Chapter 378: Chapter 57 Ironclad Ship
Ernst: "Very well, handle this personally. First, deal with the Haitians, then help them establish contact with the Americans. This is something beneficial for all three parties, but do not reveal our identity. It would be best if the contact could be a Frenchman."
Thomas understood and said, "Don’t worry, Your Highness! It is through the channel of French slave traders, having nothing to do with East Africa at all. After all, everyone knows Haiti used to be a French colony."
Today’s American white people could never imagine the emergence of something like "Black Lives Matter" in the past life, after all, the idea of slaves turning into masters was unimaginable for the white Americans of this era.
If those Southern plantation owners knew the fate their descendants would face in the future, they would definitely choose to continue the war to the end, as long as they do not conduct social reforms, the Blacks would never rise.
History is always so interesting, just like the Mamluks who once ruled Egypt were also slaves introduced into Egypt, then became the masters of Egypt. Now all of Egypt bears the mark of the Mamluks, if it weren’t for Ali, this parachuted Albanian, Egypt would still be under Mamluk rule.
The fall of Rome was also like this, replaced by the barbarian Germanic tribes of the past, who were always parading under the banner of Rome.
Ernst is not belittling the Blacks, at least the Blacks in America and the Jews are the best actors, both using the banner of racial discrimination to seek privileges while attempting to morally bind the whole world, as if the entire world owes them.
All the Blacks left on the African continent are those Ernst is wary of, Ernst had previously tried to drive the Black people toward West Africa, and now it seems still not safe enough.
These people in modern society have terrifying fertility rates. Unless Tutu cuts down, but in modern society, which boasts of being a civilized society, there are actually a large group of hypocritical saints, while the customs are still "simple" among the Arabs, so they don’t encounter this issue. Therefore, how to prevent the Blacks from devouring the state he established must be handled prudently.
"Fight poison with poison!" Ernst murmured.
"Your Highness, what did you say?" Thomas asked.
Ernst: "Nothing, you go handle your tasks first!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Just now, a new idea formed in Ernst’s mind, can’t the Blacks reproduce! Actually, it is not a big deal, in reality, before entering industrial civilization, all races could procreate.
Take, for example, the Arabs in the past life, they continued their tradition and maintained a very high birth rate, relying on the oil business, and forcibly increased the population in the desert several times over.
Then as long as Ernst sets up a few backward countries on the African continent, separating them between the Blacks and East Africa, it could solve the black backlash.
If possible, East Africa can also command these countries from the back to carry out some invasion wars, further compressing the survival space of the Blacks. According to past life’s experience, this move is entirely feasible. The international community often turns a blind eye to conflicts on the African continent. The benevolent monarchs in Africa still use colonial history to threaten Europe and America, and the effect is not bad.
With these thoughts, Ernst felt this plan was good. It could be executed when the time is right in the future, but now it’s impossible. First, he has to meet the immigration demand in East Africa.
"Knock, knock, knock..." At this time, a knocking sound suddenly rang out.
Ernst: "Come in!"
The person who came in was Tom, the current butler of Hohenzollern Castle.
Tom: "Your Highness, the ship schedule in Trieste has been arranged, you can go to East Africa at any time."
Ernst: "Good, Tom, once I’ve gone to East Africa, I’ll leave the household affairs to you, you manage the European affairs for me first."
Tom: "Rest assured, Your Highness, I’ll go east if you tell me to, never west, even if you send me to my death, I’d have no complaints."
Ernst: "What nonsense about death, your family has served Heixinggen for generations, I trust you."
Though spoken with nice words, in reality, could Tom betray the Heixinggen royal family? Ernst just needed a trustworthy person remaining in Europe for him to supervise the operations of the Heixinggen consortium conveniently. In essence, the control had already been relocated to the Heixinggen Bank headquarters in East Africa. To put it in Eastern terms, Tom was Ernst’s appointed imperial envoy.
Tom: "Your Highness, also that Archduke Ferdinand ironclad ship the Austria-Hungary Empire is building, which you asked me to check on during my trip to Trieste, is now 30% complete."
Ernst: "Very good, I think when it appears before the father-in-law, he will surely be very pleased."
A few months ago, Ernst promised to add two sailing warships to Ferdinand’s East African navy to steady Ferdinand’s mindset, letting him see he was doing a job with a future. What Mexican exile government emperor, get lost quickly, is there anything more valuable than being the Navy Commander of East Africa?
Mexico to the USA is like the Zanzibar Sultanate to East Africa, in Ernst’s view, the position of the Mexican Emperor is just like the Sultan of the Zanzibar Sultanate, nothing good in being a puppet.
If Mexico could truly be independent, Ernst naturally wouldn’t have said so, there may even be a tiny possibility of egging his father-in-law to jump ship to Mexico. Now that Mexico has become America’s backyard, there’s no value, going there would just cause a mess.
However, none of these was related to the Archduke Ferdinand ironclad ship Ernst privately funded and built. The Archduke Ferdinand concerns Ernst’s marriage, with only two years left till Ernst’s wedding.
Thinking about how Ferdinand sneaks off to Austria-Hungary Empire each time, afraid of being seen with pitiful looks, Ernst feels a bit guilty toward his... ah no, his father-in-law.
And by then the wedding is to be held in Vienna, and Archduke Ferdinand must be present. They are all Ferdinand’s old noble acquaintances from various countries, just think how socially devastating it would be.
"Isn’t this Emperor Maximiliano I of Mexico? Where have you been these years? Why no word of you? Heard you were executed, is that true?" Though the guests wouldn’t say so, Ferdinand would surely feel some discomfort inside.
However, should anyone really ask Ferdinand what he’s been up to recently? It may happen — Navy Commander of East Africa! What is that?
By then, the ironclad ship "Archduke Ferdinand," a 7200-ton large vessel, would prove useful, with its six 283mm Krupp-manufactured large-caliber naval guns, a strong deterrence, most importantly named after Ferdinand himself, it could help Ferdinand restore some face.
At least proving East African navy has some strength, the main Austro-Hungarian Empire naval ship Lissa has just a displacement of 7000 tons, completion of Archduke Ferdinand will max out the appearance of East African navy.
After the victory in the Austro-Italian War, Austro-Hungarian Naval also wanted to build a commemorative warship like the "Lissa," to enhance naval power. But unfortunately, Austro-Hungarian Empire really had no money, or rather the Hungarian government refused to allocate funds.
Although Austro-Hungarian Navy’s plan ultimately passed, it was delayed a few years. They could only envy East African Navy’s grand spending.
But all of this was done without informing Archduke Ferdinand, the poor archduke was still proud of blackmailing Ernst into giving him two wooden sailing steam warships.