Chapter 507: Both sides take it all
Based on the lessons learned last time, Portugal needs to be much more cautious, so Archduke Varus asked: "Do you still want us to test the waters now? Portugal can no longer withstand the torment. "
Williams said: "Don't worry, we can sign an alliance this time. If there is a war next time, Britain will definitely end up. Portugal only needs to follow us. You can take it. We can go one step further in regaining the lost territory. What our British Empire wants is to stifle the potential threat in East Africa and prevent it from becoming a country like the United States or Brazil. "
Williams specifically mentioned Brazil. Let Varus know what the British mean. East Africa is so huge that a powerful country may arise in Africa. This is not what a world hegemon like Britain wants to see. If one or two colonies have become emerging powers, then Should the British colonies follow suit and become independent countries, like India? Or Australia, Canada and the like.
Just like in the previous life, under the American civil and military power, many countries that were tortured to death by the United States seemed to be willing to die and survive. Not only did they not develop according to American thinking, but they further threatened the hegemony of the United States.
In the Middle East, Iran is also a headache for the United States, and it is the United States that caused the rise of Iran. Iran does have a trend of revival. This is not Ernst's nonsense. It is clear at a glance if you look at the growing influence of Iranian factions in Arab countries. Iran does not have the same appeal as Egypt, but Ernst believes that the small groups supported by Iran are more effective than the Arab countries as a whole.
As for the negative comments about Iran in the media, just take a look. If Iran was really that bad, it would not have so many followers in the Middle East. That is something that Saudi Arabia cannot buy with money.
Iran can be said to be the last hope of Arab civilization in the entire Middle East. It has found its own development path and completed industrialization. The key point is that it was not supported by the West, but developed under the blockade of the Western world. .
In addition to the two countries above, the last one is looking at the overall situation and the most powerful challenger to Western hegemony, the Far Eastern Empire.
The above three countries have formed three important forces in the World Island that the United States cannot underestimate. In Ernst's view, it is the existence of these three countries that prevents the United States, a country located in the Americas, from truly controlling the World Island.
As for other countries, India, for example, has nothing to say. Indian politicians are very good at governing the country and are good at maneuvering in the diplomatic field, but they lack the arrogant temperament to lead the world.
This is different from the Far East, Russia and Iran. They have always been traders on the Eurasian continent. The Far East and Iran have a strong historical background. Their ancestors were once among the leaders in the Eurasian continent. As for Russia, too He once showed his dominance and provoked half of the world to confront the United States.
As for whether what Ernst said makes sense, just look at the attitude of world hegemons in the past towards Afghanistan. They must know this. As for Afghanistan, the natural conditions in northern Myanmar are probably better than those in Afghanistan. Much better, as for becoming the graveyard of empires, it is nothing more than the location of Afghanistan.
Of course, this is just Ernst’s opinion. Ernst believes that the countries that have broken away from the Western world’s thinking model and developed well are the above three countries.
……
After appeasing Portugal, the next force that Britain found was Belgium. Now that Belgium has established a foothold in Congo-Brazzaville, especially with the help of East Africa, Ernst had to admit that he had some bad tastes in common with Leopold II. .
However, the British did not know the relationship between Belgium and East Africa, so the British wanted to bring Belgium into the camp of besieging East Africa.
There is no reason for the British to worry that East Africa is expanding too fast and might enter West Africa. The Belgian Congo colony is located right next to East Africa, and it is the only leverage the British can find.
As for France, which is the strongest in West Africa, France is now being held back by Germany. The establishment of East Africa has given Germany a template, so Germany also wants to try to see if it can win such a large territory in Africa, and like Only West Africa has such good conditions in East Africa.
As an enemy, France naturally tried its best to cause trouble for the Germans, but this also prevented France from fully investing its energy in colonizing West Africa.
The same is true for Italy. There is a balance of power between Italy and the Abyssinian Empire, so looking around East Africa, only Belgium is relatively leisurely. Belgium, Brussels.
"Your Majesty, we in Britain come with sincerity. East Africa is expanding too fast. The Germans’ ultimate goal is the entire Africa. Sooner or later, you will confront East Africa. "
Just like the African grasslands, African wild animals can travel freely, which makes the entire African wild animals seem to be carved out of a template. The British also believe that East Africa has the ambition to annex the entire sub-Saharan Africa. After all, under the same climate and natural conditions, it is easy to integrate into a civilization. The British certainly did not believe it before, but East Africa has dominated most of southern Africa, so this possibility really exists.
Leopold II pretended to be surprised and said: "Is it really as Ambassador Clare said? East Africa shouldn't be so cruel!"
"Haha, Your Majesty, where do you think the millions of square kilometers of land in East Africa came from? Was it given to them by the Africans next to them?"
Leopold pretended to be solemn and said: " I wonder what your country’s plans are?”
Claire told Leopold II directly what he had done with Portugal, and an imperceptible flash appeared in the eyes of Leopold II. smile, but his expression remained unchanged, as if he really listened to what Britain said.
Leopold II said: "Don't worry, your country, we will cooperate in this matter. As long as Belgium is here, East Africa will definitely not be able to go north. We will stop East Africa, but if East Africa bypasses Belgium, In the past, there was nothing we could do.”
Leopold II’s words did not satisfy Claire. Claire said: “This is not enough. Although the Congo rainforest is not of high value, it has a large area. If your country is willing, you can take over the Congo Basin.”
Leopold II pretended to be unreasonable: "The Congo rainforest is difficult to enter. We lack weapons and ships..."
"We will try our best to help your country in this regard. As long as your country can stop East Africa, we will I can give your country preferential treatment in arms trade."
Leopold II seemed to have made a big decision and said: "Okay! Then I can only try my best."
In fact, Leopold II was very satisfied with blackmailing Britain. As for going against East Africa, Leopold II had no such intention.
After sending Clare away, Leopold II changed hands and sold the British. He sent the news that Britain was wooing Belgium to East Africa.
As for the threat from East Africa, it has nothing to do with Belgium. East Africa provided a lot of support in Belgium's early colonial construction, so Leopold II was very relieved about East Africa because he knew that East Africa's goals were absolutely impossible. It's Belgium.
In addition to the very good relationship between the royal families of the two countries, East Africa can help Belgium colonize Congo-Brazzaville, which means that East Africa has no intentions towards the region. After all, Leopold II is aware of East Africa’s strength on the Ubangi River. , it can be said that Belgium can colonize Congo-Brazzaville, which is the tacit consent of East Africa.
Leopold II balanced the relationship between East Africa and Britain just like he balanced Britain and France in his previous life. He took advantage of both sides and continued to expand to the west and north with British weapons and East African food. Isn't this day going to get better?
(End of this chapter)