Chapter 79 Chat
"After all that, what good does this do to you? It's worth saying good things for the Hungarians!" Franz asked curiously.
Sincerity is often the most touching thing. Ernst said it bluntly: "For the immigrants in East Africa."
Franz slowly walked to the desk and lay down lazily. On the sofa, he said: "It seems that you really value East Africa. With all due respect, Europe is far more valuable than a bad place like Africa. Don't refute it yet."
Franz Then he said: "I have also studied places like Africa. Yes, the French are very close to North Africa. As the ancient Roman territory around the Mediterranean, North Africa's strategic position is indeed worthy of attention. The British also control the Cape Town colony. After all, the Cape of Good Hope is the maritime chokepoint to Asia, and Africa has the most abundant resources left. The most valuable things are ivory and gold, which as far as I know are distributed in West Africa. As for East Africa, I really don’t know much about it, so I’m curious why you are so optimistic about East Africa’s potential, Ernst?”
This was not because Franz was really interested in Africa. He was just curious about why Ernst wasted so much manpower, material and financial resources on developing a land with few important resources and a harsh environment.
Ernst asked: "Can I find a place to sit down?"
"Of course, please feel free, there is no need to be formal here, Ernst." Franz said. .
Ernst found a chair, moved it opposite Franz, and sat in front of Franz.
“Let’s talk about East Africa! Your Majesty, do you believe that gods really exist?” Ernst asked.
As a Catholic, Franz said without hesitation: "Of course I believe in the existence of God!"
Of course Ernst was not talking about the Christian God. As a native of the motherland in his previous life, Ernst originally He was a staunch atheist, but something like traveling through the occult happened to him, so now Ernst began to shake his faith, at least psychologically.
Of course, Ernst did not believe in Christianity. He was not a Westerner in his previous life, and he scorned God. If there really was a God, he would not choose Ernst as a time traveler.
Ernst has a sense of mission in his heart. It is this power that drives Ernst to renew his relationship with Africa, which he had a connection with in his previous life.
Say no What does this power feel like? Belief? Or it may be an ideal, which cannot be accurately described.
"Your Majesty, it's like a very mysterious force like religion, driving my behavior, and I am happy with it, so many questions have no answers, so I naturally do this." Ernst tried his best to explain that kind of behavior. I feel it, but I can’t describe it.
"God's guidance?" Franz murmured to himself. As an emperor of the empire, Franz actually felt this way. It was a desire for Austria's development and hope. The family's glory continues, and Franz is convinced that he has such a mission, but when faced with the deteriorating situation, he always feels unable to face it, a feeling of contradiction.
“The current East Africa is indeed a bottomless pit for me. Apart from animals and indigenous people, there are no important resources worth describing. But it is a region like East Africa that has no history and no one pays attention to that can satisfy me. With the wild thoughts in my heart, I am like a painter who can add any color I want to the curtain of East Africa, but in Europe I am just an ordinary little prince and I will be subject to European rules! It is difficult to express one's nature due to the constraints..."
Ernst and Franz, one small and one big, they are like old friends, chatting back and forth, Franz can hardly relax, that is I didn’t bother asking about East Africa.
……
Trieste. "Today there are a lot more people than before, and there are many more Serbian accents." said Jean Degoux, a staff member of the Hechingen ocean-going fleet, and his partner Phil More.
“Is East Africa really worth visiting?” Phil Moore asked.
Jean Degoux took out a bottle of cheap red wine produced in Italy, took a sip and said: "It looks okay! It's no different from the European countryside, it's just more desolate."
“The population in Europe, especially within the empire, is still too large, and there will always be so much land. The population has been growing faster and faster in recent years, and there are always people who want to go out and make a living.”
Phil Moore sighed: "Yes, the population of the empire is still growing very fast. For example, many people of our generation come from the countryside. A few decades ago, our fathers were still working in the manors of the nobles. , and now we have come to work for capitalists in factories in the city.”
“Fortunately, you and I are still somewhat educated, otherwise we would still be doing manual labor in factories or docks, where would we be like this? Write on paper and guide the immigrants and you will get money!”
“Alas! When it comes to the factory, do you still remember the former worker in the pub a few days ago? He died suddenly on the job. A man with good arms and legs, who looked quite strong, ended up falling on a machine that had been working day and night for more than ten hours..."
Looking at the two familiar people in front of me From East Africa to Europe, from rural areas to cities.
There is a young man among the immigrants who is interested. His name is Crick. He is a Serbian from the Hungarian countryside. He is only 15 years old and has come out to make a living.
Crick, who was born in a farmer's family for generations, naturally had no special skills and only a little strength. The family land was left to his eldest brother, and Crick could only go out and look for a job.
It happened that the East African colony was recruiting people, and Crick didn’t really know what to do, but the requirements of the East African colony were very simple, and food and accommodation were not a problem, and there was still money to get, so Crick followed Heixing. The staff of the Root Consortium and several homeless people from the same village came to Trieste.
Crick was more active in the village. He stepped forward and asked Jean Degoux: "Uncle, have you been to East Africa?"
Jean Degoux looked at There was a young man in front of him, and he said: "I have been to two or three ports in East Africa on ships, including Dar es Salaam Port, Tanga Port and the latest Mombasa. I have been to them all."
" Is East Africa really the same as Africa in the newspapers?" Crick asked.
Jean Degoux pondered: "If you are talking about Africa, then most of it is indeed like this. North Africa is all sand, all the way from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Occasionally there are a few oases filled with Arabs. The Atlantic coast is West Africa is the starting point of the slave trade. It is said to be a place where gold and ivory existed. However, the climate environment is very harsh, hot and humid. You can still see white sandy beaches to the south, and it is also a barren land. The conditions in South Africa are very good. It is the territory of the British. As for East Africa, I have not heard of any special resources. However, the several ports I have visited look pretty good. Although they are not as good as European cities, they are better than those in rural areas. The conditions are much better. "
Jean Degou's words made the immigrants feel at ease. At least they knew that East Africa is not a barren land, and life there should be no worse than in the village.
(End of this chapter)