Greece’s Roman Road

Constantine couldn't help but be surprised when he heard the name Leopold.

In the original time and space, it was the King of Belgium, Leopold II, who hired Stanley to explore the Ganguo River Basin.

After the Berlin International Conference for the Partition of Africa in 1884, the Congo became the private domain of Leopold II.

Speaking of which, Leopold and Greece are also closely related.

Leopold came from the family of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in Germany. Who was the father of Leopold II?

It's Leopold I (isn't that nonsense).

Saxe Coburg Gotha, how prominent is this surname?

Until the 21st century, the British royal family was descended from the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family.

When World War I broke out, Britain and Germany fought to the death on the battlefield.

As countries that are hostile to each other, public opinion propaganda during the war naturally smears the opponent, and publicizes how righteous the enemy is and how evil the enemy is.

The British looked at it and wondered why the King of England was German.

No wonder, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, it's a very German surname.

During a special period like the war period, a royal family with a German surname looked awkward. Under the pressure of public opinion, the British royal family changed the surname to Windsor.

The prominence of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family is evident.

When Greece became independent in 1830, the Greek people once elected Leopold I as the king of Greece, but as a noble with a long history in Europe, they did not look down on Greece, a small and poor Balkan country that had just become independent from the Ottoman Turkish rule at that time. .

After Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands, Leopold I was elected King of Belgium.

Belgium has always been a wealthy country in Europe. It is located in the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom. It has an important strategic position and is rich in coal and iron resources. It has completed its industrialization very early. It is not only an industrial country, but also a capital exporting country. It was still in the Republic of China. Invest in railways.

Economic conditions are not comparable to Greece at all.

Later, Leopold I left a huge inheritance of 15 million francs to his son Leopold II.

It seems that there is a lot of money to be made in Belgium.

The 15 million francs in the 19th century, how can such a huge sum of money be used effectively and make it live and flow, which became a headache for the rich second generation Leopold II.

Because of excess capital in Belgium and fierce market competition, investment returns in Belgium are too low.

There is a stable interest income in the bank, but people don't like it.

Belgium, which just finished its industrialization, has the same troubles as other industrial powers:

We need enough cheap industrial raw materials to serve as food for industrial machines.

Excess industrial production capacity needs to be found in the consumer market to vent.

The Belgian state itself also has an interest in finding colonies.

This guy took the large sum of money left by his father, spent money everywhere, swayed money, formed an international organization called "International African Association", and at the same time instructed the newspaper to create public opinion.

With Leopold's support (and spending money), major countries have also established sub-associations of the "International African Association" in their own countries.

The purpose of the International Just Past Association is: Africans live in darkness and need European civilization to dispel ignorance, protect vulnerable African indigenous people from the **** cruel and evil Arab slave traders, and place Africa under the protection of European powers. Next, maintain trade activities.

These words are not entirely high-sounding speeches, and they have indeed done some practical things.

At the end of the 19th century, the Arabs were still engaged in the slave trade.

The appeal of the International African Association is in the interest of European countries, because everyone needs a consumer market and cheap industrial raw materials.

These Arabs arrested black people and swept black villages, making it impossible for Europeans to do business and grab wealth.

In addition, the slave trade is indeed unpopular, too barbaric and bloody.

European nations united against Arab slave traders, which eventually led to the disappearance of the slave trade in the early 20th century.

Seriously speaking, when Constantine paid Stanley to explore the Congo River Basin, he borrowed the power created by Leopold.

In order to deceive people and paralyze other countries, Constantine deliberately confused the flags of the "International African Association" and the "Congo Commission".

The Congo Council was an organization established in Greece by Constantine to persuade King George I to follow the example of Leopold II.

Stanley's expeditions were all done in the name of the Congolese Commission.

The great Constantine, driven by a sense of justice, resolutely devoted himself to fighting the evil forces in Africa for the happiness, stability and unity of the African people.

Don't hesitate to take out a lot of money and pay for it out of your own pocket.

It is such selfless devotion, no self-interest, exclusively for the African people.

As for why the flags of "Congo Council" and "International African Association" are deliberately confused.

The southern part of the Congo River is a Portuguese colony, Angola. People have been operating this colony since the age of navigation.

The northern part of the Congo River is the sphere of influence of the French, and the French are the hegemons throughout North Africa.

Just after crossing the estuary of the river into the Atlantic Ocean, there are often Portuguese and French gunboats patrolling back and forth.

Had Stanley not been flying the flag of the International African Association on the ships of the Congo Commission, the French Portuguese must have intercepted the adventurous fleet at the mouth of the Congo.

Whether it is the French or the Portuguese, for the Congo River Basin, it is the old cat's pillow and salted fish, and it is bound to win. If you know that the Congolese Committee is operating under your nose, it has nothing to do with the African Association, and you will have already started.

So the whole African project is a complete failure.

In order to win the opportunity to contribute to the African people and not to disturb the French and Portuguese colonists, Constantine ordered that the flag of Venus and blue background be hoisted.

After all, everyone has the same dream, the same world, right, it doesn't matter if you borrow it.

Now I suddenly heard Stanley say that the Cameron expedition supported by the Belgian King Leopold appeared in the coastal area of ​​Tanzania in Africa, and wanted to move inland. How could it not be touched?

In any case, the Cameron expedition must be stopped, otherwise it will be very troublesome in the future.

"Do you have any plans, Mr. Stanley?" Constantine asked, looking at Stanley with the old **** present.

"Your Majesty, it's nothing more than..." After speaking here, he paused for a while, and without further elaboration, Constantine raised his head in surprise and looked at Stanley.

I saw Stanley, waving his right hand in the shape of a knife.

Constantine was silent, thinking with his head lowered.

If you just compete for financial resources, others are not necessarily inferior to yourself.

Moreover, the national strength of Belgium is dwarfed by the mud in Greece.

Since there is no other way, it can only take decisive measures.

"What do you need me to do?" Constantine lowered his head, stared at the table, and tapped the table with five fingers in turn.

Stanley was a little surprised when he heard this answer, looking at Constantine's immature appearance.

Obviously, Constantine understood what his actions meant.

It was only at this time that Stanley, an old fritters explorer who was accustomed to adventure in Africa, put away his contempt for Constantine, a fifteen-year-old child from an upper class nobleman.

After thinking about it, Stanley said, "Leopold II is a rich man. The expedition he organized is not weak. If you want to start, you must have absolute certainty. UU reading www.uukanshu.com If it is exposed, there will be a big...".

Constantine interrupted Stanley's words, stared at Stanley, and said, "You only need to say the request, what do you need me to do?".

"I need the support of professional military personnel. You know, the mercenaries recruited by our expedition team are amateurs with different qualities," Stanley said.

"The 500-strong Royal Guards, well-equipped, part of the royal guard is the limit I can mobilize," Constantine said.

"In addition, I'll give you another 1 million francs. As the funds for the next period of time, Banning will receive this check," Constantine said with a stern face.

Banning was in charge of the finances of the Congolese Commission, had been on the African expedition, and was Constantine's confidant.

He has contributed a lot to the success of the African project, and he is also the chairman of the Congolese Committee.

Banning supervises the activities of the adventure team in place of Constantine.

Although Constantine is the Crown Prince of Greece, he is only 15 years old after all, and is currently studying at the Athens Military Academy. The 500-person Royal Guard is the limit he can use.

Constantine has already overwhelmed all the power in his hands. If this operation fails, I am afraid that all the previous efforts will be in vain.

The royal family will no longer support Africa plans.

Stanley was shocked by Constantine's decisiveness. He not only added 500 professional military personnel, but also took the initiative to increase the expedition funds by 1 million.

For a while, Stanley was both happy and a little nervous.

I am happy that I have received the full help of Constantine, and I am worried about the consequences of not doing things well.

The pressure is huge.

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