Chapter 11 Leopold II

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Constantine couldn't help but be surprised when he heard the name Leopold.

In the original time and space, it was the King of Belgium, Leopold II, who hired Stanley to explore the Congo River Basin.

After the Berlin International Conference on the Division of Africa in 1884, Congo became the private territory of Leopold II.

Speaking of which, Leopold and Greece also have a long history.

Leopold was born in the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family of Germany. Who is the father of Leopold II?

It was Leopold I (isn't this nonsense).

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, how prominent is this surname?

Until the 21st century, the British royal family was born in the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family.

When World War I broke out, Britain and Germany fought to the death on the battlefield.

As mutually hostile countries, propaganda during the war was naturally to smear the opponent, publicize how just the own side was and how evil the enemy was.

The British saw that the British king was a German.

This is no wonder, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha is a genuine German surname.

During the special period of the war, a royal family with a German surname looked very awkward. Under pressure from public opinion, the British royal family changed their surname to Windsor.

The prominence of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family can be seen.

When Greece became independent in 1830, the Greek people once elected Leopold I as the King of Greece, but as a noble with a long history in Europe, he looked down on Greece, a small Balkan country that had just gained independence from the rule of the Ottoman Turks and was very poor.

Later, Belgium became independent from the Netherlands, and Leopold I was elected King of Belgium.

Belgium has always been a wealthy country in Europe. It is located between the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom. It has an important strategic position and rich coal and iron resources. It has completed industrialization very early. It is not only an industrial country, but also a capital exporting country. It once invested in building railways in the Republic of China.

The economic conditions are not comparable to those of Greece.

Later, Leopold I left a huge legacy of 15 million francs to his son Leopold II.

It seems that he made a lot of money in Belgium.

15 million francs in the 19th century, such a huge amount of money, how to effectively use it and make it flow with interest, has become a headache for the rich second generation Leopold II.

Because Belgium has an overcapacity of capital and fierce market competition, the investment income in Belgium is too low.

The interest income from depositing in the bank is stable, but people don't look down on it.

Belgium, which has just completed industrialization, has the same troubles as other industrial powers:

It needs enough cheap industrial raw material production areas as food for industrial machines.

Excess industrial production capacity needs to find a consumer market to vent.

Belgium itself also has the interests of finding colonies.

This guy took the large sum of money left by his father, spent money everywhere, and established an international organization called the "International African Association", and at the same time instructed newspapers to build momentum in public opinion.

With the support of Leopold (spending money), major countries also established branches of the "International African Association" in their own countries.

The purpose of the International African Association is: Africans live in darkness and need European civilization to dispel ignorance, protect vulnerable African natives from the bloody, cruel and evil Arab slave traders, and place Africa under the protection of European powers to maintain trade activities.

These words are not entirely high-sounding rhetoric, and some practical things have indeed been done.

At the end of the 19th century, Arabs were still engaged in the slave trade.

This call by the International African Association is in the interests of European countries, because everyone needs consumer markets and cheap industrial raw materials.

These Arabs arrested blacks and swept black villages, making it impossible for Europeans to do business and grab wealth with peace of mind.

In addition, the slave trade was indeed unpopular and too barbaric and bloody.

European countries united to fight against Arab slave traders, and finally the slave trade disappeared in the early 20th century.

To be honest, Constantine hired Stanley to explore the Congo River Basin, and he borrowed the momentum created by Leopold.

In order to deceive people and paralyze other countries, Constantine deliberately confused the flags of the "International African Association" and the "Congo Commission". Both flags have a gold star and a blue background, and there is no difference at all.

The Congo Commission was an organization established in Greece by Constantine persuading King George I to follow the practice of Leopold II.

Stanley's expedition activities were all done in the name of the Congo Commission.

The great Constantine, for the happiness, stability and unity of the African people, driven by a sense of justice, resolutely devoted himself to fighting against the evil forces in Africa.

He did not hesitate to spend a lot of money and pay out of his own pocket.

It is such selfless dedication, no self-interest, and only benefits the African people.

As for why the flags of the "Congo National Committee" and the "International African Association" are deliberately confused.

The southern part of the Congo River is Portugal's colony, Angola, which has been operating this colony since the Age of Exploration.

The northern part of the Congo River is the sphere of influence of the French, who are the overlords of the entire North Africa.

At the mouth of the Congo River where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, Portuguese and French gunboats often patrol back and forth.

If Stanley had not hoisted the flag of the International African Association on the Congo Commission's ship, the French and Portuguese would have intercepted the adventurous fleet at the mouth of the Congo River.

Whether it is the French or the Portuguese, they are determined to get the Congo River Basin. If they knew that it was the Congo Commission that was operating under their noses and had nothing to do with the African Association, they would have taken action long ago.

In this way, the entire African plan would have failed completely.

In order to gain the opportunity to contribute to the African people and not alarm the French and Portuguese colonists, Constantine ordered to hoist the flag with a blue background of Venus.

After all, everyone has the same dream and the same world, right? It doesn't matter if we borrow it.

Now suddenly I heard Stanley say that the Cameron expedition supported by King Leopold of Belgium appeared in the coastal area of ​​Tanzania in Africa and wanted to move inland. How could I not be moved?

The Cameron expedition must be stopped anyway, otherwise it will be very troublesome in the future.

"What are your plans, Mr. Stanley?" Constantine asked, looking at Stanley who was calm and composed.

"Your Excellency the Duke, it's nothing more than???" After saying this, he paused for a moment and said nothing more. Constantine looked up in surprise and looked at Stanley.

Stanley waved his right hand like a knife.

Constantine was silent, thinking with his head down.

If it was just a competition of financial strength, they might not be inferior to him.

Moreover, Belgium's national strength pales in comparison to Greece's domestic mud.

Since there was no other way, he could only take decisive measures.

"What do you need me to do?" Constantine lowered his head, staring at the table, and tapped the table with his five fingers "da da da" in turn.

Stanley was really surprised when he heard this answer, looking at Constantine's immature appearance.

Obviously, Constantine understood what his actions meant.

Until then, Stanley, an old-timer explorer who was used to adventure in Africa, put away his contempt for Constantine, a 15-year-old boy from an upper-class aristocratic family.

After thinking for a while, Stanley said, "Leopold II is a wealthy man. The expedition team he organized is not weak. If you want to take action, you must be absolutely sure, otherwise if the matter is exposed, there will be a big...?".

Constantine interrupted Stanley's words, stared at Stanley, and said, "You only need to say the request. What do you need me to do?".

"I need professional military personnel to support. You know, the mercenaries recruited by our expedition team are amateurs with varying qualities," Stanley said.

"The Royal Guards, 500 people, well-equipped, part of the royal guard, is the limit of what I can mobilize," Constantine said.

"In addition, I will give you another 1 million francs as funding for the next period of time. Banning will receive this check," Constantine said with a straight face.

Banning is responsible for the financial expenditure of the Congo Commission and has been in the African expedition team. He is Constantine's confidant.

He has made great contributions to the smooth progress of the African plan and is also the chairman of the Congo Commission.

Banning supervises the activities of the adventure team on behalf of Constantine.

Although Constantine is the crown prince of Greece, he is only 15 years old after all. He is currently studying at the Athens Military Academy. The 500-man Royal Guards are the limit of what he can mobilize.

Constantine has put all the power in his hands. If this operation fails, I am afraid that all the previous efforts will be in vain.

The royal family will no longer support the African plan.

Stanley was shocked by Constantine's decisiveness. He not only added 500 professional military personnel, but also took the initiative to increase the expedition funds by 1 million.

For a time, Stanley was both happy and a little uneasy.

He was happy that he had received Constantine's full help, and was uneasy about the consequences of unsuccessful work.

The pressure is huge.

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