Start 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne

Chapter 11: Launching Belgium’s first secret chess?
Compared with the diplomacy of China and the United States in later generations, this cannot but highlight how sophisticated the "imperial skills" of this British gentleman, Viscount Palmerston, were.

Who says the ancients were inferior to modern people? Just look at the methods of those in power in the United States, the hegemon of later generations, and those in power in the British Empire, the hegemon in the 19th century, and you will know whose methods are better!
William IV even found it interesting to speculate that if Palmerston's first-class methods were used, the United States would have signed a peace agreement with Saddam from a superior position after the Gulf War, and then the United States would have resumed trade with Iraq.

At the same time, treaties were signed with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, thereby establishing the U.S.'s right to station troops under the law in one fell swoop.

After seizing this opportunity, it forced Israel to make concessions and realize the establishment of a state and the partition of Israel and Palestine in accordance with the United Nations resolution formulated by the United States itself.

If the former is not at ease, then they can just formally sign a treaty, formalize and legalize the mutual defense treaty between the United States and Israel, and even arrange for Israel to enter the treaty.

In this way, everyone can look back and see clearly that a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is the only opportunity for the United States to get rid of the burden of the Middle East and reduce the waste of energy, money, and military force of the United States for many years.

If these three moves were followed correctly, China might have all become the sphere of influence of the United States long ago. Why did we wait until the rise of E-State and the United States to realize that we had wasted many years? Why did later generations be so passive? In the end , and even shouted in embarrassment about the "smart" Afghan evacuation policy, which was a joke for the people around the world!
But this is all his imagination. It can also be said that this is a method he thinks is feasible after he learned first-class diplomatic methods from Viscount Palmerston.

No matter how powerful the "empire's tactics" are, it must be based on strength.

Henry John Tapper dared to launch a war in the Far East, not because the British Empire's navy had confidently told him, "With just one battleship from the British Empire, the entire navy of that country in the Far East can be wiped out in one quarter."

Even in the era of Queen Victoria, which is now at its peak, there is now a saying circulating in the British Empire that makes all countries envious:
“The plains of North America and Tsarist Russia are the barns that feed our bellies;
Chicago and Odessa are the mining districts we need for industrial development;

Canada and Northern Europe are growing trees for the wood we need for fleet construction and heating;

Australia herds our sheep so we don’t have a shortage of woolen sweaters;

Argentina grazes cattle for us, increasing beef and improving quality of life;
Peru sent us silver, the Cape of Good Hope attacked gold;

The Indian subcontinent and countries grow tea and silk for us;

The Mediterranean is our orchard;
Our cotton plantations are expanding from the southern United States to other parts of the planet where everything is getting warmer.”

When Queen Victoria passed away 40 years later, how many British people could realize that the British Empire's century-old heyday was about to die with her, and could foresee the two terrible global wars that were about to come?

In fact, the reason for the prosperity of the British Empire under Victoria's leadership just proves its inevitable decline. The rise and fall of a great country cannot be forced by human power.

England occupies a dominant manufacturing industry, England's indestructible maritime superiority, and England's unparalleled financial system.

They formed the three pillars on which the Victorian Empire flourished.

The British Empire in 1860 occupied 2 points of the world's population, but produced 53 points of the world's steel and 50 points of coal, consumed 50 points of the world's cotton, and controlled one-third of the world's maritime trade.

The annual energy consumption of the British Empire was 4 times the population of the British Empire and 150 times that of the Russian Empire!
Industrial products now account for 6% of Europe's production and 4.5% of the world's production. It can be said to be the world's factory.

The strong production capacity and the unique geographical conditions of the British Empire laid the foundation for the British Empire's superior maritime hegemony.

As an island nation, the security of the British Empire did not require an overly powerful army that relied on land defense like other countries in continental Europe.

It was the crisis caused by Napoleon that made the British Empire frantically build naval warships. So when the Napoleonic crisis was resolved, they suddenly discovered that their navy far surpassed other countries.

Before the Crimean War that began in 1853, the Tsarist Empire's navy was still showing off its power as its tonnage was close to that of the United Kingdom. However, when the British Empire entered the war, the Tsarist Russian Empire was beaten and was forced to hide in Tibet.
This profound image has penetrated deep into the hearts of European countries.

Everyone saw it with chills. From then on, other countries did not dare to fight with the British Empire at will. Therefore, the British Empire's monopoly on sea power for more than ten years, especially some time ago, before France was about to open the Suez Canal, was directly attacked by the British Empire. The two navies faced off against each other. In the end, Napoleon III's France unexpectedly gave in and gave up the Suez Canal to the British Empire. This made the British Empire even more powerful.

The consequence was that the British Empire was free to expand its colonies. Even in the past ten years, William IV carefully calculated that the overseas colonies of the British Empire were increasing at a terrifying rate of 10 square kilometers every year, which is equivalent to the British Empire every 2 years. It is terrifying to increase the area of ​​the British Empire's mainland territory by one year!
Under the protection of sea power, the British Isles became a safe paradise in Europe. Its developed industry and vast colonies provided ideal investment places. Parliament enacted laws to protect the rights and interests of investors.

Since the British Empire won the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War at the end of the last century, London's financial industry replaced Amsterdam and became the new strongest global financial center. With the unprecedented development of the British Empire, it has also entered a period of unprecedented prosperity.

In this way, the British Empire became the center of manufacturing, trade, and capital flows in Europe.

From here, you can see that these three major advantages complement each other and form a virtuous cycle that goes back and forth, supporting the sun that was just called the Empire on which the sun never sets.

But William IV knew that just like the sun every day, it also sets when it sets.

In the 1880s, after the global Great Depression, the three pillars of the British Empire would quickly shake their foundations, and the virtuous cycle would no longer be stable. The speed seemed to follow the same pace that Prussia established the German Empire alone after kicking out Austria in 1871. It has since become the second largest economy in Europe, surpassing Austria.

The United States also surpassed the British Empire in the 80s and became the world's largest GDP power. The Great Depression caused the newly rising powers Prussia and the United States to rise faster, making it difficult for the British Empire to respond.At this time, the dominance of the British Empire, which represented the unparalleled power of the British Empire, began to decline as Queen Victoria grew older. The sunset of hegemony began, and power began to slowly transfer to other rising powers.

If the Netherlands wants to develop, it must seize the right opportunity to strike. The Great Depression of 1887 is an entry point, not World War I and World War II like many others think, and William IV cannot wait that long. After all, 60-[-] years , how could it take so long!

But even in 1887, it was still 25 years ago. At that time, William IV was already [-] years old.
Wilhelm II, the future famous Emperor of the German Empire who was only two years old last year, was also 27 years old that year.

It was during that time that Bismarck was also ousted. This time the European diplomatic giant fell. From then on, the German Empire began to slowly go astray in diplomacy and fell deeper and deeper.

Therefore, the Netherlands needs to make reasonable use of these 25 years to develop itself, attack its enemies, balance diplomacy, and calculate the British Empire, France, Russia, Prussia, Austria, etc., and weaken their national power. This is what the Netherlands needs to do most.

He rises and he falls, why not do it!
Although the Kingdom of the Netherlands appears to have one of the top ten naval forces in the world, and even secretly adds the hidden strength of the East India Naval Base to reach the top three with 18 tons, the top three are still the top three after all.

France and the British Empire currently have a delicate relationship.

Competition is mostly because the two countries do not feel threatened by other countries. If the Netherlands, a country close to the two countries, emerges at this time, William IV does not need to think about it, and he will know that these two countries will also directly or explicitly attack the Netherlands. Britain and France can dominate through covert and powerful suppression, but other countries must go through their common "baptism of war" before they can gain recognition.

This is exactly why Prussia clings to Tsarist Russia and allies itself with Austria, in order to guard against these two countries.

The same is true for the Netherlands, which is now close to Prussia.

The apparent strength of the Netherlands is currently not enough to arouse the vigilance of other countries. This is helpless. At the same time, it is also an insurance. It has not aroused the fear of other countries. It can be considered lucky in helplessness.

William IV thought so much, but it only happened in a moment.

"Your Majesty, over in Belgium, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has analyzed that a bigger move is needed to coordinate with the fox hunting operation planned last week."

Foreign Minister Hesbert von said this, and then said: "Because Leopold I has become closer to the British recently. The information obtained by our intelligence officers seems that Leopold I is preparing to let him The British Empire's navy was stationed in the port of Blankenberge to increase Belgium's sense of security."

William IV frowned and said: "Then let's start the secret chess, but be careful. The British Empire is not the target of our direct resistance at the moment."

Seeing the helpless looks on the other people's faces, he said strangely: "However, I think we don't have to resist, but some countries can."

"Your Majesty, you are saying" Hesbert Feng understood immediately and couldn't help but said: "But will Napoleon III be unwilling to intervene because he cares about the British Empire?"

Yes, this is the port close to the Netherlands, not the one close to France. Perhaps it was the British who saw this clearly and did this. What they want is France to know the current affairs and not want to do too much. However, the Netherlands alone did not dare to confront the British Empire and interfere in Belgium's internal affairs.

What a prudent plan!

But is this really the case?
William IV said with a pearl of wisdom: "Don't forget, who does Napoleon I value most now? Who is the faction leader who needs to be appeased the most to maintain his rule?"

"Emile Olivier!"

The current Minister of Justice and Prime Minister of the French Empire. It is said that this person has always disliked the British Empire.

"Now Napoleon III is facing many people in the country questioning his foreign policy, so he roped in Olivier and used him as a cover. As it happened, he was the staunchest supporter against the establishment of the Belgian nation.

If we know the plans of the British Empire and Belgium, we probably don’t need to do anything to get it over with once and for all. However, for an extra guarantee, we still need to start our first seed secret game in Belgium! "

"Yes!" Haysbet Feng nodded.

The first seed is dark chess?Who could it be?You can take a guess, there will be a surprise!
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(End of this chapter)