After careful consideration, Xu Guangqi brought the young and handsome Carlo Medici with him to Rome this time, but he did not introduce him in the Roman social scene according to social customs. In this way, the relationship between the mission and the Medici family changed again. He can continue to maintain his neutral and aloof status by looking beyond the fog.
Although he did not introduce Carlo solemnly, Xu Guangqi had promised Grand Duke Medici to do his best to ensure Carlo's safety. As a result, Carlo Medici, who was closely protected by two elite elite guards, became a special sight in the city of Rome. Envoys from various countries were speculating on what this guy had to pay for the protection of the Eastern Mission.
Carlo was entrusted by the Grand Duke to negotiate with the Holy See about his uncle's crime of trying to kill the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The Grand Duke did not dare to come due to safety concerns, and for such a big matter, just sending envoys to communicate was not enough. Carlo was also a blessing in disguise. , otherwise it is still unknown whether the three words "Medici" in his name will be recognized by the Grand Duke.
...
As for Xu Guangqi himself, after his baptism, Gregory XIII received him on his sick bed, blessed him and canonized him as a bishop. Although there are currently more bishops in Serris than believers, the Holy See has no psychological burden on continuing to canonize bishops - the bishops can expand their dioceses on their own if they are capable.
Earl Xu, who had not been baptized by the Ming Dynasty officialdom, tried his best, but could not act that kind of flattered person. He could only remain dumbfounded and serious throughout the whole process, which did not help him.
Starting on December 16, Xu Guangqi began to take turns receiving envoys and nobles from European countries in Rome. The Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, the King of Hungary and Croatia, the King of Bohemia and the younger brother of the Archduke of Austria - Matthias is considered the most noble one among them.
Mr. Mathias is a young man under thirty years old, with bright eyes and a seemingly energetic appearance. Although he was the biological brother of the Holy Roman Emperor, the emperor had many brothers and sisters - five brothers and six sisters.
The old emperor Maximian II gave all the royal property and the throne to his eldest brother Rudolf II, and only gave Matthias some pension annuity. However, his eldest emperor brother almost ignored his growth—— It’s no surprise that His Majesty the Otaku seems to be indifferent to almost everything.
Over the years, Matthias has worked hard to get a position that suits his status. As a close nephew of Felipe II of Spain, he actually accepted an invitation from the rebels in the rebellious province of the Netherlands and served as governor of the Netherlands. This was enough. See how horny he is.
Three years ago, the Netherlands declared its independence from Felipe II. Matthias could no longer serve as nominal governor. At Felipe's strict request, he returned to Linz, Austria, and came to Rome many times to serve as bishop. Position.
The poor boy's requirements are not very high. He is not looking for a cardinal. What he wants is just a local bishop: such as Münster, Liège, Speyer, etc. These cities now have a population of not even 50,000 - - However, the majestic prince of the Holy Roman Empire was not even able to meet this request and was continuously rejected.
He also relied on his royal status to negotiate with the great aristocrats of Poland, Hungary and other places, trying to become the king of these two countries. However, the French Black Queen Catherine de' Medici and her nerdy brother continued to hinder him behind the scenes. He failed several times - Mathias was completely angry, and he became the most famous shackles and troublemaker in Europe at this time.
After repeated setbacks, Matthias did not have the arrogance of a great nobleman. He first saluted, congratulated Xu Guangqi on winning the title of bishop, and expressed his strong envy.
After a period of hard work, Xu Guangqi already had some ideas about the intertwined major families in Europe at this time. Although Matthias does not have an acre of territory now, as a member of the royal family, and with Rudolf II still not giving birth to a male heir, Matthias may be able to make a big fortune in the future with his efforts. .
Therefore, Earl Xu greeted Mathias with courtesy and invited him to taste the special black tea. The exquisite utensils and the fragrant tea made Mathias a little excited - he tried hard to appear indifferent, but his mood was betrayed by a sneak peek at the beautiful furnishings at the mission's residence.
After the greetings, Matias said that he was very familiar with the governor of Venice, Governor Niccolo da Ponte. Although Governor Ponte was over ninety years old, as far as he knew, the old man was still a prominent figure in the ruling alliance. If Xu Guangqi intends to visit Venice, he can help the mission make connections.
Matthias said eagerly: "Your Excellency, I heard that you are very interested in the Renaissance. You know, after the sack of Rome, all the real artists went to Venice, and now there are no masters in Europe."
The so-called Sack of Rome refers to the large-scale burning and killing in Rome fifty-seven years ago after the troops under Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (note: he was also the King of Spain, called Carlos I) "mutiny" The looting incident was the worst cultural tragedy in European history. As a result, Rome lost its central role in the Renaissance forever - as a result, the Renaissance that had lasted for two centuries also came to an abrupt end. This event was also the source of the hatred between the Papal States, the Habsburg family and Spain. [Note 1]
Xu Guangqi was moved when he heard this: "Thank you for your help. Originally, Venice was not included in my mission plan. But these days, I have heard a lot about the political system of the Republic of Venice - how should I say, this kind of recommendation? The system of rulers has only been seen in the three generations of rule in our country, and to be honest, I am very interested in it."
When Mathias heard Xu Guangqi's interest, his cheeks turned red with excitement. He rubbed his hands, and then flattered Xu Guangqi's demeanor and wealth. Although Earl Xu already knew that the people here were vulgar, he still felt a little embarrassed after hearing Mathias' naked praise.
When Mattias saw Xu Guangqi nodding and smiling, he didn't know that this was a reserved and reserved thing unique to the East, and thought that his "demeanor" had impressed the Earl.
So he directly expressed his intention: "Your Excellency, I heard that you experienced some adventures in Tuscany. There was almost a coup in the old palace, and you played a key role in it."
Before Xu Guangqi could refute, he then asked: "Can you help me get a loan from the Medici Bank? As you know, I am negotiating with Poland to get the king's position - I will use future earnings As a mortgage, we only need a loan of five thousand ducats this time.”
When Xu Guangqi heard this, his understanding of European politics immediately deepened. He pondered for a moment, then smiled at Wang Jiaping, who was sitting next to him, and said, "Nangong, can anyone live in this strange thing?"
Wang Jiaping frowned and sighed: "This is a place where true gifts are ruined! Can the king buy it?" Xu Guangqi smiled and said: "It seems that the king of Poland is elected by the nobles. If he buys enough votes, it is really possible."
Listening to the two people communicating in Chinese, Mathias did not feel dissatisfied. He opened his eyes wide and held his breath, eagerly looking forward to the word "yes" from Xu Guangqi's mouth.
Unexpectedly, Luo Mingjian, who was sitting next to Wang Jiaping, also interjected in Chinese: "Zixian, I heard that this guy's negotiations with Poland have failed. This should be because he has no money to spend - the King of Poland has not So cheap.”
Xu Guangqi thought about it silently, smiled at Matthias and said, "I don't have as much influence on Medici as you do."
Seeing that Mathias's face turned pale, Xu Guangqi then smiled and said: "But five thousand ducats is not a big sum of money. If you are willing to cooperate with Siris in depth, I would like to have a deep discussion with you on this issue - Suitable opportunities in the future.”
When Mathias heard this, he stuttered in excitement: "Of course, this is my honor!"
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