I Am Louis XIV

“Today the asparagus is served with hollandaise sauce,” says Bontang.

Although Dutch parliamentarians looked at Louis XIV like a lion, in fact, Louis's taste tended to be light, and he paid attention to the freshness and quality of food. A new sauce extracted and improved from a buttery sauce. This sauce is milky yellow and semi-solidified. It is used to complement asparagus boiled in only water. The asparagus stands upright on a white ceramic plate, about Twelve or thirteen of them, with reddish-brown pointed heads, emerald green stems, dotted with small brown leaves, the king grabbed one, dipped it in the sauce, and ate it contentedly.

Today, his younger brother Philip and the Duke of Colonna are still accompanying him for dinner. In the war against Holland, he was no longer able to command an army like he did in the war against Flanders. Instead, he stayed with the king. The king's charge was Viscount Turenne and Captain Vauban. The Duke of Orléans had no dissatisfaction with this. He knew very well that if he continued to accumulate meritorious service in the war, the relationship between him and the king would become extremely awkward, and he would not be happy with the king. The war in the Netherlands is the real war between countries. In this war, the glory of the Sun King must not be obscured by anyone.

The Duke of Colonna is still immature. As an underage child, he doesn't like vegetables, but he absolutely dare not show it in front of Louis. Although Louis can be said to be a good father, sometimes, when a person establishes When he has supreme authority, those around him have to think more about everything he does.

When the Duke of Orleans saw the Duke of Colonna try his best to show that he didn't hate asparagus so much, he couldn't help but think of his brother Louis when he was a child - when he and Louis were still coiled around their mother's lap, Louis is far more picky than the current Duke of Colonna, but similar to the Duke of Colonna, although Louis has never shown his fear of anyone—even the Queen Mother who held great power at the time, or the bishop Sir, as well as the Fronde, or those dark creatures, can control themselves like an adult (some adults may not even be able to do it), he knows when to be patient, and when to be perfunctory, sometimes should be rejected without hesitation.

"What is the matter?" asked the king mildly, noticing that the Duke of Orléans had stopped suddenly.

"Oh, brother," Philip asked, "I don't like asparagus, can I have it?"

"Of course, if you don't like it, don't eat it," Louis said.

After obtaining the king's permission, the Duke of Orleans pushed the asparagus aside under the envious eyes of his nephew, asked his servants to take it away, and replaced it with roast venison, pouring a sauce of honey and pepper. The Duke of Colonna's Staring more eagerly, but he still can only enjoy the flatfish with his father, which is also commonly called flounder, this kind of fish has a flat body and a strange shape, but the meat is fine and there are not many small spines - Louis Of course he noticed the eyes of his firstborn son, but the Duke of Orleans has grown up for a long time and is at his strongest. The Duke of Colonna is still between a child and a teenager. If he can’t help his appetite like the Duke of Orleans, he is considered a wizard. He was afraid that he would suffer some torture too.

Over the past few years, Louis has a little understanding of the medical methods in the inner world. Unlike the surgical methods that are popular and respected in the outer world, the inner world has gone to the other extreme. If you are still sick, you can go down with a bottle of potion to solve it. The potion of wizards can indeed be used a lot, but maybe because the other world was also in a war-torn relationship not long ago, potion is not useful for some common diseases. Moreover, many potions also have considerable side effects.

To put it simply, that is to say, if someone suffers from some unspeakable disease, in order for the potion to have the best therapeutic effect, the method of the wizards is to cut that part, gouging it out, and then the potion and magic will be combined together. Let the cut part grow back...

"You don't want it, do you?" Louis whispered to the Duke of Colonna, Luciano Jr., who sat on his left, "and I'll make Bontang drink elderberry tea while watching Philippe." Elderberry Tea is also a kind of drink in the inner world. It has a good effect on dispelling greasy, but the problem is that it is bitter and astringent.

The Duke of Colonna laughed as soon as he heard it. Obviously, he got some balance, but Philip complained loudly, thinking that Louis should not be so biased towards the Duke of Colonna, "If you lose, you must gain, brother." Louis said, While distributing the two candied cherries on his cake to the Duke of Colonna and the Duke of Orleans, "I'm going to meet some people later," Louis said, "You can take care of Lucy for me."

Duke Philip kept the smile on his face: "Okay, brother, maybe we can go for a walk by the lake."

"Don't mess with the swans," Louis ordered.

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The younger brother and the Duke of Colonna had just left, and the relaxed atmosphere in the room disappeared as quickly as the sweet smell lingering on the silver plate. With the help of Bontang, Louis changed into his most gorgeous and cumbersome costume, The king had a necklace on his chest, rings on his hands, long curly hair on a coat that was thick like plate armor because of too much gold and silver embroidery, he moved his feet, and the silver heels were on the ground clang.

The king has a tough battle ahead of his final match against Amsterdam, which is also against the Netherlands.

In Europe in the seventeenth century, there is something that people today can hardly imagine, that is, no country can start a war purely with national power. It is also impossible to start a war against Flanders or the Netherlands if the private property of the king's brother and the queen mother's property, the income of the princes, and all the taxes that can be collected are added together, so at that time, According to tradition and objective conditions, even though Louis XIV immediately implemented a strict military control system after capturing Flanders, blood was drawn from Flanders' body, which greatly eased the consumption of 120,000 people. But it still had to borrow from merchants and bankers at home and abroad—that is, to issue war bonds.

War bonds can be traced back to the ancient Roman period. At that time, soldiers in the ancient Roman legions needed to equip themselves with weapons and armor. They often borrowed money from merchants to purchase what they needed, and then used the spoils they plundered in the war. Loan repayment. Later, with the gradual privatization of the ancient Roman legions, the commanders of the legions had to equip their soldiers with ordnance and ensure supplies, so such behavior became more common and large-scale.

The reason why the Netherlands can become the concentration of wealth in Europa is also because the Dutch first applied the financial credit business to their armed forces. As described before, the Dutch navy is invincible because of the Dutch merchants. There is such a need, and warships are their commodities. When each fleet needs maintenance and expansion, merchants buy bonds to support them. Their returns are the escort and plunder of warships, as well as compensation and compensation for the defeated. Ransom, and colonies and slaves.

The person Louis XIV will meet tonight is the businessman who has been buying bonds continuously and in large quantities, allowing him to launch these two wars in succession.

What is unbelievable is that there are actually Dutch among these businessmen. They have no guilt for this kind of behavior that is equivalent to treason, and their posture is very calm, even arrogant. Louis knew that they would say in private that the Dutch Although the army lost to the French, the great Sun King still had to borrow money from the Dutch, and even if the French king won the final victory, they could still make a lot of money.

However, in this era, this kind of thinking can be understood by many people. After all, in the hearts of many people, the concept of a country is not as clear as that of later generations. If it is about beliefs, if it is about ideas, they can sacrifice their property and even their lives. , but the country... This is also because at this time there are many places, regions, and even principalities that are constantly changing their owners. For example, if Louis XIV can achieve his wish, then half of the Netherlands will become a large province of France in the future.

"Oh, good Bontang," Louis said, raising his hand to cover his face, "put the candle away, it's too harsh. How many diamonds are there in this coat? I think I can wear it to light up my soldiers .”

"You are the Sun King." Bontang said seriously, "I think you are mocking me." Louis said, and Bontang nodded: "Your wisdom is like St. Augustine."

"That wise saint has a bad fate," Louis tightened his scarf, "I'm just a layman hoping for a smooth journey."

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Although it is an interview, merchants are not qualified to talk directly with the king. They are allowed to meet the king, more like seeking a practical promise and guarantee. After all, the victory of France is imminent, and Louis asked them to continue to add more Investment, his 120,000 army is like a hungry beast. If Louis can't feed it, it can eat back the king. The merchants are all embarrassed. For this war, they have invested nearly a thousand dollars. Although it can be said that Wanliver's money is a necessary investment, their coffers are almost dry.

Unexpectedly, it was the Dutch businessman who stood up first, "Mr. Earl," he said, peeping carefully from behind his lowered eyes at the hem of the king's clothes, which were becoming more and more dazzling by the candlelight. It may be around a million livres, not counting the jewels worn by the king, but it is enough to repay the interest for these months, but although this king does not have the procrastination problems of other kings, he has to know—"Sir," He repeated: "If possible, can we know why you need such a huge expenditure?" He said cautiously: "As far as I know, your army is invincible, and the gates of Amsterdam are about to open You open it, if the glorious Caesar, the venerable Sun King wants to hold a grand triumphant ceremony, we can dedicate 100% of our sincerity to you, as long as you say, sir, we will do it."

"Your Majesty doesn't need these false names," the Marquis of Loise replied on behalf of the king, "what he needs is your sincerity." He paused, "Don't worry about your investment, the king is willing to add one cent of interest to appease your needless anxiety, And after the war is over," he said, "everyone here will get a royal charter—" Just after this sentence fell, the merchants started to commotion, maybe some people can't understand what a charter is, then Here is a relatively clear example, that is, the Dutch East India Company, which grew into the current behemoth under the charter issued by the Dutch Parliament, which allows you to monopolize the sale of certain commodities, or a waterway, or It is the autonomy of a city... Wait, maybe the king of France is not that generous, but even if a small part of the power in the hands of a king is transferred, it is enough for them to change their families and even become a family with a prominent surname. source.

The Dutch merchants retreated into the ranks of merchants, and they whispered to each other. Louis nodded to the Marquis of Loise. He had already played his due role in this negotiation. As soon as he got up, the merchants immediately bowed and saluted. It wasn't until the door was opened and closed that they began to calculate and consider anxiously again. The Dutch merchants had been hesitant, because the merchants who elected him as a representative wanted him to ask the King of France to lower the tariffs on Dutch merchant ships and goods—— Since Louis XIV declared war on the Netherlands, he raised the tariffs on Dutch goods and merchant ships to 30% in one breath. This crazy move made the Dutch merchants complain. Under such high tariffs, their sales are basically Unable to continue, the door of the Netherlands is indeed about to open to Louis XIV, but the door of France is still closed to the Dutch. At that moment, a thought slipped through the mind of this businessman—maybe let France seize Getting the Netherlands is not a bad thing either.

Such an idea is like a stone falling into the IJsselmeer, and it disappeared quickly. The merchants made a decision after a few minutes, willing to invest more in the king's war, only the denomination and quantity of the bond, The date of repayment and the interest have to be renegotiated. The Marquis of Loise handed over the matter to his subordinates and went to see the king to report the results. He was quite flattered when he was allowed to enter the king's bedroom, because Louis XIV was in this regard. Much like a Puritan - he doesn't like being surrounded by ministers and nobles at all times.

At this time, the king had already changed his heavy coat and put on a soft velvet robe. Winter was coming soon. The fireplace in the room was blazing, and the fire made every face in the room wander in uncertain light and shade. When the Marquis of Loise gave the answer, although he couldn't look at the king's face, he heard a soft sigh.