Arms Imports
November 1, 1916, Grand Conference Hall of the Addis Ababa Imperial Palace. The moment the diplomats from the Entente powers entered the room, the air shifted. It always did. These people never just showed up. Every doorway they crossed was calculated, every smile a gambit. When Tafari called them "civilized plunderers," I thought it was a damn apt description. Seeing Thesiger, Brice, and Colli di Felizzano stride in now didn't change my mind one bit.
Three of them. The Italian envoy, Colli di Felizzano, had an unusually soft expression today—his smile so pristine it set off my alarms instead.
"Your Majesty, we bring good news today."
Thesiger spoke first, in fluent French. His neatly trimmed beard and perfectly knotted tie screamed preparation for an important occasion.
"The British Cabinet has made its decision."
It was the space where the Ras Council had taken their seats. Every Ras's gaze snapped to Thesiger. I'd decided to invite the diplomats to today's meeting. The council had only been established for a month, and already foreigners were visiting again.
"They have agreed to lift the arms embargo on Ethiopia."
A brief silence fell, then reactions erupted. Low murmurs rippled through the Ras's ranks. My father, Ras Mikael's fingers slowly uncurled once on the armrest. Tafari's face didn't change, but his eyes flicked from Thesiger to me for a split second. Yeah, I saw that. I knew already.
"However."
Thesiger continued. "The types and quantities of military arms Ethiopia imports must be pre-notified to the Entente powers."
That single sentence raised Ras Seyum's eyebrow; Kassa Haile crossed his arms. Hailu Tekle Haymanot glanced out the window before looking back. 'Graciously accept, but tell us what you're buying.' A lavish carrot on a leash.
I kept my expression neutral. This was the expected play. Lifting the embargo was the price of our neutrality declaration; the notification clause was the string attached. From their perspective, they wanted Ethiopia armed—just armed in a way they could track. Were we getting German rifles? Ottoman gear? Nothing wrong with that. We had nothing to hide anyway.
"Understood. We thank the Entente for their decision."
Thesiger nodded. Brice leaned forward like he was tipping a wine glass. Colli di Felizzano kept his smile, hands resting on his knees. All three were waiting for my next words, so I deliberately paused a beat.
"Then it would be best to discuss the import items with the Ras Council here and now. We'll notify you once a decision is made."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Once the envoys had withdrawn, only Tafari, the Ras's, and I remained. Father spoke first.
"What can we buy?"
Straight to the point. Typical of him. I opened my notebook to a page densely packed with Korean script. No one here could read it anyway, so I'd jotted notes casually. '1916 available weapons list. Filter for reliable frontline proven ones.' That was today's crux.
Unlike the Korean in my notes, I spoke in Amharic.
"Let's start with rifles."
The Ras's focused intently. Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis leaned forward slightly in his seat. I'd noticed his attitude shifting since the arsenal visit—from dismissal to observation, if not full trust yet.
"The frontline nations' rifle stocks are all short for domestic use. Britain's Enfield, France's Berthier, Italy's Carcano—the Entente's standard rifles."
I ticked them off one by one.
"Those are being consumed on the Western Front right now. Even sending full factory output there isn't enough; there's nothing left for Ethiopia."
Hailu Tekle Haymanot narrowed his eyes at the shocking statement.
"So we can't buy German ones, and even Entente standards are unavailable?"
"Mausers and Mannlichers are Central Powers gear—they won't sell to us anyway. And Entente standards have no export surplus."
The room fell quiet. Disappointment hung in the air. I didn't stop there.
"But there are options."
Gazes refocused on me.
"Japan."
Tafari's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly for the first time. He reacts to 'Japan.'
"No direct trade precedent with Japan in Africa. Logistics are an issue too. Opening channels right now wouldn't be easy."
I set that card aside.
"So the realistic choice is one."
"What is it?"
I spoke slowly. "Spain."
Spanish Mauser. Specifically, the Model 1893 series and the new 1916 carbine variant. In simple terms, a standard Spanish bolt-action rifle.
Spain was neutral in the Great War. No need to feed their stocks into trenches, so they had export capacity. And we had some ties—Menelik II's era had already imported some 7mm Mauser rifles, so ammo compatibility was a plus.
Habte Giyorgis asked then. "If it's Spanish, don't we already have some in the arsenal?"
"Exactly."
I nodded. "That's why it's ideal. Partial ammo standardization already exists."
"Quantity?"
"20,000 rifles initially."
The room's temperature shifted at the number. The Ras's exchanged glances.
"All to the Mehal Sefari. Imperial Guard re-equips first, then sequential supply to provincial forces."
Mehal Sefari. The Emperor's guard and empire's core force. I mentioned it deliberately. Re-equipping the entire Ethiopian army right now was impossible—budget, time, trainers all lacking. But we could outfit the central army properly. That spark would spread: if the Guard trained with new rifles, the Ras's would want the same for their forces. Demand creates supply.
"Rifles alone aren't enough. We need machine guns."
Habte narrowed his eyes. "Machine guns."
"Yes, especially Hotchkiss heavy machine guns."
I pressed on. "France and Spain's mainstay. Used on fronts now, but Brice says he can secure Spanish stock."
Kassa Haile's eyes finally lit with interest. "Quantity."
"400 guns."
Silence again, but different this time—overwhelmed. Those who'd fought at Adwa knew instinctively what 400 machine guns meant. They remembered Italy's guns and rifles there, and how they'd been used.
"Plus 60 76mm Schneider mountain guns."
Tafari didn't make a sound, but his finger slowly curled once on his knee. That gesture—when unexpected intel hits.
Mountain guns were my deliberate addition. Honestly, Schneider's shell efficiency wasn't the best. But Brice needed a win for the Entente here—rifles from Spain, MGs from Spain, but guns from France give him a bone from their arms industry. It soothes egos. Diplomacy rolls on what the other side gains.
"Ammo: 10 million 7mm Mauser rounds, 12,000 76mm shells upfront."
Murmurs rose among the Ras's. Seyum spoke first. "Buying all that will blow the budget."
"Covered by customs revenue."
Tafari jumped in. I glanced at him; he gave a tiny nod. Djibouti rail customs were substantial. Menelik II had formalized tariffs; since my ascension, Tafari tightened them further. Cash economy wasn't fully settled, but coffee and hides brought steady forex.
"We'll time shipments for Djibouti rail completion."
I added. "Right now, inland haul to Addis relies on camels and mules. Rail lets us handle it all at once."
Kassa Haile spoke slowly. "Training after import?"
"French advisory team incoming for MG ops and artillery. Rifles: arsenal overseers drafting basic manuals. Habte's instructor cadre trains Mehal Sefari first, then they fan out to provinces."
Habte snorted once. Not opposition this time—I knew.
Then Ras Lul Seged raised a hand. "Your Majesty."
"Speak."
"The notification clause means they'll watch how we use these. Anything to make them uneasy?"
Sharp question. I pretended to ponder. Answer was prepped.
"That's why Spain."
"…!"
"Neutral, neither Entente nor Central. German or Austrian gear would ping them, but Spanish? No grounds to block. Guns are French—impresses Entente we're aligning their way."
That explained Colli di Felizzano's pristine smile earlier. He'd spotted no Italian cut. But he couldn't object—Italy's Entente too, no basis to halt Entente sales. Simmer inside, smile outside. I knew how that unease would erupt in 19 years. But this path was right now.
Habte Giyorgis rose slowly. "As Fitawrari, I support this procurement plan."
Something locked into place in the room—not a sound, the atmosphere. The army chief's word carried weight.
Tafari spoke quietly. "I'll compile the budget execution in a council report."