"I really didn't expect this to happen."

Carlo looked at the message from Lyfell and couldn't help but sigh.

That's right, Carlo saw Leffel send back a message about Lanfang. Some memories of past lives that I had forgotten now came back to my mind.

Despite all the praise for this Chinese republic in the network in his previous life, in Carlo's view, the annexation of Fang Lan is inevitable, and the overseas Chinese who lack local support have the strength to resist the wolf-like European colonizers.

Although some people compare it with the founding of the United States, but in the bones this country is more of a large collection of fellow villagers who are for warmth, and its internal is very narrow and xenophobic (the leader can only be served by Meizhou people, and the deputy leader is served by Tai Po people), plus some other factors are mixed in, so it is impossible for Lan Fang to develop and grow.

Since it can't grow, then Lan Fang is very isolated in front of the European colonizers, but fortunately, Lan Fang is still a little clever, they claim to be a vassal of the Qing State, but they also bluff people. However, now that the Qing State itself is in decline, this fake vassal state naturally cannot become its life-saving card.

So no, the Dutch took advantage of the Sino-French war to attack Lanfang in a big way. The news was timely for Carlo and Italy.

However, he still needed to find out what was going on on the ground, and the few words from Leffel could not be the basis for his decision.

Thinking of this, Carlo summoned an attendant. "Immediately send a telegram to Minister Jia Liwen in the Far East, asking him to immediately ascertain the relationship between Dutch Indonesia and Lan Fang, and to mark this telegram as urgent."

When Carlo's telegram was sent to the Far East Minister Jalivan, the minister immediately felt that this telegram was unusual, and the bright red expedited sign on it made him dare not slack off, and immediately arranged for people to hurry up to find out the information of Lanfang and the Dutch colony as quickly as possible.

Of course, it takes time to find out the news, but sometimes, some help can speed up the progress of the news, such as the ability to make money.

So after Jia Liwen showed enough money ability, the information he needed immediately appeared in front of him. Don't think that the high ethics of the colonial officials now, the people who are under the power of money are like carp crossing the river, and there are countless people. And Jia Liwen immediately sorted out this information and sent it back to Rome.

When Carlo got the information, he smiled. Now he needs to convene a meeting and let Italy intervene.

The bright Grand Chamber of the Royal Palace, which has been rarely used, is not easily used unless there is an important meeting, and it has been closed since Carlo succeeded to the throne.

Today, however, the large conference hall is in use again, and the maids begin to clean it early in the morning, while the attendants are responsible for placing some items needed for the meeting.

By nine o'clock, everything was ready for the meeting.

The first to come was the Minister of War, Admiral Saragatet, and then the Admiral Golek, the Minister of the Navy, also arrived, but I didn't expect the military to come so early, and then the cabinet ministers also arrived in twos and threes, and finally the Prime Minister de Pretis arrived.

When everyone arrived, Carlo appeared in the large conference room.

With Carlo's arrival, the conversation in the conference room came to an abrupt end, and Carlo was pleased with the effect, which at least meant that he had initial authority among these people.

After touring the venue with both eyes, Carlo explained the topic of the meeting in a simple and clear way. "It's a bit of a shame to let everyone take a lot of time to attend this meeting, but because of its importance, this meeting has to be held."

After briefly talking about the opening remarks, Carlo did not continue, but said to Baron Felimich on the side. "Chief Guard, let's get started."

As the curtain on the wall was lifted, a huge map of Kalimantan appeared in front of everyone.

I saw Baron Felimich holding a baton and began to explain the situation in Kalimantan. "This map is a map of the island of Kalimantan in Southeast Asia, which is currently composed of three main forces: Sarawak and Brunei, which were occupied by the British, to the north, the Republic of Lanfang, founded by Chinese immigrants, to the west, and to the south and east by the Dutch colonies. Currently the island ......"

None of the people present were impatient, and all of them listened attentively to his narration, and some took notes from time to time. None of you are a three-year-old, and since you have been talking about the situation in Kalimantan from the beginning, there must be a reason.

Sure enough, by the time the chief of the guard said that Lan Fang and the Dutch were currently fighting, many people had already turned their brains.

By the time the chief of the guard had finished speaking, Carlo's speech after taking the stage was more certain of their thoughts. "This battle between Lan Fang and the Dutch is an opportunity for our country."

What an opportunity, listen to Carlo tell you slowly.

"As we all know, China's trade volume with the Chinese is increasing, and China's interests in the Far East are becoming more and more heavy, so it is necessary to have its own foothold in the Far East. In view of the current relations between China and the Chinese and trade reasons, it is inconvenient to seek leased land in China, so the choice of its surroundings has become inevitable. next to it. For various reasons, the two countries are not suitable. Therefore, Southeast Asia is the best choice, and because Southeast Asia has long been occupied by various countries, it is very difficult for me to get involved in it, and the current war between Lanfang and the Dutch is a very good opportunity for my country. ”

When Carlo had finished, there was applause in the room, and although he did not necessarily agree with the king's remarks, Italy did need a colony in the Far East.

Of course, after the applause, the next step is the question session, it is obvious that if you want to get involved, there is no room for speech if you don't have enough troops, since you want to send troops, then it will involve expenses, and these things will take time.

So Foreign Minister Bakona was the first to speak. "Your Majesty, may I ask, does Your Majesty want to meddle in and take Lan Fang alone?"

In the face of the foreign secretary's inquiry, Carlo said without hesitation. "Yes, our country is strong enough for the Dutch to get out of the scramble with reason."

"What if they don't go back?"

"Then we will use it as an excuse in turn to expand the scope and expel the Dutch from Southeast Asia."

Carlo's words made many ministers' eyes shine, the interests of Dutch Indonesia are coveted even by Britain and France, if Italy occupies how much of a benefit it should be, of course, Italy will not be able to take it all, and sometimes it will share part of the profits, but its profits are still amazing.

"But Your Majesty has considered it, did the British and French who stood behind the Dutch?"

Bakona's words made many people's minds sober, although Dutch Indonesia has rich interests, but the Britain and France behind it are also difficult to mess with, what does Italy need to do not let Britain and France interfere?

"Rest assured, I am prepared to press the Dutch with absolute strength to bow their heads, of course, our goal this time is very clear, we only need Lan Fang, and at the same time promise the British that they will not have any idea of Sarawak and Brunei that they occupy. Of course, the most important thing is that our country needs to occupy an absolute advantage in terms of reason and law, so that the Dutch have nothing to say. ”

Carlo said, glancing at everyone in the room. "For this, I have arranged for Minister Jia Liwen to go and prepare, and I will definitely surprise the Dutch when the time comes."

Carlo's words made the foreign secretary stop asking, and although there were still many details that were not clear, there were generally no problems.

Although the Foreign Secretary had finished asking, there were others who wanted to ask, only to see the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Toston Tejela, standing up. "Your Majesty, you said that you want to suppress the Dutch with absolute strength, I don't know how much strength you plan to send?"

Tejela, who succeeded Sabot as Minister of Finance, although his ability is not too amazing, but his nearly 20 years of experience in the Ministry of Finance is enough to make everyone in the Ministry of Finance unable to escape his eyes, so under his control, the Ministry of Finance is much better than before.

"I can answer that question."

Before Carlo could reply, the Admiral stepped forward, only to see Admiral Golek speak. "Our navy plans to use a fleet of 27 ships with a gross tonnage of 89,000 tons, including the Doolio, the Orico Dondolo and the Francisco. In addition, we will also bring 3,000 army officers and soldiers with us. ”

Admiral Golek's words caused a sensation in the conference room, because the warships he reported were all new ships in the navy that had been in service for the past ten years, and it can be said that the essence of the Italian navy was basically concentrated in this fleet. With such strength, not to mention letting the Dutch withdraw from the competition for Lanfang, there is no problem at all in defeating Indonesia, and the displacement of three battleships alone is as high as 38,000 tons.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was the most anxious about the scale reported by Admiral Gorek, because a fleet of this size sailed half the world, and it would definitely cost a lot of money.

"So may I ask, has your military made a budget?"

"Yes."

"How much is that?"

"Just deterrence, the cost is sixty million lira, and if you fight with the Dutch, then 250 million lira."

As soon as I heard the figures reported by the military, the discussion in the conference room became louder.

"Smack"

I saw Carlo slam the table, making the scene immediately quiet.

"Don't think it's too much, I'll give you a statistic, the Dutch collected 14.2 million guilders from Lanfang in 1880. It was 15.2 million guilders in '81, 16.7 million guilders in '82 and 17.4 million in '83. ”

Although Carlo didn't say any more, as long as anyone could see the importance of Lanfang to the Dutch, and the Dutch was not satisfied with this tax, and was ready to take over Lanfang directly.

So now there was an immediate change in the conference room, and the cost was no longer a problem, and Italy could not let go of such a place that provided the Netherlands with a wealth of thirty or forty million lira every year. (The exchange rate of the guilder to the lira is around 1 to 2.2)

Sure enough, the money is moving, and the ministers who wanted to continue to ask just now immediately stopped asking, and then everyone was ready to let the hated Dutch get out of Lanfang with high morale.

Everything at the meeting was watched by Prime Minister De Pretis, who did not speak at all, but just sat here and watched Carlo's every move.

The result of the meeting was not beyond his expectations, Italy couldn't wait to colonize, not to mention Lanfang, a rich and well-developed colony, which had a fatal temptation to come.

After the meeting, De Pretis returned to his carriage and couldn't help but sigh, this His Majesty Carlo has shown his political charm, what should he do?

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