African Entrepreneurship Record

Jiaozhou Port.

A trade exhibition was held locally. Jiaozhou Port has undergone earth-shattering changes compared to the past.

As the intersection center of trade among the three nations of Austria, Germany, and the Far East, Jiaozhou develops rapidly, with a population reaching about 300,000, which only refers to the urban population, while at the same time Jinan’s population was only a little over 200,000.

Jiaozhou has also become a gathering place for dignitaries and merchants, becoming one of the important large cities in the northern region. Within the Huaihai Economic Zone, its population is second only to Kaifeng, but it is evidently stronger economically.

The concentration of population has also brewed a certain market in Jiaozhou. The first batch of internal combustion engine-powered vehicles exported from East Africa to the Far East Empire landed here, but the quantity was not much, only five units in total.

With demonstrations by operators, this cumbersome ”bicycle” ran on the streets of the Jiaozhou urban area, which had long been paved.

”This is a motorcycle, a high-end product imported from East Africa. Just look at the two wheels that can run, similar to the principle of a bicycle, except it can provide its own power.”

”Why is this vehicle called a motorcycle?”

”Because East Africa is also a German-speaking country, ’motor’ is an abbreviation in German for a two-wheeled vehicle, hence the name.”

Although the invention of the motorcycle moved from Germany to East Africa, East Africa is still a German-speaking country, so the word ’motor’ did not change. Moreover, the term ’motor’ is evidently not a local product. Aligning with the trend of the times, plus its cyberpunk design, one can simply associate it with inventions by Western people.

The inventor of the motorcycle is an originally unknown historical figure, Lin Laidun, who was once nurtured under the Heixinggen education system. When Ernst was still in Europe, he arranged for many graduate students from Heixinggen schools to learn technology and management with the bigwigs under the Heixinggen consortium.

Lin Laidun was Benz’s assistant, and back then, Benz was also Leno’s assistant. Later, when Benz independently became the manager of the Heixinggen Energy Power Company’s Berlin office, mainly responsible for the miniaturization of internal combustion engines and vehicle application research, Lin Laidun continued to learn from Benz, and the motorcycle was the project Benz assigned to him to complete independently.

There are many people like Lin Laidun, for example, the Mauser Brothers, Leno, Linde, and others, all technical and managerial staff serving the Heixinggen royal family, also brought several East African apprentices. This is what’s called ’the pavilion near the water enjoys moonlight first.’

Moreover, the talents nurtured this way have a higher success rate than those sent out for overseas study from East Africa because overseas students are more adept at theoretical learning and research with fewer practical opportunities.

East Africa tried in every possible way to let them participate in work in Europe so they could truly grow, but evidently, East Africa’s influence was not significant enough. After all, there is a saying that goes, ’A teacher can raise disciples but not famine,’ regardless of traditional industries or fields, they are all monopolized.

Currently, East Africa and Austria-Hungary enjoy the best relations, and consequently, the main employment destination for East African students is also within Austria-Hungary.

Especially in Austria-Hungary’s governmental or military departments, under consultations between the two monarchies (kings), many young East Africans have been allowed to enter and gain experience, particularly prominent in Austria-Hungary’s naval and diplomatic departments.

Currently, in the Austria-Hungary Navy, the number of East Africans has reached more than 300, which can be described as hands-on teaching.

Because the Austria-Hungary Navy holds less of a status compared to the Army within the country, Austria is liberal towards East Africa, its ally, in this field.

As for the diplomatic corps, East African graduates have also reached a scale of more than thirty, mainly assisting Austrian diplomatic personnel.

Diplomacy is built on a country’s strength, but in itself, it’s a profound learning with many intricacies, involving various etiquettes, knowledge, culture, and social relations... so it’s a very deep study.

In fact, the Austrian Foreign Ministry welcomes these unpaid East African interns. It’s rare to find work without needing payment, allowing them to slack off, which played a great role in cultivating future East African diplomats.

”This car just has a steam engine added to a bicycle, doesn’t it? Look at this black smoke; I’ve seen it in the textile factory,” someone said.

”That’s where you’re wrong. I heard from the East African manager that this is called an internal combustion engine, more advanced than a steam engine, and can be used to power vehicles. They, East Africa, are the world’s earliest producers of automobiles.”

”What are automobiles?”

”An automobile is a carriage with three or four wheels. You’ve seen East African-made ’reverse saddle’ and ’three-wheeled cart,’ right? It’s just like this motorcycle; there’s little difference between a motorcycle and a bicycle, and an automobile is just ’three-wheeled cart’ with an internal combustion engine, the most impressive are the four-wheeled ones with a canopy, like a sedan chair but with four wheels and can run by itself.”

”Wang Er, you’re making it sound so exaggerated, have you seen it?”

Wang Er boasted: ”Of course, isn’t it just automobiles? I’ve long recognized this motorcycle; it’s the advantage of being a production team leader.”

”Exaggeration! This motorcycle is the first to arrive in the Far East, you’ve never been abroad, where did you see it?” Someone questioned.

”I haven’t seen the real thing, but I’ve seen it in pictures! You people clearly don’t educate yourselves; I’m not on the same level as you; otherwise, how could I be your team leader!” Wang Er said.

”Pictures?”

”Ha-ha, you’re clueless, aren’t you? The Jiaozhou Daily from last October had detailed introductions on internal combustion engine automobiles, with two illustrations. Later, in March of this year, there was another issue featuring this motorcycle,” Wang Er continued, ”So I tell you to read newspapers more often instead of going to Chunlan Lane to find girls.”

”Wang Er, stop making sarcastic remarks. We’re all rough men, can’t read a word; who’s going to read newspapers, and it’s not like the newspapers are free! Only you who have connections with foreign supervisors can access newspapers; otherwise, would you be willing to spend money on them?”

”That’s not it. Even though the paper isn’t cheap, I can afford it; after all, the information in it is all good stuff. Because of what I learned from it, Mr. Helai regarded me differently, recommending me to be an administrator in East Africa. If I weren’t reluctant to leave my family, I would have already taken a big ship overseas.”

Immigrating to East Africa isn’t difficult, but directly getting into the management level is a challenge, so Wang Er isn’t just bragging.

”By the way, this motorcycle is so expensive, Wang Er, I wonder if Mr. Herman could afford it?”

”Probably not. These things aren’t for ordinary people to consume. Not just motorcycles, even bicycles require us to save for years. I heard from Mr. Herman that they expect affluent merchants and officials to purchase these items, not the average person, and wealthy merchants aren’t ordinary traders, without significant resources, it’s just a dream.”

”One of them costs fifty thousand Rhine Shields. It’s said someone already placed an order, that much money could buy a large piece of land and directly make one a landlord. There are truly a lot of wealthy people in Jiaozhou.”

”Having money doesn’t concern us, and this thing is too precious. Big shots use it for show, and in our hands, it would be a waste. Plus, it requires black oil for fuel, which I’ve heard isn’t cheap. The fuel costs alone are not something an ordinary person can afford.”