v3 Chapter 345： Prussia and the Netherlands must now be at odds

Palace of the King of Prussia.

William I has been very troubled recently. Since Prime Minister Bismarck proposed to him to suppress the western kingdom of the Netherlands, and got his consent, he has been following Bismarck's actions.

But what happened recently in northern America has shaken his confidence in Bismarck.

However, due to everything in the past, he had no objection to Bismarck's desire to continue. However, now his son, Crown Prince Frederick, is attacking Bismarck's hostile Dutch policy, which gave him a headache.

"Father, the Netherlands has always chosen a friendly policy towards the Kingdom of Prussia. In the past half century, there has been no conflict between the two countries. The rise of Prussia requires the capital support of the Netherlands. Some time ago, we had a relationship with Denmark. During the war, William IV, who was married successfully, did not even express his support for Denmark. This was obviously because he was concerned about the relationship between the Netherlands and Prussia. Of course, the strategic position was also included.

After the war between our Prussia and the Austrian Empire, the Netherlands even secretly offered weapons support to Prussia. Although it was rejected by us, the alliance between the two countries was still established.

If such a country of strategic importance to Prussia is pushed into a hostile position by us, it will be very dangerous and unfortunate for us. Therefore, I oppose Prime Minister Bismarck's anti-Dutch policy. I think this Policies have to stop..."

This is not the first time Crown Prince Frederick has proposed to William I to suspend Prussia's policy of hostility to the Netherlands.

Crown Prince Frederick proposed to ease the hostility in the Americas with the Netherlands, ease the relationship between Germans and Dutch in the Commonwealth of Millikin, and make the two countries more coordinated in European diplomacy. He even proposed that the two countries should work together in Africa. Collaborative cooperation is the same as the current cooperation between the Commonwealth of Somalia in East Africa and the Dutch Kenya, the Commonwealth of Cameroon in West Africa and the Dutch Congo.

In a word, Crown Prince Frederick pointed out that the importance of the Netherlands to Prussia must not give up the other side. He even suggested that in international issues, Prussia should support each other more clearly and win the true friendship of the Netherlands, not now Anti-Dutch policy promoted by Prime Minister Bismarck.

One is his core partner who has cooperated with him for many years, and the other is his future son and heir. William I was very troubled because of this. Although he did not approve of Bismarck's policy, the results obtained under Bismarck's promotion over the years made William I was unwilling to easily veto Bismarck. This was a kind of trust, trust between monarchs and ministers. William I was unwilling to break this trust easily. He knew that if it was interrupted, it would be extremely difficult to restore it.

Just when he was about to directly reject Frederick as the crown prince, the guard informed Bismarck that he and his grandson William had gone outside.

"Let them in." William I breathed a sigh of relief, frowned and said to Crown Prince Frederick: "I don't want my crown prince and prime minister to quarrel, you know, I'm very disgusted."

Crown Prince Frederick looked at William I, who frowned, his mouth moved, but in the end he didn't dare to object.

However, soon the "surprise" came.

After the two came in, they saluted them one after another.

"Grandfather, just now I asked Prime Minister Bismarck about the struggle between Prussia and the Netherlands, and I also asked the question that the Netherlands dared to fight against Prussia. Guess how the Prime Minister answered me?"

Little William looked at the two of them proudly and asked showily.

William I felt helpless when he saw the undisguised joy on Frederick's face.

At this moment, he saw that Bismarck took Frederick's eyes down, and his heart moved.

He sighed secretly: "Forget it, what should come is still coming."

So he pretended to be curious and asked, "Oh? How did the Prime Minister answer?"

Prince William first made a mischievous look to Bismarck, and then said: "The Prime Minister said that the reason why the Netherlands dares to fight against Prussia is because we Prussia are not strong enough, if we can be stronger, the Netherlands will not be like it is now. He even dared to confront Prussia in the Americas, at the same time he was fighting against the French Empire's invasion of the Kingdom of Siam, and ganged up against the French Empire.

Grandfather, I think Prime Minister Bismarck is actually reminding me that I want the Netherlands not to resist our Prussia. Prussia must not only surpass the present in the future, but also be more powerful than the current French Empire. The things that the two empires are still not in the eyes of the Netherlands will still happen to Prussia.

And I heard that the first power, the British Empire, also encountered difficulties from the Netherlands in Africa, but the Netherlands can only do it in secret. Therefore, I think our goal in Prussia should at least be achieved under the control of our grandmother, Queen Victoria. The British Empire will do, grandfather, is this my understanding? "

William I laughed and said, "It's true, but"

"But what?" Little William eagerly stepped forward and pulled William I's hand, playfully asking.

Crown Prince Frederick frowned in dissatisfaction and scolded his son: "William, be careful that your mother sees you as a gentleman, and asks you to learn English etiquette with her"

William I glared at Crown Prince Frederick in dissatisfaction, and comforted his frightened grandson William.

"British etiquette classes are loud and eager to learn. Our Prussian etiquette class is much better than theirs. Even if you really want to learn it, it should be Paris rather than London."

Crown Prince Frederick is gone, but knowing that William was blessed by William I, he will no longer "embarrass" him, but take the opportunity to say to Bismarck: "The answer the Prime Minister told William I was very impressed. Interested, I don't know, can you ask the Prime Minister to answer a few questions for me about the relationship between Prussia and the Netherlands?"

William I was angry at first and then showed helplessness to Bismarck. Obviously, William I seemed to be saying that this guy was still just as stubborn.

Bismarck put this in his eyes, and he asked calmly, "Just ask the crown prince."

An An said: "Father and son are always father and son, and the blood relationship is always closer than others."

Crown Prince Frederick said with a smile: "I don't understand why the Prime Minister has such a bad relationship with the Netherlands. What is the purpose?"

Prime Minister Bismarck replied meaningfully: "At the beginning of all great foreign policy, many people don't understand the mystery, but as the middle and late stages progress, everyone slowly enters it, looking for answers, what I want to say. Yes, Prussia and the Netherlands must be at odds in my current diplomatic strategy"

Frederick felt very absurd and asked sarcastically: "According to the chief's statement, do the two countries also have to fight at the moment?"

Bismarck replied eagerly: "I think it is really necessary to fight?"

The three were stunned, they did not expect Bismarck to be so direct.