Start 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne

Chapter 736 A textbook-level patriotic figure
"Compared with war horses, cars and warships, bicycles are low-cost, easy to maintain, and highly flexible. They allow soldiers with heavy loads on the battlefield to increase their marching speed from 5 kilometers per hour to 20 kilometers per hour, which greatly reduces physical energy consumption. The car can run, and the car can fight when you get out of the car.”

Alexander II then ordered that the Tsarist Empire must also have an advanced bicycle army, with a minimum of no less than 5 people.

Looking around, he finally discovered that the only country that could support Tsarist Russia in completing the car purchase was the Kingdom of the Netherlands.After all, the bicycle patent rights reside in the Netherlands, and the largest bicycle company in the world is the Dutch East India Company.

In the end, Alexander II finally sent a telegram to William IV and proposed an order for [-] bicycles.

Of course, not only Alexander II of the Russian Empire, but also Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Siam, Greece, the Ottoman Empire, and South American countries all proposed the idea of ​​ordering bicycles to the Netherlands.

After all, their industrial strength is not comparable to that of the United Kingdom, the German Empire, the United States, France, etc., and they can have enough steel and machine models. Therefore, the Netherlands has become their order source for bicycles.

……

1879 4 Month 5 Day.

Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Henan Prime Minister Lin Deng: "Your Majesty, what should we do now? Which country should contribute first? The Russian Empire?"

William IV had already foreseen this scene.

The Netherlands began to promote the modernization of bicycles in 1861. According to the structure of later generations, it was reformed into later generations of pedals, two wheels and a chain mechanism. Reinforced plastic tires were born in 1862, and the modern bicycle model was complete.

In the early days, it was a leisure equipment for the wealthy gentry in the Netherlands, and then it slowly evolved from a Dutch racing bicycle into a popular means of transportation in the Netherlands very quickly, especially after the advent of rubber tires.

William IV and military experts saw the value of bicycles in wartime.

It is not surprising that William IV first secretly carried out this new technology, because this is the origin of bicycles, and industrial advancement only requires convenience.

Bicycles are not just on the front line. Currently, most military advocates in the Netherlands promote bicycles as reconnaissance vehicles, allowing scouts to approach the front line or ride near enemy troops to collect data, and then quickly bring the information to friendly lines.

This time the Dutch army led the five-nation coalition to use bicycle soldiers as a new type of cavalry.

Infantrymen on bicycles, like soldiers on horseback, usually dismount and fight on foot after arriving at the battlefield.

Cycling infantry can reach more places more flexibly and quickly, and often serve as assault troops.

This time on the battlefield in southern Chile, infantrymen on bicycles held enemy troops back until other units could arrive.

Therefore, the cycling team can be said to take the greatest credit.

William IV couldn't help but feel a little proud.

The Netherlands has held folk bicycle competitions in various places every year for more than ten years, so there are many folk cyclists. There are 2100 million white people in the Netherlands, and more than 400 million people can ride bicycles. Nearly 20% of them are the same as those with motor vehicle driving licenses. They are the new generation of Dutch bicycle transporters.

In other countries, such as the UK, only the middle class have it.

And don’t forget that more than 1800% of the 5 million Far Eastern indigenous and black Africans in the Netherlands can ride bicycles.

This number alone is enough to defeat most countries in Europe.

Prime Minister Linden: “Your Majesty, our Netherlands has been following your idea since 1865. The army conducted field tests on soldiers on bicycles for five consecutive days to verify the value of bicycles and the cooperation of soldiers in a competition.

The final result found that all the equipment carried by the infantrymen on bicycles ran 60 kilometers on complex terrain every day, which proved that they had stronger mobility and excellent physical strength preservation, and could go into battle as soon as they got off the car.On the contrary, after ordinary soldiers march with heavy loads, it takes longer to reach their destination, and they do not have the physical strength to enter the battle, so they can only be slaughtered by their opponents. "

William IV: "It seems that the trees planted for many years have finally blossomed and bear fruit."

When World War I broke out in the previous life, the Allied powers and governments scrambled to expand the size of their bicycle legions.

"I heard that a 17-year-old British cyclist, John Saar, lied about his age to join the war. He was the first victim of the British in this war. When delivering the message, he was attacked by the British in southern Chile. Died due to military fire attack”

Lin Tandeng said: "Yes"

William IV said sadly: "What a wonderful young man. I buried him generously, comforted his family, and gave him major-level treatment and family subsidies."

Linden hesitated for a moment, and finally said through gritted teeth: "Your Majesty, is this inappropriate? His level?"

William IV waved his hand and said without resistance: "This is the treatment I ordered for him."

He said to Linden: "Ask the Ministry of Education to prepare the elementary textbooks for next semester to include this boy's deeds. I want to make him a classic example of the Dutch who sacrificed their lives for the country."

Linden suddenly no longer objected, and his eyes shone brightly, "This is really worthy of your Majesty's reward."

William IV nodded and asked with some concern: "How is the UK currently?"

Britain was retreating rapidly in South America. He did not believe that those extremely arrogant people would be able to resist seeking revenge.

Lyndon was well prepared and said: "The British have begun to order a large number of bicycles in the country, and have begun to collect our training methods, trying to steal our training for their army to ride bicycles.

The Creston government has now ordered a collection of existing bicycles from the British middle class and gentry.”

He said solemnly: "With Queen Victoria's intervention, the British army has been able to possess more than 5 bicycles in less than a week."

Naturally, William IV predicts that Queen Victoria will come forward to achieve this effect.

Lyndon said worriedly: "The British have trained a bicycle army, but it is currently of no use in South America. I'm afraid they will use it in Southeast Asia."

William IV nodded and said: "Then tell us in Sumatra and Java to pay attention to safety protection, and also strengthen our contacts with the Malay Peninsula of the Kingdom of Siam, especially Songkhla, Satun, Trang, and Jia. Mi, Phang Nga and other coastal areas. Of course, the Phuket Island given to us by the Kingdom of Siam should be more prepared for British raids together with the occupied Nicobar Islands."

Lyndon: "Your Majesty, where is South America now?"

William IV: "Don't worry about that side yet. Don't forget, our Lieutenant General Castillo is still there. He has a comprehensive plan for the Six-Nation Alliance. He has already determined the headquarters of the Southern United Army in Edo. Er, distributed here in occupied Puerto Montt, Chile”

Linden was surprised and said: "In this way, the Netherlands' military position in South America is no longer worrying, but will Chilean President Artur Lauzon agree?"

William IV said coldly: "He will agree."

April 1879, 4, Santiago, Chile, South America.

The atmosphere inside the presidential palace in the capital Santiago was very depressing.

(End of this chapter)