Belgium is right next to France and Germany, and faces direct threats from France and Germany at all times.
Among the countries in the same situation, apart from Luxembourg, which is tiny and has no sense of existence, there is only one Switzerland. However, Switzerland is mountainous and has complex terrain, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is also extremely tough and has all the people in the army. In addition, it has financial attributes that cannot be explained in detail.
, and it is a permanently neutral country, so Belgium has no country that can help it share the pressure.
Regardless of whether it was France or Belgium, the first country they wanted to annex after they became stronger was Belgium. Before the Franco-Prussian War, Britain was worried about France annexing Belgium, so Britain just sat back and watched France lose.
It was the same after the rise of Germany. Belgium also faced the threat of national subjugation and genocide. At this time, the Congo Free State was really not important. Preserving the homeland was the most important thing. Once it became a government in exile, Belgium and Leopold II would lose everything.
Roque's confidence was based on this reason. Although anyone with a discerning eye could see the looming presence of southern Africa in the Congo Free State rebellion, Leopold II and the Belgian government only targeted the rebels in the Congo Free State and never spoke out.
Not to mention the southern African factor, after all, Belgium still relied on Britain and France to resist the German invasion.
With Rock's intervention, Congress quickly passed the federal government's budget, and it was passed almost unanimously. Rock did not realize the impact this would have until Sidney Milner came to Rock's home.
Be a guest.
"Locke, now you know, only the Lord will consider you wholeheartedly." Sidney Milner actually looked a little jealous of Adelaide's trust in Locke.
"Why?" Rock was surprised, not realizing why Sidney Milner said that at this moment.
"You haven't seen it yet?" Sidney Milner thought Roark was pretending to be stupid.
Rock was confused. He was really not pretending to be stupid, but he was really not good at these intrigues.
"The budget pushed by the prime minister has been delayed in passing. After you stepped in and it was almost unanimously passed, you didn't realize why?" Sidney Milner was also surprised. Roark has always been so smart. In West Germany,
Neil Milner doesn't look like he should be so slow.
"Sidney, you are overthinking. Don't forget that the Liberal Party was founded by Stoudemire and I. My party membership card is still No. 2." Rock didn't think it was Phillip and Irving who set him on fire.
Roast, although Philip and Owen have the ability to do so.
But thinking about it more carefully, it seems that Philip and Irving also have reasons to do this.
This is very scary. Rock really doesn't want to be cautious when he returns home.
"It's not that I'm overthinking it. I know your relationship with the Lord and your attitude towards the Prime Minister, but others don't know -" Sidney Milner said bluntly. In the eyes of others, Roark, as Mara,
Members of the Tilda family do have a natural stance.
"What should we do? The Lord doesn't have a daughter either -" Rock was indeed used to being casual in front of Sidney Milner, and he could blurt out such words.
"I don't have a daughter, but I have a few nieces. Would you like to introduce me to them?" Sidney Milner didn't look like he was joking, his expression was so sincere.
There is a strange thing to say. Although the UK is a monogamous system and married couples are not allowed to remarry, the UK recognizes marriages concluded abroad.
In other words, if a British person wants to, they can get married once in England and then go to France to get married again. This kind of relationship is also recognized by the British courts.
This is really rotten.
Compared with the UK, southern Africa is more casual about marriage. It is very common among Africans for Zhazha’s wives to form a company. Yaya’s father used to be a tribal chief, so Yaya’s brothers
so many.
It is said that there are more than sixty of them, and the youngest one is not yet weaned.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. If Phyllis hears you, you'll be doomed." Rock wasn't kidding. With Phyllis and Ada already in his mind, Rock had no time to spare. Adding another one would make the house too crowded.
"Consider Locke, the triangle is the most stable structure." Sidney Milner actually used his mathematics knowledge here. I guess the mathematics teacher also teaches physical education.
"You didn't come to me to talk about this, did you?" Roark stopped dwelling on this topic, otherwise he would have to sleep in the study at night.
It's useless if the house is big. Roque doesn't need to prepare a guest room because no one will stay at Roque's house.
"Ah - oh, no - what did I just say?" Sidney Milner tried to remember, this was the real Sidney Milner.
Rock didn't prompt and let Sidney Milner think for himself.
"——By the way, what I want to say is that some people will misunderstand your relationship with the Lord because of this matter. Although I know that you have no position, it is not the case in the eyes of others." Sidney Milner said seriously.
, Rock can only say that the British really love gossip.
It is indeed possible. Rock had not noticed it before, but now Rock realized that he now needs a professional staff or a professional team.
The Ministry of National Defense has a staff office, and Rock also needs some professionals to help deal with this kind of thing.
However, it is difficult to find such people. There are many trustworthy people around Rock, but most of them are prostitutes who are better at using violent means to solve problems, and violence is precisely the most unpopular thing in the political field.
After a little thought, you can understand why civilian officials hate soldiers so much. This involves an issue of the right to speak. Problems that can be solved by using violent means naturally do not need to be solved at the negotiation table. Why is the British War Department so concerned about the arms race?
Enthusiasm, why Congress hates the arms race is the same reason.
For a qualified staff member, loyalty is first of all, and then there must be sufficient ability. If this were in the Qing Dynasty, Luo Ke could also find a Shaoxing master, but it would be difficult to find one in southern Africa. After all, those who are truly capable can rely on their own abilities.
You can also stand out in terms of ability, and you won't be willing to be inferior to others at all.
"Sidney, this is why I don't like politics. Whatever they think, you know recently that the northern border is not safe. As the Minister of Defense, I cannot stay in Pretoria for a long time. I want to go
Sit on the northern border." Roque simply returned to Nyasaland and did not get involved in the bad things in Pretoria. Anyway, whether Ade is re-elected or Philip wins the election, Roque's interests will not be affected.
"Escape is not the attitude to solve the problem." Sidney Milner did not expect Roark to walk away, but it seemed good.
If Roque stays in Pretoria, no matter who he supports, it will make the other party sad, but if he sits and watches Philip and Admin fighting secretly, Roque will be sad again, so leaving Pretoria for the time being is really a waste.
Good choice.
Anyway, if Roque is not in Pretoria, the operation of the Ministry of National Defense will not be disrupted, let alone power.
In southern Africa, apart from Roque, there is really no one else who can hold down the Ministry of National Defense.
"What's the point of escaping? I'm going to open up territory for Southern Africa. I'm focusing on this matter. Southern Africa has long since unified Africa." Roque hates any form of internal strife, but where there are people, there will be politics.
This cannot be avoided.
When he went to work the next day, Roque went to see Ade first to emphasize the importance of northern border security to southern Africa.
This issue does not need to be emphasized. Just last night, the German troops in Tanganyika suddenly crossed the border between Tanganyika and the Congo Free State and occupied Goma in the Congo Free State.
Goma is a small town on the north shore of Lake Kivu. It and Bukavu are located at the southernmost and northernmost ends of Lake Kivu respectively. During the Congo Free State rebellion, Goma was also attacked by the rebels and the entire town was burned down.
After the Northern Rhodesian Division captured Bukavu, the rebels withdrew from Goma, and Goma became no man's land.
When the Northern Rhodesian Division did not occupy Bukavu, Goma became an illegal trading point between the Germans in Tanganyika and the Congolese Free State rebels. The rebels exchanged stolen gold objects with the Germans for daily necessities or
Because of the weapons and ammunition, Goma quickly recovered and there were several temporary houses built by the Germans.
In fact, the border lines during this period were not very obvious. It would be okay if rivers or mountains were used as natural dividing lines. Without reference objects, it is difficult to determine the location of the national borders. Therefore, after Germans settled in Goma, Frank
Gurnicad's army took advantage of the situation and occupied Goma, not only building a military camp but also a semi-permanent stronghold.
If it had been anyone else, they might have maintained a tacit understanding with the Tanganyika German Army and expanded into the Congo Free State together, with everyone benefiting.
However, Roque has already regarded the Congo Free State as his own territory, and he will definitely not allow the Germans to reach out. Therefore, Roque has good reasons to return to Nyasaland.
The next day, Rock and Phyllis took the children to Nyasaland.
Roque felt a little depressed, so he didn't even go to say goodbye to Phillip.
This made Phyllis feel a little uneasy. What Phillip and Owen did was a bit too obvious. Phyllis was born in a noble family and was more sensitive to this kind of thing than Roque.
But it was also difficult for Phyllis. She was a father and brother on one side and a husband on the other, so knowing that Roque was going back to Nyasaland, Phyllis had no objection at all.
"Don't worry, I have no problem with Phillip and Irving. I just don't like this feeling. You know, I like a simpler life." Rock doesn't want to live so tiredly. If he has to be on tenterhooks with his family, then
Family has no meaning anymore.
"What's wrong with Philip and Owen?" Phyllis was smarter than Rock imagined, and her face was as innocent as that of an inexperienced little girl.
"Nothing, that's fine. I like you in a simpler way." Roque smiled. After so many years as a couple, they still have a tacit understanding.