The East African government was deeply displeased by the Boers' covert support for the Ndebele people. Many people, including the hawks led by Constantin, wanted to immediately make trouble for the Republic of the Transvaal.
However, Ernst stopped them.
Ernst said, "We will certainly punish the Boers severely for their actions, but now is not the time for us to strike. Just imagine—if we press them too hard and drive the Boers into Britain's arms, things will become difficult to clean up. So even if we move against the Boers, we must finish the job in one stroke, wipe out the Republic of the Transvaal with lightning speed before they have time to react."
Ernst's considerations had historical precedent. In history, unable to withstand the pressure of the Zulu Kingdom, the Boers had voluntarily turned to the British, although the Zulu people themselves had Britain backing them.
Everyone knew what happened afterward. Vast diamond and gold deposits were discovered in Boer territory, and as the masters of that land, the Boers naturally wanted to keep them all for themselves.
But the British wanted something for nothing, and the Boers were naturally dissatisfied. "Why are you so selfish?!" Thus came the Second Boer War. At its root, it was a dispute over interests.
Although the Boers resisted Britain, when faced with a threat, they knew how to choose. Britain might have been no ruler fit for human beings, but an extremely feudal and autocratic state like East Africa posed a more fatal threat to the Republic of the Transvaal.
In the end, the Kingdom of East Africa decided to prepare for war first. Once everything was ready, it would suddenly call the Republic of the Transvaal to account at the end of the year, then launch a blitzkrieg directly against it,