I sing what songs on which mountains, and what words I say to whom I meet.
When facing Wilhelm II, Liao Zhongjian's most important task was to improve the diplomatic relations between China and the Netherlands, talk about the friendship between the two sides, and strive to let the empire gain a foothold in Europe as soon as possible.
Facing a famous player like Marton Tropp, Liao Zhongjian’s starting point is the situation and future of Europe.
France became the best topic.
In the ongoing war, the French army showed amazing combat effectiveness, which also gave France the loudest voice on the European continent.
As a neighbor of France, it is impossible for the Netherlands not to feel pressure.
Liao Zhongjian believes that as a famous general, Marton Tropp must have been thinking about how to face the pressure from France in the future.
According to the current situation in Europe, finding allies, containing France, and gaining enough space for the Netherlands to move is definitely the only way for the upper class in the Netherlands.
Even without an empire, the Netherlands would have been able to find such allies.
But how could he allow Holland to fall into the arms of others?
When facing the seventeen-member board of directors of the Dutch East India Company, Xu Erjue had to talk about money.
Not how much money the empire could make the Dutch East India Company, but what their future losses would be.
"I heard that you gentlemen have very good relations with the nobles in the British Parliament?"
"Of course. We have common topics and have the same views on business and trade. Only the greedy and conservative king is the source of all evil."
Merrill van Linschoten is the current rotating chairman of the East India Company's board of directors. His voice is very steady and elegant, and he always smiles when he talks about his friends in England.
His father, Jan Hagen van Linschoten, is an immortal legend in the Netherlands.
He once worked undercover in Spain for fourteen years, collecting intelligence about the East, and finally helped the Netherlands open a waterway to the East.
His book "The Route" had a profound influence and directly led to the birth of the East India Company.
The British side was also influenced by him and gradually began to join in the activities of colonizing the world.
Therefore, many people in the Netherlands have close relations with British capitalists.
"Dear Chairman Linschoten, please forgive me for my presumption. Maybe in the near future, the friendship between you will disappear."
Xu Erjue also has a refreshing demeanor and words and deeds.
He was originally from a scholarly family, and now he is a relative of the royal family. His aura and body have allowed him to persuade the Dutch single-handedly.
Sure enough, his words made the directors of the East India Company very unhappy.
"Mr. Xu, I think you have just arrived in Europe and are still confused about the situation here. Not only do we have common business interests, but we also have common beliefs. This is an unbreakable relationship."
Xu Erjue always smiles and makes people feel good.
He waited patiently for the other party to finish his explanation before he casually hung up the map of Europe.
Because it was a new arrival, the map of the mission was not very detailed and could not achieve a blockbuster effect.
But it doesn't matter, Xu Erjue's purpose is not this.
"At present, it seems like this. But in the future, it will be hard to say."
This time, he didn't wait for anyone to question, but directly threw out his theory.
"Currently in the United Kingdom, the king and his army are retreating steadily, and I am afraid that it will not be long before they are completely defeated. By then, the Parliament with strong commercial and trade capabilities will take control of the United Kingdom, and its national policy will undergo a more radical change."
His eyes scanned everyone.
"Perhaps you gentlemen think that if people who like business control Britain, it can be a business opportunity for the Netherlands. But, in my opinion, that will be the end of the Netherlands."
After that, Xu Erjue raised his pen and drew on the map the route from the Netherlands to the New World, New Netherland, and from the Netherlands down the Atlantic Ocean to the East.
Then, he drew two big crosses where the two routes were close to Britain.
Need anything more to say?
It's no longer needed.
When the directors of the East India Company present saw this scene, their expressions changed.
Almost all Europeans believed that the purpose of the imperial mission's arrival was to establish diplomatic relations with the Netherlands and consolidate the alliance.
Even within the imperial mission, many people think so.
Only Liao Zhongjian, Xu Erjue, Kong Zhiguang and the Empire's Ambassador to the Netherlands knew that the Empire's biggest target during this visit was actually the United Kingdom.
In Europe during this period, Britain was inconspicuous.
People's focus was focused on the continent. The Thirty Years' War caused various countries to invest a lot of manpower and material resources. Almost everyone believed that this long war would determine the overlord of Europe.
When the British Civil War began at the same time, I don't know how many people secretly rejoiced, thinking that Britain was not on the stage and missed an important opportunity.
No one realized what impact this English Civil War would have on the world situation in the next three hundred years or so.
Of course Liao Zhongjian and others couldn't see it either.
But behind them is Zuo Mengeng!
After the extremely detailed analysis and deduction were read by them, the only thing they could do was to pay the most complete respect to His Majesty the Emperor, and then carry out their work in Europe in accordance with the Emperor's will.
Intervene in the British Civil War, interrupt the British process, and eliminate a potential enemy.
Of course, this plan cannot be accomplished by the mission alone.
Although they have seven third-level battleships and 400 marines, this force is nothing in Europe.
What Liao Zhongjian and others have to do is to find suitable targets in Europe and encourage them to interfere in British affairs.
The best choice is undoubtedly the Netherlands.
Even though the Dutch and British parliaments were both Protestant and had close relations with each other, with frequent commerce and trade, Zuo Menggeng knew very well that before long, the two sides would become life-and-death rivals.
It didn’t even wait until the end of the British bourgeois revolution.
He expected that the signs of the Anglo-Dutch dispute had already appeared, even if it was not obvious, but with the instigation of the mission, the Dutch would definitely realize this.
The way to make the Dutch fully aware of the crisis was the two crosses that Xu Erjue drew on the map.
The Netherlands has a small land area and lack of resources, so it relies heavily on maritime trade to build its country.
But in fact, geographically speaking, it is very disadvantageous for the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is slightly closer to northern Europe, which means that their external routes can easily be cut off.
Whether it is the route to the New World, New Netherland, or the route to Asia, without exception, they have to pass near the British Islands.
In other words, once there is a conflict between Britain and the Netherlands, Britain can easily cut off the Dutch sea trade.
No heavy hammer is needed to sound the drum. Xu Erjue believes that once these two crosses are drawn, the situation in Europe will inevitably change.