France, Castle of Saint-Germain.
King Louis XIV of France was wearing gorgeous silk pajamas, sitting in a slightly old bedroom, holding a cup of Mancini milk tea in his hand, with a satisfied look on his face. Only 20 years old this year, it was the youthful and gorgeous Hortense Mancini who was lazily leaning on the big soft bed, covered only by a thin silk sheet.
"Queen of America," King Louis of France smiled, "I am really reluctant to let you go to the barren land on the other side of the ocean."
Hortense Mancini pouted, "Then will you find me a crown in the Old World?"
French King Louis shrugged, "My dear, you should know how the kings of this continent choose their spouses."
Hortense snorted: "This is very backward! Your Majesty, do you know? Now the Chinese emperor is preparing to select princesses for his sons through examinations. This is the way to progress!"
French King Louis looked at the beautiful and very smart Hortense and nodded gently: "This is indeed a progressive method! What will I do when I dominate Europe?"
Yes, if there had been an exam to select concubines long ago, how could those nieces of Mazarin fail the exam and those idiots from the Habsburg family could not take the exam?
Although Louis XIV was not tall enough, his IQ was very high. In order to pursue Marie Mancini, he learned Italian in a short period of time. And his wife Maria Theresa spent 6 years failing to learn French well. In addition, she had no interest in literature, art or natural science, and only liked playing cards and gambling... Louis XIV could not even imagine that if he died young and France was handed over to Maria Theresa Regent, what must be done!
"Your Majesty," Hortense Mancini looked at Louis XIV lovingly, "After I arrive in America, I will definitely pray to God for you and France every day!"
Louis XIV looked at Hortense Mancini and smiled: "Dear Queen of the United States, I not only need your prayers, but also your help. Without you... I would not be able to survive." Dominate Europe in a relatively short period of time!”
"Me? How can I help you?"
Louis XIV smiled and said: "You can do me a big favor... You can propose to Charles II to hold the wedding in Italy. My cousin Carlo Emanuele II, Duke of Savoy, will I will provide his palace in Turin to you and Charles II, and I will bear all the wedding expenses. I guarantee that it will be a wedding of the century that will be the envy of all Europe!"
Hortense Mancini looked at the King of France and said, "Your Majesty, I don't understand what you mean... You said this is me helping you?"
"Yes!" Louis XIV said, "You don't need to know why, you just need to enjoy it!"
Hortense Mancini showed a charming smile: "Well, I'll go and talk to Charlie. I don't think he will object to such a good thing!"
Of course, Charles II could not object to holding a wedding in the palace of the Duke of Savoy... This is not only a wedding, but also an eye-catching diplomatic event, and by the way, it can also be held with Genoa and Venice. The bankers met to discuss investing in the development of the American Kingdom.
Moreover, the cost of such a luxurious wedding was paid for by the King of France. Is there anything better in the world?
"Marry Hortense Mancini? Are you going to have a wedding in Turin?" John de Wit always felt something was wrong when he heard the news. "What does Louis XIV want to do?"
Conlus de Wit smiled and said: "Does that need to be said? Of course I want to use a woman to hold the King of America."
"Really?" John DeWitt was still a little doubtful.
"Perhaps," Conlus de Wit thought for a moment, "maybe he also wants to take the opportunity to show his generosity and strength to the Italians...I heard that the Pope and Cardinals in Rome, the leaders of Genoa and Venice , the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Duke of Parma and others have accepted the invitation and will attend the wedding."
"Louis XIV will also go to Turin?" John de Wit asked.
"Of course!" Conlez de Wet said, "Louis XIV couldn't have spent so much money just for Charles II and Hortense Mancini. He must have a bigger one. Another purpose of his was to win over the Italians in order to replace Spain's dominance in Italy.
It is said that he also wanted to ask the Pope to intervene in order to peacefully obtain part of the Spanish Netherlands. Had Spain been willing to cede France-Comté and Lorraine, war could have been avoided. "
"Really?" John de Wit thought for a moment, "Will Maria Anna agree?"
"They should agree to cede France-Comté," Conlez de Wet said, "but they will not agree to hand over Lorraine to the French."
France-Comté is located between France, Switzerland and Lorraine. The border with France is too long to be defended, and the border with Lorraine is too short to defend unless supported by Switzerland. But how could Switzerland support Spain?
John de Wit shook his head, "You cannot buy peace by giving up a piece of land that will definitely be lost..."
"But the war can be postponed," Conleth de Wit smiled. "This is beneficial to us! Because the later the war breaks out, the stronger Cromwell's power in Britain will be, and he will intervene. The more likely it is.”
John de Witt nodded: "That's true... Conlers, you go to London again, have a good talk with the British, and try to persuade them to send troops. After all, Charles II has now left Spanish Nigeria. Deran."
Charles II did leave the Spanish Netherlands, but he did not leave Europe yet, but went to Italy, the center of Catholicism!
The cautious little Cromwell was not satisfied with this. In Hampton Court Palace in London, little Cromwell still refused to let go - in fact, he did not want to send troops at all, and Charles II was just his excuse. .
After rejecting the Dutch's request to send troops in advance, Cromwell Jr. plausibly said: "The traitor did not leave Europe! He went to Italy, where he could conspire with the enemies of the Republic... If Spain expected help from Britain, then Maria Anna should prove that she was a friend and not an enemy of Britain.
Considering Spain's past misdeeds, no soldiers from any republic would fight for the Spanish Netherlands until Charles II and his followers left the European continent! "
Conles de Witt, who had suffered a disastrous encounter in England, hurried back to The Hague, but he heard the comforting good news that King Louis XIV of France and Prince Condé, the most feared general in France, had already Saint-Germain, who left together, went to Turin to attend the wedding of Charles II and Hortense Mancini.
"At least the war will not break out before the two of them return from Italy." John de Wit said to his brother, "I think we still have a month to mediate and prepare."
Conlez de Wit still looked worried, "One month can't change anything... The possibility of Cromwell sending troops is extremely low! After all, Spain is an annoying country that believes in the Roman Catholic Church. . Most of the English Puritans were willing to see Spain suffer misfortune, and little Cromwell was the same as them.
John, I think we should start calling in the Army! Once France begins to attack, the Spanish Netherlands will all fall within a few months! "
John de Wit nodded, "I know, I will find a way, but it takes time! Our country is a federal provincial republic, not a monarchy and dictatorship. Until the most critical moment, I am very It is difficult to convince the seven provincial councils to support the expansion of the army!
Fortunately, we still have some time.
Also, I have sent an envoy to Austria... Maybe we have to give Leopold a huge loan, but eventually the army will come to help us. "
