The entry of agencies such as the East African Meteorological Service and the Land Survey into Angola and Mozambique also means that the development of East Africa is about to begin.

Now it is a rough picture of the conditions in Angola and Mozambique, followed by the formulation of development goals by the East African Government.

……

Vienna.

February 1889.

"Your Majesty, the British have begun to seek reconciliation with East Africa, and they intend to have us and other countries act as mediators in this war."

The arrival of the British broke Franz's peaceful life, and since the eighties, the development of Austria-Hungary has been very good, and even in the era of rapid development of Austria-Hungary, Franz's work has been relatively easy.

"It seems that East Africa has caused a lot of trouble for Britain, and what is the situation of the war in South Africa now?" Franz asked.

Austria-Hungary is not paying much attention to the South African War, of course, in the early days of the war, Austria-Hungary was still affected by some influences, as an important trading partner and ally of East Africa, the Austrian government was taken aback when East Africa and Britain went to war.

The first is that Austria-Hungary was afraid of being dragged into the water by East Africa, if it was only a war between East Africa and Portugal, it would naturally not matter, but how terrifying Britain's strength was, only the countries on the European continent felt it the most.

The reason why East Africa can be "arrogant and domineering" is because East Africa is relatively far away from the British mainland, and it is more difficult for Britain to intervene; in fact, if it were not for the crazy immigration policy and the development and attention to the military industry in East Africa in the first 20 years or so, the British Indian colonies would have dealt a major blow to East Africa.

It can be said that in the entire Indian Ocean periphery, except for East Africa, no other country and region has a single enemy of India under British rule.

Countries on the European continent, close to Britain itself, can intuitively feel the pressure brought to them by the United Kingdom, such as Austria-Hungary.

Among the five major hooligans in the world at present, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has the worst national strength, and the most domestic instability factors, which are more serious than the problems encountered by Tsarist Russia, although the main ethnic group of Tsarist Russia is not large, but the occupied areas are basically dominated by Slavs.

Therefore, if Britain wants to make trouble for Austria-Hungary, it can be said that it is very easy, and it is enough to make Austria-Hungary angry and have nowhere to spew.

Britain relies on the Royal Navy, has no other skills, and it is definitely the best player in the world to make trouble, anyway, as long as the British navy is not weakened, other countries have no way to take it.

This is like the Far Eastern Empire and Tsarist Russia were suppressed to the death in the face of the United States in the previous life, relying on the position and naval strength of the United States.

This is the kind of powerlessness that the rest of the world's powers are now facing Britain, and even more unlucky if they are not the great powers, such as Brazil and Portugal, which are the targets of bullying.

In addition to the strategic considerations of Austria-Hungary itself, the impact on trade between East Africa and Austria-Hungary was also a major headache for Austria-Hungary.

East Africa is an important market for Austria-Hungary, and even if Austria-Hungary can get out of the economic crisis in advance, it is East Africa that has made a big contribution behind it, so when East Africa and Britain went to war, Austria was one of the most anxious countries.

Of course, under the strange dualism of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Hungary was indifferent to the war, because the presence in East Africa weakened the dependence of Austria, Czech Venice and other developed regions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire on Hungarian agriculture and minerals.

Therefore, the attitude of Austria-Hungary towards the South African war was divided, and by the way, the Austrian allies could not effectively intervene in the course of the South African war.

Fortunately, Ernst did not expect Austria-Hungary to be of much help to East Africa from the beginning, otherwise the outcome in East Africa might not be much different from that of the Boers in the previous life.

Of course, the Boers had already been incorporated into the British colonies before the war with the British, so the outcome would have been different.

Even if East Africa is defeated militarily, it will not be completely annexed by the British, at least the eastern core area can be retained.

"Your Majesty, at present East Africa has completely gained the upper hand in the South African War, Angola and Mozambique have been taken by East Africa, and the East Africans are attacking Cape Town in the south, and this is why the British are so anxious." This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Ehrenthal.

Franz was overjoyed to hear what happened to the British, and almost no country in the world would like Britain, so Franz was very happy that Britain had fallen in front of East Africa.

"Is it still possible for the UK to turn around?"

"Basically impossible, unless Britain strikes East Africa in an all-out way, but this is almost impossible, East Africa has survived all kinds of restrictions and suppression from the beginning of the war to the present, and the South African War is the final attempt of the British after they have no way to take East Africa, but now it seems that the war will not solve the strong rise of East Africa in southern Africa."

Hearing this, Franz also put away his smile, and he began to re-examine the "unexpected" country of East Africa.

The establishment and development of East Africa can be said to be one of the unique historical events of the 19th century, and its significance is no less than the collapse of the Vienna system and the Franco-Prussian War.

Before that, the country where similar cases can be found is the United States of America in North America, so East Africa can become another United States, or Brazil!

"Alenthal, how do you say we should reply to the British?" Franz asked.

"It's a good thing that the British want us to mediate the war, after all, we have very close relations with East Africa, but we still have to see if East Africa needs to end the war, or the bargaining chips they want." Count Ehrenthal replied.

"If East Africa agrees, what should our attitude be towards the middle?"

"Your Majesty, now discerning people know that the rise of East Africa in Africa is inevitable, so we should stand on the side of East Africa, in addition to East Africa itself is our important ally, and the potential interests of our country in the future are closely related to East Africa, a world power that has suddenly risen, after taking Angola and Mozambique, East Africa has a land area of more than 13 million square kilometers, second only to Tsarist Russia, such a vast country, resources and military strength can not be ignored."

"And the British?"

"The British are self-inflicted, after all, what is not available on the battlefield is more difficult to get at the negotiating table, and now it is Britain who is eager to get out of the South African war and has a request for us, so we don't need to care too much about the attitude of the British."

The words of Count Ehrenthal reassured Franz that it was Britain that was now asking for Austria-Hungary, and that East Africa itself had shown that he was worthy of being co-opted, so this single job could be accepted.

As for why Britain negotiated with East Africa through Austria-Hungary instead of Germany, in addition to the best relations between Austria-Hungary and East Africa, the most important point is that Wilhelm II had just succeeded to the throne and his prestige was not enough, so Franz, the old emperor, was more suitable as a mediator to preside over the negotiations.

February 12, 1889.

Under the mediation of Austria-Hungary, the East African government was invited to participate in peace negotiations with Britain and Portugal in Venice.

At this time, there was no need to continue the war in South Africa, but East Africa was the master of not seeing rabbits and eagles, and East Africa would not easily end a new offensive against Cape Town until Britain and Portugal ceded land.

(End of chapter)