African Nationhood

Chapter 57 Funeral
  The Kingdom of Zanzibar is an island country established by the Arabs. It occupies more than 20 islands such as Zanzibar Island and Pemba Island along the East African coast, as well as low-altitude areas along the East African coast.

This country was founded on the slave trade and spice trade. They were the first Arabs to master navigation skills and often captured black slaves along the coast of East Africa.

These slaves were then castrated and sold to the Ottoman Empire.

This also resulted in very few black descendants remaining in the Ottoman Empire.

Hundreds of intermittent years have passed, and countless black people have been slaughtered by their hands.

The slave trade in this country has not stopped today either.

The European powers have long been eyeing the vast territory of this island country.

In the original time and space of 1882, the French, Germans and the British found the Zanzibar people.

Multiple parties signed an agreement to jointly carve up the islands and part of the territory of the Kingdom of Zanzibar (Uganda and Kenya).

In 1886, the Germans even coerced the Zanzibar people and compressed the inland border to 16 kilometers offshore.

In 1890, the Kingdom of Zanzibar became a protectorate of the British, and Zanzibarians were forced to stop the slave trade.

It was not until after World War II that it got rid of colonial rule and formed the United Republic of Tanzania with Tanganyika.

William Sfield was not very familiar with the Kingdom of Zanzibar, but this did not prevent him from going there to engage in trade.

"I have to think about it, let's leave it like this first."

Shi Jintang naturally agreed, and the banquet continued.

When they returned to their residence after the dinner, Shi Jintang, who was stuffed with oysters, pulled Jin Xiyue, who was dressed up, to do something good. The woman seemed to be alive, holding the anxious man firmly with her hands.

"The slave family can no longer call you Mr. Shi like before, and I don't like to call you Mr. Shi. What do you think I should call you?"

Mr. Shi pondered for a moment, "Since you said so, I give you permission to call me 'Dad' when no one is around."

After saying that, Shi Jintang tore the white hanbok off the woman's body with ruthless hands.

……

On February 1880, 2, two days before the Chinese New Year, Shi Ming and Zheng Yuan chose a new house in the military camp compound.

They were still discussing how to decorate the new house stone, but Shi Ming received a notice from the battalion headquarters, inviting him to attend the memorial service at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

Only then did Shi Ming learn that his squad leader and comrade-in-arms Wang Haichao had died due to malaria infection and ineffective treatment.

When Shi Ming heard the news, he was stunned for several seconds.

The squad leader's voice and smile kept appearing in front of his eyes, and the past scenes with him also kept flashing.

He remembers the solemn look on his face when his friend angrily scolded him for being "dirty", and he also remembers the joy in his face when his friend revealed his longing and longing for a new wife and a new life in front of him.

Shi Ming has always treated squad leader Wang Haichao as a biological brother.

After being diagnosed with malaria, Shi Ming took the initiative to comfort his friend Kaijie and agreed to return the team to him when he recovered.

He also promised to actively cooperate with doctors and recover and be discharged as soon as possible.

Everything was promised well, but he suddenly passed away, leaving him and his brothers in the team forever.

Zheng Yuan didn't know why her boyfriend's expression changed suddenly. She held her boyfriend's hand and asked with concern: "What's wrong? What happened?"

Shi Ming was still trying to hold on to his depressed mood, but when his girlfriend asked him softly, he couldn't hold it in any longer.

He hugged his girlfriend and cried loudly.

"My squad leader and good brother Wang Haichao is dead. He died like this! Woohoo~~"

Zheng Yuan listened to her boyfriend's intermittently narrating every detail of his relationship with the class monitor, and her tears were like broken beads.

By the time the two of them were tired of crying, more than half an hour had passed.

The big clock in the center of the town struck thirteen times, awakening Shi Ming who was in pain.

He told his girlfriend and quickly ran out of the military camp compound. He had to rush to Dongtan in Anhai Town to see his good brother off for the last time.

……

Ten miles east of Anhai Town is a small hill, which was chosen as the Martyrs Cemetery.

A lot of people have gathered in the cemetery, most of them are soldiers wearing military green uniforms.

Shi Ming ran here in a hurry and was out of breath from exhaustion. He was relieved to see that the memorial ceremony had not started yet.

Walking slowly into the cemetery, he saw many familiar faces.

Deputy platoon leader Li, platoon leader Tian Guang, and the medical assistant Cai Ya who had been teased before were all there.

He nodded to everyone one by one. Platoon leader Tian Guang came over and patted his shoulder, "Is it okay? I'll let you lead the third shift from now on."

Shi Ming nodded and walked to his team.

"Deputy Shi Ban."

"Deputy deputy, you are here."

"Deputy squad leader, squad leader, wuwu~~"

……

The eyes of every brother in the class were red, and everyone had obviously cried. Shi Ming walked silently. He was very tired at this moment.

……

Teams lined up next to them one after another, and soon a team of dozens of people gathered around them.

Everyone is organized into teams, with more than ten teams arranged.

After standing still, Shi Ming heard someone whispering in memory of their brothers or sergeants.

At the same time, some people were sobbing, and more people were silent.

Shi Ming wanted to calm these people down, but he knew that everyone was as sad as him, and he couldn't bear to yell at his comrades.

After waiting for almost half an hour, the soldiers gathered around Shi Ming became commotion.

Shi Ming looked up and saw columns of carriages pulling dark coffins into the cemetery.

Everyone knew that this was their dear comrade coming.

When the carriage stopped, a group of well-trained soldiers ran quickly in the direction of the carriage.

Soon they came to the carriage and stood quickly, no more, no less, exactly four. These soldiers were well-dressed, with their gray military uniforms worn meticulously and their gray shell caps neatly worn.

Shi Ming realized: these soldiers were arranged to carry the coffin.

When everything was ready, a sad suona sound suddenly sounded from a corner of the cemetery, and the tune sounded like "Song of the Blue Sky".

Shi Ming often listened to this piece of music when he was in the Qing Dynasty. Every time he heard it, he would have a full meal. Therefore, he would feel happy from the bottom of his heart every time he heard it.

Now in a foreign country, I can't help but feel sad when I hear it again.

He shook his head, trying to push the sadness away from his eyes.

He held his head high, afraid that everyone would see the tears in the corners of his eyes.

The song soon ended, and then a familiar figure appeared in front of everyone.

That’s Mr. Shi, whom everyone respects so much!
  The soldiers all over the cemetery straightened their chests and looked at the man on the high platform.

Shi Jintang stood on a high platform built with wooden boxes. He glanced at the soldiers below.

"Soldiers, today, like everyone else, I am here to see the heroes on their last journey.

Some of you have lost your good brothers, and some of you have lost your good officers.

And I lost an excellent soldier, and I feel as sad as everyone else.

But we cannot wallow in grief and cannot extricate ourselves. Our cause must continue.

The living should live for the dead!

Because you are no longer alone, you still carry the ardent hopes of your good friend, the commander.

They all hope that we can live a good life and live a more prosperous and happy life. Where does such a life come from?

From the steel guns in our hands and the blood of our enemies.

We do not advocate violence, but we are not afraid to use violence to deal with all the malice directed at us, right?

When Shi Ming and all the soldiers heard Mr. Shi's sonorous and powerful question, they all felt their blood boiling up, and they all answered loudly:
  "Yeah!"

"My soldiers, are you afraid of artillery fire, bullets and the enemy's butcher's knife?"

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we are not afraid!"

"very good!

My soldiers, I solemnly declare to you here that every soldier who sacrifices for Nanhua Company will be treated kindly by Nanhua Company.

No matter who you are, whether you have family members or not, Nanhua Company and I will be responsible for you to the end.

For those who have family members, pensions and land in exchange for military merit will be delivered to their families in a timely and sufficient amount;

If you don't have any family members, Nanhua Company will select outstanding boys from among the children brought in to adopt your surname and provide you with heirs. You will never be left alone as ghosts. "

Hearing what Mr. Shi said, everyone became excited, and Shi Ming even burst into tears with excitement.

Wang Haichao, you don’t have to be afraid anymore, you have a heir!
  The soldiers underground cheered excitedly, "Long live President Shi, long live Nanhua Company!"

Shi Jintang looked at the excited crowd below, he pressed his hand down and continued: "In addition, Chengzuo's heir will be trained by Nanhua Company until he reaches adulthood.

The land accumulated by the military exploits of the fathers will be returned to the heirs for inheritance. "

The soldiers below became even more excited, "Long live Mr. Shi!"

“This policy represents Nanhua Company’s sincerity and my commitment to everyone.

So I also hope that everyone can keep their promises to me and Nanhua Company and fight for Nanhua Company! "

The soldiers shouted again: "Fight for Nanhua Company!"

After the cheers of the people below stopped, Shi Jintang spoke again: "Let's see the heroes off together, and their names will be engraved on our monument forever, and they will be engraved in our hearts.

Now let me announce the list of sacrificed heroes. They are: Shen Tian, ​​Wang Mulin, Wang Haichao..."

Every time Shi Jintang said a name, a boy holding a martyrs' picture frame would appear next to the carriage below.

When Shi Ming discovered this situation, he immediately opened his eyes.

When he heard Wang Haichao, he saw a round-faced boy holding Wang Haichao's picture frame and standing there timidly.

His heart suddenly hurt, and he immediately made a decision in his heart. He would help his friend raise this child.

"Now let's move on to the last part of the burial ceremony and send the heroes to their graves!"

In the corner of the cemetery stood more than twenty well-equipped soldiers, raising their guns towards the sky.

"Ready to fire.

Prepare, let go!

Prepare, let go!

......"

After 12 gunshots were fired, the four soldiers standing next to the carriage started to lift the coffin on the carriage and moved it to the dug earth pit one by one.

The suona sounded suddenly, and this song was "A Flower".

Although this piece is equally sad, it has a hint of high-spirited joy.

Shi Ming felt much better, and everyone silently watched their friends and officials being buried.

After the coffin was buried in the pit, everyone dispersed and walked towards the tombs of the martyrs of their respective teams.

Shi Ming walked in front, then reached out and touched the head of the boy holding the picture frame.

"What's your name?"

"Wang Bo."

"Well, good boy, remember to follow your uncle from now on. Your uncle will raise you well!"

Wang Bo looked at Shi Ming and many other adults in front of him with half-understanding, and they all smiled kindly at him.

……

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  (End of this chapter)