African Entrepreneurship Records 2

Chapter 238 Three "Knives"

"Build the iron chain bridge quickly during the dry season. We need to build at least five iron chain bridges on this section of the river to ensure smooth traffic."

"An iron bridge connects the north and south banks, and the army can directly enter the south from the bridge. Fortunately, light infantry is the main force in East Africa, and the requirements for bridges are not high."

"Traffic is nothing more than connecting two places. These chain bridges will also serve as the most important hub in the region for some time to come."

The two engineers were standing on the north bank of the Zambezi River and chatting, and the overall frame of a bridge had already appeared in front of them, as long as the wooden boards were laid on the iron cables.

The Zambezi River, formerly the dividing line between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is the fourth largest river in Africa, with a total length of 2660 kilometers and a basin area of ​​135 million square kilometers. Its water volume in Africa is second only to the Congo River and the Niger River.

The biggest feature of the Zambia River is its precipitousness, many gorges, rapids and dangerous shoals, and it is prone to flooding in the lower reaches of Mozambique.

So if you want to cross this natural moat, you must build a bridge, but the Zambezi River is too far away from the economically developed areas of East Africa, and in the Kingdom of East Africa, except for the eastern land, which has been repaired for many years and has established a preliminary road system, other areas can be said is blank.

Therefore, it is too unrealistic to transport building materials from the rear, so it is more time-saving and labor-saving to use a chain bridge.

"When the bridges on this river are all built, it is almost the time when the southwestern provinces are completely stable."

The so-called soldiers and horses have not moved, food and grass go first, and now East Africa is planning to build roads in Zambia.

There is a saying that there is no road in the world, if there are many people walking, the road will become a road.

Indigenous Africans actually have their own roads, but they really walk out with bare feet, and East Africa just expands the roads on this basis.

Unlike the Tanganyika region in East Africa, there are some indigenous kingdoms in the southwest region, so the traffic is not zero, especially in the north, where the original Kazenbe Kingdom has the best traffic conditions.

Some people often misunderstand that the speed of road construction in East Africa is incredible. In fact, it is completely unnecessary. The construction of roads in East Africa and the construction of roads in later generations are not the same concept at all.

Except for the Eastern Central Province and those eastern cities, hardened roads are used, and other areas are still dirt roads. What about these dirt roads?Some areas have not even been touched, and they are used directly.

It's just that when roads are built in East Africa, drainage measures will be strengthened. This is actually the most expensive project.

While planning to build roads, the East African government also plans to build a telegraph line from Mbeya, South Salzburg Province, to Lusaka, the capital of Southern Frontier Province, so that the central government can directly communicate with the southwestern region.

East Africa hasn't completely digested Zambia yet, but can't wait to enter Zimbabwe and other regions.

This is also the reason for hastily building bridges on the Zambezi River. At the same time, East Africa is actively expanding its army and intends to expand the army to about 20.

Now the role of the army is very important. The territory of East Africa is too large, and more troops are needed to consolidate the country. At the same time, East Africa intends to develop the slave economy in recent years, and the suppression of slaves also requires the army.

The river and lake forces will be greatly strengthened as key support targets. The Zambia River Basin is crisscrossed and criss-crossed, which is a good place for them to exert their strength.

……

Rome, Italy.

In a remote courtyard, there were more than a hundred people that day.

"Pastor, where did you find this yard? Although it can accommodate many people, the conditions are too simple!"

"Okay, it's good to have a house to live in, and don't forget the purpose of our coming here, of course it is more convenient to gather together to do things, otherwise, once things change, command will be a problem, and this place happens to be far away from the suburbs place so that the Italians would not notice."

"Well, to be honest, I'm not surprised to go abroad. It's the most difficult for me to go abroad with bare hands. A soldier has no gun, so is he still a soldier?"

"Mr. Bryce, stop complaining. As the elite of the empire, we should continue to maintain military integrity. Sending us to Italy shows the importance of this operation. If it succeeds, we will be the heroes of the empire when we go back." The pastor taught.

As a "pious believer" from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is natural to have a real priest to accompany him, so that it is not easy to pass through.It must be a disaster if these disguised believers of the Austrian army are really allowed to act alone.

"Dong dong dong..."

At this moment there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" The pastor opened the door to check.

"Sir, would you like an Italian pizza?"

"What flavor?"

"Pineapple flavor."

“Very tasty but I prefer pasta with tomato sauce.”

Match the password.

"Major General Karl is the person in charge of this operation. He should have passed Ostia by now and is on his way to Rome. Two days later, at [-]:[-] p.m., the heads of the various districts will have a meeting at this address ahead of time."

Speaking, the person who came to deliver the letter handed a note to the pastor. The pastor looked at the location above and said, "I know, but are we really doing this with bare hands?"

"You don't need to worry about weapons. The empire will naturally solve this problem. You are all ready to receive it when the time comes."

This is one of the strongholds for the military personnel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to enter the Papal State. This time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire dispatched a total of more than 700 soldiers. Most of them came from the elite troops of the Empire, including the two Royal Guards.

In addition, Franz also followed Ernst's suggestion and sent a diplomatic team to Rome, but the number of diplomatic team members exceeded the standard, and many people entered the Papal State as diplomats.

At the same time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire also dispatched troops and generals in its territory. In order not to make this military operation too eye-catching, they played the banner of changing defenses.

But if you pay a little attention, you will find that the military equipment for defending against Italy has obviously improved to a higher level.

……

In June, Spain's cabinet meeting decided to find a suitable heir to the Spanish throne.

Prince Leopold of the Hohenzollern family, distantly related to King William I of Prussia, seemed to be a promising candidate for the Spanish crown, but news unfortunately leaked at the end of June 1870.

The French foreign minister, the Duke of Gramont, immediately put pressure on Prussia to give up his support for Leopold, and at the same time asked Prussia to promise never to get involved in the Spanish throne, William I declined.

Now East Africa is sharpening its sword in Zambia, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire is also secretly gathering strength to the south, and Prussia has been planning to change the situation in Europe since more than ten years ago.

The strength of the Prussian army has been rising, and now the contradictions between Prussia and France have begun to emerge.Everyone is waiting for the opportunity, or waiting for Prussia's next decision, and Prussia will become the protagonist of the event.If Franco-Prussian goes to war, East Africa and the Austro-Hungarian Empire will also kill their respective targets.

(End of this chapter)