Chapter 536: Spies
First Town Station.
"Woooo…" The long whistle echoed as a luxurious train slowly pulled into the platform. Because word had arrived in advance, the station was under tight security.
It was only the second time First Town Station had been locked down. The first was for Konstantin's arrival – so it was clear the passengers on today's train were equally important.
When the train came to a stop, the police themselves opened the door, and a group of people disembarked. Last to alight was a spirited elderly man – Prince Karl Anton.
"Strike up the band!" commanded the chief of the East African Military Band. As the band began playing the East African national anthem, there were no mistakes like the last time they welcomed Prince Konstantin. The rousing and rhythmic music resonated through the station.
Prince Karl Anton couldn't help being somewhat dazed looking at the splendidly built First Town Station. The impact on him was profound. Back when the House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen was in Europe, they had never seen such fanfare. Now, he was certain the family had truly flourished in Africa.
In fact, from the moment he landed in Dar es Salaam, Karl Anton had sensed just how vast an empire the House of Hechingen had carved out. Dar es Salaam alone would be counted as a mid-to-large city in Europe; the combined territories of Hechingen and Sigmaringen couldn't compare to Dar es Salaam alone. And Dar es Salaam was just a tiny corner of East Africa's domain.
Traveling from Dar es Salaam to First Town, Karl Anton also witnessed East African rural life. As the earliest developed region, the Central Province's countryside was hardly distinguishable from much of Europe's; perhaps it even exceeded Germany's average standard.
Germany's agriculture was among Europe's best at the time, with Junker landlords investing heavily in farming. Meanwhile, the Central Province was top-tier in East African farming.
Particularly in its water conservancy: a web of rivers, canals, lakes, and reservoirs had made the Central Province a veritable land of fish and rice. The layout of farmland, villages, homes, and roads was orderly and systematic; the roads were well-kept, livestock abounded, and horse and ox carts were a common sight.
One could glean a nation's development level from its countryside, and the Central Province, at least, was among the world's most advanced agricultural areas. Considering the province spanned around 180,000 square kilometers – larger than many medium-sized European states – once fully cultivated, it reached the level of a European country.
Just this single province was nearly twice Portugal's size. It was no wonder Portugal had lost to East Africa. The Central Province alone could match Portugal proper, let alone Mozambique. Mozambique, merely a Portuguese colony, had no chance against East Africa.
By global standards, most countries still relied on agriculture. Agricultural development was the backbone of national prosperity. Argentina and the United States exemplified this best; India's British-led farming system was also solid, though its profits were siphoned by British officials and local princes, leaving ordinary people in poverty.
Germany and Austria-Hungary had strong agriculture, but limited land and growing populations. Thus many Germans had no choice but to leave home in search of opportunities – fueling East Africa's massive population growth.
Although East Africa's population had reached over thirty million, Ernst finally understood why the Far Eastern Empire had produced such golden ages in history. In the Tang dynasty, records boasted that doors were never locked and items left on the roadside remained untouched. East Africa currently experienced a similar environment of abundance – though with one huge difference: East Africa was a slave state. That system made life far more comfortable for its free citizens, much as ancient Roman citizens had once enjoyed.
It wasn't that East African citizens were all highly conscious. Rather, their money had nowhere else to go: regions bordering East Africa were far behind in development. Theft and robbery found little market in East Africa; there was no way to fence stolen goods anyway.
That didn't mean East Africa was problem-free. Crime did appear in its open zones, because any contact with the outside world created infiltration opportunities. The open zones along the coast were hotbeds of British, Portuguese, and other intelligence operations. These foreign agents used money to lure East Africans – civilians or local officials – into selling secrets.
Because these open zones were ports, foreign vessels were frequent; a traitor could easily slip out to sea. The previous year alone, police in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa uncovered four espionage cases, mostly involving white suspects.
That was hardly surprising. Whites generally had broader contact with the world, especially in Europe with its many nations and crossing interests.
East Africa might satisfy most people's need for a stable life, but some sought real wealth. East Africa lacked the countless commercial prospects of the United States. The British and Portuguese offered them a chance to leave – along with foreign nationality – so they could both get rich and escape. Small wonder some risked turning traitor.
Of course, Britain and Portugal's intelligence people weren't saints. Often they never fulfilled their promises or only partially did so. Most of the time, they targeted ordinary East African citizens – or low-level officials, who had little access to high-value secrets.
Hence, most traitors got only a small payoff. As for citizenship, forget it. Once they boarded that pirate ship, their sponsors would likely toss them overboard mid-journey, reclaiming the money and continuing the next "transaction."
In short, the clever rarely fell for it, while the foolish, lacking real value, ended up as a liability the British wouldn't feed. Sharks in the sea made the best disposal method.
So for British or Portuguese intelligence, East Africa was hard work. That was the consensus. Its society was too closed. Even open-zone citizens were under tight watch, arguably stricter than in the interior.
It was reminiscent of North Korea in Ernst's previous life – state-run hotels for foreigners, staff under constant surveillance. Similarly, East Africa's open-zone service workers faced daily scrutiny.
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