London, England.

The people in the Palace of Westminster who went to contact Russia have already set off, and it is estimated that they will arrive at the Port of Hamburg in a few days.

It was winter in the northern hemisphere, and it was impossible to go directly to St. Petersburg by boat because the Baltic Sea would freeze.

The Netherlands, Belgium, and France have all received British credentials, and an alliance against the German Confederation has been formed. On the other hand, the British factories that got the news were all desperately producing, and the prices of agricultural products rose by 30% within a few days.

The constant news from Hannover also confirms that this gorgeous fireworks will begin, and the British are ready to make a lot of money.

However, this time the overlord of the financial world, the Rothschild family, did not make any big moves. They seemed to be waiting for news from Vienna.

For this missed opportunity, colleagues in the financial circles in London ridiculed that they were still living in the era of Napoleon. In fact, Lionel Rothschild had already received news that a war might break out.

But his uncle Solomon Rothschild had repeatedly warned him that if he was dealing with the Upper Austrian Empire, he must wait for news from Vienna.

Lyonel felt that his uncle was a great financier who had made huge profits countless times without spending a penny when he was young.

He has made a great reputation in the business and political circles on the European continent. Even his own father did not dare to call himself a king, but in Vienna everyone called him "His Majesty the King", and even Prince Metternich wanted to call him "His Majesty the King" in front of him. Keep your head down and do things.

Although this uncle has been in bad luck in recent years, even if he made money, he exchanged precious metals for Austrian banknotes. In the end, it was hard to tell whether he made a profit or a loss, but Laonnell was still willing to believe him.

But other members of the family couldn't sit still anymore, and started some "investments" one after another, and even contacted Chilean saltpeter merchants, preparing to increase the price of this commodity worldwide.

Although Leonel knew all this, he did not stop it. After all, he did not want to put all his eggs in one basket, and the rumors that were becoming more and more true made him feel a little restless.

Queen Victoria didn't care about politics because as she got older she found that all the politicians didn't like her and all they wanted was power.

And she also found the love of her life-Prince Albert, and at this time the letter of appeal written by her uncle King Leopold I of Belgium was placed on her desk.

Victoria didn't even open it, and sent it to the cabinet, because there was not much emotion in this letter, and it was more political, so leave it to those politicians.

Prince Albert is a careful man, he noticed a slight change in Victoria's expression.

"What's the matter? My angel, you seem to have something on your mind."

Victoria leaned over and kissed Prince Albert's broad chest, then took a hard bite.

"I'm thinking what should I do if one day you don't love me anymore?"

Albert stroked Victoria's long hair and said in a gentle tone.

"My angel, what are you worrying about? Why? I love you forever."

"Then prove it." Victoria pouted.

"Come again? It's the fifth time tonight!"

Albert yelled, but soon saw that Victoria's eyes were wrong.

.....

December 30, 1842, the fifth day after Christmas.

Brussels, Belgium.

Leopold I received a new message.

"Your Majesty, the Dutch are preparing for war across the country! The total number is likely to exceed 100,000!" A minister anxiously reported.

"What's the rush? This is a good thing. The more the Dutch have, the more they can share our pressure. Although we have no alliance, we have a common enemy..."

It's just that Leopold I was interrupted by the minister before he finished speaking.

"According to reports from our people lurking in Amsterdam, the Dutch seem to have sent troops..."

This time it was Leopold I who interrupted the minister.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"He...they're coming for Brussels," the minister replied intermittently.

"What?! Damn idiot! You still want to take advantage of the fire at this time?!"

Leopold I was really shocked and angry at this time. He couldn't find words to describe the stupidity of King William II of the Netherlands, which was worse than his father William I.

With the German Confederation on one side and the Dutch on the other, it was a moment of crisis. Because Leopold I had already transferred Brussels' troops to reinforce the West Luxembourg and Liege Fortresses, there were only a few recruits in Brussels at this time.

But he was worthy of being a hero, and immediately decided to lead an army to stop the Dutch. Leopold I believed that the German Confederation's army would not give up the opportunity to attack the internally weak Netherlands.

At the same time, Leopold I sent someone to England to deliver the letter. This time he thought that the other party would send troops to rescue anyway. After all, a strong and complete Netherlands is not in the interests of Britain.

Netherlands + Belgium = Netherlands

In fact, theoretically speaking, Leopold I's views and actions are not wrong. Belgium's enthusiasm for fighting the Dutch is still very high. In just one day the newly recruited army and provisional police force were assembled, and they were going to the front under the command of Leopold I.

It's just that not long after they left the city, they collided head-on with a team with a flag similar to theirs on the outskirts of Leuven. It seemed that the Belgian flag had been adjusted ~lightnovelpub.net~ but something seemed wrong.

Leuven, a city in the west of Brussels, is a traffic artery.

The Belgian flag and the German Confederation flag are both black, red, and gold. If you put the German Confederate flag upside down, it will be the Belgian flag, and vice versa.

The flag of the German Confederation was designed in 1818. Since the German Confederation had no sense of existence, its flag was even less sense of existence. At that time, the flag was also related to the liberals, so it was abandoned in history.

Leopold I didn't know all this, he thought it was a defeated soldier on the front line. So Leopold I made a judgment as quickly as possible, and he wanted to go to the front to see the situation in person.

Ever since, King Leopold I of Belgium rushed to the opposite team with a dozen trusted cavalry.

Leopold I was even more angry when he saw these soldiers were neatly dressed, well-equipped, and talking and laughing.

"Whose army is this? Tell your officers to come out!"

The soldiers looked at the senior officer running over, and couldn't help laughing at the somewhat awkward German.

Seeing this, Leopold I was even more annoyed.

"At this time of national calamity, don't you have any sense of shame?!"

After the soldiers heard this, their expressions suddenly became solemn. At this time, a man who looked like an officer came riding on a horse.

"excuse me, you are?"

"Your king!" Leopold I said with a bit of sullenness and a bit of pride.

As soon as this remark came out, all the soldiers were dumbfounded, including the officer. After about ten seconds, the officer said.

"Your Majesty, you have been captured. We are the First Army of the German Confederation Volunteer Army, and our commander is Archduke Albrecht of Austria. Please disarm your troops, and I will take you to see His Excellency the Grand Duke. "