v3 Chapter 231： Dying: Small states challenge big ones?

"Opening 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne (

On March 25, 1866, Paraguay led by General Lopez issued a request to the Brazilian Empire to withdraw from Uruguay, but the Brazilian Empire ignored it.

This made Lopez very angry, and he expressed his dissatisfaction with Brazil on various occasions.

On the 27th, Brazil still did not respond.

General Lopez said, "We, Paraguay, oppose Brazil's meddling in Uruguay's internal affairs. Therefore, please remember this day at 9 o'clock in business. I officially announce that Paraguay has declared war on Brazil."

Is it windy in South America too?

"Paraguay is located in the heart of southern South America, with the mighty Brazilian Empire in the east, Uruguay in the southeast, Argentina in the south, and Bolivia in the west.

Uruguay borders Paraguay in the northwest (the border between the two countries was forcibly divided by Brazil and Argentina because of this war in later generations), Argentina in the south, Brazil in the north, and the Atlantic Ocean in the east, separated from Argentina by the La Plata River. The two sides are the border.

Montevideo, the capital, is across the river from Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

Therefore, the geographical location of Uruguay is very important for Argentina.

Uruguay's position will have a significant impact on the quality of Argentina's security environment.

If Paraguay takes Uruguay, it will change from a landlocked country to a coastal country, and from north to south, it will cut off all the land borders between Argentina and Brazil. Such a country is huge for Argentina and Brazil. threaten.

Therefore, not only Argentina has always disapproved of Paraguay's unification of Uruguay, but Brazil is also strongly opposed to this, because Brazil is worried that if the national characteristics of Paraguay and Uruguay are integrated into the country, it will have a dominant influence on the southern part of Brazil, and Curitiba continues to the south. Porto Alegre may be the object of claims by a powerful Paraguay and Uruguay.

Therefore, as soon as the ruling government of Uruguay, which Brazil and Argentina have always supported, was overthrown, the Brazilian Empire was more sensitive than Argentina, so they could not wait to express their disapproval of Uruguay's White Party's ruling status and to send troops to Uruguay to become the Reds. dang rehabilitated. "

The Dutch Privy Council, William IV held an emergency session.

The meeting included top government and military leaders in the Dutch cabinet.

With the establishment of the government of the Far East Small Cabinet, several ministers in the Far East have also returned to Amsterdam one after another, and the former chief and deputy ministers of various departments have been rotated. This meeting is also a debriefing meeting in the Far East.

At the beginning, William IV asked the Netherlands International Intelligence Agency, Mackay Sean, to report on the war that was about to start in South America at the beginning of the meeting based on intelligence and information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This gave many people here a general impression of the current situation in South America, New Central and South America. Although it is not very comprehensive, who called South America is too biased.

The military representatives who participated in the meeting included Chief of General Staff Mark Rudd, Minister of the Navy Jan Peter, Minister of the Army Pete de Jong, Chief of Naval Staff Joseph, and Chief of Army Staff Jopp Il.

The cabinet government was attended by Dutch Prime Minister Johann Rudolf Tolbeck, Interior Minister Jonrell, Foreign Minister Heisbet Von, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jane Von Capello, Minister of Justice Douglas Ross, Industry Minister Wem Cotter, Education Minister Rude Bells.

As soon as McKay Shaun finished speaking, someone asked a question.

"Lord Sean, what is Lopez like?"

Sean looked up and saw that the one who asked the question was Jopp Il, the Minister of War.

Nodding to him, then Sean replied:

"López was born in Asuncion, Paraguay in 1827"

Seeing that everyone was indifferent, Sean explained: "It was the capital of Paraguay at that time, and he was the eldest son of one of the rulers of Paraguay, Carlos Antonio Lopez, who is now known as the old Lopez, so Lopez was born in a privileged life, taught himself English, French, Spanish and Guaraní, the elder Lopez became the president of Paraguay in 1844.

In 1845, he was awarded the rank of brigadier general by his father's direct line. After that, he was ordered by his father to throw the Paraguayan army to Corrientes in Argentina to fight against Rosas, Argentina's then-unique.

At that time, not only Paraguay, but Brazil, Uruguay and Chile were also hostile to Rosas.

It was not until after 1853 that Rosas gave up his ambition to compete with other countries because of the continuous pressure of wars in various countries, the loss of war, and the constant domestic grievances. And Lopez has grown up after several years of big battles and small battles, and has therefore become a victory for the Paraguayan nationals, and has an unparalleled reputation in the country.

In 1855, the old Lopez sent Lopez to lead a Paraguayan mission out of Europe, visiting Britain, France, and Italy, attracting immigrants, inviting European technicians, and inspecting the latest European weapons. Lopez began to study the military in Europe, understood the latest trends in military technology, and learned the importance of military construction."

Speaking of this, Sean deliberately said in a high voice: "Everyone, Lopez admires His Majesty Napoleon I in southern France very much, so he loves His Majesty Napoleon III. During his visit to Paris in 1856, Lopez asked to see Napoleon III, and the two are said to have a good conversation, and even Napoleon III introduced Lopez to the upper class courtesan in Paris, Alyssa Lynch, who gave Lopez as his lover."

A strange look appeared on William IV's face. Did Napoleon III change his career?

However, from this they can know that Paraguay has succeeded in attracting the French Empire as its backing.

Sean continued: "After a one-year stay in Paris in 1856, Lopez brought back a large number of French-made weapons and military supplies in 1857, as well as Lynch, who was introduced by Napoleon III.

Ladies and gentlemen, after our investigation and follow-up, we found that this Lynch was actually an important spy of the French Imperial Intelligence Organization - the Foreign Security Agency. She received remote control from Paris and had a strong influence on Lopez's ambitious plans. "

The Netherlands can have a Sarmiento in Argentina and a Washburn in the Commonwealth of Millikin, why can't they be in France?

William IV was never arrogant to the point that he was the protagonist of the world, and even, for the "health" of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, he asked the Royal Netherlands Intelligence Service to conduct domestic investigations to prevent the Netherlands from using the means in other countries. Other countries are watching.

"A few months after his return, Lopez was appointed by his father as Minister of the Army of Paraguay at the end of 1857, and a year later, in 1858, as Vice President of Paraguay and appointed as his legal successor to the old Lopez"

In the same year, Pedro II of the Brazilian Empire expressed his dissatisfaction with the way that the President of Paraguay became a private gift and asked the old Lopez to change this practice. After the old Lopez directly refused, the Brazilian Empire sent troops to invade the territory of Paraguay, which made Lopez. His self-esteem was deeply hurt, so he had a grudge against the Brazilian Empire. From then on, the fathers fought various confrontations against the Brazilian Empire. Among them, there was a proxy political and military struggle in Uruguay in the south, which was very intense. .

In 1859, when they were responsible for mediating the Argentine Civil War, Paraguay and Argentina almost fought over this, but they were more restrained at the time.

And Portugal and the French Empire came forward to mediate, and it calmed down.

On March 20, 1862, the old Lopez died, and Lopez succeeded to the throne and became the new president of Paraguay.

As a result, the conflict between Paraguay and Brazil has become more exciting.

Even with the increasing support of Paris, Lopez saw that the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, supported by the French Empire, became more and more powerful in Mexico, and was moved.

Therefore, Lopez promoted the political incident in Uruguay. "

The entire Privy Council was extremely quiet, and everyone was trying to digest the detailed information of this intelligence chief, Sean.

Haysbert Feng asked: "That is to say, is the political evolution of Uruguay this time driven by external forces? And is it still one?"

Sean nodded, "Yes"

Chief of General Staff Mark Rudd said: "The French Empire stands behind Paraguay, Paraguay stands behind the White Party of Uruguay, and behind the Red Dang is Brazil, and behind Brazil, is Portugal?"

"No, there should be England"

It was Prime Minister Tolbeck who spoke.

"Portugal will not easily offend the French Empire, only Britain would dare to do so"

Education Secretary Rude Bells: "Why should the UK intervene?"

Prime Minister Thorbeck said: "One is changing and the other is growing. Recently, the French Empire has recently maintained its neutrality, which has annoyed the United Kingdom, but the United Kingdom has suffered a lot of defeats in the battlefield. If it goes on like this, the United Kingdom will be defeated by France. Catch up, at this time, how can Queen Victoria let Napoleon III take time to continue watching the play?”

When everyone hears it, it’s true. Britain has been losing again and again recently. Although it’s impossible to say that it hurts at all, its economic and military strength is no longer growing. This is an undeniable fact. What about the economy? In North America alone, Britain supported the South but was defeated several times by the North, while Mexico, supported by Napoleon III, lacked the support of both the North and the South, but was victorious in succession, and was about to advance to the city of Monterrey. , that's close to the US border with Texas.

As long as the northwestern part of Mexico is taken down, the whole of Mexico will be ruled by Emperor Maximilian, the puppet launched by Napoleon III.

That's when France would come back again after selling Louisiana and exiting North America 50 years ago.

This will be a huge blow to the United Kingdom, and the prestige of the most powerful country in Europe will also lose its halo and change hands.

Therefore, it is no wonder that the UK is not in a hurry.

William IV nodded secretly.

Dao: "There are many people with wisdom. That's what they said. Everyone's analysis is inseparable. However, what are the benefits of the Netherlands?"

Yeah, how can the Netherlands benefit from this? This time is the point.

For this reason, the Privy Council is a hot topic.

......

At the end of March 1866, the spark of the South American war suddenly overshadowed the war between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, and also overshadowed the continued war between the north and south of Milician.

Many people looked at the information in their hands with strange eyes, and they were full of anticipation for this classic case of a small country provoking a big country, which is not equal resources.

Because it is indeed a topic that attracts Europeans.