Chapter 761 The Flemish Republic (asking for double monthly votes)
Seeing that Tyne was under control, Siheike got up from the ground, walked around him with some fear, and put on a flattering smile and said to Joseph:
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please give me two days so that your Flemish Legion can fight for you on the battlefield."
Tyne snorted coldly from the side: "Humph, as long as I am still here, no Flemish will serve the French!"
Joseph glanced at him and said to Siheike: "Is this Mr. Tyne very influential in your army?"
"Yes..." The latter nodded subconsciously, then immediately shook his head, "Ah, no, Your Highness, you know, General Tyne's family will pay a ransom for him, so he will show his so-called loyalty and courage here.
"Most soldiers don't want to be prisoners here, which means no pay and a long period of hard work. I will definitely be able to convince them."
Joseph looked at him with interest: "What about you? Why don't you have someone redeem you?"
"Uh, well...my family is relatively poor, and also, I admire you very much..."
Tyne said disdainfully: "Because this guy abandoned his position and ran away yesterday. After returning to Brussels, the only thing waiting for him is a military court trial."
A French soldier raised his gun in a threatening gesture and scolded him:
"Shut up!"
Joseph narrowed his eyes slightly and raised his hand to signal to the soldiers: "Oh, please give this general a minimum of dignity and let him go."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The soldiers released their hands on Tyne, but still stared at him with great vigilance.
Joseph first asked someone to take Siheike to the prisoner camp, and then turned his attention to Tyne:
"General Tyne, maybe we can cooperate. Oh, why don't you go to my tent and have a cup of tea?"
Tyne puffed up his chest proudly: "Oh, you don't have to waste your efforts. Flemish people will never be driven by anyone who speaks French!"
Interestingly, he said these words in French.
Of course, nowadays French is the fashion in the entire European aristocratic circle, and all nobles with good taste will learn it.
Joseph smiled and said with a hint of ridicule: "But Flemish people will accept the driving of German-speaking people."
"This, no..."
Tyne seemed a little embarrassed and argued: "You know, we fought..."
Joseph nodded: "Yes, and then I chose to surrender."
Tyne almost shouted: "What can we do? Austria is too powerful!"
Joseph suddenly approached him and lowered his voice: "Do you really want the Flemish region to get rid of Austrian rule?"
Tyne sneered: "And then be ruled by the French?"
"Of course not," Joseph said very sincerely, "My suggestion is to establish a Flemish Republic."
Tyne still sneered: "You mean a puppet country that accepts French 'protection'?"
Joseph shook his head: "No, it is a completely independent Flemish Republic with its own parliament and army, no French garrison, and no garrison of Austria, Prussia and other countries."
Tyne was stunned for a moment and sighed: "Even if we want to, we simply can't do it."
"What if there is French support? I mean, all-round support from military to diplomatic."
"Really?!" Surprise flashed in Tyne's eyes, but he immediately suppressed all emotions and looked at Joseph, "Why do you want to help the Flemish people?"
"Brussels." Joseph said, "I want Brussels."
"Haha!" Tyne suddenly slapped his thigh and laughed, "You are really a young careerist. Haha, Brussels?" After losing Brussels, what do the Flemish people have left? ”
The Flemish region is basically Brussels, Antwerp, Longen, plus the part of the province of Ghent north of the Scheldt River.
Although Brussels only accounts for about 20% of the area, it has nearly half of the economic income of the Flemish region. How could the Flemish people be willing to give it up?
Joseph smiled slightly: "There are still Zeeland, Breda and 's-Hertogenbosch left."
Tyne frowned and said: "Are you kidding? This is all Dutch territory..."
He suddenly realized something and looked at Joseph in surprise: "Holland? You want us to move Holland..."
Joseph nodded naturally: "The part south of the Vaal River will become the core area of the Flemish Republic."
"But this is simply impossible..."
"No, as long as you can find a suitable political leader in the Flanders region and convene a parliament, France will help you solve military matters."
Joseph knew very well that there were more than 1.4 million Dutch-speaking people in the Flemish region. They have deep conflicts with the Walloons and will find it difficult to rule effectively in the future.
Forcing it into French territory will only bring endless protests and riots.
Check out the 16-9 book bar and see the correct version!
It may also become a lever for foreign countries to contain France - especially since there is a Netherlands to the north that is very close to the Flemish people, and it is even easier to incite trouble in the Flemish area.
Therefore, compared to ruling here, letting them be independent is a better choice.
If the Flemish people occupy the three southernmost provinces of the Netherlands and establish a country, they will inevitably fight with the Dutch in the future. All they can rely on is France, the powerful country that helped them build their country.
The hatred of the Dutch will only be vented on the Flemish Republic, and even when there is a diplomatic need, France must be found as a mediator.
The Flemish people ruled the southern provinces of the Netherlands without any ethnic or linguistic barriers. Coupled with the Vaal River as a natural barrier, it will be extremely difficult for the Dutch to regain these places.
The most important thing for France is that if the Flemish people get Zeeland, they can control the mouth of the Rhine River!
If France directly controls this place, it will inevitably be hostile to Britain, Prussia, Austria, and most of the German states along the Rhine.
But after the establishment of the Flemish Republic, these pressures were borne by this small country.
When necessary, France can influence Rhine trade through Flanders without having to bear the burden of geopolitics.
Tyne confirmed in disbelief: "You are saying that Flanders is completely independent, and France will not have any troops stationed, delegated management, or diplomatic guidance..."
Joseph continued: "As well as trade, education, news, etc., there will be no interference. I only want Brussels."
Tyne could no longer hide his excitement.
The Flemish people continued to resist Spanish and Austrian rule in recent centuries. Now, I finally see my chance to gain freedom and independence!
For this goal, even giving up Brussels is not unacceptable. After all, the southern provinces of the Netherlands far exceed Brussels in terms of area and economy.
He bowed slightly to Joseph: "Your Highness, you seemed to have invited me to have tea just now?"
"Yes." Joseph asked someone to bring a horse to Tyne, "Please come this way."
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Soon, the two were riding together. Joseph continued: "So, regarding the matter of convening the parliament, who do you recommend?"
Tyne patted his chest and said quite proudly: "Actually, I am a member of the Antwerp Parliament, Your Highness."
(End of chapter)