Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

Buckingham Palace.

Queen Victoria was having a conversation with British Prime Minister Gladstone after dinner.

Queen Victoria: "The German-Austrian Alliance is currently determined to expand its power in Latin America. My Lord Prime Minister, what do you think of this?"

Although the deployment of troops by the German-Austrian Alliance is secretive, Britain has been operating in Europe for many years. It has been the 44th anniversary since Queen Victoria took the throne of the British Empire in 1837. Naturally, there will be no lack of intelligence sources on the European continent.

When there were slightly bigger movements in Berlin and Vienna, she was informed at Buckingham Palace.

Not only him, but the British MI6 also sent the information to British Prime Minister Gladstone.

That's why the latter has only been visiting the Queen at Buckingham Palace in the past few days to report on his work here.

Sure enough, Her Majesty the Queen still asked.

"The Austrian Brother Empire urgently mobilized 20,000 people and docked in the Portuguese Azores 13 days ago. And I just received news that their transport ship has just passed our Bermuda Island in the Caribbean and is expected to return We can reach the Austro-Hungarian-occupied Yucatan Peninsula in three days.”

Queen Victoria: "Ten thousand people landed on the Yucata Peninsula in southern Mexico, and there are more than 10,000 follow-up troops behind? It seems that Austria-Hungary and Germany are serious this time."

Gladstone: "That's not true. Bismarck visited London some time ago, and when he talked to me, he hinted that he would use force there. It has been two months, and I originally thought that I would see the expansion of the seven-nation South American League of the Netherlands into the current ten. The three countries were frightened. At that time, Germany and Austria both launched diplomatic relations with the Netherlands to ease relations. Now it seems that they were all secretly preparing for the use of force."

Queen Victoria: "What was the reaction in the Netherlands?"

Gladstone: "There is no large-scale mobilization of troops on the Australian mainland. This is the result of intelligence collection by our MI6-department. Also, the Dutch territory in Europe is also extremely peaceful, but the conflict between the Netherlands and Germany The border guards have increased their mobilization frequency, apparently preparing for possible attacks from Germany."

Queen Victoria asked in confusion: "Where is the Thirteen-Nation Alliance Army?"

Prime Minister Gladstone shrugged and said: "Large-scale exercises are currently being held in Ecuador and Chile, with more than 20,000 troops participating in large-scale operations each. The actions are quite large.

But I am curious, if they know that Germany and Austria launched a war against Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula, I wonder what the expressions of the thirteen-nation coalition forces would be like."

Gladstone's mocking smile could not cover up the worry in Queen Victoria's eyes.

"The situation in the Far East of the Netherlands is calm, the European part has increased its vigilance, and there are frequent exercises in South America. The actions of the German-Austrian alliance are definitely not a secret to the Netherlands. Faced with the scale of German-Austrian troop transport ships in the port, it is obvious that Germany and Austria are doing external things. The Netherlands was indifferent to the prelude to the use of force. Do you think you can believe it?"

Gladstone suddenly came to his senses after hearing this. In comparison, Gladstone still understood the political sophistication of the elderly queen in front of her.

Back then, the Whigs were able to stay in power for a long time only by playing the Tories around.

Of course, Viscount Palmerston's contribution is not small.

"What does Her Majesty mean? The Netherlands has actually made moves secretly, but we just don't know about it?" Gladstone said.

Queen Victoria followed up with an extremely serious look: "The British intelligence did not collect the Dutch movements. Obviously our intelligence collection capabilities are still too weak."

Gladstone: "Her Majesty is referring to the Dutch movement coming from the Eastern Pacific?"

Queen Victoria nodded and said, "Isn't it true? Now the only things Britain has left in the Pacific are the Malay Peninsula and Xiang Island at the mouth of the largest river system in southern Qing Dynasty.

The reason for forming an alliance with Japan is to break the Dutch monopoly in the Pacific.

Also, we have repeatedly supported Germany in establishing its power in the Commonwealth of America. We do not hope that the west coast of the United States can be equipped with a more powerful American navy. If Japan + the United States pass through each other in a straight line, the Netherlands will lose its dominance in the North Pacific. It can only Holding on to the Pacific Ocean south of the Hawaiian Islands.

In this way, when the time comes, the British navy will join forces to compete with the Netherlands in the Indian Ocean and dominate the northern part of the Indian Ocean. In addition, Argentina is anti-Dutch like the UK. South Africa is in our hands. The Suez Canal is also firmly held by the UK. The UK and the Netherlands will compete for the Strait of Malacca. Keep stirring.

In this way, the Netherlands can be surrounded in the Indian Ocean and the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. At that time, the Netherlands' global influence will plummet. On the contrary, because the United Kingdom is located in Europe and the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, we have the strongest naval power. You can still freely sail around the world and continue to dominate the global seas. "

Listening to Queen Victoria's domineering and confident words, Gladstone couldn't help but feel the urge to worship her.

Although he has long experienced the Queen's political wisdom, it always makes him feel as if he has cleared the clouds and seen the world again.

The Queen is, after all, the most powerful king in Europe and even the world.

One word can put millions of people in danger of life and death, and one word can plunge hundreds of millions of people into war.

Queen Victoria didn't know what Gladstone thought. She said: "William IV has been operating in the Pacific for decades. Even Australia and New Zealand have been managed by the Netherlands for fifteen or sixteen years. The prosperity there is said to be unparalleled in Europe." The Dutch territory is developing its economy at an unprecedented rate.

Therefore, the Netherlands will definitely give top priority to the security of the South Pacific and the Eastern Indian Ocean. If the UK wants to hurt the Netherlands, it must start here."

Gladstone hesitated for a while and then said: "What if, I mean, if the extremely ambitious Germany launches a war on the Dutch territories in Europe? Will this have the same effect?"

Queen Victoria shook her head. Seeing that the other party was puzzled, Victoria said: "Both Bismarck and William I were not fools. The Dutch territorial defense force exceeded 100,000 troops. This was a well-prepared team, but the Danish army in the 1860s was shattered by one blow.

Nor was it the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was defeated outside Vienna in seven weeks. And don’t forget, Sweden and Denmark are not paper tigers, especially Denmark. King Christian IX of Denmark understands the importance of life and death. The Three Kingdoms Alliance of the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden is Sweden’s barrier against Tsarist Russia, and Sweden does not. Standing back and watching.

As for Tsarist Russia, it is also very close to the Netherlands now. Tsarist Russia will not let its allies in Western Europe, the Netherlands, be wiped out. Then Denmark will follow the same fate. At that time, Tsarist Russia will be the opponent that Germany will turn to deal with after it becomes stronger. "