I Am Louis XIV

Although the visitor was dressed in a typical Versailles Palace, in terms of details, such as the red hat Christina saw, the shiny gold tassels hanging from the cloak, cuffed boots and black vest, too much lace The shirt with lace can still be seen to be different from other nobles - but as I said before, in the Palace of Versailles, there are many people who come to see the king, even if the Catalans occupy France The proportion is not much, but they are also favored by the king, and it is normal for them to come to see and thank them.

But for this gentleman today, his real name does not match the identity he uses.

In fact, it’s more than that. The original owner of this identity was an officer and a Catalan herdsman—many of the Catalans living in the Pyrenees were farmers and herdsmen, or Merchants engaged in the trading of cattle, sheep, cheese, butter and other dairy products, the strong sunlight in the Pyrenees made their skin rough and dark, and their long-term outdoor life made their manners more lively and their speech loud and grand.

This gentleman looks more like a pampered person. His skin is almost as fair as the gentlemen in the Palace of Versailles. He is also gentle and polite when he walks around and salutes. A pair of eagle-like sharp eyes. In contrast, his face is easily reminiscent of the saint's attendant in the icon painting, gentle and mediocre, but unfortunately there is a slender black beard lying on the top of his lips, like a ruthless man falling on white paper. With a ruthless swipe, a dangerous aura appeared on his face.

"Let us hear your surname again," said Louis XIV. "Tamalite, alas, Francisco de Tamalite, the venerable gentleman who once led the Catalonian Congress. Insurrection, he fought bravely, and even the Prince of Condé the Great admired him."

"Yes, that's my father," said the visitor proudly. "It's a pity that at that time he had to face two enemies, Spain and France."

"That's a bit presumptuous," Louis said. "So now you Catalans are going to continue to face two enemies?"

"We can't, Your Majesty," the visitor bowed, "My father died in 66, and I, Your Majesty, we don't have any outstanding military generals here, we lack food, weapons, horses and money , with empty hands."

"Then what else do you have? Although I have everything, I never impose mercy blindly. Everything I give has enough rewards." Louis stroked the ring on his finger: "The Catalans are Excellent businessmen, I have heard of this often, so you should know that empty slogans and promises cannot move me."

"We have courage and determination." Mr. Tamalit said calmly: "And our loyalty. We are willing to make your second son the Earl of Barcelona and the master of Spain."

Louis smiled: "These are not enough. I inherited the title and territory of the Earl of Barcelona from my father, Louis XIII. Charles should also inherit it as a matter of course. It is not up to you who Spain belongs to. If I fail , it doesn’t need much, if I win,” he slightly lowered his head to look at Tamalite: “France also has Brittany, Lorraine and Alsace, and now there are Flanders and North Holland, do you think Can Catalonia be an exception?"

"You accept my audience, which means you must have a place for us on the chessboard," Tamalit was not discouraged: "And as long as you are willing to give us a place like the Brittany or the Pyrenees The treatment of our countrymen, we are willing to accept the rule of France."

"I do have such a plan, but I can't be sure whether you still have 39 years of strength and courage," Louis said, "But it's meaningless to say that your people are starving. The leader of the letter, the lack of armaments and food, I can give you all these, but before that..."

"Before……"

"I want Roussillon," Louis said, "I can give you a reward first, and you can also think of it as an interest-free loan. You take it to my merchants, and they will provide you with what you need." , but in return, you must first drive out the Spanish garrison in the Roussillon area, and open the door to Spain for me. When my feet step on the red land of Roussillon, you can feel the generosity of a king gone."

"You are already very generous." Tamalit breathed a sigh of relief. The Catalans have fallen to the lowest level of hell, and what they ask for is very little. The question was swallowed back. After all, they had too few bargaining chips. Just like the French king said, they were not qualified to bargain.

After Tamalite left, the Duke of Orleans walked out.

"elder brother."

Louis turned his head and looked at the Duke, his younger brother, with a complicated expression.

"do you remember?"

"What?"

"The first time..."

"Ah, Your Majesty, I will never forget." The Duke of Orleans said. In his forty years of life, he has been tempted countless times, and the most powerful one is the attraction of the throne, the fuel of others, and his own ambition. It tortured him every night, but no matter that time, he persisted firmly—he remembered his promise, and Brother Wang also remembered that Brother Wang was able to endure the jealousy that a king must have, and put him in the In the position of general or even marshal, let him lead the army, gallop on the battlefield, and let him express his opinions wantonly and interfere in the government affairs in the court - can't he respond to his brother's trust?

Therefore, as soon as Louis mentioned the first time, he immediately thought of it. What Louis mentioned was the first time he let the Duke of Orleans stay in his chamber. He clearly remembered that the ministers and generals present first met. Lu was shocked, and then most people showed a look of disapproval. England once had Richard III, France also had the Duke of Gaston, the Queen Mother and Bishop Mazarin. girl".

It was Brother Wang who saved him from growing into a monster like a twisted sapling.

"Then I'm going to say again now, I need you, brother."

"I am always at your command."

"Go to Roussillon."

Let the Duke of Orleans go to Roussillon. As the vanguard and envoy of the French king, Louis has considered it for a long time. He has many generals under his command, but not many can deter the Catalans. After all, Catalonia also It can be said that it is part of the Spanish royal family. The Republic of Catalonia was also established during the uprising in 1939. You can see that Mr. Tamalit. They are still wary of France. Louis must also admit that, more than Speaking of his people, the Catalans are not yet within the scope of his compassion - when he chooses the victim, there is no doubt that the latter will be the latter. In this case, the Catalans need a leader in name, In essence, it needs a hostage.

If Charles is an adult, Louis will really consider letting Charles take on this important task-the crown is bright, but its weight has never been underestimated. Since Charles will become the king of Spain, if he can be added The ruler recognized by the Catalan people is simply a good thing that kills two birds with one stone-the problem is that Shire is just a toddler now.

If Grand Condé is still there, he is of course the most suitable as the God of War of the Bourbon family, but he is already Ludwig I of Poland...

Prince Conti is also Bourbon, but he... as an envoy is not bad, but if he is to go to the battlefield... Louis does not want to be charged with torturing blood relatives for the time being.

The Duke of Orleans became the best candidate in this way, but I have to say that this matter may be more dangerous than the previous trip to Lorraine, and it is also more unpredictable than the Battle of France and Holland. Strange soldiers, strange people, you can only see eager eyes, drooping heads and humble knees, but like Caesar who died under the statue of Pompey, when a person kneels down and grabs your clothes, you may Not for pleading, but with sinister malice.

Not to mention, Louis deliberately used Roussillon as a breakthrough from the very beginning. Roussillon connects France and Spain, and faces the Mediterranean Sea. It is impossible for the people of the Spanish Anti-French Alliance not to see that they are becoming more and more urgent to Catalonia, perhaps for this reason.

But if the Catalans can meet Louis XIV's request, it will greatly reduce the pressure on Louis XIV. After all, when the war begins, France will never have to face only Spain as an enemy.

"What are you worried about?" The Duke of Orleans turned around, knelt in front of his brother, and looked up at him: "Under your light, your army and I will be invincible, and God will bless you and me." Yes, like every time before."

"Wait until Mary (the princess) arrives in Prussia, and then you can go." Because France and Prussia do not border, the French can always send the princess to the Prussian border. Louis once personally married his daughter, and he also Did not want to deprive the Duke of Orleans of his power.

"That's what I think," said the Duke of Orléans. "As soon as I leave Versailles, I will set off quietly to Languedoc, and then to Roussillon."

"Wait, I didn't think so..."

"This is a rare opportunity," said the Duke of Orleans. "The Austrians and the Spaniards often laugh at us for being too fond of our children. You have given the marriage in person. They must think I do the same, and they will definitely keep an eye on you." Every general and marshal, so we can catch them off guard."

"But the princess..."

"I'm not you." The Duke of Orleans spoke to his brother in a rare gloating tone: "I'm just a princely brother, Duke. It's very easy for me to leave France."