Chapter 299 Prediction
Zanzibar Island.
More than a month after the East African government asked Zanzibar to abolish slavery, a group of unexpected visitors visited the Zanzibar Palace again.
A steam merchant ship flying the British flag docked on Zanzibar Island, and the people on the shore were not surprised by it. The location of Zanzibar Island determines that merchant ships from almost all countries sailing in the Indian Ocean may appear here. Of course, it is the Suez Canal Before the opening, the vast majority of ships now leave the Suez Canal.
But the Zanzibar people have not forgotten the grand scene of merchant ships from various countries docking in Zanzibar in the past, so the appearance of a British merchant ship is not unexpected.
When the merchant ship docked, a group of people came off the ship, but their purpose was not for trade and supplies, and they went directly to the management site of the port.
"Are you an official of the Sultanate of Zanzibar!"
"Yes, I am the person in charge of the port, Aimeni."
"Well, I am the special envoy of the British Empire. I want to visit the Sudan of your country. Please inform me."
Hearing the purpose of the visitor, the Zanzibar official dared not neglect, he said: "Sir! Please wait a moment." After speaking, he turned around and explained a few words to his subordinates, and then took a carriage to the palace to report the situation.
"Hi, I'm Ekalam, deputy manager of Zanzibar Port Sudan, sir, what should I call you?" Ekalam, who was staying to receive the British envoy, asked politely.
Edward ignored the Zanzibar official. He looked around the port of Zanzibar. The Sultanate of Zanzibar did not decline due to the opening of the Suez Canal because it had undertaken the East African trade. It was still very prosperous. People come and go, and there are many ships in the port, but Edward's focus is not here.
When he landed at the port, Edward noticed that the port of Zanzibar seemed to have more things than when he passed here ten years ago.
Edward: "That flag, if I remember correctly, should be the flag of Europe! Why is it set up with the flag of the Sultanate of Zanzibar?"
Ekaramu: "That is the flag of the Kingdom of East Africa. The Kingdom of East Africa is a friendly state of our Zanzibar Sultanate, so their flag is set up together with ours."
Edward said nonchalantly: "Oh! That's how it is. I've also heard people say that a new country has appeared in East Africa, but because I've been in India all year round, I'm not very well informed. This is the first time I've seen them. flag."
Ekaramu: "Sir, the ruler of the Kingdom of East Africa is a member of your famous Hohenzollern family in Europe, and its monarch is Prince Constantine of the former Kingdom of Prussia!"
Edward: "I see. It seems that East Africa has changed a lot these years! The Germans have opened up a colony here. Do they have any connection with you? For example, what kind of business are they doing?"
Ekaramu: "It is mainly agricultural products trading. The East African kingdom is rich in rice and wheat, as well as special products such as sisal."
"Pfft!" Edward couldn't help laughing out loud when he heard Ekalam's words, "The Germans are really good at farming, and I heard that there are many Germans in America as well."
Edward is not interested in this East African kingdom, it is nothing more than a small country that is proud of itself in a corner that the British Empire does not want.
"I haven't seen you for ten years. The army of the Sultanate of Zanzibar seems to be much more regular. It seems to have introduced European characteristics. Is that a fort? It's well built, but it used to be very dilapidated, and there were only a few small cannons."
Ekaramu was sweating nervously and said: "Mr. Edward, in fact, that is the army of the Kingdom of East Africa. As for the fort, they also built it."
Edward: "Oh! Zanzibar is so good that you can wear a pair of pants with the so-called East African kingdom? Even your own port is handed over to them for defense."
Ekaramu could only smile awkwardly: "That's right. After all, East Africa is a friendly country of Zanzibar. We... still trust our 'friends'."
Of course the Sultanate of Zanzibar does not want to hand over its national defense to East Africa, but the situation is stronger than others, so it can only obey the arrangements of East Africa. If you are obedient, the Kingdom of East Africa will appreciate the soup. If you are not obedient, East Africa can now give Zanzibar to Yang Yes, it belongs to the kind of dumb people who eat coptis, who can't tell the pain.
Edward said in a strange way: "Then the relationship between your two countries is really good. It would be great if Indians also have the consciousness of your country!"
At this time, Aimeni had already returned.
"Mr. Special Envoy, His Majesty the Sultan has promised to meet you, please come with me."
…
When Aimeni took Edward to the Zanzibar Palace, a figure quickly headed for the embassy of the Kingdom of East Africa.
This person is a member of the East African Army stationed in Zanzibar Port. Aimeni not only reported the news to Sudan, but also reported the news to the East African Army at the port.
East African Embassy in Zanzibar.
"Mr. Lemons! Just now a British ship landed on Zanzibar Island. A group of British people came down. They claimed to be British diplomats. They then asked to go to the Sultan's Palace in Zanzibar. The Zanzibarians dared not refuse. You should be in the palace by now!"
Lemons: "Oh! Is it a warship?"
"No, if it is a warship, our army will intercept them after they land."
Lemons: "Ah! That's it! It seems that the British can still communicate this time. Let's go, let's go to the Zanzibar Palace to see."
…
Zanzibar Palace.
Little Saeed had already prepared for the arrival of the British envoy by serving tea in the palace.
"Sultan Saeed, I am the Special Envoy to Zanzibar from Mumbai, the Indian colony of the British Empire, Edward!" Edward, dressed in a suit, introduced himself arrogantly to the little Saeed.
Little Said asked with a smile on his face: "I don't know why your envoy visited the Sultanate of Zanzibar!"
Edward: "Just last month, we intercepted a slave trade ship from your country heading to Ottoman, and there were two more two months ago. We have repeatedly warned your country, as an important country along the Indian Ocean, that it still It is shameful that there is such a bad behavior, so I am here on behalf of the United Kingdom and the civilized world to demand that the Sultanate of Zanzibar immediately stop the slave trade, which is a backward behavior that violates humanity and freedom."
Edward came up and stood on the moral high ground to criticize the Sultanate of Zanzibar.
Said’s smile froze a bit. Recalling that the East Africans said last time that the British might use this as an excuse to interfere in Zanzibar, he didn’t believe it at the time, thinking that it was just the East Africans trying to obtain the Sultan of Zanzibar. The reasons given by the Chinese garrison power at will, now it seems that the East Africans are still kind, and they really didn't fool themselves. Fortunately, East Africa beat themselves up a lot before, otherwise they would have been planted today.
After finishing his expressions, Said said with a smile: "Special Envoy Edward, where did you start! We, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, are also part of the civilized world."
Edward: "Your country still wants to quibble. Since the founding of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, it has relied on the slave trade to make a fortune. In the past few decades, the slave trade in the Indian Ocean has become increasingly rampant because of what you have done."
Little Said: "Your country can't frame us at will. We admit that the black history of the slave trade existed, but your country..."
Edward denied it: "We have long since abandoned this evil business. Now the British Empire is the promoter of opposing the slave trade and the embodiment of justice."
Little Said: "Uh! Actually, our Sultanate of Zanzibar also opposes the slave trade, and selling slaves in Zanzibar is also illegal."
Edward: "Nonsense, if the Sultanate of Zanzibar is really like this, will we still be caught by us?"
Little Saeed said proudly: "You don't know something about your country. After I came to power, I actively promoted the abolition of slavery in the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Just a month ago, we had completely banned the slave trade. The Sultanate of Zanzibar is illegal, and it is the death penalty, your country is actually completely overwhelmed this time, we Zanzibar people will solve this matter by ourselves!"
Edward looked confused, what, you told me when I first came here that the Sultanate of Zanzibar had abolished slavery and banned the slave trade!
He asked unwillingly: "You are not afraid of me and made up a temporary lie!"
Little Said: "Of course not. The law we just promulgated last month is still posted on the notice boards across the country! You can check it out, or you can ask it on the street. I can personally Accompany you to seek proof."
Edward was about to speak, when someone shouted at the door: "Do you know who I am? If your Majesty the Sultan knows that you have blocked me outside, you will not be able to bear the consequences..."
Edward was a little displeased, but Said was pleasantly surprised when he heard the voice.
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency Edward, it seems that there are still guests visiting today and disturbing you. I'm sorry, I'm going to see who is so bold and dares to make loud noises in the palace."
At this time, the guard was aggrieved listening to Lemons scolding himself, how could he provoke him as a small guard.
"Who is making the noise?" Little Said came out and pretended to question loudly.
But excitedly stepped forward to greet Lemons, and whispered: "Mr. Lemons, are you here? The British..."
Lemons said with a smile: "I will help you with this matter, let's enter first."
Before leaving, Lemons took out a gold coin from his pocket, handed it to the guard, and said, "You did a good job just now, don't worry about it!"
After finishing speaking, he turned around and returned to the palace with Said, where Edward was sitting on the sofa drinking tea.
Little Said: "Special Envoy Edward, I'm really sorry. This is the East African Minister, Mr. Lemons. I had some misunderstandings with the guard just now."
Edward: "Forget it, I won't pursue this matter anymore, let's continue talking about the slave trade."
"Slave trade?" Lemons on the side said, "Your Majesty the Sultan, hasn't our country strictly prohibited your country from abolishing the slave trade?"
"Ah, oh, that's right, but Edward's special envoy may not know about it..." Little Said cooperated and recounted the conversation with Edward just now.
Lemons: "It turned out to be like this. In my opinion, it was a complete misunderstanding, but after all, Special Envoy Edward was out of good intentions, but your country's repentance was relatively late after all, so Special Envoy Edward was not clear about this matter. I think Edward’s special envoy must have spent a lot of time, especially India, which is the jewel of the British Empire, and Edward came from Mumbai. It is obviously not worth the loss for this trivial matter. Sultan Said still expresses his gratitude good!"
In the end, under Lemons' peace and mud, little Said spent a huge sum of money to buy a safe house. As for Edward, he just revealed the matter for the sake of money. Anyway, Zanzibar is indeed legally The slave trade has been abolished, and it will be easier to do business by yourself when you go back, but Edward still reminded: "Your Majesty the Sultan, it is better to be careful in your country's trade at sea. If you are found to continue to trade slaves..."
Said: "Special Envoy Edward, if it is really a slave trading ship, it is definitely not the work of the Zanzibars. Your country can sink them at any time."
Anyway, Said’s own slave ship has been transformed into a “labor” export ship with complete procedures, and the living environment of “labor” has also been greatly improved. It is not much different from ordinary immigration ships in appearance.
(end of this chapter)