Chapter 594: Tensions
Ernst only stayed one day in Bagamoyo before returning to First Town. On the way there he had traveled by water; on the return, he took the road. The road between Bagamoyo and First Town wasn't more comfortable than the water route, but it was relatively smooth.
...
Orange Free State.
For the Boers in Orange—or rather, the former Orange Free State—times were not going well.
On one hand, the promises made by the British had not been fulfilled. On the other hand, the influx of Boers from the former Transvaal Republic had put pressure on local resources.
"The British didn't say it would be like this. Not only did they fail to solve Orange's fiscal issues, they keep raising taxes here. We've been deceived, and now they won't even admit it!"
"The so-called investments and dividends never came. Instead, they're recruiting workers for their diamond mines at extremely low wages. Those lands and mines were originally ours—thieves, the lot of them."
"And those damned Transvaalers—back then we took them in out of kindness when they had nothing. Now they've turned around and become British lapdogs, used to suppress us. We were blind to trust those ingrates."
The migration of Transvaal Boers into Orange had drastically changed the local Boer social structure.
Though the two nations shared blood ties, prolonged interaction brought friction—fueled by British manipulation. The British had always viewed the Boers with suspicion and certainly didn't want them united under their rule.
To the British, the Transvaal Boers were a group to be co-opted. The Orange Boers were to be suppressed.
Transvaalers had been expelled from their homeland by East Africa, and since the British were newcomers in Orange as well, the Orange Boers naturally saw themselves as the land's rightful heirs.
Clearly, neither the Transvaalers nor the British saw it that way. The Transvaal Restoration Organization had aligned itself with the British.
"Those Transvaalers are ungrateful wolves. We gave them homes, lent them land, helped them survive the hardest times. And now they want to take over. Shameless."
"And if they were willing to integrate back into Orange, we could accept that. But no—they keep shouting about reclaiming lost lands and rebuilding the Transvaal. Always asking for supplies and donations—greedy pigs."
"Do you think all their talk about restoration is just a scam to manipulate us? That they never intended to fight East Africa, and just want to use us?"
"Unlikely. From what I've seen, the Restoration Army has been training seriously. Looks like they're aiming to rival the East African Army. They wouldn't need such force just to bully us."
"Don't be so sure! This isn't the East Africa of old. When they attacked the Transvaal, they mobilized tens of thousands. Then they fought and defeated Portugal—mobilizing over 200,000 troops. Think about it: the Transvaal only had a population of 200,000. Even if they sent children and old men to fight, they couldn't match East Africa's strength."
"Exactly. Everyone knows East Africa is the strongest power in Africa. Their navy alone employs tens of thousands. Their army must be at least 100,000 strong. Even if all Boers united, we wouldn't stand a chance—let alone the 3,000-man Restoration Army."
"If East Africa deployed just a tenth of their army, they could wipe out the Restoration Army. Compared to the East African forces, the Restoration Army doesn't stand a chance in numbers or equipment. That's why I say the 'Restoration' is just a scam by the Transvaalers and the Brits to squeeze resources out of Orange."
No wonder the Orange Boers were suspicious. The Transvaalers kept shouting slogans, but never acted. East Africa remained untouched, while the Transvaalers begged the Orange Boers for charity. The Orange Boers were sick of it.
To be fair, the Transvaalers had once wanted to fight East Africa and reclaim their homeland—but the British and Orange Boers opposed it.
After all, Orange had no quarrel with East Africa and didn't want to start one. Britain feared they'd fail and only provoke retaliation. East Africa had grown stronger; a half-hearted attack would achieve nothing. Britain hoped to wait and strike when the time was right—but Afghanistan's troubles had delayed everything.
Now, the Restoration Army that Britain once funded was Britain's financial burden no more—they passed it off to Orange.
This was why taxes kept rising in the Orange Free State. Supporting an extra army was no small burden, especially when it wasn't coming from the empty Orange treasury. Britain, meanwhile, sat comfortably on diamond wealth without contributing a cent.
"We've invited wolves into our home. I don't object to helping the Transvaalers, but I expect some reciprocity—not to be treated as if it's our duty, or worse, to be exploited by those who claim to be our brothers while serving our old enemy."
Before East Africa's rise, the Boers' greatest enemy—aside from native tribes—had always been the British. East Africa might be no saint, but the Restoration Army pledged allegiance to Britain, their historical foe.
And Orange had no issue with East Africa, which had conquered Transvaal, not Orange.
The Transvaalers, meanwhile, had shown no gratitude—constantly clashing with Orange locals and absorbing their resources.
Tax hikes alone had already turned Orange public sentiment sour. Now, with the British wrapping up in Afghanistan, rumors said the Restoration Army would soon start recruiting. On paper, good news.
But after years of living together, the Orange Boers knew Britain was stingy. The cost of recruiting more troops would surely fall on them.
Feeding and housing 3,000 troops was already hard enough—especially since they were trained and equipped to British military standards.
Even just their "coffee allowance" was costly. And the Brits weren't just cheap—they were corrupt. They imported cheap coffee from Zanzibari merchants and pocketed kickbacks. No matter how modest the Restoration Army tried to be, its spending was out of control.
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