Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

At the same time as the dialogue between the king and his ministers in Berlin, in the Royal Palace of Amsterdam in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the dialogue between the "teacher" King and the "student" Queen continued.

William IV: "The conflict between France and the Kingdom of Siam has had a huge impact on the European economy after we imposed sanctions. But for the UK, the French Empire is already a weakened big country. The UK has a strong influence on France and the Kingdom of Siam. Our position is not to participate in the war, but it can further weaken the French Empire across the English Channel."

But judging from the current national security strategy of the British Empire, there is no doubt that it will continue to re-establish an opponent that poses a threat to Britain. It is not a military power and threatens British interests in the Middle East. The Russian Empire should continue to attack the French Empire. Weakening, but at present it seems that Britain will put some attention on the rise of Prussia and the Netherlands.

Moreover, whether Queen Victoria was born in the German Confederation or the eldest daughter married in Prussia, or Prussia is now too powerful and difficult for Britain to conquer, Britain may seize and expand it and use the Netherlands to establish its power."

Queen Alexandra suddenly had some different opinions and thought, "The conflict between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Siam has reached a critical moment. The conflict with France is the most acute conflict facing the British Empire. I actually think that Queen Victoria of the British Empire His Majesty does not wish to push the Kingdom of the Netherlands completely to the side of land powers such as the Russian Empire and the French Empire.”

Alexandra's statement aroused great interest in William IV. She, who had always only listened to his preaching before, now expressed different opinions. William IV was extremely happy because this meant that Alexander Ra was growing, and so fast that he was surprised.

So he looked at her with interest and asked, "Why do you say that?"

Queen Alexandra seemed to be integrating her thoughts. After a moment of pause, she said: "It is obviously unwise for the UK to continue to promote the Netherlands as its main enemy or competitor. The UK and the Netherlands should now see if they can reduce the hostility between the two parties." and competition to see if there is room for cooperation and compromise.”

She suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said to William IV: "I feel that Britain has never trusted any allies in Europe at any time, including Prussia and Austria, which it supported at the beginning. Perhaps the Netherlands will get Britain's support in this regard Maybe it will be recognized.”

Does the UK not trust the allies of the European powers? Continental allies?

Alexandra's statement made William IV feel fresh and new, and his thoughts followed him. What was the purpose of Britain?

How should the Netherlands face what appears to be an internal quarrel in the UK? Who knows if the two factions are playing tricks on each other?

William IV: "It is understandable that the conservative Disraeli did not come forward and asked his mentor Stanley to attack the Netherlands and win the support of the conservative Tories. Therefore, he deliberately wanted to suppress the Netherlands. And the liberals It seems that the Whig party Creston took the initiative to come to Amsterdam to "surrender" and move closer to the Netherlands, as if he recognized the Netherlands' position as the leader of major liberal groups in Europe and the world. In fact, who knows that this is not a collusion between them? In order to seize power ?”

William IV pointed out with great seriousness: "On the other hand, the contradiction between Britain and the Netherlands on industrial technology issues may further escalate. Don't forget that Britain's steam engines are the best in the world, but the Netherlands is following Prussia and America and is trying its best. Continuously develop the electrical industry”

William IV sighed: "This is no longer a question of territory, but a question of the party system and the economic development model."

When Queen Alexandra heard this, she was silent for a while, and then asked in confusion: "Then, Your Majesty, you said just now that you are preparing to cooperate with allies and assemble partners to fight against the British. The same is true in industry?"

William IV: "The Netherlands is preparing to start a new model against England"

"What mode?" Alexandra couldn't help but asked curiously.

William IV said firmly: "I am ready to let the Netherlands impose sanctions on British companies on the grounds of human rights."

Alexandra said worriedly: "The big country in the Far East implemented an opium ban or eradication of opium against Britain in 1840. In the end, Britain was angry and chose the most brutal method of warship invasion. I'm worried Britain would take equally unfriendly actions against the Netherlands."

William IV seemed unconcerned and said: "If the Disraeli government has this intention towards the Netherlands, this decision will have a profound impact on the Netherlands and Britain. By then, the British Empire will face the risk of a deadly counterattack by the Netherlands. You Don’t you think the UK would think of this?”

In fact, William IV also knew that the establishment of various organizations in the Netherlands in recent years had a poaching effect on Britain's policy of balancing European countries in France. Even if it could not be poached, it could loosen the corner of the British and let the British shape it. The building is tilted and is at risk of collapse at any time and is no longer stable.

Therefore, the United Kingdom can only threaten the Netherlands militarily and suppress and win over the Netherlands economically. The Netherlands’ current position in the international network of people is definitely the most extensive among powerful countries.

If the United Kingdom adopts the same approach to the Netherlands as it did to the Far Eastern powers 30 years ago, not to mention the Netherlands itself, other Netherlands allies and partners will not sit idly by.

Even the French Empire had no chance of reacting in an extreme way to Britain, not to mention Prussia, which was eyeing France. It wanted to weaken Britain, which had always balanced other countries, so that Prussia could feel free to use France. happy.

He said: "In fact, the British government's suppression of Dutch military enterprises in recent years has not actually relaxed its core since the Netherlands became a small country, but it still wants to suppress the rise of the Netherlands again.

Even if we Dutch forget it, Britain will never forget that after their final victory after four Anglo-Dutch naval battles, not only was the military balance that the British and Dutch equally divided the northern waters of the Atlantic no longer existed, but it also took away the Netherlands' strongest position in Europe and even the world. Even if the Dutch don't hold grudges due to their status as a financial power, the British still can't sleep.

Therefore, only when the Netherlands really becomes a small supporter or even a puppet of the UK, then the UK will be truly relieved, because by then the Dutch companies and national competitiveness will be gone and they will not pose a threat to the UK."

Alexandra was confused when she heard this, "But, I don't think Britain can suppress the Netherlands to this extent at present, right?"

"It doesn't happen now, but that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future, right?"

William IV blinked slightly and said: "A few years ago, no one thought that Belgium would become the country it is now with only two provinces, but it still happened, and it was driven by the Netherlands, which has always been disliked." Completed.

As the most powerful country in the world, Britain has its land isolated overseas. Other countries cannot threaten them because of the British navy's world-leading navy. Therefore, its strength can be preserved and the country's longevity cannot be shaken.

If the Netherlands fails to withstand the impact of continental hegemony on the European continent, its strength will face a fate of ebb and flow. By then, the Netherlands may not only be wiped out by the powerful European overlords, but even if it survives, it may also be secretly stabbed in the back by Britain, which has been thinking about it for a long time. knife"

Alexandra suddenly asked subconsciously: "So William, you did everything possible to have the Netherlands move its capital from Amsterdam to the overseas continent of Australia in the Far East, isolated between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, in order to learn from Britain?"

"Yes," William IV admitted: "Only in this way will the Netherlands, which has a short population, slowly develop. The war for European hegemony is inevitable. The countries surrounding the Netherlands are ambitious. It is enough to hold on to the mainland of Europe. There is no need to expand. Expand It is impossible to hold on. Instead of doing this, it is better to invest energy in the Far East and develop silently for decades. By then, the Dutch population, which has grown barbarically, will quickly catch up with the major European countries without suffering from war and disaster. It’s time for the Netherlands to compete with world powers.”

Alexandra looked at William IV with a proud face, and felt a burst of joy in her heart.

This is what he looked like when he was young. I remember when William came to Denmark for the first time (in 1857) as the 17-year-old Crown Prince of the Netherlands, the 13-year-old Alexandra was impressed by the lofty sentiments of William IV. After getting married, the husband's self-confidence is expressed internally but not externally, and it is a bit deeper. Now it seems that he is still the same person he was back then, but he has matured.

"William, how many years do you think it will take for the Netherlands to develop silently in the Far East before it can compete with the British?"

This question is a bit difficult to ask because it is a false proposition. No one knows what will happen in the future. Therefore, how can William IV know the answer to the future?

So after asking, Alexandra felt that she was a little "silly" in asking, and couldn't help but stick out her tongue playfully.

She would only behave like this in front of William IV. In front of others, she was still the dignified, beautiful and majestic Queen of the Netherlands.

I thought to myself: William wouldn’t answer such a stupid question, right?

Unexpectedly, William IV said with great wisdom: "In another 10 years, the Netherlands will no longer need to weave webs everywhere to make up for its shortcomings like a spider now, and will be more economically advantageous than Now so evenly matched, it has penetrated more deeply into other small and medium-sized countries in the world. By absorbing their nutrients, the Dutch economy has become stronger, its technology has become more developed, and it is no longer embarrassed to resist the British.

In 20 years, I predict that the population will at least double to 25 million or 30 million, which is similar to the UK now. By then, it will no longer be a problem for the Netherlands to fight against the UK alone.

Thirty years later, the population of the Netherlands is no longer a disadvantage to the United Kingdom. Economically and industrially, it is even more powerful than the United Kingdom. At that time, we still had huge and deep spheres of influence such as Australia and the Dutch East Indies. At that time, it was not the British who came to us. We are in trouble, but we are in trouble with the UK. "

Alexandra asked half-jokingly: "Can the Netherlands still provoke Britain?"

"Why not?" William IV asked, following Top Gun's words: "When the time comes, of course the Netherlands will provoke Britain."

Seeing that William IV didn't look like he was joking, Alexandra couldn't help but ask: "How to fight back?"

William IV smiled and said: "If the Netherlands directly demarcates the South Pacific and the South Indian Ocean as the Dutch sphere of influence, and with the British concession, further invades the Indian subcontinent, Britain's most promising colony, is this considered a provocation?"