The meeting between King William IV of the Netherlands and King Leopold II of Belgium in Antwerp attracted the attention of European countries, especially Britain, France, and Prussia.

Business as usual, 40 years ago, in 1830, Belgium began to seek independence. After 9 years of struggle, in 1839, the grandmother Holland was forced to recognize Belgium as a country.

Now it seems that there is a causal relationship, and Belgium has begun to return to the arms of the Netherlands within two generations, which makes people very sigh.

.....

However, the two kings in Antwerp Province had just fought once, and Leopold II was at a disadvantage. Sure enough, he was bound to be stronger.

Leopold II waved to Alban and said, "Let's go, a tough battle is still going on."

Orban was just complaining. As the Prime Minister of Belgium before 1862, he naturally knew that the current situation he and Leopold II encountered was very dangerous.

The two then followed into the venue that was originally the Belgian local council but now has become the Dutch parliament.

Unlike the Belgian period, it is now decorated with tulips everywhere.

Orbon murmured in a low voice: "It is necessary to display the national flower of the Netherlands so prominently, for fear that people will not know that it was ceded to the Netherlands by Belgium."

When Leopold II heard this, he was naturally in a bad mood.

So with a heavy heart, I sat down at the designated seat of the organizer.

Fortunately, this time, I didn't show off deliberately, and arranged for William IV and Leopold II to face a table side by side, and the others were divided into two rows to sit on each side.

After William IV and the Belgian group sat down, they first took a sip of the tea provided by the attendant, and waved to Leopold II, indicating that the other party should drink tea first.

The latter will be used to this, and he has seriously implemented the practice of what to do with the host, and drank this cup of tea, but as long as anyone who understands tea is here, he will understand that this is just a cow drink, and it is obvious that his heart is not calm.

William IV did not believe that the other party did not understand tea, apparently just absent-minded.

William IV asked: "How does His Majesty Leopold II feel about the province of Antwerp today?"

Leopold II: "It is said that under the capital investment of Rotterdam, the current grain of Antwerp Province is flowing through them to Sweden in northern Europe, and earning a lot of income?"

William IV nodded: "Yes, at present Antwerp Province has greatly increased its grain production due to the depression and plains. It has been designated by me as the granary for Sweden. Your Majesty should know that it is freezing cold in Sweden, and grain is the most important thing. treasure"

Leopold II thought to himself: "It's no wonder that Sweden is so determined to follow the Netherlands. The food of an Antwerp province can indeed solve the hunger problem of at least hundreds of Swedes. If it were me, I would be like Karl XV. Then choose to ally with the Netherlands"

He subconsciously said: "What if France also provides Sweden with a stable food channel?"

William IV smiled and said: "Does Leopold II think that France has a stable channel? Don't forget, the United Kingdom will not let France do this, and Prussia is against it."

When Leopold II heard the words, he understood, yes, how could Britain allow France to encroach on northern Europe, and Prussia would not even be able to. After all, as a result, Prussia on land was more uncomfortable than Britain.

Leopold II said with a programmed smirk: "It seems that His Majesty has calculated the attitudes of various countries."

It seems that he was influenced by Alban, and he didn't see William IV complacent, so he seemed to be steady but tentatively said: "The Netherlands' influence in North America is getting bigger and bigger, I don't know if Britain will be worried about the Netherlands because of this. What? After all, with the exposure of the naval tonnage of the Dutch territory in the Far East, the Netherlands has a naval strength that almost rivals that of the United Kingdom. I don't think the British Empire will be relieved because of this. You know, my cousin, Her Majesty Queen Verlia, will not take it lightly. cede British international hegemony"

A good reminder!

William IV naturally wouldn't think that the other party was kind enough to remind him. In fact, it was a mockery. The Netherlands has not yet reached the point where Britain needs to take it seriously. Simply put, it is not qualified.

William IV was not annoyed either, looking at the excited glow of Albon next to him, and said with a smile: "The Netherlands does not need the approval of others, don't forget, this is our style of doing things, and because of this, the country of the Netherlands is currently expand rather than shrink"

Venus secretly gave His Majesty a compliment. This rebuttal is all yours.

It seems that Leopold II finally understands now that it is self-indulgent to argue with William IV, let alone when he is weak.

So he said helplessly: "The purpose of my visit this time is clear to His Majesty. The Belgian royal family is willing to support the Anglo-Dutch agreement, but I am also willing to support the 50-year Dutch ratio as a peace agreement, but Belgium needs the Netherlands to provide concessions. If Your Majesty promises that we are willing to sign the Anglo-Dutch Agreement for the transfer of territory"

William IV asked curiously, "What concession?"

Negotiations have always been forward and backward. The Netherlands now has a good advantage, but Belgium's independence is the bottom line for the United Kingdom, and the same is true for France. Leopold II clearly understood this, so he knew at this time that the general trend was inevitable. Under these circumstances, it is understandable to choose to seek to change the small trend.

Leopold II said very seriously: "Belgium wants to buy a piece of territory at the mouth of the Congo River in the Netherlands, um, the north side of the Congo River. If it succeeds, we will name it Congo Gold, I don't know your majesty... ."

"Impossible" William IV said sharply: "Don't make an idea there, be careful to cause a war"

Leopold II was shocked and looked at William IV in disbelief.

"Your Majesty, Africa is so remote, it doesn't seem to be of much value to the Netherlands. I think it's better to transfer it to us. Even if we don't have everything, we only need the north of the Congo River. We are willing to bid 1 million pounds for this."

Alban also looked at William IV in puzzlement. He believed that only he and Leopold II understood the value of the Congo. The Netherlands should not know that it turned out to be an unexplored treasure.

Belgium is already difficult to expand, so he and Leopold II have decided to start overseas. They originally wanted to gain sympathy for Belgium's loss of territory this time, and seek to buy Congo from William IV of the Netherlands. Come to think of it, Belgium has successfully resurrected from the dead, but now I see that William IV is firmly opposed to it, which is different from the script they originally prepared.

What went wrong.

The two looked at each other, both momentarily blinded.

William IV sneered in his heart, along these two guys who are pretending to be grandchildren, do you really think I don't know what you think.

Leopold II's gains and losses in governing Belgium aside, this is not what he is famous for. He is famous because he was a great colonial imperialist, who was called the "King of Colonialism" in his previous life.

In 1876, this person organized the International African Association. In the name of investigating and developing Africa, he occupied a large area of ​​Congo in his own name, calling it the Congo Free State. On April 30, 1885, the Belgian Congress officially granted him the Congo. The title of the monarch of the Free State.

His brutal exploitation, oppression, and slaughter of the local indigenous population was condemned by world public opinion, and he was listed as a businessman, financial negotiator, and businesswoman. In 1908, the Congo was transferred to the Belgian government and became a Belgian colony, namely the Belgian Congo.

William IV's eyes narrowed slightly, and Leopold II was cunning. He knew that Belgium's strength was no match for Britain, France and other countries. He publicly sent an expeditionary force to central Africa. The goal was too obvious, so he used scientific investigations to abolish slavery Under the guise of humanism such as control and control, let the claws of aggression reach the Congo, the heartland of Africa.

In the face of this "loser" who seems to be incapable of fighting against the Dutch occupation of Belgian territory, if William IV takes it lightly, the final fate of Goujian will be what will happen to the future of the Netherlands.

William IV naturally will not give Belgium this chance to turn over.

Leopold II did not expect that William IV would object so directly, and this trip to Antwerp seemed to be meaningless.

Suddenly, William IV had an idea, "However, the Congo will not be sold, but there is one place I am willing to talk about."

It seemed that he saw hope in despair, and Leopold II's eyes lit up, looking at William IV's half-smile expression with hope, Leopold II didn't dare to look directly at each other, but he couldn't help his inner thoughts, He couldn't help but ask, "Where is it?"

William IV: "Gabon"

Gabon?

Leopold II suddenly looked at Alban~lightnovelpub.net~ Alban asked suspiciously: "Has His Majesty William IV made a mistake, Gabon seems to be a colony of the French Empire now?"

"I know." William IV smiled when he saw the unnatural expressions of the two of them: "I will find a chance to be the middleman and go to Paris to talk. I think it can be done."

When Leopold II heard the words, he couldn't help laughing and laughing. This William IV acted wildly, and he must not play according to the cards, which made them very passive. However, the promise of William IV that he would look for France to help negotiate the promise made them unable to find a reason.

Although it is a pity not to get the Congo, which you have coveted for a long time, but it would not be bad if you can get Gabon, which is an excellent port in France, but will the French agree?

They have no confidence.

The meeting between the two ended hastily with this promise.

On the evening of March 20, 1869, under the transmission of telegrams, all European countries received the agreement reached between the Netherlands and Belgium.

Belgium recognizes East, West Flanders and Flemish-Brabant as Dutch territories, Hera recognizes Brussels and Walloon-Brabant as final Belgian territories, and negotiates with Britain The Netherlands would like to make the territory between Brussels and Wallonia a Belgian territory.

The two countries have reached an agreement on trade liberalization, which will not restrict the entry of each other's products into their own territory and will not impose tariffs.

Belgium announced that it will remain neutral in the European situation from today, and the Netherlands announced that it will recognize Belgium's neutrality.

So far, the dispute between the Netherlands and Belgium has come to an end.

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