Amsterdam, Netherlands.

"If the Queen of England dies in France, no one will continue to want to break up the Netherlands."

"What did you say!? Do you know what you're talking about?! Wilhelm II was furious, but this anger was accompanied by both nervousness and excitement.

"I said that the British and the French fought, and you can rest easy. My dear. Caroline wrapped her arms around Wilhelm II's neck, but this time the warm nephrite in her arms did not dispel his doubts.

"Do you know? In doing so, you are challenging tradition, challenging the monarchy as a whole! ”

Caroline let go of her grip on Wilhelm II and snorted.

"Can you keep your country and your power by keeping your traditions?"

In fact, the recovery of Flemish should have been a great thing, but the religious contradictions in the country intensified, and the ministers demanded that the Catholics of the Flemish region be exiled to Austria.

This was completely incomprehensible to Wilhelm II, but not only within the court, but also among the people who took to the streets to demand the expulsion of the heretics, and the "heretics" were ready to flee to Austria, where the religion was relatively tolerant.

The driving force behind this matter is naturally Franz, after all, people have an instinctive fear of the unknown, and Flement's future and fate are unknown, as long as a little catalyst is added, it will be stormy.

Austria is already familiar with the resettlement of migrants, and there are large tracts of land in the surrounding areas of Hungary and abroad. Cities also provide a huge number of jobs, even if there are millions of immigrants who can afford to eat.

However, in order to avoid tragedies such as the partition of India and Pakistan, Franz still hoped that they could use the sea and rail.

Franz decided to provide a subsidy for him, the total amount of which could cost between 30 and 50 million florins, plus land and other resettlement costs, even more than 300 million florins.

For the first time, Franz felt the difficulty of migration, which had previously been supported by brutal violence and religious influence in Central America, combined with the support of California's gold mines.

At this point, Franz finally felt the pressure, and when the Great Famine struck again, millions of people would probably flee Ireland, and he was not sure if he would have the ability to solve the problem, or if he would be left with corpses as in history.

At this time, in addition to the religious contradictions in the Netherlands, Wilhelm II was a headache, after joining the German Customs Union, the power of the merchants was further strengthened, and they wanted power to make the Netherlands a constitutional state.

Since ancient times, no one in power has been willing to voluntarily relinquish power, and Wilhelm II was no exception, and he was a staunch opponent of a constitutional monarchy.

Merchants and ministers came into constant contact with the British, and their actions unnerved Wilhelm II, but he could do nothing.

Combined with Caroline's words, it finally occurred to William II that it seemed that traditional methods really could not keep power, and if he gave up power, would he end up in the same fate as Louis XVI?

Wilhelm II looked at Caroline again, his eyes full of guilt.

"So you're doing it for my good."

St. Petersburg, Russia.

In the Winter Palace, Tsar Nicholas I is munching on a steak. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is reading out the most glamorous revenue statement in recent years, with Russia's treasury revenues rising by 23 per cent in one year from the second half of last year to the first half of today.

(Counting the 10 million florins gifted by the German Confederation.) ）

It is important to remember that the previous annual growth rate was about 3%, and the trade with Austria greatly increased the income of the Russian treasury.

Foreign Minister Neserlov was also very proud, but what he brought was really not good news for Russia.

The Queen's visit to France is a very dangerous signal. You must know that because Russia has not given up its privileges in the Channel area, the British have always pressed forward step by step.

If Britain and France join forces, will Russia still be able to hold on to the country that has been fought by generations of tsars?

Now the straits were even more important to Russia, and if they could not be freely navigated through the Black Sea straits, or if they had to pay customs duties to the Ottoman Empire, it would jeopardize the cotton trade between Russia and Austria.

(One would surely wonder why cotton was not transported by land, first of all, Russia and Austria were separated by the Carpathian Mountains, and secondly, Russia did not even have a few kilometers of railways at this time.) ）

The Tsar did not want to give up this cash cow at all, not only Nicholas I, but also the entire Russian hierarchy felt that it was a cash cow.

Because Austria has two major markets, Germany and the Apennines, and because it is also very large, its spending power is unprecedented for the Russians.

It's just that this is Russia, and the tsar doesn't speak, and no one dares to talk more. One can only say how important the Austrian market is to Russia, how good your relations with Archduke Karl are, and so on.

The Tsar enjoyed a table full of delicacies while listening to the reports and boasts of the ministers.

The delicacies on the table were quickly wiped out, and Nicholas I picked up a large glass of red wine and drank it down.

Seeing the tsar eat like this, everyone was hungry, but on the surface they still had to flatter a few words.

"What if someone thinks I don't have enough to eat?" Nicholas I asked suddenly.

It was a bit confusing for a while, but someone quickly reacted.

"Damn! The Tsar is the master of all Russia, and anyone who disobeys you deserves to die. ”

This man was the Duke of Lyubey, the supreme officer of the Special Third Section, and was one of the most feared men in all of Russia.

The Tsar smiled and continued to ask.

"What if it's a foreigner?"

"Damn it, too!" Duke Liubai replied crisply.

"Okay, go ahead and do it. I wait for your good news. ”

Berlin, Prussia.

Frederick Wilhelm IV paced back and forth in the palace, knowing that it was Prussia that was guarding the western gates of Germany, not Austria with only one enclave or the newly liberated Luxembourg.

If Britain and France really united, would they attack Prussia?

That's right, William IV was such a worrying guy, completely devoid of the military adventure spirit of his ancestors.

"Your Majesty, you need not worry, the British are just looking for some allies. It can be French, and of course it can be us. ”

Friedrich Liszt said softly.

"How can this be done? In case"

"It's nothing. Austria was trading with the Russians, while Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg and France were not in trade. If they can do that, why can't we?

Not only do we not have to worry about the future war that will spread to Prussia, but we will also be able to use the goods of the British to increase our power."

In fact, Friedrich Liszt left Washington and went to Paris, but he was not reused. It wasn't until he met Bismarck, who had traveled here, that the two hit it off at first sight.

At Bismarck's persuasion, Friedrich Liszt returned to Berlin. As for the matter of opium wine, it has long been forgotten by Frederick William IV, after all, the doctor who transfused the blood of the sheep has long been punished.

(End of chapter)