Chapter 101: Fudge, then Fudge
Eric Knight continued his recruitment efforts among the villagers, addressing their concerns about the United States. One villager mentioned that someone from a neighboring village had gone to the United States, suggesting that it might be a good place to live due to recent development.
Eric Knight expressed surprise that the villagers were aware of America's situation, but he swiftly countered their enthusiasm. He claimed that America was no longer as attractive as the East African colony. He explained that while Germany's wars aimed at national unification, the United States had its own issues related to a labor shortage.
Eric Knight spun a story for the villagers, suggesting that the United States had faced a labor crisis due to a shortage of workers, leading to conflicts between the northern and southern states. He implied that the British exploited both black slaves and European laborers, such as Germans, Italians, and Irish, to farm and work in factories. He painted a grim picture of factory life in the north and claimed that British factories operated in darkness, with workers toiling day and night.
He then linked this narrative to the American Civil War, suggesting that the war erupted due to labor disputes between the north and south over the use of black slaves and European laborers. This, he claimed, had created a hostile atmosphere in the United States.
As the villagers expressed their disapproval of these conditions, Eric Knight continued, explaining that the British in the south refused to pay for labor and wanted to use it for free, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War. He implied that the United States was exploiting its European labor force.
When asked if they still wanted to go to the United States, the villagers firmly rejected the idea.
Eric Knight finally stated that the East African colony was different, assuring the villagers that it was a proper German colony. He emphasized that the colony belonged to Prince Hexingen of Prussia, who was a highly reputable and benevolent nobleman. He also mentioned that the colony was full of Germans, assuring them that it would be a place similar to Germany.
To further bolster his argument, Eric Knight invited the village chief to confirm his statements. The village chief reassured the villagers, explaining that the East African colony was under Prince Hexingen's rule and would be similar to Germany. He cited the support of Knight von Klein in the town and the confirmation from the Kingdom of Württemberg to validate his claims.
The village chief assured the villagers that Prince Hexingen was a kind-hearted nobleman who cared for German settlers. He emphasized that the colony offered opportunities for farmers to continue their traditional work, assuring them that no one would deceive or exploit them there.
After the village chief's speech, most of the landless farmers, particularly young individuals with small families, chose to sign up for the journey to the East African colony. Those who had initially considered going to the United States abandoned those plans in favor of the East African colony due to the official certification and the convincing narrative they had heard.
This recruitment effort unfolded in various regions, including Baden, Württemberg, Bavaria, and the northern parts of Austria near the border. It marked the beginning of the first mass migration of Germans to East Africa.
As this chapter concludes, the prospect of a significant influx of German immigrants into the East African colony becomes increasingly likely.