the White Bandits plotting a route in the village by chance. Around May, I got drunk outside. You know how cold South African nights can get right before winter, it woke me up. While stumbling home, I noticed the light was still on at Romos’ house.” Valshano said dramatically.

”And then you decided to eavesdrop on the wall?”

”Naturally not. Even though I’m a loafer in the village, I don’t have the habit of eavesdropping.”

”Then why did you deliberately go to Romos’ house to gather information?”

”Sir, I’m wronged! I wasn’t deliberate. My sobering time was almost dawn, by then the whole village was pitch black except for the light at Romos’ house. This isn’t the main point; several people were quarreling inside his house. Out of curiosity about the disagreement, I couldn’t help but listen in!”

Blanca nodded, gossiping is human nature, and the reason seemed plausible.

”So what did you hear?”

Valshano suddenly became a bit excited and said, ”I discovered an incredible secret: the third son of the village chief, Di Kevin, joined the White Bandits. He and some villagers were plotting something about action routes.”

Blanca noticed Valshano’s sudden change in emotion and asked, ”Do you have some grudge against Di Kevin?”

”Heh.” Valshano said somewhat embarrassedly, ”It’s nothing major, just that this person acts arrogant and has belittled me in front of others.”

”That’s all?”

”Sir, a man can be killed but not humiliated. Plus, I never provoked him in the first place, so the problem is definitely on him. Even if I were truly wronging him, it shouldn’t matter. I’m not a saint, but I’m not a bad person either. My parents didn’t raise me poorly, so who is he to judge me?”

Seeing Valshano’s indignant look, Blanca had nothing to say. It was clear now that Valshano was simply retaliating because he disliked Di Kevin.

”Alright, enough about personal grudges, continue about the White Bandits.” Blanca interrupted Valshano’s narrative.

”Noticing their suspicious behavior, I started tailing Di Kevin for a few days and accidentally discovered the White Bandits’ trail.”

”Where was it?”

”Southwest of the village, at Sote Pool, a place full of salt lakes. Normally, no one goes there, but it’s a great spot. If it wasn’t for the coincidence, I wouldn’t have discovered it.”

”Do people from your village usually not go to Sote Pool?”

”Oh, nothing grows there, so the villagers generally don’t go, not even for grazing. They choose places with better pastures.”

Blanca asked his subordinates, ”Have you verified this?”

”Commander, we’ve checked the place. Sote Pool is a large salt lake with many smaller salt lakes around. Generally, no one goes there, but we found many tire tracks. This suggests convoys have been frequenting the place regularly for the past two to three months based on the track density.”

Blanca turned back to Valshano and asked, ”Are you sure they’ll pass through there again?”

”Of course, sir, I’ve been watching for a month. They pass there once a week. Kevin Di often brings food and water there, probably to facilitate them. Though I didn’t probe too deeply, as I was afraid of stirring trouble.”

”Hmm, you’re suggesting they pass by Sote Pool just once a week?”

”Sir, I’m sure of it. Every Thursday or Friday afternoon, they’ll definitely show up. During those times, if someone watches Di Kevin, he’ll definitely lead people and supplies there.”

”Wilson, this Thursday or Friday, you keep an eye on Di Kevin. Don’t let him notice anything unusual. We must not let the Orange people’s convoy slip away this time!” Blanca instructed his subordinate.

”As for you, Valshano, did anyone notice you coming to the camp, especially anyone from your village?” Blanca turned to ask.

”Sir, rest assured, in the village I come and go freely, and sometimes I visit other villages to catch up with drinking buddies. So disappearing for a while won’t raise suspicions; if they don’t see me, they won’t think of it.”

”Good, stay here for the next few days. If the intelligence is correct, I’ll request a reward from the government for you. Whether you want money or a position, it’s possible.” Blanca promised.

Upon hearing the possibility of gaining a position, Valshano’s eyes lit up, ”There won’t be any mistake, I’d never dare fabricate anything with my life at stake, sir!”