Greece to roman road

Is there oil in Congo?

Constantine carefully recalled the news about Congolese oil in his mind. He had never heard of Congolese oil.

Then there are only two possibilities, no oil and poor oil, so the reputation is not obvious.

As a giant trust that monopolizes the U.S. oil market, Standard Oil is the leader in petroleum refining and sales, but is weaker than the former two in crude oil extraction, accounting for only 25% of crude oil extraction.

As the head of Standard Oil, it seems that he has decided to focus on crude oil extraction.

"Mr. Rockefeller, I have not heard rumors about Congolese oil. If your company is interested, you can go to the Congo area to survey. I can ask the employees of the Congolese Commission in Africa to fully cooperate," Constantine said.

"You are so generous, I..."

While the two were talking, Constantine suddenly saw Banning walking over in a hurry with a strange look on his face, interrupting their conversation.

Constantine nodded apologetically to Rockefeller, and then walked to a remote area with Banning.

"What's wrong? Banning?" Constantine said looking at Banning who was sweating on his forehead.

Banning usually acts calmly and strategically. If he loses his composure today, there must be something important going on.

"Your Excellency, Duke, I have just received news from the Greek office in New York that the French and Portuguese have discovered our attempt. They have blocked the mouth of the Congo River and will no longer allow ships flying the gold star and blue background flag of the Congo Committee to enter the Congo River," Ban said. Ning said.

"What?" Constantine was also surprised after hearing Banning's news.

Although Constantine also understood that sooner or later, the French and Portuguese colonists would discover the intentions of the Congo Committee, but it was still beyond his expectation to be exposed now.

But considering that Stanley has established dozens of trading strongholds and hundreds of mandate treaties, as long as the French and Portuguese north and south of the Congo River pay a little attention, the cover of the Congo Committee will be exposed.

After all, the Congo Committee was operating near the Congo River in the name of scientific investigation and geographical discovery.

It is inevitable that a large number of construction bases will expose the target.

"What's the specific situation?" Constantine asked hurriedly.

"The soldiers led by Captain Brut had an armed confrontation with the French and Portuguese colonial military personnel. Both sides refused to give in and often harassed each other," Banning said.

"No large-scale firing? That's not bad." Constantine breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, thinking that the three parties had clashed in Africa.

Constantine walked back and forth, thinking about how to deal with the current situation.

After a moment, Constantine turned to look at Banning and said: "In this way, we will act separately. I will wait for news from the US government in the United States. You will return to Congo immediately," Constantine said.

"You know the situation of the Congo River best and have been leading the activities of the Congo Committee there. At this time, you must return to Congo."

"You don't have to worry too much. After arriving in the Congo, stabilize the mood of the team and encourage them. The French are now expanding rapidly in Africa and are unlikely to respond too violently to the Congo Committee, so they don't have to be afraid of the French." , Constantine ordered.

In the early to mid-19th century, European colonial countries paid more attention to those colonies that could directly obtain huge profits.

For example, British India, French Indochina (Vietnam), and Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).

These areas are densely populated and have mature land development, capable of producing a large amount of various resources, food and cash crops.

Before the colonists came here, there was already an organized, mature civilization.

After conquering through military, economic, and political means, the suzerain country can extract huge profits from these areas every year.

Spices from the East Indies, for example, have always been a major trading commodity for the Dutch.

Compared with the colonies in these wealthy and prosperous areas, Africa was a barren, barbaric and desolate place, and the climate was not friendly to Europeans. Except for some strategically important locations, they were not valued by Europeans.

Therefore, before that, European control over Africa was limited to areas that served as transit points and commercial bases for ocean-going ships, such as Cape Town in South Africa and Walvis Bay in Southwest Africa.

It was not until the 1880s that the technical conditions for entering Africa became mature, and various countries successively sounded the clarion call to enter Africa:

France launched a massive invasion of West Africa in 1880, Tunisia in 1881, and Madagascar in 1883;

Britain occupied Egypt and Italy invaded Eritrea in 1882;

As for Portugal, the pioneer of navigation, although it has declined, it still firmly controls Angola in West Africa and Mozambique in East Africa.

This is where Constantine's confidence lies. Although France is powerful, it has occupied a large number of colonies in a short period of time, and I am afraid that it will not be able to digest them all in a while. Although the Congo Committee cut off the Congo River Basin under his nose, Looking extremely annoyed.

However, the strength of various countries in African colonies is relatively weak, limited by poor transportation and communication conditions. Whether it is France or Portugal, their strength in southern Africa may not be comparable to that of the Just Over Committee, which has 500 regular soldiers.

Therefore, although the sudden military confrontation in Africa was beyond Constantine's expectations, it was still under control.

"Of course, as long as the French don't go too far, you can tolerate it as much as possible," Constantine continued.

In any case, France is not something Greece can provoke now, and the strength of the two sides is not on the same level.

As for Portugal, Constantine didn't say anything, but Banning could understand it.

The persimmons are easy to pick. As for the situation in Portugal, if it were not for the support of the British allies, let alone the colonies, even the mainland would have been annexed by Spain.

Compared with today's Greece, yes, it is still stronger than Greece, although the strength is limited.

"As soon as I hear the news from the Americans, I will return to Europe," Constantine said.

Seeing Banning leaving in a hurry, Constantine came to Sanford.

"There is an emergency in Africa, Sanford, can you use your network to finalize the Congo Committee matter as early as possible?" Constantine looked at Sanford and said.

Although President Chester said he needed two days to think about it, Constantine no longer planned to spend too much time in the United States. The change in the situation required him to return to Europe as soon as possible.

"That's right, it's okay, I just need your permission to come up with some Congolese benefits," Sanford said without seeming to care.

"I heard that there are millions of elephants in the Congo. I can give them some places in the elephant hunting team," Constantine said.

"No problem. In a country where all resources revolve around the baton of money, as long as you have interests, you can have privileges," Sanford said confidently.

Constantine frowned and thought about the current situation, sighing in his heart that a small country like Greece that cannot influence the situation can only observe the further development of the situation before deciding on the next response.