Xinshun 1730

Chapter 764 The Dutch Disaster Year ([-])
Holland can be defeated.

But the image of the Orange family as "consistently correct" and "the savior of the Netherlands" must be destroyed.

Moreover, an important part of the Regent faction, the maritime smuggling group, is actually not so hostile to France.

France, too.

Even if it occupies the Austrian Netherlands, even if it becomes a vassal of France culturally, it will have little impact on them.

They mainly make money by smuggling to America.How can there be any money to be made in French colonies in America?Smuggled to the British colonies, of course.

It's just that the constant and chaotic relationship between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom has prevented them from occupying the mainstream of public opinion over the years.

The Netherlands reigned as King of England.The Orange family ruled London.Under such circumstances, the relationship between the UK and the Netherlands has always been in a very delicate state, and the alliance with the UK is almost a subconscious correctness.

But now, with the end of the Battle of Fontenoy, those "anti-British" voices that have been suppressed for a long time have begun to clamor.

As the premise of "anti-British", first of all, it is to question the decision of the consul: is it for the benefit of the Dutch people to openly stand on the side of Britain and openly declare war with France?Or for the benefit of your wife's family?
Are you the consul of the Dutch people?

Or the son-in-law of the King of England?
This kind of emotional questioning, coupled with the threat of war, made many Dutch people start to think about this question.

"There is a slight problem with the executive policy of the consul."

This kind of thinking, accompanied by a large number of rumors after the Battle of Fontenoy, began to brew and ferment. Finally, on August 8, Dashun declared war on the Netherlands because "the consul insulted the Great Emperor of China and rejected the survey and cooperation trade." , and seized almost the entire Southeast Asia" after the news reached the Netherlands, this brewing and fermentation finally exploded.

The Hague.

William IV was devastated.

He never thought of being a consul and facing such a situation.

Internal and external troubles.

Externally, the Netherlands faced the threat that France had opened its southern gates and could drive straight in.

Internally, financial collapse, stock market turmoil, and a large number of citizens demanded to pay the principal of stocks, and the Dutch financial market was in chaos.

Nothing can be solved by his ability.

Don't talk about these bad situations as if the sky is falling, as long as he has some skills, Liu Yu will not have to push him when the Netherlands is so disappointed with the Regency and his golden signboard of the Orange family is so easy to use. It took him a while to become a consul.

His most trusted advisor, Earl Bentinck, held a tabloid full of dirty tricks and handed it to William IV with a gloomy expression.

William IV tore the tabloid to shreds with just one glance.

"Obviously, the Chinese style. That's what the Marquis publicized in Amsterdam back then!"

It's no wonder that William IV saw it at a glance, in fact, the whole Netherlands saw it.When Liu Yu ran a tabloid here back then, the picture was poor. Before the final blow, he learned the standard "shock style" style.

Just like the tabloid in the United States back then, the headlines were all such as "Shocked! Joan of Arc in Cuba was killed by four strong Spanish soldiers..." and so on.

These incitement pamphlets that are now circulating in the Netherlands are basically in this style.

Just like the tabloid just now, it was so outrageous that even the posture of William IV sleeping with his wife, and how his wife threatened him in bed to support the United Kingdom, otherwise it could only be like this, if it supported it, it could be like that... It can be said Lifelike, the people love to hear and see.

If it is true, most people who are smarter will not believe it.

It is false, his wife is indeed the eldest princess of England, what's wrong with supporting the motherland?
Earl Bentinck silently tidied up those torn tabloids, and reminded: "His Royal Highness, as a consul, what you should consider is not the slander of the Chinese against you. Instead, you should consider the reasons behind these slanders. Purpose."

"It's a very difficult situation right now. You have to do something. Otherwise, I'm afraid the sentiment will only get worse."

"The Chinese have attacked Southeast Asia. Their goal has been achieved, and there is no need to continue to stir up emotions here."

"You should consider whether the Chinese are for the purpose of helping their French allies? Or is it the personal revenge of the Marquis against you?"

William IV was very clever for a rare time, and asked: "Is there any difference?"

"Whether it was for his personal revenge on me or to help their French allies, he served his purpose."

"The Dutch people are the most ignorant. What they are best at is finding scapegoats."

"When de Witte was hanged; when the naval commander who was defeated in the war was convicted... They didn't need the truth, they just wanted to vent their emotions."

William IV sighed for a long time, and sighed: "The position of consul is both temptation and danger. When the Prussians withdrew from the war, it seemed that everything was in our favor. Of course we have to declare war. But, Frederick Lie betrayed his promise and went to war without declaration again, which we did not expect; the French under the leadership of the Saxons fought so bravely, which we did not expect; the Chinese were so shameless that they fought without declaration and suddenly attacked Southeast Asia , or we did not expect."

"If, none of this happened."

"If, Prussia stopped fighting after the original armistice, if the French hadn't won this victory, if the Chinese hadn't raided Southeast Asia...but I didn't declare war on France and didn't strongly support Austria, in the end Britain won, and we should be held accountable Responsibility, even war against us, when the time comes, won’t the regent oligarchs incite the people to hold me accountable?”

Poorly mocking the Dutch people, he finally came to an astonishing conclusion.

"A weak country has no diplomatic initiative. Everything depends on choosing sides. However, it seems that we chose the wrong one. What's wrong with me?"

"It's not my fault, the regent oligarchs misled me, misunderstood the Netherlands!"

Count Bentinck thought to himself, this is the time, what's the use of you expressing these emotions?
"His Royal Highness, one point where people's emotions are easily detonated now is the little throne usurper of the Stuart dynasty."

"If he does land in Scotland, England will surely take the Duke of Cumberland's troops in the Netherlands away."

"And in this case, the anger of the people will really be hard to stop!"

"We teamed up with the British, and as a result, the French were all at the door of the Netherlands, but the British pulled the garrison of the Netherlands away to defend themselves, regardless of the threat that the French could invade Amsterdam at any time."

"Once this happened, the anger of the people would be uncontainable."

"You...you should resolve this matter through Her Royal Highness the Princess. In any case, the army of the Duke of Cumberland cannot be withdrawn from the Netherlands."

Bentinck touched on the most crucial point.

Now, although people's emotions are on the verge of eruption, they are still under control for the time being.

Dashun's voyage to Southeast Asia had the greatest impact on Amsterdam.

As for Amsterdam, which was originally the stronghold of the anti-consul faction, what kind of chaos there will not affect the rule of the Orange family for the time being.

However, if Britain really pulls back the Duke of Cumberland's garrison in the Netherlands to protect Britain itself, then the last bit of sanity of the people will collapse.

The Netherlands sent out people, guns, and money. As a result, the "firm ally" ran away immediately.

The identity of William IV, the son-in-law of the British king, will become the most disgusting thing among the people, and it will also be the last disappointment of those in the Netherlands who can still support William IV for the time being.

When you no longer expect, you will no longer be disappointed.

Originally, at the beginning, the policy of the Dutch Parliament faction was to have both ends.

Even if we have to support Austria and the United Kingdom due to various pressures, treaties, international reputation, etc., we will also greet France: We are also forced to, please forgive me.

Well, if the Prussians withdrew from the war, the parliamentary faction would be tough on France as soon as possible, thinking it would be a big deal.

The problem is, under Liu Yu's operation, this kind of necessity was recited by William IV.

As a result, the Dutch policy, which seemed to be "naive, vacillating, and unfriendly to both sides", now became a "smart, farsighted, and both ways" policy under the threat of France at this time.

And William IV carried this big cauldron on his back. Behind this cauldron, there are many pairs of Dutch people's eyes staring at him.

If it is said that Britain does not withdraw the Duke of Cumberland, it will continue to stand firmly with its Dutch allies in the Austrian Netherlands.

Although the public is dissatisfied, they can basically understand: You see, although we have chosen the wrong allies and made the wrong decisions, our allies are still very firm.We should not take actions that betray our allies, and we should try to make the Netherlands stand and persevere.

But if the British run away first, no one can suppress the emotions of the people.

And it's not just anger, it's fear.

Once the British run away, how can the Netherlands hold on?
The Anglo-Dutch allied forces couldn't beat the French, and the British ran away, so of course they couldn't beat the Dutch alone.

Anger and fear, the outburst of emotions is beyond anyone's control.

Earl Bentinck could even imagine that in this desperate situation, maybe the people would drive the Orange family away just like they drove away the Parliamentarians last time.

Once that happens, the rule of the Orange family in the Netherlands will come to an end.

William IV was not ignorant of the danger of this situation, but he asked Earl Bentinck.

"What should I do? Once the little usurper lands in Scotland, he will directly threaten my father-in-law's throne. In this case, even if my father-in-law agrees, will the British Parliament agree? Will they allow the restoration of Catholicism? Will the Jacobites be allowed to take London?"

"Instead of thinking about this kind of unrealistic question, let's think about what we will do when this happens."

Earl Bentinck frowned, feeling that William IV really lacked the qualities and temperament to be a consul.

Judging from his tone, it is clear that he feels that there is nothing he can do, and he doesn't want to do anything at all.

(End of this chapter)