In the stronghold of Kismayo, Somalia, groups of young and strong Chinese who had just cut off their braids were busy in the scorching sun, shirtless and sweating profusely in the khaki sand.
The climate in Kismayo is hot all year round. The indigenous Sabu people were expelled to the interior of Somalia after the National Defense Forces occupied the area. Nowadays, apart from a few young black men who are driven as coolies, it is difficult to see anyone in Kismayo.
Centrally settled black Somalis.
The Kismayo stronghold was built near the mouth of the Juba River. After several expansions, the city's circumference expanded to 600 meters and its width reached 180 meters.
The city wall is 7 meters high and has a standard capacity of about 15,000 people.
In order to meet the supply of living materials for the garrison and civilians in the stronghold,
The base is surrounded by basic livestock slaughterhouses, small meat and fish canned production plants, flour mills, hospitals and other industrial facilities.
In 1878, the garrison at the base completed the port expansion project on the Juba River, allowing the gunboats reinforced from South America to sail into the Juba River port even during the dry season. Relying on the port fortifications, it interacted with the Kismayo Fortress.
Rely on and resist attacks by foreign armed forces.
The stronghold of Kismayo is isolated overseas. It faces siege from the United Kingdom and Italy in its south and north directions. The strategic situation is dangerous. Once the war in South America spreads to Africa, Kismayo will be the first to be attacked by European colonists.
Object.
Taking into account the possible attacks that Kismayo may face, since the first battle with the Italian colonial army, 100 regular troops to reinforce Kismayo, two locally built gunboats, and the accompanying weapons and ammunition have arrived in Somalia.
At this point, the armed forces of the Kismayo stronghold include two companies of 300 regular troops, 800 armed militiamen, and 200 sailors, with a total strength of more than 1,300 people.
The Han Kingdom has a total of three colonial strongholds in Africa. Among them, the Congo colony has the largest area and the central government attaches the highest importance. The troops stationed include two foreign mercenary battalions of 800 people, three National Defense Force field battalions of 1,400 people, and 11 armed militia companies of 1,700 people!
There are 500 people in the Congo River Water Guard Team, with a total strength of about 4,400 people, followed by 1,300 people in the Kismayo stronghold and 700 people in the Mtwara stronghold in Tanzania.
Among the three colonial strongholds, the Kismayo stronghold did not have the advantage in terms of military strength, and at the same time it was the most vulnerable to attack by the Italian colonial army. Therefore, when the war on the South American continent broke out again, the stronghold garrison commander Cai Jiu immediately ordered his troops to enter a state of combat readiness.
, and mobilized the young militiamen in the stronghold to seize cassava, sweet potatoes, wheat and other food crops planted in the oasis along the Juba River.
The men in the oasis were busy harvesting food crops, and the Chinese women who had to stay in the stronghold of Kismayo because they were delayed at sea also joined in under Cai Jiu's unified order after two days of rest.
Working team.
The young women were wrapped in headscarves, and some even walked on small feet, walking in the hot sand fields, working hard to push the carts of food crops into the stronghold, with wide coarse linen clothes covering their thin bodies, even though the clothes were soaked with sweat.
Women don’t have to worry about the risk of being exposed even if they wear loose, ill-fitting clothes.
Influenced by traditional culture, the Chinese social atmosphere tends to be conservative, especially in the mainland under the rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.
Before the mid-19th century, it was almost unthinkable for Chinese women to go abroad to Southeast Asia. In a traditional agricultural society, men were the main labor force and the backbone of the family, shouldering the burden of the entire family's economic life. Women had no political, economic and
However, they still need to bear no less responsibilities than men. Rural women work tirelessly in the fields all day long, exposed to the sun and rain, leaving early and coming back late, and they have to take care of their families. What's more serious is that
The Qing government has always prohibited women from going abroad. Anyone who dares to offend will be punished with a serious crime if caught.
The Manchu Qing government's policy of seclusion was not forcibly broken by the Western powers until the outbreak of the Opium War. As a result, young Chinese and women who could not survive in the mainland had the opportunity to take their families and go to Southeast Asia or even directly catch a ship.
Transport ship to Han in South America, looking for a way to survive.
There was a busy scene around the Kismayo stronghold. At the same time, as the core of the armed command guarding the stronghold, Cai Jiu and others were discussing how to deal with the upcoming Italian attack.
"Everyone, the local war has been going on for several months. Because the Argentine government is in a critical situation, the British first dispatched reinforcements to South America and have not launched an attack on Kismayo for a long time. But now the situation has changed. The Italian colonial army has been in the past
We have received continuous support from the mainland for two months. According to the last week's reconnaissance, the total number of Italian colonial troops in Somalia has exceeded 3,000. Among them, the number of troops stationed at the Malka forward base and used to attack us is about 2,300 to 2,500.
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Cai Jiu stood up and said with a serious expression, "Four days ago, our army's reconnaissance force fought against a small group of Italian reinforcements. Their combat effectiveness was more than half higher than the Italian colonial army that fought with us earlier, so I
Let me remind you that in this battle, the enemy we face is no longer the inferior Italian colonial army, but the regular Italian army. Our army's current situation is likely to be more dangerous than the last battle, and the responsibilities on your shoulders are also greater.
Heavy, I hope that whether before the war or during the war, you will fulfill your duties as a Han soldier and ensure that the Kismayo stronghold will never be lost!"
"Commander, I have something to say."
"explain."
"Our army has a total of 1,300 armed forces in the area around Kismayo. Captain Liu's fleet has more than 4,000 young men. If half of the 4,000 young men are selected to join the militia and receive a little training, our army will
In terms of strength, the Italian army is not at a disadvantage."
"Keep talking."
"Kismayo is a small area. If we wait until the Italian army completes its pre-war preparations and sends troops to attack our army from both sea and land directions, our army will have only one way to seize the stronghold. However, Kismayo is isolated overseas, and the stronghold and
Contact with the mainland has been interrupted since the Argentine war broke out again. What is the situation in the mainland? When will the National Defense Forces be able to occupy Argentina? When will the central government cease war with the British country? It is still unknown. If we simply focus on receiving points, the ammunition and supplies in reserve may not be able to support it.
By the end of the Argentine War, our army will be completely wiped out because we have run out of ammunition and food.
Commander, I am not someone who is greedy for life and fear of death. However, Kismayo is located on the mainland and is at the center of South American immigration operations. There is no room for failure. Our lives are a small matter, while the mission assigned by His Highness is a big one. For the sake of safety, I suggest that I take advantage of this opportunity.
The Italian army has not yet been fully assembled. Our army took a preemptive strike, concentrated the main forces in the stronghold, and conducted an external battle against the Italians. After destroying an effective Italian force, we returned to the stronghold to defend the enemy."
"Our army's military strength, weapons and equipment have no advantages over the Italian army, and concentrating on decisive battles will be detrimental to our army."
Cai Jiu did not accept the other party's suggestion. After thinking for a moment, he continued, "However, what Captain Zhao said is not unreasonable. Although our army is at a disadvantage strategically, it should take the initiative tactically. I decided to deploy a regular
A company of 150 people, with 300 people selected from the militia, paired with a 500-ton gunboat and three 200-ton gunboats to form a guerrilla force, went north along the Juba River to the interior of Somalia, and destroyed the supply camps established by the Italian army in the coastal areas.
, and wait for an opportunity to attack the Italian convoy."
"Commander, I request you to lead a team to perform guerrilla missions."
"Okay, I will leave the guerrilla force under your command. You will go back and rest for one night today, and then you will lead the team out the day after tomorrow in the evening!"
