My Italy

"Hello, Mr. Marco."

"Hello, Lord Bacona."

In the Palazzo della Serta in Rome, negotiators from Italy and the Netherlands, who were involved in the Borneo dispute, finally sat together.

In order to reduce the impact of this negotiation, Italy and the Netherlands both formed delegations headed by the foreign ministers.

However, although the level has been lowered, both parties understand the importance.

No, after both parties took their seats, Marco, the Dutch Foreign Minister, spoke. "The whole country is very indignant about the dispute between your two countries in Borneo. However, in order to maintain the friendship between your two countries, our country is willing to make concessions for this. Our country is willing to hand over the Borneo colony to you. However, our country has previously invested a lot of money in infrastructure construction in Borneo, so in line with the principle of who uses it, who pays, this cost should also be paid by your country."

Marco's words are a condition for the Netherlands to make concessions, and it can also be regarded as an explanation to the country. The Netherlands did not transfer the Borneo colony under pressure from Italy, but the colony could no longer afford to pay for it. It happened to be what Italy wanted, so it could use it in exchange for some funds to improve people's livelihood. This is not a shame.

Faced with the Dutch's concession conditions, Bacona, who was the head of the Italian negotiations, nodded and replied. "This is also reasonable and reasonable. Your country has invested a lot of money in Borneo. However, our country is not very financially wealthy. I hope your country will not speak too much."

The Italian government had also discussed paying funds to the Dutch before. Paying part of the funds in exchange for the remaining Dutch Borneo territory would also be beneficial to solving the problem, and Italy would not mind. Of course, it won’t work if the Dutch lion opens his mouth, so that’s why I added this sentence later.

"Three million pounds, our country thinks this is a very reasonable figure."

Marco, the Dutch negotiator, immediately stated the Dutch's demands.

Faced with the request made by the Dutch representative Marco, even though he knew that this was just a condition for the Dutch to ask for an exorbitant price, it still caused a burst of laughter from the Italian representative. Three million pounds, this is the cost of building two and a half Turin-class ships. Just to compensate the Dutch, they must be too proud. Besides, Italy is not rich either, so spending money here is not worth it at all.

Bacona, the Italian negotiator, was even more blunt in his remarks. "Sir Marco, your country's requirements are a bit confusing."

The subtext is that the Dutch are unrealistic in their demands.

To be fair, is the Dutch's request reasonable?

From a fair point of view, the Dutch did not ask for more than three million pounds. Despite the fact that only about one-third of Borneo is left in the hands of the Dutch, it still has more than 200,000 square kilometers. Although it has not yet been developed, let alone three million pounds, five million is not expensive.

But is this deal fair?

Italy spent so much time preparing and spending a lot of money to force the Dutch to sell the Borneo colony, just to buy the remaining Borneo from the Dutch in a fair way?

As long as no normal person would think so, don't forget that the Dutch had to sell this colony to Italy, it was a buyer's market.

Of course, some people may argue that the Dutch could only transfer this land to others, such as the French, who have a bad relationship with Italy, and let the two countries fight for this land.

Anyone who can come up with such a bad idea must have no sense of diplomacy. Let’s not talk about whether the French are willing to take chestnuts from the fire for the Dutch. The consequences of Italy’s rage alone are not something the Dutch can bear.

To put it bluntly, if it can’t deal with the foreigners, it can’t deal with you. What should Italy do if it turns around and attacks other parts of the Spice Islands?

Will these places be sold to other countries as well?

It would no longer be like dividing the Dutch colonies among the various countries, which would be called losing everything.

Bacona, who also understood this truth, stretched out an open palm and said. "Our country is willing to pay half a million pounds for this."

Well, the counter-offer is only one level long, which is considered breaking the bones.

Upon hearing the Italian's counteroffer, the Dutch delegation knew that the negotiation would not be too short.

When the two countries were negotiating for Borneo, as the monarch of Italy, Carlo, in addition to paying a little attention to the negotiation process, he and the government focused more on another unexpected situation.

The Abyssinians met the Sudanese on the shores of Lake Tana and won a great victory. In this battle, Menelik II, the king of Abyssinia, used the method of showing weakness to the enemy to lure the Sudanese deep into the hinterland, and even gave up the old capital of Abyssinia, Gondar.

When the Sudanese thought that Abyssinia was weak and became more pampered, they immediately cut off its retreat. They even used the familiar terrain to press in and suddenly appeared near Gondar, forming a siege to the enemy.

Only then did the Sudanese who were besieged in Gondar realize that they had been fooled by the Abyssinians. Instead of fighting around Gondar, the enemy's combat effectiveness was even more powerful, and there were too many rifles and artillery.

Knowing that they were outmatched, the Sudanese chose to break through at this time, but it was too late to break through at this time. The Abyssinian Guards who performed the interleaving mission did not disappoint their king's expectations and stopped them at a place called Qurakya, less than fifty kilometers away from Gondar.

The two sides fought for two days, but the Sudanese failed to break through the interception. When Menelik II personally arrived with the main force, the Sudanese collapsed. Only more than 40,000 of the 120,000 people fled back, and the remaining nearly 80,000 people were either killed in battle or captured. After this disastrous defeat, the Sudan was even more devastated.

Menelik II not only drove the Sudanese forces out of Lake Tana, but also rushed out of the Ethiopian plateau and occupied Damazin, Sinja, Adalif and other places.

Now as long as he is ruthless, it is not impossible to capture Khartoum along the Blue Nile River. Of course, this was only a temporary occupation, and the Abyssinians would not be able to hold on for long before they would be driven back.

The shrewd Menelik II certainly knew that a short-term occupation would not be beneficial to him, so after obtaining the important place to enter the Sudan, he did not take action and waited for the Sudan to make an offer. With more than 60,000 captured hostages in his hands, he did not have to worry about the Sudanese not coming to seek peace.

Menelik II had his own ideas, and Italy, as the suzerain country, could also benefit from it.

No, Carlo summoned military and political officials to discuss the benefits that the Abyssinian victory could bring to him.

"Your Majesty, this victory for the Abyssinians comes just in time."

As a military boss, Army Minister Marshal Cardolna was the first to speak. "This victory will give us the opportunity to go deep into Sudan. Although we cannot do it ourselves due to the attitude of the British, the Abyssinians can. I suggest that we can sell a batch of weapons to them again, hinting at their To combat the Sudanese, I believe they will have great interest in expanding on both sides of the fertile Blue Nile.”

That's right, as a hawkish military representative, how could Marshal Cadorna give up the opportunity to expand Italian interests and let the Abyssinians occupy more land, whether it was trading with others or in exchange, he would use Worthy.

Although what Marshal Cardorna said seemed reasonable, some people still disagreed. As Prime Minister, Despretis stood up. "Your Majesty, I do not agree with Marshal Cardorna's idea. The Sudan's status is too important. In order to avoid unnecessary complications, it is inappropriate for our country to show interest in this region."

Although neither of them said it explicitly, everyone knew they were talking about the British.

Carlo felt that what both of them said was reasonable, but one was radical and wanted to get more benefits in exchange for benefits, while the other was prudent and gave up when things got good.

Carlo also knew that since the British were driven out of Sudan, they had been eyeing an independent Sultanate. Now that Italy has occupied Libya, it has already aroused the vigilance of the British. If it continues to reach out to Sudan, there is no guarantee that it will cause a backlash from the British.

One more thing to say here is that the British Mediterranean Fleet has moved, and its home port has been moved from Malta to the Great Pressure, nearly twenty years earlier than the original time and space. The reason is that Italy has occupied Libya, which makes the British fleet in Malta feel a bit awkward.

Of course, Carlo was not a historian and did not understand this, but he could also feel the implications of the British move to relocate the Mediterranean fleet.

"Well, let's slow down the issue of continuing to sell arms to the Abyssinians. Prime Minister, please talk to the British ambassador first and see the British attitude first."

That's right, Carlo is seeking stability now. He doesn't want to cause too many troubles this year, and will wait until this year to talk about anything.

"As you command, Your Majesty."

After hearing Carlo's answer, Prime Minister Despretis was overjoyed, and Marshal Cardorna had no choice but to accept it.

Carlo saw Marshal Cardorna's disappointed expression in his eyes, and he then said. "Marshal Cardorna will stay for now. There is something I need to discuss with you."