New Shun 1730

On July 13, 1746, the Netherlands, which was in internal chaos, finally received news that completely broke their mentality.

The French army, with the cooperation of some technical officers of the Dashun, captured the Maastricht fortress group.

It was not a siege to force surrender.

It was a strong attack under artillery attack.

The significance of this fortress to the Netherlands, in terms of its symbolic and practical significance, is roughly equivalent to the Shanhaiguan of the Ming Dynasty; or the naval fortress group of Tianjin Wei, Weihaiwei and Lushun Wei of the Dashun.

Intuitively, it is equivalent to the Shanhaiguan of the Ming Dynasty being breached; or the Tianjin Wei fortress group of the Dashun being captured by overseas forces.

In 1672, Marshal Vauban captured the Maastricht fortress group, which directly led to Amsterdam digging the levee to replace soldiers with water, and also led to the regent party stepping down and William III coming to power, as well as the death of Grand Speaker John de Witt.

More than seventy years later, the Maastricht fortress group was breached again, the Vauban siege method was still used, but it was improved technically, and the French were still used, but some technical officers of the Dashun were mixed in.

The purely anarchic pamphlet about "the French are coming, the last carnival" that was originally circulated, after the fermentation of this precarious reality, finally became unstoppable.

Humans are strange animals.

In science fiction stories, when humans are about to be destroyed, they are the pairs of twisted, naked "maggots" hugging each other in Australia, where humans are forced to migrate; in real stories, it is dozens of minutes after Hawaii falsely reported a nuclear war warning, and desperate humans fell into the final madness, crying and despairing, too many people threw away all moral carnivals, and even threw away the morality of blood relatives.

Despair is the solvent of all morality.

The Dutch were of course desperate at this time.

Originally in history, in recent years, after the Maastricht fortress group was breached by the French army, they repeated the story of 1672, drove away the regents, and invited the Orange Party to come to power.

Originally in history, they still had hope.

The so-called hope is sometimes a kind of self-illusion and self-deception.

They felt that the Orange Party could hold up this mess.

However, the current reality is no longer the same as the original history.

A few years ago, Liu Yu took advantage of the Dutch people's patriotism and great power sentiment, borrowed the prejudice that the East India Company and the Celestial Empire were arrogant, and borrowed the regents' dissatisfaction with forty years of inaction, and successfully pushed William of Orange to the forefront.

Then, when the Maastricht fortress group was really besieged, the Dutch people looked around and found that they had no hope, no room for self-illusion and self-deception.

All that was left was despair.

The rumors of "French Vandalism burning, killing and looting" that were previously promoted to encourage the Dutch to fight have now become a nightmare like "Mongol massacres".

The flames of despair burned throughout the Netherlands, and cities began to riot.

Murder, robbery, open venting of dissatisfaction with the regent oligarchs, hanging, revenge, repressed explosions... It was like a fire, burning from one city to another.

Historically, the Orange Party came to power, essentially because of the people's dissatisfaction with the regents. And the regents are republicans. The resurgence of "reactionary"ism in the Netherlands is precisely because of the overdeveloped capitalism in the Netherlands, so that many people would rather find a monarch on their heads.

This time, the incitement seemed to be talking about the freedom mentioned by the radicals in the republicans, but in fact it was encouraging the people of the third and fourth estates to vent their dissatisfaction with the regent oligarchs.

At this critical moment when the Netherlands was about to fall into chaos, the conservatives in the republicans and the reformists in the princely party reached a political alliance.

On July 14, William IV of the House of Orange admitted that he suffered from intermittent mental illness and was not enough to fulfill the obligations of the consul granted to him by the Dutch people.

On the 15th, William IV transferred the power of the Consul to the newly formed Regency Committee. This included the responsibilities of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, but since the Consul could serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, the Regency Committee had control over the Army and Navy and could appoint generals, but it could not be directly assumed that the Regency Committee could appoint the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy.

On the afternoon of the 15th, William IV left The Hague by car.

The Dutch political arena, which had never been so efficient, issued orders to various cities by the Regency Committee: In view of the current chaotic situation in the Republic, the militias of various cities were immediately taken over and maintained order by officers sent by the Regency Committee, and it was determined that the behavior of Leiden City in electing its own militia leader violated the laws of the Netherlands.

Subsequently, the Regency Committee issued a notice to the Netherlands, declaring that the Netherlands was in danger and that this meaningless war should end here.

The Netherlands should make peace with France, and if France could withdraw its troops, the Netherlands would unilaterally tear up the Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty and immediately withdraw from the war.

The Regency Committee immediately recalled the troops stationed in the southern fortresses, withdrew to Amsterdam, and began to march to various cities, temporarily taking over the management of each city.

Considering that the riots had not yet reached the point of being out of control, and considering that the Dutch people had learned what to do from France decades later.

So, the Regency Committee disarmed the militia in Leiden without bloodshed, stabilized the street riots in various cities, and subjected a large number of serious elements who took the opportunity to create riots to the most severe punishment in the Netherlands - being torn apart by five horses, and having their internal organs tied to wooden poles for seabirds to peck at.

The republicans in various cities who had always been shouting that cities should be autonomous, free, and centralized were Cromwell's. At this moment, no one said a word of opposition to this obvious "tyranny".

Because, the Devil's Night on the 14th - that's what they called it, and many people in the fourth estate called it the Night of Freedom - these city oligarchs found that after the angry third and fourth estates were restrained by anarchy, the first thing they did was to hang them, the city oligarchs, big businessmen, and tax farmers.

In the end, what can protect them is stability, order, the state's violent machine, laws, traditions, and the state.

On the 20th, the coup ended after the Regency Committee promised to carry out some reforms in the Netherlands, set up a professional petition reception team, compensate the victims of the "Hague accident", and forgive the previous riot participants except those who were torn apart by five horses.

The flames of the riot were gradually suppressed.

The Regency Committee moved the ruling center of the Netherlands from The Hague, which was originally to avoid the huge Regency faction in Amsterdam, back to Amsterdam.

Everyone gained from this coup.

The radicals among the Republicans saw the true power of the Third and Fourth Estates and began to think about leaving room for their existence among the future citizens who participated in politics, equality and virtue.

The Regency oligarchs protected their property, status and the political system that was beneficial to them. At least, the Regency Committee did not make drastic reforms or directly seize power, but only sent troops to maintain the chaotic order for the time being.

The Orange faction retained the last bit of prestige of the Orange family. William IV was at least not killed by the angry people. Although he lost his position as consul, the consul system was still retained and there was still a chance to make a comeback.

The conservatives among the Republicans got many things they had dreamed of.

A threat against the provincial autonomy faction, a position that could take away all the credit when he could gain enough prestige, and an excellent opportunity to negotiate with France when no one would oppose it because of patriotic enthusiasm.

Kang Budai, who was in Amsterdam, never thought that the political situation in the Netherlands would stabilize in such a weird way.

But considering the stable situation, it seems that Dashun’s goal has been achieved anyway.

When William IV announced his resignation from the position of consul on the 15th, he had a secret negotiation with Anthony and told him part of the grand plan for cooperation between the two sides.

On the French side, with unprecedented efficiency, it can even be said that people were sent to wait in the border area of ​​the Austrian Netherlands early.

In early August, Duke Qi of Dashun, as a mediator and guarantor, witnessed the negotiations between France and the Netherlands in Brussels, which was captured by the French army.

Because, except for Dashun, the remaining countries were either too small to be the "guarantor" or were belligerents in the War of the Austrian Succession.

Although Dashun was still at war with the Netherlands, it was not a belligerent in the War of the Austrian Succession. In theory, it was quite appropriate to be the guarantor.

The negotiation site was near the Brussels City Hall in the Grand Place in downtown Brussels.

In the distance, the iconic peeing boy "Malegobi" was covered with a piece of clothing by the French.

Originally, the French were going to dismantle the bronze piece and transport it back to Paris, but considering the mood of the people in Brussels and the possible future alliance between Austria and France, Louis XV did not do so in the end. On the contrary,

the King of France was "literary" and specially ordered the little hero to wear clothes.

The capture of Brussels marked the defeat of the Austro-British coalition forces in the field; the capture of the Maastricht fortress group marked the defeat of the Netherlands.

However, France did not win either. The French court also understood that the current French finances and standing army had reached the bottom, and Russia's dispatch of troops was inevitable. Even if there was bargaining and wrangling over the price, it was only a matter of time.

Now all countries have "small standing armies", which is different from Prussia's system, and it is also different from the military system of a series of subsequent wars. Now the military strength and finance have reached the bottom.

Moreover, the French navy is really... On the sea, it was hijacked by the British everywhere. A naval battle just broke out in the West Indies. The French navy desperately broke through, but all the escorting merchant ships were detained and all the merchants were arrested.

In addition, the king's will must be executed no matter what, so the negotiations between France and the Netherlands, with Dashun as the guarantor, began.

The French showed unprecedented efficiency because they were directly under the king's secret.

The Dutch also showed unprecedented efficiency, because now, apart from the Regency Committee, no one in the Netherlands was willing to wade into this muddy water and fill this big hole.

Including the constraining public opinion, which did not exist at this time.

The second breach of the Maastricht fortress group and the smooth and unstoppable march of the Dashun to Southeast Asia made the Dutch people completely lose the last bit of great power sentiment and the last bit of enthusiasm of the golden age.

Of course, there is patriotism. But at this point, rational patriots no longer mind signing a treaty, as long as France does not attack; irrational fanatics have completely collapsed mentally.

Both sides are unprecedentedly efficient. The Dutch side also "gave a pledge of allegiance" and drove away the Orange family, so the negotiations were completed with unprecedented efficiency.

Dashun was the guarantor, mainly to guarantee France's credibility, because France now has the upper hand.

France and the Netherlands signed the "Franco-Dutch Brussels Peace Treaty" on August 11, 1746.

The treaty stipulates:

The Netherlands withdraws from the war - including naval and land forces participating in the war and monetary support.

The Netherlands severs any alliance with Britain, including but not limited to the Anglo-Dutch mutual defense treaty.

The Netherlands guarantees neutrality and does not allow any third-party belligerent country to enter the Dutch territory, and does not allow any third-party belligerent country to dock in the ports, colonies, and islands belonging to the Netherlands.

France will guarantee the neutrality of the Netherlands and defend the Netherlands' choice of neutrality.

The Netherlands gave up all the fortresses in the Austrian Netherlands, which were temporarily taken over by France.

The French army promised to return the Netherlands after the war, and to guarantee the Netherlands' right to garrison in the southern fortress group in the future, and to use this as one of the negotiation conditions for ending the War of the Austrian Succession in the future. The king's credibility guaranteed that he would do his best to fight for the Netherlands.

As a guarantor, Dashun would guarantee the credibility of France. If the Netherlands betrayed and continued to garrison several fortress groups or threatened the rear of the French army before the end of the War of the Austrian Succession, Dashun would refuse to negotiate with the Netherlands on the Southeast Asian issue, and would stand firmly on the side of France in opposing the Netherlands.

The Netherlands would guarantee to subscribe to French government bonds equivalent to approximately 2 million taels of silver within three months, with an annual interest rate of 5%.

While the French army continued to advance northward, the Netherlands would not trade arms and food with France due to its neutral position.

All captured Dutch soldiers were released, and the Netherlands would pay France 250,000 taels of ransom.

The Netherlands will immediately expel the British troops and British warships stationed in the Netherlands, and notify the British ambassador to request that the British fleet not stop at Dutch colonies or islands in Asia, Africa and America while the war continues.

Regarding the tariff issue between the Netherlands and France, the Netherlands will send representatives to Paris, and both sides will abandon their prejudices and hatreds and conduct an effective negotiation.

On the 11th, the peace treaty between France and the Netherlands was reached.

On the 12th, it was officially announced that the Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty was abolished.

With the unilateral termination of the Anglo-Dutch Mutual Defense Treaty, the Anglo-Dutch alliance was declared to have collapsed, and the first obstacle to the "friendship" between China and the Netherlands has disappeared.

So.

On the 13th, the "Sino-Dutch Brussels Treaty" was signed directly in this place.

As the defeated party, the Netherlands and the victorious party, Dashun was robbing colonies. For the sake of "Sino-Dutch friendship", Dashun was not prepared to ask the Netherlands to pay compensation, and privately there was a demand for trade cooperation. The signing of the treaty between the two sides did not involve any price-raising, repayment on the spot, or verbal sparring.

The basic process is that Dashun took out the drafted treaty, the Netherlands looked at it, thought it was okay, and signed it.

The content of the formal treaty is actually quite simple:

The Netherlands recognized Dashun's recovery of Southeast Asia and Dashun's occupation of Ceylon and Indian colonies.

Dashun and the Netherlands formally ceased hostilities.

The "privatization system" between Dashun and the Netherlands was abolished. The Netherlands could not issue privateering licenses targeting Dashun, and Dashun could not issue privateering licenses targeting the Netherlands.

Dashun will return the Dutch soldiers captured in the Nanyang War, and it will be on a voluntary basis.

The Netherlands recognized that the occupation of "Formosa" was an invasion, and changed the name of Formosa to Taiwan on all maps and any books published in the future.

Because of the Taiwan incident and the incident of plundering Zhoushan people as slaves, the Netherlands compensated Dashun with a total of 310,000 taels of silver.

The Netherlands will hand over all forts and trading posts in India that were not occupied by Dashun to Dashun, and Dashun will compensate the Netherlands with 300,000 taels of silver.

The remaining 10,000 taels of silver will be used to cast two bronze statues with an apology inscription, which will be placed in Taiwan and Zhoushan. The required copper materials will be provided by the Netherlands.

Dashun will support the neutrality of the Netherlands and ensure that the neutrality of the Netherlands is realized.

Any country that actively declares war on the neutral Netherlands will be declared war or embargoed by Dashun according to the situation. If the Netherlands actively declares war, it will be regarded as the Netherlands automatically giving up its status as a neutral country.

Dashun and the Republic of the Netherlands will send envoys to each other. The Republic of the Netherlands will send a formal envoy to the capital and explain to His Majesty the Emperor that the East India Company is just a vassal of the Netherlands, and apologize for the disrespect caused by the vassal sending envoys.

The Dutch government will guarantee to abolish the East India Company's monopoly on trade. The exclusive trade rights east of the Cape of Good Hope will last for this year and will not be renewed in the future.

Dashun and the Netherlands will establish a close cooperative relationship.

For specific cooperation, see the attachment.

... The attachment is just some nonsense.

The real secret agreement contains the specific details of future cooperation between Dashun and the Netherlands.