Chapter 693: Independent again!
The military gap is indeed the easiest to smooth over. After all, it is impossible to surpass East Africa in other directions. To put it bluntly, the Orange Free State is a palm-sized place in front of East Africa. Its population and land have already been greatly affected. limits.
However, if the Boers in the region are mobilized to the maximum extent, that is, following the example of Paraguay in South America, with hundreds of thousands of troops, the Transvaal can also do it.
Of course, it is obviously not the intention of the high-level people in the Transvaal to do this. If it is like Paraguay, the future of the Transvaal Republic will be ruined unless it also learns from Paraguay and reintroduces a large number of people.
But now Paraguay is as if it has been changed. Is it still the same Paraguay as before? Therefore, things must not develop in that direction. After all, we are not the war maniac imitating "Napoleon" like Little Pelos. We just want to obtain a small piece of land in South Africa and rebuild the homeland of the Boers.
And the Transvaal Republic is probably not as brave as Paraguay. Although Lopez failed, he did manage to fight one against three, and behind the enemy was the support of Britain, the world hegemon.
At that time, Paraguay was significantly more modernized than the Orange Free State today. After all, in the eyes of East Africa, the Boers were a group of herders in South Africa.
At that time, Paraguay had already risen rapidly under the leadership of two generations of presidents, the Lopez family. They sent people to study and study in powerful European countries, and imitated the West to build their own country.
Not only did it attract a large amount of foreign investment to activate the economy, it also introduced technology to build railways, steel plants, and lay telegraphs. It also attached great importance to public facilities, and institutions such as schools and hospitals emerged that were beneficial to people's livelihood.
The population of the Orange Free State is not as large as Paraguay, and the land is not as fertile as Paraguay. The former Transvaal Republic was rich in mineral resources, but it has already made a wedding dress for East Africa.
It's a threat, but it's more like showing off. Just like the British workers going on strike to demand that the government and factory owners forcibly increase wages, if the British can't meet the demands of the Transvaal people, the Transvaal people can also fight against East Africa. Things are messed up.
The small "international community" in South Africa also has this kind of political correctness. Boers, Portuguese, British, and even blacks all agree that the East African Kingdom is an "evil" empire.
Therefore, the Transvaal people can stand on the moral high ground and ask for money from the British government. If there is a 21st century media in this era, I am afraid that Pretorius will also learn from Ozawa and criticize those who do not give money to the Transvaal. British politicians who withdrew aid were accused of "illegal" acts.
In the past few years, we have experienced the civil war between the Transvaal and the Orange. It can be said that the economic development is in a mess. The only gain is the construction of a modern army with the support of the British, and it has certain practical experience.
This army is also the source of confidence for the Transvaal people, so the smallest gap between the Transvaal Republic and East Africa is the military.
"First communicate with the British. They are too procrastinating. Threate them appropriately. If they cannot send assistance to us, we will disband the army and no longer fight against East Africa. I think this is not what the British want to see. situation!" said the Minister of Defense.
"I have to say that this is a good idea. Every time we make reasonable demands, the British do not pay attention to them. On the contrary, this curve threat may be more effective!" Pretorius Jr. said.
For the top leaders of the Transvaal Republic to unite their opinions and prepare to put pressure on the British, this scene has to be said to be a kind of irony, because in the 21st century, the former Soviet Union countries also have a politician who stands begging for food from the European and American governments.
…
Cape Town. In fact, Britain was speechless about the "reasonable" demands of the Transvaal people.
"Can't these idiots solve this problem by themselves! We don't have the time or energy to take care of the so-called Transvaal people now, and an army of more than 10,000 people shouldn't be too much for the Transvaal people, even if Sell a few more cows and you should be able to make your money back!" Governor Battle Freer said.
"Your Majesty the Governor, in fact, the Boers do raise a lot of cattle and sheep, but their liquidity is very poor. In the past, they could export the goods directly from the east, but now they can only sell them through our territory and by local merchants, so the price There is a lot less flexibility, and the Boers attach great importance to the quality of life, and they are not willing to pay taxes or spend money on military expenditures, and except for lunatics like Prussia, few countries do that."
The subordinates' words are quite reasonable. The Orange Free State is surrounded by East Africa on three sides. Traditional trade routes have been cut off. Coupled with the impact of the war, the family fortune has almost been lost. Moreover, British profiteers have raised prices, compressing the profit margins of the Boers, leaving the Orange Free State government revenue fell further.
In the past, the Orange Free State could collect taxes from local diamond mine owners or transit merchants. Now these are run by the British. The Orange Free State has also become a colony managed by Cape Town, so naturally it cannot collect taxes. This part of the tax.
Barthel Freer said helplessly: "If you ask us for money, you will definitely not be able to do it. However, we will not be merciful to those profiteers who are desperate for money. They should have contributed to the resistance in East Africa. After all, our ultimate goal in South Africa is Isn’t it to protect their interests? So let the Orange Free State government discuss re-establishing tariffs and levying taxes on local companies!”
“Will this cause dissatisfaction among the businessmen in this country?”
"There is no way. For the benefit of the British Empire, there are always people who have to sacrifice their own private interests, and they have been eating so much fat in these years, it is time to contribute to the country." Barthel Freer said nonchalantly.
“Your Majesty the Governor, I have an idea. I wonder if I can kill two birds with one stone, without offending the local businessmen, and at the same time appease the Boers.”
“Huh? Let’s talk about it.”
Bartelle Freer would naturally be more willing to do this if he could do so without directly offending his country's businessmen and mine owners in the Orange Free State.
“We might as well let the Orange Free State become independent again!”
Bartelle Freer asked in shock: "Do you know what you are talking about?"
"Your Majesty the Governor, this is the best way. In fact, the Orange Free State is a burden to us. Our colonial government cannot directly obtain many benefits from the Orange Free State. Most of the benefits have been The local businessmen took it away, and the Orange Free State is still a powder keg that can explode at any time for Cape Town. Sooner or later, they will have a conflict with East Africa. If a war breaks out, we will be involved and unable to Get away.”
Bartelle Freer: “You mean strategic initiative?”
"Yes, if the Orange Free State becomes independent again, they will not be able to morally kidnap Cape Town, and all they can rely on is us in the UK. Even if they become independent again, they will still have to obey our orders in the face of the threat from East Africa."
It’s not that the British are opposed to the Transvaal’s war in East Africa, but that the opportunity to start the war must be in their own hands. They cannot be dragged down by the Transvaal and passively start the war. Therefore, it is enough to let the Orange Free State regain its independence. Solve this problem.
(End of this chapter)