I Am Louis XIV

Leopold I sent to Bosnia to continue possible negotiations and also to judge the authenticity of this transaction. The person who was trusted by the emperor was Earl Francis Eusebius. This earl was in Leo Pod I served as the negotiating ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire during his marriage to Princess Margaret of Spain, and now he has become the emperor's secret envoy - Milady has carefully read the information about him and also managed to go to the After getting in touch with this lord, she found that this Mr. Earl might be one of the most rigid and boring people she had ever met. He didn't like to dance, drink, never gamble, and his diet was temperate, although he always claimed that he was a Catholic, but looks more like a Protestant, he may not be the most intelligent and flexible minister in the hands of Leopold I, but he is superior in that he is extremely good at keeping secrets, and his poor and simple life ensures that there is no closeness around him He doesn't have any hobbies and avoids people taking advantage of the opportunity to enter. He is reticent and his temperament can even be said to be a bit gloomy.

Such a person, even if he finally finds out that the previous incident was just a farce, he will probably keep it a secret until he goes to see God, or if it is true, he will be able to perform his duties very well—but probably no one would have thought of it , would someone be so bold, or in other words, treat state affairs as if they were playing for fun - Milady felt that this was simply a gift from heaven. Although Earl Eusebius was reliable in every respect, but He who has never played in the world has also lost many opportunities to see the dark side, and he would not even think of how he would be deceived.

"You are simply..." Prince Conti said with difficulty after hearing about Milady's plan.

"madman?"

"No, not even the babblings of a madman in a nightmare are so absurd," said Prince Conti. "You will fail, and me."

"What does that matter?" Milady said: "Leopold I will soon find out that he has only encountered a group of crooks, and that the King of France has suffered more than he has lost, and he will be happy."

"But how can we get him to agree to remain neutral in Flanders affairs?"

After hearing this, Milady sighed, "If the matter really develops to that point... I have a very bad idea, Your Highness, and I hope it will not be used."

Prince Conti's face stiffened. "Whatever you want to do," he said, "don't do it, and don't tell me, I don't want to know anything."

Milady looked at him, and slapped her thigh and laughed.

————

It is not the first time that Count Francis Eusebius has set foot in Mostar (the capital of Bosnia). He once disguised himself as a businessman to come here when he was very young, and even went to Istanbul——Istanbul is the capital of Ottoman Turkey , where the conflicts between religions were not so intense because the sultan wanted to show his tolerance, but in other areas ruled by Ottoman Turkey, people who believed in God were not treated so well. From the beginning of the peasantry, those who are unwilling to convert will have to pay more taxes, and the merchants will be exploited more heavily. Neither the army nor the government will allow Catholics to appear. Then, Catholics are driven to Mosta The Ottoman Turks and converts stayed west of the river, separated by a raging river, and those who lived in the east were called "beasts".

If they want to enter Mostar, it is impossible to reveal their identities as Catholics, otherwise they will be monitored - fortunately, the Ottoman Turks here are not too embarrassing for businessmen, especially those who can bring them important supplies, Eusebi The Earl of Oss was hidden in the caravan, and the leader of the caravan showed that while they were selling spices and silk, they also sold muskets and small cannons. This is what the Ottoman Turkish sultans and Davich need most, so after passing After some negotiations, Count Usipius and his party were able to stay on the west side of the river.

Different from the east side of the river, the buildings here are much taller and neater, and temples can be seen everywhere. The golden domes and the walls decorated with small blue tiles make them look extraordinarily magnificent and colorful. The streets are crowded with people and cattle and horses. When the soldiers of the Grand Vich came with their huge beards, everyone had to make way for them, unless they met someone more dignified, an officer or an officer-they also had the responsibility to maintain the streets. The obligation and power of order, whether they go to the market to buy or sell, the caravan has to pay them a lot of money.

And these people can only live in the most remote area, just by the Mostar River. The room is a bit damp, and the sound of the river rushing is right next to my ears, making it difficult to sleep peacefully. Earl Eusebius tossed and turned on the carpet with no color or pattern, and the war between Ottoman Turkey and Austria was less than three years old. Once he revealed his identity, the Great Vichy here would be able to Execute him, and even if Grand Vichi does have the idea of ​​betraying Bosnia, will his reckless appearance make him back down, so that he will call for the same quick death?

If Prince Conti was here, he would definitely gloat that someone was more unlucky than him. The current situation of Count Eusebius is exactly the same as that of him before, and the situation of the latter is even more difficult than him——Eusebius Si couldn't start with Davic's wife or lover, because Ottoman Turkish women were not allowed to leave the back house, nor were they allowed to contact outside men, otherwise they would have to die.

But this time the count brought a bribe of about 30,000 livres, just to be able to meet the governor of Bosnia. He decided that once he met the governor, he would tell him what a ridiculous scam they had encountered before. How the French slaves of the Ottoman Turks claimed that the Grand Vich had intended to betray the Sultan, the Grand Vich might have been furious and put him to death, but if it was true, then the Grand Vici should have treated the Holy Roman Messenger with caution, And Mr. Earl is undoubtedly inclined to the latter guess, because... how is it possible, how could someone set up such a crazy scam, and if those people came here for money, then they should have taken the emperor's reward He ran away, but in fact, the messenger died, and the change of the French king seems to have confirmed that Grand Vicchi found more than one buyer, and the secret agents of the Grand Duke of Transylvania did hear that there was a buyer from afar. The mysterious messenger who came was honored to live in Bran Castle. Although the Transylvanian Council had decided to hand it over to the city of Brasov, sometimes important guests would still be warmly received there.

Count Usipius fell asleep in such an anxious mood. On the next day, Austrian spies helped them find an officer. From the officer's mouth, they confirmed that there was indeed a French slave next to the governor, and soon He had disappeared before, and his name and appearance matched the emissary's. This news made them very excited, and then they obtained from this officer the name of a close friend of Davevic. A box of gold coins knocked on the other side's door, and then the earl, as a businessman from a foreign country, asked to meet Daweiqi alone.

"Tell your master," said the count, "that the goods I have brought are priceless."

The confidant didn't seem to believe their words, showing contempt, but let them leave, and there has been no movement since then. Some people suggested that the earl go to the confidant again, or give more bribes, but the earl didn't, He didn't really want to meet Dawei in this way, but just wanted Dawei to know that someone wanted to see him. Dawei would definitely order someone to investigate them, and then he would naturally know that they were Emissary of Leopold I.

Sure enough, just when Earl Usipius was getting restless, there was a knock on his door, and he was led out of the room by several strangers. Soft black silk covered his eyes and bound his hands. He was taken to a carriage, and then he didn't know how long the carriage had traveled, and he was taken out of the carriage again, and walked along the winding corridor for a long time before he was finally led to sit on a chair .

The blindfold and the silk that bound his hands were removed. There were more than a dozen candles around him, which were a bit dazzling, but at the other end of the room, a man who was half lying and half sitting on a large chair Almost all of them are hidden in the darkness, only a thick gray beard can be seen. He is wearing a jacquard silk robe and slippers on his feet. His posture seems to be very calm and leisurely, but his beard is always tapping gently The finger of the knife revealed his uneasiness and hesitation.

"Good evening," said the man, in a strong, but not high-pitched voice, the sort of voice one often has when one gives orders and one always has to hold one's breath: "I just don't know, Am I speaking a sentence to a friend or to an enemy."

As soon as he opened his mouth, the Italian with a peculiar accent made the count feel relieved. He stood up and bowed to the governor of Bosnia. This is not cowardice, but due courtesy.

"If you like, we are friends, Your Excellency." The earl said neither humble nor humble.

"The Austrians and the Ottomans have been enemies for hundreds of years," said the other party, "but we are not on the battlefield now, so sit down, and we can be friends tonight." He seemed to make a gesture, The room suddenly became completely bright, and the graceful maids scattered to the corners holding the heavy brass lamp holders. When they were moving, they were like fish swimming in the water, and when they stopped, they were like a sculpture. The count's face was covered by soft veil, and the earl turned his head after only one glance. But this was just the beginning. Immediately afterwards, more maids came in holding silver plates and golden cups. They placed countless huge flowers, fresh peaches, grapes and honeydew melons on the huge table between the governor and the earl, and then What came down was an extremely sumptuous dish—swans and peacocks with their feathers preserved, roast young wild boar, fried quail, stewed chicken, eel soup, stacked cakes and preserves, and many other foods that the Earl could not identify, which almost occupied his stomach. the whole field of vision.

Only then did he notice that the footsteps of the maids were light and soundless, not only because of their excellent qualities, but also because of the long blankets that could bury their whole feet on the floor, and the mink and The fur of squirrels, the walls are covered with golden wall coverings - the sudden opening of the curtains startled the earl, but there were no ferocious soldiers behind the curtains, only a resplendent and resplendent hall, and a luxuriously dressed girl Appearing before them like petals falling on water, another maid accompanied her with an oud.

When the girl was dancing, the count even hesitated a little, because he didn't know whether he should bring up that matter at this time. Before this matter was achieved, whether it was the governor of Bosnia, him, or Leopold I Neither would want the Sudan to know about this matter. The problem is that the governor of Bosnia did not seem to have thought of this issue. He quietly enjoyed the dance, occasionally eating some grapes, drinking some coffee.

The count endured until the dance was over, when suddenly the girl came up to him, knelt down, put her hands behind her, and raised her face and chest to him.

"Undo her veil," said the governor, "and then she will be yours."

The posture of the girl's body was better than any portrait or sculpture the count had seen before, but he just turned his head, "Thank you very much for your kindness, Your Excellency, but I just want to talk to you alone talk."

"I know what you're worried about," said the Governor. "These people can neither hear nor speak."

The count took a deep breath, "If I insist..."

"Well," said the governor, and the men retreated as quietly as they had appeared, "now you can talk."

"First of all, I would like to inform you of an unfortunate news," said the count: "Although your envoy arrived in Vienna and conveyed your intention, he died at the hands of unknown assassins."

The Governor said something that the Earl didn't catch, but it was probably something like they said God bless him, and of course they have their gods: "But that's all he told us, Your Excellency, and nothing else."

"Then I can tell you that since you have come for this," said the proconsul, "I want a million livres worth of gold or silver, a title of duke, and a fief of no less than thirty knights. .”

Although the count guessed that the other party would definitely open his mouth, he still couldn't help being startled.

The governor waved his hand and did not allow him to speak: "I know what you are going to say, but there is no bargaining. This price is not worth mentioning for Bosnia, and you still have Styria, Karniola, Iraq Stria and other places, if you get Bosnia, you will get Transylvania, and then the whole of Slovenia. I know what Bosnia means to you, and there is not only one envoy I sent. Not much time, sir, and even less time for you."