Chapter 137: Patch
The East African colony lies isolated overseas, far from the German lands.
Yet clearly, for the House of Hechingen, its core interests still reside in Germany. East Africa is merely one of Hechingen's major investment projects.
Although Ernst's strategic vision designates East Africa as the future of the Hechingen royal house, there is no need to rush there right now. From the perspective of any colonial power, the East African colony remains a long-term project that hasn't even finished its first stage.
The East African colony heavily depends on funding from the Hechingen consortium; without the royal house, its progress would stall at once. For instance, none of Germany's or Austria-Hungary's weaponry, technology, or population would flow in if not for the House of Hechingen acting as the central coordinator. The colony alone can't dream of it.
Though Ernst is absent from East Africa, all power in the colony rests in his hands. Numerous regulations constrict the authority of every official within a very narrow range. Because East Africa operates under an employment system—a corporate model—and its primary development is agriculture, calling it an "agricultural development company under Hechingen" would not be wrong.
In other words, East African officials are employees of Hechingen. The military especially—the earliest Germans who arrived—had all signed contracts with Hechingen. Put another way, each has a soft spot that the Hechingen royal house controls. Yes, they could abuse their positions in East Africa, but they all have families recorded in the consortium's files. Exploiting the Hohenzollern family's domain in Prussia and the German lands is no trivial matter.
Besides, those German mercenaries occupying colonial leadership roles are all retired soldiers from the Prussian army. To be blunt, they're older men discharged to make room for younger troops, turning to East Africa to serve Ernst for their livelihood. Once they've earned enough, of course they'd rather not remain. They want to retire comfortably, and East Africa is plainly no place for that—its medical conditions are rudimentary, entertainment is scarce, and above all, their families aren't there.
As for ordinary immigrants from places like the Far East, Austria-Hungary, South Germany, or beyond, they came for a living. When leaving their hometowns, they were mentally prepared to die in a foreign land. Although some dream of returning in glory, most simply aim to survive.
But these German mercenaries joined from the start purely to make money through colonial ventures, always identifying as Germans (here "Germany" refers collectively to the various German states), not East Africans. Once they've amassed enough wealth, they'll go back home—so any authority they wield is temporary, and even that is locked behind bars.
The Hechingen consortium maintains permanent directors in East Africa specifically to review accounts, tightly manage resource allocation and expenditures, and monitor how officials carry out Ernst's orders. Although few in number, they hold high positions. Among them is von der Leyen, representing the consortium. Together with East African military leader Yarman and Staff Officer Sviat (of Chinese descent), they form the colony's "three-horse team."
In the East African forces that Ernst values most, the General Staff is the second pillar, chiefly alumni of the Hechingen Military Academy, who were initially mostly Chinese but are now supplemented by German trainees. The academy effectively serves as a source for Ernst's private army. All its students have been indoctrinated to regard the Hechingen royal house as their faith, so Ernst dares rely on them, deploying them to keep watch on the various local powers in East Africa.
Essentially, every East African official has an academy alumnus as a deputy, from the central government down to the villages. Any action the colony takes requires these three interest groups to meet jointly, then report to Ernst for a decision.
Naturally, this arrangement doesn't foster high efficiency. But it does ensure stability, for those three factions can't cooperate easily. Luckily, East Africa is a purely agricultural colony—its everyday affairs are dull and repetitive: farming, farming, and more farming...
Occasionally, in minor skirmishes with tribal villages, the local authorities can decide on their own. Only when dealing with native states, Arab powers, or other colonizers do they need to file upward. East Africa is already well-informed about the neighbors—who they can't offend and which powers pose a threat. Apart from the British and Portuguese, there's nobody to fear.
Even so, the colony acts with utmost restraint. For instance, the reason it treats the Sultanate of Zanzibar with respect, besides needing them to handle local tribes, is to avoid British interference. Thus the core of the sultanate still remains. Along the Mozambique border as well, East Africa remains careful not to provoke trouble.
And not just with Britain or Portugal—even local tribes are handled gingerly. For example, southwestern Zambia could have been claimed long ago, and East Africa could slip in without other colonizers noticing. Yet the colony refrains: it must handle its affairs one bite at a time, not expanding if immigrants aren't available.
Of course, it's not that Ernst refuses to personally oversee East Africa. He's simply tied up, and there's no real need. Prince Constantin is aging (67), and Ernst can't leave his father alone in Europe (historically, Prince Constantin died on September 3, 1869).
Moreover, Hechingen's greatest asset is the consortium, whose core business is entirely based in Europe. Ernst dare not hand it off to anyone else. Without the consortium, even his talents couldn't develop East Africa. Indeed, from its inception, the colony has been propped up step by step by the consortium—funds and ships for immigrants, early rations, arms and gear for the colony's troops, salaries for officials—all provided by Hechingen.
The only solution is eventually moving the consortium's center to East Africa. But right now, the colony can't even feed itself reliably, let alone sustain the consortium. Ernst's minimum requirement is an initial industrial base in East Africa.
For instance, industrial growth demands solving the colony's coal issue—requiring railways, because the coal is mainly in the southwest, and it must be shipped out to the coast. One might suggest building factories locally, but in this era, machinery is massive. Transporting it inland also requires rail. On top of that, Hechingen's business is mostly in Europe, and ultimately, products and grain from inland must be hauled out by train.
Given East Africa's present condition, building a railway deep inland is very difficult. The entire colony plus the consortium might manage it, but at huge cost. Ernst fully appreciates the usefulness of railroads—he's simply awaiting a favorable opportunity to begin East Africa's railway construction.
Besides rail, there must be ironworks, cement factories, and so on. Without these, the consortium can't operate. Importing everything is impossible. Even East Africa's current agricultural base can hardly sustain such industrial endeavors. Take cotton, a main raw material for light industry: the colony grows only small amounts. Trying to expand it might draw other nations' scrutiny, as textiles are a key industry for many industrial powers.
…
All in all, East Africa has a long road ahead. Currently, the colony is at most a dependent of the Hechingen consortium. Through it, Ernst can influence German politics and European opinion, while controlling East Africa's industrial development. Though East Africa holds a crucial place in Ernst's heart, in reality, it's still no match for the consortium.
In short, if East Africa were lost, Ernst—through the consortium—could find somewhere else to start again. But if the consortium were lost, everything would collapse.
Of course, Ernst's plan is eventually to merge the consortium with the colony. But for now, East Africa's progress just isn't sufficient to justify betting his entire fortune on it.
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