Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

Although everyone in the audience knew that William IV would have a backup plan, they did not expect that he would ask again like a boomerang. They couldn't help but look at the Dutch Ambassador to France, Jefferson Breen.

Hou Bulin said with a wry smile: "Look, I just said there is a trap."

"Hahaha"

William IV pressed his hands downward, and the scene suddenly became quiet.

Seeing this, Brin said seriously: "In my opinion, France has developed the most basic characteristic of a great country: Why should you pay back money if you borrow money based on your ability?"

“Everyone, in Europe, apart from the distant Russian Empire in Eastern Europe, France was the country with the largest population, the largest territory, and the most developed agriculture in Europe in the 18th century.

Geographically, France has access to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as numerous domestic rivers, and inland river shipping is extremely developed.

These innate advantages made Paris the political and economic center of France and even Europe. The king of France took advantage of Paris's advantages to establish a central government.

A strong government gave the French king the ability to impose heavy taxes and raise a strong army.

In 1701, the King of France supported his grandson to become the King of Spain, and Spain became an ally of France. However, because of this, European countries believed that France was too strong.

Therefore, throughout the 18th century, even a slight expansion of France would trigger a collective anti-French alliance rebound in other European countries.

The successive kings of France discovered that if they wanted to continue to expand their land hegemony, the scale of debt would be extremely large, and France's centralization problem became more and more prominent.

In order to quickly centralize power, Louis XIV transformed the nobility into vassals. The entire bureaucracy lacked a professional civil service team. Therefore, the top government officials did not know how to manage finances and the grassroots taxation was excessive, and the tax efficiency was very low.

By Louis XVI, France finally found the right strategy, giving up the struggle for European hegemony, developing its navy, resource North America to become independent, and competing with Britain for maritime hegemony.

When France gave up the European War, the major powers were unwilling to become enemies of this major country. Britain found that it could not find an ally willing to contain France.

Britain also found that its maritime hegemony was being replaced again.

Unfortunately, France's strategic change came too late, because the two financial bankruptcies during the Louis XV period discredited the French country. Louis XVI borrowed as much debt as the United Kingdom, but the interest rate was more than twice that of the United Kingdom. In the end, France About to usher in the third bankruptcy, at the end of the 18th century, a major disaster occurred in France.

After the death of Dage (please don’t be surprised if the net needs to be cleaned), thanks to advanced political concepts and professional talents, France showed strong overall combat effectiveness. However, France led by Napoleon was still dragged down by wars by European countries, and everything was ruined. Back to the far point.

Everyone, it has been nearly 50 years since the defeat of the French Empire in 1815. France is still a powerful country, but it has never won "one".

Therefore, it is a bitter memory for France."

"Bah, bang, bang," bursts of applause rang out after Brin sat down.

William IV looked at Davis, the ambassador to Britain.

"What can make us here better understand the historical process of our country than the permanent ambassadors of various countries? So, what about Davis, the British one?"

Davis said unfazed: "Everyone, I have discovered that the situation in Britain is exactly the opposite of France. The reason why Britain has grown up is that it has endless financial resources and endless fighting."

William IV asked what everyone wanted to ask: "Oh? The wealth will not stop, but the fighting will not stop? How to say it?"

Everyone is naturally very familiar with the United Kingdom, and they are even more curious about why the United Kingdom has developed on such a scale, especially in comparison with France, which has learned from the past.

"The United Kingdom is an island country on the Atlantic coast of Europe, and the war on the European continent cannot burn the British island.

Therefore, the UK does not need a highly authoritarian government, and local autonomy and parliamentary sovereignty have become the tradition of British politics;

The British political structure tradition has two aspects of impact on finance."

First, the government's direct tax increase would cause strong resistance from the parliament, so the government had to invent many indirect taxes, such as stamp duty, tobacco and alcohol tax, customs duties, etc. The British tax burden is actually heavier than that of France, but indirect taxes make the British People's feelings are not as direct as in France, and the people will not be so heartbroken.

Secondly, the British government is always subject to parliamentary supervision and must strictly abide by fiscal discipline. Throughout the 18th century, the UK has always been the most indebted country in Europe, but its finances have never gone bankrupt. Therefore, the UK’s credit rating is very good, which in turn reduces the UK’s financial performance. The cost of borrowing financing. "

Everyone present couldn't help but nod, which is very understandable.

Two people borrowed money at the same time, one paid back the money on time, and the other failed to pay back the money.

When the two borrow money again, although both of them have borrowed money, when the second person borrows money, the bondee has many more conditions. One of the conditions is that he is required to increase the interest, which is far more than the first person. People are tall.

"Britain and France were locked in a stalemate from the Seven Years' War to the War of Independence in North America. Both sides had debts of more than 200 million pounds. However, the United Kingdom only had to pay interest of 7 million pounds a year, but France had to pay 14 million pounds.

The interest rate was doubled, and in the end, France was beaten to death by Britain using the interest difference in this money-burning competition.

By the time various countries defeated Napoleon France in 1815, Britain was in debt of 800 million pounds, but because of its good credit, Britain did not go bankrupt.

So I think when the Kingdom of the Netherlands faces the United Kingdom, we should pay attention to the fact that the United Kingdom has such a strong solvency capability, which is something other countries have. This is mainly due to the huge wealth created by the industrial revolution originated from the United Kingdom. The Netherlands needs Be wary of this.

Speaking of which, I have to say that since winning the trade war with the Netherlands in the 17th century, Britain and its colonies have formed a separate economic circle. The British mainland is the only consumer market for the colonial raw materials, and the locals process the raw materials into industrial products. Then exit to Europe.

After years of accumulation, the market and technology cultivated by the British began to give birth to an industrial structure in the mid-18th century, and social wealth increased explosively.

Industrial products need markets. Everyone, what the British fear most is that the European continent will unite and impose trade sanctions on the United Kingdom. Therefore, the United Kingdom will never allow the European countries to emerge as hegemons. This is the "continental balance of power" foreign policy that the United Kingdom has regarded as the golden rule for hundreds of years. 's reason.

While the European continent was playing political balance, Britain was actively expanding its colonies overseas. During the Napoleonic continental blockade, Britain relied on its colonies to fight against the entire European continent. On the contrary, the European continent would have a hard time without British industrial products.

However, because the British population is limited and labor costs are much higher than those on the European continent, it is not cost-effective to maintain a strong army for intervening in the European continent. The most cost-effective way is naturally to find allies in the European continent as a strategic fulcrum. The British only need to provide this ally with Just borrow money.

This ally must have potential, have excellent military qualities, be in a position that can attack Britain's enemies, and be short of money.

And this country, Britain’s final choice is Prussia, Pearson, it’s your turn.”

There was another round of applause from the audience.

Seeing William IV looking over, Nicholas Pearson stood up, first performed aristocratic etiquette to King William IV, and then said: "The most confident sentence of the Prussian cabinet is: I have a gun, do you have money? "