Chapter 441 Returning to the Country

After not staying in Vienna for long, Ernst and his party had to return to East Africa for the next show, and this trip to Europe ended successfully.

Ernst gained a lot from this trip to Europe. The Hechingen Consortium merged 240 German companies, including several banks and large enterprises. At the same time, East Africa planned to introduce 43 large factories of various types, mainly engaged in steel, coal, copper smelting and processing, non-ferrous metal smelting, and shipbuilding.

At the same time, a large number of equipment were purchased to upgrade the technology of existing enterprises and factories in East Africa and improve productivity. In addition, East Africa and Germany and Austria finalized nearly one million tons of steel orders to ensure the construction of the East African railway. The orders from East Africa almost single-handedly saved the steel industries of Germany and Austria.

In fact, for Germany and Austria, at least for southern Germany and Austria, the economic crisis was not as serious as in the past. Both places are the most industrially developed regions in their countries, and they are mainly facing an oversupply of agricultural population.

As for solving the problem of overpopulation in agriculture, East Africa is naturally taking action, so this problem does not exist. The unemployment rate in the two places has been maintained at a low level. Although the economic crisis has led to overcapacity, it has not caused much impact on ordinary people because of the outflow of population. After all, if you lose your job, you can go to East Africa! There is always a way out.

The East African Railway Project requires more than 8 million tons of steel, of which nearly 2 million tons will be provided by Europe, and East Africa can subsequently produce and purchase the rest.

Taking advantage of this economic crisis, Ernst plans to increase East Africa's annual steel production to at least 600,000 tons next year, mainly by increasing the development of the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone.

The Lake Malawi Industrial Zone is currently the only large-scale coal and iron producing area in East Africa capable of large-scale development. Zimbabwe must wait until the railway construction is completed, so it will take at least a few years.

The port of Trieste.

"Our own ironclad warship in East Africa!" Archduke Ferdinand said to his family with some pride. When he came here, he was still riding a sailing warship. When he returned, he was upgraded to a more powerful one.

The eyes of the Austro-Hungarian Navy nearby were filled with helplessness and envy.

"Alas, as a world power, we are probably not as good as Africa right now. The East African navy may surpass us in the future."

"Isn't it just an ironclad ship? Although this ironclad ship is indeed more powerful than our Lissa, it was also made in Austria and is the essence of Austrian shipbuilding industry."

"I hope so! If the Imperial Parliament does not increase military spending, the future of the Imperial Navy will be bleak."

What the Austro-Hungarian Navy said is actually an exaggeration, mainly a complaint about the empire's lack of attention to the navy. The East African Navy still has a long way to go!

"Okay, father-in-law, let's set off quickly!" Ernst urged.

As the East African flag was raised on Archduke Ferdinand, the ownership of this ironclad ship became clear for the first time.

However, Archduke Ferdinand was still a little unsatisfied: "It would be even more perfect if there were a few more ships!"

Archduke Ferdinand was considered a behemoth in the Mediterranean, so the East African fleet led by the ironclad Archduke Ferdinand was indeed somewhat attractive on its return journey, and attracted the attention of the British when passing through the Suez Canal.

"Is this the ship that Austria built two years ago?"

"It seems that we guessed wrong at the beginning. This ironclad ship was not prepared for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. It was originally intended to be sold to East Africans."

Because they were stationed near the Suez Canal, the British troops here knew the East African Kingdom quite well. In addition to British and Austro-Hungarian ships, the most common ships passing through the Suez Canal were those from East Africa.

"This ironclad ship is considered top-notch among other countries, but it's just so-so." The British Empire remains confident.

"But it's a bit unreasonable for a colony like the East African Kingdom to buy such a large ship."

"Haha, the commander-in-chief of the East African Navy is Archduke Ferdinand, who was once the emperor of Mexico. The East African Kingdom is backed by the Hechingen Bank, so we can't just consider the colonies, but the financial resources. India can also afford such warships, but under the protection of the Royal Navy, they don't need to do so."

"Speaking of Hei Xingen, I actually really want to know how much money Hei Xingen Ocean Trading Company makes every year. They travel back and forth between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean all year round, and most of what they transport are agricultural products and minerals. Is it really profitable to engage in planting in Africa?"

"It is certainly profitable, but the risks of planting are also very high. Ordinary people are not qualified to play this high-end game. The initial investment is very high. If there is no short-term profit, investors will not be interested. After all, there are too many businesses that make money quickly."

"Haha, you're talking about stocks, right? All the stocks I bought last year have plummeted, luckily I didn't play too hard..."

While the British were talking, the East African fleet had already drifted over and was heading towards the Red Sea.

Ernst introduced the situation in East Africa to Karina, mainly to dispel rumors.

"Karina, East Africa is actually not as desolate as rumored. At least the area we live in is not much different from Europe."

"Are there really cannibal tribes in East Africa?"

"This... I can only say that it did exist in the past, but it no longer exists."

The existence of cannibal tribes is not a rumor. Tribal societies as primitive as those in Africa cannot be judged by the moral standards of the current era.

"Have you ever seen cannibals?"

"Of course not. I haven't been in East Africa for long. How could I have seen cannibals? I just saw this from the collected information."

Ernst did not encounter cannibals, but the East African soldiers who expanded inland did, and many battles took place.

“Is there malaria in East Africa?”

“You also know about malaria!”

"My grandmother told me that there was plague everywhere in Africa. If she had known that the Hexingen royal family was going to move to Africa, she would never have chosen you as her grandson-in-law."

"This is pure slander. The environment in East Africa is amazing. If you don't believe me, you can ask your parents. They have lived in East Africa for a long time. I can't say anything else, but East Africa is definitely not as dangerous as the rumors in Europe say."

Princess Charlotte laughed and said, "East Africa is indeed not dangerous, but the inland areas are hard to say. The coastal areas are quite good."

Ernst: "It's not just the coastal areas. More people can improve the living environment. Take the Far East for example. There is a place called Lingnan in the Far East. In ancient times, it was a place used to exile criminals. The environment there was similar to that in Africa and was not suitable for living. But with the development of generations, it is now one of the most densely populated areas in the Far East. After nearly a decade of development and transformation, we have actually achieved a similar effect in East Africa."

This is not because East Africa is so capable, but because the environment in East Africa is definitely easier to transform than the former Lingnan. First of all, the terrain in East Africa is flat and transportation is convenient. Secondly, grasslands are easier to develop than forests. Finally, the level of human productivity has undergone earth-shaking changes due to the Industrial Revolution, and the ability to transform nature has been greatly enhanced. Finally, it is Ernst's wise and powerful guidance, many mature experiences and theories that have greatly avoided detours in East Africa.

(End of this chapter)