Chapter 199: Division
The complete transition of Yeke Kingdom's vast land area into East African control took approximately three months. Immigration posed the greatest challenge in this process, given the considerable distance from the main immigration ports along the coastline.
The journey from the coast to the inland Yeke Kingdom was long and arduous, requiring substantial time and resources. Mbeya City, in particular, redirected some of its own immigrants to support this effort.
Meanwhile, in the former capital of Yeke Kingdom, the palace stood empty, the native population having been displaced. However, some individuals remained, including Portuguese merchants like Mr. Santos.
Santos, deeply frustrated, learned from Afonso that Msiri had sold the Yeke Kingdom to the Germans. This news enraged Santos because it abruptly terminated the lucrative trade he had developed with the natives over the past years.
Despite his discontent, Santos inquired about the German's intentions through Afonso's translation efforts. The Germans' decision allowed Portuguese merchants to remain on the land but under their jurisdiction.
Santos couldn't comprehend why Msiri had relinquished control to the Germans and decided to drive away the natives, which had disrupted his profitable supply chain. He was particularly bitter about the new laws and regulations imposed by the German colony.
While Santos and some other Portuguese businessmen contemplated leaving, Afonso chose to stay, recognizing potential opportunities under German rule. Afonso believed that staying in Yeke Kingdom, now an East African colony, could be more advantageous than following Santos to the Kazenbe Kingdom.
This difference of opinion divided the group of Portuguese merchants. Santos, in his anger, decided to depart for the Kazenbe Kingdom where he initially conducted business. He believed that he could reestablish his ventures there and recover from the losses incurred due to the Germans' takeover.
Afonso, however, saw a chance to establish himself as a key figure among the Portuguese merchants in the Yeke Kingdom. He aimed to capitalize on the business opportunities created by the shift in colonial control.
Santos expressed his skepticism about the Germans, warning his fellow merchants not to expect them to act generously. He believed that colonists were inherently ruthless and self-serving, suggesting that the Germans might prove even harsher than the Portuguese.
Santos suspected that the Germans might renege on their promises, having had extensive experience in Africa that led him to view colonists as merciless opportunists. He urged his compatriots to reconsider the decision to stay.
This warning from Santos had a significant impact on those who were previously leaning towards remaining in the Yeke Kingdom. Many of them now had second thoughts, fearing that the Germans might indeed prioritize their own interests over those of the Portuguese merchants.
Despite his reservations about Afonso's intentions to stay, Santos realized that East Africa now controlled the territory and didn't want to cause further complications. He believed that the prospects for the Yeke Kingdom were dim under German rule and hoped that those who remained would come to regret their decision.