In the Royal Shipyard of Trieste, Ernst inspected the "Arch Duke Ferdinand" in person. The massive ship was indeed an impressive sight in that era. While Ernst didn't possess extensive knowledge about ships, he wasn't worried about the Austrians trying to deceive him. Technicians from the Trieste shipyard in Hechingen were also involved in the supervision.
The "Arch Duke Ferdinand" would serve as Ferdinand's command ship in the future. Given Ferdinand's status as the emperor's younger brother, most people didn't dare to oppose him. Seeing the rapid progress on the ship's construction, Ernst expressed his satisfaction, saying, "Let's go!"
For his journey to East Africa, Ernst had brought many items, including his extensive collection of antiques. In Europe, Ernst had missed out on various valuable cultural relics, most of which he had purchased from returning soldiers from Britain and France. These included items like calligraphy and paintings, which were underappreciated by foreigners and had a lower risk of being counterfeit.
Among Ernst's collection, the "Admonitions of the Female History" had been purchased for less than two shillings, considered a significant bargain. He had amassed over 400 paintings and numerous books, including about 500 volumes of the "Yongle Dadian," all acquired at reasonable prices.
Ernst was aware that his cultural pursuits might not be widely appreciated, but he recognized the value of the cultural relics from the Old Summer Palace and the Forbidden City. Most of the French cultural relics acquired from the looting of the Old Summer Palace had ended up in Ernst's possession. French opinions about these artifacts were divided, with newspapers and periodicals openly discussing them while some individuals criticized the looting.
Ernst had taken the opportunity to purchase items from auctions, particularly Qing court utensils. However, he wasn't particularly fond of these ornate artifacts and found that their aesthetics didn't align with his taste. He noted that items inspired by the ancient Far East, with simpler and more elegant designs, were less valued by British and French looters. Those items that adhered to the aesthetics of the Far East were often overlooked.
Ernst also reflected on Japan's looting of cultural relics in the Far East, which had taken place during a specific historical period. Japan transported numerous cultural relics out of the region between 1931 and 1945, and even after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Japan held onto these national treasures. The Tokyo National Museum exhibited many Chinese calligraphy and painting works taken during that period.
Returning to the present, Ernst emphasized the importance of taking care of the paintings and calligraphy he had brought with him. He also instructed his subordinates to inspect the ship regularly to prevent any damage to the artworks during the voyage.
In addition to antiques, Ernst had brought a vast collection of books, totaling 30,000 sets, to fill the newly established National Library in the city of Sauga. East Africa, as a whole, showed limited interest in culture, including reading. Compulsory education had been introduced primarily to train loyal citizens and soldiers. While Ernst didn't place much importance on changing people's thinking, he saw value in preserving their existing mindset. The Suoga National Library's primary audience wasn't ordinary people, so he was content with maintaining the status quo.
This chapter concludes with Ernst's preparations for his journey to East Africa.