Start 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne

Chapter 35 Sweden comes to give gifts (please continue to vote for it)

"Finally came to Amsterdam. This royal marriage meeting is full of gunpowder. This trip to Amsterdam, no matter how you look at it, is a hard job."

With a wry smile, Alexander Alexandrovich, the second son of Emperor Alexander II of Tsarist Russia, let out a sigh of relief and looked at the Dutch newspaper in his hand. He had studied at Leiden University for one year as an exchange student at St. Petersburg University in his early years. So naturally he knew Dutch.

After reading it, he threw the newspaper on the table and sneered at his elder brother, Crown Prince of Tsarist Russia Nikolai Alexandrovich: "The Dutch are so self-righteous, they really treat themselves like onions."

Nikolai Alexandrovich picked it up puzzled.He also previously studied at the University of Amsterdam.Also understands Dutch and Mandarin.

What caught my eye was a big headline in the newspaper.

"The three countries of Holland, France and Prussia are simply an alliance!".
This is the latest headline in the European Times.

In it it invited two experts from two top Dutch universities.

They are Herman Van Rompuy and Peter Zeeman.

Herman van Rompuy is the Dean of the School of Diplomacy of Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands, and also a specific current commentary expert for the most influential European Times.

Peter Zeeman is the dean of the Faculty of Diplomacy of the University of Amsterdam, the third oldest university in the Netherlands. Peter Zeeman has also become a specific commentator on current affairs in the latest issue of "European Times".

Just as everyone who read the newspapers couldn't help but think of the four ancient universities in the Netherlands, so did the Viscount Palmerston.

According to the time of establishment, Leiden University was established in 1575, the University of Groningen was established in 1614, the University of Amsterdam was established in 1632 in the capital Amsterdam, and Utrecht was established in Utrecht in 1636. branch university.

Other well-known, there is the Delft University of Technology, which was built in 1842 and supported by the Royal Netherlands Academy.

Herman Van Rompuy, Dean of Leiden University's School of Diplomacy, continued the headline and said: "This move has made the British Empire furious. This agreement has triggered a series of impacts on other countries that have yet to be assessed. There will be more knock-on effects in the European region than initially anticipated."

Peter Zeeman from the School of Diplomacy at the University of Amsterdam said: "And this also shows the firm strategic position of the three countries in Europe. A sense of urgency was adopted, a view shared by the Whig and Tory parties in the British Empire, as well as by the public in the British Empire and by most media reports.

Over the years, the Viscount Palmerston has half-believed and announced a number of crimes that focused on European Tsarist Russia and Ottoman Turkey in 1853, as well as Belgium's independence as a kingdom in mid-1830, all of which are British Empire The ironclad evidence of meddling in Europe. "

Seeing this, Nikolai Alexandrovich frowned, and after a long time, he had no choice but to praise: "These two guys are quick thinking, not enough. I don't believe that they can get With so much information to carry out such a judgment, the participation of the Dutch government in it must be considerable."

Crown Prince Nicholas harbored concerns.

At this time, Prince Alexander also changed his sarcasm, saying:

"The rest of Europe has been very wary of the British Empire over the years.

The new partnership of the 'Tripartite Agreement' shows that France unites the traditional partners of the two powerful neighbors in the east and the north, and strengthens its strategic positioning in the Western European region. What complements the 'Triple Agreement' is that the three countries treat Belgium. The cooperation mechanism of the joint attack tactics is used.

They are all using Belgium as the best place to practice their three countries.

The three countries have become more outspoken in the past two months in Belgium, and the strong statements against Belgium have become more explicit and explicit every time.It is foreseeable that the governments of the three countries will work hard to rebuild and build long-term alliances with each other.

In this way, a brand new relationship with the British Empire will be established, so as to negotiate more equal terms with the British Empire.

But in this case, the right to speak of the British Empire will be reduced, especially when it comes to fighting for interests, it will be compressed.

In the negotiations, we can never return to the previous strength, which is why the Tsarist Russian Empire sent our brothers to the Netherlands this time.

Nicholas, according to my father's wishes, we try our best to obstruct the easing of the relationship between the British Empire and the Netherlands. As long as the British Empire is entangled in the Beihai Sea and the English Channel and has no time to care, then the Crimean side"

"Shut up." Crown Prince Nicholas glared at Prince Alexander, "Be careful that the walls have ears, and secrets are leaked. Father's anger is not a joke."

"In addition to preventing the British Empire from easing relations with the three countries, we have come to the Netherlands this time,"

Nikolai Alexandrovich said solemnly: "We still need to find someone we like, and my father also said that this time he will not stop you and me from finding true love, so as to prevent him from being forced into love like Queen Victoria's first love. torn apart"

"Brother, do you think father slept Queen Victoria?
It is said that when my father, who was only 19 years old at the time, visited Buckingham Palace in the British Empire, he entered the boudoir of Queen Victoria, who was only 18 years old and was still single, for more than an hour. Finally, because of the opposition of the two countries, they finally broke up abruptly.

It is said that because of this, my father had a long dispute with his grandfather Nicholas I before he eased the relationship."

"How do I know, stop gossiping, even talk about these things about your father, be careful that he knows how to pick your skin off"

Seeing the latter's frightened look, Nikolai Alexandrovich said: "Tomorrow we will arrange to meet William IV in the afternoon. Remember, remember to behave when you see him. My father said that the Netherlands is our country in Western Europe. Important allies have been like this for hundreds of years, so we might as well give the Netherlands some reassurance and let them continue to quarrel with the British Empire."

Seeing Prince Alexander's disapproving expression, he continued to warn:
"For hundreds of years, we have grown up with the financial blood of the Netherlands. The Netherlands has also become our source of information and technology in Western Europe. My father hopes that this connection will continue to be maintained." "I know." Prince Alexander secretly hated it, if If he were the crown prince, why would he need to be so humble? It was really frustrating.

At the same time, in the Dutch palace, William IV was approaching this nobleman.

"Duke Dalarna, I heard that you are mediocre intellect and don't like literature, but you like motorcycles very much. You are the most mediocre of His Majesty Oscar I's five children. It seems that the rumors are false. I have to refute what I said in front of me.”

In front of him was a tall, thin Nordic man, about the same height, with blue eyes and blond hair, which was basically the same except for his characteristic red hair as a Dutchman.

The equal height made the two of them very close.

However, I don't know if the two got close on purpose.

"This is what our king asks of me to convey to His Majesty my sincerest sincerity,"

Seeing that William IV did not open the contract, but looked at him with a smile.

Gulas August was thinking a lot, knowing that he was not planning to give up control, so he could only say: "I heard that the Netherlands is short of steel. This is a gift from our King Karl XV to the Netherlands. According to the contract, Sweden hopes to cooperate with the Netherlands. In overseas projects such as the Indian Ocean, Sweden will export steel and iron to the Netherlands at a price of 80% of the market price.”

William IV gently stroked the thick contract bag and pursed his lips. When Gulas August thought he would agree, William IV pushed it back and said with a smile: "Thank you Karl XV for your kindness, but the Netherlands doesn't need it now"

"But, it's clear that the Netherlands is short of steel, and we've found the Netherlands," Gulas August said hastily.

William IV stopped the other party from continuing, and said with a pleasant face: "The Netherlands and Sweden are both second-rate powers. Both countries were at the level of hegemony in various regions at the beginning. Now they have been reduced to second-rate countries. If you want to come, Karl XV will not dare to be lonely. , I understand this, but the nearest steel in the Netherlands is imported from Prussia, and there is no shortage, "

Seeing what William IV said, Gulas August had already guessed that his marriage, which was called a blind date, was actually for the secret alliance between Sweden and the Netherlands. They don’t want it as a gift. It’s not obvious. Are you rejecting the views put forward by Sweden?

But there is a saying called turning around, but he encountered it today.

"But steel now doesn't mean it won't be needed in the future. Well, I have a letter here, which I hope will be activated by His Majesty Karl XV himself. No one can open it. There is something I want to say in it. Others, be careful that walls have ears."

Tsarist Empire?

Prince Gulas August thought of the two crown princes and second sons of Tsarist Alexander II.

So he became vigilant, and after putting away the envelope, he hurriedly said goodbye and left.

After he left, two people came in.

One is Bill Charlie, the director of the Dutch Royal Intelligence Service, who is full of beards but smiling like Santa Claus, and the other is the cold, fair and middle-aged director of the Dutch International Intelligence Service, Mackay Sean.

"Your Majesty" Bill Charlie and McKay Sean greeted each other.

"McKay, ask someone to keep an eye on him immediately to see who he has seen and what he has done tonight. I need to know even how many times he went to the toilet."

"Yes"

After he left, William IV asked Bill Charlie again: "Are those people still doing well?"

Bill Charlie talked like Jiazhen, and finally said: "Except for Alexander Alexandrovich, the deputy minister of the Tsarist Russian Empire, Alexander II, who went to the brothel to seek sex, the others are not very unusual."

"If there is no abnormality, then it is the biggest abnormality. The face-to-face meeting of the royal missions tomorrow will be very interesting."

William IV is looking forward to it, especially the Viscount Palmerston of the British Empire, who is finally going to meet. I don't know, will there be some sparks?

The problem with Sweden's initiative to show favor to the Netherlands this time is that he chose the wrong timing. If Sweden joins the Hopfa Triple Alliance at this time, it will increase the strength of Northern Europe on the surface.

However, Sweden has been the enemy of the Tsarist Empire for 200 years. It is absolutely not advisable for the Netherlands to accept that Sweden is against the Tsarist Empire. Even if the Netherlands is willing, Prussia and France will not agree.

Therefore, regardless of whether Sweden has intentions or scheming, he needs to carefully consider the details before making a decision. In particular, it will become clear after he replies to his letter and observes the development of the situation in Sweden.

Under my rule, Holland is about to emerge from this European royal marriage convention.

And the one he is planning is the biggest thing at hand right now, which can affect the major events in Europe for the next 200 years, and whether it succeeds or not depends on the results of the meeting with Viscount Palmerston tomorrow!

　Can you guess what this big event is? Major events in Europe in 1862.Don’t forget to please continue to vote!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)