Chapter 507: Eat both sides

After learning from the previous experience, Portugal needs to be much more cautious, so Archduke Verus 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 back the lost territory and go further. 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, which let Varus know what the British meant. East Africa is so huge that a powerful country may arise in the African region. This is not what a world hegemon like Britain wants to see. A second-tier country. Each colony has become an emerging power. Should the British colonies also follow suit and become independent countries, such as 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 to 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, it has also shown its dominance. power, instigating half of the world to confront the United States.

As for whether what Ernst said makes sense, just look at the attitudes of world hegemons in the past towards Afghanistan. They must know this. As for Afghanistan, the natural conditions in northern Myanmar are probably much better than those in northern Myanmar. As for Afghanistan Afghanistan is nothing less than the graveyard of empires.

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 was no reason for the British to worry that East Africa was expanding too fast and might enter West Africa. The Belgian Congo colony happened to be located right next to East Africa, and it was the only leverage the British could 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. However, the conditions in East Africa are as good as West 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.

Brussels, Belgium.

"Your Majesty, we in the UK come here 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 what Ambassador Clare said? East Africa shouldn't be so cruel!"

"Haha, Your Majesty, how do you think the millions of square kilometers of land in East Africa came from? Was it given to them by the Africans nearby?"

Leopold pretended to be solemn and said: "Then I wonder what your country's plans are?"

Claire told Leopold II directly what she said about Portugal. An imperceptible smile flashed in the eyes of Leopold II, an old fox, but his expression remained unchanged, as if he really understood what Britain said. Listened in.

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, there is nothing we can 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, it can take over the Congo Basin."

Leopold II pretended to be embarrassed: "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 can give you preferential treatment in arms transactions."

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 sold the British to East Africa. 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 plans for 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 the Congo. Congo-Brazzaville, that 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. He took British weapons and East African food and continued to expand to the west and north. Wouldn't life be better now? What?