Empire Rising: Spain

Considering the vast disparity in power between the Netherlands and Spain, the Dutch Government quickly compromised, immediately ordering the ambassador stationed in Spain to contact the Spanish Government and clarify the Dutch Government’s innocence in the conflict between the two indigenous forces on Borneo.

Of course, the Dutch Government wasn’t naive enough to believe that Spain would cease its actions after they conceded.

On one hand, the Dutch Government was prepared to lose the Kutai Sultanate; they did not wish to spark greater discord with Spain over a small Kutai Sultanate.

On the other hand, the Dutch Government hoped that the European Powers could mediate to ensure that Dutch interests wouldn’t suffer significant losses.

If negotiations were conducted with Spain alone, the Spaniards would inevitably make excessive demands. The Netherlands would surely be at a disadvantage in the negotiations, and by then, the losses could extend beyond a small Kutai Sultanate to potentially the entire island of Borneo and even several surrounding islands.

Given Borneo’s crucial geographic location, the Dutch Government was unwilling to completely lose Borneo, even more so the other large islands beyond Borneo.

It’s important to note that Borneo is approximately three hundred kilometers away from the core region of the Dutch East Indies, Java, and if Spain occupies South Kalimantan, doesn’t that imply that Java might also face the Spaniard’s covetous gaze?

Precisely for these reasons, after internal discussions, the Dutch Government decided that their concession to the Spaniards would be limited to the Kutai Sultanate.

After all, it was the Kutai Sultanate that attacked Lanfang, so let retribution fall where it must without implicating nations that are unrelated.

As for the vast land south of the Kutai Sultanate and east of the Lanfang Republic, the Dutch were absolutely unwilling to concede.

Because this area already constitutes the southern part of Borneo, a true core area of the Dutch East Indies.

If the Spaniards interfere here, the future of the Dutch East Indies will be perpetually unsettled.

Of course, if Spain’s appetite proves too large, the Netherlands might yet make certain concessions in other areas, such as New Guinea, which countries are avidly colonizing.

New Guinea can be seen as two parts: colonization in West New Guinea involves only the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal, while colonization in East New Guinea includes Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, three major powers.

With the current pace of colonization in West New Guinea, the Netherlands, being the nation cultivating here longest, has the hope of acquiring the largest colonial territory.

Although Spain is the most powerful among the three countries colonizing West New Guinea, due to only coming to this region for colonization for less than ten years, their current colonization progress can only be said to be slightly ahead of Portugal, with still a certain gap to the Dutch.

If nothing unexpected happens, the Netherlands will acquire large areas in the western part of New Guinea, Spain will gain some important regions and islands, and Portugal can only pick up some remote territories and uninhabited islands that neither of the other two focuses on much.

Though New Guinea is larger than Borneo in area, its location at the easternmost tip of the Dutch East Indies makes its geographic position not as crucial.

For the Dutch, if surrendering a portion of New Guinea’s land can ensure the southern land of Borneo remains theirs, it is undoubtedly a worthwhile trade.

Of course, the extent of the Dutch concessions is limited to this.

If Spain’s appetite is too large, and the Kutai Sultanate plus part of New Guinea’s land is insufficient to satisfy Spain’s appetite, the Dutch can only resort to requesting mediation from the European Powers to ensure the safety of the Dutch East Indies.

By the time the Dutch ambassador asked to see Carlo, it was already the fifth day of the Lanfang army’s full-scale counterattack.

The Dutch ambassador was still somewhat anxious; if an agreement with the Spanish Government couldn’t be reached before the Lanfang army fully occupied the Kutai Sultanate, negotiations would not be that easy once the flames of war reached the Dutch Colony.

Compared to the somewhat anxious Dutch ambassador, Carlo’s mood was clearly much improved at this moment.

Currently, Spain’s colonization in Africa and Southeast Asia is progressing quite smoothly, with the boundaries of the Congo Territory, Guinea Colony, and Philippine Colony continually expanding.

Since Carlo ascended as King of Spain, Spain finally stemmed the decline of losing colonies, and even acquired many sizable and important colonies.

Although Carlo did not excessively boast about these achievements, the Spanish populace remained very concerned about the expansion of their country’s colonies.

Under Carlo’s reign, Spain acquired the Moroccan Colony and Congo Territory, two large colonial areas, among these, the Congo Territory spans several million square kilometers.

Moreover, the expanded area in the Philippine Colony also reaches nearly one hundred thousand square kilometers, making the term "Third Colonial Empire" finally look well deserved.

Though these expansions aren’t on Spanish soil, expanding colonies are similarly significant accomplishments.

Carlo, who spearheaded colonial expansion, was warmly praised by the Spanish citizens. Although it hasn’t yet elevated him to the rank of the greatest king in Spanish history, it is enough for him to enter the top five on the list of Spain’s greatest kings.