I Am Louis XIV

In fact, Prince Condé's greatest enemy was not Mr. Lorraine Jr., but Jan Sobieski. This strong soldier was born in 1929 and is in his prime. Now he is also in Versailles. Due to a sudden change, Louis took a special look at him when he was walking through the hall. He was a sturdy middle-aged man. With olive skin, dark eyes, hair and a curly mustache, he was as unsmiling as any soldier. When he found the king looking at him, he bowed and bowed.

Louis and Prince Condé were a little hesitant about this person. How should I put it? Needless to say, Mr. Sobieski was also a Schlachita. He was born in a large aristocratic family, and his mother's grandfather was in a high position. , he was at the top of Madame Montespan's list - he was also the first noble to accept bribes, promising to elect Prince Condé in accordance with Louis XIV's wishes, but in the intelligence that Madame Montespan later produced, It is clearly pointed out that Mr. Sobieski may have been happy to accept a French king at the beginning, but in recent years he has made no secret of his hostility towards Michal, who is at least a Pole. Being so disrespectful to his king is not because France satisfies his greed, but because he is also interested in the throne of Poland - perhaps it is because someone like Michal can also become a king, this The king was not even as good as John II, so why couldn't he have a try?

The reason why he accepted the bribe is most likely because he is now in Versailles. If he reveals his ambition and refuses Louis XIV, it is difficult to say whether he can return to Poland intact - Louis XIV can not kill him , but you can also find an unfounded reason to tie him to Versailles or Paris, where he is alone and unable to escape - then should we take the opportunity to execute him and eliminate the hidden danger? Prince Condé did not think that was a good idea, because Sobieski was a quite admirable general. In the war against the Ottoman Turks, he was one of the few who was able to win victory from the Ottoman Turks. people.

Prince Condé will not be afraid to fight against the infidels. The problem is that he cannot take care of his chest and back at the same time. In this case, the best way is to truly convince this ambitious general so that he can drive for Prince Condé. , it’s just that Louis must find the bullseye that can be hit directly. What he didn't know was that Sobieski was also distressed at this time. He didn't know whether he should give up his ambition for the Polish throne, because if he wanted to compete with the French king who had already obtained the Netherlands and Flanders in terms of financial and manpower, As one of the great nobles, he had no chance of winning. He was even a little envious of Prince Kong Dai. Everyone knew that Prince Kong Dai had once launched a rebellion and pointed his sword at the throne. However, his king not only did not fear him at all, but also doubted his intentions. , and was willing to support him in becoming King of Poland.

Sobieski's impressions of the former John II or the current Michael I were not very good. John II's Vasa dynasty had three consecutive kings. He loved Sweden more than Poland and thought about it day and night. The only thing he wanted was to return to Sweden and regain the throne. Although John II could be said to have worked hard to govern, the war between Sweden and Poland in 1655 could have been avoided - people only saw that he first opposed John II , and then changed his tune and expelled the Swedes. In fact, it was just an attempt to use the Swedes to make John II abdicate, but he did not really want to abandon Poland to the Swedes. Of course, his behavior made John II very dissatisfied, but He could not hide Sobieski's illustrious achievements in any way, and the power of the Parliament of Nobles was far greater than that of the king. Sobieski became the generalissimo in 1965 and the commander-in-chief of the Polish army in 1967.

There is no need to say more about Michal I. Sobieski was regarded by him as the biggest obstacle. Although the king was cowardly by nature, he always tried to restrain Sobieski. In Sobieski and the Tatars When the Cossacks and the Ottoman Turks were fighting, he took the opportunity to contact other big nobles and directly threaten Sobieski's territory.

Yes, he hated Michal I and made his own plans. As long as he could return to Poland, the problem was that the voices that could never be unified in Schlachta appeared again. This time they not only harmed Michal. King Louis XIV also harmed Sobieski. Sobieski bid farewell to the King of France, but was immediately retained. Sobieski knew that if Louis XIV could not get a satisfactory answer, he probably would not Let him go.

After the victory banquet on the 15th, most of the envoys had left Versailles. Some were anxious and some were reluctant to leave. The remaining envoys could all have a room in the Palace of Versailles. Sobieski heard that this palace There are 1,800 rooms, but the suite he owns is undoubtedly more than the size of an envoy. It is a small suite with three rooms. Various invitations are delivered to his desk every day. There are also purses containing gold louis, beautiful and luxurious clothes, strong and tall horses, and even barking puppies... I have to say that if Sobieski was just an envoy, he would definitely be happy and forget to leave. In addition to the magnificent Palace of Versailles, which is like a paradise on earth, there are also continuous theatrical performances, concerts, hunting or picnic parties. In the evening, there is a banquet so sumptuous that it can entertain the gods. After a full meal, You can walk through various halls, go dancing, gamble, play billiards and even have private meetings with ladies...

Sobieski had no doubt that if he had not held important responsibilities, he would have indulged in omnipresent carnival. People called Charles II of England the Happy King. He said that only Louis XIV of France had this qualification.

This is the third month of his stay in Versailles. Sobieski can no longer bear it. His wife Marisinka Daquin is a Frenchman and is working hard to find a wife for Sobieski. The opportunity to escape - perhaps in the past few days, Sobieski has found that there are fewer sights around him, but tonight he was invited by Madame Montespan - she got the king's permission, in Wiener A masquerade ball is held in the Si Hall.

For people in the Palace of Versailles, masquerade balls are nothing new, but this is the first party held by the king’s new royal wife. It is of great significance. No one dares to test the weight of this lady in the king’s heart. It was like no one could deny her beauty - the king and queen also came dressed as Jupiter and Juno respectively. The queen quickly resigned, leaving the place to the king and Mrs. Montespan. Mrs. Montespan took it for granted. She dressed up as Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. She wore a long corset and a long toga, boldly exposing her two arms and half of her chest, and her disheveled hair was dotted with white roses. Wearing a silver mask, but with his eyes turning, even women couldn't help but feel shaken by it.

Sobieski pretended to be a faun. The faun is what people usually call Pan. He has goat hooves from his knees down and is covered in fur. Compared to the others, his costume is realistic enough. And it fits the purpose of the masquerade - three thousand years ago, the masquerade was a way for the Celtic people living in Ireland to avoid and drive away the souls brought by the god of death (it is said that these souls will replace the living It gradually evolved from the sacrificial rituals of people). At that time, the Celtic people waved torches, put on the skulls of wild beasts, put on the furs of wild beasts, and made terrible sounds from their mouths-it was a solemn ceremony. Now People just do it for fun.

A plump body passed by Sobieski, and Sobieski glanced at him curiously. Although this guy dressed as Bacchus, the god of wine, wore a mask, a robe, and many silk and satin grape branches and leaves, but he still had no difficulty in recognizing that it was Cardinal Larivière - in the Roman Church, holding masquerade balls is not approved of behavior, but among the popes and cardinals While the bishops were happily dressing up as pagan gods in the halls of the Vatican, this precept was just a piece of paper. But this is not the reason why Sobieski pays attention to him. Cardinal Larivière is also one of Louis XIV's favorite courtiers. If he is willing to say a word for Sobieski, it will be better than what others say. A thousand times, Sobieski immediately chased after him, but at this time the half-drunk crowd swallowed up Mr. Bishop's figure. Sobieski only chased him a few steps and could no longer see him.

At this time, His Majesty the King left - his appearance was enough to show his favor for Madame Montespan. After all, everyone knew that His Majesty the King did not like this kind of occasion. People knelt down to see the King off, and Sobieski also No exception.

When the music started playing again, Sobieski returned to the pillar angrily, completely uninterested in dealing with the dissolute French people. A few minutes later, several "water nymphs" discovered him, and pulled him away with a smile. His arms, wanting him to participate in their game - Sobieski is not the kind of Puritan who is strict with himself, but as a Catholic, he also believes that he should be faithful in marriage. This concept It was different from the fashion at this time, but it would not be too surprising if people knew how he ended up marrying his wife Marisinka.

Sobieski's first wife was the sister of John II Kazimierz, but the person he had always loved was Marisinka Daquin, and Marisinka was still a wealthy woman when they fell in love at first sight. Although they later had families, Sobieski had been waiting for Marisinka after his wife died. Five months after Marisinka's husband passed away, he couldn't wait to go to Marissinka. Marisinka proposed, and no matter how others criticized her, the relationship between them was quite sincere.

Just as Sobieski was entangled with the group of maids, a "Mercury" holding a snake staff came over to relieve him, but before Sobieski could thank him, he nodded The Snake Staff said, "Don't worry, sir," he said, "I've come to deliver you a letter."

"Whose letter?"

"The master here," "Mercury" said with a pun, "the goddess of love and beauty, invites you to her small hall. She wants to talk to you."

"It's a great honor." Sobieski said. The royal wife, Mrs. Montespan, was of course also the lobbyist they fought for. Marisinka wrote to him that she dedicated a diamond ring to this lady, as big as a hazelnut. Big, it seems that they finally moved her. Although Sobieski had expectations when he received the invitation, once he heard that Madame Montespan was willing to see him in person, especially when His Majesty the King would not be away for a while, then He can then say that victory is in sight.

He clenched his fists and followed "Mercury" to the small hall. Different from the Venus Hall with bright lights and twinkling mirrors, the walls of this small hall were covered with brocade wall coverings and hung with thick velvet. Madame Montespan was half lying on a couch, and a fragrant breath came to her face along with the hot breeze - this balm whose main ingredients came from nutmeg and rose. Sobieski also made it for his wife He had bought it, but even if he loved his wife deeply, he had to admit that no one could be more suitable for this kind of stimulating and tempting balm than this lady.

"Sit down, sir," said Madame de Montespan.

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Sobieski finally got what he wanted from Madame Montespan. The lady was willing to speak kind words for him. Of course, it cost a lot, but for Sobieski, it was very worth it. He could almost say that he was desperate. I couldn't wait to leave Versailles.

"I don't know what choice he will make." Prince Condé said with a complicated temper as he stood on the terrace and watched a torch gradually disappearing into the darkness.

"He was a Pole," Louis said. "He still had a love for his country, and even if his ambition trumped his patriotism, his actions would cause dissatisfaction from others."

"Those Schlachta will not ask too much of a foreign king, but will find fault with their marshal." Prince Condé said, "I hope that there will never be such a person in France."

"This is exactly the disaster caused by the so-called aristocratic democracy," Louis said: "Too decentralized power will not bring success, but will only lead to endless perfunctory, procrastination and prevarication."

"Mrs. Montespan..." Prince Condé hesitated.

"I had a guess, but now I'm a little unsure..." Louis passed over a word: "They should not have fallen to this level."

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Regardless of his fatigue, Jan Sobieski left the Paris Basin in one breath. His wife and companions were waiting for him in a town. When he saw them, before he could smile, he was startled by their heavy looks. .

"Two pieces of bad news, sir," said one of his subordinates. "Which one do you want to hear?"

"Is there any difference?" Marisinka said. She took a step forward and held Sobieski's arm: "Mikhail I is dead."

"That doesn't seem too bad." Sobieski tried to smile. "Let's talk about the second one."

"The Tatars of Ripka rebelled and brought in an army of Ottoman Turks, numbering about 80,000 people."