Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

Russian Empire, St. Petersburg.

Alexander II looked at the information in his hand with great solemnity, then turned to Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gorchakov, Army Minister Milyutin, Navy Minister and Speaker of the Russian Parliament, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich. .

To the latter, his brother Nikolayevich, he asked: "The parliament did not pass the bill?"

Grand Duke Nikolayevich smiled bitterly and said: "Some people in the Parliament have their hearts oriented towards the West, so there is some conflict and their interests are linked."

Alexander II showed a stern expression and said harshly: "The Slavs don't need such selfish people."

Grand Duke Nikolayevich advised: "Your Majesty, give me some time and let me try to see if I can persuade them, if they are still so stubborn and ineffective in the end."

He said with the same ferocity: "In that way, the Tsarist Russian Empire can clear out some moths."

Alexander II said to several people: "I didn't expect that the Germans would break the previous chaos of independent governance and agree to hold a summit of German heads of state in Sweden. This is very serious for us.

This is a huge change that breaks the previous situation in Europe. Prime Minister Gorchakov must closely monitor any progress in this matter. What do you think of this matter? "

War Minister Milyutin said: "Your Majesty, the country dominated by Germans now has its ancestral home, the United Kingdom of Sweden and Norway (Germanic people account for 96%), and in the past two centuries has expanded to the present Kingdom of Prussia (88%), Austria Kingdom (84%), the United Kingdom (87%), the Netherlands (92%, not counting the Far East and Africa, other countries as well), Denmark (91%), etc. Each of these countries is not a weakling. It's all a threat.

Today, among these countries, the Netherlands has a better relationship with the Tsarist Russian Empire. The others are hostile to the Tsarist Russian Empire, especially the United Kingdom, which can be described as a life-or-death enemy.

If these countries were allowed to form an alliance because of the same ethnic origin, it is conceivable that it would be absolutely subversive and bad changes for the Tsarist Russian Empire.

I believe that the Russian Empire must stop this process. "

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Gorchakov also agreed: "I also agree with this view, and the cabinet government is currently developing countermeasures on this."

Alexander II said hopefully: "What's the plan?"

The other two people also looked over, full of expectation.

Gorchakov: "In the face of this situation, the Russian Empire must ease its relations with several of these countries, and its semi-alliance with the Netherlands should continue to deepen. For example, in terms of arms, we can help The Netherlands will continue to sell arms to us. Cooperation will benefit both sides and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

Everyone knows that although the Netherlands' relations with neighboring countries, especially Prussia and Britain, are not bad, they are not good either.

For example, they have always been wary of the two countries and have always been on good terms with Tsarist Russia.

Not to mention Denmark, in the face of Prussia's invasion of Schleswig and Holstein, Britain, Denmark's original ally, did not dare to intervene. Even Britain's own blood relative, the Kingdom of Hanover, was invaded by Prussia, and Britain stood by and watched.

This shocked Denmark, and its expectations for Britain were reduced to the lowest level. In the end, they would rather form a marriage with the Netherlands than get too close to the United Kingdom.

Therefore, it is worth making good friends, and Sweden can ease relations, especially on the Baltic Sea, and reduce conflicts.

There are actually many factions within the Germanic people.

After all, even Sweden was full of doubts about Britain and Prussia and chose to form an alliance with the Netherlands.

So what we see before us is that Germany is divided into four factions: Britain is on its own; Austria originally had good relations with Prussia, but now the relationship has deteriorated. Now Austria is on its own, and Prussia is on its own; and the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark are on their own.

Among these factions, Britain is the most powerful, followed by Prussia, the Netherlands and other countries are third, and Austria is last. However, Austria plus the Hungarians are third, and the Netherlands and other countries are behind.

Your Majesty, the inconsistent interests of the four German factions are our breaking point. As long as this is detonated, the Tsarist Empire can divide them, making it difficult for them to unanimously target Tsarist Russia."

Alexander II nodded, knowing there was more to come.

Gorchakov added: "This is an internal decomposition plan. Secondly, the Russian Empire is not alone in facing this huge threat. There are people who are more nervous than us.

Don't forget, France is more urgent than we should be, and they don't want this alliance to be established even more.

After all, the small English Channel was originally what Napoleon III was worried about. If the Germanic Alliance was allowed to be established, it would be terrible for France.

Because he also needs to face the Netherlands from the north, and Prussia in the northwest. The entire north is the territory of Germanic countries. In that case, France will definitely be more miserable than our Tsarist Russian Empire.

Therefore, the Tsarist Empire can break the past non-alignment between the two countries and choose to explore an alliance to cope with the crisis of possible national annihilation in Britain.

The Kingdom of Italy and southern European countries such as Spain and Portugal are all targets of Tsarist Russia.

In short, the next task of our cabinet government will be to link the common threats of these countries and eliminate the existing 'enemies' before they are formed. Tsarist Russia will completely minimize the risk. "

Alexander II finally showed a smile, "Yes, France can have more intimate contact, but the most basic thing is that I think they need to disintegrate them internally, so that they can solve their worries."

"However, Sweden is about to host this summit. It is always too dangerous for us. It is across the Baltic Sea and so close to our St. Petersburg. It looks like a provocation to us. Everyone, is there an attempt by Sweden to attack us? Where are the demonstrations?”

Sweden and the Tsarist Russian Empire originally competed for hegemony in Northern Europe repeatedly in the 18th century, but were eventually defeated by Tsarist Russia in the second half of the last world. The Tsarist Russian Empire officially became the most powerful country in Northern Europe.

At the beginning of this century, in 1809, Finland was occupied by Tsarist Russia and became the Principality of Finland under the Tsarist Russian Empire.

Although Sweden eventually captured Denmark and Norway, Tsarist Russia recognized Sweden's right to rule Norway, which was regarded as compensation from a great power.

However, the grievances between Sweden and the Tsarist Russian Empire did not necessarily result in a true reconciliation between the two countries because the Tsarist Russian Empire recognized the ownership of Norway as Sweden in 1815.

The people are even more hateful.

At this time, Sweden actually held this Germanic summit, which caught Tsarist Russia off guard and brought the past sentiment of Sweden as a life-and-death enemy back to reality from forgetfulness.

"Maybe there really is such a meaning in it."

Milyutin added: "But it looks a bit different. Your Majesty, I think Sweden may want to use this summit to propose to Britain, Prussia and other countries that Sweden is their hometown, to prevent Britain and Prussia from attacking Sweden. Ambition, moral restraint, after all the impact of Denmark's invasion is as clear as yesterday and unforgettable for all countries."

Prime Minister Gorchakov said: "This is a conference of vassal states. Sweden's role is questionable, but the role of the Netherlands in it is even more questionable. Sweden and the Netherlands are allies. The two countries have been at odds on many issues recently. Close cooperation, so I suspect that the Netherlands will definitely not be a small player in it."