Dierca addressed the issue directly: "No matter what method we use, we must prioritize clearing the surrounding rainforest. But what Cabinda lacks most right now is manpower. We can't possibly have your garrison complete this task, and you do not have many men to spare either."
Barco said, "Mr. Dierca, you can rest assured on that point. Our foremost objective now is to resolve Cabinda's receipt of supplies around the port. Once the issues around the port have been addressed, food and supplies will be guaranteed. Government personnel will then move in and organize manpower to clear the surrounding rainforest."
Thus far, East Africa had not established a government in Cabinda, which was why Barco, a military man, had been liaising with Dierca's team.
Of course, Cabinda's military importance would not diminish in the future. As the terminus of the Congo River, Cabinda was also the endpoint of East Africa's northern defenses, and troops would continue to be stationed there.
East Africa would deploy a certain number of troops along the entire right bank of the Congo River. Although the neighboring Belgians were not particularly strong and bore no hostility toward East Africa.
"Since that is the case, while Cabinda's population is still small, why not conduct large-scale burning in the tropical rainforest areas to reduce the difficulty of future work? Naturally, that will require your coordination. After all, setting fires is a technical skill too. If the flames accidentally spread into Belgian territory across the border, it could cause some misunderstandings," Dierca said.
"Mr. Dierca, burning is indeed one option, but it is not easy to carry out in a tropical rainforest region. You mainly worked in the east before, so you know that tropical savannas and tropical rainforests are two entirely different climates. There are too many rainy