Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

German Empire, Berlin.

"If the Netherlands really grows again in South America, it will be difficult for the German Empire to develop in South America in the future. On the contrary, if the German Empire stops the Netherlands, the German Empire will become one of the winners."

"No, if Germany really gets involved, we will lose our ambiguous relationship with the Netherlands. With the Netherlands' second largest navy in the world, the UK will be so afraid to win over us Germany. If the Netherlands suddenly surrenders to the UK , then Germany will lose its ability to absorb British strategic pressure, and we will become Britain’s biggest enemy, and the gains will outweigh the losses.”

"However, the UK has proposed to support our interests in Uruguay. Obviously London knows that we are trying to expand our interests in South America. If we do not make good use of this opportunity now, there will be fewer opportunities for the UK to be so easy to talk to in the future."

Crown Prince Frederick looked at Prime Minister Bismarck and said sincerely: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I still think it is good for the German Empire to have more contact with the United Kingdom. After all, our main strategic interests are in Europe, and the same is true for the United Kingdom, and vice versa. "After the capital of the Netherlands moved from Amsterdam to Melbourne, Australia in the Far East, their strategic interests seem to be no longer the same as ours. The situation in Europe is the most critical to us, but this is not the case in the Netherlands. It is secondary."

He raised his head and said firmly: "I still stick to my opinion. It is time for the German Empire to cooperate with Britain."

William I heard the words, but did not express his opinion.

The same goes for Old Moltke next to him.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has a good idea. The Netherlands' goal is not in Europe, but one thing His Highness seems to have forgotten is that we have different strategies from Helan. Sometimes it is just the opposite. This is the main reason why I am willing to support advancing and retreating together with the Netherlands."

Bismarck saw several people looking over and said: "Don't forget that the goal of the German Empire is the European continent. If the Dutch target is here, how will the interests be divided? I don't know if His Highness has thought about it. Also, if we stand with the United Kingdom, "When we have disputes with Britain's interests in Europe in the future, how will we resolve them? Will Britain use the same method it used to deal with Napoleon I decades ago to deal with Germany?"

"So, we need to prepare for a rainy day. The Netherlands is looking at Europe in the Far East. Although we in Germany actually have ambitions for South America, this ambition does not hinder the ambitions of the Netherlands. Likewise, the Netherlands will not be an obstacle to us."

When Bismarck said this, he said to the little Kaiser Wilhelm (the future Kaiser Wilhelm II of World War I) who was listening raptly next to him: "What the teacher told the Kaiser-grandson is that the enemy of the enemy is a friend, whether it is in the East or the West. They all work the same”

Crown Prince William nodded and said: "According to what the teacher said, we can continue to be good friends with the Netherlands and let the Netherlands become our foreign aid outside Europe. On the contrary, we can also become supporters of the Netherlands in some of its territories in Europe?

In this way, any fight between the Netherlands and Britain in the Asia-Pacific region will benefit Germany."

Bismarck nodded and showed a teachable smile: "Yes, France was helpless against Britain's world's strongest navy in 2000, and we in Germany will be helpless now and for decades to come.

If the rise of the Netherlands was in Europe, we would still be a little wary, but now it is in the Far East, so why should we be worried?

On the contrary, Britain should not be able to sleep. The Netherlands consumes the energy of the UK and cannot take into account our threats. The UK also wastes the resources of the Netherlands and curbs the momentum of the rise of the Netherlands. This is the best situation for us. Their balance in South America is fragile. We, Germany, are in France. When you are weak, you become the biggest beneficiary. If you don’t take it now, when will you wait? "

Chief of General Staff Mao Qi couldn't help but asked after hearing this: "Now that the new coalition cabinet government of the Netherlands has been newly established, the Christian Party has always been conservative, and the Socialist Party participated in the government for the first time in the Netherlands. Jules Danetang became the youngest country in Europe that year. Prime Minister, even though Belgium is a small country, he was able to suppress Leopold I, a powerful Belgian, and make him angry to death, which is a blockbuster.

After that, Leopold II was also dismissed, which can be said to have brought the entire European political arena to its knees.

So we have to guard against the opponent’s tendency to take eccentric approaches.”

Old Moltke was indeed the most stable person among the three swordsmen of the German Empire, but his words relaxed the tense atmosphere between Bismarck and Crown Prince Frederick.

William I showed his appreciation.

"Well, the current battle between the Netherlands and Britain in South America is in line with our previous plan to ally with Paraguay and share Uruguay."

William I said: "Now Paraguay has turned its attention to us from France, its old ally, which means that half of the success is achieved. The next step is to increase efforts and encourage the other party to fully reveal its ambitions."

"Argentina and the Netherlands are at odds with each other. Naturally, we will not allow the UK to monopolize the cake that the Netherlands has lost. My Prime Minister, the time has come for us to send people to communicate more with President Mitre. I think you can summon him tomorrow." Ambassador of Argentina in Berlin”

Bismarck nodded: "Yes"

William I smiled and nodded at him, and continued: "As for Britain and the Netherlands, I think we will continue to follow their trajectory in South America, bet on both ends, and have good relations with northern and southern Chile respectively. But in terms of legality, we will not do it. choose"

After a few people heard this, they naturally would not object.

However, at this time, Crown Prince William asked: "Grandpa, will the Netherlands be dissatisfied with the German-Dutch friendship because of this, and thus cast doubt on our future cooperation?"

After he finished speaking, everyone present laughed.

Including the always serious Bismarck and Crown Prince Frederick.

He looked at a few people in confusion.

Old Maoqi said at this time: "Don't His Highness the Emperor Taisun know that there are never eternal allies in the world, only eternal interests?"

William I said to him kindly: "Son, although the Netherlands may be dissatisfied, the immediate interests will still be grasped greedily."

"It's not just the Netherlands, in fact the UK is the same as us"

After hearing this, Emperor William's grandson suddenly woke up.

On March 13, 1879, Prime Minister Bismarck of the German Empire summoned Tula, the Argentine ambassador to Berlin. Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the German Empire announced that the German Empire would deepen economic ties with Argentina in the future and support Argentina's huge expansion in South America. Influence.

Argentine President Miter expressed appreciation for the German Empire's approach and expressed the hope that the two countries would cooperate in South America and the Atlantic region in the future.