Rise of Empires: Spain.

Chapter 321 The French Fleet's Provocation

As Carlo expected, after ending the war in Asia, the French immediately turned their attention to Africa.

The situation in Africa had changed a lot at this time, and European countries were rushing to divide up this big pie.

Because their own colonial plans were in conflict with Spain, Italy and even Britain, the French also wanted to make a fait accompli as soon as possible and bring the land they wanted under their colonial rule.

Perhaps the French were already aware that it was Spain that sold weapons to Asia, so the first area they targeted was the Senegal colony.

The colony of Senegal was located north of Spain's West African colonies, and the two colonies were directly adjacent to each other.

Because it was previously occupied by Britain and Portugal, it formed a relatively stable triangle relationship with France further north. Although there was colonial competition among the three countries, there was not much conflict.

This balance was gradually broken as Spain successively acquired the British colony of Gambia and the Portuguese colony of Guinea.

At present, there are only France's Senegal colony and Spain's West African colonies left. Because only two sides are left, the colonial competition and conflicts between France and Spain have also intensified.

In addition, Spain has been secretly making trouble in France's war this time, so the French will definitely take revenge.

June 1885, 6, Banjul, the capital of the Spanish West African colonies.

As time enters June, Africa also ushered in the hottest season. Although it is hot all year round, compared with the most unbearable summer, other seasons are not so unbearable.

The good news is that the hot and rainy climate also helps crops grow quickly. The current West African colonies have become one of Spain's most important agricultural production areas. Every season when crops are harvested, a large number of cargo ships can be seen in Banjul heading to Spain.

Because of the large amount of goods transported back and forth, Banjul has become the largest port in Spain's West African colonies and plays an extremely important transportation role.

Most of the materials needed by the West African colonies need to be transported through the Port of Banjul, which is also the largest port for Spain in West Africa.

Harrison, the current governor of the West African colonies, and some officials are inspecting the transportation of grain at the port of Banjul.

As luck would have it, late June was the time for the first rice harvest in the West African colonies. This also made the entire West African colonies very busy, with a large amount of grain being harvested and collected every day, dried, and transported to Spain for storage.

The grain transported to Spain was actually Harrison's achievement as governor. This also made Harrison pay great attention to the harvesting and transportation of grain. He would personally take charge of almost every large-scale harvesting and transportation of grain to ensure that there would be no accidents.

In fact, there would be no surprises at all. It is true that there were a large number of black laborers in the West African colonies, but these black laborers were strictly regulated.

They were not slaves in name, but in reality they lived a life similar to that of slaves.

The eight colonial garrison regiments stationed here are the greatest guarantee for the security and stability of the West African colonies, and make these natives dare not resist at all.

Although the Spanish colonists did not appear to kill indiscriminately, if an indigenous person dared to resist Spanish colonial rule, his end would definitely not be good.

There were no prisons in places like the West African colonies. Any criminals would be sent to mines or other dangerous places, where they would be forced to work continuously for the rest of their lives.

Harrison was quite pleased to see everyone busy at the port.

His job as the Governor of West Africa was quite easy. He only needed to supervise the blacks to plant and harvest rice and other crops in the right season, and transport the harvested food to Spain, and he could make huge political achievements without doing anything.

Because the amount of grain shipped from the West African colonies to Spain reached a new high last year, Carlo sent a telegram praising Governor Harrison and said that he would allow Governor Harrison to return to Spain to serve after his term ended.

This was great news for Harrison. The governor of a Spanish colony was a gilded position. After returning to Spain, he would either be a cabinet minister or a senior military official. His future was bright.

In addition to promotion in position, the colonial governor can also be promoted in title because he is a member of the aristocracy.

After all, most of the colonial governors are the king's confidants. When it comes to promoting their own people, whether it is Carlo or the kings of other countries, they are basically not stingy.

"Tell those black slaves to move more steadily. These are food that will be sent back to Madrid. I don't want them to be wasted in this damn place." Governor Harrison said to the officials around him.

"Yes, Your Excellency Governor." The official nodded, obviously agreeing with Harrison's statement.

It is true that these grains are the achievements of Harrison's administration, but they are also the achievements of these colonial officials. The biggest difference between these officials and Governor Harrison is that the former have settled in the colonies, while Governor Harrison's home is still in Spain.

Of course, whether they are in Spain or its colonies, they are all in the Spanish official system, and naturally they need political achievements to go further.

Carlo had greater control over the colonies, which also led to the fact that Spain's colonies have always adhered to the principles of political achievements and abilities first.

To put it simply, as long as you are not a black slave and have obtained the status of a Spanish colonial resident, you can become a colonial official based on your own abilities.

The stronger your ability is, the more political achievements you can naturally achieve, and you can climb to a higher position.

Except for the colonial governor who was appointed by the king himself and had little to do with political achievements, all other colonial government positions, including mayors of colonial cities, were promoted and appointed based on the officials' political achievements.

This is indeed a more suitable system for the colonies. In order to climb higher, officials in Spanish colonies must find ways to fill the gaps in their political achievements.

The benefit of doing so is that it can eliminate those lazy officials. Unless you don't want to be promoted or get a raise in your lifetime, you still have to make some achievements.

After all, a higher position not only means greater power, but also more income and benefits. Since Carlo was crowned King of Spain, he has increased the benefits and specific income of Spanish officials many times. And compared with the military, government officials have higher benefits and income, and a stronger social status.

The reason why Carlo increased the income and welfare benefits of officials was to avoid corruption.

After improving the welfare and income of officials, Carlo also strengthened the supervision and management of all Spanish officials. Any official found to be corrupt would not only have his stolen money confiscated, but would also be severely punished to serve as a warning to others.

Long before the establishment of the West African colony, Harrison was already the governor of the Spanish colony of Gambia. In the past few years, Harrison has accumulated a lot of wealth and easily achieved financial freedom.

This is the benefit of being an official. Especially when you are a high-ranking official, you can accumulate a lot of income without being corrupt.

Of course, if he was a little greedy and corrupt, he might have accumulated more income. But doing so would put him on the opposite side of Carlo, and Harrison would not joke about his political career.

Just as Harrison was supervising the loading of grain at the port with a smile on his face, a small-scale riot suddenly broke out at the outermost part of the port.

Harrison naturally noticed this as well. He frowned and asked in dissatisfaction, "Damn, who can tell me what happened there?"

There was no need for Governor Harrison to send anyone to ask. Suddenly, a soldier ran to the outermost part of the port. He ran up to Governor Harrison without stopping and said breathlessly: "Your Excellency, Governor, there is a French fleet outside the port!"

"The French fleet?"

Governor Harrison's smiling face suddenly turned gloomy. He asked again, "Are you sure it's the French fleet, soldier?"

"Absolutely, Your Excellency the Governor. The flag flying on the warship is the French flag, and they are approaching our port." The soldier nodded again, looking confident.

"Damn it, why would the French warships come to our port?" Governor Harrison looked at the chaotic situation outside the port and for a moment he couldn't understand the French's intentions.

"Governor, I'm afraid we have to be prepared. The French did not inform us in advance, which may mean that they have bad intentions." The colonial officials reminded Governor Harrison.

"These damn French people picked a good time. I hope they won't affect our food transportation." Governor Harrison nodded. He also felt that these French people who suddenly visited had no good intentions.

What worries Governor Harrison is that there is a large amount of food waiting to be shipped at the Banjul port.

If the French do not take any other action, the food can be preserved. But if the French take any other action, or even a small-scale conflict breaks out with Spain, the food will most likely not be preserved.

The less food shipped to Spain, the less Harrison's achievements. Seeing that this batch of food was already fat meat in his mouth, he didn't expect the French to intervene and cause trouble for Governor Harrison.

“Mobilize the troops stationed in the port and be on guard against any French move.

The artillery batteries near the port should not hesitate, aim at these French warships. If these Frenchmen do not behave abnormally, it will be fine. Once they bombard Banjul, open fire and fight back immediately! "Governor Harrison immediately issued the order without any hesitation.

"Yes! Your Excellency the Governor."

Officials also quickly conveyed Governor Harrison's orders, and the garrison and artillery in the port were mobilized to keep a close eye on the French fleet outside the port.

After about a few minutes, the French fleet was approaching the Spanish port.

How far did they get? Governor Harrison could even see the flags on the French warships with his naked eyes. It was indeed a French fleet.

"Send me a signal and ask these French people what they want to do. If they get close to the port again, I will regard it as a provocation against the Kingdom of Spain and I have the right to sink the French fleet." Governor Harrison had a gloomy face and his eyes never left the French fleet.

A few minutes later, several officials came in a hurry and reported to Governor Harrison: "Your Excellency, these Frenchmen said they are a transport fleet from the Gold Coast and want to stop at our port to replenish supplies."

After hearing the official's explanation, Governor Harrison was not at all relieved. Instead, he looked questioning and sneered, saying, "Do these French people think I'm a fool? It is indeed more than 1000 kilometers from the Gold Coast to here, but the French port is more than 100 kilometers north of Banjul. They don't replenish supplies at their own port, but come to our port instead. What do they think of us? A transit station that can be used at will?"

After expressing his doubts, Governor Harrison pondered for a moment and then issued his order: "Tell these French people that the port of Banjul is carrying out important transportation tasks and cannot provide them with a place to stop and no time to replenish their supplies.

Let them leave the port immediately. I don't want these big guys to stay around the port. How can I sleep well looking at the gun turrets on these warships?"

"Yes, Your Excellency the Governor."

After Spain expressed its clear refusal, the French fleet did not leave immediately, but stayed in the port of Banjul for several minutes.

Governor Harrison became a little angry and ordered the coastal artillery to aim at the French warships and fire several shots more than 100 meters in front of them as a deterrent. Only then did the French fleet slowly withdraw.

Governor Harrison knew the purpose of these Frenchmen. To put it bluntly, they were trying to intimidate Spain and avenge Spain's secret efforts to trip them up in the Asian war.

Thinking of this, Governor Harrison no longer hesitated and immediately sent a telegram to Spain, explaining the detailed cause, process and consequences of the incident in Banjul Port.

Although he had no good feelings towards the arrogance of the French, Governor Harrison did not exaggerate in his report. He reported the incident to Carlo in its entirety and waited for Carlo's next decision.

Although France's overall strength is stronger than Spain's, this does not mean that Spain is afraid of France. For such a provocative behavior of the French fleet, Spain must retaliate, and the retaliation must be more powerful than the provocation of the French.

(End of this chapter)