Maria Teresa, the most beautiful Spanish beauty with a long face and double chin, has gone to the tent where she was resting and shed tears - the prince charming in her dream turned into a dwarf with a big nose, which is really heartbreaking. ! How could such a beautiful princess fall into the hands of an ugly king?
Louis XIV, who felt very good about himself, could not blame Mazarin for the time being because he had to deal with an old father-in-law who was mentally ill. However, he is more open-minded than Maria Theresa. He is a wise king at the level of an emperor, so of course he knows that military and national affairs must be his priority.
Moreover, he had many mistresses, all of whom were at least ten times more beautiful than Maria Theresa, and they also knew how to appreciate beautiful men - of course Louis could feel that Maria Theresa disliked him... How could she do this?
So now Louis XIV can still cheer up and chat with King Philip, who speaks very bad Latin, with a smile on his face.
After a few pleasantries, King Philip of Spain suddenly asked with a serious face: "Dear Louis, please forgive my presumption, I have a question to ask you."
"If you have any questions, just ask." Louis XIV replied with a smile. He is a smart man and knows a lot, and he will never be defeated by a fool like Philip IV.
"Excuse me, do you love God?" Philip asked.
What? What does it mean? Louis XIV was stunned and didn't know how to answer for a moment?
Can the King of France not love God? More than 300 years ago, King Philip IV of France sent troops to invite Pope Boniface VIII to France to "send him off". Later, he also moved the Holy See to Avignon, France. In the next 73 years During the year, France has been taking good care of God’s representative on earth, the Pope!
Is there anyone in the world who loves God more than the King of France?
"Philip," the King of France asked somewhat unhappily, "are you doubting my piety to God? If you really have doubts, I can ask Prince Condé to go to Rome and ask the Pope to come to France to inspect my piety. "
"No, no, no..." Philip IV shook his head repeatedly, "That's not what I meant. Of course you are devout to God, and His Majesty the Pope will issue a certificate for you without coming to France."
Do you dare not to open it? Prince Kong Dai is so cruel!
The French King nodded, "I think so too."
Philip IV added: "What I mean is, can you and France pay a little more for God..."
The King of France immediately replied: "Pious faith is the best gift that the French people can give to God!"
God is for letters!
Philip IV frowned, why didn't his son-in-law understand the obligations of a Catholic monarch?
"Louis!" said Philip IV, "do you know what is happening in Manila?"
"Manila?" Louis XIV had a headache. Of course he knew that Manila had been occupied by the Ming army!
After most of the Spanish main force evacuated, the Ming army stationed at Success Bay moved in and occupied Manila without bloodshed.
This news caused quite a stir when it reached Europe. Some people thought that this was an attack by the Eastern "Tenrikyo" (there is no such sect) on Western Christianity!
"In Manila, the flag of heaven has replaced the flag of God!" Philip IV said solemnly, "Pious Christians all over the world are crying for the fall of Manila!"
What's the meaning? Louis thought to himself: I didn't cry...am I not pious?
Louis was silent for a while, then looked at Philip and said: "Manila is far away from Europe, almost on the other side of the world... and it has always been the sphere of influence of the Eastern Empire. Compared with Manila, are you because Are you concerned about the tragedy happening on Crete?”
The Ottoman conquest of Crete continues! Most of Crete had been occupied by the Ottoman Empire, with only the city of Chania still in the hands of the Venetian Republic's troops.
France took a pro-Venetian stance in this war. Although it did not declare war on the Ottoman Empire, it sent troops to the city of Chania.
Philip shook his head and said: "Louis, the Ming Dynasty and Osman are all enemies of the Catholic Church... We cannot let go of the enemies far away just because the enemies are right in front of us!"
Louis Xin said: So...the whole world is your enemy! Not long ago, even I, who believe in God and have a pure heart, was your enemy!
"So," Louis looked at his father-in-law, who was a bit funny, "What do you need me to do?"
Philip laughed: "I hope France will first suspend military cooperation with the Ming Dynasty!"
Louis XIV seemed very embarrassed - in fact, after Prince Condé returned to China, the military cooperation between Ming Dynasty and France had basically ended. Because the two sides have exchanged all the technical and tactical methods that can be exchanged...
"Okay!" Louis was silent for a while before nodding heavily, "I think this is the only thing France can do at the moment!"
Although Philip IV was a bit stupid, he would not expect France to send troops to fight the Ming Dynasty for Spain...
He laughed: "Louis, that's enough... I hope you can fulfill this promise as soon as possible! Because Spain will launch a counterattack soon, and I don't want the French military advisers to be in the Ming Dynasty at that time. among the army."
"Counterattack?" Louis XIV was a little surprised.
Is Europe’s number one old bastard rich enough to organize an expeditionary force? Who is so stupid? He actually lent money to Spain!
...
Louis XIV could not have imagined that the idiot who was going to lend money to the Spanish was actually John de Wit, the Grand Speaker of the Dutch Republic.
Ever since the news of the Ming army's occupation of Manila came, the Speaker, who controls the richest republic in Europe, has been unable to eat or sleep well.
Because the wealth of the Dutch Republic was largely based on its monopoly on the spice trade, and the Dutch monopoly was based on the colonial rule of the Maluku Islands and Banda Islands, where the spices were produced.
Cloves, cardamom, and pepper produced in these two islands are not only exported to Europe, but also exported to China in large quantities.
Before Westerners occupied it, merchants from China, Arabia, and India were the masters of those spice islands, and the Sulu Sultanate, a loyal vassal of the Ming Empire, profited greatly from the spice trade.
Now that the Ming Empire has captured Luzon Island, the Sulu Sultanate will definitely fall into the arms of the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible. Under the leadership of the Sulu people who are familiar with the Spice Island, the fleet of the Ming Empire may soon approach. Spice Island!
If John de Wit, a profiteer, thought about it, the Ming Emperor would definitely go south! Even if he doesn't want to break up with the Netherlands, he won't let go of this opportunity...send the big fleet out to show off, and then he can blackmail the Dutch East India Company!
The spice trade is so lucrative, should a share be given to the Ming Empire?
So what John de Wit is thinking of now is to prevent the Ming Dynasty from going south!
It is useless to deploy the army on several spice islands, because the Ming army does not need to land at all. As long as it sends gunboats to station on Sulu Island, it will pose a threat to the spice islands.
Even the Ming Navy did not need to come forward. As long as it armed the Tianfang Sect pirates on Sulu Island, it would be enough to make the Dutch East India Company vomit blood.
As for sending a fleet to occupy Sulu Island... this is not feasible. Not to mention that North Korea would definitely intervene, even if they didn't care, the Dutch East India Company would not have the power to occupy Sulu Island.
The Sulu Kingdom’s military force is not particularly weak! If they were particularly weak, they would have been taken care of by the Spaniards long ago. How could they persist until now?
So John de Wit thought about it and thought of a way to let the Kingdom of New Spain act as the villain. As long as the war breaks out on the American continent, the Ming Empire will not extend its claws to the Spice Island.
And for the Kingdom of New Spain to stand out, it has to lend money to those Spanish old guys...
