Chapter 390

Chapter 390: Persuading to Leave

The fall of Pretoria signaled the near dissolution of the Transvaal Republic. President Pretorius Jr. and the government officials of the Transvaal had already fled to the Orange Free State. However, one question remained unanswered: Where was the main force of the Boers that had been fighting against the Zulu Kingdom?

Ernst couldn't help but be reminded of King Wu's victory over the Zhou Dynasty in ancient Chinese history. He considered the importance of having a loyal military force in the capital, ready to respond to emergencies at any moment. This was one of the primary objectives behind the establishment of the 101st Guards Division.

The Transvaal had its own local militias, and while some had collapsed during the recent conflict, they hadn't turned against the Boers in the midst of chaos. Instead, they scattered in various directions.

After occupying Pretoria, the East African Army gathered the citizens at the Assembly of the Transvaal Republic to announce the disposition of the Transvaal Republic to the Boers in Pretoria.

Sweet, one of the East African Army leaders, addressed the crowd, stating, "The Kingdom of East Africa is an autocratic monarchy that values order and justice. It is not open to individuals or groups who oppose the monarchy, reject East African policies, or hold unfriendly attitudes towards our kingdom. In East Africa, all beings are equal before the law and enjoy no special privileges. The land in East Africa belongs to the state..."

Sweet's speech was met with immediate uproar from the Boers below. While an absolute monarchy was somewhat acceptable, the abolition of slavery posed a significant issue for them. Without slaves to work on their farms, how would they sustain themselves? While it was theoretically possible, the nationalization of land in East Africa left them with no viable option for survival.

Someone from the crowd shouted defiantly, "The Transvaal Republic does not welcome you invaders! Get out of our land!"

Ernst, who had been observing the proceedings, appreciated the courage of the man who had spoken out. He rose from his chair and addressed the Boers, saying, "Who among you made that bold proclamation? If you can openly stand up instead of hiding in the crowd, then I respect your courage as a man."

After a brief pause, no one came forward to identify themselves. Ernst continued, "From this day forth, there will no longer be a country known as the Transvaal Republic in the world. This land now belongs to the Kingdom of East Africa."

He added, "For those who are dissatisfied with East Africa, you have the option to leave voluntarily. We will not hinder those who choose to depart with their belongings and family. If you seek revenge, you are welcome to do so at any time. However, let it be known that there is no conflict between the East African Kingdom and the former Transvaal Republic. In fact, we maintain friendly relations."

Ernst acknowledged that the Boers had supported the Ndebele people's rebellion against East Africa, but he shifted the blame onto President Pretorius as their elected leader, claiming that his actions represented the Transvaal Republic. He cited the example of the Boers supporting the Zulu Kingdom or a slave rebellion, equating their actions with the Ndebele rebellion.

While Ernst's arguments were fallacious, they served his purpose. Some Boers, lacking independent critical thinking, believed that their president was responsible for their predicament. To them, it seemed as though Pretorius had chosen the path of rebellion against East Africa.

However, many Boers recognized that Ernst's words were meant to divert their attention from the fact that the East African Kingdom was their main adversary. The Zulus, their historical enemies, were no longer the primary threat.

One Boer asked, "Excuse me, sir, who are you?" with a hint of reluctance.

Ernst identified himself, saying, "I am Ernst, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of East Africa."

The Boer responded, "Your Highness Ernst, supporting the Ndebele people was solely the fault of President Pretorius and has nothing to do with us..."

Ernst countered, "Since President Pretorius is the leader you elected, his actions naturally reflect upon the Transvaal Republic. Pretorius failed in his endeavors, and in East Africa, losers must pay the price."

He continued, "The defeated must either cede territory and pay reparations or face subjugation and potential genocide. This is the prevailing theme of this era. Do not assume that being from the European continent exempts you from this reality. Colonists from various countries have acted similarly in traditional colonies like those in West Africa."

Ernst stressed that the Boers in East Africa had limited options. They could choose to leave voluntarily, with the East African Kingdom allowing them to take their property and family belongings. Those who remained would live under East African rule, with the exception of some Germans who had already integrated into the local population.

Ernst concluded his address by emphasizing that those who caused trouble in East Africa would face the consequences. With the overwhelming presence of the East African Army, there was no room for resistance.

Ernst's words had an impact, and many Boers realized that they had little choice. The sheer size of the East African Army made any resistance futile. As a result, a portion of the Boers chose to leave East Africa, while those who remained were a minority, primarily proletarian Germans.

The Boers were a diverse group, including immigrants from the Netherlands, Britain, France, and Germany. Some had previously left the Boer community to align with the British, and now they were joining the Germans in East Africa. This group of Germans had already assimilated, reducing the likelihood of future conflicts.

(End of Chapter 390)