Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

In the eastern waters of the North Sea in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, the Netherlands, belonging to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is a joint exercise flagship of the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. Jan Peter, the Minister of the Navy of the Royal Palace of the Netherlands, is conducting the exercise.

In addition to the naval ministers of the three countries including the Netherlands, he took the ambassadors of the embassies of Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia to the Netherlands to watch today's exercise on the Holland.

Using binoculars to watch dozens of warships coming and going under the roar of artillery fire, I have to say that it is indeed "pleasant to watch."

Even this kind of drill is very rare in the UK. Even in order to save budget, the UK has never conducted such a large-scale exercise on a scale.

Because of this, the British Ambassador to the Netherlands, Robbit, and the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Neil, looked at each other with shock and vigilance.

Jan Peter took in the two people's glances and said secretly: "This is the effect we want, but if they appear later, you will feel the power of the Dutch Navy even more."

At this time, Ambassador Lae, the Prussian ambassador to the Netherlands, asked: "The Dutch navy is enough to rank among the most powerful navies in the world."

He suddenly smiled provocatively at Taylor and said: "If I knew we were off the coast of Amsterdam, I would have thought I was in a British naval exercise in London Port."

Jan Peter suddenly felt something in his heart when he heard this. Prussia really did not miss any opportunity to provoke others.

He suddenly remembered that Dutch Chief of General Staff Mark Rudd had mentioned before that Britain was currently wary of the Netherlands, and that Prussia was beginning to pave the way for confrontation with Britain in the post-Franco-Prussian War era.

Suddenly I couldn't help but sigh. It seemed that Prussia had really begun to prepare for the future battle between Britain and Prussia.

Lae's words made Malidejev, the ambassador of the Tsarist Empire to the Netherlands, couldn't help but follow up: "Indeed, I saw the British Navy's drill in London three years ago, but to be honest, the drill at that time was not as good as what the Netherlands has now. The shock I brought.”

Neil, the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to the Netherlands, carefully looked at the British Ambassador to the Netherlands, Robert Robit. Apart from the displeasure on his face, he seemed to have no intention of refuting this.

So Neil said: "In fact, everyone knows the development of the Netherlands in recent years, both economically and militarily. This also laid the foundation for the Netherlands to become the world's second largest country in selling military equipment in the past few years."

As he finished speaking, British Ambassador Robert's face turned completely dark.

Jan Peter knew that these three people were trying to anger Robit to increase Britain's distaste for the Netherlands. What a sinister intention!

He hurriedly looked at Robert, who looked at a few people with slightly narrowed eyes, but continued to pick up the telescope and stare into the distance without speaking.

Obviously, he knew that these people had ulterior motives and simply ignored them.

His main focus was on the Amsterdam, the only steam battleship dispatched by the Netherlands this time.

Suddenly, he discovered something interesting. On the sea near the steam battleship Anjusterdam in the distance, there seemed to be a large shark swimming around from time to time.

At first, there was a lost shark outside him, but slowly he discovered the troops. Yes, this shark seemed to be circling the steam battleship.

Not only him, but also sharks seemed to appear from time to time on the surrounding battleships.

Is it an illusion?

Rub your eyes before looking again. Three minutes later, a shark was spotted on the battleship next to it.

Not only Robit, but also the Prussian Ambassador to the Netherlands Rae, the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to the Netherlands Neil, and the Tsarist Empire's Ambassador to the Netherlands Maliddev also discovered this anomaly.

The shark actually swam under the warships of various countries, but the people on the warships didn't know it. Just now they were admiring the power of the Dutch navy, but now they feel like they are punching themselves in the face.

The ambassadors of the three countries of Prussia, Austria and Russia stationed in the Netherlands all chose to be. They seemed unwilling to ridicule their hosts so as not to make the Netherlands feel bad. However, they could not hide the ridicule under their noses.

They all do this, not to mention the British ambassador.

Robbitt seemed to want to return to his original position as the most powerful naval power in the world, and suddenly said with a hint of sarcasm: "The Dutch offense is indeed powerful, but there are serious deficiencies in defense."

They seemed to be far away from giving up and looked at Jan Peter, Swedish Admiralty Daka and Danish Admiralty Risund, and said with a smile: "However, the naval defense of the British Empire is very tight, and it is both offensive and defensive."

But what surprised him was that these three people were not dissatisfied at all. He even saw a little gratitude on Jan Peter's face. Yes, it was a counterattack against him, who had just spoken and mocked the Dutch navy for its weak defensive strength.

Jan-Peter smiled and replied: "The way is never absolute, and good things always come later."

Apart from a few people from Sweden and Denmark, even the heads of the embassies in Denmark and Sweden looked confused. However, Jan Peter and others did not explain any more.

However, he made an OK gesture towards the flagship commander next to him. Suddenly, Robit and others understood the meaning of the good show coming later, and they couldn't help but secretly said: "Are we going to start hunting big sharks?"

A few people sneered softly, it's already this time, what's the use of fighting no matter how good it is?

As a result, the four of them were in a particularly happy mood, especially Robbit. Unknown to him because of the shark approaching the warship, a big question mark had been put on the combat effectiveness of the warships of the three Dutch countries. He would write a report when he went back. The telegram reported from London to Queen Victoria and the Prime Minister's Office has already been sent to the British Foreign Office. It is naturally a report on the mistakes of the navies of the Netherlands and other three countries. Well, the name is called "A Dutch Navy that has nothing but appearances."

Several other people were also deep in thought, seeming to be waiting for the draft of the telegram after they return.

However, a huge sound suddenly struck, causing the first-class sailing battleship Holland to shake uncontrollably.

They even couldn't help but raise their heads, pick up their binoculars and look at the place where the loud noise came from on the left hand side in front of them. They remembered that it was called the Hague-level sailing battleship when Jan. Peter introduced it just now.

Why does it suddenly seem to be bombarded?

Could it be that the navies of the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden were firing bombs in the wrong direction? Then the shells reached the Hague? If this is the case, then it is really ridiculous. The Netherlands and other Nordic alliances actually fired projectiles in the wrong direction for the first time and attacked their own warships?

Think about it, this news is enough to hit the world.

Robbit wanted to go back to the embassy right now and send the good news back to London, so that the senior officials in London could breathe a sigh of relief.

At this moment, there was another loud noise from the battleship. Flames were rising from its body, and thick smoke was billowing out. It seemed that it had been hit by a cannonball again.

But Robit didn't see the incoming cannonball, which made it very difficult for them to find which such a strange warship it was. Where did the shells come from?

My relatives are hosting a wedding banquet today, so I’m so busy that I haven’t updated until now. Sorry!