Chapter 295 Rejection
The smooth transaction between the two parties is due to the favorable trading environment created by the East African government. This is a trading point planned by the East African government on the banks of the Limpopo River.
Next to the trading outlet is the East African garrison. Under the threat of force, naturally no villain would dare to make trouble here unless they defeat the East African Army first.
Tariffs do not exist. Most of the goods sold in East Africa are their own products. Moreover, if taxes are collected in Africa, the Limpopo River cannot stop the merchants' desire for money. Both sides are capable of starting smuggling business on the sparsely populated banks of the Limpopo River at any time.
At the last East African government meeting, one of the ways the East African government would increase the popularity of the Matabele Plateau was through trade, not only with the natives but also with the Boers and the Portuguese, so that was part of the plan.
Just when Van der Meer and Yuris finished the transaction and were about to leave, Leon, the head of the Baines Ferry Trading Market, suddenly appeared from nowhere.
He stopped Vandermeer who was about to leave in time, and Leon said, "Mr. Vandermeer, please stay!"
"It's you! Manager Leon." Van der Meer said, "Manager Leon, what can I do for you?"
Leon: "Mr. Van der Meer, to be honest, your ships are still too small. How much cargo can they carry? So I suggest that you get some larger ships to facilitate trade activities between the Kingdom of East Africa and the Transvaal Republic."
Van der Meer: "That's it! Actually, I also want to change to a bigger boat, but unfortunately I am just a small businessman, and there was not much business on the Limpopo River before. Now it's great to be able to get a few small boats temporarily."
Leon glanced at the cargo on the small boats. There was indeed not much on them. The people who followed Van der Meer mostly bought industrial products. The sales of agricultural products produced in East Africa were very bleak. The main thing that could be sold was cashew nuts.
Leon: "Mr. Van der Meer, if possible, you can come and engage in this kind of industry. We in East Africa generally have no shortage of industrial products, but there is still a big gap in cattle, sheep, and horses. Your small boats can't carry so much cargo."
After hearing Leon's hint, Van der Meer said, "Of course, no problem. It's not impossible to do this. By the way, cattle, sheep and horses can offset the money?"
Leon: "You can talk to me directly about this matter. In a while, Hexingen Bank will build a branch here, and our East African government will directly purchase live cattle, sheep and horses."
VanderMeer: "That's great! Have fun working with you next time."
Leon: “It’s a pleasure to work with you.”
Van der Meer's small caravan rowed towards the Transvaal Republic, watching the trading market become somewhat deserted after they left.
Leon said: "It still hasn't gained much popularity. I don't know if it's intentional on the part of the Transvaal Republic government."
"Haha, Mr. Leon, you must have thought too much. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Now the infrastructure of Baines Ferry is not yet perfect, so it is normal that not many people come here. Moreover, there are only a few people with consumption power in the Transvaal Republic. The total population of the Transvaal Republic is so small. Even if everyone has some spare money, it is impossible for them to come to Baines Ferry to consume. It is already very good to develop regular customers like Van der Meer. How Baines Ferry will develop in the future depends on comparing it with other trading markets to know the result." Yuris said on the side.
Leon: "You're right, there's no rush for this. By the way, Mr. Yuris, this is what we got today!"
Yuris: "Not bad. Next time I go to Dar es Salaam to buy goods, I can send more money home."
Leon: “Congratulations!”
Yuris laughed and said, "How about a barbecue tonight?"
Leon: "Please me?"
"Of course, Mr. Leon."
…
Mozambique.
Maputo.
"Your Excellency the Governor, East Africa has sent people to Mozambique!"
Governor: "What do they want to do?"
"According to the East Africans, they want to use a port in our south this time."
Governor: "Haha, are the East Africans crazy? We don't even give the British face, so why do they think we will open the port to them?"
"But Your Excellency, Governor, if East Africa really wants to attack me using this as an excuse, I'm afraid we will be in a passive position. After all, the border between us is too long now."
Governor: "You think too highly of East Africa. They are just a colony formed by a group of German immigrants, and they are not colonies of Prussia and Austria. What can they use to fight against the Kingdom of Portugal? Let them go back! We will not open a port to them, not even one. Once this port is opened, they will be even more greedy in the future."
"Why don't you talk to them first?"
Governor: "What is there to talk about? They are just a small country in a foreign land. We are lucky that we did not ask them to open their ports to us. Let's send them away quickly."
"Yes, Your Excellency the Governor!"
The new governor of Mozambique, Caboril, who looked down on East Africa, rejected East Africa's request. Even the East African diplomats did not get to meet him in person.
Caboril was a retired general of the Portuguese Army. He was sent to Mozambique by the kingdom to clean up the mess left by the previous governor.
The previous Battle of Malawi was too brutal, and some people in the colony reported that the former governor was nepotism, family business, embezzlement of colonial assets, and suppression of patriots, so with a transfer order from Portugal, the former governor returned to his homeland to continue enjoying himself.
When Caboril took office, he was extremely dissatisfied with Mozambique's military strength. The armaments were lax to an outrageous degree, and the military funds had been embezzled by the relatives and friends of the former governor.
Therefore, Caboril, who came from the army, carried out a large-scale reform of the Mozambique colonial army. First, he cleared out those flatterers and incompetent people from the army. Then he wrote directly to the Portuguese central government, accusing the corruption of the colonial army and the crimes of the former governor. He successfully obtained a batch of guns and funds to replace the colonial army's outdated equipment and make up for the overdue military pay.
Judging from Caboril's actions, he is a relatively capable person, but he is a bit straightforward.
Of course, this was also one of the reasons why he was exiled to Mozambique. The Portuguese military did not like him very much, and when the government was selecting the Governor of Mozambique, it believed that such an upright person should be sent to Mozambique to clean up the mess left by the previous governor.
The morale of the Mozambique army after the reform was greatly boosted. The fact that Caborel paid the soldiers made them very happy and they were willing to die for Caborel.
Caboril personally led the troops to re-conquer the Kingdom of Malawi. With his excellent military skills, he finally conquered the Kingdom of Malawi a month ago and placed it under the management of Mozambique.
Although it was somewhat insignificant compared to the exaggerated expansion speed of East Africa, Caborel did not think so. He just felt that it was entirely due to the incompetence of the former governor that East Africa took advantage of the opportunity.
After all, he had just arrived in Mozambique, and if he had been the previous governor, Mozambique would have invaded the interior of Africa long ago.
Although the previous governor was very incompetent, he still did some practical things. For example, although the Battle of Malawi was a disastrous defeat, it had greatly consumed the strength of the indigenous people. If it had not been for the mountain floods that caused heavy losses to the main force, the Kingdom of Malawi might have been conquered. So Caborre was lucky to have taken advantage of the situation. Of course, we cannot deny the results of his reorganization, which increased the strength of the Mozambique army.
(End of this chapter)
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