Chapter 2261 Poseidon’s Winter Banquet (3)

The North Sea is always covered with fog in winter, which is sometimes blown to the land by the westerly wind, making cities like Amsterdam known as "fog cities". The visibility is less than 10 meters, and even if there are street lights, it is blurry.

The North Sea was originally a bay in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean. The Rhine River once flowed here. As the glaciers were cut during the glacial period, the mountains were washed away, leaving a shallow basin between England and the mainland. Compared with the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea is

It is relatively shallow, and the seabed sediments are mainly glacial gravel, sand and silt, which are re-transported by ocean currents and waves.

The tides in the North Sea are complex. The tidal difference in the outer sea area is only 1 meter, while some parts of the coast of England are 7 meters high. The combination of large waves and storm tides causes more serious damage to the coast, sometimes with splashes of more than ten meters.

Huge waves.

But compared to the Netherlands, England still has many excellent ports, such as Liverpool. Economically, the northerners of the Netherlands are far ahead of the southerners. Thanks to the sea defense embankment, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague have become internationally renowned large ports.

Establish their own maritime caravan, and they can also trade with Germany along the Rhine River. The southern Netherlands relies on mountains, lacks mineral resources, and has not established its own merchant fleet. 80% of its raw materials come from France.

The economy is relatively backward.

The Netherlands originally belonged to Central Frankia. After the king died, his heirs began to fight for the inheritance. The country was divided and the princes fought. Until 1384, the Duchy of Burgundy occupied all the land. After the death of Charles the Bold, the duchy was divided between France and the Holy Roman Empire.

, then the lowlands were ruled alternately between the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and France.

As early as the 17th century, the Dutchman Leeuwen Hook discovered bacteria, protozoa, and red blood cells in the blood through his improved microscope. The Dutch are very clean, and this habit was also passed on to Belgium during the Dutch Republic's rule.

Belgians, the streets in Belgium are much cleaner than those in Paris. But bacteriology had not yet been formed at this time, but public health in European cities had begun to develop.

In 1665, a great plague broke out in London. Charles II of the Stuart dynasty fled with all the palace officials, ministers and wealthy people, leaving only a few city hall officials, pharmacists and doctors to fight the plague with the people.

, to maintain the operation of the city. Most of this plague is believed to be introduced from the Netherlands, because not long ago, a plague also occurred in Amsterdam, and 50,000 people died.

Because of the plague, British hygiene habits changed. People cleaned themselves by bathing instead of using spices as in the past. Before, every room in the hotel they stayed in in Calais had a bathroom.

It happened that this period was during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. In addition to the legend that the α2 Canis star, which represents the "Emperor's Heart", particularly shone when Charles II was on his way back to his country, Charles II also traveled with Louis XIV.

When attacking the Netherlands, the person responsible for resisting the incoming troops was William III. After the Glorious Revolution in England, William III was invited to wear the British crown with Mary II, and refused the wizarding legislation to protect and recognize the safety of wizards.

His father, William II, died of smallpox in 1650. His posthumous son, William III, was born eight days after his death. Princess Mary Henrietta Stuart became a widow at the age of 20. The Dutch Parliament took this opportunity to launch a coup.

, and then entered a 22-year period of no rule. The little king was monitored and controlled since he was a child.

By the end of 1671, the Netherlands received definite news that the British and French alliance were about to attack, so William III braved the severe cold and set out to inspect various fortresses. In addition to the people who cheered him, he saw more fortresses that were in disrepair.

He wrote a proposal to the Central Council, but this proposal was not taken seriously because they were still arguing over the appointment of command. In 1672, when the British and French armies pressed the border, the United Provincial Republic allowed William III to return to power, that is,

To "pro-government", the first thing he has to do is to "conquer personally".

In 1670, William III left the Netherlands for England in the name of debt collection, hoping that his uncle Charles II would support him in becoming the King of the Netherlands. However, after the meeting, Charles II concealed the secret agreement with Louis XIV and took his nephew to various romantic places.

, Casino, and seeing the entertainment kingdom he established in London after his return, William III soon became full of contempt for this uncle, and gave up his plan to rely on his uncle to support the revival of the family. Like all teenagers, he planned to regain power by his own strength.

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In the 16th century, Spain attacked France and the Ottoman Empire many times, expanded large tracts of colonies, and established the first empire on which the sun never set. However, the over-expansion of armaments caused Spain to declare national bankruptcy three times in a row. At that time, there was no credit system in Europe.

, in short, the Spanish treasury was empty, and the Netherlands was full of trade, so the Spanish launched an attack on the Netherlands.

The king not only imposed heavy taxes on the Netherlands, but also forced the Dutch to buy national debt. After buying the national debt, he did not want to pay it back. This is when the Inquisition came in handy.

About 50,000 Protestants were executed, and a large-scale witch hunt also broke out. Sometimes a person may not be a witch, but the magistrate took a fancy to the jewelry and sculptures he made, and asked craftsmen to sell them to him at a low price.

If anyone disobeys, they will be burned to death in the name of desecrating the icon. Faced with this situation, the seventeen provinces of the Netherlands signed an agreement in Ghent in 1576 to launch the Netherlands Revolution. In the face of the common enemy the Spanish, the north and the south

The differences are not serious.

However, the revolutionary storm intensified and went beyond control. The Protestants in the north attacked all Catholics, even the Dutch in the south. To the Dutch in the south, they said that the Spaniards just raised taxes and asked for money.

But the northerners wanted their land. After weighing the situation, the Southern Netherlands simply formed the "League of Arras" 10 years after the signing of the contract, made peace with Spain, and became the Spanish Netherlands.

The northerners, who were deeply affected by religious persecution and economic plunder, continued to fight against Spain with no room for maneuver. The siege of Ostend was a heavy blow to the Netherlands. Although the losses were made up for by other victories, both the Netherlands and Spain needed it.

After some breathing time, an agreement was finally signed in London in 1609, establishing a twelve-year truce.

Then the Thirty Years' War broke out, and the Netherlands joined Gustav's camp and launched an overall attack on the Spanish Netherlands. The Eighty Years' War ended in 1648, the same year the Thirty Years' War ended.

The person who laid the foundation was Frederick Henry, known as William the Silent, and the person who signed the contract was William II, the father of William III who died of smallpox in 1650.

The wealth created by the seaport is far higher than the sum of the inland territories. Britain attaches even more importance to blue territories than the mainland, and the Strait of Dover has been a busy trade route since ancient times. At this time, the strength of the British navy increased greatly, and for the first time

The Anglo-Dutch War broke out when the British took the lead in shelling Dutch merchant ships in the Strait of Dover.

The Grand Speaker at the time was John de Witt, and the British ruler was Cromwell. Rather than resorting to force, the Grand Speaker decided to use diplomacy, and the two sides signed the Peace of Westminster in 1654.

, the Netherlands recognized that Britain had equal trading rights with itself in the East Indies.

The Second Anglo-Dutch War occurred during the Restoration. When Charles II succeeded to the throne in 1660, William III and his mother also attended the ceremony. William III's mother contracted smallpox here, and John de Witt was not present at this time.

"Deal with" this orphan without a father or mother, and William III was also infected with tuberculosis.

He taught William III to play tennis and exercised his body, making William III stronger, so that when he was 22 years old, William III could "conquer" in person.

During the Second Anglo-Dutch War, the Black Death broke out in both Amsterdam and London, but the war continued to be fought. People would look back before they died, until the Great Fire of London broke out.

Since that time, the navy has been building huge ships. Even if Bonaparte and Lannes really threw the boulder into the river, how long it would stay there is still a question. The flow speed and volume of the Scheldt River are likely to

They were washed away. But the inland river is indeed not conducive to warships using broadside artillery naval warfare. It is very suitable for the "Alert" destroyer that sent the Duke of Bedford's family to a banquet last time. It also has a copper ram.

Charles II died without an heir in 1685, and was succeeded by his younger brother James II. He only reigned for three years before the Glorious Revolution broke out, and then William III of Orange was invited by Parliament to become king.

From 1620 to 1720, a financial revolution broke out in England and a credit system was established. What is a credit system? Government power bowed its head under economic laws and accepted the business experience and rules accumulated by lenders, that is, merchants for centuries.

Making an assessment means that the government regards itself as a businessman, accepts the bank's loan system process, and allows the bank to review the assets and evaluate the ability to repay the loan. This is credit.

Louis XVI was able to borrow money because he was a king. If he declared the country bankrupt like the King of Spain, France's credit would fall to unknown extent, and it would be very difficult to borrow money from the outside world. In the 18th century

The Dutch were the most wealthy lenders and the most experienced appraisers, and the Void King's cabinet after the Glorious Revolution was able to institutionally make the regime bow its head and accept credit assessments from businessmen, and the alliance between the two parties was natural.

Even when William III was 22 years old, the Netherlands almost fell. Charles II sent people to persuade them to surrender. William III's answer was "I will die in the last trench of the Republic."

William Pitt Jr. said that the vitality and even the foundation of this nation are based on the national debt.

During the War of Independence, Britain also owed huge debts. It issued 3 million public bonds but subscribed for 5 million. This was all because Britain never defaulted on its debts.

It was public debt that led to the outbreak of the 80-year war in the Netherlands. It was also public debt that allowed the Netherlands to help Britain breathe a sigh of relief and even allow it to rise to a certain extent. Austria lost the war. Of course, the war bonds it issued became waste paper, but Napoleon forced it through the contract.

Its debt repayment is in line with the rules of the international game and at the same time it makes the Belgians happy.

In English, another name for paradise is heaven. It is only one letter different from haven, which represents port, and the pronunciation is very similar.

Vlissingen belongs to the Netherlands. The road from Vlissingen to Antwerp is located on the right bank of the Scheldt River. This side is less affected by the tides of the North Sea and can easily build excellent berths, but it is best to use an inland berth.

This way the impact on the ship will be minimal.

In a zero-growth world, people essentially engage in a zero-sum game, basically taking a gamble and running away. The bottom class tries to take advantage, and the top class repeatedly repudiates businessmen, and even resorts to surgery. The Knights Templar lent money to the kings of England and France for hundreds of years.

The Italian bankers in the war are all examples, and a world of positive growth must be based on "integrity" and "credibility".

It can be understood that Bonaparte no longer intends to play the public debt game in front of the Dutch. He is like Columbus going to the New World and telling the bankers about his plan. You can bet or not. This is equivalent to "buying a ticket."

You can enter the zoo by buying a ticket, and you can also do business in Belgium by buying a ticket.

Leclerc died, leaving an orphan and a widow. Paulina did not know how to operate the canal business. The Chalon Canal Company could not compete with Lyon in France, but they could go along the Rhine River to Belgium and the Netherlands.

The British guarded the West Indies, the gateway to the United States. Not only did they show off their power, they also wanted to capture Irish and British sailors on American merchant ships to replenish their manpower.

It is easier to eat when there are fewer people, and it is easier to work when there are more people. It is impossible for all men in England to serve as soldiers. Some people must be engaged in industrial production. During World War II, Dunkirk withdrew the armies from the European continent at all costs. Otherwise, Britain can only rely on the Boy Scouts.

Come to guard.

It takes time for children to grow up and that is what everyone needs.

However, Britain would not withdraw its troops from Malta. The Rhine Front was sent by Napoleon on the expedition to Saint-Domingue. They were almost completely wiped out. The conscription plan was canceled in 1802. If the Dutch garrison was withdrawn, the Rhine Front could be replenished or transferred to Malta.

Of course, no one wanted to go to Santo Domingo. Even the Swiss mercenaries mutinied when they heard they were going there.

Compared to tropical rainforests and rebels, what is more terrifying is yellow fever. These little things that can only be seen under a microscope are extremely deadly.

Napoleon encountered the Black Death during his expedition to Egypt. Except for himself, everyone else was isolated in Marseille for a period of time before being released. Human beings sometimes learn from experience that isolation is the best way to deal with the Black Death.

He is also a person who has experienced that kind of despair, so will he still raise money here to send those young people stationed in the Netherlands to Saint-Domingue?

She hoped that this was not the case and that she would use self-destruction to resist. Even if she could win a frontal battle in such a place, she would still lose it to endless guerrilla warfare after the war.

The ancient Greeks compared the country to a ship. In a democratic system, no matter the first mate, second mate or sailor, they all want to be the captain. They thought that when the storm is strong on the sea, they will work together to overcome the difficulties because they are afraid of being buried in the sea. But when the ship enters the port,

But it will fall apart due to power struggles among the crew.

Odysseus is still a human being. After a lightning strike, the crew members all fell into the sea. He still remembered to find his companions. However, it was written at the beginning of "The Odyssey" that these blasphemers will bring disaster to themselves.

The gods deprived them of the opportunity to return.

If Agamemnon and the army did not come back, Troy was besieged for 10 years. During this period, no one suspected that Odysseus was dead. Agamemnon returned. After comparison, the nobles discovered Odysseus.

Probably dead.

Agamemnon also did not end well, he was murdered by his wife and her lover.

In fact, Odysseus could have gone back earlier, if he had not listened to the words of the witch Circe and sailed the ship in the direction she pointed. She was the god of witches and lived in seclusion on the island of Aeaea because she was poisoned to death.

Her husband, the King of Sarmatia, was also the aunt of Princess Medea. Circe warmly invited his crew to the island for a feast, but she put potions in the food to make the crew eat

After eating the food, they all turned into piglets.

One of the crew members immediately reported the situation to Odysseus after escaping. The accompanying messenger Hermes suggested that Odysseus use the herb Moly to resist Circe's magic.

You can't believe what the witch says.

Georgiana said to herself.

At the last state banquet, the British felt that Bonaparte looked like a slovenly captain, so:

"Drive carefully, Captain." She said to his back, and then continued to entertain the guests.

Otherwise, everyone on the ship will die, and there will even be people fighting to steer the ship in the name of correcting the course and avoiding hitting the rocks, even if the ship is about to capsize in the storm.
Chapter completed!