Xinshun 1730

Chapter 767 Expanding Influence

William IV yelled at these "mobs", completely lacking the elegance that a nobleman should have.

Earl Bentinck was speechless, he had known for a long time that something would happen to the tax package system.The tax subsidy merchants are a bit ruthless, but the Netherlands has no ability not to engage in a tax subsidy system.

Even the unification and centralization of the seven provinces cannot be achieved. How can we let the taxation department go deep into every rural city?
Moreover, the taxpayers are all oligarchs in various cities in the Netherlands, at least they are closely related to them, and many of them are joint-stock taxpayers.These people, the Orange faction can't move at all.

The Orange faction didn't want to move either, and they didn't dare to move, so they could only compromise with them.The result of the compromise was that the people's grievances were all directed at the Orange faction.

The Orange faction once represented many expectations of the Dutch people.

It is normal for the regency oligarchs to be corrupt, tax-packed, oppressed, and monopolized.People hate bad guys, but they don't disappoint bad guys.

Disappointment, sometimes worse than hate.

The Orangemen were once imagined by the Dutch populace to be good men.It's normal for bad people to do bad things; but it's unbearable for good people to condone bad things.

Although, the concept that the Orangemen are "good guys" is a wishful fantasy of the Dutch people.

William IV also felt quite aggrieved.

Before I took the stage, I didn't promise anything.

There was neither a promise to abolish the tax subsidy system, nor a promise to abolish monopolies, nor a promise to give greater power to guilds.

I didn't promise anything, and the people pushed me to power, why should I oppose myself now because of something I didn't promise at all?

In fact, he was born in the blessing and did not know the blessing.

Thanks to the fact that the Enlightenment Movement is still in the brewing stage, if this is the case after the impact of the thunder storm in 93, the people may not just want to abolish the tax subsidy system so "moderate". The earliest street lamps in Europe had a different use.

William IV now has no other means but to reject the elegance of the aristocrats and curse the mob.

He can't stabilize food prices; he can't abolish tax packages; he can't command the Dutch army to win France... As for the "centralization" that Count Bentinck planned for him back then, he can't even think about it now up.

William IV, who had just been inspired by Earl Bentinck's suggestion of "cede Austria's land and let Prussia withdraw from the war, and gather Britain, Holland, and Austria to fight back against France with all its strength", became depressed again.

Even if an agreement can be reached, the Netherlands may not be able to continue to participate in the war.The domestic situation made the Netherlands completely unable to continue fighting.

William IV looked at Earl Bentinck with pleading eyes, hoping to get some advice from his most honorable adviser.

But for this matter, Earl Bentinck is powerless.

His vision of centralizing power in the Netherlands and adopting the Ming Dynasty's cabinet secretary advisory system all presupposes victory in the war.

The Orange family once again stood up when the Netherlands was in danger and led the Netherlands to drive away the French.Then, with the great prestige brought by the war, complete centralization, tax reform, and suppression of parliamentarians and regent oligarchs.

However, I can't go on with the first step, what else can I do?
The initial idea was good.But no one expected that it would develop to such a point that even the Chinese, who were tens of thousands of miles away, stabbed the Netherlands.

Now the upper-level financial market is chaotic and can't fight anymore.

Many people in the middle class are facing bankruptcy and can't fight anymore.

The lower classes want to change the tax package system and want cheaper grain bread, but they can't go on fighting.

"His Royal Highness, I'm afraid, we can only withdraw from the war."

After thinking for a long time, Earl Bentinck's suggestion was this.

It seems to be very simple, but in fact it is very complicated.This is the truth that even William IV understood.

If the Netherlands withdraws from the war at this time, it means that the Netherlands has unilaterally violated the "Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty" signed twice in 1676 and 1703.

In terms of international law.

If the French really supported the usurper of the small throne to land in Scotland, and the British transferred the elite troops of the Duke of Cumberland in the Netherlands, Britain would have betrayed the Netherlands morally, but not legally.

Has France invaded Holland?Not yet.So what's the problem with the withdrawal of the Duke of Cumberland's army?You said sooner or later, but sooner or later, it didn't happen at this time.

True, British mainland was not threatened at this time either.Theoretically, the withdrawal of the Netherlands from the war at this time is not considered a violation of the "Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty"-the Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty does not include Hanover.

However, now that the war has really ceased, the initiative is not in the hands of the Netherlands.Whether the French accepted the Dutch truce is open to question.

Even if France accepts the armistice, many terms must be added.Even if the land of the Netherlands is not ceded, at least the "British-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty" must be abolished, right?
In other words, France immediately let the usurper of the small throne land in Scotland, will the Netherlands send troops?
Send troops, what's the point of asking for peace before the truce?Didn't they fight again?The reason for the truce for peace was to prevent France from invading the Netherlands. As a result, as soon as the truce was called for peace, they sent troops to support Britain. Could the French be willing to take advantage of it?
Is it possible to really listen to the explanation of the Dutch: We are just abiding by the treaty, we are not going to be an enemy of France.So the French stopped fighting the Netherlands?

Without sending troops, even if France does not force the Netherlands to unilaterally abolish the Anglo-Dutch alliance, what difference does it make if it is abolished?
The most crucial point, the hub of Anglo-Dutch relations, is the Orange family.He was the king of England before, and now William IV is the son-in-law of the king of England.

I am afraid that even if there is a truce, France will definitely ask William IV to step down.

Let the regent oligarchs who are quite pro-French and have many conflicts with Britain come to power.

There are many nobles in the Orange faction, and most of their interests come from manors, farms, and land.The conflict between them and the UK is not that big.

The regency oligarchs have many sea merchants, their interests come from commerce and trade, smuggling.The contradiction between them and Britain is not small, on the contrary, the contradiction with France is not very big.

Otherwise, I am afraid that it is impossible for France to accept the armistice.

Seeing that William IV was not satisfied with this suggestion, Earl Bentinck asked: "His Royal Highness, do you think that the Dutch people now can still burst out with amazing patriotic enthusiasm as in 1672, and consciously dig out Open the embankment and fight to the end?"

William IV was stunned and speechless, shaking his head for a long time.

"This year's Dutch people, no."

Giving such a conclusion is actually agreeing with Earl Bentinck's opinion.Today's Dutch people probably don't have the patriotic enthusiasm they had when they were forest beggars, sea beggars, and self-destructed river embankments decades ago.

But William IV did not intend to follow Earl Bentinck's suggestion at all. He knew that if he wanted to make a peace like that, France would definitely impose many conditions.

"Since nothing can be done now, it is better to do nothing. I think our British allies will take care of all this. If the British side can't open the situation, what can we do?"

"Now, let's wait quietly. Perhaps, there will be a turning point."

Hearing such an answer, Earl Bentinck could only sigh, unable to say anything.

…………

at the same time.

On the ocean approaching the Netherlands, several diplomatic envoy ships flying the Dashun flag sailed slowly towards Amsterdam under the surveillance of several Dutch warships.

Although the two countries are at war at this time, since the incoming ship has shown its identity as a diplomatic mission, the Dutch warship can only monitor it, and the Dutch military will send a navigator to guide Dashun's official ship into the port.

On the boat, the old Duke of Qi looked at the Dutch warship in the distance with great interest.

As the head of Dashun's official Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and as the only noble minister of Dashun who has been to Europe, it is most appropriate for him to preside over Dashun's negotiations in Europe this time.

The last time Duke Qi came to Europe was many years ago.I also took the land route in Siberia, and I also took the land route when I went back.

Now Dashun has gone to Europe by sea many times, the navigation level and technology have improved a lot, and the safety has been guaranteed.This time Qi Guogong came by boat.

At the time of farewell, Liu Yu said that this is the first time that China has appeared at the peace conference after the European War, and Qi Guogong is also the first Chinese country to participate in the negotiations of the European Peace Conference and have real world influence. Signed by Chinese officials.

This is something that will go down in history forever.

Duke Qi thought it was true. After all, Dashun didn't just come to participate in the negotiations with the Netherlands this time, but to propose a proposal that would greatly enhance Dashun's influence at the peace meeting at the end of the Austrian Succession War.

Dashun, to organize an "armed neutral alliance".

Wars will continue to break out in Europe for the foreseeable future.Once war breaks out again in Europe, the armed neutral alliance organized by Dashun at this peace meeting will play a role.

The so-called "armed neutral alliance" means that ships of neutral countries can freely navigate between the ports of belligerent countries and along their coasts.

Except for embargoed materials such as weapons and ammunition during wartime, belligerent countries are not allowed to seize enemy goods on ships of neutral countries.

For example, when Britain and France were at war, Dashun declared neutrality, and Dashun would definitely not be able to transport weapons and ammunition to France.This is clearly not neutral behavior.

However, if Dashun’s merchant ships were captured, detained, or robbed by British privateers because they were transporting normal goods to France, that would be a problem.

So, arm yourself with neutrality.

If you dare to arrest or detain them, you will be beaten.

Fleets of armed neutral allies can dock at each other's ports.When merchant ships sail, they are escorted by warships to prevent privateers from some countries.

It seems that "Armed Neutrality" is a very [neutral] international organization.

But in fact, this is to point out that the contradiction between China and Britain has become the main external contradiction after Dashun went to Nanyang.

Neutrality itself is a challenge to British sea power.

Since it is an "international organization" and a "neutral alliance", it must not be the only Dashun family.

The primary goal of this organization is to bring the Netherlands in and give the Netherlands a bright future.

(End of this chapter)