Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

"We finally arrived in Amsterdam. The Royal Marriage Conference is filled with smoke. No matter how you look at it, this trip to Amsterdam is a chore."

With a wry smile, Alexander Alexandrovich, the second son of Emperor Alexander II of Russia, sighed and looked at the Dutch newspaper in his hand. In his early years, he studied at Leiden University as an exchange student at St. Petersburg University for one year. So he naturally understands Dutch.

After reading it, he threw the newspaper on the table and sarcastically said to his eldest brother, Nicholas Alexandrovich, Crown Prince of the Russian Empire: "The Dutch are so self-righteous that they really treat themselves like a green onion."

Nikolai Alexandrovich picked it up in confusion. He also previously studied at the University of Amsterdam. Also understands Dutch and Chinese.

What caught my eye was the big headline on the newspaper.

"The Netherlands, France and Prussia are basically an alliance!".

This is the latest headline from the European Times.

In it it invited two experts from two top Dutch universities.

They are Hermann Van Rompuy and Peter Zeeman respectively.

Herman Van Rompuy is the dean of the School of Diplomacy at Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands, and is also a specific current commentary expert for Europe's most influential "European Times".

Peter Zeeman is the dean of the School of Diplomacy of the University of Amsterdam, the third oldest university in the Netherlands. Peter Zeeman has also become a specific commentator on current affairs in the latest issue of "European Times".

Just like everyone who saw this in the newspaper couldn't help but think of the four ancient universities in the Netherlands, so did Viscount Palmerston.

According to the founding time, they are the University of Leiden established in Leiden in 1575, the University of Groningen established in 1614, the University of Amsterdam in the capital Amsterdam established in 1632, and Utrecht established in 1636 in Utrecht. branch university.

Other famous universities include Delft University of Technology, founded in 1842 and supported by the Royal Netherlands Academy.

Hermann Van Rompuy, dean of the School of Diplomacy at Leiden University, continued with the title: "This move made the British Empire furious. This agreement triggered a series of impacts on other countries that need to be evaluated. The 'Three-Country Agreement' may There will be more knock-on effects across the European region than initially expected."

Peter Seeman from the School of Diplomacy at the University of Amsterdam said: "This also shows that the three countries have a firm strategic position in Europe. Before this, the British Empire regarded France as the biggest strategic and military threat, and needed to use the greatest force to This view was endorsed by the Whigs and Tories of the British Empire, as well as by the British Empire's public and by most media reports.

Over the years, Viscount Palmerston half-heartedly announced many incidents concerning the 1853 Crimean War between European Tsarist Russia and Ottoman Turkey, as well as Belgium’s self-establishment as a kingdom in the mid-1830s, etc., all of which were part of the British Empire. Ironclad evidence of intervention in Europe. "

Seeing this, Nikolay Alexanderovich frowned. After a long time, he had to praise: "These two guys are very quick-thinking. I don't believe that they can get the title just by being the dean of a small university." To make such a judgment based on such a large amount of information, the Dutch government must have a high degree of involvement in it."

Crown Prince Nicholas is secretly worried.

Prince Alexander also changed his sarcasm at this time and said:

“In recent years, other European countries have been very wary of the British Empire.

The new partnership of the 'Three-Country Agreement' shows that France unites its two powerful traditional partners in the east and north to strengthen its strategic positioning in Western Europe. What complements the 'Three-Country Agreement' is the way the three countries treat Belgium. The cooperative mechanism of joint attack tactics is used.

They are all using Belgium as the best place to practice in their three countries.

The three countries have become more outspoken in Belgium over the past two months, issuing strong statements against Belgium that are more explicit and explicit each time. It is foreseeable that the three governments will work hard to rebuild and build long-term alliances between each other.

In this way, we can form a new relationship with the British Empire and conduct more equal negotiations with the British Empire.

In this case, the British Empire's voice will be reduced, especially when it comes to fighting for interests, but it will be compressed.

In negotiations, we will never be as strong as before. This is why the Russian Empire sent our brothers to the Netherlands this time.

Nicholas, according to my father's wishes, we try our best to obstruct the easing of relations between the British Empire and the Netherlands. As long as the British Empire is entangled in the North Sea and the English Channel and has no time to care about, then for Crimea side"

"Shut up." Crown Prince Nicholas glared at Prince Alexander, "Be careful, walls have ears. Secrets are leaked. Father's anger is no joke."

"Our visit to the Netherlands this time is not only to prevent the British Empire from easing relations with the three countries,"

Nikolai Alexanderovich said solemnly: "We still need to find someone we like. My father also said that this time he will not stop you and me from finding true love, so as to prevent him from being forced into love like Queen Victoria when we first fell in love." "Torn apart"

"Brother, do you think my father slept with Queen Victoria?

It is said that when his father, who was only 19 years old at the time, visited the Buckingham Palace of the British Empire, he entered the boudoir of Queen Victoria, who was only 18 years old and single, for more than an hour. In the end, they were separated due to the opposition of the two countries.

It is said that because of this, my father had a long quarrel with his grandfather Nicholas I before easing the relationship."

"How do I know? Stop gossiping and even talk about these things about your father. Be careful if he finds out and takes off your skin."

Seeing the latter's frightened look, Nikolai Alexanderovich told him: "Tomorrow we will arrange to meet with William IV in the afternoon. Remember, be polite when you see him. My father said that the Netherlands is our country in Western Europe." An important ally, it has been so for hundreds of years, so we might as well give the Netherlands some reassurance and let them continue to make trouble with the British Empire."

Seeing Prince Alexander's disinterested expression, he continued to warn:

"For hundreds of years, we have grown up with the financial blood of the Netherlands. The Netherlands has also become our source of information and technology in Western Europe. My father hopes that this connection will continue to be maintained."

"I know." Prince Alexander secretly hated himself. If he were the crown prince, why would he need to be so humble? It was so frustrating.

At the same time, in the Royal Palace of the Netherlands, William IV was approaching this noble man.

"Duke of Dalarna, I have heard people say that you are mediocre in intelligence and don't like literature, but you like motorcycles very much. You are the most mediocre of the five children of His Majesty Oscar I. It seems that the rumors are false. Who dares to tell me in the future? If you say this in front of me, I have to refute it in person."

In front of him was a tall and lanky Nordic man, about the same height, with green eyes and blond hair. Except for his unique red hair as a Dutchman, he was basically the same.

The equal height makes the two of them particularly close.

However, I don’t know if the two of them got close to each other intentionally.

"This is the most sincere sincerity our king asked me to send to His Majesty,"

Seeing that William IV did not open the contract, but looked at him with a smile.

Gulas August thought for a long time and understood that he was not prepared to give up control, so he could only say: "I heard that the Netherlands is short of steel. This is a gift from our King Karl XV to the Netherlands. This is The contract states that Sweden hopes to cooperate with the Netherlands on overseas projects such as the Indian Ocean. Sweden will export steel and iron to the Netherlands at 80% of the market price in the future."

William IV gently stroked the thick contract package and pursed his lips. When Gulas August thought he would agree, William IV pushed it back and said with a smile: "Thank you Karl XV for your kindness, but the Netherlands does not need it now"

"But it's clear that the Netherlands is short of steel, and we clearly found the Netherlands," Gulas August said hurriedly.

William IV stopped the other party from continuing, and said pleasantly: "The Netherlands and Sweden are both second-class powers. Both countries were the hegemons in various regions at the beginning, but now they have been reduced to second-class countries. Even Karl XV would not dare to be lonely. , I understand this, but the Netherlands recently imports steel from Prussia, so there is no shortage of it,"

Seeing what William IV said, Gulas August had already guessed that this time he called it a blind date marriage, but in fact he came to form a secret alliance between Sweden and the Netherlands. This gift was not wanted by others, and it was unclear what the purpose was. Are you rejecting Sweden's suggestions?

However, there is a saying that there are twists and turns, but he encountered it today.

"But steel now does not mean that we will not use it in the future. Let's do this. I have a letter here, which I hope to be activated by His Majesty King Karl XV himself. No one can open it. There is something I want to say in it. Be careful of other things."

The Russian Empire?

Prince Gulas August thought of the two crown princes and second sons of Alexander II of the Russian Empire.

So I became vigilant, and after putting the envelope away, I hurriedly said goodbye.

After he left, two people came in.

One is Bill Charlie, the director of the Dutch Royal Intelligence Service, who is full of beard but smiles like Santa Claus, and the other is the cold-faced, middle-aged director of the Dutch International Intelligence Service, McKay Sean.

"Your Majesty," Bill Charlie and McKay Sean said in greeting.

"McKay, ask someone to keep an eye on him immediately to see who he has seen and what he has done tonight. I also want to know how many times he has been to the toilet."

"yes"

After he left, William IV asked Bill Charlie again: "Are those people still at peace?"

Bill Charlie talked about what Jia Zhen said, and finally said: "Except for Alexander Alexander II, the deputy minister of the Russian Empire, who went to a brothel to have fun, there was nothing unusual about the others."

"If there is no abnormality, that's the biggest abnormality. Tomorrow's face-to-face meeting of the royal envoys will be very interesting."

William IV was somewhat looking forward to it, especially as Viscount Palmerston of the British Empire was finally going to meet. I wonder if there would be some sparks?

There is a problem with Sweden's initiative to show goodwill to the Netherlands this time. It chose the wrong time. If Sweden joins the Dutch-Prussian-French Alliance at this time, it will superficially increase the strength of the Nordic countries.

However, Sweden has been the enemy of the Russian Empire for two hundred years. It is absolutely undesirable for the Netherlands to accept Sweden's enmity with the Russian Empire. Even if the Netherlands is willing, Prussia and France will not agree.

Therefore, regardless of whether Sweden is intentional or scheming, he needs to carefully consider the details before making a decision. In particular, it will only become clear after he replies to his letter and observes the development of the situation in Sweden.

Under my rule, the Netherlands will emerge from this European royal marriage conference.

And the one he is planning is the biggest thing at hand now, which can affect major events in Europe in the next 200 years. Whether it succeeds or not depends on the outcome of tomorrow's meeting with Viscount Palmerston!

Can you guess what this big event is? Major events in Europe in 1862. Don’t forget to please continue to vote!