Naturally, Jan didn't get any cattle. He could have if he was more assertive, but he didn't want to fight with others. No, the main thing was the treaty between the Zulu and the Natalia Republic. The new territory would finally provide a sea harbour where the Boers could export their goods. The only problem? Constructing a harbour?
If this was his Old World, then Jan would have firmly said it was impossible, and just decide to attack the British at Port Natal and take their port. For a port was not easy to construct, and it will take significant capital and skilled labourers.
The capital was simple. His father had wealth, he could probably obtain a loan or something or just onboard him as an investor. Plus, what did he spend it on, he never saw his father do much with the capital. His father didn't even care if he did not optimize the best sell price he could get for his sugarcane by selling it to the English tradesman.
But there was a cheat this new world brought about, magic. Magic simplified everything, and drastically reduced the requirements needed to construct a port. Sure, magic cannot conjure skilled labourers, but it can construct a great port to attract such labourers. The only problem is that humans have no innate talent for magic, and they would need assistance from the other races. With the Zulu Kingdom so close by, they were the prime candidate. And it would help their modernization efforts, although it would increase the threat level perceived by the Boers.
Still, the only way to shake off the British yoke out of South Africa was to combine forces. The Boers can only field hundreds to thousands of men, but the Zulus could field tens of thousands of men, and use their magic.
Pretorius was the only one that stood in his way. If he could somehow grease Pretorius into handing the responsibility to him, Jan could help begin laying the foundations. But of course, it was a catch-22, Pretorius would probably only hand it to him upon him having the Zulu support, whilst the Zulus would only support him if Pretorius handed the responsibility to him. No harm in trying.
So, he was asking Pretorius on this day in the capital, Pietermaritzburg, the Prime Minister baulked upon hearing his proposition.
Pretorius spoke in English, understanding Jan's comfort behind the language, even if he insisted on speaking to him using Elfrikaans.
"I'm surprised that you're interested Jan. Most men weren't too interested in the land, they were only interested in the cattle they could gather. Tell you what, if you can do it, I'll make you a Commando in the region."
'Commando? Wouldn't that mean I outrank father?'
"Of course, that's only if you get the Zulu on board. Or not. All in all, I would like to see a port for our fledging Republic. I do not mind the means you take. But please do not offend either the Zulus or the British in St Lucia, or even the Portuguese."
The great leader of the trekkers drafted up a decree and handed it over. The decree was drafted in Elfrikaans, and Pretorius pointed towards the terms in the decree. 'Responsibility will only come into effect upon the Zulu Kingdom agreement,' which meant that he could not get any random Zulu to agree to it, he must get the Zulu Kingdom to agree to it.
"Why? We don't need the Zulu Kingdom in it? We can get other dark elves tribes and kingdoms to help out?"
"The proposed port will be lying right by their territory. If their interests are threatened, they can destroy us at any time. Considering the port will be used to help break away our overreliance on the British, it is no different from a Damocles Sword that can fall on our throats anytime. We must have them on our side."
"So, you want me to help invest in your little project to get a port running? What's in it in me?" The Veldkornet rubbed his nose, as he downed a swig of beer.
"Most of the trade in the Republic will be diverted to the port. A little service fee will be levied. You can have them until the amount is paid back."
"I'm not interested in things such as investing or whatnot. If I were, I would have invested in the Amsterdam Bourse and bought some stocks. The returns will be little, who knows when I'll get my money back, maybe when I die. Just give me the right to take some of the goods that pass through if I find it interesting." Jan's father grinned.
'If it becomes the hub of all Boer trade in South Africa, the diamonds and gold can very easily make back your money. But I can't say such a thing can I?' Jan frowned.
So the young man handed over the decree written by Pretorius, and his father's indignant voice could be heard.
"What! You get to become a Commando if you get this done! Fuck, that is so unfair!" His father bashed his fist against the table and furrowed his eyebrows.
"You can do it father if you so wish. You can go become the Commando and I shall assume your position as Veldkornet in this district."
Jan's father smirked, and said," I'm very comfortable with my position. At least Commando Pretorius doesn't intervene too much in my affairs. Fine, I can give you the financial backing. If I don't do this, what kind of a father am I? Just don't purposely bankrupt me! I will write to the other Veldkornets to see if they're interested."
"Jan? Pleasure to see you." Joren greeted, as they took a seat in the inn they first ate together in Pietermaritzburg.
"I'm sure you have heard from my father's writings about the new venture I'm looking to put forth. I assume you're representing your father?"
"Indeed. I'm interested. My father does invest in some of the Trekker parties that look to trek further inland. But this is something he has no experience with, so he left it to my discretion."
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"What are some of your concerns about the project?"
"You'll become a commando, yes? Only if this project is successful. So, I must ask, how will you govern the new Port at St Lucia Bay."
"That will depend on the Zulu's terms and conditions. We'll have to work out an agreement with them. Hopefully, things will go fine on that front. I'm seeking to turn it into a co-rulership arrangement. Like how the Romans governed, one of us will be a Commando, and one of the Zulus shall be one. Each will have veto power."
Joren clasped his hands together and placed his elbows on the table. Resting his face against his hands, he looked towards the table for quite some time. Coming to a decision, he spoke up.
"I'll tell you why my family is interested. You see, all of us have several slaves that we got from the various back-and-forth raids we have with the Elfrican tribes. We want to sell them, but too bad the English had to emancipate the slaves. But in the North…"
"The Ottomans and the Egyptians?"
"Bingo. We can't bring them to the British ports since there isn't a merchant that would take them. Even the damn Portuguese who have done these for hundreds of years are under British Pressure. With our ports, we can ship them to the Egyptians, who will sell them to the Ottomans."
Jan frowned because he planned to do exactly the opposite of what Joren was proposing. He wanted to lead the change in the Republic, lead the abolitionist movement, not continue it. Still, more investment money can only increase the success chance. Still, he could push back abolition at a later date. The industrial technologies brought about by the industrial revolution will only decrease the value of unskilled slaves.
"We're planning on working with the Zulu. I don't know how they would feel about selling their people to a faraway land," Jan said.
"Then we can just sell the peoples of other tribes. I'm sure they don't mind if we smuggle some of it through…"
"Cooperate with me Joren. Our relationship with the Zulu is already rocky. We are standing on their native land after all. If we start pulling things like these, the Zulus might as well burn the whole thing down, and we don't profit."
"I suppose I must concede that point to you. The damn English already call us cheaters, don't want to reinforce that."
Further investment or support would not be forthcoming without Zulu's support. The two deals he brokered were only possible due to his and his father's networks. The other influential peoples of the Republic want a guarantee of Zulu Kingdom cooperation. It's not like he could enter Zululand with his arms raised demanding to see the Queen. After all, their status is completely different, the Queen can't just meet with any random Boer that decides to waltz into there.
He needed a way in. So, he went to Big Boss Pretorius and asked.
"I won't be able to help much. The relationship is frosty as it is. I do not want the new Queen to change her mind and change the deal if she saw how much we needed the port, considering we're even willing to work with our old enemies. Mpande would be looking to consolidate her power. And if I force this through, I fear the port will not be too useful to us."
The Boss was of no help. And he could only grumble as he left his little office. Racking his brains for any Zulus he knows of, he knows of. A very progressive Zulu came to mind. Riding back to his father's home, he inquired if Nokuthula had left her contact details. His father calmly shrugged and sent an elf servant into Zululand to inquire on their behalf. His father armed him, with a firearm and some ammunition before sending him off his way.
"How can you trust him so easily? You even armed him. Aren't you scared he will shoot you in the back?"
"Joseph and I go back a long time. He was with me when we went on the Great Trek. He helped carry my stuff and cleaned my guns. Even when we lost a few fights and scampered off, he would always be nearby waiting for me to pick him up. I trust him."
Jan shook his head, unable to comprehend the camaraderie between his father and the elf servant. So he continued his usual routine but with some changes due to his increasing proficiency in Elfrikaans. In the morning he would shoot, in the afternoon he would ride his horse, and at the night he would continue his various studies in Dutch and World History.
A few days later, an armed elf came by his doorstep.
"Sawabona," He grasped her calloused hands.
"Yebo, Sawabona," Nokuthula wrapped her fingers around his thumb, and he did likewise.
Nokuthula explained," I have received word that a servant from your household was looking for me. So, I have arrived, guided with haste by Unkulunkulu, the supreme creator."
Jan went into his pitch, focusing mainly on why the Zulu needed the ports. He focused on the superiority of Boer firepower, and how their guns and artillery could outmatch thousands of Zulu warriors. He pointed out how the Portuguese and British would be unwilling to sell such things to them in large quantities. But the Boers as intermediaries very much could.
"It sounds nice of all. But wouldn't doing so help the Zulu Kingdom? You will have a strong enemy at your border in the future. What's your overall goal?" The woman peered into his eyes, trying to decipher his true motives.
"We Boers seek independence. To be controlled is not in our nature. For we have trekked inland, even in this hostile environment. The British controlled all trade leaving the continent. We want to not rely on the British too much."
"That is not your true objective, but very well, keep your secrets. I will not interfere in your plans, as long as none of them brings harm to my people. Although, I am a lowly representative I will do my best."
'Lowly representative, my ass. How could you get your hands on Western items if you were as lowly as you speak?' But Jan kept those words to himself. And after some small talk, they bid farewell to one another.
"By the way, how's your shooting, has it improved?" She asked, looking at Jan's rifle.
"A bit I suppose," Jan raised his eyebrows.
"Nnn. Just got to keep practising every day."
Just like that, Nokuthula left to engage in the tribal politics of Zululand.
Weeks pass by, and the men laughed less and less when he obtained his first bulls-eye at the 50 metres. And he could even converse and join into their banter, for they did not use academic Dutch, using simple everyday terms. The men were cold, thinking of him as a spoiled coddled child. But with his skills to back him up, they gradually warmed up to him. And during the nights, he continued his studies, focusing on naval ships, whilst making his foray into academic Dutch, for academic Elfrikaans did not exist.
Pretorius sent some letters grumbling about the slowness of how things were going, but eventually, he stopped sending letters. Jan constantly wrote back apologizing but stopped once Pretorius stopped. Jan could only suppose he gave up. Which is to be expected, for there was little tying the Boers together. He could order him and apply pressure, but too much and the people will just pack their bags and trek even further inland in Elfrica.
One day though, Nokuthula returned sighing.
"Sawabona?" Jan proposed.
"Yebo, Sawabona." She clasped onto his thumb, and let him clasp onto hers.
"Some of Mpande's daughters are interested in your proposal. Specifically, Princess Cetshwayo. She was a very vocal supporter."
"Who cares what the princess thinks? I'm interested in what the King… Oops, I mean Queen thinks."
Nokuthula scowled and looked at him like he was an idiot.
"Mpande is a very passive ruler. The only reason a civil war broke out was that she did not want to be assassinated by Dingane. You Boers installed her, and she has no clue how to rule. So, she listens to others' opinions before enacting them."
"Isn't that genius? If anything goes wrong, can't she blame the people who proposed such an idea in the first place?"
She shook her head and mumbled something about country bumpkins, thinking Jan couldn't hear it.
"So, what does this Princess wants?"
"She tasked me with setting up a meeting between you and her can further discuss matters. Head to the recently ceded St Lucia Bay area by the Zulu border. The Princess will come with an escort. It is expected you will bring an escort as well."
"I thank you for this opportunity, Nokuthula."
"No, thank you, Jan."
And the two bid each other goodbye once again.
Now he had to get an escort. Of course, this was very much politics. So, it would be best to bring a Boer retinue. So, he went to his father and told him everything.
"So, you're going to take my men just to show off to the Zulus? These men aren't puppets. They have real lives. I will have to give them some sterlings for this, considering there will be no loot."
"A conflict may break out, a princess is a pretty good ransom," Jan pointed out.
"There's good and all, but we might have to run away from Pretorius."