Chapter 28 "Enclosure Movement"
With Ernst's order, new instructions and materials traveled across the ocean to East Africa. After receiving Ernst's order, the East African colonies began " enclosure movement”.
In the first town, today, those immigrants with stronger bodies were selected by the sheriff to form the first Chinese army in the East African colonies. The selected candidates will be included in the files.
A long queue lined up in front of the town government in the first town. These were all soldiers who had passed the preliminary selection. They were preparing for what the chief called "registration."
"Name?"
"Wang Tiegen."
"Age?"
"23."
Only the recorder filled in "Name: Tiegen Wang, age: 23" on the paper , Occupation: Mercenary, No. 0423. "
Then he handed Wang Tiegen a small card with the number 0423 on it.
"Take this number and go to the fourth group over there to get the equipment."
The so-called equipment is a new military uniform plus a flintlock gun produced by the Hechingen Arsenal.
This is a Prussian regular army uniform ordered from Berlin. The whole uniform is light blue. Because the environment in Africa is different from that in Europe, the unique Prussian pointed helmet is not issued.
The soldiers wore a large-brimmed hat similar to that of later generations. It was made of cotton and had good sunshade and ventilation effects.
A pair of yellow-green military shoes were also distributed. Due to the high temperature in Africa, military boots that have not been modified and specially made are not suitable for Africa.
Wang Tiegen followed the instructions and came to the fourth group. There were many people in the front row of the fourth group. These were Chinese soldiers who had been hastily organized and prepared to go deep into the interior of East Africa.
Now they are about to go to Dodoma, Mwanza and other places to establish new colonial strongholds under the leadership of German officers.
The most important task is to clean up the indigenous people along the way and open up a safe new road for subsequent immigrants to move.
After arriving at the destination, we still have to clean up the wild beasts and indigenous tribes near the new stronghold. After all, the East African lands occupied by Ernst will be relatively famous places in later generations.
So the environment is not bad. There must be indigenous tribes who choose to live here. Whether they are hunting or have preliminary agricultural cultivation, they all need places to carry out activities.
This would threaten the security of the East African colonists, so the new Chinese army formed would clean up these indigenous tribes before the immigrants arrived.
At the same time, the new colonial stronghold is also a transfer station for immigrants in the future. Coupled with small checkpoints along the way, a relatively safe and mature immigration migration network can be established.
"Everyone, stand at attention!" The white-faced commander stood in front and commanded: "I am your first commander Andre, and from today on you are part of the fourth team of the East African Advance Regiment. Member!"
Beside him stood a young student from the Hechingen Military Academy, who was responsible for translating and serving as the team's staff officer.
“This time our respected His Highness Prince Ernst decided that we would let our team go to the Kigoma area on the east coast of Lake Solon (Lake Tanganyika) to open up new land, all of you are Participants in this military operation ”
"You will face not only savages and wild beasts, but also African poisonous insects and diseases, as well as the harsh environment, so each of you may be threatened by life. In order to improve your chances of survival, you will undergo a three-day Special training." Andre gave up his position to a student from the Hechingen Military Academy. This student is named Zhou Wei. He is the first batch of students at the Hechingen Military Academy. He has been studying for several months and is familiar with German. Can already read and write proficiently.
After being trained by Prussian officers and baptized by the excellent and sufficient food of the Hechingen Military Academy, the sixteen-year-old was no longer as skinny as when he first arrived in the German region.
He is now standing upright in front of these temporarily recruited immigrants. Although he is young, he has an aura of indignity and self-anger.
“Hello, I am Zhou Wei, who graduated from the Prussian Hechingen Military Academy (in advance). Thanks to the principal, I came to the East African colonies to serve as your commander. If you have any questions in the future, you can ask me. Report." Zhou Wei introduced himself cleanly and neatly.
"In the next three days, you will receive training from Chief Andre and I. I believe you have also seen the fertile East African colonies. This will be our home in the future, so you are all part of this home. Don't bring anything from the Far East." You brought these bad habits into the army, and now you all have only one identity, that is, 'soldiers', or soldiers as the saying goes."
Zhou Wei said solemnly: "You only have two words to remember at all times. 'Obide', so you must abide by military disciplines and rules and obey the orders of your superiors. If I find someone disobeying orders or violating military disciplines and rules, don't blame me for being ruthless. "
The Fourth Squadron of the East African Advance Regiment. Everyone listened to Zhou Wei's lectures with bated breath. Although Zhou Wei was very young, there was a German behind him and his spirit was obviously different from the colonial immigrants. He spoke a sonorous and powerful Chinese language, so These honest immigrant soldiers did not dare to be presumptuous.
"Everyone must come here on time tomorrow morning to gather and report. The time is within half an hour after the first bell rings. Have you remembered it?" Zhou Wei said.
Only the Germans in the colony had clocks to tell the time, so in order to arrange the production activities of the colony, several large bells were shipped from Europe and distributed to various strongholds. Every time the time came, there would be dedicated bell ringers. Tell time.
Chinese immigrants arrange their daily activities based on the bells. The first bell rings every morning at about eight or nine o'clock. Because German watches also need to be wound and corrected, they are not very punctual.
The immigrants in the colonies had plenty of free time. After all, apart from agricultural production, there was nothing else to do. Just like in the Far East, farmers also have leisure time. This is arranged by God. After all, not every time It's all about sowing and growing crops.
"Okay, now disband." After Zhou Wei announced the disbandment of the unit, he also left with the German commander. Zhou Wei chatted with the German mercenaries about tomorrow's training arrangements and walked towards the newly assigned residence.
In fact, it is the backyard of the First Town Government. One room here has been converted into a temporary dormitory for students of the Hechingen Military Academy.
Back in the dormitory, other people also arrived. There were six people living in the entire dormitory. They were all outstanding students of the Hechingen Military Academy.
"How do Zhou Wei feel?" Wang Mingdong asked.
"It's okay! I can't tell whether it's good or bad on the first day. It's a mule or a horse. You'll be able to tell it all after training tomorrow."
"I'm not asking about training. What do you think about the conditions in the East African colonies? "
"It's not bad! There is a lot to be done in the future, but the current conditions are indeed much worse than those in Hechingen, but they are better than those in the Far East." Zhou Weidao.
"Zhou Wei, do you think we have been assigned or reused?" Gao Youming, who lives in the same dormitory, asked.
Zhou Wei shook his head: "It's hard to say, the conditions here are indeed not as good as those in Europe, but the principal obviously likes this place, so I'm not sure, but I am still optimistic about your future. As long as we complete the tasks assigned by the principal honestly, no matter what No matter how you change in the future, as long as your ability is outstanding, the principal will appreciate it."
...
Five days later, the six colonial teams who were ready to go gathered in the playground, and after a swearing-in meeting, they set foot on the road. embarked on a journey to conquer East Africa.
(End of this chapter)