I Am Louis XIV

Of the people present, perhaps only Tekey and Louis XIV, who brought the news, were not extremely surprised.

"Ah," Louis said, "I just wonder what kind of ally Leopold I would choose."

After Louis conquered Lorraine, Alsace, Flanders, and the Netherlands, the Habsburg encirclement had been completely cut off by him, and Austria had to pass through the French mainland to join hands with Spain-this is almost impossible , Therefore, there are only a few allies of Austria-the princes of the Holy Roman Empire.

Among them are three church electors. Although the Roman Church still maintains an ambiguous relationship with Louis XIV, because Louis XIV refused to give up an inch of royal power and even religious power, even if the current Innocent XI had a relationship with him The secret agreement also had to stand on the standpoint of the church to repeatedly reprimand the words and deeds of the King of France—maybe part of it came from his heart. After all, the annexation or co-governance of Spain by France is something that the Roman Church does not want to see. Think about it , although France still belongs to God now, its money and priests belong to the king instead of the church. If Spain, a country with a strong tradition, also falls into the hands of Louis XIV, the crumbling temple of the Roman Church is even less likely to be saved. up.

At the same time, the three church electors are also very clear that once France acquires Spain, it is difficult to say whether Louis XIV's ambitions will rapidly expand. After all, at this time, some people are calling him "Caesar". Everyone knows how big the place is, it is the whole of Europa, England and half of America, and this majesty has also proved that he can fight wars and become richer, and his people, ministers and generals are also his Fanatical supporters, unless Louis XIV suffers several consecutive defeats like Richard the Lionheart - Richard was even imprisoned at the beginning, otherwise his power will point to where his soldiers will move forward like a wave , drowning their enemies.

So the three ecclesiastical electors, although they had been in harmony with the king when the Netherlands was divided, were now firmly on Leopold's side.

As for the other four secular electors, the elector of Bohemia is Leopold I. The former elector of Brandenburg is now the king of Prussia. He is switching between Louis XIV and Leopold I. Ziroom has won a lot of benefits for himself-it can be said to be semi-neutral. Although he is still loyal to the Emperor Leopold I of the Holy Roman Empire in name, no one can predict how many soldiers will be sent and to whom. ...Of course some people will be indignant, considering that the princess will take away the huge dowry, which is so rich that it can cover Prussia's tax revenue for a year, but some discerning people, or those who are not so greedy and delusional, know that the princess is absolutely Will not marry a Frenchman.

The choice of the big princess is actually quite narrow.

Being able to keep the King of Prussia in this "weathervane" posture is actually enough to make up for this loss. Louis and the people around him think so, because although Prussia is high at the top of the Holy Roman Empire, it is three miles away from France. It is the territory of a church elector, but it is closely related to Saxony and Hanover, shares an inland sea with Sweden, and has a long border with Poland. It can be said that no matter where he falls, he will directly form a powerful "ally". constraints.

The Palatinate was deprived of the qualifications of the electors and then returned by Leopold I, so they will only stand on the side of Leopold I, and the other is the electors of Saxony and Bavaria. Both of these two accepted the bribes and promises of Leopold I. Of course, they also became more jealous of France.

But these are not enough, these princes, like Austria, are cut off from Spain by France.

Britain, a country that has had a century-old grievance with France, let alone old grievances. After the Netherlands ceased to exist, Britain and France are like two ferocious beasts, facing each other again, especially after Britain lost Dunkirk. The new routes and ports needed by the merchants are all in the hands of Spain and France. If they don't want to be choked by Louis XIV, they must unite with Leopold I to defeat the Sun King and his country.

At least let France go back to the time when Bishop Richelieu was in power. How wonderful it was at that time. The number of warships in France is less than the combined number of fingers and toes of a person.

But the combined army of these kings and princes still cannot compare with Louis XIV's 150,000 standing army.

Several previous battles have proved that France's land army is unmatched, and the sea battle with Britain has also proved the best verification of Louis XIV's persistence-Leopold I even smashed the French army in a rage His own room, shouting that he is not allowed to continue exporting steel to France-he did the same, but unfortunately it was too late, how about steam ironclad ships, after just looking at it, every country that has ideas about maritime hegemony is desperately trying to Just build such a ship.

The King of France already had a whole fleet of this kind.

"But it's just too... unbelievable."

Bontang couldn't help but said that he had always been as silent as a teapot and a candlestick in the king's room, and now he couldn't help but interjected. It is conceivable how much this news shocked him.

You must know that Austria has been committed to replacing France and becoming the "eldest daughter" of the Church of Rome—or, in other words, the secret controller and beneficiary, just like what the beautiful man Philip IV (King of France) did to the Church As mentioned, in addition to the support and protection of the church, Leopold I also showed more piety than Louis XIV-everyone knows that the French king worships, and attending mass is like a student doing homework. Do it without intention.

"François I could do it, and of course Leopold I could do it," Louis said.

At the beginning, François I had to reach an alliance with Suleiman I of Ottoman Turkey in order to fight against Charles V of Habsburg. "Alliance", but everyone has seen the result, Charles V was restrained by Suleiman I, and finally stopped moving forward—France also got a chance to breathe and grow.

It can be said that without the crazy behavior of Francois I, there would be no France today.

Leopold I has also reached the moment of decision, and he can be regarded as a competent king by doing so.

After saying this, Tekey immediately raised his head and stared at the face of Louis XIV. When hearing a shocking news, people's first expressions often represent his true thoughts, especially Although Ke Yi does not look like a nobleman, he is still a nobleman after all, and he has long succumbed to the command of the sultan and grand vizier who are uncertain. In the court of Ottoman Turkey, all but the sultan are slaves. In the Golden Window Hall Li replied that if he was a little careless, he would be hanged by the eunuchs with a bowstring - so guessing other people's mood or thoughts from any subtle point has long been familiar to Tekoi, and he is proficient in it.

As soon as he looked up, he saw the indifferent face of Louis XIV.

Not pretending to be calm, but understanding, anticipation and commonplace.

Seeing him look up, Louis XIV smiled slightly. This smile did not contain much contempt and contempt, but it hit the extremely dark part of Tekoy's heart—he suddenly remembered that many poets would compare sunshine to Those golden, scorching arrows, anyone who has been exposed to the sun knows how appropriate this description is, but now Teky can also feel it, even worse.

Sunshine does not always bring warmth and comfort to people. Along with the splendor of the Palace of Versailles, what is often mentioned is the dangling corpse on the gas lamp stand in Paris.

People said that this was the evil deed of the king's favorite concubine, Mrs. Montespan, and Tekoy couldn't believe it. Without the king's permission, not even a dead mouse would appear on the streets of Paris, let alone corpses. According to this king's information, he was kicked out of Paris when he was still a teenager, and the people who should be loyal to him have turned into thugs who chased and hurt him. It's strange that he would have any good feelings for Paris!

It's just that he can't give up Paris so quickly, but it's still possible to ring the alarm in the hearts of Parisians all the time.

The king's smile made him look like a tolerant elder. Tekoi's false threats melted like ice and snow in the sun in front of him, and it didn't have any effect.

"So this secret agreement was negotiated between Mehmet IV and Leopold I personally," Louis said as if talking to himself, "It seems that he is not a sultan who does nothing like the legend Woolen cloth."

Mohammed IV was born in 42 years and ascended the throne in 48 years. Like Louis XIV, Leopold I, Carlos II and other kings, they all became the masters of a huge empire when they were still children. His mother, like the previous mother of the sultan, was a female slave in the harem, but she did not have the means like Xu Leimu. Even after becoming the queen mother, the court was still in chaos, with dereliction of duty, bribery, corruption and even rebellion everywhere. This situation did not come to an end until she finally negotiated a peace with Ibrahim I's designated regent Koprulu.

Koprulu was indeed an outstanding talent. Unfortunately, except for Bishop Mazaran who met Louis XIV and died at a very timely time, almost any minister who was left alone would end badly. When Koprulu was still alive , Muhammad IV no longer regarded him as his teacher and minister, but an enemy. After Koprulu's son Ahmed inherited his position as Grand Vizier, he used tactful Posture and cunning maneuvered between the sultan and his other ministers, but no political dexterity, no matter how subtle, required a strong backing—especially in Ottoman Turkey.

Louis XIV was not sure whether Ahmed's war against Austria was motivated by Mehmet IV's intention, or whether he also felt the need for a huge victory to consolidate his position - perhaps even without his intervention, Ahmed Ahmad was still bound to suffer a crushing defeat - so that Mehmet IV could justifiably hang this unsightly person.

Because Istanbul is not friendly to wizards, the church is also difficult to move there, and is always under surveillance. There is not much information about Mehmed IV, but since he has the courage to form an alliance with his long-time enemy Austria, then he should also be a A guy not to be underestimated——Louis lightly rubbed his fingers, "What kind of reward will Leopold I give... Well, God," he said with a frown, "Could it be..."

Italy.

He silently mouthed the noun, and Tekoi nodded slowly.

Italy torn apart.

In the seventeenth century, Italy was just a geographical term, or a unified and powerful country imagined by poets and idealists. In the era of Louis XIV, it was still divided into countless small pieces by many principalities and marquises. The small princes who can't affect the situation may have an impact on the subsequent war, probably only the Papal State - there is no doubt that there is also the Duchy of Savoy - because the heir of the Duke of Savoy is still fighting for the French king, the Duke naturally also Not on Austria's side.

The Republic of Genoa is a vassal of Spain.

The Duchy of Milan, the Kingdom of Naples, the Kingdom of Sicily, and Sardinia belong to the Spanish Habsburgs.

The Principality of Tuscany and France can be regarded as half-in-law relatives, but in terms of military strength, everyone knows that the Florentines cannot be counted on.

The Republic of Venice, it is still shaky, but if they know that Austria and Ottoman Turkey have joined forces, they will definitely stand on the side of France-they have been fighting the Ottomans for decades, just to retake Venice. Some overseas territories - Crete.

Without Crete, even if the Venetian trade route was cut off in half, they had to take it back into their arms if they didn't want to slowly weaken and die.

What's more, in order to contain the hegemony of France, Leopold I is likely to drive the wolf away and sell Italy to Mohammed IV.

Most people can't believe it at all, but for Leopold I and his country, this is not a big loss. If France is severely defeated in this battle and Louis XIV is forced to abandon Spain, the previous, Even more territory was ceded to them. It can be said that Habsburg has laid a solid foundation for the next hundred years, and no one can shake the crown on their heads.

As for after the victory, will those allies, such as the British and the Ottoman Turks, gain an inch—Leopold I thought, Leopold I will definitely try to make them lose both to himself, and he betrayed Italy—don’t forget that Italy still has another In the Papal States, Innocent XI may be so angry that he will be excommunicated! It is also necessary to make deals with the enemy of Christ, the devil king on the ground. Isn't it because Ottoman Turkey's human sea tactics can be used against France's 150,000 standing army?

Wait until the end of the protracted war, no, he may not wait until the end of the war, as long as the Sun King loses his original glory, he can fight back - if it is other countries, forget it, but the Ottomans? All Catholics will be on his side! The Papal States also have to support him, unless they have a second Vatican.

Mehmed IV might not have been unaware of Leopold I's schemes, but like every fish caught, sometimes it was greed not stupidity.

"But Leopold I would not put pen to paper on any covenant lightly," said Louis, who was still very young when Leopold I was (he was also very young at the time, so young that he was a bit reckless), "maybe it's just that the messenger brought Send a message to show that if Mohammad IV intends to go further in the Italian peninsula, he will not hinder it."

Louis sighed. It stands to reason that most of Italy belongs to Spain, but it seems that his actions in Naples finally caught the attention of Leopold I.

If the Ottoman army landed on the peninsula, the biggest loss would not be Habsburg, but Bourbon.

The addition is complete!