Xinshun 1730

Chapter 829 The Hague Tragedy ([-])

This is political correctness, the source of legitimacy of William IV's rule.

There were also external pressures that William IV had to face.

United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom came up with a separate peace negotiation for Prussia, naturally to prevent itself from following Sima Yan's example of Cao Pi's story: what you do, I can't do it?
Therefore, be extremely wary of the Netherlands making peace with France alone.

William IV wanted to negotiate privately with France, and the diplomatic pressure was enormous.

Now that France has invaded the mainland of the Netherlands, only the United Kingdom and Austria are left to rely on.

Holland still has a card in hand.

The Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty.

When the Duke of Cumberland returned to England, he used this treaty as a reason: According to the treaty, if the British mainland was violated, the Netherlands would need to send 7000 troops, plus [-] warships to defend the British mainland.

Then, either, you will send troops and ships from the Netherlands; or, the Duke of Cumberland will go back.

They are all big commercial countries, so they have to do it according to the contract.

At that time, rumors that the little usurper was going to land in Scotland were very tight, and it was reasonable to go back.

Now that France is about to invade the Netherlands, Britain should also send troops to help defend.

But Britain is too busy to take care of itself now, what if the little usurper really lands in Scotland?

Now going to negotiate with France in private, isn't that just an excuse for the UK?

It's not that I, Great Britain, failed to fulfill the treaty, but that you, the Netherlands, negotiated with the enemy in private. You can't blame me, you can only blame yourself.

And now that Russia has agreed to the "Bonus Treaty", it may soon send troops. The battle has reached this point. The Netherlands has collapsed its own financial industry. At this time, private negotiations may be in 1453. To vote for Byzantium.

Internal political correctness.

external diplomatic pressure.

This prevented William IV's court from negotiating with France in private.Besides, there is nothing to talk about. The French have eaten up the entire Austrian Netherlands, and the Dutch fortresses have also been lost. The conditions offered by the French at this time are unacceptable even if you think about it.

As an unofficial person, Anthony, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, cannot directly negotiate with France.

First of all, the name is not right, he is not only the former speaker of the inter-provincial parliament, but also the former speaker of the Dutch province.

This preface is very delicate. He has no official status now, and the French will not talk to him.

Furthermore, let’s talk about it at this time, what are we talking about?
Although the Regents are afraid of France, they also believe that the current Netherlands is a mess and don't want to get involved at all.

Under such circumstances, considering that Dashun may have other purposes, Anthony feels that it is necessary to contact Dashun in private, hoping to use Dashun's side to mediate the relationship between France and Holland in an unofficial capacity. .

Also out of love for the motherland, ask what is France's plan?How are you going to deal with the Netherlands, which may be defeated in the future?
I also want to ask, is Dashun really so worried about what happened in Taiwan and Zhoushan that he wants to take revenge on the Netherlands with the power of France?Do you think this revenge is not enough to regain Southeast Asia?Do you have to harm the mainland of the Netherlands?

Even... China, will it give France financial assistance, give France blood transfusion, and let France continue to fight?
This is very possible.

He didn't understand how serious the internal conflicts in Dashun were, nor did he understand how unsolvable the land problem in Dashun was, and he didn't know that Dashun's tax efficiency was outrageous. It is not a problem for Dashun to consciously take out [-] billion taels of silver to finance the French national debt.

It doesn't even need 2000 billion taels, if Dashun spends [-] million to buy French national debt, France will be able to survive until Austria and the Netherlands collapse on their own.

And from a commercial point of view, Dashun loaned money to France to buy French government bonds, and it did not lose money at all.

As long as it wins, France will of course be able to pay back the principal and interest.

What's more, is it possible that Dashun is going to allow France to establish its European supremacy, so that in the future, it will fully cooperate with France in trade?

If this is the case, the Netherlands is in danger!

With this kind of exclamation of the subjugated king of the "former" Great Speaker, Anthony went to meet Kang Bushao, who was also in an unofficial capacity, in an unofficial capacity.

After the meeting, the guests and hosts sat down separately, and Anthony was going to use this behavior in China to lead the conversation and start the conversation.

Unexpectedly, Kang Bushao took the initiative to talk about the current situation.

It's just that the words are very harsh.

"Whale once told me that the only lesson people learn from history is that we never learn from history."

"There is a saying in China that history can be used as a mirror. I didn't believe it. But after seeing your country, the Netherlands, I believe it. This statement is true."

"The French firmly believed in the Anglo-French alliance back then. They sold France against Britain and went to fight France with you. Of course, this is a lesson the French should learn. If you don't remember it, it's nothing."

"Twenty-thirty years ago, the War of the Spanish Succession."

"The Netherlands has shed its own blood. A palm-sized country with less than one-fifth of the population of Henan Province has sent 13 troops."

"As a result, the lowlands of the Netherlands are called the Austrian Netherlands. The Netherlands can only be a free watchdog with the power to garrison troops in the lowland fortresses."

"The slave trade was monopolized by the British, kicking the Netherlands away, and the British monopolized the black slave trade in the Spanish colonies. The slave trade in the Netherlands is illegal."

"The Netherlands lost a large number of warships and merchant ships. After the war, the warships had to be sealed up and the army was abolished. The 'national debts' of the poor provinces in the first year after the war were not paid."

"Now the old things are happening again, and you are once again being dogs to the British. It seems that you are quite satisfied with the "Navigation Regulations", and you will defend Britain at all costs."

"It's no wonder that your consul is the son-in-law of England."

"I heard from your people that during the War of Spanish Succession, the British promised you that after the victory, the place would not be called the Austrian Netherlands, but the new southern province of the United Provinces."

"I also heard that you were very eager for the trading and taxation rights in Ghent, Lille and other places, but you were promised and then rejected."

"This reminds me of a story. When we were in the pre-Qin period, there was a diplomat named Zhang Yi..."

Zhang Yi bullied Chu's sarcasm, which made Anthony a little uncomfortable.

It’s not that the story makes people uncomfortable, but the tone of Kang Bushao in front of him when telling this story is like talking about a fool who has been cheated. This tone and expression are pitiful in the Dutch businessman’s story of fraudulent profit. People, common.

Out of the maintenance of the dignity of the motherland, and also because of the war of Spanish succession, the regent's Great Speaker was in power in the Netherlands, so Anthony still came forward to deny it.

"Sir, since you are familiar with the oriental stories of your country, you must also know another story I heard from Koreans when I was in the capital of your country."

"The Ming Empire sent troops to support North Korea, and paid a lot of money. After the victory, they didn't want anything and retreated. Isn't this the same reason?"

"The Austrian Netherlands is to us the Netherlands what North Korea is to your country."

"If the Austrian Netherlands does not fall into the hands of France, our greatest strategic goal will be achieved. Just as North Korea does not fall into the hands of a third party, it is of the same significance to your country."

"As long as the strategic goal is achieved, the rest is trivial. From this point of view, I don't think there is anything wrong with our strategy. We did not send troops for Britain, just as the Ming Empire did not send troops for North Korea. We are For myself."

"If the British don't promise us, we will also send troops. At least, if I were the speaker of the Great Speaker, I would also make a decision to send troops. As long as we can keep the Austrian Netherlands from falling into the hands of France or Spain, our The sacrifice is worth it."

"It is true that after the war we owed 2000 million silver debts, and we did not repay the national debt for 15 years, but I think it is all worth it."

After negating Kang Bushao's analogy of "Zhang Yi bullying Chu" from a strategic point of view, Anthony felt that he had won the status of not being a fool for the Netherlands.

Kang Buxi didn't comment on this, just smiled, and asked again: "Then, it seems that the Great Speaker has no regrets about the participation of the Netherlands this time. After all, France still wants to eat the Austrian Netherlands. According to you Theoretically, we should fight on, no matter the cost.”

"Then it seems that the Dutch panic, economic collapse, company bankruptcy, bank collapse, and merchant ships being privately plundered are all worth it?"

"Then why did you both go to the Palace of Versailles and bow your knees? So, William of the Orange family is a true hero. He knows the strategy and the core interests of the Netherlands."

Anthony couldn't respond for a while.

This moment, that moment also.

At that time, the Netherlands still had the aftertaste of its peak and was still a world power.

Although there are strategic considerations such as the so-called Austrian Netherlands being Holland’s North Korea, but more, they are still thinking about exploding France, obtaining the trading rights of the Spanish colonies, and obtaining the time-tax rights of the Austrian Netherlands. And trade privileges, bypassing the British "Maritime Regulations", and expanding the trade of the Spanish colonies in America.

At that time, it is really possible to return to the top.

However, it is different now.

At that time, the Netherlands, which was theoretically at a [-]-[-] split with the United Kingdom, of course had the mentality of a big country, actively participated in the battle for hegemony, and strived to become the victorious country—what if the original idea was realized?What if, after the war, Ghent and other places were obtained, the exclusive trade rights to Spanish colonies were obtained, and the commercial warehouses in Seville, Cadiz and other places that were excluded by France were reopened?
At least, in theory, if it is done, it will reproduce the golden age.

现在，荷兰一共两万兵；战舰快40年没造新的了；私营的造船船坞从当年的40座破产到现在的不到10座；棉纺织处理厂从当年的100多所，降到现在的不足20……

The seizure of Ghent, the exclusive trading rights of the Spanish colonies, the trading post of Seville, etc., which could be considered before, are not eligible to be considered at all now.

The golden age had just ended, and the foundation accumulated in 100 years was extremely solid, so the golden age of this small country has passed, and it can still pull out 13 regular military privates, and owe 1 million silver debts at will without fear of repayment.

At that time, it seemed that if you worked hard and participated in a war, once you won and got what you wanted, you would really be the coachman of the sea again.

Now, not to mention the 13 regular army, the 7000 people who need to fulfill the "British-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty" cannot be assembled.Anthony himself had to ask himself, what is the purpose of the Dutch battle?What is the desired strategic vision?If it wins, what does the Netherlands want after the war?
Regardless of the outcome of the Spanish Succession War, at least they knew what they wanted before.Now I don't know what I want at all.

After thinking about it for a while, I just felt that there was no doubt that this battle was fought.

It has become purely "fighting for the sake of fighting" in the absolute sense.

(End of this chapter)