January 23, 1867.
Sultanate of Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam Port military camp.
Bargash bin Said was plotting with his trusted followers to overthrow the Sultanate of Zanzibar's government.
"Abdullah, how many men can you bring in?" Bargash bin Said asked his subordinate.
"Your Highness, I originally controlled more than eighty men in the army. With the few officers we planted within it, we can control over three hundred soldiers."
"Very good. I also have more than eight hundred men. That makes twelve hundred altogether—already one-third of the entire kingdom's army," Bargash bin Said analyzed.
"And that fellow Majid still knows nothing of our plan. He is probably still drowning himself in drink and pleasure in the palace. As long as we strike when he is caught off guard and sweep away his trusted men in the army in one net, the Sultanate of Zanzibar will be ours." Bargash bin Said spoke excitedly.
The officers and advisers beneath him were equally fired up. After all, the odds of victory were high this time. If the coup succeeded, they would become high ministers and mighty officials in the Sultanate of Zanzibar.
"Your Highness, only you can bring a bright future to the Sultanate of Zanzibar. We are all willing to follow in your footsteps." One adviser seized the chance to flatter him.
"Your Highness, please assign us our tasks! The time has come for us to change this backward country!" The other officers and advisers also urged him forward.
Bargash bin Said was greatly pleased by his subordinates' fervor and praise.
This was the feeling of holding great power in his hands. Bargash bin Said was indeed dissatisfied with the Sultanate of Zanzibar's current state, and deep down, he styled himself as the one destined to lead it.
But Bargash bin Said