Chapter 357: Soga
As expected, East Africa also faced a similar problem: many locals had never seen a train before. It was inevitable that some would react with fear upon encountering such a monstrous machine of iron and steam for the first time. To solve this, the government would need to educate and reassure residents living along the railway lines.
"Look over there!"
Outside the carriage window, a team of railway workers was busy at a construction site. The main railway suddenly split off into a side track veering south. Workers were visible laying down fresh rails.
"Mr. Yalian! Didn't you say the railway was already completed? Then what are they doing?"
Yalian, growing irritated, replied impatiently, "It is completed! It's been finished for months—this is what East African officials told me directly. What you're seeing is a new branch line under construction. A branch line! Do you not understand what that is? When you build a road, do you not also have side roads? It's the same thing!"
Clearly, they hadn't picked up on his annoyance and asked again, "So where does this branch line go?"
This time, Yalian didn't answer. He had no idea either. It was his first time in East Africa as well. Just because he was an East African citizen didn't mean he knew every detail. He'd only ever worked in Europe and the Far East—how would he know anything about local rail routes? He was just a low-level clerk in the East African Foreign Ministry. These Far Eastern doctors were just nitpicking.
What they couldn't see, just beyond the curve in the new branch line, was a massive construction site—its destination: Soga.
Soga was located due south of Bagamoyo, southwest of Dar es Salaam, and southeast of First Town. The four points formed a diamond on the map.
After the renovation of Dar es Salaam, the massive construction teams were not disbanded or reassigned elsewhere. Instead, they were redirected to Soga, about 36 kilometers southwest of Dar es Salaam.
That's right—Soga was Ernst's newest planned city. Its location wasn't extraordinary, but it certainly wasn't bad. Although it was some distance from the First Railway, a spur line would eventually connect the two.
The city's purpose remained unclear, but its construction standards were remarkably high. Ernst had even invited royal architects from Vienna to design it. Modeled after Vienna itself, Soga was envisioned as a "garden city", unlike First Town, Dar es Salaam, or Bagamoyo.
No one really knew what Ernst was planning. Not even Constantino understood what his son intended with Soga. Still, there was nothing obviously problematic about building a new city—so no one questioned it too much.
At the construction site:
"Mr. Lawrence, according to the blueprint, this is supposed to be a flowerbed. But don't you think it takes up too much space?"
"Just follow my instructions," Lawrence said calmly. "The flowerbed is for aesthetics. You see, this is a Y-shaped junction. In front of the split, there'll be a three-story building. Placing a large flowerbed in the middle creates a visual anchor for all three roads. It softens the junction, provides a calming focal point, and offers a pleasing view from upper floors."
While Lawrence coached his subordinates, nearby workers were digging trenches for the city's sewer system. Soga's drainage design was even more advanced than that of Dar es Salaam.
Although Soga was only designed for a population of about 50,000, its infrastructure matched that of Dar es Salaam—which could house up to 150,000 people.
Its architecture was even more elaborate. Many buildings borrowed elements from Austria-Hungary's Schönbrunn Palace. Fountains, plazas, flowerbeds, and woodlands were everywhere. The entire design echoed French-style gardens.
After instructing his assistant, Lawrence turned to his colleague.
"Mr. Dress, what do you think we should use as a symbol for this artistic masterpiece?"
Mr. Dress, another lead designer of Soga, had a different style than Lawrence. While Lawrence favored classicism, Dress leaned toward modernism and prioritized livability.
Dress responded, "Every cultured city needs a landmark to bring it to life. We should create something uniquely German to reflect the spirit of Soga."
"But what is the spirit of Soga?" Lawrence muttered, now deep in thought.
Berlin had the Brandenburg Gate. Paris had the Arc de Triomphe. Vienna had St. Stephen's Cathedral. London had Big Ben. New York had the Statue of Liberty. Each of these landmarks gave soul to their cities.
So what would embody Soga?
Soga was an East African city—but also part of a Germanic state. Its landmark should reflect both.
"How about a grand fountain plaza to showcase Soga's artistic side?" Dress proposed.
"A plaza could work," Lawrence said, "but it would have to be enormous to make an impression. Soga's scale doesn't support that. I think a large sculpture would be more iconic."
Dress shook his head. "I considered that too—but sculptures require top-tier artists, and we wouldn't get much credit. Soga might be in Africa, but it's a real work of art."
For Dress, designing an entire city was a monumental achievement. Even in Africa, few people ever got such an opportunity.
Lawrence sighed, "Balancing Soga's artistic identity while elevating our reputations won't be easy. But Soga is the most perfect city I've ever designed. A dream city built on a blank canvas. Ah, if only this were in Europe! More people would see it—our value would skyrocket."
He couldn't help but feel wistful. If Soga were in Europe, more people would witness their work. It would boost their careers and reputations dramatically.
Unfortunately, Soga was in East Africa—a place few cared about. Even though a third of the city was already finished, not a single resident had moved in. Apart from the construction crew and designers, the city remained empty.
To both Lawrence and Dress, it seemed clear: Soga was just Ernst's personal sandbox.
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