Chapter 79 Small talk

"Having said so much, 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 immigrants in East Africa."

Franz slowly walked to the desk, lay lazily on the sofa, and said: "It seems that you really value East Africa. With all due respect, Europe is far more valuable than a rotten place like Africa." , Don’t refute me yet.”

Franz continued: "I have also studied places like Africa. 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 controlled the Cape Town Colony. , after all, the Cape of Good Hope is the sea throat to Asia. The most valuable things left in Africa are ivory and gold. As far as I know, they are all distributed in West Africa. As for East Africa, I really don’t know much about it, so I’m curious why you are so Are you optimistic about the potential of East Africa, 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 sit down somewhere?"

"Of course, please feel free, no need to be formal here, Ernst." Franz said.

Ernst found a chair, moved it across from Franz, and sat in front of him.

"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, what Ernst was talking about was not the Christian God. As a native of the motherland in his previous life, Ernst was originally a staunch atheist, but something like traveling through metaphysics happened to him, so now Ernst has at least begun to understand psychologically. Shaken faith.

Of course, Ernst did not believe in Christianity, and he was not a Westerner in his previous life, and he scorned God. If there really was a God, he would definitely not choose Ernst as a time traveler.

Ernst had a deep sense of mission in his heart, and it was this force that drove Ernst to renew his relationship with Africa, which he had a connection with in his previous life.

I can’t tell what this power is, what does it 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. It feels like something I can’t describe.

"God's guidance?" Franz murmured to himself. As an emperor of the empire, Franz actually felt this way. It was a desire for the development of Austria and the continuation of the family's glory. Lanz was convinced that he had such a mission, but he always felt unable to face the deteriorating situation, 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 with no history and no attention that can satisfy the unconstrained desire in my heart. I think, like a painter, I can add any color I want on the East African curtain, but in Europe I am just an ordinary little prince! I will be bound by European rules and find it difficult to express my nature …”

Ernst and Franz, one small and one big, chatted back and forth like old friends. Franz could hardly relax, so he stopped asking questions 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. 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 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 somewhat literate, otherwise we would still be doing manual labor in factories or docks. How could we be able to write on paper and guide immigrants and get paid!"

"Oh! When it comes to the factory, do you still remember that Flanders? A few days ago in the tavern, I heard from a former worker that he died suddenly on the job. He had good arms and legs, and he looked quite strong. As a result, Fell on the machine that works day and night for more than ten hours..."

I watched the two people in front of me chatting familiarly from East Africa to Europe, and from the countryside to the city.

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 just so happened that the East African Colony was recruiting people. Crick actually had no clue. However, the requirements of the East African Colony were very simple, and food and accommodation were not a problem. There was still money to get, so Crick followed the staff of the Hechingen Consortium and Several homeless people from the same village came to Trieste.

Creek was more active in the village. He stepped forward and asked Jean Degoux: "Uncle, have you been to East Africa?"

Jean Degoux looked at the young man in front of him and said: "I have been to two or three ports in East Africa with the ship, including Dar es Salaam Port, Tanga Port and the latest Mombasa. I have been to them all."

"Is East Africa really the same as the 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. It is also a barren land. The conditions in South Africa are very good. There are The territory of the British. As for East Africa, I haven’t heard of any special resources, but the several ports I’ve been to all look pretty good. Although not as good as European cities, the conditions are much better than those in rural areas.”

Jean Degoux's words gave the immigrants a lot of peace of mind. At least they knew that East Africa was not a barren land, and life there should be no worse than in the village.