Chapter 706 East-Afghanistan diplomatic relations upgraded

September 12, 1887.

Abyssinian Empire, Bahir Dar.

Bahir Dar was the new capital of the Abyssinian Empire, moved here by Johannes IV in 1880.

The entire history of the Abyssinian empire was changed beyond recognition by the intervention of East Africa. Johannes IV ended the civil strife in the country and built a new political center on the shores of Lake Tana.

"Tana" means water that never dries up in the local language. It is the largest lake in the Abyssinian Empire and the most important water source of the Blue Nile. It is also known as the Water Tower in Northeast Africa. As for the African Water Tower, it is the East African Water Tower. The East African Plateau within the Kingdom.

Fishing and shipping are very developed. Because it is a new city, the population is only more than 50,000.

The core of the original Abyssinian Empire was in the northeast, close to the Red Sea coast. However, the northeast region was threatened by Italy and Egypt, and the economic benefits of the Red Sea route to the Abyssinian Empire were gradually replaced by the development of southern trade in East Africa.

Under the dual guidance of economic interests and strategic value, Johannes IV had to move the capital from the northeast to Bahir Dar, currently the center of the Abyssinian Empire.

Former East African Minister Alander: "Dear Emperor of the Abyssinian Empire, starting today, the East African Legation in Bahir Dar has been upgraded to an embassy. I have been promoted to the East African Ambassador to the Abyssinian Empire and will continue to safeguard the two countries. Relationship services, in the future we in East Africa will build railways, telegraphs, and factories in the Abyssinian Empire to strengthen the connections between the two countries. This is also a common witness to the friendship between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire."

The friendship between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire can be best described as "less than the superiors, more than the inferiors." Compared with the other two neighbors of the Abyssinian Empire, East Africa appears "amiable".

As the final victor in the Abyssinian Empire, Johannes IV was very satisfied with East Africa's attitude. At least compared with the British, Egyptians and Italians, East Africa seemed very sincere.

The two countries completely resolved the border issue more than ten years ago and clearly marked the division of land.

Of course, at that time, the Abyssinian Empire was still in a state of fragmented warlord rule, and it was not yet Johannes IV's turn to call the shots in the Abyssinian Empire.

However, since the border demarcation was completed, East Africa has indeed not reached out to the Abyssinian Empire again. The relationship between the two countries has been stable for more than ten years. East Africa's sincerity and respect have obviously been initially recognized by the Abyssinian Empire.

Of course, in the previous life, it was basically impossible to do this in East Africa. In essence, the Abyssinian Empire suffered a loss. Many subordinate forces and foreign lands were cut off by East Africa. However, the Abyssinian Empire itself at that time It's hard to guarantee, let alone just some younger brothers.

"Minister Arland, no, Mr. Ambassador, East Africa wants to build railways and telegraphs in the Abyssinian Empire. What impact will this have on our Abyssinian Empire?"

Johannes IV was a military emperor who didn't really know much about national construction, so he was still very wary of Alander's words.

"We help Abyssinia build modern infrastructure, naturally for the sake of economic, trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries. It is very different from other European and American countries. It is for peaceful development, not war and slavery." Alan De said.

"As we all know, we in East Africa have never violated the interests of the Abyssinian Empire, because our King said that the Abyssinian Empire is an important 'ancient civilization' in the world, and has this status in the entire history of Africa. There are only Egypt and the Abyssinian Empire, but you are different from Egypt. Egypt is a British puppet kingdom that is constantly conquered by external forces. Only the Abyssinian Empire has been independent and autonomous for thousands of years."

Alander put a high hat on the Abyssinian Empire. Anyway, it was free of charge and the effect was remarkable. It was obvious that Johannes IV had a lot more smiles on his face.

Aland struck while the iron was hot: "Our plan is to further deepen the 'friendly' relationship between the two countries, and this requires deepening exchanges and trade between the two sides, so we need to work hard on transportation and liaison."

"In modern transportation, the most important thing on land is the railway. Currently, East Africa has established a project to build a railway across the entire Turkana Province, and the end of this railway is Jimma City on our border, but after the railway reaches Jimma City , the remaining issues require you to decide the issues within the Abyssinian Empire.”

Johannes IV naturally knew where Jimma City was. Currently, relying on the trade of Jimma City, Negmut, a city in the southern part of the Abyssinian Empire, developed rapidly and became an important source of tax revenue.

Therefore, extending the railway into the Abyssinian Empire would definitely be of great benefit to the country's economy, but Johannes IV was more interested in the military value of the railway.

"Ambassador Alande, I have also heard about the railway. It is said that it can transport troops in Europe. If a railway is built between the two countries, how can you guarantee that it will not threaten the national security of our Abyssinian Empire?"

"Your Majesty the Emperor, in the final analysis, a railway is just a road built with steel. Its military value is indeed not small, but in the end the problem still lies in who controls it."

"Take our East African Railway as an example. The railways in our country are naturally under our control. We can transport hundreds of thousands of troops by railway to the areas we want to deliver at any time, such as our Turkana Province. After the construction of the railway is completed, we can at any time send the southern troops to the border of East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire within a few days."

"Can you stop us from doing this? Similarly, the railways in the Abyssinian Empire are naturally under your own control. Whether it is transporting people or goods, it is up to you. We in East Africa will not interfere or interfere. Yes, this is very different from European and American countries, so the railway issue should not be something you are afraid of."

The purpose of East Africa was to forcibly correct the economic structure of the Abyssinian Empire to a north-south direction through transportation, instead of the previous east-west direction.

After all, the Red Sea coast is the traditional commercial active area of ​​the Abyssinian Empire, but once the railway is built, it will be difficult to change this pattern, unless the Abyssinian Empire itself builds an east-west railway in the future.

But commercial trade also has inertia. By the time the Abyssinian Empire is able to build its own railways, it will probably take decades for north-south trade to mature, so this is the construction of a set of system standards.

Of course, Alander's words also have a less respectful meaning, especially the description of the railway in Turkana Province. This is clearly telling the Abyssinian Empire that East Africa wants to invade the Abyssinian Empire through the railway. The Abyssinian Empire can stop it. After all, the strategic depth of the Abyssinian Empire has been eaten up by East Africa, Egypt and Italy.

Now East Africa's only appeal to the Abyssinian Empire is the commodity dumping market. As for the various resources in the Abyssinian Empire, it is not too important. This is the advantage of population.

The Abyssinian Empire has a population of over 10 million, so there is a market demand in the tens of millions, involving areas such as clothing, food, housing, and transportation. It is a good place for East African industrial products and commodities. This is why East Africa plans to build the Abyssinian Empire. Railway and highway reasons.

Of course, the final destination of this traffic is the border between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire, making future trade in the Abyssinian Empire path-dependent and unable to escape East Africa.

The Abyssinian Empire is not too disadvantaged. After all, East Africa can indeed bring some modern elements to the Abyssinian Empire, but these elements can only rely on East Africa to operate.