Chapter 487: Tete City
Franz: "So you're saying that East Africa believes it can handle Portugal, and even the backing of Britain and France, relying solely on its own strength?"
The size of an army doesn't necessarily equate to combat effectiveness, especially in this era. The military performances of populous nations like the Ottoman Empire, the Far East, and India demonstrate that sheer numbers may no longer be effective. Of course, Prussia has also proven that a large, modernized army can still be impactful.
"Your Majesty, in short, Portugal is certainly not a match for East Africa. However, we also hope that the Austro-Hungarian Empire can provide us with some diplomatic support," said the East African ambassador.
"And how exactly do you want us to support you diplomatically?"
"We hope your country can exert some diplomatic pressure on Britain and France. While war may be inevitable, their navies should not support the Portuguese. If Britain and France do so, we will take countermeasures."
This piqued Franz's interest: "You plan to counter two world-class powers? What leverage do you have?"
East African Ambassador: "The British and French colonies in the Mandeb Strait, Britain's Cape Colony, and France's holdings in Madagascar—all are adjacent to the East African Kingdom. We have the capability to enter these areas at any time, inflicting significant losses on Britain and France."
Franz's eyelids twitched; he said excitedly, "If you proceed with this, I believe Britain and France will go mad and might even go all out against you."
If East Africa's plan succeeds, it could instantly sever the connection between Europe and Asia, unless Britain and France reroute through North America or the traditional Eurasian land routes, which would benefit the Americans and Russians.
Of course, if East Africa can truly achieve this, other major powers won't sit idly by. Germany, Russia, and the United States all harbor ambitions against Britain and France. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, however, finds itself in an awkward position—geographically constrained, lacking national cohesion, and unable to fully leverage its strength.
Franz: "If you succeed, the global situation could become unpredictably risky. Therefore, we will communicate with Britain and France to ensure everyone understands their limits, avoiding a complete fallout."
Franz is particularly concerned about international instability, especially when the Austro-Hungarian Empire is unprepared. East Africa's plan is indeed bold, but it's best not to act on it now. It's crucial to control the intensity of the war. Franz doesn't think East Africa's plan is far-fetched; it might be useful in the future, perhaps even for the Austro-Hungarian Empire itself.
"Your Majesty, your efforts alone might not be enough to draw Britain's and France's attention. Why not involve Germany and Russia?" suggested the East African ambassador.
"We'll certainly consider Germany, but Russia? Russia is still at war and is most concerned about our intentions in the Balkans. Our relationship with Russia is quite complex."
"If it's just the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany, that should suffice. That makes it two against two, balancing the power of Britain and France. The rest depends on East Africa and Portugal," said Franz.
Whether East Africa is worth supporting depends on whether the country has strategic value, which ultimately hinges on its military strength.
If East Africa can defeat Portugal this time, it will gain some standing in the international community, at least reaching the level of countries like Mexico and Brazil. If it can't even defeat Portugal, then it's just another colony, unworthy of international recognition.
...
In May 1878, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany, along with France and Britain, exchanged views in Paris regarding the East Africa-Portugal issue. They agreed to keep the war's scale under control, with no third-party nations directly intervening. The final outcome would depend solely on the performance of East Africa and Portugal in the war.
East Africa did not participate in this meeting, which was essentially a closed-door session among the four major powers. However, Russia was particularly anxious, fearing that the other four countries were conspiring against it, especially since Russia had achieved significant victories in the Russo-Turkish War.
Russia's concerns weren't unfounded. The four powers indeed believed that the Russo-Turkish War should end. The Balkans had already gained independence, and Russia had occupied parts of the Ottoman Caucasus region. The other four major powers felt it was time for Russia to stop.
No one wanted Russia to deal a severe blow to the Ottoman Empire, as that would destabilize the region. Maintaining a certain level of Ottoman strength would help Britain and France balance the power of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia.
...
The meeting concluded, but Britain and France did not specify when the war would start. They also couldn't allow Portugal to declare war on East Africa first.
Portugal was already weaker than East Africa; engaging in a straightforward war would be foolish. Therefore, Portugal would likely initiate hostilities without a formal declaration to gain the upper hand.
Soon, following the previous plan, Portugal mobilized its troops in Angola and Mozambique. East African intelligence agents intensified efforts to identify potential Portuguese breakthrough points.
Through analyzing anomalies in Portuguese coastal shipping data, East Africa discovered that the most likely military front for Portugal was along the Zambezi River, particularly the right bank near Tete City, where significant troops and supplies were gathered.
Tete City is a crucial city in Mozambique, historically serving as a base for Portuguese inland expansion. It was a center for mining and transportation. Before Portuguese colonization, Tete was already a commercial hub for the Swahili people.
Located along the Zambezi River, Tete was once a center for gold and ivory trade. However, with East Africa's rise and the disruption of inland trade routes, Tete began to decline.
Tete's prominence was mainly due to its role in river transport. It marked the starting point of the lower Zambezi River's navigable route, stretching over 200 kilometers to the Indian Ocean. The convenience of both land and water transport naturally favored commercial development.
This transportation advantage led Mozambique to place greater importance on Tete, especially after Clément's strategic plan was proposed, making Tete a strategic pivot for Mozambique.
"If we defeat East Africa from the central region, we must not overlook the natural barrier of the Zambezi River. Controlling the southern line of the Zambezi would allow us to split East Africa into north and south. The next step would be to sever the land route north of Lake Malawi, dividing East Africa into three parts."
"Tete serves as the forward base for our troops, ready to advance westward at any time. But are you sure your maps are accurate?" Clément inquired.
Portuguese maps of the African interior were essentially old trade route maps developed by merchant caravans, marking various tribes along the way—former clients of Portuguese traders.
However, these maps were of poor quality and unprofessional. Since East Africa's rise, Portuguese commercial activities in the interior had been prohibited, and surveying work was forced to stop. Many of these maps were over a decade old and likely outdated, especially since East Africa had been harsh on indigenous populations in regions like Zimbabwe.
With East Africa closing off trade routes, Portuguese merchants were redirected to designated trade ports established by the East African Kingdom, such as the mouth of the Ruvuma River. Consequently, Portugal now had little knowledge of the African interior.
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