"Your Majesty, that's why we have to send troops as soon as possible to capture the Spanish Netherlands before the three countries complete their war preparations!" Prince Condé said, "If the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Sweden still carry out the war after we occupy the Spanish Netherlands, If you want to interfere, then I suggest striking first and attacking the Netherlands from land.
Because the Netherlands is the core of the three countries' interference, as long as the Netherlands is defeated, Britain and Sweden will definitely not continue to interfere. "
"Just defeat the Netherlands?" Louis XIV was still a little worried, "Britain and Sweden are both military powers!"
Prince Condé said: “But we just need to defeat the Netherlands quickly!
Now little Cromwell's attention is in England, and he will not easily get involved in the continental war. If he saw that the Dutch were quickly defeated by us and surrendered and sued for peace, he would definitely not send troops to the European continent again.
As for Sweden, it is too far away from us. Moreover, the king is still a young man and it is impossible for him to fight a long and arduous war with us. As long as the Netherlands and Britain did not interfere, they would not be able to send troops alone. Even if we reluctantly send out troops, we can still defeat them! "
"Then can we defeat the Netherlands quickly?" Louis XIV asked again. "Although the Dutch army is not large in number, they have built a large number of fortresses relying on rivers in the areas bordering the Spanish Netherlands."
"Your Majesty..." Prince Kongdai looked around and did not continue.
Louis XIV waved his hand to tell his attendants to stay away, and then looked at Prince Condé.
Prince Condé said: "Your Majesty, in fact we don't have to attack the Netherlands directly from the Spanish Netherlands... We can borrow a road from the Holy Roman Empire, bypass the Dutch fortresses, and go through Münster The Archbishop and the Archbishop of Cologne passed through the territory and caught the Dutch by surprise!”
Louis XIV took a breath, and finally showed an expression of surprise on his face, and then frowned: "Will the two archbishops agree to borrow the passage?"
"It will definitely happen!" Prince Kong Dai was very sure, "As long as we are willing to spend money, they will definitely agree to borrow the passage." His tone was slightly calmer, "If they don't agree, it will just be two more battles. These two A bishopric does not have much power."
Louis XIV asked again: "If we choose to take a detour, how long will it take to defeat the Netherlands?"
"Your Majesty," said Prince Condé, "it depends on what kind of victory you want? If you just want the Netherlands to recognize our annexation of the entire Spanish Netherlands and conclude an alliance treaty with us of equality and mutual benefit... ..Then, a few weeks, or at most a few months, will make the Republic of the Netherlands give up the idea of fighting France forever!
And your Majesty, you will become the overlord of all Europe! "
European overlord!
But Louis XIV frowned: "Prince, do you think France should grant the Netherlands a treaty of equality and mutual benefit after defeating the Netherlands?"
"No, this is not a gift!" Prince Condé frowned and explained, "This is the need of the common interests of France and the Netherlands!"
"Common interests? Where are they?" Louis XIV was a little disdainful.
"In many ways!" Prince Condé said, "First of all, neither we nor the Netherlands have the ability to become a land and sea power!"
"We don't have such ability?" Louis XIV was a little unconvinced. How could Great France not have the ability to be a dual overlord at sea and on land?
Prince Condé said: “Your Majesty, although our national power in France is very powerful, there is still a big gap compared with the Celestial Empire in the East!
The population of the Chinese Empire is ten times larger than ours, its land is dozens of times larger than ours, and its fiscal revenue is also ten times ours... Therefore, the strength of the Chinese Empire's army exceeds ours several times, and it can also build an army that can The navy defeated the Dutch expeditionary fleet in the Strait of Malacca.
And it is simply impossible for us in France to simultaneously build an army that can dominate the European continent and a navy that can dominate the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and encroach on the Pacific! "
Prince Condai had stayed in China for so many years, so he knew the difference between France and the Celestial Empire.
France is a major European country, while the Celestial Empire is an intercontinental country with strength that can even compete with the entire Europe.
Therefore, France cannot pursue both dominating Europe on land and confronting China on the sea.
Prince Condé said to Louis XIV: "Your Majesty, what France can do is to seize the hegemony of the European continent and expand its territory as much as possible. Strive to turn the Spanish Netherlands and the scattered Italian states into become part of France.
As for the sea, we should focus on the Mediterranean and build a medium-sized navy that can dominate the western Mediterranean. At the same time, we will establish a strong, mutually beneficial and long-term alliance with the Netherlands. The French army will protect the land borders of the Netherlands, and the Dutch navy will protect France's interests in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans! "
Obviously, after staying in China for many years, Prince Condé's level has also improved, and he has really proposed a way for France to dominate - France has this little strength, and it is impossible to have dual hegemony on land and sea!
If France's opponent at sea is Britain, it may be able to fight with iron and steel, but if it wants to compete with the Chinese Empire in a naval competition, there is no possibility of winning.
Therefore, the only way is to recruit a maritime power that France can control as an ally. France is responsible for the land, and this country is responsible for the sea, and they form a team to compete for hegemony.
The only maritime power that France can control is the Netherlands!
Louis XIV thought for a while, and finally nodded, seeming to agree with Prince Condé's suggestion.
He paused and said: "We will attack as soon as Charles II and his British royalist troops leave the Spanish Netherlands! Let those guys go to America alive... It will probably take another one or two days. months.
During this period, I will send Foreign Minister Leonhard to Münster and Cologne to try to persuade the two archbishops to support the cause of the Kingdom of France! "
He smiled: "I think those two bishops would be happy to see the Dutch Protestants in trouble!"
...
While several major powers in Western Europe were busy preparing for a large-scale war, Zhu Cixi sent several important diplomats to Western Europe, including Ambassador to France Li Shaoyou, Ambassador to the United Kingdom Ren Zhen, Ambassador to the Netherlands Wei Qingmu, and Ambassador to Spain Huang Shan, as well as Huang Jiang and Jacobs, two Chinese business leaders in Europe, all met in a villa not far from the construction site of the Palace of Versailles belonging to Huang Jiang, the general manager of Shenou Bank.
The meeting between them is not simple, it can influence Ming's European foreign policy to a certain extent!
Because the transportation between Europe and the Ming Dynasty these days is based on years, this group of foreign personnel has great authority.
In order to unify their positions, they have to meet from time to time to exchange views and discuss the current situation.
Although these few people are well-informed, especially Huang Jiang and Jabs, who have many friends in the French court, no matter how powerful they are, they can't find out about Prince Condé's plan to attack the Spanish Netherlands and the Netherlands, as well as Follow-up arrangements.
However, these few people still found out the news that Charles II will soon become the King of the United States!
This is a big deal!
Now in North America, New Spain and the United States of New Zealand are mainly competing against each other. France and the United Kingdom have also enclosed a lot of land. Among them, France's territory is developing slowly, and Britain's territory is developing faster... There are vague differences between New Spain and New Zealand. The signs of a rivalry between the United States of America and the Kingdom of New Spain - not in terms of land area, but in terms of core population!
Now the core population (white people) of New Spain is nearly 600,000, and it is still the largest in the Americas! The core population (East Asians) of the United States of New Zealand is nearly 350,000. Although it is smaller than New Spain, it is growing rapidly. The British colonies in North America have 250,000 people, and the growth rate is relatively fast. If another king comes over, I am afraid it will set off a wave of immigration.
If the King of America and the Kingdom of New Spain form another alliance, the United States of New Zealand will be in trouble!
