New Shun 1730

William IV cursed these "mobs" and completely lacked the elegance that a noble should have.

Count Bentinck was speechless. He had long known that the tax farming system would definitely cause trouble. The tax farmers were a bit cruel, but the Netherlands did not have the ability to not implement the tax farming system.

If they could not even unify the seven provinces and centralize power, how could they talk about letting the tax department go deep into every village and city?

Moreover, the tax farmers were the oligarchs in various cities in the Netherlands, or at least had close relations with them, and many of them were joint stock tax farmers. The Orange Party could not touch these people at all.

The Orange Party did not want to move, and did not dare to move, so they could only compromise with them. The result of the compromise was that the people's grievances were all directed at the Orange Party.

The Orange Party once represented many expectations of the Dutch people.

It was normal for the regent oligarchs to be corrupt, tax farming, oppressive, and monopolistic. People hate bad people, but they will not be disappointed with bad people.

Disappointment is sometimes more serious than hatred.

The Orange Party was once imagined by the Dutch people as good people. It is normal for bad people to do bad things, but it is unbearable for good people to condone bad things.

Although, the concept of Orangemen being "good people" is a wishful fantasy of the Dutch people.

William IV also felt very wronged.

Before he came to power, he had not promised anything.

He had not promised to abolish the tax farming system, nor did he promise to abolish monopolies, nor did he promise to give guilds greater rights.

He had not promised anything, and it was the people who pushed him to power. Why are they now opposing him for something he had not promised at all?

In fact, he was born with a blessing but did not know how to appreciate it.

Fortunately, the Enlightenment is still in its infancy. If it had been after the impact of the thunderstorm in 1993, in this situation, the people would probably not just want to abolish the tax farming system so "mildly". Most of the earliest street lights in Europe built on the streets of Amsterdam for commercial trade activities would have to have another different use.

William IV now has no other means except to abandon the elegance of the nobility and curse the mob.

He couldn't stabilize the grain price; he couldn't abolish the tax farming; he couldn't command the Dutch army to defeat France in the war... As for the "centralization" that Count Bentinck had planned for him, he couldn't even think about it now.

William IV, who had just been inspired by Count Bentinck's suggestion to "cede Austrian land to let Prussia withdraw from the war and gather Britain, the Netherlands and Austria to fight back against France", was depressed again.

Even if an agreement could be reached, the Netherlands would probably not be able to continue to participate in the war. The domestic situation made the Netherlands completely unable to continue fighting.

William IV looked at Count Bentinck with a pleading look, hoping to get some advice from his most ceremonial adviser.

But Count Bentinck was powerless to do anything about this.

His idea of ​​centralizing the Netherlands and adopting the cabinet secretary advisory system of the Ming Dynasty was all based on the victory of the war.

The Orange family once again stood up when the Netherlands was in danger and led the Netherlands to drive away the French. Then, relying on the great prestige brought by the war, complete the centralization of power, tax reform, and the suppression of parliamentarians and regent oligarchs.

However, if the first step cannot be taken, what can be done with the rest?

The initial idea was beautiful. But no one expected that it would develop to this point, even the Chinese, who were tens of thousands of miles away, stabbed the Netherlands.

Now the upper financial market is in chaos, and it can't be fought.

Many people in the middle class are facing bankruptcy, and they can't fight anymore.

The lower class hopes to change the tax farming system and want cheaper grain bread, but they can't fight anymore.

"Your Highness, Archon, I'm afraid we can only withdraw from the war."

After thinking for a long time, the advice given by Earl Bentinck was this.

It seems simple, but in fact it is very complicated. This is a truth that even William IV understands.

If the Netherlands withdraws from the war at this time, it means that the Netherlands has unilaterally violated the Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty signed twice in 1676 and 1703, which means that the Netherlands has "betrayed" Britain and also means the collapse of the Anglo-Dutch alliance.

In terms of international law.

If the French really support the little usurper to land in Scotland, and the British transfer the Duke of Cumberland's elite troops in the Netherlands, the British will betray the Netherlands morally, but not legally.

Did France invade the Netherlands? Not yet. So what's the problem with the Duke of Cumberland's army withdrawing? You say it's a matter of time, but it hasn't happened yet.

Indeed, the British mainland is not threatened at this time. In theory, the Netherlands' withdrawal from the war at this time does not violate the "Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty" - the Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty does not include Hanover, and when it was signed, the Hanoverians had not yet run to Britain to become king.

However, if there is a real ceasefire now, the initiative is not in the hands of the Netherlands. Whether the French will accept the Dutch ceasefire is still a matter of debate.

Even if France accepts the ceasefire, it must add many clauses. Even if the Dutch land is not ceded, at least the "Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty" must be invalidated, right?

In other words, if France immediately allows the little usurper to land in Scotland, will the Netherlands send troops?

What was the point of sending troops to Britain? Wouldn't that mean they would start fighting again? The truce was to prevent France from invading the Netherlands, but they sent troops to support Britain right after they had stopped fighting and asked for peace. Did the French want to be the scapegoat?

Is it possible to really listen to the Dutch explanation: We are just complying with the treaty, we are not trying to be an enemy of France. So the French stopped attacking the Netherlands?

Without sending troops, even if France does not force the Netherlands to unilaterally abolish the Anglo-Dutch Alliance, what difference does it make if it is abolished?

The most critical point, the hub of Anglo-Dutch relations, is the Orange family. He was the King of England before, and now William IV is the son-in-law of the King of England.

I am afraid that even if there is an armistice, France will definitely ask William IV to step down.

Let the regency oligarchs who are quite pro-French and have many conflicts with Britain come to power.

There are many nobles in the Orange faction, and their interests mostly come from manors, farms, and land. The conflict between them and Britain is not that big.

The regency oligarchs were many maritime merchants, and their interests came from commerce and trade, smuggling. Their conflict with the United Kingdom is not small, but on the contrary, their conflict with France is not very big.

Otherwise, I am afraid that France will not be able to accept the armistice at all.

Seeing that William IV was not satisfied with this suggestion, Count Bentinck asked: "Your Majesty the Consul, do you think that the Dutch people today can still burst out with astonishing patriotic enthusiasm and consciously dig out the Dutch people as they did in 1672?" Build a protective embankment and fight to the end?”

William IV was stunned and speechless, and shook his head for a long time.

“This generation of Dutch people can’t do it.”

Giving such a conclusion actually agrees with Count Bentinck's view. The Dutch people today probably do not have the same patriotic enthusiasm as when they were beggars in the forest, beggars on the sea, or destroyed river embankments decades ago.

But William IV had no intention of following Count Bentinck's suggestion. He knew that if he sued for peace like that, France would definitely impose many additional conditions.

"Since nothing can be done now, it is better to do nothing. I think our British allies will handle all this. If the British side cannot open up the situation, what can we do?"

"Now, let's wait quietly. Maybe there will be a turn for the better."

Hearing such an answer, Count Bentinck could only sigh and had nothing to say.

…………

at the same time.

On the ocean close to the Netherlands, several diplomatic envoy ships flying the Dashun flag slowly sailed towards Amsterdam under the surveillance of several Dutch warships.

Although the two countries were at war at this time, since the incoming ship had identified itself as a diplomatic mission, the Dutch warships could only monitor it, and the Dutch military sent a pilot to guide Dashun's official ship into the port.

On the ship, the old and humble Duke of Qi looked at the Dutch warship in the distance with great interest.

As the official head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Dashun, and as the only distinguished minister of Dashun who has been to Europe, it is most appropriate for him to preside over this negotiation of Dashun in Europe.

The last time Duke Qi came to Europe was many years ago. We also took the Siberian overland route, and we also took the overland route when we went back.

Now Dashun has traveled to Europe by sea many times. The navigation level and technology have been improved a lot, and safety has been guaranteed. This time the Duke of Qi came by boat.

When bidding farewell, Liu Yu said that this was the first time for China to appear at the peace conference after the European War. Qi Guogong was also the first China to participate in the negotiations of the European Peace Conference and to treat a treaty with real world influence. Signed by Chinese officials.

This can go down in history forever.

Duke Qi was convinced. After all, Dashun was not just here to participate in negotiations with the Netherlands, but to propose a proposal that would greatly enhance Dashun's influence at the peace conference at the end of the War of Austrian Succession.

Dashun wants to organize an "armed neutrality alliance."

War will continue to break out in Europe for the foreseeable future. Once war breaks out in Europe again, the armed neutrality alliance organized by Dashun at this peace conference will come into play.

The so-called "armed neutrality alliance" means that neutral ships can freely sail between the ports of belligerent countries and along their coasts.

Except for wartime embargoed materials such as weapons, ammunition, etc., belligerent countries are not allowed to seize enemy cargo on ships of neutral countries.

For example, if Britain and France are at war, Dashun declares neutrality, and Dashun transports weapons and ammunition to France, it will definitely not work. This is clearly not neutral behavior.

But it would not work if Dashun's merchant ships were caught and detained by British warships or robbed by British privateers because they were transporting normal goods to France.

Therefore, be armed and neutral.

Anyone who dares to arrest or detain will be beaten.

Armed fleets of neutral allies could call at each other's ports. When merchant ships set sail, warships escort them to prevent privateers from some countries.

It seems that "Armed Neutrality" is a very [neutral] international organization.

But in fact, this is to point out that the contradiction between China and Britain has become the main external contradiction after Dashun's voyage to Nanyang.

Neutrality itself was a challenge to British sea power.

Since it is an "international organization" and a "neutral alliance", it certainly cannot be just Dashun.

The primary goal of this organization is to bring the Netherlands in and give the Netherlands a bright future.