Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

The news that the Kingdom of Prussia has increased its troops by 20,000 in eastern Africa has caused huge repercussions in Europe and has affected the African policies of many countries.

"Prussia actually sent 20,000 more troops to Somalia?"

King Emmanuel II of Italy asked doubtfully: "This William I, what kind of medicine is sold in the gourd?"

Former Italian Interior Minister and new Prime Minister Marco Minghetti said: "Your Majesty, I think that Prussia has no compromise with Austria. It is obvious that the two countries have entered an era of pure competition."

Emmanuel II nodded, but said dissatisfied: "Why is the situation in Libya getting worse and worse? This Giuseppe Garibaldi is also an old man in the army, and he can't even deal with the natives of Libya?"

Marco Minghetti said with a wry smile: "He didn't want to either, but who said he didn't meet those indigenous people?"

Seeing that Emmanuel II's face softened slightly, and understood that he knew the reason for the situation there, he said: "The British have recently increased their support for Kufra, and even sent a steady stream of resources from Egypt through the Great Gilef Plateau. Come to support there. Unlike us, they need to cross the desert, so they have an advantage in terms of supplies."

Emmanuel II suddenly frowned when he heard this.

"Logically speaking, we have no grievances or grudges against the British. Why is Queen Victoria so crazy that she wants to hold on to us in Libya?"

Marco Minghetti suddenly seemed to have thought of something. To the surprise of Emmanuel II, he quickly walked towards the unfolded giant map.

After looking at the map, he said: "Your Majesty, could it be that our recent southward policy in Libya has aroused dissatisfaction from the United Kingdom, so it is counterattacking us?"

“Libya’s southward policy?”

Emmanuel II also stood up and came to the map.

Marco Minghetti pointed to the map and said to Emmanuel II: "Your Majesty, please look at this, this is our Libya, with the Mediterranean Sea in the north, the British colony of Egypt in the east, and the newly acquired British colony of Sudan in the southeast.

To the west of Libya are the two colonies of Tunisia and Algeria of the French Empire. "

He pointed at two places, Niger and Zade, and said seriously: "The north of Niger is currently occupied by our Libya, and the west is occupied by French Mali and Algeria.

To the south is Austria's Nigeria. "

"The situation in the east is much more complicated.

In the southwest are Austria's Nigeria, Prussia's Cameroon, and Central Africa, where all countries are now occupying territory, including the Netherlands, which occupies the Congo, in the south of Central Africa, and the British Sudan in the east.

Your Majesty, because of the war in southern Africa, Britain fell a little behind in the colonization of Africa last year, resulting in less carving up now.

Well, maybe this is the direction in which the UK wants to expand. We went south from Libya some time ago and captured the large northern city of Zwar, which may have made the British dissatisfied, so they used the indigenous people in eastern Libya to contain our energy and trap our progress southward. "

Following Marco Minghetti's analysis, Emmanuel II slowly agreed with this statement. Now that the war in southern Africa has stabilized, the British have entered a stable period again, so they have invested more energy in In other parts of Africa, this is not a strange thing.

Emmanuel II suddenly asked: "Where is Louis I?"

The son-in-law of Louis I of Portugal was not a peaceful master. During this period, he kept peddling Portugal's dissatisfaction with the Netherlands. This has made people feel that this little guy who just became the king the year before last has great ambitions. .

Marco Minghetti said: "Portugal has been deploying troops recently. It seems to be for defense or something. Soldiers have been shipped to Angola and Mozambique in the south."

He hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Your Majesty, I suspect that His Majesty Louis I seems to be very unkind to the Netherlands. Will the increase of troops in these two places cause war?"

Emmanuel II shook his head and said: "I know what you are worried about. We have no control over the affairs of other countries, but if there are benefits to Italy, we don't mind helping him."

When Marco Minghetti heard this, he admired him. He was afraid that Emmanuel II would not hesitate to go to war with the Netherlands for this new son-in-law. This situation would be very unfavorable for Italy.

While the Italian monarchs and ministers were describing the situation in Europe, King Luis I of Portugal, who was far away in Lisbon, did not know that his father-in-law had already made decisions on the upper and lower limits of Italy-Portugal relations.

He faced his IDE Prime Minister Nuno Barreto at the Lisbon Palace and mocked his father-in-law Emmanuel II: "Italy has been retreating steadily in Ethiopia. This is really falling into the face of white people. I originally thought Italy is very strong, but after such a revelation, it appears that it is strong on the outside but capable on the inside.

Think about it, we have been in Angola and Mozambique for so many years, and we have always made the indigenous people docile and control them to death."

Barreto heard this and responded with approval on his face: "Yeah, I didn't expect Italy to be so weak, but Your Majesty, you can't blame them. Who said this is a newly established kingdom? How can it be as great as us? Compared with the Kingdom of Portugal, you must know that even Brazil belongs to Portugal."

Barreto is well-known in Portuguese politics as a person who can judge people's faces. His ability to adapt to the changing circumstances is unmatched by anyone. However, no one can say that he relies on his true strength to reach his position.

But it is undeniable that his verbal skills made Louis I extremely comfortable.

The young Louis I liked such a satisfactory prime minister, and he felt comfortable with it.

“Are Angola and Mozambique’s troops in place?”

Louis I asked seriously after a long time.

He was very afraid of the Netherlands, but more dissatisfied.

Barreto naturally understood what Louis I was thinking. This was the so-called Yuliang complex.

How can there be brightness when there is beauty?

To put it more specifically, Louis I was petty and dissatisfied with William IV's reputation as being more capable than himself.

On a grand scale, Portugal is not much different, but the Netherlands is becoming more and more powerful. On the other hand, Portugal continues to be conservative, living on the legacy left by its ancestors and not making progress.

Barreto then said: "The layout has been completed. Angola has added 20,000 troops, totaling 30,000. Mozambique has added another 10,000 troops based on the original 10,000 troops, and currently has 20,000 troops.

But Your Majesty, are you sure Mozambique will not increase the number? "

"Are you worried that the Netherlands will successfully counterattack our Mozambique?"

King Louis I sneered and said: "Don't worry, I have contacted Brazil. If we can't stand it, Brazil will support us, but they want to build colonies in Africa."

Speaking of this, Louis I was a little angry. Once upon a time, Brazil, a Portuguese colony, dared to ask for benefits from the Portuguese mainland.

But it's understandable when I think about how my cousin Pedro II is also having a hard time in Brazil and is being restricted. At the same time, he is also proud of his strong position in Portugal.

When Barreto heard this, he immediately felt a lot more relaxed. Brazil's intervention could not be better for Portugal.

Brazil's position is closer to Africa. If they support Portugal, then their plan will increase their chances of winning by 10 to 20%.

Just as the two were discussing how to obtain more benefits in Africa as planned, they were suddenly overjoyed by a piece of news from Africa.

The Dutch African colonies were in chaos.

And it’s still massive.

December 17, 1863

There were scuffles between indigenous people around Lake Victoria in the Dutch African colonies of Tanzania and Kenya, mainly in Rwanda.

In just one day, more than 10,000 indigenous people died in this sudden riot.

And what's getting worse is that native people come from all directions to join the team.

The international community was immediately stunned by this sudden incident, which even overshadowed the war in Ethiopia.

Reporters from various countries came one after another from Tanzania into this lake on the edge of the Nile River, which is deep inland.

Countries have expressed their respective positions for various purposes.

“We call on the Netherlands to take responsibility, protect the safety of life in the colony, put an end to the chaos of the indigenous people around Lake Victoria as soon as possible, and make more efforts to return Lake Victoria to its previous calm.

To this end, the UK is willing to provide whatever help it can to restore security there. After all, Lake Victoria is too close to our Sudan."

The United Kingdom was the first to stand up. Foreign Secretary Russell made an appeal and expressed that the United Kingdom was worried that the chaos would spread to Sudan and cause problems for British rule.

"We are very concerned about the way the Netherlands governs and are disappointed that the Netherlands has failed to manage the colonies there." The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also responded quickly, but the whole article was mostly derogatory.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see Portugal's schadenfreude.

Austria and Italy also made similar statements. Obviously, the Netherlands has angered these two countries by helping Ethiopia and selling weapons to them in Ethiopia's current situation.

France is neither serious nor serious. It only expressed its belief that the Netherlands has the ability to bring peace and stability to the local situation. It only hopes that this speed may be faster.

Prussia expressed the strong support of the Netherlands and stated that Prussia was always ready to go south to support the Dutch operations that needed support.

Surprisingly, Brazil in South America also spoke out, expressing support for the local colonial indigenous people and asking the Netherlands to give these indigenous people more power and let them determine their own destiny.

Surprisingly, on December 19, the news about Lake Victoria returned to Europe with the reporter's telegram, and the world was shocked.

Because after two days of events, not only has there been no relief, but it has become more serious.