Chapter 327: Moving South
Due to East Africa's geographical features, there are no rivers here suited for high-value shipping. The terrain involves steep drops in all the larger rivers, and the climate causes significant seasonal changes in water flow.
By building canals in Central Province, the project sidesteps both obstacles. Central Province's terrain is relatively flat, and its natural rivers do have navigable sections. Although these rivers are still subject to seasonal changes, the region's rainfall remains substantial even during dry periods.
Take the Wami River and one of the Little Rhine's sources, the Uluguru Mountains, for example. Their annual rainfall reaches an astonishing 3,000 mm or more. In fact, the Uluguru range is really just the eastern extension of the East African highlands. The terrain rises abruptly, intercepting most of the moisture coming off the Indian Ocean—hence the drastic drop in rainfall for Dodoma, situated to the west of the Uluguru Mountains.
The Rufiji River is even more remarkable, drawing its headwaters from mountain ranges near Lake Malawi, crossing a vast area, and then getting another boost in its central portion. Its lower basin also receives abundant rainfall.
…
After half a month of marching, the anti-rebellion army—composed of border troops from Southern Salzburg Province and some militia—pushed straight for the Matabele Kingdom's capital, Bulawayo, following the Luangwa River. Under Siweite's personal command, the formidable Southern Salzburg soldiers easily overcame any Ndebele force that stood in their way.
That Southern Salzburg force normally guards against Portuguese incursions to secure East Africa's link between Tanganyika and the Katanga Plateau corridor. They're part of East Africa's regular army, so their combat effectiveness is naturally formidable. Using them to quash a tribal uprising is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Three months earlier, graduates of the Hechingen Military Academy—veterans of the Franco-Prussian War—arrived in East Africa and were assigned to the country's major units, helping reorganize and train them. The Southern Salzburg border troops were one such unit. They are fully equipped with Dreyse rifles and have 18 movable light artillery pieces. On paper, that's enough to dominate any area south of the Sahara.
This is still the age of rifles and artillery. While the Dreyse rifle may be outdated by European standards—especially among the major powers—plenty of European countries, such as Portugal, don't even have them. For Mozambique, a Portuguese colony, facing East Africans armed with Dreyse rifles is patently unfair.
Siweite turned to a guide named Kasos. "How many more kilometers to Bulawayo?"
"Chief of Staff, after we wade across the next creek, there should be a little over 40 kilometers to go," Kasos replied.
"You're certain this creek is shallow enough to just wade through?" asked Siweite.
"Yes, even in the rainy season it doesn't exceed half a meter—its deepest point is only about a meter. We used to cross it all the time, so I know it well," Kasos answered.
Kasos was a survivor who escaped when the Ndebele uprising broke out. Some East African outposts foresaw the danger and fled early. The smaller the outpost, the more likely they were to run rather than face hundreds of Ndebele warriors.
Still, fleeing requires some luck. If you had horses at your communication outpost, you'd fare better. Those without horses had to outrun the Ndebele on foot.
East African personnel are stronger in stamina, whereas African natives tend to have better short-burst speed. Zimbabwe's tribes differ from the East African highlands tribes in that they are less adept at distance running because they're halfway to a settled farming/pastoral society—a development shaped largely by the Ndebele.
The Ndebele came from the Zulu Kingdom and already had broad experience. Meanwhile, the local Shona were comparatively advanced for an African tribe, living by agriculture and ranching while mastering basic iron and gold smelting.
Under Ndebele rule, the Matabele Kingdom reinforced Zimbabwe's focus on farming and grazing. The Ndebele copied the Boers, establishing farms and pastures and becoming de facto landlords themselves. Tribes involved in farming and herding don't need to hunt daily, so they don't train for the stamina-based pursuits that some Bantu tribes in East Africa do.
By contrast, East African troops (including militia) go through training, and in this era, everyone's physical fitness is decent. Thus, East African defenders aren't at a disadvantage in terms of stamina.
Kasos managed to escape the Ndebele's pursuit through sheer grit and his deep knowledge of local terrain. Having a "living map" makes Siweite's operations much smoother.
He gave the order: "Pass it on—prepare to cross the creek."
Fortunately for them, the natives have little grasp of battle tactics. With any basic strategy, they would have set an ambush near the creek and attacked while the East African army was mid-crossing, inflicting heavy casualties. But many of these tribes can't even count to five, so the East African troops made yet another safe incursion into the Matabele interior.
Of course, the Ndebele do have a few people with insight, but they're mostly gathered at the capital. Skilled professionals must serve Lobengula first and foremost.
The chancellor Lobengula appointed is one of those top minds among the natives, capable of basic math. His father was a Swahili merchant, so the chancellor learned some simple arithmetic. He and his family effectively monopolize tax collection for the Matabele Kingdom. The majority of the Ndebele leaders, including Lobengula, are basically rough fighters who only know how to rule by force. Fine governance requires someone else's expertise.
That arrangement has benefits for both sides. All Lobengula cares about is that taxes be raised to maintain and strengthen the army—enough to let him remain the "King of Kings." He doesn't mind how the chancellor's family obtains that money or how much they pocket themselves. The Shona, after all, produce wealth, 20% of which goes into the chancellor's coffers. As long as the Ndebele's needs are met, the rest is up for grabs.
So the Matabele king and his chancellor are locked in a mutually beneficial cycle.
Bulawayo.
Now that the East African army is pushing from the north, Lobengula received the news. Seated before him, the commanders from the north, who had retreated in disarray, knelt pleading for help. Lobengula was furious—they merely burdened him.
He roared, "Look at yourselves! When I commanded you to obey the central government's orders, you always passed the buck among yourselves. The moment you face these pale-skins, you cower like mice. You've utterly disgraced our Ndebele warriors. Yet you still dare show your faces here!"
"O Great 'King of Kings,' it's not that we haven't tried. The enemy's weapons are simply too strong, just like the Boers'. They have plenty of firearms, and even cannons. No matter how brave our soldiers might be, how can flesh and bone and bows and spears possibly contend with them?"
"That's enough!" Lobengula snapped. "Failing is failing. Don't make excuses. I only care about results, not reasons. My father fought the Boers at a similar disadvantage, and he still managed well enough. Now you won't even fight! You must be weak from too much wine and lust, forgetting our Ndebele tradition of warfare."
The aging military chiefs—around fifty or so—remained silent. Fine, we'll just let him be right. In any case, we've already escaped. Surely, out of respect for the late king, he won't have us all beheaded.
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