Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

As soon as this news appeared in the Financial Times, it shocked everyone around the world, and people began to pay attention.

People from other European countries protested against the Dutch actions.

Some protested that their national government was lagging behind the Netherlands in taking overseas plundering actions, and was too slow and ineffective.

Some protest against the weakness and incompetence of their country's military.

Some also protested that their country's government was too slow to collect intelligence information. It even needed to obtain information from private media channels to learn the truth about such a major incident, which reduced their trust.

In short, when all countries are worried about this incident, the dissatisfaction among the people is increasing their pressure.

The "Financial Times", which was originally only popular in the UK, suddenly became the most famous multinational newspaper in Europe after the "European Times" because of this report, and its sales volume in this issue was also eye-catching. , firmly established its second position, and also took the most important step for the multinational newspaper giant that followed for nearly two centuries. .

This made Queen Victoria dumbfounded, and I don’t know if it was a ‘British disaster’ or a blessing for this newspaper.

At the same time, in South Africa, there were newspapers and periodicals there, and people who were very concerned about everything in Britain noticed this message. From person to person, this message spread throughout South Africa.

This made various forces in South Africa, especially the leader of the Transvaal, Martinas, who had secretly surrendered to the Netherlands, the leader of the Orange Free State, George, and even the crown prince of the Zulu Kingdom, Kai Zhiwayo, very excited.

Because they finally understood why the Netherlands asked them to wait, and also understood where the Netherlands' confidence came from. With this news confirmed, even if they thought that the British army of 100,000 troops was rushing halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, they were no longer afraid, because, With the landing of the Netherlands on the Congo River, the plan originally mentioned by the Netherlands really started to launch, so their confidence soared.

At the same time, Qiao Boon and Shepstone were also in a daze holding the newspapers in their hands.

The entire South Africa has almost fallen now, except for East London and Port Elizabeth in the southeast. Because they are close to the seaside, with the support of the fleet, the strength that unites them is concentrated within the surrounding two hundred square kilometers.

"Didn't the Netherlands use its troops to support the Transvaal Republic?"

This is not just a problem for Qiao Boon, but also questions arise in London and other countries.

Since the Netherlands has excess troops to "invade" the indigenous kingdom of Congo, France and Prussia will follow the Netherlands and go south.

Oops!

This was a sudden thought in the minds of people, including Queen Victoria, who suddenly thought of a possibility.

When the Netherlands turned everyone's attention to South Africa, the British troops were all heading to southern Africa, locking in South Africa for a war of attrition. But they secretly expanded the territory of overseas colonies.

When Victoria figured this out, she was immediately irritated.

"It's a pity that Britain is finding it difficult to stop the opponent at this time, and the reasons are not sufficient.

When the next day came, she understood even more clearly that Britain's efforts to stop them were over, and it was a foregone conclusion that Europe would attack Africa.

On June 15, 1862, 3,000 Dutch landing troops finally arrived in Mbandaka that day after a long journey of nearly a week. After 3,000 muskets fired uniformly at the sky, King Gang finally chose to abdicate. However, in order to show the generosity of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Colonel Braga took out the viscount reward of the Netherlands.

It only took less than a day. With the surrender of King Kong, the entire topography of Congo was described by King Kong and placed in front of Colonel Braga.

In particular, the road from Congo to Tanzania and Kenya in the east became his greatest concern, because before he came, even Chief of General Staff Mark Rudd had given a death order. This was a task that must be completed. .

After all, the Financial Times has limited staff, but there are other newspapers in other countries.

June 16, 1862.

Everyone was stunned, especially the Prussians. After reading it, they all looked up to the sky and laughed, with excitement on their faces, because Prussia finally had colonies overseas.

It turns out that the latest edition of the Berliner Zeitung published the latest Prussian garrisons in Southwest Africa (Namicia), Cameroon and Somalia.

In the newspapers, Bismarck even declared sovereignty over the area and asked other countries not to infringe on the government's declaration that it belonged to Prussia's territory.

As if not to be outdone, France's "Le Figaro" announced that the French Empire has officially stationed more than 5,000 troops in Mauritania, Togo, Ghana, and Cote d'Ivoire, making it clear that its sovereignty cannot be violated by any country.

Olivier even announced that they have marched south through Algeria, and are about to take Mali with the three-sided attack announced just now from the left, upper and lower sides. By then, the entire northwest, except Spain and Morocco, Almost all fell into France's pocket.

What does it mean to steal a beam and replace it? This is that the three countries supported southern Africa with great fanfare, but they directly landed in Africa halfway. Not bad, but it was northern and central Africa. The number of remaining troops going south was definitely a price difference.

At this moment, everyone felt as if they had been tricked by the Three Kingdoms.

Especially the UK.

Other countries were even more unwilling to gain territory from these three countries. As a result, fleets from various European countries began to assemble, preparing to go south, preparing to occupy territory in Africa. In addition to the United Kingdom, there was also the newly established Kingdom of Italy. , the old Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Portugal, etc., these are the countries closest to Africa.

Tsarist Russia, Austria, and even Denmark, Sweden, Tsarist Russia and other Nordic countries have all moved south.

For a time, Africa was bustling with activity.

Africa also entered the colonial era. The initiator was the Netherlands under the leadership of William IV, nearly 10 years earlier than in history.

As of June 20, 1862, the three countries had taken over their respective territories in full accordance with the original plan. However, due to insufficient troops, the pause button was pressed. However, other countries that woke up would ask them to wait for other reinforcements. Come and continue to win other places?

"What are you talking about? What are you thinking about with such a frown on your face? My dear"

"Hi, honey, why are you here?"

"Isn't it possible? I was almost dizzy because of the few children at home, so I handed them over to the servants. I just wanted to take a walk in the yard, but I didn't expect you to sit on this swing alone first. People are swinging, can’t I come out?”

"No, no, no, absolutely, you're not a slave, of course it's OK!"

"Say it"

"say what?"

"Well?"

"Oh, so that's what you're asking? Alas, it's not the issue that Britain is most concerned about right now."

"Dutch warships landed in the Congo? Or was South Africa defeated by indigenous kingdoms and felt that the British Empire was embarrassed?"

"Yes, Georgiana, as you know, I am very serious about participating in politics and have always been very interested."

"Robert, believe me, you can achieve your dreams."

I hope, by the way, you just said you could relax, but you haven’t said the reason why you looked so sad just now.”

"He's not your father yet. He's from London. Like your father, he feels that our marriage is not ideal, so his attitude towards me is not very friendly."

When Robert heard this, he suddenly felt sad.

His father made it clear that he was not optimistic about the marriage between a Conservative Tory noble and the daughter of a Liberal Whig judge. However, the two of them refused the "well-intentioned" reminder and got married anyway. Later, they lived in Fitzroy. The square life is really simple, but the two of them are very happy. It has been five years since they got married in 1857. The three children have all grown up quite cute, but if they have too many mouths to eat, the pressure on the cost of living will increase. , It is not easy to raise children, and it is even more difficult for him to have three children in five years.

Even for this reason, during this time, he also wrote articles commenting on foreign policy for the "Quarterly" and "Saturday Review" to increase his income.

But he also enjoys it because he likes politics and is very interested in British politics.

Especially in recent years, when the Liberal Whig Party was in power, his articles criticizing the Whig Party attracted the attention of many people.

"He's looking for you?" Robert asked.

"If I'm not looking for you, why are you looking for me?" Georgiana, you gave her a seductive eye roll angrily.

"He's looking for me?" Serrobert stood up immediately, but then he sat back down again. The excitement just now suddenly returned to calm.

Looking at Georgiana's beautiful face, he looked at him with a smile without saying a word. Robert felt embarrassed, but

But in the end, Cecil straightened his back generously and said: "Okay, Georgiana, I know I care too much. You know, my father has always been an influential figure in London. In Tory, The party also has a wide network of contacts. If he can help me, then I, I have been waiting for this day for a long time."

"Okay, I understand. It's okay. Let's go. Don't keep father waiting. It's a rare visit for him. He's teasing his grandchildren."

Robert joked: "That's just right, it just makes up for his past guilt as a grandfather."

His full name is Robert Gascoigne Cecil. Born in 1830, Cecil was his surname. His father was the second Marquess of Salisbury. Although he was the second son, his eldest brother died young and he was the only future heir to the title.

He studied at Eton College in his early years and graduated from Oxford University. He later went to Australia to serve in the military for two years. After returning, he ran for the House of Commons on behalf of Stamford in 1853. He was originally a toy-maker, but he did not expect to succeed. Later, under his father's operation, he became the colonial secretary in the cabinet of Conservative Prime Minister George Hamilton Gordon.

However, he later withdrew because he was dissatisfied with the policies made by Disraeli as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Even as a young and successful man, he was dissatisfied with the Whig Party's rule and had disagreements with the Tory Party. In the end, he chose to leave and became a free man.

In the front hall, Robert's father, the 2nd Marquess of Salisbury, was entertaining his grandson, but he was thinking about his only son, Cecil.

Robert is now an independent, but in general he holds Conservative views. He voted against the entry of Jews into the British Parliament and against the abolition of religious examinations in universities. On the other hand, he believed that the Workhouse in London was too harsh on the poor. He also protested against the current British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gladstone's attempt to impose income tax on charity funding.

He writes sharp and thoughtful essays on foreign policy, arguing, for example, that the Schleswig-Holstein question posed a challenge to Prussia, although more recently his essays have taken a circuitous step back. The same chic retreat made all his predecessors in British politics shine.

Because recently he has tended to ask the Danes to give up their strong propositions, but he has not stated whether Britain will help Denmark after they give up these propositions. It is precisely because of this that many liberals feel that his arguments It is a heinous crime against honor and loyalty.

But as a conservative congressman, who cares about the opinions of the liberal Whigs?

"This kid, it can be seen from this that Robert's political attributes are becoming more and more mature. It's time to give him a push."

Chapter two.