Chapter 550: Old Comrades Reunited
Mbeya City was the first to take action. Due to its early development, its industrial system was the most complete in all of East Africa.
"Director Cavendi, this is Mr. Klemens from Germany and his team of technical experts. They're here to work on a new bearing design. Take a look—this is the sample."
A small bearing component was placed on the table. It was a handmade bearing meant for bicycles.
"This won't be easy to manufacture, will it?" Cavendi said as he rolled the bicycle bearing in his hand.
"Haha, your factory already produces axles for carts. This is just a smaller version, so of course you can handle it."
"Sigh, Director Raiden, don't flatter us. You know how our factory works. We only got started thanks to expert guidance. As soon as the plant was built, the experts left. We stumbled for six months before getting on track. Our boys only just now started getting the hang of it, but their education is limited and they struggle with new technology. We worked ourselves to the bone just to keep up with Bearing Factory No. 1 in Dar es Salaam."
At the mention of Bearing Factory No. 1 in Dar es Salaam, Cavendi suddenly had a realization: "Wait, why not just go to them directly? Why come to us? We go there every year for training anyway."
"I knew you'd try to pass the buck. I get that you're not highly educated and afraid of taking responsibility, but after all these years, Bearing Factory No. 3 in Mbeya under your leadership is the best-performing one. Even Factories 1 and 2 can't compare. I trust your abilities completely. Besides, you're a factory manager—you don't need to be a technician. So what are you afraid of?"
"You're right that I'm just an administrator. The few educated workers I have are treated like treasures, but what good is that? The highest education level here is elementary school—no one's even finished middle school. All they can do is manual labor. Last year when we visited Factory No. 1 in Dar es Salaam, they held a tech expo and said we're ten years behind Germany. And ten years ago, our machines were considered cutting-edge."
Though East Africa had implemented compulsory education, it couldn't be rolled out perfectly all at once. Even with large investments, it would take decades. There was a fixed number of schools built each year.
Many middle schools, especially rural ones, had poor teaching standards. Some teachers just read from textbooks and didn't understand the material themselves. Students who managed to learn were often naturally gifted.
Mbeya had decent education, being a key industrial city. But Bearing Factory No. 3 couldn't compete with Factory No. 1 for middle school graduates—most of the best students were recruited by Factory No. 1.
Yet in recent years, Factory No. 3 under Cavendi had outperformed Factories 1 and 2. So the city government had already decided to give more support.
Raiden continued, "I know your factory has challenges. Factory No. 1 and 2 have changed managers multiple times and received lots of policy support, but the city is growing dissatisfied with them. Next year, your factory will get priority for middle school graduates."
Sure enough, Cavendi beamed: "Now that's what I like to hear. All I'm missing is capable people."
"I knew it—you're the type who won't act unless you see a rabbit in the snare. Last year the city asked you to take over Factory No. 1 and you refused. That factory's conditions are much better than Factory No. 3."
"Sigh, squad leader, you know me—I'm sentimental. I didn't even want to leave our old unit when I retired."
Cavendi and Raiden had both served in the East African Army, meaning they were old comrades who had shared life-and-death experiences. At the time, East Africa's main opponents were tribal groups on the savannah, so battlefield danger was minimal. But conditions were harsh—no roads, constant exposure to the elements, and disease. That forged deep bonds through shared hardship.
"Haha, things are different now. The barracks are beautiful, facilities are top-notch—better than some city government buildings. The living conditions are great, though the training has become much tougher. So it's hard to say whether things are better or worse. The new recruits go through grueling training—I couldn't take it. But at least the food is excellent—plenty of calories, so they can keep up physically."
Back then, even though the East African Army had the Hechingen Military Academy and German veterans as its foundation, it still had the traits of an old-style army.
East Africa's circumstances were rough. Ernst couldn't immediately turn it into a disciplined "iron army." Now that conditions had improved, especially for the East African Army, Ernst could confidently say their treatment was among the world's best—excluding salaries.
With better conditions came higher expectations. The military underwent major reforms—especially in training, discipline, and ideological strengthening: loyalty to the crown, patriotism, obedience, and command.
"You're out of the loop now. Life in the army has really changed—especially for guys like us, we wouldn't be able to handle it."
"What do you mean?"
"They're fanatical about cleanliness now."
"Huh? What's so special about that? We were clean back then too."
Cavendi thought his old friend was overreacting. When he first immigrated to East Africa, he had already seen how much hygiene mattered. Upon arrival, he had to get a haircut, a bath, and new clothes. In the military, cleanliness was even more enforced—with morning wakeups for brushing teeth, washing faces, folding blankets, and even washing clothes in a communal basin at night.
"Haha, back then was nothing. Now, soldiers' blankets must be folded perfectly into sharp cubes—absolutely no creases or misalignment. I saw an instructor measuring with a ruler. If it didn't meet standards, they'd toss the blanket into the latrine."
"Isn't that counterproductive? Isn't the latrine dirty?"
"Not anymore. Now the toilets have cement floors—shiny and spotless. They're scrubbed daily. You wouldn't believe it—the floor shines like a mirror. There's no odor at all."
"And item placement is strictly regulated. Nothing can be out of place. Towels must be folded into perfect squares and placed on the edge of the basin. Soldiers even get toothpaste now, along with toothbrushes and cups—all neatly arranged in exact positions. They also have storage lockers, and clothes must be folded precisely…"
Cavendi listened with interest as his old comrade described the army's new standards. Of course, Mbeya's industrial growth enabled its local garrisons to enjoy such excellent conditions. In remote regions, life was still tough.
The worst conditions were in the western units—especially those in tropical rainforests, where the environment was harsh, infrastructure lacking, and transportation inconvenient.
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