I Am Louis XIV

Along with the Indians came many gifts from the Governor of New France, Lord Rouzon, and a letter that was sincere and even a little humble, although the words were a bit stiff - perhaps because he was a soldier after all. But anyone who can think with his brain instead of his knees will know that the canonization of the Duke of Montreal means that Louis XIV's sight has turned from the interior of Europe to the colonies.

In this era, the glory of kings still comes from Europe, not from the colonies, whether it is the previous Hundred Years' War, the Thirty Years' War, or the Seven Years' War that has not yet happened, the Nine Years' War, it is no exaggeration to say that almost all Confined to this fertile and mature continent, Europa was the seat of kings and emperors, and the colonies were nothing more than the cows that provided supplies for their armies and people.

But Louis XIV never thought so. When he gritted his teeth and conquered Flanders and the Netherlands, some people swore that the new king was too militaristic and France did not have enough population to fill these places. But in fact, there were only ten If you walk in Flanders or the three provinces of the Netherlands, you will find that people are speaking French everywhere, wearing fashionable dresses that may be only a month or two later than Paris, and Catholic churches stand one after another. Get up, the priests have to baptize one or several babies every day, and their arms are so sore that they can't lift them up.

They feed France back even earlier than Mr. Colbert expected. Two-thirds of the land in Flanders is hills and plains. They grow wheat, potatoes, vegetables, and raise cattle and sheep... Merchants are constantly taking away large amounts of agricultural products and textiles from here, and then transporting goods from France to here - people here want everything, plowshares, pitchforks, flails... cooking pots, frying pans, ceramics or yellow Copper cups and bowls, beautiful dresses and ribbons, glass mirrors...etc.

This enviable virtuous cycle has only been formed for a few years, but now the Netherlands and Flanders are almost no longer a burden to France, and it is not to blame for Charles II of England and Leopold I of the Holy Roman Empire. Choosing to take action at this time, if they don't do something, they will have even fewer supporters - don't forget that Louis XIV promised that as long as they spend twenty years without committing any crimes, the people of the new territory can also Bask in the rays of the Sun King like the French.

The victory at Dunkirk undoubtedly gave a blow to those with ulterior motives. In contrast, the proud French, like their king, laughed at those poor fools while continuing to live their lives - the only one in the court was the Duchess of Orleans. , that is, the sister of Charles II suffered some influences, but these influences soon disappeared under Louis's leniency. The people in Versailles were used to seeing those people around the king, as long as the Duke of Orleans was still with the king. At dinner, the Duchess of Orleans still appeared at the ball, sitting with the Duchess of Montpensier, the Queen and the Queen Mother, so that no one would say anything about her.

The same is true for these natives from the colonies - even if they look like a group of ferocious beasts, they are also the king's beasts.

Louis XIV was also very interested in Indians. To put it bluntly, these Indians may be more valuable than some idle ministers. While he was flipping through the diaries of Pierre de Monts and Mr. Champlain (they were French Pioneers of the North American colonies), they set their meeting time in the afternoon on the high hill next to the Palace of Versailles. After more than ten years of repairs and maintenance, it has now become a good place for picnics and sightseeing. It must also be It will make these Indians who are used to covering the sky and the ground less nervous.

When people in the court knew that the king not only carefully considered the location of the meeting, but also specially ordered the Indian menu - at this time, the court mostly served poultry and fish as the main dishes, but to the Indians, these two These were not the things they ate most, so they replaced them with a large dish based on beef and mutton, and the quantity was larger than the original... and so on - after that, those weird sights and whispers almost disappeared.

Those people probably didn't know that these Indians could speak and understand French.

When Louis XIV accepted their salute in the bright white tent and listened to their introduction, he saw that several officials and attendants around him were a little embarrassed - he laughed unabashedly, these Indians People actually speak more standard French than the British or Dutch, but very slowly. Sometimes when they encounter complex and uncommon words, they have to discuss it with each other, or ask the speaker to reread it before they can understand it. .

If it were another person, he probably would not dare to ask Louis XIV to do this, and Louis would not agree to it tolerantly. But these Indians have very clean eyes and straightforward attitudes. There is no malice or other unreasonable reasons in their request. The purpose of suing someone is simply to understand each other's meaning.

Their leader, a man with the French name "Legrand" also took out some tobacco and asked the French "big chief" to smoke it. Although Louis did not recommend tobacco, he also tried it - there were also exquisite tobacco in his court. The long-handled pipe he used was captured from the Ottoman Turks not long ago. Different from the gold, silver and ivory utensils and ornaments in the French court, the main material of this pipe comes from meerschaum, which has not been smoked. The oil-soaked meerschaum is gray-white, and the overall appearance is the image of a lion with a wide open mouth. The cigarette holder is amber. When Louis saw the Indian leader looking at it curiously for a while, he exchanged pipes with him. .

Legrand took the pipe, held it in his hand, raised his head and stared at Louis XIV. Legrand means big man in French. According to his own words, his Indian name also has the meaning of tall, so he is not opposed to this name.

"In fact, most of the names of French people come from nicknames," Louis said: "Like your Legrand, and the panting Abel, and the brave bear Bernard, and the red-haired man. Rousseau.”

"You are very similar to us, except that your skin is whiter." Legrand said: "Your warrior asked us to come here. He said that you intend to make your son the master of Quebec. I am willing to ally with you and work together." against our enemies.”

"I have read his letter. You are the Huron chief," Louis said. "You have too many enemies. The Iroquois are your enemies, and the Montanai are also your enemies."

"The Iroquois have killed your warriors," Legrand said, "and the Montagnais have surrendered to the British."

"You surprise me," Louis said bluntly: "You are so far away from here, but you already know a lot of news that even the French don't know."

"I don't know much about your problem with the other chief," Legrand said, "but I saw the white men killing your warriors and you fighting each other, just like we did with the Iroquois."

Louis nodded. Sometimes things might not be that complicated. When he and Charles II still maintained the illusion of tenderness, the British and French in North America were indeed still at war. It was just because of the long distance and lack of information. Sometimes the fall of a fortress or a settlement may not be known until the troops who changed the defense arrive.

This happened as early as Champlain's time.

"I have many warriors," Louis said. "They can line up from here all the way to Quebec. How many warriors do you have?"

"The Huron warriors were so brave that one of them was worth a hundred."

"No matter how brave you are, it's nothing compared to a bullet."

""I have prepared a lot of beaver skins, bison skins and wood," Legrand said. "You can exchange them for wine, bullets and guns. "

"I admit that you are all good hunters and good warriors, but the two parties in the alliance must be equal in strength," Louis said: "The strong does not need to talk to the weak."

"Just as a wolf cannot speak to a rabbit," Legrand said, "but the Quebec winter can freeze words, and your warriors will freeze to death or become sick."

"Speaking of illness," Louis said, "you have more to worry about than we do. There is only one season in winter, but there are three seasons from spring to autumn. Terrible diseases will make your warriors and mothers die one after another."

"Your minister told me that you have a way to stop us getting sick."

"I have a lot of witch doctors," said Louis.

Legrand lowered his head and thought for a while: "I admit that you are richer, more powerful, and more protected by the gods than my tribe. So, how do you think we can obtain the qualifications to form an alliance with you? If you want Gift……"

"I like your gift very much, but it is enough." Louis said: "I don't want to change my mind, sir. I want a strong ally, because Quebec is so far away from here and my son is so young. I don't want to wait. When he grew up, all he saw was desolation - your tribe was not the most powerful, nor was it the only one. Sometimes the covenant was broken, not because one side abandoned the other, but because the other side was too weak and was cruel. Amidst the strife, I don’t know when it will be quietly annihilated.”

"You mean war."

"Never ending, until it's just us." Louis said: "I don't need a second auburn-skinned ally, and you don't need a second white-skinned ally. Apart from each other, we should all face enemies. "

"You are like a big snake that wants to swallow the world." Legrand said, "Just now you were blaming me for having too many enemies, but now you want me to be the enemy of the entire world."

"I didn't blame you for having too many enemies. I blamed you for having too many enemies." This sentence made some people sound confused, but Legrand was obviously not among them. "Then what I need Too much."

"I don't want you to have a second white-skinned ally, but I don't care if you have a second red-skinned ally." Louis said, "I also have many friends here." For example, the Swedes, the Portuguese, etc. Partly Italian, Dutch and Flemish.

"I need to think about it," Legrand said at last.

"You have a lot of time, my son is still in his infancy." Louis said.

————

Louis came to Queen Theresa's bedroom in the evening. Like all couples, they each had their own suite. Of course the queen was very happy to see the king. After Mrs. Montespan gave birth to a son for the king, the palace Someone inside began to discuss that the queen should give birth to another son for the king. Although the crown prince Louis was already an adult, it was too dangerous for a country to have only one heir.

"So do you think I need to give you another child?" Teresa asked jokingly while helping the king change his pajamas.

"If God is willing to give us another child," Louis said, "I have no reason to refuse." He touched the queen's cheek and said that he was not very willing to have a third child with Theresa. It was a blessing from God that the princess and the crown prince had a healthy child - his blood relationship with Teresa was also too close, but at that time he had almost no choice, and Bishop Mazarin and the Queen Mother would not allow him to choose - —There are also French nobles, who are still very afraid of the Duke of Colonna, because they are worried that the king has too deep and sincere love for this Italian woman.

"I'm old." Queen Teresa sighed. She and Louis are the same age. For men, forty is a good time to be young and strong. For women...

"I don't think so," said Louis. "You are as beautiful as when we first met."

"I have never been a beauty." Queen Teresa said: "Neither my father nor mother like me very much, and people in the court often sigh for me and worry that I will not be liked by my husband in the future."

"There are many kinds of beauty." Louis kissed her forehead. Queen Teresa was indeed not a beauty: "Your beauty is like an oyster shell. When you open it, you will see the glory behind it."

"That's because your love shines on me like the moonlight on the sea." Queen Teresa said, and they hugged each other tightly. They had been husband and wife for nearly twenty years, making them familiar with every inch of each other, their Love is calm and easy, not fierce, but both the queen and Louis are full of satisfaction.

When the enthusiasm faded, Louis looked at the hanging curtains and said softly: "I think he is coming."

"Do you also think it will be a son?"

"He'll be a pretty healthy son," Louis said. "Just like little Louis."

Queen Teresa smiled, "You seem to be in a particularly good mood today."

"Yes."

"Is it because of those Indians?" Queen Teresa was curious. She also saw them: "Are they another kind of Tatars?"

"It can be said that," Louis was not sleepy, he turned over, and the queen immediately threw herself into his arms, "but they are not the same as the Tatars."

"What's different?" asked the queen. "I heard they are very savage, as cruel and ruthless as animals."

"Animals can never be as cruel as humans, otherwise they would use our hair as pillows, our skin as boots, and eat our flesh." Louis said, and the queen immediately shrank into his arms: "Your words scare me. ." Then she felt a vibration in her chest beneath her cheek. "No," Louis said, "Don't be afraid, the power of civilization is the greatest."

"Shouldn't it be said that it is the power of God?" said the queen.

"Belief is originally a part of civilization, and each civilization will derive corresponding beliefs." Louis said: "Indians also have their beliefs, but like their civilization, they are very backward."

"What do you want them to do?"

“It’s too cold in Quebec,” Louis thought of the diaries and documentary books he had read. “The first time they spent the winter there, thirty-six of the eighty people died, and those were all strong young men. He hugged the queen's shoulders: "But the British have occupied a large area there, and that place is warmer than Quebec. If we don't occupy it, they will replace us."

"They say Quebec only has furs, although beaver pelts are indeed the best there." The queen murmured, "I prepared a lot for Elizabeth. It's also very cold in Sweden."

Elizabeth's wedding to King Carl XI of Sweden is about to take place. The eldest princess of France is about to become the Queen of Sweden. Although Louis said that he would keep her until she is twenty, the facts do not allow him to do so - after all, the queen has a queen. There is no doubt that the family has the throne to inherit, such as Theresa and Louis. The crown prince Louis has nothing to blame, but people still feel that the queen should give the king another son, so as to be safe.

"The population of France has grown to 39 million," compared to the 20 million after Louis' first census, which is really worthy of celebration. The problem is, you want to say that the population has become large enough to move to as far away as New France. Going to the arduous colonies has not reached that level, and there will definitely be one or more arduous battles waiting for the French in a few years. Why does the Bible say that war, famine, plague and death are four Will the knights always follow? Because war will cause strong men to die on the battlefield, leaving behind frail old people, women, and children. After the fields are barren, famine will inevitably follow. People who die from famine will cause plague, and then there will be more deaths - until then At that time, there will inevitably be a huge gap in France's population.

It is impossible to immigrate to America in large numbers within ten years. Then the French's interests in America can only be defended by the Indians. An alliance with the Indians is an inevitable result. This is the governor of New France, Lord Rouzon. , and even earlier Champlain, DeMont also had a deep understanding of, and their relations with the Indians (mainly Huron) were good.

Today's Huron chief Legrand also had a good impression on Louis XIV. They were better at learning than the Tatars - and not so stubborn. They had faith, but they never had any problems with French missionaries because of their faith. Overcome conflict - they have their own way of interpreting it, and if you ask them to convert to Catholicism, they will comply.

Moreover, the Indians are not as greedy as the Tatars. Although the people in the Palace of Versailles will say that they are barbaric, when they see what they want, their first thought is to exchange, rather than letting go of plunder like the Tatars. in the primary options.

"...Why not try to get some African slaves?"

Louis XIV was thinking about how to balance the relationship between the Indians and the French. The Duke of Montreal was not the Duke of Hallebour. He did not have a mother who was willing to go to the fiefdom with him. In other words, he would have to wait at least fifteen years. Only a member of the other family can become the master of North America. Before that, he must support Legrand and his tribe so that the alliance formed between his tribe and the French can fight against the British, Spanish and Dutch exiles. The government, and other enemies who are eyeing it.

So he only heard half of the queen's words, but this half was enough. He was surprised: "How did you think of this?" He asked: "Did someone say something to you?"

"Prince Conte," Queen Teresa said, "but it could also be because of the businessmen behind him."

Louis snorted, because Prince Conde had become the King of Poland, and the king had also taken back his fiefdom and title. As a result, the identity of Prince Conte, his younger brother, was a bit embarrassing - not because of his title, he He did not get his title from his father, but from his grandfather's cousin François de Bourbon. Mainly because he had such a prominent brother, it was difficult for him to be in the court of Versailles. Master the balance.

His main job now is to serve as an envoy for Louis XIV or receive diplomats. There are also some things that Mr. Colbert cannot solve, which he can ask Prince Conti to solve - to dry himself out at the pinnacle of power. Prince Conti, who was a salty fish, had no way to make money, so he could only use his brains to accumulate wealth. He had many useful businessmen under his command, and they accepted his protection - because few of the king's trusted ministers were willing to accept those Slave traders took refuge.

The slave trade in France is also a sore that is difficult to cure or remove. The trade of black people was first carried out by the Portuguese and Spanish, and then the French also began to participate in this business with a profit of more than 300%. The British later caught up. Nowadays, they are big sellers and buyers in the slave trade. The Spanish and Portuguese opened plantations in Central and South America, and the British used slaves to open up central America. However, there are very few black people in the northern part of America. Firstly, there is insufficient development; secondly, Black people could not adapt to the climate there.

But if necessary, those who regard black people as livestock and tools will not care about these small problems.

Louis sighed again. This was also a problem. He didn't like slave traders. Although as a king, the bottom line could be set very low - he was still a man who sold his soul to the devil. But as far as he knew, even if Even the most vicious devil cannot compare with a slave trader - a slave trader is no longer a person. People always have sympathy and empathy. Not to mention there is always an audience under the execution platform. The audience at least knows that they are being treated. Watching a man, a fellow being, suffer and die. But for a slave trader, when he looks at a slave, he looks at a sheep or a fish.

He didn't like slave merchants, and slave merchants would not come to him to ask for trouble, but they would still keep an eye on people who could appear next to the king and influence the king through them. If Louis XIV adopted their suggestions, black people would Sold to Quebec, they could extract a large sum of money from the king's pocket.

But Louis had never planned this at the beginning: "What I need is not slaves," he explained to the queen: "What I need are warriors, the kind who hold muskets and bows and fight the British on horseback - furs The trade should continue for a while," he thought: "Slaves can't do it, their minds and nature have been distorted." Since they are sold as livestock, you can't expect them to do it. You fight.

Whether some people will think black beavers are more important hundreds of years from now is another question.

"You are a kind man," said the queen.

"For some people, I am." Louis comforted her, and then the two of them stopped talking. They hugged each other and slept until the next morning. When Queen Teresa woke up, the king had left, but Bon Don was still waiting outside the suite. He was holding a string of black and blue pearls in his hand, which were said to come from Tahiti. This is also a tradition. After the king and queen, the royal lady, or any noble lady sleep together, They all wanted to give her a gift, otherwise both the king and the woman would be laughed at by the people in the court.

The queen gladly accepted the gift, but three months later, an even more precious gift arrived.

The third child of Louis XIV and Queen Theresa.

The Indians of the Huron tribe in Quebec were preparing to leave after participating in the celebration banquet. It was now the time when spring was about to bloom. When they arrived in Quebec, the rivers in Quebec had also thawed, and the herds of deer and bison had begun to bloom. Wandering in the wilderness and woods again, they can successfully return to their tribe - they want to take away a witch doctor and three cows so that they can plant cowpox on the people of their tribe.

Before them, there were already two tribes in Quebec. It is unknown whether they disappeared due to wind and snow or smallpox.

This made Legrand, the chief of Huron, feel a little more at ease. Sometimes disease is also a weapon. If their tribe can be protected from smallpox, it means there are many more warriors and mothers of warriors. The French chief also promised He said that the French would sell them better weapons than the British. Although they would have to fight for the chief after they returned, it would also be good for their tribe.

They were mortal enemies with the Iroquois for hundreds of years. The Montagnais were originally the intermediaries between them and the white people, but because the Huron Indians tried their best to get rid of them and did business directly with the French, the Montagnais The Nai people also regarded them as enemies. Legrand was not afraid of them, but they also had white allies. He could not put the warriors of his tribe at an avoidable disadvantage.

Louis XIV did not know whether the cattle and doctors brought back by the Indians could protect the Hurons from smallpox, but without smallpox, there were also infectious diseases such as measles and malaria, and the Indians had little resistance to these diseases. , but these are beyond his control. He can only say that he hopes his new allies are lucky enough.

There is also the slave trade mentioned by Queen Theresa... Louis XIV will not pretend to say that there are no slaves and slave traders in his territory. It can even be said that before the labor problem is solved, this is something that he will also find difficult. thing.

"Profits," he said.

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