Chapter 410: Naval Issues
This time Leopold II took action several years earlier than in history. In addition, the establishment of the East African Kingdom had set a model for him, so he was not as timid as in his previous life. It was basically certain that the establishment of the Belgian Congo would not be difficult.
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The scope of the Belgian Congo is roughly the entire territory of the previous life's Congo (Brazzaville), plus the Luanda area of Angola in the previous life, most of Gabon, and a small part of southern Cameroon, eastern Guinea, and western Central Africa.
The area is at least over 600,000 square kilometers. As for how much the Kingdom of Belgium can get, it depends on how much resources Belgium is willing to invest.
The only factor threatening the Belgian Congo is France, but it is certain that France will not cause trouble for Belgium in the next few years, and may even win over Belgium. People grow, and so do countries.
After being beaten badly by Prussia, during the reign of Napoleon III, France had to change its diplomacy. If it did not seek allies, it might be destroyed next time. Belgium, located between Germany and France, was one of the targets that France wanted to win over.
Besides, think about it, France's threat to Belgian colonies is not as convincing as France's threat to Belgium itself. After losing Lorraine and Alsace, France also lost the coal and iron ore producing areas here, as well as the largest cotton producing area, and the second largest steel and timber producing areas. After losing Lorraine and Alsace, the closest coal and steel producing area to France is Belgium. The most important thing is that nearly half of the population in Belgium is French-speaking.
As for the traditional colony in the Congo River Basin, the Portuguese colony of Angola, the Belgian government simply chose to ignore it.
Now Portugal is no longer the world's number one maritime hegemon it once was, and its decline is not a slow decline overnight, but an avalanche-like decline. Currently, Portugal is inferior to Belgium in terms of population, economy, industrial level and other aspects.
Although Belgium has not been independent for many years, it was once a part of the Netherlands. Even so, the Netherlands is still an important part of the ocean.
The Kingdom of East Africa also poses a certain threat to Belgium. The westernmost part of East Africa controls Bangui, the capital of the former Central African Republic. The Ubangui River below Bangui is navigable all year round, which means that East Africa actually controls all the Congo Basin areas east of the Ubangui River.
Although the East African Kingdom did not colonize the Congo rainforest area, East African patrol boats cruised on the Ubangi River and the Congo River to Kinshasa, the capital of the former Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Leopold II naturally knew this, so he wisely used the Ubangi River as the dividing line between Belgian Congo and the East African Kingdom.
The most important point is that Leopold II really understood the ways of the world. After he made the plan to colonize the Belgian Congo, he specifically conveyed the message to the East African Kingdom through his sister, Princess Charlotte, so Leopold II's plan was quickly delivered to Constantine and Ernst.
For this matter, Archduke Ferdinand took a special leave and accompanied Princess Charlotte from Bagamoyo to the First Town.
Archduke Ferdinand: "This is a letter from Charlotte's brother, King Leopold II of Belgium. Belgium plans to colonize inland from the coast of West Africa. Will this threaten the strategic security of the Kingdom of East Africa?"
The term strategic security has a special meaning for the East African Kingdom. Looking at the series of expansion wars launched in East Africa, they are inseparable from the term strategic security. I don’t know how many African forces have suffered misfortunes because of this term. It seems that under the influence of the East African Kingdom, Archduke Ferdinand understands the essence of "strategic security".
It is understandable that Archduke Ferdinand considered the issue from the perspective of the East African Kingdom. Apart from his identity as the commander-in-chief of the East African Navy, he supported any expansion of East Africa.
Every piece of land that the East African Kingdom takes represents progress in the strength of the East African Kingdom, and his daughter is the future mistress of the East African Kingdom, so Archduke Ferdinand now thinks about the interests of East Africa first.
Ernst did not answer his father-in-law immediately, but first carefully read the letter sent by Leopold II. Leopold II even kindly attached a hypothetical map of the "Belgian Congo".
Ernst exclaimed: "Your Majesty Leopold, he is really a natural genius in colonization and very good at scheming. He was able to perfectly avoid the sphere of influence of our East African and other countries and find a way for Belgium."
On the map, Leopold II used a red pen to strictly control the "Belgian Congo" on the west bank of the Ubangi River.
Although Ernst was not interested in the Congo rainforest, East Africa had actually controlled the Congo rainforest since it occupied the Azande Plateau.
This is all thanks to the Congo River and its tributaries. East Africa controls the upper reaches of the Congo River and many of its tributaries, which puts the entire Congo rainforest in the pocket of the East African Kingdom.
By controlling the upper reaches of the river, we can gain strategic initiative, and the environment of the Congo rainforest can only be developed along the river. Other forces entering here are within the firepower range of the East African Kingdom.
Archduke Ferdinand said, "Ernst, do you mean to allow Belgium to expand along the west coast of Africa?"
Ernst nodded and said, "Since Belgium has this idea, there is no need for us to object. In fact, even if Belgium does not occupy there, it will be difficult for us in East Africa to exert our influence in Central and West Africa. The Congo rainforest is a natural barrier. It is a bit difficult for us to occupy the Azande Plateau. Even the closer White Nile Basin has not been effectively developed. Although the Congo rainforest is large in area, it cannot accommodate many people. This is also a disadvantage. We might as well think of ways to speed up the integration of South Africa and East Africa."
Constantine also said at this time: "Ernst is right. We have just occupied so much land in South Africa, and our land area has increased a lot. South Africa is obviously more important than Central and West Africa in terms of climate and importance."
The East African Kingdom is, after all, a small to medium-sized country with a large population and a vast territory. Its energy is limited, so it must be self-aware. As the saying goes, "you can't chew too much", and eating too much may really lead to death.
Ernst changed the subject and said, "Father-in-law, speaking of controlling South Africa, we have a plan right now that requires your assistance."
Archduke Ferdinand asked, "What's the plan?"
Ernst explained: "Since we destroyed the Zulu Kingdom, we now have access to the sea along the coast of South Africa. In order to control South Africa, we plan to build a port along the coast of the former Zulu Kingdom."
Ernst took out a map from the drawer, placed it on the table, pointed to Richard Bay in South Africa in his previous life and said, "This is a bay in the former Zulu Kingdom. Our people have already surveyed it and it is very suitable for building a port. Because of the need to develop and control South Africa, I plan to build a dual-use military and civilian port here."
Archduke Ferdinand said, "Do you want the navy to take control of this place?"
Ernst said affirmatively: "Yes."
This made Archduke Ferdinand very embarrassed. He said, "Ernst, I think you should be very clear about the situation of the East African Navy. Are you deliberately making things difficult for me?"
When it comes to naval issues, Archduke Ferdinand instantly became angry. The development of the East African Navy in recent years was actually not slow. After all, the East African Navy had no foundation before. However, as the former commander of the Austrian Navy, the East African Navy is not at all in Ferdinand's eyes.
It's no wonder that Archduke Ferdinand said that. The East African Navy was really too pitiful. It only had eight main battleships and thirteen gunboats.
Among them, the two warships of the Zanzibar Sultanate were not even as good as the merchant ships of the East African Kingdom. The two sailing warships obtained for free from the Austro-Hungarian Navy were also decades-old antiques. The other four newly built ships were barely acceptable, but they also had wooden hulls. With the rise of ironclad ships, they were obviously falling behind the times.
As for the giant ironclad ship "Archduke Ferdinand" funded and built by Ernst, it is still lying in the Trieste Royal Shipyard and will not be completed until March next year. The most important thing is that Archduke Ferdinand himself did not know the existence of this battleship.
Archduke Ferdinand went on to say, "The East African coastline is more than 2,000 kilometers long, and it is all maintained by these warships. We are also responsible for the defense of Mayotte Island in the Mozambique Channel. It is already completely insufficient. If South Africa is added, I dare not think about how to divide these ships. Don't you feel guilty?"
Archduke Ferdinand's question of conscience caused Constantine and Princess Charlotte to laugh heartily, and in this respect Ernst was indeed a bit unkind.
Ernst said calmly, "Father-in-law, I know the situation of the East African Navy. It has been difficult for you over the years. But the conditions did not allow it before. Now I have made some pocket money in North America, so I am planning to add some new ships to the East African Navy."
(End of this chapter)
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