I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1021 Cape of Good Hope Strategy

As the most important financial center in Europe, Amsterdam attracts a large number of German, French, Spanish and Italian investors in addition to local capital.

Therefore, Amsterdam also attracts large companies from various European countries to come for financing.

As the largest industrialized country, Britain naturally has many companies listed here.

If the Cape of Good Hope incident could be used to arouse the Dutch people's hatred towards Britain, it would very likely trigger a wave of capital withdrawal, bringing the market value of these British companies to the ground.

Companies that can be listed in the Netherlands are usually large companies. When the impact of the stock price is transmitted back to the UK, it will definitely cause a lot of chaos.

At the same time, the funds withdrawn from British companies need to find new investment targets.

If the companies in the Rhineland only need to take up one-third of this funding, their financing goals can be easily achieved.

Joseph made a quick plan and said to Godin, "You should immediately allocate a sum of money from the treasury. It doesn't have to be too much, three or four million francs will be enough. Then send someone in the name of an investor to do this in Amsterdam..."

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Finance looked at the Crown Prince in surprise: "Your Highness, is this possible?"

Joseph gestured to Lavalette who was standing by and said, "The Security Bureau will assist you in inciting hatred. Also, Mr. Scherer is very talented in this area, so just leave it to them."

Then, he instructed the security chief: "You need to use the limited intelligence personnel in the Cape of Good Hope to contact the Zulus and Xhosa people. You don't need to discuss too many specific contents, just try to increase mutual trust - you can give them some "small gifts" such as flintlock rifles.

"On the other hand, try to arrange a retreat for the Boers. They will definitely not be able to hold the Cape, but we must try to reduce their casualties. If possible, contact the Xhosa people to take them in, and we can pay some expenses appropriately."

Lavalette quickly wrote down the words and replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

"As for aid to the Boers, you can call on the smuggling ships of the 'Special Trade Committee'. We don't need too many weapons, but mainly food and medicine."

Speaking of medicine, Joseph remembered something else: "By the way, the Medical and Health Bureau will assign some doctors to accompany you to the Cape of Good Hope to conduct a double-blind drug trial there. This should greatly increase the trust of the South African natives in us."

Yes, conducting human experiments on drugs on indigenous tribes in South Africa may sound a bit inhumane, but for indigenous people who lack medical care, this is a rare opportunity for treatment.

Even patients in the "control group" will receive proper care from French doctors, and their chances of survival will be much higher than if they simply rely on the spells chanted by tribal wizards.

Moreover, the drugs that can enter the double-blind experiment have all been screened by the Medical and Health Bureau - the cost of conducting drug experiments is not low, and things like "rat tail juice to cure smallpox" will naturally not be wasted money - so many of the drugs have certain therapeutic effects and can save the lives of many indigenous people.

Therefore, conducting drug trials here is a win-win situation.

……

1795 3 Month 2 Day.

British Navy Vice Admiral George Elphinstone commanded five battleships into False Bay, cutting off the Cape's connection with the outside world.

Immediately afterwards, Major General James Craig cooperated with the British East India Company and led 2000 marines to land at Simon's Town near the Cape.

There were less than 400 men, women, young and old in this small town. They offered almost no resistance and watched helplessly as the British army built a supply base here.

Three days later, British warships began to launch a fierce bombardment on Fort Muizenberg outside the Cape.

At the same time, Major General Craig quickly occupied the high ground near Muizenberg, forming a semi-encirclement of the Cape. The battle lasted for a month, and the Cape Town was in tatters. Governor Abraham Sluisken had no choice but to summon all officials to discuss surrender.

However, that same night, several Frenchmen slipped into the city through the waterway outside the harbor.

"So, you didn't bring any reinforcements?" The originally expectant Sluisken suddenly lost his temper and slumped in his chair. "Thank you for your concern, but we are going to surrender the day after tomorrow."

Malvik, the security agent from the Southern Netherlands, gestured out the window and said loudly:

“This is the home you have worked hard to open up for hundreds of years. Every house and every road was built by your own hands.

"If we surrender, all this will fall into the hands of the British!

"And you can only work for the British, watch them earn the money that should belong to you, and eat the black bread they give you."

Sluisken suddenly roared even louder: "What can I do? Nearly half of my soldiers were killed or wounded, and there is not much ammunition left in the city. How can I defend the city?!"

"You don't have to defend to the death." Malvic said, "But you can't surrender."

"I don't understand what you are talking about."

"Take your people, leave here, and lie dormant in the Drakensberg Mountains. When the British are careless, attack them. When their warehouses are constantly burned, transport convoys are hijacked in large numbers, and soldiers disappear inexplicably, one day they will no longer be able to bear the losses and choose to negotiate with you."

The Drakensberg Mountains are a mountain range northeast of the Cape of Good Hope, with an altitude of more than 3000 meters and frequent heavy rains. It is almost impossible for people who are not familiar with the terrain to get out once they enter.

Sluisken laughed and said, "You may not be familiar with the situation here. The Drakensberg Mountains are the territory of the Xhosa people. We have been fighting these natives for decades. We will be killed if we enter the mountains..."

Malvik also smiled: "What if we convince the Xhosa people to provide you with a place to live?"

The Governor of Cape was stunned for a few seconds, then stood up suddenly and asked: "Are you telling the truth?"

"It's true."

Si Luisken asked again with some vigilance: "Why are you doing this?"

"You know, we have never been on good terms with the British. In addition, His Royal Highness wants to invest in the Cape of Good Hope. Oh, not the port. The port and the city will always be yours. His Royal Highness is interested in the minerals."

Two days later.

Under the cover of soldiers, the residents of Cape Town began to move to the swamp area to the east.

The British commanders, whose goal was to capture Cape Town, were naturally happy to see the Boers retreat, but also because it was difficult for the army to launch a large-scale attack in the swamps.

Thus, after five days of retreat, more than 1 Boers, along with slightly larger numbers of Basques and Malays, entered the Drakensberg Mountains.

As the French had said, the Xhosa did not attack them.

Later, when Sluisken saw the flintlock rifles carried by the Xhosa people who came into contact with them, as well as the various glass ornaments on their bodies, he understood how the French persuaded these natives to accept them.

(End of this chapter)