Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne Chapter 6

The Dutch ambassador Nicholas Pearson and Otto von Bismarck at the Chancellery in Berlin discuss the future Prussian use of troops against Denmark in a showdown. Later, Nicholas Pearson left Bismarck's Prime Minister's Office with a hurried provisional agreement.

At 21 o'clock in the evening, Bismarck, who was already croaking with hunger, was left alone.

But now Bismarck has no time to think about it, because he frowned, and he couldn't figure out why the Netherlands appeared at this time, and he dared to be open and wanted to cooperate with Prussia. It is about the fact that Prue is going to operate on Denmark. This is an extremely confidential plan, and it is currently only known to him and William I and the chief of staff of Mao Qi.

No, and Crown Prince Frederick, how do they know about it in the Netherlands?

Thinking of this crown prince, Bismarck frowned.

Since marrying Princess Victoria back in 1858, Crown Prince Frederick is no longer the crown prince he used to be. He strongly supports the political ideas brought by Princess Victoria. The couple hopes that Prussia can become a constitutional monarchy like the British Empire. nation.

Hmph, when Bismarck thought of this, he couldn't help but feel dissatisfied that Crown Prince Frederick was brainwashed by his wife.

I don't even think about the situation in Prussia or the environment of the British Empire. The United Kingdom is an island country, and because of the presence of the overlord-level British navy around it, there is no threat.

But Prussia is different. Austria and Tsarist Russia, the two powerful allies of Prussia, are not yet constitutional monarchies. France has just been restored and successfully became the second French empire not long ago. Napoleon III also launched a constitutional monarchy last year after more than ten years. system.

If Prussia implements it, there will be a generation gap between Russia and the Austrian system of the allies. Don't underestimate it, it will definitely cause suspicion among allies.

As a result, Princess Victoria was ostracized by members of the royal Hohenzollern family as well as by Berlin court officials because of her political views and her British origin.

In particular, Bismarck felt that it hindered his long-planned policy of easing the Austrian alliance with Russia, so the differences between him and Victoria deepened.

Bismarck mused: "The Netherlands dares to do this now, it is nothing more than the new king William IV who succeeded the throne of William III last month. The new king is always strong-willed and wants to make a big fight, then, I can just use this new king. This point of the king must be calculated carefully and strive for more benefits for Prussia."

He felt a little distressed when he thought that the young diplomat just now asked him for the benefit of the Netherlands supporting Prussia in attacking the Danish territory.

However, when he thought of the moral support and real territorial benefits that Prussia had gained for this, he put away the pain.

It is reluctant that the child can't catch the wolf, and now he gives it to the Netherlands, just like the Netherlands that Britain gave them back then. Sooner or later, Prussia will take back twice as much, so let's temporarily store it in the Netherlands!

Bismarck looked at the covenant of the temporary plan, some helplessly asked the servant to take the meal, hurriedly ate it, and hurried to the Berlin Palace again, because there should be William I and Chief of General Staff Mao Qi already. Waiting for his message!

When Bismarck and Pearson in Berlin secretly completed a contract that may have a major impact on the future, when Bismarck went to the Berlin Palace to report the relevant matters, at the Dutch Palace in Amsterdam, William IV was also listening to the secret agreement. progress.

Looking at the diplomatic report sent by the Privy Council, it is that the Netherlands has completed the initial deployment of the balance of power diplomacy with the major powers, and has begun to look up to the major powers in a way to maximize their interests.

Stationed in London, Berlin, Paris, Vienna, and even Madrid, Lisbon, etc., have carried out all-round diplomacy in the past week to upgrade the relations between countries. Now hearing the news of Haysbert Feng, William IV is relieved , finally this time did not waste a lot of planning.

Especially for the request to replace the support of the secret contract with Berlin, this is the most uncertain thing for William IV, but the telegram I just received, finally I can worry about it. Bismarck, after all, still has enough. Ambition, at the same time, also let William IV know that the original temptation, which was still uncertain, was indeed tested. Prussia's plan for Denmark was not an impromptu idea, maybe it was the day William I approved him to become Prime Minister, it began to be presented. A 'Meeting Ceremony' of William I.

The reason why they agreed to the Netherlands was simply because, at this time, William I and Bismarck had already jumped out of the pattern of being trapped in the Pod Plain by Prussia, had begun to look forward to the entire European continent, and had already begun to prepare for a bad relationship with the British Empire sooner or later. This is also the root cause of his deliberate temptation. As a result, he succeeded and the temptation came out.

He and Bismarck both believed that as long as the Danish plan was successful, it would be a success for Prussia that would arouse a sense of national honor, and at the same time would arouse the blood of the Dutch, and would bring the Netherlands a counterattack. The British plan, because only in this way, will the United Kingdom then jump into another pit that the Netherlands has already deployed, and slowly enter the vortex of Europe. Again, Europe is too peaceful, which is not in line with the current interests of the Netherlands as a middle country. William IV hopes to stir up the situation in Europe and muddy the water, so that he can take the opportunity to fish and plunder.

"See Your Majesty"

The Privy Council of the Netherlands is located in the royal palace. It is an existence subordinate to the cabinet and an administrative agency used by William IV to manage the country.

Its main cost is basically the cabinet members, but the candidates are decided by William IV. At present, there are mainly three people in the Privy Council, namely Prime Minister Tolbeck, Interior Minister Jonrell and Foreign Minister Heisbet Fung and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jane von Capellow.

When the four of them saw William IV coming in, they immediately got up and saluted.

"Everyone, please sit down." Pointing to their actions, William IV took the lead and sat down.

After a few people said a few words of implicit greetings, William IV cut to the chase and said to Jonrell:

"Come and introduce the latest immigration progress of the Ministry of the Interior"

Jonrell didn't expect William IV to call him first. Originally, today was the main meeting to discuss the theme of Dutch diplomacy: the covenant with Prussia.

However, fortunately, he did his homework and didn't have stage fright.

"We have had a good year and a lot of people have gone to the East Indies. After a week of publicity in our media "Rotterdam Zeitung", "Echo", "Dutch Daily", the number of people who have signed up has now reached 20,000 , as long as we continue to publicize, I believe more people will participate, after all, there is a lot of land there, and Your Majesty, you have asked the Ministry of Finance to provide finance, allowing the dark head calculation, each immigrant will receive 2,000 guilders after living for one year. (80 pounds, twice the GDP per capita of the Netherlands) support policy, that is twice the national income of our country in a year. As long as we have this money, we will acquire the corresponding land and settle down. a good life, so although the time is short, there are not a few people who respond”

When William IV saw the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jane von Kappel, he couldn't help but smile bitterly when Jonrell said that it was time for the support of the Ministry of Finance to show a trace of displeasure on his face.

As the financial steward of the country, the Ministry of Finance spends every cent and every cent for various departments. William IV naturally knows the three flavors of it. Such a large amount of support will be a burden.

Just 20,000 people need 160,000 pounds. Last year, the GDP of the Netherlands was 160 million pounds, and the fiscal revenue was about 40 million pounds. The country needs money in all aspects. From the beginning, more and more, the list is getting longer and longer. The military expenditure listed last week by the Parliament and signed into effect by William IV has reached a staggering £500,000. This is still January. , what about 11 months later?

However, I believe that Chancellor of the Exchequer Jane von Capello also saw the business opportunities.

"East India was originally the location of spices, and the number of primitive deep forests there is an indispensable raw material for our fleet. In Europe, only northern Europe has such a collection of trees for all countries to squander, but now the relationship between northern Europe and Sweden is even stronger. The ambiguity is also the one that supplies the most to the British Empire, so we cannot be controlled by others, but rely on ourselves. As the population slowly shifts to the East India, we will complete a leap in quality and space expansion, as long as this step Stand firm, sit firm, then "

William IV's ambitious and domineering words: "At that time, we will once again stand in the forest of European powers and fight them head-to-head again."

The camera snaps back to Berlin, but this time it's the Royal Palace.

William I was also greatly surprised, and couldn't help looking at Mo Qi, and then finally fell on Bismarck who brought the news.

The latter shrugged and said, "I didn't expect that the Netherlands would emerge at this time after so many years of silence. It seems that our neighbor, the new King William IV, is not a peaceful master."

William I had a majestic face, and his long beard covered his upper and lower lips, and his words also caused the beard to shake.

He said: "They want the Faroe Islands in Denmark? It's not a small ambition, but will the Danes agree?"

Mao Qi was also shocked by this news.

The Netherlands has been afraid of being attacked by the UK in these years, and now they want the Flanders Islands not far from the UK. Those desert islands with a population of only a few thousand people are extremely cold?

Will Denmark agree?

Originally Bismarck questioned the same way, but he thought of the young diplomat who had just talked to him. For some reason, he didn't think so. He actually agreed that the Netherlands should be able to do it, which surprised Bismarck. It is unbelievable that he chooses to trust each other.

It seems that the guy named Pearson, even though I had a high opinion of him before, I still look down on him now. He can unknowingly affect my mind and invade my judgment. With this person in the Netherlands, any country's diplomatic pillar needs attention. Perhaps this person will be a diplomatic middleweight in countries such as Prussia and the United Kingdom.

Secretly remembering Pearson, Bismarck said: "Your Majesty, I think the Netherlands is indeed our ally at present. After all, we are now following the Kingdom of Westphalia, the Rhine Province and the Kingdom of Hanover with them, but not the Kingdom of Prussia. Bordering, there is no conflict between the two countries, the Netherlands aims at sea, and we are currently stuck in the Baltic Sea, and there is no coastal port in the Atlantic Ocean. Maybe cooperation with the Netherlands will be the future for us. In the ports of the Atlantic Ocean, the strongest foreign aid may be obtained.”

William I and Mao Qi were shocked at first, and then heartbroken.

Chapter end