The smooth progress of the transaction between the two sides was thanks to the favorable trading environment created by the East African government. This was a trade outpost planned by the East African government along the banks of the Limpopo River.
Right beside the trade outpost was an East African garrison. Under such military deterrence, no petty troublemakers dared stir up trouble here—unless they could first defeat the East African Army.
There were no tariffs. Most of the goods sold by East Africa were its own products, and taxing trade in Africa would never stop merchants from hungering after money. Both sides could set up smuggling operations along the sparsely populated banks of the Limpopo River at any time.
At the previous East African government meeting, trade had been identified as one of the ways to make the Matabele Plateau more prosperous—not only trade with the natives, but also with the Boers and Portuguese. Thus, this was part of the plan.
Just as Vandermeer and Yuri had completed their transaction and were preparing to leave, Leon, the manager of the Bains Ferry trading market, suddenly emerged from nowhere.
He stopped Vandermeer in time. Leon said, "Mr. Vandermeer, please wait!"
"So it's you, Manager Leon," Vandermeer said. "What can I do for you, Manager Leon?"
Leon said, "Mr. Vandermeer, to be honest, your boats are still too small. How much cargo can they carry? I suggest that you acquire some larger vessels. That would also make trade between the Kingdom of East Africa and the Republic of the Transvaal more convenient."
Vandermeer said, "That matter? I'd actually like to replace them with larger boats too, but I'm only a small merchant. Besides, there was hardly any business on the Limpopo River before. Being able to scrape together a few small boats