I Am Louis XIV

"If this is the case, your mother's heart will inevitably be broken. She may have to lose a son now, but if you are too short-sighted and reckless, she will not only lose all her sons, but may also lose her husband, and even more. Where are the relatives."

A voice suddenly said.

It shocked everyone in the room, and some people even jumped up from their chairs and drew out their muskets - it was Alberto's eldest brother. But the person who walked out from behind the towering clock was none other than Paolo. The Lemo family's contact with France - the king's "little birds" - has more than one manager, but Italians are certainly most familiar with Madame Miledy. Her name has been passed down in various families for a long time. It is said that now The Duke of Colonna, the King of Italy, was raised by her on behalf of the Sun King and Marie Mancini. The Duke of Colonna has always respected her very much. In the Tuscan court, her status is second only to the Grand Duchess. .

Everyone couldn't help but feel relieved when they saw her.

Just like building a cathedral, you must first lay a solid foundation. Then bribery and temptation will inevitably lead to half the result with half the effort. Louis XIV had calculated the future territory and title for his eldest son twenty years ago, and How could the Italian peninsula be left blank? There was no need for an army or nobility, and even spies did not play the most important role in it - it was French merchants who finally gained the trust of the Sicilians.

While merchants on the European continent are still keen on selling mud roast duck, chalk bread, and even leather boots, French merchants have surprisingly become the first choice for people to find buyers and sellers due to their reputation.

Because France has extremely detailed and strict laws regarding business and trade, and they extend beyond the law - almost all businessmen who dare to pass off inferior goods, cheat others, or deceive others will be suspended from the streets. Rod - Not to mention that they can do evil in other countries or colonies. Whenever French officials, troops and envoys go to a place, the first thing they do is to read Louis Vuitton to the local people in French and local languages. Laws issued by XIV.

The French Embassy in Palermo has a small external room with a window opening on the street. Every day, a clerk will read out the legal provisions loudly. Any Frenchman, whether a businessman or a soldier, who violates the legal provisions will be punished. Victims can appeal to him and generally receive a compensation and be told how the criminal was punished.

The people of Palermo didn't believe it at first, until a bold man went to complain - there were some people behind him - and he got a response and was satisfied. At this point, the Sicilians were surprised to find that the French were not lying and that their officials were quite fair.

It's just that there aren't many lawsuits that require arbitration. French businessmen have suffered enough from the Bastille and the slave ships, and they don't dare to touch the majesty of the Sun King easily.

The wonderful thing is that they also forged the authority of the Sun King in strange places and strange people, because these people always said that since their king could issue such a kind and fair decree, he must be an extremely wise man. And if there is a good king who is full of compassion for the people, and his officials are willing to enforce his laws so strictly, we don't have to worry about them going back on their word and deceiving us at any time.

In this way, when Mrs. Miledy brought a message telling them that the Ottomans were likely to use Sicily instead of Malta as a breakthrough point, many people believed it. Not only that, they also accepted Mrs. Miledy's advice. Without a head-on confrontation with the Ottomans, yes, Mrs. Miledy would not question the bravery of the Sicilian people, but no matter how brave they were, Sicily did not have a regular army, and scattered family armed forces could still fight each other or start small-scale riots. It's somewhat useful, but when faced with an army like the Ottoman Turks that doesn't need to skimp on ammunition and personnel, it's just a way to stop the enemy.

Yes, they can certainly prove their courage with flesh and blood, but this means that no matter which side wins the final victory, Sicily will be covered with black veil. It may be fifty years or a hundred years before the Sicilians can gradually Get a chance to breathe from the huge losses, and... given that they will either be ruled by Savoy or Habsburg in the future, the population gap will also make their family extremely weak and difficult to revitalize.

Lady Milady's reminder immediately made the men in the room feel embarrassed and sad. But Milady just smiled and said, "Don't be depressed, everyone, the opportunity we were looking forward to has come."

"Are you talking about Mohammed IV leaving?" Alberto's father asked cautiously.

"Yes," Mrs. Milady said, "The Transylvanians rebelled." She continued: "They directly threatened Istanbul, so as the master of Istanbul, Mohammed IV must go back of."

"What does that have to do with us," Alberto's mother asked impulsively: "He will come back, and those... rude soldiers will not go with him.\

,""Indeed," Milady said: "If two hundred thousand troops cross the sea, they will not return empty-handed. The Sultan will let the Grand Vizier continue to attack Italy, and there will still be troops stationed in Sicily..."

"What do you, no, should I say King Louis XIV of France want from us?" asked the Palermo parent.

"Most of the Ottoman Turks' military strength is now in Naples." Naples is now a quagmire, holding back the French and Italian forces as well as the Ottoman army. "Mohammed IV may also take away about three Ten thousand to fifty thousand.”

"Even so, the number left in Sicily is approximately this number," Alberto's father said: "It is still not a number that we can fight against, or in other words, if we want to resist, then we should resist from the beginning, not Delay until this point." Anyway, it's an ending.

"There is no need for you to go to war with the Ottomans," Milady said. "Sir, destroy their warehouses, destroy their roads, destroy their ships."

——————————

Alberto only stayed at home for a short period of time, and then returned to the Norman palace with a normal expression. The Sultan carried countless furniture, utensils and attendants, but when he left, the speed was still unexpected. Quickly, he took only the "most beloved" ones with him and rode a huge carriage across most of Sicily, boarded a ship in Syracuse, and headed for Istanbul.

He originally planned to take a boat in Palermo and go around the south side of Sicily - because his car was too cumbersome, taking a boat would be faster than traveling by land, but in this case they would have to cross the Malta Strait between Malta and Sicily. , because Malta was still in the hands of the Knights Hospitaller, in order to avoid accidents, the Sultan chose Syracuse. He was not even willing to choose Catania, which was closer. On the one hand, it was because Catania was very close to the volcano. , on the one hand, it is because there are still French ships near Messina.

“Write a letter to the Archduke of Austria,” Mohammed IV said to his secretary, “and ask him if he has pinned down the French fleet in the Mediterranean.”

This letter was more of a reproach than an inquiry, because Leopold I had promised that he and the British would tow the French fleet in the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean, and at most in the Mediterranean Sea, but the British had already suffered a defeat before. It was a tragic defeat, and it was not clear whether the promise could be fulfilled. When he was still two days and one night away from Syracuse, his spies and letters from King Leopold I came. The spies said that as far as they could see, the French fleet was indeed destroyed by the Dutch and the British. The Spanish exile fleet was dragged a thousand miles away from them. When they were fighting, the sound of cannons was heard and black smoke rose into the sky - because steam ships would emit black smoke, it was easy to verify.

At least none of the French ironclad ships were in Italy.

Otherwise, they would have appeared when the Ottoman Turks were about to land in Sicily.

Saying this made Mohammed IV feel a little more at ease: "It would be great if we could have that many ironclads." He said to the Grand Imam, who just frowned, for this kind of - —The devil's machinery may have been used, and they have not yet decided whether to accept it. In addition, he thought for a while and did not spoil the Sultan's interest: "Then we must ensure the safety of Bulgaria."

Transylvania is located in the middle and lower part of what is now Romania, and between Istanbul and it is Bulgaria. Since they have threatened Istanbul, that is to say, they may have occupied most of Bulgaria's territory. Ottoman Turkey is the largest The iron mines are in Bulgaria, and the most important material needed by those armored fleets is black iron. It is understandable for the Grand Imam to say so. Mohammed IV nodded, indicating that he understood.

No matter how luxurious and spacious the cabin is, there is a limit. They often stay on the deck. The terrace on the forecastle is flat and open. It is covered with carpets, tents are set up, and soft velvet pillows are placed. It is no better than the Sudan. The battlefield tents were much different from the battlefield tents. While talking to the Grand Imam about how many weak ministers he would strangle to death with bowstrings, Muhammad IV enjoyed the cool sea breeze and transparent sunshine, although he could overlook the ocean from the cliffs of Istanbul. , but looking out and being at the sea are completely different feelings.

Alberto listened to the conversation between the Grand Imam and Mohammed IV - he could hardly understand it, but it seemed that they didn't care how much he heard. As a child of a big family, he knew that this was because the former probably He did not regard them as human beings who could be disposed of at any time. He was silent and served the Sultan diligently and thoughtfully.

The leader of the eunuchs was touched lightly. He turned around and saw a young attendant whom the Sultan had recently favored. He raised the teapot to him and shook it. It was empty.

He nodded, and Alberto quietly backed away with the teapot in his arms. When he was heading to the "kitchen", a pair of arms suddenly stretched out from the darkness and hugged him tightly!

Alberto almost screamed, but the familiar scent made him suppress his voice. He opened his eyes wide and looked over, only to see a wretched sailor. His limbs were as thin as seaweed, but powerful. Like a cowhide that was tightened, he smiled slightly when he saw Alberto's questioning look: "Okay," he said in Madame Miledy's voice: "I'm here to pick you up."

What? Alberto was completely confused. Because he was going back to the Sudan, he did not participate in some subsequent issues to avoid leaving traces.

"There's going to be a war here," Milady said. "I promised your mother that I would take you back to her safe and sound."

"How to go? They will come to me soon!" As soon as Alberto finished speaking, he heard someone screaming crazily! "French! French ship!"

Long live the founding of the Party!