Chapter 293: Entering the Pass!
In East Africa's Valonga Province, they have dug up an old relic of a system from the trash heap – but for Sub-Saharan Africa, it's a completely new version. Of course, this approach is only used in recently annexed territories. In places like Zambia or the Azande Plateau that border East Africa directly, East Africa is still applying its standard strategy of steadily "emptying the cage to replace the bird," particularly now, while European wars are providing surplus immigrant populations that can implement it.
In Zambia, the government structure is already established; each region is run by a senior official, no need to negotiate with native powers. It's the same in the Azande Plateau, though that area was developed a bit later – East Africa wasn't in a hurry to exploit it. But since it's right next to the Great Lakes region, controlling it was easy, plus it was already half emptied of tribes, so not much force was needed.
…
Lake Solon (Lake Tanganyika).
At Mupulong Port, on the lake's southern end, Msiri arrived with his core force of three thousand officers and men, having been guided there by the East African Kingdom. But before Msiri's arrival, East Africa had already herded over ten thousand tribal people to wait on the south shore of Lake Solon, jammed into ramshackle huts that stretched across the shoreline—a rather dramatic sight.
"Cabrie the guide, why are so many Blacks gathered here?" Msiri wondered as he watched the crowd by the shore.
Cabrie answered, "Mr. Msiri, they are East Africa's 'gift' to you. After all, you're heading to a place where there are also many native groups, so you'll need more manpower. Most of them speak Swahili, so they can understand your language and obey your orders. They're all adult males—once you bring them along, you can form a powerful army and become a top power in West Africa."
A gift like that? Msiri could scarcely believe the East Africans would be so considerate as to hand him free manpower. Wouldn't East Africa rather keep them to generate its own wealth?
Cabrie went on, "Don't underestimate them. All have been trained by East Africa, they're well-organized, and many have farm experience. Most come from East African farms. You can have them farm for you in West Africa, building up your personal fortune."
That basically answered Msiri's puzzle: these "laborers" were slaves finishing their term with East Africa. Zanzibar couldn't absorb so many "laborers," nor did the Ottoman clients want them. So East Africa simply bundled them off with Msiri's group to West Africa. Whether they ended up farming or doing something else was uncertain. Many had worked on roads and construction in East Africa, typically physically demanding labor. After such high-intensity tasks, these "look-healthy" men were actually severely worn down. Any shortfall in nourishment or rest, and they could collapse. East Africa, however, wouldn't say this. For them, "the more, the merrier" if Msiri would take them off their hands.
Msiri asked, "So, do they know how to plant which crops?"
Cabrie said, "A lot—just about everything East Africa grows. Rice, wheat, bananas, potatoes…"
Msiri rushed to inspect the men. He had to confirm whether East Africa was truly being so gracious. Approaching a few individuals, he spoke in Swahili: "All of you, stand up!"
Accustomed to the East African system, these enslaved men promptly followed his order, not daring to disobey someone who stood among the East Africans, lest they get beaten or confined. Msiri made them walk a few steps, carry out some simple moves. Observing them from head to toe, Msiri found no glaring issues—arms and legs were intact, no swelling, and they were quite muscular, seemingly in good shape.
He exclaimed happily to Cabrie, "Mr. Cabrie, my thanks for East Africa's gift. These men look excellent."
Laughing, Cabrie said, "Of course, Mr. Msiri, you're a friend of East Africa. We're always generous to friends."
Secretly, though, he was thinking, "Sure we are… not."
Humans, to East Africa, were expendable. Especially those who had done long-term, high-intensity work. Indeed, while they'd eaten plenty of cassava and maize, it was a monotonous diet plus punishing labor. Although they seemed strong, they were nearing the end of their physical prime.
But Msiri didn't know any of that. If he worked these ex–East African slaves hard in West Africa, quite a few might drop dead around the same time. On the other hand, if Msiri's style was more relaxed—like with his own men, who mostly lived off raiding—these slaves might last a long while.
Taking a typical approach, Msiri thought he'd use them to form a regular fighting force. Real firearms were reserved for Msiri's loyal troops; these men would wield melee weapons. But Msiri did appreciate that these men all spoke Swahili—making them "fellow countrymen" in his eyes. Their physical presence would also impress the unworldly West Africans. Summed up, Msiri's plan could be put in two words: "entering the pass." He wanted to lead his "all-Black 'Eight Banner' troops" into West Africa, seizing generations of wealth and glory.
He did notice East Africa had only given him "strong men" with no women. Msiri reasoned that women were spoils of war, so East Africa wouldn't just hand those over for free. No problem—he could just seize women in West Africa.
In truth, East Africa had already chased away all female and child slaves to the northwest. They simply never told Msiri that. Msiri's plan to grab local women in West Africa worked out conveniently for East Africa, since those exiled women and children had ended up in that region anyway, belonging now to various tribes.
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