"No! They're not Goans, they're Chinese!" the Sun King roared, "Damn it, it was the Chinese who rescued him, no, they kidnapped the King of Portugal... Zhu Cixiang is really an evil dragon, he He actually extended his claws to Europe!”
Louis XIV was not a fool. He immediately guessed that Zhu Cihong was causing trouble when King Alfonso of Portugal escaped from the Azores.
Maria Francesca hadn't figured it out yet and asked in confusion: "Your Majesty, do you think the Emperor of China will send troops to help Alfonso recover? But China is so far away from Europe..."
"Of course not!" Louis XIV glared at his niece - he had never hated a beautiful and gorgeous woman so much in his life. You can Y...but you can't harm your husband because of Y. This is immoral!
"You stupid woman!" Louis shouted, "The Emperor of China is for Goa... His goal is India, India, India!"
Louis XIV shouted "India" three times in a row, which shows how important India is in his mind! If the population of the United States of New Zealand is the counterpart of Don Juan Jose, the Republic of Batavia is the counterpart of De Wit, and Central Asia is the counterpart of Alexei I, then Zhu Cixi and India have "friendly relations" ", is undoubtedly the reverse scale of the Sun King Louis XIV.
Who was Louis XIV? That's the number one spendthrift king in Europe. I don’t know how many gold louis were burned in just one Versailles Palace! Coupled with the army that topped Europe, and the French navy that was getting bigger and bigger... With the three gold-eating beasts activated together, France's finances had long been stretched.
Moreover, France's industry and commerce under the rule of Louis XIV was always unsatisfactory. It could not compete with the Netherlands next door, nor could it compete with England across the strait. That is to say, it is on par with the Rhineland in Germany, Sweden in Northern Europe, and Milan and Venice in Italy.
As for the vast American colonies... there is even less hope. With a total population of 10,000 to 20,000 people, how much money can be made?
Therefore, joining forces with Nederland and Dashun to go to India to grab money became the Sun King's only hope for making a fortune.
You must know that India in the 17th century was a very fat place! The annual tax revenue of Aurangzeb's Timurid Empire in India alone is equivalent to 100 million taels of silver, which is not that much for the whole of Europe combined.
Moreover, the Indian Timur Empire was so rich even before it unified India. How could Louis XIV not be greedy? Sending troops to India to grab it will bring in money much faster than developing industry and commerce.
Louis XIV also understood the truth that it is better to make than to buy, and to buy than to rob.
If Louis XIV wanted to conquer India, he had to get the support of Goa Catholics - because Goa could provide enough cannon fodder for the French army!
Louis XIV could send a small number of elite officers, artillery, and cavalry to India, but it was impossible to send tens of thousands of cannon fodder.
It would be difficult to conquer India or plunder India without Goan mercenaries.
Therefore, Zhu Cihong's use of King Alfonso of Portugal to compete for Goa had already touched Louis XIV's red line.
"Maria Francesca!" Louis XIV's face was livid, looking at the mistress he hated, "Follow me, let's go back to the Palace of Versailles!"
"Let's go back to the Palace of Versailles..." Maria Francesca blushed and looked at the "most handsome man in France" who was slightly shorter than herself.
Louis XIV knew that the woman had misunderstood him, so he said coldly: "Let's go to see De Vit and the envoys of the Rakshasa Empire and the Kingdom of New Spain... The Kingdom of Portugal must fight with us. Got it!"
"Fight? Fight with whom?" Maria Francesca asked.
"And the Chinese!" Louis XIV glared at her, "They are supporting Alfonso's restoration... If he restores, you will be hanged!"
"Oh, God!" Maria Francesca also felt a little scared, "Okay, I will go to the Palace of Versailles with you!"
...
When Louis XIV and Maria Francesca took a carriage back to the Palace of Versailles, it was already December 24, 1672, Christmas Eve.
The ministers of state of the Kingdom of France and the nobles favored by the Sun King have gathered at the Palace of Versailles, preparing to spend Christmas Eve with the Sun King.
So when the livid Louis XIV and Maria Francesca, who was a little haggard from traveling all night, got out of the carriage one after another, there was a large group of ministers, nobles, envoys, and Louis X in the marble courtyard of the Palace of Versailles. Si’s mistress and of course the Queen of France are there to welcome her!
Some of them recognized Maria Francesca... When did the Princess Regent of Portugal come to France? Why is she still with Louis XIV? Why does Louis XIV look so angry? Why is the Princess Regent of Portugal so haggard?
Seeing so many people, the Sun King also felt that it was a bit inappropriate for him and Maria Francesca to appear together... It would damage the Sun King's glorious image!
So he has to explain!
"Everyone!" King Louis said calmly, looking at everyone with stern eyes, and then pointed at Maria Francesca, "This is the Princess Regent of Portugal. She brought me terrible news! King Alfonso of Portugal was captured by the Chinese He was kidnapped and left his vacation spot in the Azores, and his current whereabouts are unknown!”
What?
Is there such a thing?
Is the King of Portugal vacationing in the Azores?
Wasn't he overthrown by his wife and brother because he was not good at bed? Why were they rescued by the Chinese?
What do these nosy Chinese people want to do?
The French ministers were shocked! They all looked at Louis XIV and Maria Francesca with their mouths wide open.
Louis XIV loudly said: "France cannot tolerate this evil act of kidnapping other countries' kings, let alone the Chinese emperor's interference in European affairs! If they cannot return King Alfonso immediately, France, as an ally of Portugal and a friend of King Alfonso , will take all necessary means...including resorting to force!"
After saying these words, Louis XIV had already seen the Dutch Grand Speaker De Witte among the people welcoming him, looking dumbfounded.
"Mr. Grand Speaker, Mr. de Velasco, Duke Naryshkin, His Royal Highness Prince Condé, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for the Navy..." Louis XIV said in a calm voice, "Please come to the Bull's Eye. Come to the hall!"
At this time, the Versailles Palace project was far from being completed, and only a few buildings such as the Marble Courtyard, the King's Suite, the Queen's Suite, and the Bull's Eye Room had been put into use.
The Bull's Eye Room is located next to the King's Suite, where Louis XIV received courtiers and foreign envoys.
The six people whose names were called, together with Maria Francesca, followed Louis XIV into the Bull's Eye Room.
In the Bull's Eye Hall, the Sun King of France met with De Witt, Prince Condé, Duke Naryshkin, De Velasco, French Foreign Minister Hugo Lionard, French Minister of the Navy Kirkbert, and the Portuguese Princess Regent Maria Francesca and others said: "Everyone, it seems that war between us and the Chinese is inevitable. Although I am willing to continue to live in peace with them. However, they are in Central Asia, in America, in the East Indies, in the The Indian Ocean... has violated our interests even in the Azores! If we continue to turn a blind eye to the expansionist policies of the Chinese, then our descendants will become their slaves! So, I, the King of France, decide to assume Take up the responsibility given to me by God, lead Europe, lead the Christian world, and counterattack the aggressive ambitions of the Ming Empire!
Now, I hope that the United Provinces of the Netherlands, the Rakshasa Empire, the Kingdom of New Spain, and the Kingdom of Portugal can stand together with the Kingdom of France!
God will protect us until we win! "
