African Entrepreneurship Records 2

Chapter 1250 Rumors
Krabi Province.

The agreement between the East African and Siamese governments gave the indigenous people of the Isthmus of Kra a difficult choice: whether to continue staying here or flee to the north with their families. It was difficult to decide at the time.

The Delakong family also suffered from the same trouble. The Delakong family was just tenant farmers in Krabi Province, and they were responsible for working for local plantation owners all year round to make a living.

"Dela Gong, we don't know if the rumors are true. What should we do now? Should we escape to the north?" Dela Gong's wife asked.

Krabi Province is not far from Siam. It is only a few dozen miles away from here to Bandung, and Bandung is the core area of ​​the Tapi River Plain in Siam that is not reached in East Africa.

Therefore, it is not difficult for local people in Krabi Province, Phang Nga Province and other areas adjacent to Siam's Bandung Province to escape to Siam.

De La Gong frowned and said, "Let me think about it again. Moving is a big deal. We don't have any land and we don't have much property. Even if we flee to Wanlun, survival will be a huge problem."

Since Siam was a feudal monarchy, the land was naturally concentrated in the hands of the Siamese landlord class. Most ordinary people like the Delakong family did not have their own land.

Of course, the situation in several provinces in the south of Siam was better. After all, Siam's conquest and development of this area was short, so local land annexation was relatively weak, and the number of self-cultivating farmers was still considerable, after all, there was more land that could be reclaimed.

However, as a tropical rainforest area, it was extremely difficult to develop it in the early 20th century. It required technology, manpower, organizational capabilities, etc., and it was also necessary to overcome the harsh natural environment.

Not to mention Siam, even powerful countries like East Africa are relatively lagging behind in the development of tropical rainforest areas, so most of the population in southern Siam is concentrated in the already developed Tapi River Plain area.

The wife said, "It's only 34 kilometers from here to Wanlun, so let's run away! After all, it's not far, and our family of six doesn't have to worry about encountering any danger on the road. Besides, we don't have our own land. In Krabi, we farm for the landlords, so it doesn't make any difference to move to another place."

"The most important thing is that East Africans are quite brutal. The risk for our family to stay here is too great. Rather than losing our lives, it is better to travel a little further. As for the livelihood issue, we will talk about it after we arrive in Wanlun."

Now, rumors about East Africa have spread throughout the entire Kra Isthmus. According to the description of the locals, East Africa is basically a demon that "kills anyone it sees."

So Dela Gong’s wife didn’t dare to gamble with the lives of her family. She wanted her family to escape first.

Dela Gong said, "I want to run away too! It's a pity that you and I have no relatives in Wanlun, otherwise I wouldn't be so hesitant. Besides, we don't have much experience, and the farthest place we have been to is the town. So even though this place is only a few dozen kilometers away from Wanlun, if we really want to settle down, I'm afraid this distance is just the lower limit. We may have to go further north."

The wife said, "Don't worry too much at this time. There are many people in the village who want to go to Wanlun. We can go together with those who want to go in the village. This way we won't be bullied."

It is naturally impossible that the Delakong family is the only one who wants to flee to Krabi Province. After all, the whole Krabi Province is in a panic now, especially when some big families have already fled. Those who are willing to choose to stay are really stubborn.

Just as the couple was discussing, a voice came from outside the house: "Is De La Gong home?"

De La Gong responded: "It's Pani. He came at the right time. I can ask about their family's plans."

Then Delagong walked out of the yard and said to Pani, "Pani, are you and your family going to Wanlun?"

Pani said with a sad face: "I don't know either, so I came to ask you what you think, but some people in the village have already planned to form a group and go to Wanlun together, Delagong, what do you think?"

Dela Gong said, "Of course we want to flee here as soon as possible. After all, if the rumors are true, we will not be well under the rule of East Africans. We will either be slaughtered or enslaved." Pani said, "Yes! People say that East Africans are very cruel. They have carried out massacres in many regions and countries in Southeast Asia. If we stay here, we will probably be in danger in the future."

De La Gong said: "What does the village chief's family say?"

Pani replied: "The village chief is also planning to flee. The other two big families in the village have already moved to Bangkok. The village chief has a large family and many businesses in the local area, so they have not left until now."

In the village where Dela Gong lives, the land is basically concentrated in the hands of three families. The village chief's family is the most powerful, but it also means that the village chief's family has the most complicated relationships in the local area, so the other two families ran away first.

De La Gong said, "So they don't want their land anymore?"

Pani said, "It's a matter of choice now. To take the land means to risk one's life. Do you know the colonial methods of East Africa? I heard that there are no landlords in East Africa, and the land is nationalized. The several colonies of East Africa in Southeast Asia are even more thorough, not even leaving people behind, and the land is taken over and managed by the East African government."

This can also be considered a form of "land reform". The reason why East Africa has not been targeted by other powerful countries is entirely because all the land in East Africa was obtained through colonial means. Since it is a colony, the nature is naturally different.

The actions of the East African governments were completely out of generosity, and the fate of the indigenous people was not taken seriously by Western countries. After all, the colonial lands of Britain and France were also obtained for free.

Of course, if we change the scenario and assume that East Africa is a country with a long history and the East African government forcibly expropriates these lands from its own people and nationalizes them, that would be a different situation.

Pani went on to say, "Besides, how could the three families in the village be so stupid? They are not as poor as us. This place is not far from Wanlun, and they can monitor the situation in Krabi at any time. If the East Africans are easy to talk to, they can just move back. After all, they have the title deed."

It is natural that the upper-class families in the Isthmus of Kra would not willingly allow themselves to be slaughtered. After all, their wealth, power, and status are all in the local area.

However, Krabi is a special place. After all, it is located on the border, so most families in Krabi area will not be as stubborn as families in other provinces. Most of them choose to go to Wanlun to wait and see the situation.

If East Africa is not as rumored, can we coexist? After all, the British and French colonies did not kill off all the people, but relied on local families and the upper class to consolidate their rule.

The original indigenous upper class of Krabi and the entire Kra Isthmus naturally shared this idea. They would not sacrifice their own interests in vain because of a treaty between the East African government and Bangkok.

If East Africa does not use force, then everyone will be happy with the outcome. However, if East Africa replicates the policies of East Kalimantan, then local forces will certainly fight back.

In fact, family forces in many areas of the southern part of the Kra Isthmus have begun to purchase and stockpile arms in large quantities, especially the indigenous people in the Pattani area, who have long been in conflict with the Siamese government.

So how could such stubborn elements withdraw from the Kra Isthmus territory just because they were afraid of the threat from East Africa?

In fact, the window period for East Africans to take over the territory of the Isthmus of Kra has not yet arrived. Some local forces have already colluded with each other, especially in the south, where Pattani is a typical Arab religious power area.

East Africa's attitude towards the locals is obvious. In fact, many of the rumors and hearsay currently circulating in the Kra Isthmus territory, which exaggerate the terror in East Africa, come from the East African Military Intelligence Agency.

The Military Bureau is also an intelligence agency in East Africa, but it mainly serves the military. Obviously, the military has to play a major role in controlling the Kra Isthmus territory, so the Military Intelligence Bureau is responsible for this mission, rather than the National Defense Security Agency that has been causing trouble overseas for many years.

(End of this chapter)