Chapter 28 – The "Land Enclosure Movement"
With a single order from Ernst, new directives and supplies were sent across the sea to East Africa. Upon receiving these instructions, the East African colony began what Ernst called its own "land enclosure movement."
At First Town, physically stronger immigrants were selected by the sheriff to form the first Chinese military unit of the East African colony. Those selected were officially registered.
A long line formed outside the town hall. These were the recruits who had passed the initial screening, waiting to "register" as their commanders called it.
"Name?"
"Wang Tiegen."
"Age?"
"Twenty-three."
The clerk wrote on the record sheet:
Name: Tiegen Wang. Age: 23. Occupation: Mercenary. ID: 0423.
Then he handed Wang a small card with the number "0423" printed on it.
"Take this number and go to Group 4 for your gear."
The "gear" was a fresh military uniform and a flintlock rifle made by the Hexingen Armory.
The uniforms had been ordered from Berlin—official Prussian army clothing in light blue. Due to the different climate, the distinctive spiked helmets of Prussia were not issued.
Instead, soldiers wore wide-brimmed cotton hats, breathable and good for sun protection. They were also given light greenish-yellow military shoes better suited to East Africa's heat than standard army boots.
Following the instructions, Wang Tiegen headed to Group 4. Many others stood in line. They were all newly organized Chinese soldiers assigned to push deep into East Africa's interior.
Their mission: clear out local tribal threats, open up a safe migration corridor for future settlers, and secure the new colonial outposts—especially in areas like Dodoma and Mwanza.
Upon arrival at their destinations, they were also to eliminate local wildlife and nearby tribes. After all, Ernst had claimed some of East Africa's most desirable lands—places where native communities also chose to live, whether for hunting or early agriculture.
These tribes posed a threat to settler safety. So this newly formed Chinese military unit had to clear the areas before new immigrants arrived. Each outpost would serve as a hub in the colony's growing network, supported by waystations to ensure safe and efficient migration routes.
"Everyone, stand at attention!" barked the white-faced commander up front. "I'm your first officer—André. From today forward, you are soldiers of East Africa's Advance Corps, Squad Four!"
Beside him stood a young student from the Hexingen Military Academy, serving as translator and staff officer.
"Our esteemed Prince Ernst has ordered us to head to the eastern shores of Lake Zollern (Lake Tanganyika), to the Kigoma region, where we will develop new land. You are all participants in this military campaign."
"You will face not only wild beasts and primitive tribes but also poisonous insects, diseases, and a harsh environment. Each of you will be at risk. To improve your survival chances, you will undergo a three-day intensive training program."
André stepped aside, letting the student take over. The student's name was Zhou Wei, part of the academy's first class. After months of training, he could now read and write German fluently.
Having been trained by Prussian officers and well-fed under Hexingen's generous rations, the sixteen-year-old was no longer the skinny boy who had first arrived in Germany.
He now stood tall and straight before the recruits. Though young, he radiated authority, speaking in confident Mandarin.
"Hello. I am Zhou Wei, a graduate of the Hexingen Military Academy. Thanks to the principal's trust, I've been assigned here to serve as your officer. Any future issues can be reported to me directly," he stated clearly and concisely.
"For the next three days, you'll be trained by me and Officer André. You've all seen how fertile East Africa is—this is our future home. That means each of you is a part of that home. Leave behind your bad habits from the Far East. Starting now, you have only one identity: soldier."
"You must remember just two words—'follow orders.' Obey the rules. Listen to your superiors. If I catch anyone disobeying commands or breaking discipline, I will not go easy on you."
Everyone in Squad Four stood at attention, holding their breath as Zhou Wei spoke. Though he was young, the presence of German officers behind him, along with his posture and confident tone, kept the normally humble Chinese recruits in line.
"Tomorrow morning, everyone must gather here by the time the first bell finishes ringing—within half an hour," Zhou announced.
Only Germans in the colony had watches, so large bells imported from Europe were installed at each outpost. These bells were rung by dedicated timekeepers to regulate work and life.
The first bell rang daily around 8 or 9 a.m., though it wasn't always precise, as even German pocket watches had to be wound and calibrated.
Immigrants in the colony had a fair amount of free time. Outside of farming and training, there wasn't much else to do—just like in rural Asia, where peasants had downtime during the off-season.
"Dismissed," Zhou said. With that, the squad broke formation. Zhou left with the German officer to discuss the next day's training schedule, then headed to his new quarters—a converted room in the rear wing of First Town's government building, now used as temporary student housing for the academy.
Inside, the rest of the dorm residents had already arrived. The room housed six of the academy's top students.
"How was it, Zhou Wei?" asked Wang Mingdong.
"Not bad," Zhou replied. "First day, too early to tell. We'll see tomorrow during training."
"I meant the East Africa colony overall. What do you think of this place?"
"It's got potential," Zhou answered. "The current conditions aren't as good as back in Hexingen, but it's better than the Far East."
"So," asked roommate Gao Youming, "do you think we've been exiled or entrusted with something important?"
Zhou shook his head. "Hard to say. The conditions here really are rougher than in Europe. But the principal clearly values this place. Either way, I believe in our future. If we do our jobs well, and show our ability, the principal won't overlook us—no matter what changes come."
…
Five days later, six fully outfitted colonial teams assembled on the field. After a final rally, they set off on their mission to conquer East Africa.
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