The Eritrea region is located on the southern coast of the Red Sea, bordering Sudan to the west, Ethiopia to the south, Djibouti to the southeast, and the Red Sea to the northeast, with an area of ​​124,000 square kilometers, a coastline of 1,200 kilometers, and is opposite to Saudi Arabia and Yemen across the sea. It connects the throat of Europe, Asia and non-maritime channels - the Mande Strait. It has a very important strategic position.

Especially the Asab and Ed areas controlled by the Queenslanders are adjacent to the Mande Strait. The Strait Fortress, Great Hanish Island is located in the northwest of Asab Town, only 21 kilometers away, and within the blockade of large-caliber shore artillery.

Occupy here

This can form a strategic pattern of double blockade between the mainland and the island fortress, supporting each other. If you want to break the blockade, it is not enough to just break one of them, and the difficulty of winning will also rise sharply.

The Eritrea region is about 1,200 kilometers long along the southwest coast of the Red Sea. Most of the territory is plateau mountainous. The central plateau occupies one-third of the altitude, with an altitude of 1,800 to 3,000 meters. The western lowlands have an average altitude of 1,000 meters. The above areas are currently occupied by Italian colonial troops. The coastline is about 840 kilometers long and the total area is about 89,000 square kilometers.

Eritrea looks like a funnel from the map. The western part occupied by the Italian colonial army and the Central Plains Plateau are the main body of the funnel, with an area of ​​about 70% of the country.

The lower end of the funnel with a sharply narrowed shape is the eastern mountain hills, with an average altitude of 600 to 1,200 meters. This section of coastline is about 360 kilometers long and there are three main towns. These three towns are lined up along the Red Coast, namely Molgarda, Ed and Asabu. From Asabu, it arrives at Xi'an-City.

Among them

Molgada belongs to the Italians' control, while Ed and Asab are within the control of the Somalia Garrison. When a dispute arises between the two parties, they are in the excellent pastures in the valley outside Ed Town.

This is a undulating hilly area with an altitude of about 800 to 1,000 meters. From December to February of the following year, it is the cool season, with a temperature of 15℃ and the hot season from May to June, with a temperature of 25℃. The average precipitation here is 800 to 1,200 mm, making it a very good plateau pasture.

The Seidit River in Eritrea, where the river water is continuous for many years, is within the territory. Seidit is 180 kilometers long and flows from the mountainous areas near Molgada to the Ed region, and finally merges into the Red Sea outside the outskirts of Asab.

Such a river with water all year round is extremely precious in the arid northeastern Africa, and it has extraordinary significance for the development of agriculture and animal husbandry.

Large groups of grazing cattle, sheep and horses must have sufficient and clean water sources. This is also a prerequisite for the development of agriculture. The Seidit River basin covers an area of ​​about 6,800 square kilometers. Although it is not large, it is the essence of the essence of the region and a choice place for the development of agriculture and animal husbandry.

Edtown

This place was originally the location of a large tribe of the Tigray black indigenous people. The tribe has a population of 33,000. It is built in a valley next to the Saidit River. The surrounding scenery is beautiful and the water and grass are abundant. It is a rare and good place.

After the Queenslanders occupied this place, they drove the original black indigenous tribes to the ridge of Molgarda and Ed towns, and built houses and roads and commercial shops here, gradually forming a small town of about 3,300 people. A large number of ranches and private farms were scattered around them, with a population of more than 10,000.

Ed Town has no regular garrison, and its only defensive force is more than 400 armed militias. The leader is Major Mo Zhenxiong (Military Reserve). He is also the largest private rancher and planter here. He has a team of mercenaries of more than 80 people under his command, undertakes smuggling and other armed escort tasks.

After Li Yong led more than a thousand cavalry to help at night, Ed Town's troops quickly grew to more than 1,500, which added confidence to the local Chinese to resist and was warmly welcomed.

In front of Italian colonial troops and local black indigenous peoples, Chinese immigrants chose to trust their compatriots and took up swords and guns to defend their homes.

On the hill

Li Yong observed carefully for a while, put down the monocular lens in his hand and remained silent. Mo Zhenxiong stood beside him and couldn't help asking, "Master Yong, what do you think?"

"The Italians are coming in full force and the soldiers are in the face. They are definitely not here to travel around the mountains and rivers." Li Yong put the monocular lens into his horse's bag, tidy up his saddle, and then turned over and said coldly; "When friends come, they have good wine, and when enemies come, they have hunting rifles."

Mo Zhenxiong was disappointed but not annoyed. He was also an officer from the personal guard and was one of the first partners to do smuggling business with Li Yong. The two had a close relationship, so they were just kowtowed and bowed to the boss.

So he immediately turned over and came over and said, "Master Yong, let me tell you, this is the first time I deal with a large-scale regular army in European countries. I'm not sure!"

"Zhenxiong, do you think the British will come to mediate us?" Li Yong asked back.

Mo Zhenxiong thought about it and replied with a frown, "After the conflict, we reported it as soon as possible. It's been more than 10 days now. The British still have no signs. I don't think so.

After the local indigenous blacks in Tigray were suppressed by us, they were originally planning to carry out a large-scale clearance to completely eliminate this disaster. However, the small Italian troops stationed in Molgada often came out to make trouble, causing many indigenous people to escape into the mountains, with a number of more than 20,000 people."

Speaking of this, Mo Zhenxiong shook his head with a wry smile, sighed and continued, "Losing the opportunity to completely resolve the indigenous black people in Tigray is a serious tragedy for the nearby private ranches, so many private ranches drive cattle and sheep to the near town for shelter, so it is not a long-term solution to continue like this!"

"So... don't expect others to solve our problems." Li Yong looked at the Italian army camp in the Zhongshan Valley, and said with a hint of ruthlessness. "Send someone to send a letter to the Italian commander to clearly warn them that they have invaded the area of ​​Ed. According to the spirit of the Berlin Conference, the area is under actual control of Somalia and has been recognized internationally. It is limited to evacuation within one day, otherwise it will be regarded as an invasion."

"Master Yong, will this make the other party angry if you make it clear?"

"Brother Zhenxiong, the Italians clearly have a bad intention. They just care about the British behind us, so they are hesitant. If they can let the British stand by through diplomatic channels, these arrogant Italians might have been unable to help them. They thought we were soft persimmons and wanted to take some action. Maybe they were still trying to invade Xi'an. They should never overestimate the moral standards of the colonists, nor underestimate their greedy appetite. Since that is the case, I will make up my mind to them."

"So that's the case, I understand."

"Remember brother Zhenxiong, abandoning his fantasy and preparing for battle. The Italians wanted to play the trick of the soldiers on the border with me. I directly overturned the table and arranged to send them serious warnings, just to be polite, beneficial and concise, so that Chief Riesling would not be difficult to do. Don't forget that we are the mercenary leaders, when were we afraid of war?"

"Well, I understand. After I go back, I will arrange for someone to deliver the letter."

Li Yong nodded in approval, and as soon as he knocked his legs on his belly, he rode his horse and took his cavalry team back to Ed Town.

In order to prevent the Italian Kingdom army from suddenly attacking, it is necessary to deploy troops and prepare for pre-war. In the face of barking wild dogs, a dog-beating stick must be prepared.

When they returned to Ed Town, it was already dark, and another cavalry team with a population of about 500 had just arrived, all of which were veterans of live ammunition.

Ed Town was busy and lit up dozens of bonfires to cook food, and there were a lively scene everywhere.

The town arranged for special personnel to take away the horses and feed them carefully. The war horses are the lifeblood of the cavalry and the private property of the mercenaries. This is not careless at all.

Mercenary war horses and weapons are all provided by themselves, and they can carry dry food for one week with them. Most of them are resistant to storage bacon, pills, canned fish and other foods to ensure basic combat effectiveness.

There are dozens of mercenary forces in Xi'an, big and small, with the most 700 people and the fewer than a dozen people. On weekdays, everyone has no affiliation with each other, and whether to cooperate depends entirely on voluntary.

Generally speaking

The main business of these mercenary leaders who licked blood from the knife is smuggling merchants, ranchers or planters. Most of the mercenaries under them are cowboys or hired workers. They go out and get a lot of money when they have the chance, and come back to do their jobs honestly at other times.

This situation is somewhat similar to the wild western United States. In the barren land of the Horn of East Africa, Xi'an is an alternative existence that grows strangely. It is a gathering place for exporting smuggled goods and force. It is full of prosperity for Eastern food, wine and physical degeneration and enjoyment. It is also the favorite port for ocean freighter crew members to rest and recuperate.

As long as you have money, you can buy almost everything.

If you receive a large amount of employment business and mercenary leaders post heroes, Xi'an City can quickly gather a considerable number of troops, ranging from hundreds to thousands.

Li Yong's business is very large, and his business tentacles are even as far as Lebanon and Syria. He himself is the largest mercenary leader and one of the largest employers, often hiring personnel to travel to some dangerous commercial routes.

Even if they encountered the Ottoman anti-smuggling army, these bold mercenaries dared to let go and fight together.

This time, in order to deal with the Italian Kingdom army, Li Yong decisively ordered people to sound the call, and gathered thousands of cavalry in a short period of time. This is the amazing appeal of the "African Lion King".

Follow the rules as agreed upon;

These mercenaries who followed the call and actively participated in the event were just accepting a large-scale employment mission, and Li Yong was the employer, and these soldiers would work hard under his command.

As for the remuneration, no one mentioned it, what a joke?

There is no reason why the "African Lion King" can achieve his high prestige that is now echoed. He has always been loyal, will not treat his brothers badly, and will be fair and open-minded. He hired mercenaries to follow him without any worries.

Mercenaries are originally extremely high-risk industries. If they die on the battlefield, they can only blame themselves for their bad luck and no wonder others.
Chapter completed!