Chapter 200: Assumption of Office
"Mr. Afonso, why have more than half of your people departed?" Merk inquired, noting the recent departure of Santos and many others.
"It's regrettable that they've chosen to leave for the Kazenbe Kingdom in the south," Afonso replied, feigning regret but with a subtle smile that went unnoticed.
...
Prince Constantine, after spending several days in Dar es Salaam, had Central East African government officials arrive to meet him. Together, they set out towards the first town, which was just a transit point for the prince. The journey to the first town from Dar es Salaam took two days.
On June 13, 1869, the welcoming ceremony for Prince Constantine in the first town was a grand affair. The residents and officials of the first town were granted a day off to celebrate the occasion. It was the first time they had witnessed the presence of a member of the ruling family of East Africa.
This time, the first town was well-prepared and avoided the mistakes made during the reception in Dar es Salaam. A military band played music as Prince Constantine arrived.
Five high-ranking officials from the Central Government of East Africa introduced themselves to Prince Constantine. One of them was Yarman, who had served in the Prussian army and was now responsible for military affairs in East Africa.
Prince Constantine and Yarman engaged in a lively conversation, as the prince remembered him from their earlier interaction during Yarman's time in the Prussian army.
The Chief of Staff of the East African Army, Situette, reported to Prince Constantine. Situette had been a student at the Hechingen Military Academy and had excelled in his studies.
Wiggins, the Director of the East African Agriculture Department, also greeted Prince Constantine.
Bell Ryder, Director of the Disease Control Management Department, introduced himself as well.
The last to speak was Karal, in charge of major engineering projects in East Africa.
These six officials represented different aspects of East African governance. Prince Constantine was baffled by the complexity of the government system.
In addition to these officials, there were numerous independent departments, such as communications and immigration. Moreover, companies and units affiliated with the Hexingen Consortium played a role in East African governance, making the system even more complex.
Prince Constantine found it difficult to comprehend the disorganized administration in East Africa. The government appeared chaotic, as did the military structure. East Africa had a regular army and a militia, with the regular army divided into eight military regions. However, each military region had varying troop numbers and no standardized structure.
While the chaos in the East African military seemed puzzling, it was a deliberate strategy by Ernst to prevent the emergence of strong factions within the army. Despite the inefficiencies, the East African army, composed mainly of German mercenaries, was still far more organized and capable than the native forces.
However, Prince Constantine's arrival hinted at a change. With him taking control of the East African government, Ernst would have more time to focus on projects in Europe and East Africa. The prince's arrival marked the official establishment of the Hechingen royal family's center of power in the East African colony, with the Sweet Palace in the first town serving as East Africa's political hub.