Chapter 226: Far East Ambassador
In the Far East of 1870, a conversation between Wang Enke and Mr. Richard revealed that Richard would no longer be working in his current position and was receiving a promotion. Wang Enke expressed concern that his successor might not be as communicative.
However, Richard explained that he wasn't returning to Europe but was going to represent the Kingdom of East Africa as an ambassador to the Far East. Wang Enke congratulated him on this new role.
Richard explained that the Kingdom of East Africa was a rising power, and it would likely have a significant presence in the world similar to Great Britain and France in the future.
Soon after, Richard met with Li Fusi, the Prussian Minister to the Far East, to discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of East Africa and the Far East. Richard presented a letter from Prince Constantine, requesting assistance in this endeavor.
Li Fusi initially expressed concerns about acting without confirmation from the Prussian government. However, Richard assured him that the Prussian royal family and government had approved the establishment of the Kingdom of East Africa, even though there was no official news from Europe at that moment.
Li Fusi agreed to help, and they visited Chong Hou, the Qing government's minister. Chong Hou was initially unfamiliar with the Kingdom of East Africa but recognized the Hexingen name from Germany. Richard explained the Kingdom's origins and its ties to Germany and Prussia.
Li Fusi suggested that Richard explain further, given his background in Jiaozhou. Richard clarified that he used to work for the Hexingen Company, which was a large multinational company with ties to Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Kingdom of East Africa. It had trade relations with many countries, including China.
Richard and Li Fusi worked together to establish diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of East Africa and the Qing government. They signed the "Treaty of the Two East," which contained fifty-seven articles, including provisions for trade, consuls, and the protection of citizens' rights.
Article 6 of the treaty allowed the Kingdom of East Africa to recruit Chinese laborers from the Far East without interference from the Qing government, a notable point in the treaty.
The Qing government established an embassy for the Kingdom of East Africa in the Far East's capital, along with five consulates in Jiaozhou, Shanghai, Xiangshan County (Zhuhai), Xuzhou, and Kaifeng. Chong Hou was intrigued by the choice of locations, particularly Xuzhou, Kaifeng, and Xiangshan, which were less commonly known to western countries. Richard explained that these were nodes in the immigration route from North China to East Africa, showing the Kingdom of East Africa's strategic thinking.
The "Treaty of the Two East" marked the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of East Africa and the Qing government, cementing East Africa's growing presence on the world stage.