Chapter 706: Dong'e's Diplomatic Relations Upgraded
September 12, 1887.
Abyssinian Empire, Bahir Dar.
Bahir Dar was the new capital of the Abyssinian Empire, where John IV moved the capital in 1880.
The entire history of the Abyssinian Empire was completely changed by the intervention of East Africa. John IV ended the civil strife in his country and built a new political center on the shores of Lake Tana.
"Tana" means water that never dries up in the local language. It is the largest lake in the Abyssinian Empire and the most important water source of the Blue Nile. It is known as the water tower of Northeast Africa. As for the water tower of Africa, it is the East African Plateau in the East African Kingdom.
Fisheries and shipping are very developed, but because it is a new city, the population is only over 50,000.
The core of the original Abyssinian Empire was in the northeast, close to the Red Sea coast. However, the northeast region was under dual threats from Italy and Egypt, and the economic benefits of the Red Sea route to the Abyssinian Empire were gradually replaced by the development of southern trade in East Africa.
Guided by both economic interests and strategic value, John IV had to move the capital from the northeast to Bahir Dar, the current center of the Abyssinian Empire.
Former East African Minister Aland: "Dear Emperor of the Abyssinian Empire, from today on, the East African Legation in Bahir Dar will be upgraded to an embassy. I will be promoted to the East African Ambassador to the Abyssinian Empire and will continue to serve to maintain the relationship between the two countries. In the future, we in East Africa will build railways, telegraphs, and factories in the Abyssinian Empire to strengthen the connection between the two countries. This is also a common witness to the friendship between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire."
The friendship between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire can be best described as "not as good as the best, but better than the worst." Compared with the other two neighbors of the Abyssinian Empire, East Africa seemed "friendly and amiable."
As the final victor in the Abyssinian Empire, Johannes IV was very satisfied with East Africa's attitude. At least compared with the British, Egyptians and Italians, East Africa seemed very sincere.
The two countries completely resolved the border issue more than a decade ago and made clear markings on the territorial divisions.
Of course, at that time the Abyssinian Empire was still in a state of fragmentation and warlord separatism, and it was not yet the turn of Johannes IV to take charge of the Abyssinian Empire.
However, since the border was demarcated, East Africa did not reach out to the Abyssinian Empire again, and the relationship between the two countries remained stable for more than ten years. East Africa's sincerity and respect were obviously initially recognized by the Abyssinian Empire.
Of course, if it were in the previous life, it would be basically impossible for East Africa to do this. In essence, the Abyssinian Empire suffered a loss. Many subordinate forces and foreign lands were cut off by East Africa. However, at that time, the Abyssinian Empire could hardly protect itself, let alone those smaller brothers.
"Minister Alande, no, Mr. Ambassador, East Africa wants to build railways and telegraphs in the Abyssinian Empire. What impact will this have on our Abyssinian Empire?"
Johannes IV was a military emperor who didn't know much about nation-building, so he was very wary of Alande's words.
"We help Abyssinia build modern infrastructure, naturally for the economic and trade exchanges and cultural exchanges between the two countries. It is very different from other European and American countries. It is for peaceful development, not war and slavery," said Alande.
"As everyone knows, we in East Africa have never infringed on the interests of the Abyssinian Empire, because our King said that the Abyssinian Empire is an important 'ancient civilization' in the world. In the entire history of Africa, only Egypt and the Abyssinian Empire have such status. But you are different from Egypt. Egypt is a puppet kingdom of Britain and is constantly conquered by external forces. Only the Abyssinian Empire has been independent and autonomous for thousands of years."
Aland praised the Abyssinian Empire. After all, good words don't cost money, and the effect was obvious. It was obvious that Johannes IV smiled a lot more often.
Arend struck while the iron was hot and said, "Our plan is to further deepen the 'friendly' relationship between the two countries, and this requires deepening exchanges and trade between the two sides, so we need to work hard on transportation and communication."
"In modern transportation, the most important thing on land is the railway. Currently, East Africa has approved the construction of a railway across the entire Turkana Province, and the terminus of this railway is Jimma City on our border. However, after the railway reaches Jimma City, the remaining issues will need to be decided by you within the Abyssinian Empire."
John IV naturally knew where Jimma City was. Relying on the trade of Jimma City, the southern city of the Abyssinian Empire, Negmert, was developing rapidly and becoming an important source of tax revenue.
Therefore, extending the railway into the territory of the Abyssinian Empire would definitely be of great benefit to the country's economy, but Johannes IV was more concerned about the military value of the railway.
"Ambassador Alande, I have also heard of railways. It is said that they are useful for transporting troops in Europe. If a railway is built between the two countries, how can you guarantee that it will not threaten the national security of our Abyssinian Empire?"
"Your Majesty, a railway is ultimately just a pile of steel roads. It does have great military value, but the ultimate problem is who controls it."
"Take our East African railway for example. The railways within our country are naturally under our control. We can transport hundreds of thousands of troops to the desired areas by rail at any time. For example, after the construction of the railway in Turkana Province is completed, we can send troops from the south to the border between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire in a few days."
"Can you stop us from doing this? Similarly, the railways within the Abyssinian Empire are naturally under your control. Whether it is transporting people or goods, it is up to you to decide. We in East Africa will not interfere or intervene. This is very different from European and American countries, so the railway issue should not be something you are afraid of."
The purpose of East Africa was to forcibly correct the economic structure of the Abyssinian Empire to a north-south direction through transportation, rather than the previous east-west direction.
After all, the Red Sea coast is the traditional active commercial area of the Abyssinian Empire. However, once the railway is built, it will be difficult to change this situation, unless the Abyssinian Empire builds an east-west railway itself in the future.
However, commercial trade also has inertia. By the time the Abyssinian Empire was able to build its own railways, the North-South trade would have matured for decades, so this was the construction of a set of system standards.
Of course, Alande's words also had some disrespectful meanings, especially his description of the railway in Turkana Province. This was clearly telling the Abyssinian Empire that East Africa's attempt to invade the Abyssinian Empire through the railway was simply not something the Abyssinian Empire could stop. After all, the Abyssinian Empire's strategic depth had already been eaten up by East Africa, Egypt and Italy.
Now the only demand of East Africa on the Abyssinian Empire is the market for dumping goods. As for the various resources within the Abyssinian Empire, they are not too important. This is the advantage of population.
The Abyssinian Empire has a population of over 10 million, which means there is a market demand of tens of millions, involving food, clothing, housing, transportation and other areas. It is a good place for East African industrial products and commodities. This is also the reason why East Africa plans to build railways and highways within the Abyssinian Empire.
Of course, the final destination of these traffics was the border between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire, which made the future trade of the Abyssinian Empire path-dependent and unable to break away from East Africa.
The Abyssinian Empire was not at a disadvantage. After all, East Africa could indeed bring some modern elements to the Abyssinian Empire, but these elements could only be operated relying on East Africa.
(End of this chapter)
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