Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

On the morning of January 27, 1869, William IV met with Queen Isabel II of Spain at the Royal Palace of the Netherlands.

"Her Majesty the Queen is able to come to Amsterdam. Obviously the Netherlands plays a very important role in Spain."

"William IV, don't you know that the proximity to Spain means that the French Empire will be attacked from both the north and the south? If France could not care about simply imposing sanctions on the French Empire in the past, then the military alliance between the two countries is now , especially if the Hague Security Council is established to include Spain, Napoleon III will not be at ease."

William IV looked at the charming Isabel II in front of him, the future mother of Alfonso I. She seemed to be a dissolute person, but in fact she was an interesting and smart person.

He pursed his lips and said with an evil smile: "His Majesty Napoleon I is not that stingy."

Isabelle II: "But the current French Empire is not entirely in his hands."

William IV frowned. The queen in front of him was not just talking casually. Currently, with the anti-government actions caused by the workers' strike in the French Empire some time ago, the opposition leader Louis-Adolphe Thiers currently organized the power. , but began to block Napoleon III's support for the Olivier government.

So currently, factions are surging within France, so Napoleon III no longer has the ability to do whatever he wants.

"Her Majesty the Queen seems to be determined to fight against France?"

William IV looked at the 39-year-old middle-aged woman in front of him. Although she was ridiculed in history, in fact, it was only when she had no support. In her previous life, it was precisely because the widow in front of him had no support in 1869. In the end, she could only move closer to France, Napoleon III, but she didn't expect that Napoleon III was so ambitious that he wanted to exchange for a more obedient uncle. In the end, after she gave up part of her power, her uncle asked Bismarck of Prussia for support. Officially because of the threat posed by the rising Prussia, the battle for the final re-election of the king became the trigger for the war between France and Prussia.

In this life, it may be a chain reaction, or it may be that the French Empire was weakened by the Netherlands and others in disguise during this period. Spain, led by Isabel II, no longer obeyed France, but did the opposite. OK, and moved closer to the Netherlands, which eventually became the source of the current deterioration in relations between France and Spain.

Isabel II: "Isn't the Netherlands also fighting against France? Spain is just choosing the right path."

The right path?

William IV's heart moved, and he seemed to ask casually: "If Her Majesty the Queen thinks that the Netherlands is reliable, I think the relationship between Spain and the Netherlands will be closer."

"Closer?"

However, Isabel II's face suddenly turned calm. "How can His Majesty William convince Spain that following the Netherlands can lead to a successful life? Only in this way can I promote the relationship between Spain and the Netherlands."

"I think the Netherlands and Spain can get closer in terms of relations in the Far East. As for the mainland, it is on strategic issues."

"What do you mean by this?" Isabel II asked in confusion.

"There are too many big countries around the mainland. Every move of Spain and the Netherlands will become the object of close attention by all countries, but the Far East is different." William IV stared at Isabel II, who couldn't help but look aside under the dazzling light.

"The Spanish territory seems to be powerful in Europe, but when countries such as Britain and France are extremely powerful, Spain actually has priority in influence. Currently, Spain is trapped in the Iberian Peninsula and West Africa."

"Instead of doing this, it is better to develop the Far East like the Netherlands. Spain currently has a population of 20 million. As long as 10 million people immigrate, plus the local population of the Philippines, as long as they are fully integrated, Spain's strength will be greatly increased."

"Spain is strong, what can the Netherlands gain?" Isabel II looked at William IV with bright eyes.

Sure enough, I would ask that.

William IV seemed to have expected such a question from her.

Said: "The Netherlands needs an all-weather ally. Looking around the world, Spain can be said to be the best ally for the Netherlands."

Isabel II smiled in disbelief: "Shouldn't it be Sweden and Denmark?"

William IV shook his head, "Sweden and Denmark are just like Portugal next to Spain. Will Spain regard him as its best ally?"

Isabel II was stunned. She really said that. Portugal has always been the younger brother in the eyes of Spain. As for allies, only countries with equal identities will form alliances. What William IV said makes sense. , however, she always felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't find the problem for a while.

William IV sweated in his heart.

Forget about Denmark, in fact, Sweden is really the best ally of the Netherlands at present, and it is also pure and natural.

However, William IV had a long-term vision. Sweden could only cooperate with its European allies. The support of a major Nordic country was enough to double the strength of any major country in Eastern, Western, and Southern Europe, and it was even more powerful for the Netherlands in Europe.

What's more, Sweden's army is something that few countries in Europe dare to provoke. This is definitely good for the Netherlands' influence. However, the Netherlands' ambitions are not to be trapped in Europe in the world, and Sweden's current strength is except for a small colony in Africa. Without the outside world, its overseas influence is limited. Therefore, Sweden is, at best, just a regional ally of the Netherlands.

"The Commonwealth of America should be more helpful to the Netherlands, right?" Isabel II asked without missing a beat.

William IV laughed: "I don't think Her Majesty the Queen would use her backyard as someone else's house."

Isabelle II: "Too arrogant, be careful if these words spread to North America and those people hear it, the Dutch will not be able to eat and walk around."

William IV smiled and asked: "But this won't spread to the outside world, will it?"

Isabel II paused, pretending to be angry and said: "Come on, young man, the Dutch have such overwhelming influence in the United States that people will believe what I say."

Speaking of this, Isabel II suddenly woke up.

William IV was so eager to increase Spain's influence in the Philippines in the Far East. In fact, he was trying to win over Spain to fight against what Britain and France were doing there.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel proud. Spain, once the maritime overlord of Europe, has declined in recent years, but a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Although the Netherlands advertises that its naval tonnage has surpassed Spain's, in navigation and naval battles, She should still be unable to compare with Spain. She is not boasting. Comparing the world's rich experience in naval warfare, in fact, only Britain and France can compare with Spain. There is still some gap between the Netherlands.

Perhaps the Netherlands values ​​Spain in this regard now, so it wants to make good friends with Spain when Britain and France are at odds with each other.

William IV secretly laughed: "With Spain in the Philippines to resist Britain's entry into the Pacific, the Netherlands can more firmly cultivate its power in the Pacific. The Netherlands can even use Spain to check and balance Britain and France in the Far East and trap them in Malay Island. and peninsular Southeast Asia.

As for Spain, haha, when the Franco-Prussian War next year occurs and World War I breaks out, when Spain's European base camp is conquered, Spain's Philippines will become the fat that Spain has cultivated for the Netherlands. "