Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

The situation in Europe, with the conflict between Prussia and the Netherlands, caused Denmark and Sweden to be drawn into the whirlpool, which greatly shocked European countries.

Russian Empire, St. Petersburg.

"The governments of Denmark and Sweden have respectively decided to apply to South American Union. However, these two countries have recently experienced public opposition to joining South American Union. What do you think of the situation in Europe when Sweden and Denmark join the Union this time?"

Gorchakov, the Prime Minister of the Tsarist Russian Empire, met today with Calvin Colin, the Dutch Ambassador to the Tsarist Russian Empire, who asked to see him a day ago. He asked as soon as they met.

"It is reported that Prussia was very angry"

After the light answer, Calvin Colin's eyes flashed, he looked at the Prime Minister of the Tsarist Russian Empire with a half-smile, and asked: "What impact does the Prime Minister think this will have on the Tsarist Russian Empire?"

Gorchakov secretly thought: From the beginning to now, this guy has remained unfazed, which is rare. It is said that the Netherlands has many diplomatic talents. From the previous rumors, this Calvin Colin is not bad.

With his face unchanged, Gorchakov said: "The Tsarist Russian Empire currently does not mind Sweden and Denmark increasing their influence overseas. On the contrary, I feel that if these two countries increase their overseas expansion and cause the two countries to have conflicts with Prussia, it will be harmful to Tsarist Russia. It’s more advantageous to talk about it. The ambassador should know that the countries in the western Baltic Sea are still too friendly, which is not conducive to Tsarist Russia’s strategy.”

Calvin Colin's eyelids twitched, and although his expression remained unchanged, his heart was shaken, and he looked at Gorchakov.

As expected, he is indeed the most visionary leader in the diplomatic circles of the Tsarist Russian Empire. He has been the helmsman of the Tsarist Russian Empire's diplomacy since 1856, and he has a unique vision.

I thought to myself: Now I finally understand why Amsterdam’s instructions require him to seek an audience with Prime Minister Gorchakov instead of Alexander II. Obviously, Alexander II was too right to weigh Gorchakov, who has always been anti-Prussian. My husband is currently the best partner in the Netherlands.

Thinking of this, Calvin Colin smiled and said: "The same is true for us in the Netherlands. The Baltic Sea is a sea of ​​peace and monopoly behavior is not allowed. The Netherlands has close exchanges with the Baltic countries, so we hope that the Baltic Sea will always maintain a certain degree of balance. Not only the Netherlands, The United Kingdom and other countries should also think so, and even thinking that talented diplomatic strategists from Tsarist Russia would have this idea is the reason why I asked to see the Prime Minister this time."

"Oh" Gorchakov said with a noncommittal smile: "Although it sounds very pleasant, I still can't figure out the purpose of your Excellency the Ambassador's request to see me. Please tell me the following."

Calvin Colin said: "Well, it seems that I really forgot. As the Prime Minister said just now, I think the deterioration of Prussia's surrounding environment may be better for neighboring countries. After all, Prussia's war potential is too great."

Seeing Gorchakov's expression change slightly, Calvin Colin understood the other person's heartbeat and obviously agreed with him.

So he pursued the victory and said: "Originally, the German Confederation was an organization that was scrupulous about other countries, including the Netherlands. At that time, many people were glad that Austria still had Prussia to restrict it. Now that Austria has been defeated, it has no choice but to form a new empire with Hungary. against Prussia to protect themselves.

Under such circumstances, we in the Netherlands believe that the Russian Empire should be equally worried about this. After all, the wild wolf has just defeated a small prey for the first time. After the food is digested, the stronger prey next to it will also become the food he desires. , for this reason, this is why the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark formed the Nordic Triple Alliance. "

Gorchakov looked at Calvin Colin with ridicule, "Although the ambassador's statement is pleasant, it cannot eliminate the fact that the Russian Empire also turned a blind eye to the threat posed by the Nordic Three Kingdoms Alliance. After all, Mr. Ambassador knows that we and In the 17th and 18th centuries and in the first decade of this century, Sweden was still engaged in a battle for Nordic hegemony.”

"But hasn't the Tsarist Empire already defeated Sweden?" Calvin Colin said, "I don't think the Tsarist Empire, more than 50 years after it annexed Finland, is still afraid of Sweden's counterattack across the Baltic Sea. If that's the case, , then, I question whether the Tsarist Russian Empire can maintain the highest honor of the empire for such a long time and whether it truly deserves it."

"You" stared at Calvin Colin for a long time, sighing in his heart at the other party's boldness and difficulty. Gorchakov finally shrugged and said seriously: "Even if the Russian Empire is not afraid of Sweden's counterattack, why should we do it without any reason?" There is no benefit in intervening in the feud between the three countries and Prussia. Although we are a little worried about Prussia, I do not think Prussia is a threat to us at this stage."

"But it is important to take precautions before they happen. The Prime Minister should understand that when Prussia truly grows up, the price the Tsarist Empire will pay to defeat it will be much more expensive than it is now."

Gorchakov narrowed his eyes and pointed out: "But the Netherlands faces a more dangerous threat than Tsarist Russia."

"That is, but the Prime Minister should know that the Netherlands has created a huge new home in the Australian continent and the Dutch East Indies in the Far East between the Pacific and Indian Oceans."

Calvin Colin proudly said: "We can withstand the first blow in Europe because we can rise again in the Far East."

This time Gorchakov changed color no longer slightly, but suddenly.

He couldn't help but think: The Netherlands can face the Prussian attack. In the end, it can no longer resist and can flee to the Far East. As the top three navies in the world, after all, the Dutch navy has this strength, as the Dutch ambassador said The current population ratio between the Dutch mainland and the Far East Dutch is 4:6. This will change rapidly in the future. Eventually, the Netherlands will become just an ordinary European stronghold of the Netherlands, while the Far East is the base camp.

Calvin Colin took the opportunity to continue: "Faced with such a severely hollowed-out Netherlands, Prussia will not regard it as a threat. On the contrary, other countries such as France, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Tsarist Russian Empire, and the United Kingdom are the thorns in Prussia's eyes.

If Prussia attacks in the west, it may face attacks from various countries in the north and southwest. However, if it attacks the west, although it is impossible, no one can say for sure. After all, the British navy is there, and Prussia has seen Napoleon I dominate western Europe. The strength was still defeated in front of the British navy.

What's more, Prussia's navy is far inferior to that of France during the Napoleon I period. Therefore, with Prussia's strong army, I think it is the right plan to use its strengths to make up for its weaknesses, rather than continuing to follow the old path of failure of its predecessors. Your Excellency Prime Minister, if you were Prime Minister Bismarck, would you agree with what I say?"

sharp!

Gorchakov looked at Calvin Colin in surprise. He really couldn't imagine that the guy in front of him had such insight. The most eye-catching thing was that Calvin finally asked him to play Bismarck and think about the problem in the role. . With this sense of substitution, it seems that Prussia's attack on France, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Netherlands was wrong. On the contrary, Prussia has the greatest potential in the future if it defeats the Russian Empire.

Thinking about it, Gorchakov was shocked again. He almost succeeded. Those were just speculations. He put himself into Bismarck's position. In an instant, this assumption almost hindered his judgment.

What a great ambassador from the Netherlands!