Compared with Johannesburg, Bloemfontein is indeed in great trouble. The key reason is still lack of money. Johannesburg has gold mines that can be taxed, and the surrounding farms are now gradually getting back on track. There are also textile factories and woodworking factories that have been put into operation.
Factories, motorcycle factories, etc., can all provide tax sources for the city government.
Bloemfontein did not have these conditions, and people were actually very easy to slack off. When the war just ended, the Boers did not immediately enter a state of reconstruction, but waited for rescue from London.
London has indeed fulfilled its promise. Not only did it pay the promised allocation in full, but it also gave more loans. This gave the Boers the illusion that aid from London would continue to flow. After all, it felt like sitting on the ground and taking money.
It’s much better than working hard to run a farm.
When London realized that the reconstruction of the Boers was a bottomless pit and cut off its support to the Boers, the Boers understood that the British government was not a savior and had to rely on itself for everything.
It's a pity that it's too late. I'm used to sitting on the ground and getting money. Now I'm rebuilding the farm. The contrast is so great that the reconstruction of Orange is extremely slow.
It’s your own fault!
On the day of the wedding, Rock got up early and put on the dress he had prepared in advance.
There's nothing to say about the dress. Roque put a lot of thought into designing Phyllis's wedding dress, but it doesn't matter to him. Fortunately, Roque's foundation is still good, and the dress looks majestic, and it matches Phyllis very well. p>
This day was destined to be unlucky. Shortly after dawn, Rock received the latest battle report from Natal. The Zulus ambushed the local garrison in Natal near Pietermaritzburg, killing 150 military personnel and more than 400 people.
People were captured.
Rock couldn't laugh or cry while holding the telegram. Who's to blame?
Originally, during the Second Boer War, the Cape Colonial Government and the Boers reached an agreement that neither party would recruit Zulu people to participate in the war.
As a result, the expeditionary force suffered heavy casualties in the early stages of the war, so the British government blatantly tore up the agreement, used the livestock on Boer farms as bait, and hired a large number of Zulus to participate in the war.
At first, the Zulus only served as scouts for the expeditionary force. But later, this rule no longer existed. The expeditionary force would not even let the police go, let alone the Zulus. As a result, many Zulus took
Pick up weapons and truly participate in the war.
Therefore, the combat effectiveness of the Zulu people was trained by the expeditionary force. The British government certainly did not expect that the Zulus are now using the combat methods trained by the expeditionary force to deal with the Natal garrison.
It’s not just the expeditionary force. Don’t forget that in order to deal with the Portuguese, Roque also recruited many Zulu scouts who served the British in the war. The combat capabilities of these Zulu scouts were further strengthened in Portuguese East Africa. Portugal
After the people reached an agreement with the Yao people, some Zulu people stayed in Portuguese East Africa and became part of the Yao people. More Zulu scouts returned to Zululand. Now it is estimated that many of them are also involved in attacking the Natal government.
The army is in combat.
Relatively speaking, Rock was not worried about the Zulu scouts trained by the expeditionary force. The Zulu scouts at that time fought in the same way as the conventional expeditionary force.
What Rock is really worried about is the Zulus who have fought with the Portuguese. They have a certain understanding of guerrilla warfare through fighting in Portuguese East Africa. Although Rock still has confidence in the Northern Rhodesian Division, he will use
The Zulus who are fighting guerrilla warfare will undoubtedly be more difficult to eliminate and will create more trouble for the Northern Rhodesian Division.
"Send a telegram to Anton and Martin and tell them to be careful and never underestimate the Zulus. They are different from those vulnerable mercenaries." Roque still wanted to remind Anton and Martin as soon as possible.
When Anton and Martin were careless and suffered a loss at the hands of the Zulus, Roque also shot himself in the foot.
"Okay, I'll send a telegram right now -" Li De was in a bit of a low mood. The Johannesburg Police Department had to maintain public order in Johannesburg and couldn't go to Natal to counter the rebellion. Li De was quite sorry.
There was a wireless telegraph machine in the baron's palace, so Li De did not need to return to Johannesburg to send the telegram. When Roque arrived at the church, Li De also got a reply from Nyasaland.
"Anton and Martin have taken the train to Natal, and they can't be contacted now-" Li De was in a hurry, which had already attracted the attention of the guests.
The church that accommodates 150 people is packed, and those who are eligible to enter the church are Roque's friends, subordinates, and officials from Johannesburg and Pretoria.
The outside of the church was crowded with residents who came to bless Roque. As soon as Roque appeared, cheers and applause broke out.
Roque waved to greet the residents, eliciting even louder cheers.
Looking back, Rock told Li De: "Send a telegram to Pretoria and tell Anton and Martin at the train station——"
There is no direct train between Nyasaland and Natal. To go to Natal, the Northern Rhodesian Division must pass through Pretoria. At that time, Henry can remind Martin and Anton.
In fact, there is no need to block the news. Among the guests attending the wedding, many people are equally well-informed. Before Roque came to the church, many people were talking about the war in Natal.
Unlike Roque, these guests did not know much about the situation in Natal, nor did they know the fighting power of the Zulu. As a result, when they first learned about the battle report, many people were shocked by the result of the battle.
In 1879, a war broke out between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom of South Africa. At that time, the confident British troops were attacked head-on by the Zulu Kingdom. The war resulted in the death of 1,727 British troops and 256 injuries.
After the Zulu War, except for the Second Boer War, British troops never suffered major losses in southern Africa. When the Zulus in Natal began to resist the Natal government, many people believed that the Zulus were
The resistance is just a flash in the pan. When the army reaches Natal, the Zulus will be vulnerable.
As a result, as soon as the battle report from Pietermaritzburg came out, many people realized the seriousness of the situation, so many people connected the Zulu resistance with the Zulu War and the just-ended Second Boer War.
Now everyone knows that the British government paid 220 million pounds in military expenses for the Second Boer War. So is the British government ready to pay another 220 million pounds?
Everyone knows that it is impossible. The British government would rather abandon Natal and allow the Zulu people in Natal to become independent than launch another protracted war for Natal. Even this time, the British government will not start a protracted war.
The mainland dispatched troops to Natal to quell the rebellion.
When Rock came to the church, the chaotic discussion immediately stopped, but everyone's expressions were a bit solemn. It didn't look like they were attending a wedding, but more like a funeral.
Well, that’s right, marriage is the grave of love.
"Lord, congratulations——"
"My lord, you are so handsome today!"
"Locke, long time no see——"
As soon as Rock entered the church, familiar friends and colleagues greeted him one after another.
"Thank you - thank you very much - let's have a drink together later -" Rock said while greeting Bishop Ilya.
Elijah is the head of the Protestant Diocese in Southern Africa. The last wedding of Henry and Lacey was hosted by Elijah. Of course, Elijah will not miss it this time.
Seeing Roque, the smile on Elijah's face was a little awkward. No one expected Natal's situation.
"Be happy Father, the Governor has ordered the Northern Rhodesian Division to go to Natal to counter the rebellion. It won't be long before good news comes. The Zulus are not Boers after all, and there will not be another Boer War.
"Rock took the initiative to reassure Ilya. If Ilya was always so out of shape, he would probably say the wrong prayer later.
"Is the Northern Rhodesian Division the one that annihilated the Congo Free State mercenaries?" As a bishop, Ilya must be well-informed, and many things in southern Africa are not secrets.
This time it was Rock's turn to be embarrassed, but fortunately someone came to the rescue right away.
"It doesn't matter what the troops are, as long as they can kill the Zulus!" It was Rock's old friend Marcus Beaufort who spoke.
In Johannesburg, if Henry's family is not considered, among all the officials, Marcus Beaufort has the best relationship with Roque. Now Marcus Beaufort is still the tax commissioner. The war in Natal and Marcou
Although it doesn't matter to Marcus Beaufort, the war will definitely affect the stability of Johannesburg, and then affect Johannesburg's tax revenue, so Marcus Beaufort's attitude towards the Zulus is as firm as he treats the Boers.
"There is still no comparison between mercenaries and Zulus. The mercenaries are fighting for money, but the Zulus are fighting for their homeland. I'm afraid it will be very troublesome this time." Immigration Director Ulysses Noel and Luo
The relationship between the two countries is also good. Johannesburg was able to recover from the war so quickly. Chinese immigrants played a very important role. Ulysses Noel did not care about the skin color of the Chinese. The British are white, but it is a pity that they are unwilling to come to Johannesburg.<
/p>
As soon as Ulysses Noel finished speaking, many people nodded and the discussion became louder again.
Only then did Rock realize that a group of people had gathered around, and the church was as chaotic as a vegetable market.
"No, the Northern Rhodesian Division is a very powerful force. What went to Natal this time was the teaching battalion and fifteen temporary reorganized companies of the Northern Rhodesian Division. The total number of people has exceeded 3,000.
The Zulu people will never be able to fight against the Northern Rhodesian Division." Roque was resolute. What is needed most at this time is confidence, and confidence will infect other people.
"Only three thousand——"
"I heard that there are more than 100,000 Zulus participating in the rebellion!"
"It's hard to say. The 100,000 people must include the old, the weak, women and children. It would be good to have 10,000 to 20,000 people who can really go to the battlefield."
"Ten thousand or twenty thousand is not a lot!"
Roque's words did not have the effect of stabilizing people's hearts, and the discussion became louder and louder.
It was in this chaotic atmosphere that Philip and Phyllis came to the church.