African Entrepreneurship Record

March 1869.

After inspecting the business in Vienna, Ernst paid a visit to the royal family of Austria-Hungary. After a brief stay, he returned to Heixinggen.

1869 was a crucial year; the opening of the Suez Canal alone at the end of the year would have a profound impact on the East African colonies.

The opening of the Suez Canal not only meant a change in navigation routes but also affected various affairs in East Africa.

Cape Town's strategic position subsequently declined, and the British and French would start a series of competitions over the control of the Suez Canal.

Ernst believed this was also an important factor in Britain allowing Prussia to challenge France, as France was indeed too powerful now.

Now, all European countries knew Prussia was gathering strength, and the change in the European continental pattern also depended on Prussia's next decisions; all countries' attention was focused on Europe, which was good for East Africa.

The opening of the Suez Canal weakened the position of East African ports like Dar es Salaam and Mombasa in the main world shipping routes.

The impact on the East African colony had both pros and cons; it could reduce other forces' vigilance against East Africa, but the future economic and strategic position of East Africa, and Africa as a whole, would still be very passive.

Just like why the United States surrounded and blocked Russia, the Americas are still too isolated relative to the World Island as a whole in geographical terms. If a trans-European country like Russia were to extend its influence over the entire World Island, the United States could only be the king of the Americas.

Africa is similar. In the past, global trade routes had to go around the entire continent to operate, with the North African Mediterranean coast always being the main European and Middle East traditional trade route, and the eastern, western, and southern African coasts being the obligatory passage to the Far East.

After the opening of the Suez Canal, the eastern, western, and southern African coasts would decline, provided that Africa did not produce a world power.

If a true world power like the United States emerged in sub-Saharan Africa, it could reintegrate sub-Saharan Africa into the global trade system and occupy a significant share. Otherwise, South America would be the ceiling for Africa's future development.

"Ernst, what have you been up to lately? I've seen you writing in your study a lot recently. Weren't you just back from building some business in Vienna?" Prince Constantine came up behind Ernst, looking at the table full of materials and documents, and asked.

Prince Constantine had now completely retired from the kingdom's affairs and was spending his leisure time at home, mainly managing his estate.

Next year, Constantine would turn 70. In previous history, Prince Constantine's life was relatively turbulent, having no heirs in his past life, so he basically spent his later years in Prussia and eventually passed away in Green Mountain City in Prussia.

In this life, with Ernst, Constantine's political focus had clearly diminished, and he was not active in Prussian politics.

For instance, the renowned Hohenzollern House Order in the previous life was jointly founded by Constantine and Prince Karl Anton of Sigmaringen; Prince Constantine was very passionate about the entire Hohenzollern family's endeavors.

In this life, Prince Constantine devoted most of his attention to nurturing Ernst. The Hohenzollern House Order still emerged, but this time it was led solely by Prince Karl Anton.

In the early stages, when Ernst was still young, Constantine stayed mostly in Heixinggen to take care of him. Once Ernst awakened, his rapid growth led Constantine to lose his drive, thinking that with such a successful son, he could live out his remaining years in comfort.

"Father, I am planning the upgrade and transformation of the First Town, aiming to develop it into a modern city with a high level." Ernst said while flipping through books on urban construction.

"First Town, that temporary political center in the East African colony, right?" Constantine asked.

Currently, the Heixinggen royal family owned two colonies, East Africa and Alaska. Compared to the real business transactions and paperwork for Alaska, the East African royal territory was merely a claim by the Heixinggen royal family.

The political center of both colonies was Heixinggen, and as the titular owner of the Heixinggen royal lands, Constantine naturally had some understanding.

"Yes, Father. As the political center of East Africa, First Town will also serve as our provisional capital for the Heixinggen royal family's involvement in East Africa in the future, so I need to prepare the construction there in advance to facilitate subsequent relocation efforts." Ernst said candidly.

"It seems you really like the East African region that much and have decided to place the family's future entirely in East Africa!" Constantine sighed.

As a European, Constantine certainly had deep feelings for Europe, but he would not obstruct his only son's wish to wager the family's future entirely on the East African region.

Nobles must prioritize family business, and the East African region, purely from data, could not be matched by the small Heixinggen.

Heixinggen was originally a small, non-essential country in Europe. Although it was a nail embedded in Southern German by Prussia, its strategic position was negligible to the current Kingdom of Prussia.

After the future unification of Germany, it would almost become even more irrelevant. To put it bluntly, it was in a mountainous area. Of course, most of Southern Germany adjacent to the Alps had such terrain.

"There's no other way. The interests in East Africa are too vast, especially now. Anyone who understands the real data of East Africa would surely be tempted." Ernst handed a real-time updated map of East Africa to Prince Constantine.