Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

"Argentina is a big country in South America. Therefore, the Kingdom of the Netherlands supports Argentina's interests in South America and hopes that Argentina will protect the rights of the Netherlands in South America."

William IV stared at the Argentine ambassador to the Netherlands and said.

Domingo Faustino Sarmiento turned his eyes when he heard this and looked at William IV with some fear.

There is no reason why he should not be afraid, because he is one of the "ones" trained by the Netherlands in Argentina.

Sarmiento was born in poverty in 1811. He gained extensive knowledge through self-study and became a rural tutor in Argentina at the age of 18. Because he was diligent and taught many outstanding students, in 1835, he gained enough support to enter Argentine politics.

However, because of his fledgling life, his lack of restraint, and his frank character, he won over the Rosas government at the time, and was exiled to the next door Chile by the Rosas government until 1842.

However, he was optimistic and developed his second life in Chile, where he published articles in a newspaper called "La Courier", which made him an important journalist and educational figure in Chile.

In 1853, he was valued by the Chilean political arena and founded the first normal school in South America and served as its principal. There, he repeatedly published articles attacking the bad rule of the Rosas government in Argentina and expressed his love for the Argentine people. .

In 1857, under the order of the Chilean government, he went to various European countries to inspect educational methods because of this trip.

In Amsterdam, he was personally received by William IV, who was still the Crown Prince of the Netherlands at the time. While expressing his willingness to cooperate with Chile in education, he privately hinted that he could help him return to Argentina and push him to a high position in Argentine politics.

Therefore, with the promise of William IV, he had long wanted to return to Argentina, and therefore became a secret move of the Netherlands.

Sure enough, the Rosas government fell soon after. After returning to the country in 1858, Sarmiento first joined the Liberal Party and was elected to Congress on behalf of the Liberal Party.

In the same year, driven by his participation, Argentina carried out reforms and changed from a confederal system to a republican system.

Argentina promulgated a federal constitution and re-established a presidential system of government. In 1859, the name of Argentina was officially determined as the Argentine Republic. In the same year, the constitutional amendment stipulated that all nationals of Argentina since its independence from Spain in 1810 were legal and valid.

However, this reform put Argentina's long-dominant Federalist Party in jeopardy. Urquiza and Rodriguez, both of whom were cultivated by Rosas, served less than a year in office.

In the end, Bartolore Mitre, the leader of his Argentine Liberal Party, defeated Rodriguez, who wanted to be re-elected, in August 1861. The Liberal Party completed the first party replacement in the Argentine Republic.

In the same year, Urquiza did not want to admit defeat and planned to establish an independent political power in Paraná, following the example of the American Civil War, forming a dual government between the north and the south.

This naturally aroused the dissatisfaction of the totalitarian elected President Mitre, so Mitre led the army to defeat Urquiza and unify Argentina.

And precisely because of this, Sarmiento was reused by President Mitre. From 1862 to 1864, he successively served as the Argentine Consulate in Chile, Peru, and the Northern Federal State of America.

In August 1865, he was entrusted by President Miter to come to Europe and became Argentina's ambassador to the Netherlands.

It is precisely because he has reached his current status with the help of the Netherlands since 1857 that he always cannot hold his head high when facing William IV.

Especially on the way here, he felt faintly uneasy.

Because he felt that William IV's summons would not be simple.

William IV seemed unable to see what the people in front of him were thinking about him. He smiled and said: "I still remember the scene when I welcomed you last year. Now that you are being recruited back by President Mitre, it seems that you will be recruited back." It’s very useful. Congratulations in advance on your promotion.”

When Sarmiento saw this man with the most distinguished status in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, his expression was not serious at all.

But Sarmiento didn't think that the other party really had no airs, so he pretended to be relaxed and shrugged helplessly, saying: "Your Majesty, no one knows better than you how I came to be the ambassador."

William IV blinked, and then smiled: "That's good, isn't it? The position of Argentina's Minister of Finance as a cabinet member is indeed very suitable for you."

Sarmiento's whole body was shaken, and he raised his head suddenly, looking at William IV in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock.

President Miter wanted me to return as Argentina's finance minister. How did he know?

This matter has not spread within Argentina, and he only learned about it not long ago.

It seems that only members of the Argentine cabinet know this news. Could it be that besides him, there are other pro-Dutch people in the Argentine senior leadership in the Netherlands?

William IV ignored his shock, knowing that this was a warning.

He smiled and said: "The Minister of Finance of Argentina is much more comfortable than you are now serving as an ambassador in a foreign country. Even the Argentine senators and even the governor of the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires will not be better than this position." More powerful, you have the final say in everything regarding Argentina’s finances.”

Sarmiento didn't want to get entangled on this issue, so he was silent for a moment and said: "How does Your Majesty need Argentina to safeguard the interests of the Netherlands?"

William IV waved his hand and said: "Ambassador Sarmiento, don't worry, we will not interfere in Argentina's internal affairs in general matters, and you must be very clear about what you need to do, and we will definitely support it fully."

Sarmiento hesitated for a while and then said: Your Majesty, if that's the case, then open the sky and speak openly. I have been cooperating with the Netherlands for many years. Whatever your Majesty needs to do, I will help you according to the situation. However, the premise is Argentina's core interests. No harm done, I’ve had a great time working with Holland over the years and I hope to continue”

William IV put away his smile, was silent for a moment and said: "Mr. Sarmiento, I remember that Argentina had already established a firm foothold in South America at that time. Now more than a year has passed, and the situation in South America has evolved rapidly. It is said that , Paraguay has great ambitions, how is Argentina prepared to deal with it?"

"Paraguay's ambitions?" Sarmiento didn't understand why William IV jumped there, and said strangely: "Argentina already has more than 10,000 people in the north. I guess there should be no problem."

William IV shook his head: "A crisis will not always appear in front of everyone in advance. If it can be seen by you, it is not called a crisis."

Sarmiento nodded and suddenly felt something was wrong. When he realized what he meant by the Dutch king's words, Paraguay was a threat to Argentina?

And what Lianhe said just now is that it will be in the near future?

Thinking of this, Ambassador Sarmiento was shocked when he was summoned here for an unknown purpose. He looked up at William IV with wide eyes and said, "What do you mean?"