I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 835: Good Guys and Villains

Afterwards, Dutch Parliament Speaker Danders came in front of the crowd and spoke on behalf of the Dutch government with a sad look on his face.

He first severely criticized Britain and Prussia for forcing the Netherlands to participate in this unjust war, which caused the Netherlands to cause irreparable damage to France. He expressed his most sincere apologies to France on behalf of the Netherlands.

He then took out the armistice agreement document and began to read it out item by item.

"My government will try the war criminals who took part in the invasion of Wallonia..."

Dandels then explained the meaning of war crimes - the term war crimes did not exist in this era.

Before he finished speaking, faint crying sounds could be heard all around.

The Netherlands sent more than 20,000 soldiers to participate in the anti-French alliance this time, and many of the onlookers were relatives and family members of the soldiers.

Dandels raised his hand and pressed it down, saying loudly: "The soldiers are just following orders. Only officers above the rank of major need to bear the responsibility for provoking the war!"

The onlookers immediately breathed a sigh of relief and began to cheer, "Severely punish the criminals who provoked the war!"

"Try the war criminals!"

"Hang them!"

When the crowd gradually quieted down, Dandels read out the amount of war reparations:
"...a total of 70 Dutch guilders must be paid to the French government."

This time he immediately added: "We caused more than 80 losses to France, but His Majesty the King of France showed mercy and pardoned part of it."

People didn't feel much about it. Last year, Amsterdam Bank spent more than 100 million Dutch guilders to acquire Batavia Trade Bank. So 70 was not a big amount.

Dandels then mentioned the clause of adding "noble seats" to Parliament.

Most of the ordinary citizens had no idea what this meant, but the nobles present began to cheer, "This is a fair parliament!"

"Oh God! Thank the French!"

"There is hope for the future of the Netherlands again..."

Dandels looked at the armistice agreement and finally read:
"According to the request of the French government, the Netherlands will withdraw from the alliance treaty with Britain and Prussia and swear to always abide by the status of a neutral country..."

The square was silent for a moment, and then suddenly broke out into thunderous cheers.

In fact, the Dutch have always been dissatisfied with the Anglo-Dutch Alliance - which was signed by the Netherlands after they lost the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War ten years ago.

During that war, the British plundered a large number of Dutch merchant ships and occupied many Dutch colonies.

How could the Dutch not be excited when they saw that this humiliating alliance was about to be abolished?
As for the British getting angry?
The British were now busy fighting France and had no time to care about the Netherlands.

We'll talk about the rest after the war is over.

If the British really defeated France, it would not be shameful for the Netherlands to bow down and apologize to the European hegemon.

But for now, let’s cheer first.

I don't know who shouted first, "Long live the King of France!"

The nobles, whose political status had improved, immediately followed suit and shouted, "Long live His Majesty the King of France!"

"Long live the 'Savior of Suffering'!"

"Yes, the French are our saviors!"

“I love France!”

Dutch politicians such as Daenders never expected that this surrender ceremony would be like a celebration.

Afterwards, Dandels and Segur signed the armistice agreement. There was another round of cheers in the square, and then people began to march spontaneously to celebrate the end of the war.

However, the Dutch had no idea that the truly brutal war had yet to come...

The French troops withdrew much faster than Joseph had promised.

On the sixth day after the signing of the armistice agreement, the last French army retreated to Leopoldsburg in the Flemish region, and after a brief rest, continued to march southward via Liege to the Ardennes Plateau.

The distance between the two places is less than 120 kilometers.

The coalition forces led by the Duke of York rushed from Antwerp to Luxembourg, but they could only go through the Netherlands in the north, then go east around 's-Hertogenbosch, and then go south through Gelden.

The whole journey is about 330 kilometers, and you have to cross the river twice during the journey.

So at this time, the Duke of York had just arrived north of Luxembourg and had not even joined the battle.

Lefebvre's Army would reach the Ardennes Plateau in three days.

……

Southwest Netherlands.

Middelburg.

Four days after the French army evacuated the Netherlands, Major General Scherck, commander-in-chief of the Flemish National Army - well, he was promoted again - led an army of 1 to the suburbs of this prosperous coastal city.

Sihaik rode on his warhorse and looked around, and he actually felt a bit like an invincible general.

Yes, a week ago, Flemish officially declared independence from Austrian rule, formed a parliament, and established the Flemish Republic.

Immediately, the newly independent country declared war on the Netherlands on the grounds that "Dutch troops invaded Antwerp and Gant."

After Scheik set out from the north of Leuven, he was invincible along the way, and no Dutch city could stop his army for more than half a day.

He had easily captured the important city of Breda a few days ago. By this time, more than half of the cities in southern Holland were under the control of the Flemish Army.

However, Sihak knew very well that the reason why he could capture cities so easily was not because of his ability to fight, but because the Dutch army had already been wiped out by the French army in advance.

There was not a single flintlock rifle in any police station in the southern Netherlands.

This kind of battle could be easily won if a monkey were in charge.

There were sporadic gunshots in the distance.

Soon, Sihak's nephew Luca came galloping and reported to him with a relaxed look: "General, the Dutch defenders have surrendered!"

Well, Middelburg has barely put together a defense team of more than 300 people in the past few days, and they all use hunting rifles and even bows and arrows. How can they possibly stop the Flemish regular army?
Sihaik nodded: "The whole army will enter the city. I don't need to tell you what to do, right?"

"Yes, just leave it to me."

Two hours later, Flemish soldiers appeared on the streets of Middelburg, loudly announcing that the city was under the rule of the Flemish Republic.

The citizens who had experienced the French army entering the city a while ago were much calmer this time. They just watched quietly, waiting for these troops to leave quickly like the French.

However, word soon spread that all Middelburg officials, as well as Chamber of Commerce executives and bank directors, were asked to gather at City Hall immediately.

At 3 p.m., gunfire began to be heard in the city, and some said it was Flemish soldiers arresting officials who had failed to gather on time.

In the Middelburg City Hall, Lieutenant Colonel Luca, surrounded by soldiers, came before the panicked officials and wealthy businessmen and announced with a smile:

"In the name of the Flemish National Army Military Court, I declare you guilty of 'collusion with the Austrian tyrant' and arrest you all."

(End of this chapter)