unclear

Chapter 1261: Straight to the Point 3
"Uh... I don't think things will get that bad, Your Highness?"

Compared with the three local officials, Governor Cohen, who knew the actual situation best, was more cautious. He did not answer Helmont directly, but threw the question to the Prince of Orange, his eyes full of expectation and anxiety.

In fact, he was the one who was kept in the dark. The prince's visit was not notified in advance and was not included in the plan. He was not informed until the escort ship was two days away from Batavia by a merchant ship that arrived earlier.

As for what the prince was here for and what happened in Europe, he knew less than the Ming emperor. He only heard that the Ming navy attacked the Spanish fleet on the east side of the Pacific Ocean, causing great losses, and he went to the tavern to celebrate.

It was not until he arrived at the Tongzhou Posthouse that he heard some of the inside story from Grand Secretary Silva. However, he still did not believe that the Prince of Orange was here to seek justice from the Ming Empire on behalf of the Kingdom of Spain. This would only make the relatives sad and the enemies happy.

"Of course, I am only making some suggestions to the Ming Emperor on behalf of the European monarchs. The Dutch Republic and the Ming Empire have had a foundation of friendly cooperation for decades. However, the Emperor's plan is too hasty and does not fully consider the different needs of various countries, including the Netherlands."

The Prince of Orange knew the look in Governor Cohen's eyes, and he felt bitter. He did not want to fall out with the Ming Empire, but the Ming Empire had been expanding its influence in Asia over the years, which had affected the development of European countries.

This is secondary. No one could care about Asia before the war in Europe was over. But getting involved in the New World was another matter. European countries fought each other over it, and the spoils were divided unevenly among relatives. In the end, the meat was rotten in the pot. It was the difference between eating one more bite or one less bite.

But the situation changed completely when the Ming Empire intervened. Cousins, nephews, nieces, sisters-in-law and younger sisters-in-law must not let outsiders take advantage of the situation. Anyone who failed to act properly or turned his elbow outward at this time would most likely be regarded as a public enemy of Europe.

The Netherlands has indeed earned huge wealth from Asia in recent years, which is why it is said that Amsterdam has replaced Paris, and it has also created a thriving development trend for the Republic.

However, no matter how rich the Netherlands was, it was still a small country. The reason why it dared to break off with Spain was that it saw through the attitude of the French and received secret help from France, England, Denmark, Sweden and some German nobles.

If you offend all these countries and princes, you don't need them to fight back. You just need to show neutrality and turn a blind eye. In less than a year, the Netherlands will be wiped off the map by Spain, including the House of Orange.

For the survival of the family, even a mountain of gold had to be given up. Without the Ming Empire, the House of Orange and the Dutch Republic would still be able to survive, but with less income.

If they were regarded as public enemies in Europe, their family would have nowhere to stay. At that time, the Republicans in China would take the opportunity to replace the ruling position of the Orange family. They couldn't just move to Batavia.

"Excuse me for being frank, Your Highness, but the Netherlands's way out is not in Europe, but in Asia, or more precisely, in the Ming Empire. Not long after I arrived here, I had a face-to-face discussion with His Majesty the Emperor about the status of European countries.

At that time, His Majesty the Emperor clearly pointed out that the war in Europe would not continue forever, and when the Kingdom of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire showed signs of fatigue, the war would end.

By then, France will become the most powerful country in Europe, and England will gradually replace the Netherlands as the hegemon in the Atlantic. The reason is simple. The Dutch Republic is too small and has no ability to protect its own interests. The ancients of the Ming Dynasty had a fable that said that if a child walks on the street holding a large piece of gold, he will be robbed sooner or later. The reason is simple. The child is too weak, and the gold is too precious.

I also asked if there was any way to change it, and the answer was optimistic. His Majesty the Emperor said that the Netherlands only needed to continue to strengthen cooperation with the Ming Dynasty and become a true ally, an all-round ally. Just like a child holding a gold nugget found a strong man to join hands with, only then can he be safer.

There is a saying in Ming Dynasty philosophy that sums this up very well: make friends with those far away and attack those near. The Ming Emperor said something even wiser: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

As a small country, it is not about how rich you are, nor about building a strong military, because that will only make you die faster. Finding a strong ally in the distance is the way to survive, and it is even safer if this ally happens to be hostile to the threat around you.

In fact, the principle is very simple, interests. For the Ming Empire, the Netherlands is its spokesperson and business partner in Europe. The safety of the Netherlands is related to the interests of the Ming Empire in Europe. For its own interests, the Ming Empire will also find ways to protect the safety of the Netherlands.

On the other hand, the Ming Empire was the source of goods and protector of the Netherlands, and it had to be carefully maintained. The most stable relationship in the world is not blood, nor marriage, nor alliance, but interests. Only when both parties need each other will they really care about each other.

Looking around the world, the Netherlands cannot find a second Ming Empire, but the Ming Empire can find a second Netherlands. Not to mention the distant past, the Venetians wanted to replace it very much.

Imagine that if Dutch merchant ships were driven out of Asian waters, the quickest and most convenient alternative would be the Mediterranean. Goods from the Ming Empire could land in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, reach the eastern coast of the Mediterranean by land, and then be shipped to the Republic of Venice by sea.

Although the cost may be slightly higher due to two transfers, the overall route is much shorter. Without competition for the same goods, the final profit is not low.

Now you should understand why the Ming Emperor personally led an expedition to attack the Ottoman Empire over a trivial matter, and why he only captured Damascus along the Tigris River and did not further attack the Ottoman cities to the north.

That was not revenge at all, but strategy. To open up the commercial route connecting Asia and the Mediterranean and control this route in one's own hands. From this point of view, it can be seen that the Ming emperor had long been prepared to lose the Netherlands. "

Descartes believed that the Prince of Orange did not have a deep understanding of the current world situation, especially the position of the Dutch Republic. Only by analyzing this point clearly can we see the road ahead more clearly and avoid becoming a victim of other countries.

Although he was born in France and grew up in France during his youth and adolescence, he really entered adulthood and saw the society in the Netherlands. After his father passed away, he moved to the Netherlands to avoid the restrictions of the church. He still had some feelings for this relatively relaxed country and did not want to see his father go astray and seek his own death.

(End of this chapter)