March 7, 1903.
Saint Petersburg, the Russian capital.
Klo, East Africa's ambassador to Tsarist Russia, was seeing off the final batch of talent recruited by East Africa in Saint Petersburg.
"Everyone, this round of talent recruitment in Russia is drawing to a close. On behalf of the nation, I thank you for your contributions. After all, sending you to a country with such harsh climatic conditions as Russia has caused you some hardship."
"You are too kind, Ambassador Klo. We are all serving the nation and the people. Besides, the worst conditions in Russia are in the Far East, where we had relatively few people stationed. Over the past two-plus years, our gains have been the most gratifying—we recruited nearly a thousand talented individuals for our country. Once these people settle in East Africa, they should greatly advance every field and industry there. Our harvest has been enormous."
By 1903, the worst phase of Russia's economic crisis had essentially passed. Over the previous two-plus years, East Africa had brought in more than 1,200 highly educated or technically skilled personnel from Russia through various means.
Over the past three years, East Africa had recruited more than 3,600 high-level talents worldwide. In other words, Russia alone accounted for one-third of East Africa's total talent recruitment.
East Africa's recruitment efforts in Tsarist Russia could therefore be called downright frenzied. Now, as the effects of Russia's economic crisis gradually weakened, Russia's potential had basically been squeezed dry, and the East African government decided to stop early.
Klo said, "Mm. Our nation's industrial development is now advancing with great force. The results of your work over the past two-plus years have been an enormous help to our First Five-Year Plan, supplying a great many talented people to every industry in East Africa. By the time