Archduke Ferdinand's idea was quickly relayed to Constantin. This was easy enough: simply transfer some immigrants from Dar es Salaam to Mkany to carry out the cleanup of this site, which had been abandoned for two years.
As long as it did not cost money, Constantin was quite generous. More than two thousand immigrants were soon assigned to Mkany. It would temporarily become the most populous city on Pemba Island, as well as East Africa's second-largest military harbor.
At this moment on the Adriatic Sea, the Austro-Hungarian Navy had already exchanged fire with the navy of the Kingdom of Italy. The battlefield was not far from the Republic of San Marino on the Apennine Peninsula, and people on the shore could already hear the faint rumble of cannon fire.
At sea.
"Load the ammunition, take aim." Under the commander's orderly instructions, the Austro-Hungarian soldiers completed every step in perfect order.
"Fire!"
With a thunderous boom, thick black smoke billowed from the naval gun, and the shell shot straight toward the Italian Navy warship.
Unfortunately, the first shot failed to score. It splashed into the sea beside the enemy vessel, but it also helped the Austro-Hungarian Navy find the right angle.
The tremendous recoil from the cannon fire made the entire ship lurch, yet the Austro-Hungarian sailors seemed utterly unaffected.
After Wilhelm von Tegetthoff's reforms, the Austro-Hungarian Navy's military proficiency had improved across the board over the past two years compared with the Battle of Lissa.
"Damn it, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's new warships have become even more heavily armed, and their crews are highly skilled too. They nearly succeeded just now. Return fire!"
The Italians began firing at the Austro-Hungarian vessels as well. After the lessons of the previous Battle of Lissa, although the Italian Navy's funding had been drastically