Chapter 299 Prejudgment
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 at Zanzibar Island. The crowd on the shore was not surprised. The location of Zanzibar Island determines that merchant ships from almost all countries sailing in the Indian Ocean are likely to appear here. , of course that was before the opening of the Suez Canal, and now most ships go through the Suez Canal.
But the people of Zanzibar 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 stepped off the ship, but their purpose was not for trade and supplies. They went directly to the management location of the port.
“Are you an official of the Sultanate of Zanzibar!”
“Yes, I am the person in charge of the port, Emene.”
“Okay then. , I am the special envoy of the British Empire and I want to visit the Sultan of your country. Please report him."
The Zanzibar official did not dare to neglect him when he heard the purpose of the visit. He said, "Sir, please wait a moment." After that, he turned around and said a few words to his subordinates. He rode a carriage to the palace to report the situation.
"Hello, I am Ekaramu, the deputy manager of Port Sudan in Zanzibar. Sir, what do you call me?" Ekaramu, who stayed to receive the British envoy, asked politely.
Edward ignored the Zanzibar official. He looked around at the situation at Zanzibar Port. The Sultanate of Zanzibar did not decline because of the opening of the Suez Canal because it took over East African trade. It was still very busy, with people coming and going on the streets, and there were many ships in the port, but Edward's focus was not here.
When he landed at the port, Edward noticed that Zanzibar Port 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 erected together with the flag of the Sultanate of Zanzibar?"
Ekaramu: "That is the flag of the East African Kingdom. The East African Kingdom is a friend of our Zanzibar Sultanate, so their flag is erected together with our flag."
Edward said calmly: "Oh! So that's it. I've heard people talk about the emergence of a new country in East Africa, but because I have been in India all year round, the news is not very well-informed. This is the first time I have seen them. ”
Ai. Karamu: "Sir, the ruler of the East African Kingdom is a member of the famous Hohenzollern family in Europe, and its monarch is Prince Constantine of the former Kingdom of Prussia!"
Edward: "That's it, it seems. East Africa has really changed over the years It’s so big! The Germans have established a colony here. Do they have any contact with you?”
Ekaramu: “The main thing is agricultural products. The East African kingdom is rich in rice and Wheat, and sword Hemp and other special products.”
“Pfft!” Edward couldn’t help laughing when he heard Aikalam’s words, “The Germans are indeed good at farming. I heard that there are many Germans in America. Same thing.”
Edward had no interest in this East African kingdom. It was just a small country enjoying itself in a corner that no one wanted in the British Empire.
“We haven’t seen each other for ten years. The army of your Zanzibar Sultanate seems to be much more regular. It seems to have introduced European characteristics. Is that a fort? It’s well built. It used to be very dilapidated and only had a few small cannons. "
Ekaramu sweated nervously and said: "Mr. Edward, in fact, it was the army of the East African Kingdom, and they also built the fort. "
Edward: "Oh! Are you so good that you have to wear the same pants as the so-called East African Kingdom? "
Aikala. He could only smile awkwardly and said: "That's right. After all, East Africa is a friend of Zanzibar. We... still trust our 'friends' more."
Of course, the Sultanate of Zanzibar does not want to hand over its national defense to East Africa, but the situation is stronger than the people, so it can only obey the arrangements of East Africa. If you obey, the East African Kingdom will enjoy the soup. If you don't obey, East Africa will now give Zanzibar to Yang. Yes, it belongs to the kind where a mute eats Coptidis chinensis and feels unspeakable pain.
Edward said in a strange tone: "Then the relationship between your two countries is really good. It would be great if the Indians also had the consciousness of your country!"
At this time Emene had returned.
"Mr. Special Envoy, His Majesty the Sultan has agreed to receive you, please come with me."
……
When Emene took Edward to the Zanzibar Palace, a figure quickly headed towards the Embassy of the Kingdom of East Africa.
This person is a member of the East African Army stationed at the port of Zanzibar. Emene 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! A British ship just landed on Zanzibar Island. A group of British people came down. They claimed to be British diplomats, and then asked to go to the Zanzibar Sultan's Palace. Zanzibar came forward. The Baers dare not refuse, they should have arrived at the palace by now!"
Lemons: "Oh! Is it a warship?"
"No, if it is a warship, our army will intercept them after they land."
East Africa has a garrison at the port of Zanzibar Island, but the East African garrison generally does not interfere with Zanzibar. The Sultanate's trade activities, so the army did not intercept the British from landing. If the British came over in a warship, East Africa would definitely have to interrogate them for their purpose.
Lemons: "Ah! That's it! It seems that the British can still communicate this time. Come on, let's go to the Zanzibar Palace."...
Zanzibar Royal Palace.
Little Said had already made preparations and had tea and tea at the palace to welcome the arrival of the British envoy.
"Sultan Said, I am the British Empire's Indian colony Bombay, the special minister plenipotentiary to Zanzibar, Edward!" Edward, dressed in a suit, arrogantly introduced himself to little Said.
Little Said asked with a smile on his face: "I wonder why your envoy visited the Sultanate of Zanzibar!"
Edward: "Just last month, we We have intercepted one of your country's slave trading ships bound for the Ottomans, and there were two more two months ago. We have warned your country many times that it is a coastal country in the Indian Ocean. It is shameful that such bad behavior still exists in such an important country on the shore. Therefore, I am here on behalf of the UK and the civilized world to demand that the Sultanate of Zanzibar immediately stop the slave trade, a backward behavior that violates humanity and freedom. "
Edward criticized the Zanzibar Sultanate from the moral high ground when he came up.
Little Said's smile froze a little. He recalled that the last time an East African said that the British might use this as an excuse to intervene in Zanzibar, he didn't quite believe it at that time. He thought it was just an attempt by the East Africans to obtain the Sultan of Zanzibar. The country's right to garrison troops found excuses at will. Now it seems that the East Africans are still kind. They really did not deceive themselves. Fortunately, East Africa beat themselves up before, otherwise they would really be in trouble today.
After arranging his expression, little Said said with a smile: "Envoy Edward, where do we start with this! We, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, are also part of the civilized world."
Edward: "You still want to make excuses. Since the founding of the Zanzibar Sultanate, it has been a country that relied on the slave trade. In the past few decades, the slave trade in the Indian Ocean has also been caused by your actions." What we are doing is becoming increasingly rampant."
Sayed Jr.: "Your country cannot frame us arbitrarily. We admit that the black history of the slave trade existed, but your country back then..."
< br>Edward denied it flatly: "We have long abandoned this evil business. Now the British Empire is a promoter of the fight against the slave trade and the embodiment of justice."
Little Said: "Uh! In fact, our Sultanate of Zanzibar is also against the slave trade, and selling slaves in Zanzibar is illegal."
Edward: "Nonsense, if the Sultanate of Zanzibar If the country is really like this, will we still find evidence?"
Little Said said proudly: "You don't know something. After I came to power, I actively promoted the abolition of slavery in the Zanzibar Sultanate. Just a month ago, we have completely enacted legislation to ban the slave trade. Any slave trading activities are illegal in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and are punishable by death. Your country is actually completely over-concerned about this matter. The Bar people will solve it themselves!”
Edward looked confused, what the hell, you told me when I came here that the Sultanate of Zanzibar had abolished slavery and banned the slave trade!
He asked unwillingly: "You are not just making up lies because you are afraid of me!"
Little Said: "Of course not. The law we just promulgated last month is still posted on notice boards across the country! You can go check it out, or you can ask on the street at will. I can personally I will accompany you to verify it."
Edward was about to say, when someone shouted at the door: "Do you know who I am? If your Majesty the Sultan knows that you have blocked me out, the consequences will be terrible. You can afford it..."
Edward was a little unhappy, but Said was very surprised when he heard the voice.
"I'm sorry, Sir Edward, it seems that there are guests visiting today, which disturbed you. I'm sorry, I'm going to see who is so bold and dares to make such a loud noise in the palace."< br>
At this time, the doorman was listening to Lemmons scolding him aggrievedly, how could he, a little doorman, provoke him.
"Who is making the noise?" Little Said came out and pretended to ask loudly.
But he excitedly stepped forward to greet Lemmons and whispered: "Mr. Lemmons, are you here? The British..."
Lemmons said with a smile. : "I will help you with this matter, let's go in first."
Before leaving, Lemons took out a gold coin from his pocket, handed it to the doorman, and said: "You did a good job just now, don't worry about it!"
After that, he turned around and said Said returned to the palace, and Edward was sitting on the sofa drinking tea.
Little Said: "Envoy Edward, I'm really sorry. This is the East African Minister, Mr. Lemmons. There was some misunderstanding with the guard just now."
Edward: "Forget it, I don't care about this either. Let’s not pursue it anymore, let’s continue talking about the slave trade.”
“Slave trade?” Lemmons said, “Your Majesty, our country has strictly prohibited the abolition of the slave trade. ?”
“Ah, oh, that’s right, but Envoy Edward may not know about this...” Little Said cooperated and recounted the conversation with Edward just now.
Lemons: "So that's it. In my opinion, it's a complete misunderstanding. However, after all, Special Envoy Edward has good intentions. However, your country repented relatively late after all, so Special Envoy Edward was very concerned about this." The matter is not clear. I think Edward’s envoy was so busy traveling and traveling that he must have wasted a lot of time, especially in India, which is the pearl of the British Empire. And Edward came from Bombay just for this trivial matter. It was obviously not worth the gain. Saiyi It would be better for Desultan to express his gratitude!”
In the end, under Lemmons' reconciliation, 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 for him to go back. However, Edward still reminded: "Your Majesty the Sultan, it is better to be careful in your country's maritime trade. If you are found to be continuing to trade slaves..."< br>
Said: "Envoy Edward, if it is really a slave trading ship, it was definitely not done by the Zanzibar people. Your country can sink them at any time."
Anyway, Said His own slave ship has been transformed into a "labor" export ship, with complete procedures, and the living environment of "laborers" has been greatly improved. It is not much different in appearance from ordinary immigration ships.
(End of this chapter)