Chapter 202

Chapter 202: Revival of Hexingen

The crackling sound on the phone was deafening, a testament to the advanced technology employed by the Berlin Electric Power Company. Despite its rapid development, this company was dwarfed by the technological prowess of Siemens, which had invented many crucial innovations.

Ernst had invested substantial resources in recruiting top talents from the German region, with assistance from Siemens, to surmount the challenges of establishing long-distance telephone lines within a few months. Though the Berlin Electric Power Company had made strides in its own right, it remained a minor player in the field of electricity compared to Siemens.

Ernst had previously stated that, apart from Tesla and Edison in the United States, there were no other inventors in the electricity domain who could rival Siemens. The Berlin Electric Power Company served as a partial processing plant for Siemens, producing certain components under technical authorization.

While the telephone lines were expensive, their commercial value to the Hexingen consortium was limited, given the lack of demand for transoceanic communication. Instead, they served to bolster the technical capabilities of the Berlin Electric Power Company.

However, some sections of the revamped telegraph lines were repurposed for civilian communications. Despite East Africa's expanding population, civilian communication remained a nascent field due to the scattered nature of its settlements.

Ernst and Constantine eventually returned to the topic of military reform in East Africa. The question at hand was whether to disarm or expand the army, considering its considerable size of nearly 100,000 troops. While East Africa was vast, its national defense needs were not overly demanding.

Militias alone could decisively outnumber the indigenous populations, providing a significant advantage in conflicts with other settlers. However, they would struggle against any seaborne threats, which would require a well-equipped regular army.

A large portion of the standing army in East Africa acted as a police force, stationed in cities, towns, and villages. The quality of East African officers was inconsistent, with even graduates of the Hechingen Military Academy possessing relatively limited military expertise compared to experienced Prussian mercenaries.

The shortage of skilled officers was a major concern, leading some at the military conference to suggest adopting the Prussian army's organizational model. Presently, only three Hechingen Military Academy graduates were receiving officer-level training in Prussia, and even their numbers were limited.

Constantine, who was studying at the Berlin Military Academy, was yet to graduate, and the next batch of East African students in Berlin were still two years away from completion.

Father and son debated the matter, with Constantine advocating for disarming some troops while maintaining a police agency in East Africa and prioritizing the professionalization and combat readiness of the remaining forces. Ernst, on the other hand, argued for expanding the military to maintain a strong presence.

They ultimately reached a consensus to refrain from further expansion and instead focus on enhancing the professionalization and combat capabilities of existing troops. This decision would help centralize military power within the Hechingen royal family and lay the foundation for government reform in East Africa.

Ernst and Constantine also discussed government reform, which aimed to empower the East African government while maintaining close ties with the Hexingen Consortium. They identified key departments such as the Ministry of Defense, the police agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Culture, where they could appoint competent officials to handle various responsibilities.

Becker, who had played a significant role in East Africa's expansion, was recommended for a position in the new government. The father and son's conversation delved into their plans for cultural development in East Africa, emphasizing the need for entertainment and cultural enrichment for immigrants while avoiding ideological constraints.

Ernst sought to foster German traditional culture in East Africa, which aligned with the Hechingen royal family's historical commitment to cultural development. However, he pledged not to impose restrictive ideologies on the immigrants, recognizing the importance of maintaining an open and accommodating atmosphere.

Ultimately, as the royal family of Hechingen was resurrected through East Africa's development, the region evolved into the family's new stronghold. East Africa took center stage, while the Hechingen homeland served as East Africa's extension in Germany and Prussia, solidifying the intertwined nature of their interests.