Preparation

Ernst had also come to understand the Orange people's current predicament. It was exceedingly dire. After all, the two sides had been fighting for over a year. The Orange Free State had no complicated terrain, only vast flatlands stretching as far as the eye could see, and its territory was not large. The only nearby mountains were in East African hands, so they could not maneuver against the British army as Afghanistan had.

That they had held out until now was already no easy feat. To Ernst, the Orange people had even overfulfilled their mission.

"The Orange people are no longer a force to be reckoned with. At most, they can make a few small moves and cause the British and the Transvaalers some minor trouble. That means the British will soon have their hands free," Ernst said.

"Your Highness, what are your orders?" Svit asked after hearing Ernst's words.

"We can now determine that the countries and regions hostile or threatening to East Africa are mainly concentrated in the south—the Transvaalers, the Portuguese, and the British—as well as in the northeast: British Somaliland and Egypt's Sudan region, which has now also been colonized by the British. Surveillance over all these areas must be stepped up to prevent the British from making underhanded moves. The military should also have contingency plans ready at all times. And the army has not fought a war in a long while; let them get moving and see whether there are any problems with long-distance mobilization. Especially now, when railways and roads are far more developed than they were a few years ago."

Ernst was an exceptionally cautious man, so even if there was only a one-percent chance, he would still guard against it.

Because if he put himself in the British position, he would