Chapter 1102 Preparing for War
The reason why East Africa placed an economic colony in the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was essentially due to concerns about the future of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a channel for East Africa to connect with the Central and Eastern European markets, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was East Africa plays an irreplaceable role in its foreign economic development.
Assuming that the Austro-Hungarian Empire disintegrates like in its previous life, and Austria and Hungary become two landlocked countries, East Africa's current political investment in the Austro-Hungarian Empire may be in vain.
So East Africa must control a location along the coast of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and ensure that this force is pro-East Africa. This can ensure that even if the Austro-Hungarian Empire disintegrates, East Africa can continue to maintain trade within the original Austro-Hungarian Empire. The passage is clear.
The Lower Neretva River Valley is such a location that East Africa is looking for. East Africa’s investment in this area even exceeds that of Venice, second only to Croatia and Slovenia.
…
Mostar.
Night, Mostar International Winery.
“Krev, you’re here!” Hagen, the owner of Mostar International Winery, greeted his old friend enthusiastically.
"Hagen, why did you call all of us here today?" Kelef asked.
Hagen put his hand on Keleif's shoulder and said to him: "Go to the conference room at the back first, and I will announce the empire's instructions this time. You go in first, and I have to greet the others."
Kleif nodded and said: "Then we will wait for you in the conference room first."
After that, Kelev walked towards a building behind the winery very familiarly. As a large winery that monopolizes the production and sales of mostar wine, the size of the winery is still very large. Big one, this is just a manor in Mostar Winery.
The city of Mostar is one of the cities with the most sunshine in the entire Balkan Peninsula. It is full of heat, so it is also one of the best wine producing areas in Europe.
With the support of the Hechingen Consortium, Mostar wine is considered a well-known brand throughout the Balkans, and Hagen is also a large wine merchant in the Balkans and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. one.
Soon, Keleif came to the conference room Hagen mentioned. This conference room was large in size and luxuriously decorated. At this time, many people had already come to the conference room.
“Kleif is here!” Many people greeted Kleif enthusiastically, and Kleif responded one by one. After all, we are all colleagues.
People kept arriving throughout the conference room, and finally Hagen came in with the president of the Mostar branch of the Hechingen Consortium.
Hagen said: "Don't be formal, everyone. The main purpose of calling everyone here this time is some instructions from the imperial government, so I will call everyone here and convey them uniformly."
On both sides of Hagen, people were already sitting around the conference table. If other people from the city of Mostar came here to see it, they would probably be shocked. Now most of Mostar’s people gather in the Mostar wine estate. Big figures in the city, involving business circles, political circles and even military personnel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
As for the gathering of East Africans, it is actually easy to understand why there are political and military personnel from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Because of the system of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, East Africa can easily infiltrate the local government and military of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As mentioned before, the lower Neretva River Valley was an important source of troops for the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Bosnia, and the vast majority of the local residents were basically under the economic control of East Africa, so local elections and recruitment were Both Central and East African management can gain advantages.
Hagen continued: "The latest instructions from the imperial government require us to secretly prepare for war in the next few years, especially to be wary of the attacks on the Neretva River by extraterritorial forces led by Sarajevo. The ambitions in the lower valley area. "
What East Africa is guarding against is obviously the Kingdom of Serbia. It can be said that the Kingdom of Serbia has ambitions for the surrounding lands. Bosnia's rich areas like the lower Neretva River Valley are naturally more ambitious. envious.
But as the lower Neretva River Valley region was supported by East Africa, how could it be possible for the Kingdom of Serbia to benefit from it?
Ross, the deputy commander of the Mostar Infantry Company, asked Hagen: "Mr. Hagen, are the empire's concerns too much? You must know that although our place is not the core of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is definitely not the Kingdom of Serbia. Small countries can be provoked.”
Hagen said: "Serbia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire must have a war, and the location of our region can be said to be very dangerous. It is almost surrounded by Slavs, and Serbia has always wanted to establish a South Slavic regime like Greater Serbia, so that become the balkan peninsula "
"So, what we are afraid of is not the strength of Serbia, but the dangerous ideas spread by the Serbs. If the Serbs achieve this goal, by then the Kingdom of Croatia, the Kingdom of Dalmatia, and Bosnia will State, Principality of Montenegro If we are instigated by Serbia, wouldn’t we be trapped in a heavy siege?”
There are many kingdoms in the administrative divisions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so the Kingdom of Croatia and the Kingdom of Dalmatia can be regarded as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A first-level administrative region, equivalent to a province in East Africa.
“Among so many Slavic forces, our lower Neretva River valley can be said to be a thorn in the eyes and flesh of some foreign races. If the Yugoslavs unite into one country, then we want to ensure the security of the region. You must accumulate strength in advance.”
Since the restoration of the Kingdom of Serbia in the Balkans, Serbia can be said to be one of the most swollen countries in the region. In response to such extreme national sentiments, East Africa must strictly guard against it.
In fact, in the final analysis, the East African government is not optimistic about the competition between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Serbia. Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire is powerful, its performance in the previous war was unsatisfactory.
So in order to prevent the Austro-Hungarian Empire from following the old path of its previous life in the subsequent European war and causing losses to East Africa’s investments in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ernst had no choice but to end it himself. If the Austrian Empire If the Hungarian Empire disintegrates like in its previous life, then East Africa will take the opportunity to separate the lower Neretva River valley area, so that East Africa will not be able to find a grip in the region.
Ross said: "It is indeed difficult for people to understand some of the political propaganda of the Kingdom of Serbia, but if Serbia really dares to challenge the Austro-Hungarian Empire, we here may become a front line, so early prevention is indeed "It's very necessary."
Hagen said: "Who knows! All the small countries in the Balkan Peninsula have high aspirations, including Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia. However, Serbia is the most arrogant, and it actually cares about the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. If the small countries around East Africa dared to have such an idea, I am afraid that we would have destroyed our country long ago."
In fact, this kind of country has really been encountered in East Africa, that is, the former Orange Free State government. Now the Orange Free State government is probably living in exile in South Africa or London.
Krlev also interjected at this time: "In short, the entire Balkans have never been peaceful. This is also a hot spot for games between European countries. At the same time, the conflicts between countries are very sharp. The Kingdom of Serbia wants to go further. Austria The Hungarian Empire doesn't want to annex Serbia, so we all know that there will be a war between Serbia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but we don't know who will fire the first shot. Even any country on the Balkan Peninsula may trigger a chain reaction, causing The local area is in turmoil. "
No matter how the two countries fight in the end, they will definitely not be able to avoid the more critical place of Mostar, so it is indeed urgent to take precautions for the lower Neretva River Valley.
(End of this chapter)