Start 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne

Chapter 775: Mikasa Battleship of Fusan Kingdom

Britain and France are both conducting military exercises around Burma and North Vietnam, the southern colonies of the ancient Far East country, threatening the ancient power in the north and successfully getting the ancient power, the hegemon of East Asia, to withdraw its troops from the Kingdom of Koryo.

On March 1880, 3, Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Jules Danetang visited the East Asian overlord, which immediately attracted international attention.

Japan-Ben, Tokyo.

Japanese Prime Minister Saigo Takamori said seriously in Kyoto: "We don't know the purpose of the Dutch Deputy Prime Minister arriving in the capital of the Far Eastern country for a visit during this sensitive period. We only hope that the Netherlands will not be hostile to Japan. "

London, England.

Prime Minister Creston mocked: "The Netherlands is preparing to intervene directly. Your Majesty, His Majesty William IV seems to be very sensitive to Northeast Asia."

Queen Victoria said noncommittally: "Can the emperor of Japan be trusted?"

Creston: "I heard that Saigo Takamori has made preparations for further penetration into the Koryo Peninsula. Emperor Meiji is behind it. The hawks in Japan have the upper hand, and the moderates have died down. , so Meiji naturally understands which way the wind is blowing.”

Queen Victoria nodded: "Who knows if Meiji himself asked Saigo Takamori to take the lead in order to leave a way out for himself to prevent the hawks from failing and ease relations with the moderates. But what does this have to do with us, right? Now, what is the attitude of Napoleon III of France?"

Creston: "Paris was still hesitant before, but President Thiers of the Third Republic of France in the south has been too quiet recently, which gave Napoleon III an idea, so His Majesty Napoleon III turned his attention to territorial expansion."

He looked up at Queen Victoria and said worriedly: "Are we really willing to support France in occupying the entire Cambodia? If France's power in the Far East expands rapidly, it may threaten us in the future. I'm worried that the Southeast Asian peninsula will become our On the battlefield between the two countries, France becomes the next Netherlands”

Queen Victoria shook her head and objected: "France? It's impossible. Don't forget, the Strait of Malacca is now in our hands and the Netherlands. Although North and South Vietnam, Laos and eastern Cambodia have made the French colonial area much larger, we own western Burma. -Dian, a port in the south of the ancient country of the Malay Peninsula and the East Asian overlord, and the French colonies are all invisibly surrounded by us."

The Queen said proudly: "What's more, we have Bangladesh and India in the rear area there. France is holding on to death. At most, it only struggles a little. The routes are all blocked by us."

She sighed and said: "On the contrary, it is the Netherlands, which owns the Dutch East Indies, Australia, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Alaska Peninsula. The South Pacific Islands are in their hands. Now Chile and Argentina share Tierra del Fuego in the south. into the hands of the Netherlands, and control of the Strait of Magellan was obtained by the Netherlands.

In the past, our British deployment at major strait hubs around the world was ultimately undermined by the Netherlands."

Creston's heart moved and he suddenly said: "Your Majesty, could it be that the Netherlands has always emphasized the sovereignty of the Strait of Malacca and is competing with us there to divert our attention? In fact, their goal from the beginning has been Strait of Magellan?”

The more they talked, Creston and the Queen looked at each other. Their eyes were full of shock. Queen Victoria said: "Your guess is very possible. William IV has always been cunning. Although he is low-key, he often A sure hit with one hit”

Creston asked with worry on his face: "Then let's help Japan now and weaken the Netherlands' actions in the North Pacific. The Netherlands ignored it some time ago, and now it suddenly sent the leader of the Socialist Party and the Dutch coalition cabinet government. Deputy Prime Minister Jules Danetang’s visit to the capital of a great Far Eastern country has ulterior motives. Will he start to participate in counterattacks against us?”

Queen Victoria's worry flashed away and she said: "What should come will come."

Although the Queen didn't say anything, Creston still noticed the Queen's worry.

Creston: "Should we weaken our support for Japan?"

Queen Victoria shook her head and said: "No, on the contrary, increase support. I want to use Emperor Meiji's ambition to test William IV's bottom line, so that we in the UK can know where to start against the Netherlands." "

Creston: "Then Japan proposed to us to purchase a warship?" Queen Victoria: "I approved it, right?"

Creston's whole body was shocked, and he finally responded: "Yes"

After Creston returned, the news of his promise to build new ships for Japan spread widely.

In the United Kingdom, several major British shipyards began to make every effort to build new warships for Japan.

Japan is naturally very excited.

Netherlands, mainland Australia, Melbourne.

Next to William IV sat Prime Minister Lyndon and Foreign Minister Joseph Beit, as well as the military's Chief of General Staff Mark Lüder and Navy Minister Jan Peter.

Jan Peter was giving a briefing: "The Ironclad was the first ironclad ship equipped by the Japanese and Japanese navy. The ship was built in 1863, launched on January 1864, 1, and completed on October 21, 1864. It was An angled ironclad built in Bordeaux, France. After being built, the ship traveled to many countries and was finally purchased by Japan in 10."

"Fu-so is Japan's first iron-hull ironclad ship. The ship was built on September 1875, 9, launched on April 24, 1877, and completed in 4. Fu-so was built by the United Kingdom for Japan. An armored ship with a waist gun room"

At present, the UK just handed over the second Fu-so sister ship to Japan last month."

Jan. Peter: "What Britain has just agreed to help Japan build is a battleship named Mikasa by Japan. It is an armored battleship."

As Janpeter finished speaking, Lyndon couldn't help but ask: "Battleship? Britain is actually willing to sell this most advanced active-duty ship to Japan?"

Jan. Peter: "I don't know why the UK has been so open to Japan recently. You know, when European countries are looking for purchases, the UK will always keep a hand."

William IV: "Tell me about the performance of the Mikasa"

Jan. Peter: "The Mikasa battleship is a British battleship currently in service based on the template. The main gun caliber is 12 inches (305 mm). It is a modified version of the Royal Navy's Formidable-class battleship. Two 2-inch secondary guns are added. It is expected to be The keel will be laid in May 6 and completed in 1880, with a displacement of 5 tons. The construction of three sister ships in the future will reach 1884 tons."

William IV's heart moved slightly because he remembered that these Mikasa ships, as the flagship of Togo Heihachiro in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, participated in the Battle of Brigade-Shun, the Battle of Huang-hai and the Battle of Tsushima. During the Battle of Tsushima, the Mikasa fired 124 12-inch shells and was hit by Tsarist Russian warships more than 40 times. She was lucky many times and did not cause serious damage.

I have to say that Japan during this period was really the lucky one in East Asia.

William IV suddenly asked: "Besides this Mikasa, are there any other battleships built by Britain for Japan?"

Jan Peter shook his head: "No"

William IV: "Then how come I heard that Britain also helped it build the battleship Katori?"

Ignoring the shock of several people, he said: It seems that our military's intelligence collection capabilities still need to be strengthened."

(End of this chapter)