East Africa also had water conservancy experts, but their numbers were small, and their specialization did not match that of Germany and Austria. With the support of these skilled personnel, East Africa would find it easier to complete this nationwide water conservancy project.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Isn't your plan a little crazy? East Africa is simply too vast. If you build East Africa's water conservancy facilities according to your requirements, and within such a short time at that, can you truly bear the strain?"
The German experts could hardly be blamed for their doubts. The few circles Ernst had casually drawn on the map looked larger than Germany and Austria combined; they were all East Africa's main agricultural regions.
Ernst explained, "You need not worry about that. Our manpower resources are abundant enough to support such a long-term nationwide construction project."
"Hmm! Your Highness the Crown Prince, may I ask—are East Africa's citizens really that capable of enduring hardship?"
Ernst said, "You misunderstand. In Africa, the cheapest labor is black labor. The main force behind this project will also be black people, so you may proceed without concern."
After hearing Ernst's words, the German water conservancy experts curled their lips and thought, So he's a slave trader!
Ernst did not know of their private criticism, and even if he had, he would not have cared. So long as East Africa could be built into something better, what did it matter if he bore such infamy?
Moreover, projects such as water conservancy works could easily be both a blessing and a curse. Take the Sui-Tang Grand Canal, for example. Everyone acknowledged Emperor Yang of Sui as a foolish ruler, and the Sui-Tang Grand Canal had indeed drained the people's strength and wealth. Yet that canal alone was enough to