After Kangji succeeded to the throne, he adhered to the established strategy of his emperor Ama Shunji and his uncle Dorgon.
That is, once every two years, a large-scale attack on the Holy Roman Empire and the areas where Polly belongs.
The cavalry mobilized each time is no less than 500,000, and if conditions permit, nearly 200,000 infantry, artillery, and chariots will be added.
Generally speaking, the cavalry is the main force, supplemented by other arms, and the main enemy is continuously attacked by plunder.
In fact, hundreds of thousands of troops were dispatched to rob the people openly. The process was almost the same as ordinary people going to a restaurant to have a meal.
Since Kangxi ascended the throne, the Qing army has been dispatched three times, plundering nearly a million people in its hinterland.
Austria, Moravia, southern Poland, and southeastern Germany have all become perennial battlefields.
The Qing army attacked as far as Lake Constance on the border between Germany and Switzerland. As long as they climbed over the Swabian Mountains and the Feld Mountains, they could enter France.
This is also one of the reasons why Leopold asked Louis XIV for help. If this momentum continues, the Qing army will invade eastern France sooner or later.
Tens of thousands of French troops in the area have already been on alert, ready to repel any incoming enemy invasion.
Of course Louis XIV knew that with this small number of people, it would be difficult to withstand a sneak attack by more than 100,000 Qing cavalry.
Starting in 1688, more troops were gradually sent to the border areas.
Three years later, it had reached ten brigades and about 50,000 people.
Regarding the victory over the Qing army, Louis XIV only expressed verbally that he was sure of victory, but he was always uneasy in his heart.
When I came to the Ming Empire this time, on the one hand, I wanted to obtain the elixir, and on the other hand, I needed to continue to purchase various advanced weapons and equipment.
In order to greatly increase his chances of winning, Louis XIV was so determined that he even cashed out French America.
Two level six ironclad ships are enough to keep the French Navy competitive for nearly ten years, and the rest is to enhance the strength of the air force and army.
Louis XIV hoped to use his own powerful air force to suppress the Qing army's greatest advantage - the cavalry group, and then dispatch tank troops to defeat the opponent from the front.
As for the problems of military pay and supplies caused by dispatching an army of 500,000, Louis XIV believed that it was entirely possible to issue national debt totaling 100 to 200 million silver coins first.
After defeating the Qing army and rescuing the people it had previously plundered from Eastern Europe, the previous debts could be replaced.
The implication is that at least five million people will be used as miners or serfs.
If one person is worth 20 silver coins, five million people are also worth 100 million silver coins.
Each person can produce ten silver coins per year, and within four years at most, the entire loan can be replaced with interest.
This plan is risky to a certain extent, but if it is not risky, there will be no way to raise military expenses.
Colbert could only agree with this, otherwise he could only sit back and watch the Holy Roman Empire be destroyed by the barbarians.
You must know that the Roman Empire was destroyed by barbarians. France, as the European hegemon, cannot let the tragedy happen again.
It is estimated that the total population of the Qing Dynasty is as high as more than 10 million, which is a huge threat to France.
After defeating this powerful enemy, it must be completely destroyed in the same way that Rome destroyed Carthage.
If the Emperor of the Ming Empire undoubtedly sent troops to interfere in European affairs, then the coalition forces of France and Central Europe were still certain to deal with the enemy.
The uncertain part lies in the scale of the troops and equipment invested by the Ottoman Empire, and the extent of the Ming Empire's support to the Ottomans.
Since the Ming Empire needed Ottoman oil, and the Ottomans needed the Ming Empire's weapons, the bilateral relationship was closer than with France.
During this visit, Louis XIV basically found out the general attitude of the two owners.
Ibrahim has stated that he will never give up Hungary.
If France intends to help Leopold and others, then the Ottoman Empire will stay with them until the end.
On the other hand, if Louis XIV was willing to persuade Leopold and others to sit down and negotiate, Ottoman would also welcome it.
The premise is that the interests of the Ottoman Empire will not be harmed, and the Ottoman Empire's control over Hungary, Wallachia, and the entire Balkan Peninsula must be recognized.
The Ottomans had given up their attacks on Moravia, Austria, and southern Poland, and in exchange must receive adequate compensation.
Ibrahim directly cut off half of Austria and half of Moravia on the map, which made Louis XIV want to laugh out loud, but luckily he held it back at the time.
If this method is used to carve up Central Europe, then there is no need to talk at all and just start fighting, because Leopold will definitely not agree.
The dividing line almost reached the city of Vienna, which meant that as long as the sultan was unhappy, the Ottoman army would come to the city of Vienna.
The peace plan proposed by Louis XIV was for the Ottoman forces to withdraw from the entire Hungary and retain Wallachia and the Balkans.
Ibrahim rejected this plan without even thinking about it.
So far, he has spent more than 100 million silver coins in Hungary, and this is the result?
That is definitely unacceptable, and the strength of his own empire is growing rapidly.
What's more important is that with the support of the Ming Emperor, there is no need for him to make major compromises and concessions like the other party.
Since the heads of state of both parties were directly involved in the negotiations, the whole process was very polite.
The only regret is that the differences between the two parties are so great that it is difficult to obtain confession in a short period of time.
As the intermediary, Emperor Haojing was an auditor throughout the whole process. Except for the beginning and the end, he did not interrupt a word in the middle.
What is difficult to obtain on the battlefield is equally difficult to obtain at the negotiation table.
Since we can't reach an agreement, let's fight!
Otherwise, why raise so many soldiers?
You must know that the army neither engages in combat nor participates in production, it is a pure expenditure group!
With half a million people mining, we can earn at least tens of millions of profits a year!
As a player, with so many chips in hand, wouldn’t you regret not playing once?
This negotiation also involves another issue, that is, both France and the Ottomans signed a military alliance treaty.
When it comes to the war between China and Europe, either the two sides cannot fight each other, or they can only withdraw temporarily, or at the same time declare that this war is not bound by the treaty.
Otherwise, if they fight each other, the military alliance led by Zhu Cixiang will look useless.
Fa and Ao are not hitting each other, but hitting Zhu Cixiang in the face!
In this regard, Zhu Cihong gave two options.
First, neither side retreats and fights on the battlefield without fail. Anyway, they cannot deliberately avoid each other.
Second, both parties withdraw from the alliance and then rejoin the alliance after the fight is over.
For Ming Dynasty, no matter what choice they make, it will not delay Ming Dynasty from selling weapons and equipment to both parties.
France's military industry was much stronger in scale and level than the Ottomans, and Louis XIV was more concerned about the Ming Emperor's support for both sides after the European War began.
Zhu Cixiang's answer is very simple and clear. You can get the weapons you want with money or items, provided that you comply with the relevant export rules of the Ming Empire.
What does it mean?
That is to say, I have the final say on what to sell, how much to sell, and how to sell it, and the final right of interpretation is also in my hands.
Anyone who thinks he can't accept such harsh requirements has no need to buy from Zhu Cihong.
If you can purchase goods directly from the arsenal without permission from yourself or the court, then Zhu Cixiang will really be impressed by you.
Zhu Cixiang had already been prepared for this.
Anyone who sells weapons and equipment to overseas users without permission.
After verification, the principal culprit stated that his family members would be distributed to mine outside the customs, and all property would be confiscated directly.
I will let your life's hard work be wiped out in an instant, and you will be sliced into pieces by a five-star executioner!
This is the money that Emperor Haojing, the Academy of Sciences, and the imperial court should have earned, but it was divided up by some moths. How can this be done?
Factory guards have been installed in all arsenals. Once a factory guard fails to report the situation, it will be an extra serious crime.
This is not all, there are also factory guards in the customs and fleet, and almost the entire military industry chain is under the supervision of factory guards.
Incidents of stolen weapons occur every year, but the scale is relatively small, with the maximum amount being only a few hundred thousand silver coins.
Mainly rifles and blunderbuss. The production of machine guns is strictly monitored, making it difficult for even factory executives to obtain them.
Further up, there are tanks, aircraft, missiles, ironclads...
Through this visit and negotiations with his main rivals, Louis XIV had a premonition of what was to come.
But he would negotiate with Leopold again after returning. As long as the other party's bid was high enough, he was still willing to take a gamble.
On the return trip, you can even take a brand new level five ironclad ship.
Louis XIV also agreed to take the Ming Empire train together with Karl XI and William III and return to Europe via the Northern Railway.
It will take about two months to travel at full speed by sea, but by train, it only takes fourteen to sixteen days to reach Polo Castle on the east coast of the Baltic Sea.
That's how the two heads of state came. They thought it was not enough, so they planned to go home like this.
If you take the railway first and then take the boat, it will take about twenty days to complete a pleasant trip.
This is much more efficient than wandering around the sea for four to five months, or even half a year.
Louis XIV also wanted to thoroughly experience what the Ming Empire's Northern Railway was like this time. Going to the mining area before was just an experiment.
The Northern Railway was one of the main means by which the Ming Empire controlled the former Russian land. If necessary, Louis XIV would also build a railway across the Rhine.
Under the protection of armored trains and heavy troops, the entire journey was very smooth.
Because the entire northern line of the railway is double-tracked, Zhu Cixiang opened a double-track for it in order to show his kindness to the landlord.
Two armored trains were traveling westward at the same time. The trains were also equipped with heavy artillery, tanks, and aircraft.
This kind of protection has reached its peak and is almost impossible to be destroyed by a certain gang.
Zhu Cixiang did not take this opportunity to visit Europe. If he had gone there, wouldn't those families have stopped fighting?
I would rather not go there than create space and opportunities for you to fight!
There is no way, we are so kind!
Before leaving, Louis XIV and Ibrahim both agreed.
Without withdrawing from the military alliance, one's own side should try to restrain its troops as much as possible.
The implication is that even if they don't withdraw from the alliance, they still have to vent their anger on their respective allies.
Louis XIV was worried that Zhu Cihong was partial to the other side, so he did not consider the possibility of withdrawing from the alliance at all.
If Ibrahim sees that the other party does not quit, there is no need for him to quit.
You have to be beaten once and for all, it doesn’t matter whether you want to be shameless or not...
After returning, Louis XIV immediately met Leopold, who had been waiting for him for a long time.
The latter agreed that as long as France helped him regain all of Austria and Moravia, he would assign the area west of Bremen to Frankfurt to France.
This land was three times the size of the Rhineland and had already met Louis XIV's psychological expectations.
Just last summer, the Qing army dispatched more than one million troops to march westward.
Half of the Holy Roman Empire was ravaged by this army of locusts. Because the opponent sent so many troops, the scene was even more miserable than when Wallenstein's troops passed by.
More importantly, the Ottoman army also cooperated with the Qing army, not only penetrating deep into Austria, but also invading southern Germany.
After so many years of fighting, Leopold's elite troops had long been lost. Facing the invasion of millions of enemy troops, he had no way to deal with it, let alone the strength to defend himself against the enemy.
After Louis XIV visited the Ming Empire, the French military departments could only be on standby in a full-line defense posture without receiving the highest authorization.
In this regard, the extremely disappointed Leopold could only wait for news of Louis XIV's return, while commanding scattered imperial troops in various places to defend.
This kind of defense is only formal, because the regular army cannot defeat the Qing army that drives straight in in the field.
As a result, all cities in the empire were unable to receive help from reinforcements after being besieged, and could only rely on their own efforts to defend themselves against the enemy.
The title of "Whip of the Gods" has long fallen on the Qing army, due to the braids on the back of his head.
The "whip of God" has become the "braid of God", but it still hurts very much in the "civilized world"!
Through multiple invasions, the Qing army wiped out almost half of the population of Central Europe.
Either kill it directly, or let it fend for itself.
Either plunder the areas under their control in Eastern Europe and make them serfs.
The two decades of Qing armies ravaging Central Europe brought nothing but brutality and destruction to the region.
It's exactly like what they did in the Ming Empire, but many people in Europe don't know much about it.
There is no need to think about the benefits. If the locals can escape to southern or western Europe, it will be considered a blessing in misfortune.
After this catastrophe, Leopold lost about 300,000 troops and more than 600,000 people.
Hundreds of towns were captured, and property damage was estimated to be over 30 million silver coins.
With his own strength, he would definitely not be able to recover this blood debt, so Leopold could only turn to Louis XIV for help.
Even if you give the other party the best land, you must first defeat those two old enemies.
Louis XIV believed that the French army was not prepared enough to launch a large-scale counterattack and must first accumulate strength.
The main purpose is to speed up the production of weapons and ammunition in the arsenal and recruit at least 200,000 more soldiers.
In addition, enough military rations must be stored.
After French America was cashed out, Louis XIV also lost its largest oil field.
Fortunately, there are many oil fields in mainland France, but the reserves are not that large.
But it was enough for the French army to fight. After defeating the Austrian army, Louis XIV planned to ask Ibrahim to spit out tens of millions of barrels of refined oil...
