I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 358 Learned

Even before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, conflicts in Aceh and East Indies were intensifying.

The East Indian colonial government did not hand over Yuri within the time specified by Peter, but Peter took no further action.

After losing Java and Sumatra, East India had become a hot potato for the Netherlands, and colonial rule was in jeopardy.

The economic development of the East Indies was extremely uneven, with only the islands of Java and Sumatra able to provide economic benefits to the Netherlands.

After the independence of the Aceh Sultanate, the Dutch domestic disputes over East Indies became more and more intense.

The biggest controversy is: if you want to gain profits, you must increase investment in East India.

However, no one can guarantee that the relationship between the Aceh Sultanate and East India will not deteriorate.

If the Dutch government spends great efforts to develop other areas of East India and attracts the covetousness of the Aceh Sultanate, then the Dutch government's investment will be in vain.

This is not the most tragic thing.

With more than 2000 million square kilometers, Russia has no shortage of land.

In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska for $720 million, an average of two cents per acre.

George had just come into contact with Major Waterberg and was opposed by almost everyone.

Since there is no prospect, it is necessary to stop losses in time.

"George, you have to think clearly. Once you take over the East Indies, the Dutch's troubles will become our troubles."

"Shut up, everyone!"

The Dutch looked to Britain first.

For the same reason, Wilhelm II was unwilling to ruin the good deeds of his Russian cousin.

The rule of the colonial government in East India was not stable, and local resistance occurred from time to time.

The trouble should end it.

Taken together, the Dutch attitude towards the East Indies changed.

In the past, the local people lacked organization, weapons and ammunition, and the rule of the East Indian colonial government could still be maintained.

"If you say that, I will give you 5 months at most!"

So Major Waterberg came to Vladivostok.

What the Dutch did not expect was that St. Petersburg was not interested in East India either.

The Dutch offered 100 million pounds, which scared the British away.

"George, let me go. I promise to capture East India within half a year at most!"

Andre opened the book immediately.

Mikhail didn't want to spend a penny.

Vasily volunteered.

Ye Luoxin refused to be involuted.

Japan wants to buy but has no money.

If the Aceh Sultanate gets in touch with the resistance forces in East India, the consequences will be even more disastrous.

It's fake to be uninterested, but it's real to be afraid to take over.

The Dutch sadly discovered that, after going full circle, the one most likely to take over the East Indies was the Russian Empire.

The British wanted to take over, but were dissatisfied with the Dutch prices.

Starting last year, the Dutch began to sell East India and contact other countries.

"If you want East India, just grab it and it's over. Why spend money to buy it?"

Don’t be too little.

Even the United Kingdom cannot withstand the guerrilla warfare of the resistance forces, but can France withstand it?
Don't be ridiculous, France couldn't even defeat the Qing Empire.

The Dutch didn't want to sell it cheap, so they turned to France.

The British didn't even bother to calculate how big East India was.

So after Peter gave the Dutch an ultimatum, the Dutch envoy arrived in St. Petersburg.

Milyutin also did not recommend that George take over.

If the threat of the Aceh Sultanate is not eliminated, there will be no prospects for Dutch colonization of East Indies.

The East Indies is about the same as Alaska to the Russian Empire.

The French expressed no interest in the East Indies.

At that time, the Russian Empire simply sold Alaska to the United States because it was worried that Alaska would be taken away by the British.

Next to East India is the British Straits Settlements.

George is indeed interested in East India, but 2000 million pounds is impossible. George is only willing to pay million rubles.

If you buy East India, you won't have to worry about this?

Now in East India, the Sultanate of Aceh is on the offensive and the Netherlands is on the defensive.

The Netherlands is indeed a weak country. Such a huge mess is leaking everywhere and cannot be defended at all.

It wouldn't be much better if it were George.

Russia does have a large population.

But there are not many people in Amul.

Conquering the East Indies was easy.

But will George have enough manpower to suppress the rebellions?
This is the most critical issue.

“Isn’t it a good deal to buy 2000 million square kilometers for 130 million rubles?”

Unlike what Milyutin thought, George was really not worried about rebellion.

"It's not a question of whether it's cost-effective or not."

Milyugin was disappointed, thinking that George had some outrageous remarks.

"You all think too much. I didn't say we would build East India like Amur."

George has a clear positioning, making money, not being shabby.

"Then why buy it?"

Milyujing doesn't understand, is it just to make money? George can't say that he spent 2000 million to buy a way out for him and Nicholas.

The new century is just around the corner, and we are getting closer and closer to that critical time node.

Although Amul is getting stronger and the situation is looking good, George still has to prepare for the worst.

"To save the East Indians who were oppressed by the Dutch!"

George was righteous.

Mikhail and Milyutin looked at George like they were aliens.

Are you so noble?
No, as a member of the Russian royal family, how can you be noble!

"If you don't agree, then I will treat this investment as my own private investment."

Even if George didn't use Amul's money, he could afford it himself.

Milyugin frowned, it was also not a matter of who paid.

"Don't think so good yet, the Dutch haven't agreed to the price yet."

George was not afraid that the Dutch would not sell.

We are not afraid of other countries taking over.

The Dutch really don't want to sell at a low price, but also want to raise the price.

On April 4, the day the United States declared war on Spain, uprisings broke out simultaneously on the islands of Kalimantan and Sulawesi, with tens of thousands of people participating.

On the 29th, the Netherlands finally agreed to sell East India to George for 2000 million rubles.

This news did not attract much attention, because the attention of mainstream media around the world was focused on the Spanish-American War.

On April 4, George Dewey led the U.S. Asiatic Fleet to leave its home port and sail toward Manila.

On May 5, the Asian fleet arrived in Manila and immediately launched an attack on the Spanish fleet.

The battle lasted only two hours. The entire Spanish fleet was wiped out, 381 people were killed, and only 8 American soldiers were injured.

George looked blank after learning the relevant situation.

If I had known it would be so easy, why would we fight against the East Indies? It would be better to fight against Spain.

Looking at it this way, the British army's record in the Malay Peninsula is actually not bad, at least they have been fighting for more than half a year.

But George was not qualified to laugh at the Spaniards.

Milyutin's words came true, and now the Dutch's troubles became George's troubles.

George was not in a hurry, and first sent people to contact the East Indian rebels to understand their demands.

If the East India rebels were just resisting taxes or something, then George would not be unable to accept it.

If the rebels demand independence, then it will not be too late to fight.

Vasily and Andrei were disappointed. Even if there was a fight, George would not send out Cossacks, but would send troops from Aceh.

The treatment of the Amur Military District troops is comparable to that of the Guards.

Sending troops to fight in East India was not only costly, but also suspected of using public weapons for private use.

The Sultanate of Aceh has been heavily armed in the past few years since its establishment. There are nearly 10 troops in the country. These troops were originally prepared to attack East India.

Now that East India has died, the army of the Aceh Sultanate has just arrived in East India to put down the rebellion.

After Yankov went to Korea to serve as general adviser, Ivanov became the commander-in-chief of the Aceh Sultanate.

Ivanov was also caught off guard by the rebellions in Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

It is true that some rebels are supported by Ivanov.

But Ivanov really didn't want to make it so big. The scale of the rebels had far exceeded Ivanov's plan.

"Needless to say, we can support the rebels, and so can the British. In the future, there may be rebels supported by the Dutch—"

Prime Minister Antonov was not surprised. The East Indians themselves were restless and too easily incited.

This is also thanks to the Dutch.

The Dutch were weak and unable to completely control East India, so the Dutch adopted a divide-and-conquer policy.

Under normal circumstances, the Dutch used East Indian Chinese to develop their economy.

When the strength of the East Indian Chinese grew to a certain level, the Dutch would incite the East Indian natives and launch an uprising against the East Indian Chinese.

This trick works every time.

In fact, it is the same now. The Chinese, who have economic strength but lack of force, are still the fat sheep in the eyes of many East Indian natives.

The Sultanate of Aceh is not.

The lack of force among the Chinese in East India was caused by the strict control of the Dutch, not the peace-loving Chinese in East India.

The Sultanate of Aceh not only does not restrict the Chinese from owning weapons, but even proactively provides weapons to the Chinese in Aceh to enhance the self-protection capabilities of the Chinese in Aceh.

Last year alone, the Sultanate of Aceh made more than 1000 million Asian dollars in profits from the sale of shotguns.

The Asian dollar is the currency issued by the Aceh Sultanate itself. It is linked to gold and has a gold content similar to the ruble.

"This is easy to handle. Send a telegram to Mullah. As long as he can kill all the other rebels, he will be the king of East India."

Ivanov also did not want to throw his hard-trained troops to East India to fight the rebellion.

Mullah is one of the most powerful native kings in East India, with nearly 4000 men under his command.

"Don't be stupid, there is only one king in East India."

Antonov did not forget how he got his position.

"Don't worry, by the time Mullah becomes the king of East India, his death will almost come."

Ivanov changed the cage for a bird, and the only king of East India could only be George.

The families of Ivanov and Antonov are both in Vladivostok. For them, the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of East India is just a job.

George isn't worried about things changing over time.

As long as Amur's strength continues to grow, Ivanov and Antonov will not dare.

After all, the Aceh Sultanate currently does not even have the ability to manufacture artillery. It can only produce rifles and bullets, and the raw materials are all imported from Amur.

George is so eager to learn. George has already learned the British single colonial economy.

(End of this chapter)