African Entrepreneurship Record

Ernst casually mentioned it, which made Mein feel a bit amusing. Betting on something without understanding firearms, but since the boss insisted, he had nothing to say. He would strictly oversee the Mauser Brothers' results and reject their plans if there were any discrepancies, which was his duty as the factory director.

Although Mein was not very familiar with firearm design due to his lack of imagination, he had an obsessive scrutiny of firearms. Or, it could be said that his rigor and formality were the reasons he became the factory director.

"Your Highness, if their design plans are flawed, I won't let them pass," Mein said.

Ernst replied, "Mr. Mein, that's where I need your help. I believe that your over twenty years of experience in the field can help them take the final step."

Mein said, "Given your face, I'll give them this opportunity. If they truly have talent, I will strongly support them."

...

Far East, Jiaozhou Textile Factory.

"East Africa Textile Factory is recruiting workers with favorable treatment, providing food and accommodation. You can bring your whole family to live in East Africa. This is a good opportunity. Is there anyone who wants to go? If you want to, you can raise your hands." Factory director Carlton said to all the staff at the employee meeting.

However, no one raised their hands in the venue. While the treatment at Jiaozhou Textile Factory was not very good, it was stable, so the employees were not keen on moving to the far-off East Africa.

"Since no one wants to go, we can only draw lots to select people. This is the task assigned from above. If you aren't willing to go to East Africa voluntarily, then it's down to luck. Those chosen will go with their families to East Africa, or they can choose to resign early," Carlton said.

Carlton's words caused a commotion among the factory workers, and now everyone became scared. East Africa seemed strange and distant to them, and who knew what it would be like once they got there? Coming back might not even be possible.

An employee mustered the courage to ask, "Director Carlton! Why must we go to East Africa?"

Carlton said, "Naturally, East Africa is relatively short on people, especially textile workers. You also know that the investor of Jiaozhou Textile Factory is the Heixinggen royal family, and the Heixinggen royal family is the ruler of East Africa. Therefore, it's the factory's decision and the kingdom's intention."

"Will the treatment in East Africa be guaranteed? Once we are abroad, no one will help us if something goes wrong!" someone questioned.

Carlton chuckled and said, "Do you mean that your treatment here is guaranteed? Actually, not far north, Yantai also has factories invested in by the British. You can inquire about how the British treat Chinese employees, but your officials haven't even let out a fart. Similarly, it's the same in Jiaozhou. Put it bluntly, the treatment at Jiaozhou Textile Factory is above standard for similar enterprises in the Far East. It's because His Highness Ernst is kind-hearted that you get such good treatment."

Carlton's words left the employees speechless. The fact remains that what was least lacking here was manpower. Besides, Carlton was a Westerner, whose presence even the high officials would have to bow to, so if they wanted to bully them, they indeed could do so.

Seeing the silent workers, Carlton said, "After going to East Africa, you'll become citizens of East Africa. East Africa is a country with sound laws. The laws will protect your rights, or at least everyone is equal before the law. You also don't need to worry too much about the security in East Africa. The main thing is that the cost of living in East Africa is very stable and cheap, unlike here where there's much fluctuation. With the same salary, the cost of living in East Africa is lower, not to mention the wages in East Africa are higher than in the Far East."

"Director Carlton, if the treatment is so good, why don't you recruit workers from your own country instead of recruiting people from so far away?"

Carlton said, "The treatment is very good for you, but it seems normal to our people and doesn't have much attraction. They're more enthusiastic about engaging in other industries, which is why we're recruiting workers in the Far East. Similarly, the construction of Jiaozhou Textile Factory is also due to this reason because your wages are low."

Carlton was blunt, but that was the situation of the era—don't even mention salaries, some considered it a middle-class family if they could afford two meals a day.

"Alright, after all this talk, has anyone changed their minds and wants to go to East Africa voluntarily? Rest assured, your value isn't that high. You'll still be working in the textile industry in East Africa."

Carlton looked at the reluctant employees and said helplessly, "Since that's the case, we can only draw lots. This is fair to you, leaving it to chance—those fortunate go to East Africa, and those less fortunate remain in the factory."

In the end, Carlton selected more than three thousand people from the factory through drawing lots, even if they were not willing to go to East Africa.

"Director Carlton, can we really take our whole family to East Africa?"

"Of course, plus their job and living needs are guaranteed."

"Ah! Why didn't you say this earlier?"

The employees initially thought only they would have jobs if they went, meaning they'd have to support their whole family alone, just like the Far East. Carlton hadn't initially mentioned that relatives of the workers would also have accommodation and jobs upon arrival.

"Ah! Did I not mention it? I thought you all knew," Carlton said, slightly surprised. "After all, it's common knowledge in East Africa."

Carlton indeed came from East Africa, so he automatically linked the Far East to East Africa.

Upon hearing that family members would also have jobs in East Africa, the previously worried workers suddenly turned ecstatic. Going to East Africa didn't seem like a bad thing anymore.

"But let me be clear: unless your family members have special skills, like carpentry or masonry... Otherwise, they'll only be ordinary farmers in East Africa," Carlton said, looking at the workers who were chatting among themselves.

Yet, the employees didn't mind. In these times, some people wished to be farmers but might not even qualify for that. Even renting land from a landlord might require offering extra.

"Director Carlton, is being a farmer in East Africa the same as here?"

Carlton shook his head and said, "Not quite; it's actually more like being a worker—you get a salary."

"Is room and board also included?"

"Yes."

"That's good. Our family isn't afraid of hard work, and we can work just as hard in East Africa."

...

The Kingdom of East Africa recruited textile workers from the Far East to counterbalance the Italian textile workers. The newly planned textile factory in Nairobi, for example, received such a large influx of Italians that it almost became an Italian city. Therefore, East Africa needed immigrants from other regions to dilute the presence of Italian workers.

Thus, part of the staff from Jiaozhou Textile Factory was transferred to East Africa, where they would be integrated with the Italian workers in the factory.