Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

Queen Victoria looked up at Gladstone and said: "So, if Germany attacks and occupies the Netherlands, it will create German panic in Europe, and the gain will outweigh the loss. And the most important thing is"

Gladstone: "What?"

Berlin.

Prime Minister Bismarck also faced questions about why the German Empire did not attack Dutch European territories. But this question comes from the little Crown Prince William of the German Empire.

Bismarck: "An attack on the Dutch mainland will cause Denmark, Sweden and other countries to panic, and the Russian Empire will also be on guard against the German Empire with the same hatred. This is definitely not worth the gain for the German Empire, and"

Crown Prince William asked hurriedly: "What else is there?"

Bismarck glanced at Crown Prince Wilhelm and sighed: "Also, if we attack the European territories of the Netherlands, the German Empire will never be able to become a global power."

Crown Prince William: "No, what does our becoming a global power have to do with them?"

Bismarck: "If we had not attacked the Dutch territories in Europe, our relationship with the Netherlands might have been good or bad. Then we would carry out various actions around the world, and the Netherlands would be concerned about the security environment of the European territories and would not make a big counterattack against us.

However, as you said, if you attack Amsterdam, etc., then the Netherlands will attack the interests of the German Empire globally. Faced with the close gaze of a big country like the Netherlands that is strong enough to resist Britain, the global ambitions of the German Empire will be You will die young because of this. This is what I call the gain outweighing the loss."

Bismarck was also very unhappy about this.

If the tens of thousands of square kilometers of the Dutch land in Europe are captured, the area of ​​the German Empire can be expanded to one-twentieth. Not only that, Germany can also obtain excellent ports on the Atlantic coast of the Netherlands.

Unfortunately, as he just said, if Germany attacks Dutch territory, even if Britain does not take any action, Sweden, Denmark and even the Russian Empire will be on guard against Germany. This is definitely not good news for the German Empire.

Because of this, Germany's surrounding environment will deteriorate.

When the day comes when Britain, which likes to use balance-of-power diplomacy, competes to get away from the Netherlands, Britain will use this peripheral situation that is not good for Germany to deal with Germany.

Little William: "That's a pity"

Bismarck: "The struggle between Britain and the Netherlands is our opportunity to exert global influence. If the result is achieved between Britain and the Netherlands and the Netherlands loses, we can take action in Europe and then expand our interests around the world."

William: 'What if Britain loses? ’

Bismarck: "If Britain loses, hehe, then we can expand our influence in the North Sea, and even develop in the direction of France in Europe. I think it is more suitable for the Paris regime to be under our control."

Little William: "Where is the divided Lyon government in southern France?\

,"Bismarck: "The outlet of the Mediterranean Sea has always been the greatest wish of my life and that of your grandfather, His Majesty William I. If we can win it, then the Prussians of our generation can die in peace."

Bismarck's awe-inspiring words immediately left an indelible mark on the heart of the 22-year-old Crown Prince William. So many years later, he launched the First World War all over the world, which was even a few years earlier in history. Year.

This was something William IV did not expect.

So much so that the Kingdom of the Netherlands he led later could only respond in a hurry, and the Netherlands also suffered heavy losses in the First World War. Of course, compared to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands was relatively good, because today's Bismarck taught young William this. These words made the First World War between France and the United Kingdom even more tragic in Belgium. The British Isles were even led by William William to land on the German Empire, and the German army even launched a massive massacre there.

Because of this, the British Saxons and the Germans became directly opposed to each other during World War II, almost to the point of fighting to the death.

Of course, these are all things for later.

William: "In that case, why does the Prime Minister want to start a war with Austria-Hungary in Latin America? Then it will be easy to run into the Netherlands."

Bismarck: "Remember, we can indirectly support Austria-Hungary, but we did not directly participate in the war. Besides, we support each other in the name of Austria-Hungary's allies, just like the Netherlands supports the other twelve countries in Latin America."

William: "Why did you choose Mexico, a big country, instead of other small countries?"

Bismarck: "If you don't choose Mexico, how can you test the Netherlands?"

Little William: “???”

Bismarck said mysteriously: "Although we won't fall out with the Netherlands directly, that would be useless, but if we use the Austro-Hungarian Empire to test the Netherlands, we can get what we want to know."

Little William: "What do we want?"

Bismarck: "What is the bottom line for the Netherlands to send troops? What is the Netherlands' ability to send troops, and how strong is the Netherlands' ability to organize coalition forces? The Netherlands' allies in other parts of the world, such as Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Tsarist Russia, Siam, Greece, etc., can Do these allies count as the Netherlands faces war?"

William Jr.: "This is the answer the Prime Minister wants"

Bismarck shook his head at William's surprise and said: "Not just me, but also your grandfather, Kaiser Wilhelm I, who has mailed your grandmother, Queen Victoria of England."

"Is it them?" William was stunned for a moment, then realized: "So, the last time the Prime Minister and I visited the UK two months ago, the Prime Minister met with my grandmother, Her Majesty the Queen, just to discuss how to let the Netherlands show its strength. , and then the two countries will take appropriate measures to deal with the Netherlands?"

"You are only half right." Bismarck: "Yes, we all want to prepare for the Netherlands to reveal its strength, but it is the United Kingdom ruled by your grandmother who wants to deal with the Netherlands, not us Germany. The most we can do is Just follow behind to get some advantages."

Little William nodded and said: "That makes sense. Why did we compromise with the Netherlands on the US-American issue? But then we were at odds with each other on the Austria-Hungary and Mexico issues.

It turns out that everything stems from the fact that we are the ones sitting on the sidelines, and the British and Dutch are the real protagonists."

Bismarck smiled and said: "Our Imperial Highness, what role does the Austro-Hungarian Empire play?"

William: "Of course we are the vanguard. Perhaps in the overall plan of the prime minister and grandfather, Vienna has long been labeled as a vanguard that consumes the opponent's strength. Only in this way can we continue to expand our power and influence in Europe. "

He stared at Bismarck and said: "Anyway, the ones who died were Austrians and Hungarians, not Prussians, right?"

Little William's contemptuous expression made Bismarck happy.

He liked this kind of German monarch, not like his father, Crown Prince Frederick, who was too soft-hearted.

Bismarck said with satisfaction: "It seems that I want to tell His Majesty that our grandson of the German Empire has finally grown up."