I Am Louis XIV

Bishop Barras was full of anger and kicked open the carriage door. The loud noise startled the people who made the noise, but as soon as they saw the bishop's robe and holy belt on Barras, they He immediately ran over with his eyes exposed, knelt beside him, and talked nonstop.

This surprised Barras. He didn't have a good rest last night. He wanted to take a nap today and was woken up. His head was pounding and he could hardly hear what they were saying. Fortunately, there was still room here. There was a man who was good at observing people's words. He managed to exclude those who came to ask the bishop to make a decision, and graciously invited Barras to visit and rest in his manor.

Baras barely maintained some dignity and caution, and returned to the carriage first, and then listened tiredly to the priest beside him who reported the identity of this man. It turned out that this man was the lord of this small town, and he owned a large area of ​​land here. With the people in charge, he was about to handle an extremely evil case today...

Barras didn't want to know whether someone had lost a cock or a lady had her butt touched. He just wanted to have a good rest or continue his journey, but the baron begged him to entertain a pope. The honor of the special envoy, Barras had no choice but to agree, and his motorcade arrived at the baron's manor, where he received an extremely grand reception - of course, a small town like Priva can't even compare with Marseille, let alone Paris or Versailles. But when Barras got up sleepily the next day, his entourage happily told him that the roosters and potatoes here were very fresh.

When it comes to potatoes, Barras is a little unhappy, because potatoes were introduced to France by Louis XIV and then became popular throughout Europe. The poor people use it to satisfy their hunger, and the nobles use it to create various ways of eating it - boil it, steam it, stew it, roast it, cut it into shreds, stir-fry it, grind it into puree, mix it and eat it... It can be made into finger-sized strips and eaten deep-fried. When the priests in Rome mentioned Louis XIV, they would shrug their noses as if they smelled a pile of smelly dog ​​shit. They ate the potatoes he promoted without mercy.

What Barras didn't expect was that a baron from a small town was so rich. He meant that his breakfast included yellow curry and potatoes stewed with rooster. It was a real big pot. The rooster was nothing, and the potatoes were more important. It's nothing, but there is a problem with such precious spices, and it is not just for him. Barras has made up his mind. He will not sell himself for a pot of yellow curry potato chicken. Although he ate it , but will not acknowledge the other party's affection.

However, the baron was not stupid enough to do this. After the king abolished the tax collector system, he, as Baron Priva, felt much better - in the past, the tax collectors bought the tax from the king. After taking power, they have to add 20%, 30 or even 50% of the profit to satisfy their appetite. Mr. Baron does not need to pay taxes, but his people need to pay taxes. He is not that evil. An extreme guy, even a little weak... When the tax collector was still there, he could only barely ensure that his castle would not leak, and that there would still be pork and wine on his table. As for the rest, he couldn't care less. Whether it's the suffering of the subjects or something else.

Once the tax collector system is abolished, he can happily collect the originally scheduled rent or harvest from the subjects without any pressure. Thank God, at least when he rides a carriage through the wilderness or rides on horseback. When he goes hunting in the forest, there will be no "savage" who is hungry and desperate because he cannot pay taxes, has lost his land, lost his home and relatives, and has nowhere to go to give him a blow with sticks and stones...

At first, only men who had to work could eat. Later, there were fewer babies who were "accidentally" rolled over by their mothers at night. After reading the newspaper, he asked the stewards to go to Orleans and Paris to buy some. Tobacco, tomato and pepper seeds, although these are not as reliable as wheat, they can make good money. Sharecroppers can now even have the luxury of drinking ale, wearing turbans and shirts with a few laces, like a gentleman. Smoked the pipe and put on the leather boots.

But Almighty God, Baron Priva thought sadly, those damned poor devils, they couldn't keep their peace when they didn't have enough to eat, but now that their lives are better, they actually fell into the devil's trick again. I can't say enough things to do.

Bishop Barras thought that it was just a matter of losing a rooster or having someone touch his buttocks. Mr. Baron could solve the problem by giving each person ten sticks. The problem was that when Barras passed by Priva , a big thing happened on his farm.

There was a farmer whose family was poisoned and twelve people were killed.

Even Baron Priva would feel frightened by this number. He had never even been on the battlefield. Even during the Fronde movement, when it was the most chaotic period, many people died of hunger and disease in his small town and farm. There is no need to restrain and bury him, he just feels that his territory is becoming increasingly empty. But when the king takes over, thank God! Many of his subjects came back one after another, but the luckiest ones were those tenant farmers who insisted on staying in the farm and did not escape. They persevered when others abandoned their land and fled, and before the people came back, they rented a lot of more land from Mr. Baron, and then hired people who didn't have farmland to work for them. As a result, their assets became rich. .

As for the person Baron Priva knew, he was referring to the gentleman who was poisoned to death. He used to be a cattle herder in the village, so he had a little savings. When others had no choice but to abandon their homes, he still loyally guarded them. As he stayed in the village, the baron was moved and rewarded him with a gold louis. He pierced the gold louis and hung it around his neck like a medal - of course, when he asked for more Mr. Baron also agreed when it came time to share the land. If he remembered correctly, the cattle herder probably leased the land of all his relatives and friends.

Some of these people came back, some did not. Anyway, after they came back, how they had to become slaves of the cattle herds, and how they cursed the cattle herds in a rage, Mr. Baron is not interested in knowing - this case is not difficult to solve, stick , if that doesn't work, there are still soldering irons, or flower pears. Although the king's supervisor will not believe the evidence obtained in this way, but... this is still the countryside after all.

The result is not surprising. The murderer is the only survivor, the thirteenth man, the deceased's nephew - his father and brother died in Le Puy or Mende, and he returned to Priva alone. Not only did his uncle not take care of him, he treated him like an ox or horse. He was willing to bear it because his uncle promised to marry his daughter to him. Then give him a field and house for them to settle down. Who knew that as soon as he turned around, his uncle married his daughter to a soldier. Although the soldier did not serve Louis XIV, he boasted that it was possible for the king's supervisor to select soldiers from their army to go to Orleans. Versailles or Paris, everyone knows what this means.

His uncle didn't hesitate.

The young man didn't hesitate. He got poison and poured it into the wedding ale, killing twelve people in one go.

If it were just like this, it would be very simple. Although Priva is small, there is also an execution square. He can choose to be hanged or beheaded. It is a pity that the king had abolished the wheel punishment long ago, and the body was quartered on four horses. The punishment was a cruel and lengthy execution method, but the source of the poison given by this young man led to another troublesome matter.

That was a good thing done by three priests. They were secretly selling the so-called "inheritance potion" - although the name was a bit awkward, it was rare that the priests didn't lie. Of course, of course, you can kill all the heirs before you. He could become the first heir, just like that young man did. If he hadn't been so reckless, all the money, livestock and fields accumulated by his uncle would be his.

So Mr. Baron ordered the soldiers to arrest the three priests - mainly because he absolutely did not want such three people to stay in his territory. Hell, he might also inherit and be inherited. He didn't want to just have a drink one day. Wine has the honor to go to meet God in advance. That poison has an immediate effect and leaves you no time even for the last sacraments. As a result, when his soldiers ordered the church priest to hand over the three priests, two had already run away, leaving only a guy named Lavigole.

Then this guy took out a charter - a charter, that is, a person who was lucky enough to get this instrument, either issued by the church or signed by the bishop, had the privilege to do something that was otherwise forbidden, or Avoid doing things that you otherwise have to do. These three priests are of course the former. He claims that this "inheritance potion" was created to warn believers away from greed and corruption.

But no, anyone who has a greedy heart will be sent to hell by this potion.

Baron Plyva thought over and over all night, but could not decide whether to leave this matter to the bishop of Plyva or the supervisor of Plyva. However, there are no simple matters involving the Roman Church. He didn't know whether the charter was true or not - but his sister in Marseilles wrote him a letter telling him that the church envoys were likely to pass through Priva, so...

This matter may be a hot potato for Baron Priva, but it is not for Bishop Barras. As soon as he heard about it, he guessed that this charter came from the hands of the madman wearing the triple crown. The so-called "competition" "Inheritance potion", he only took it and sniffed it and knew it was from a wizard, that is, the poor people who were held in the hands of Clement X. He heard the baron say that when there were two priests on the run, His expression became more dangerous.

"It's false." Barras said simply and neatly. He took the priest La Vigoule from the baron and prepared to take him all the way to Paris.

To Baron Priva's surprise, the papal envoy did not embarrass him for his transgression. He happily prepared a new carriage for the tolerant bishop - the latest carriage from Orleans. In addition to larger glass windows, more gorgeous interiors and a stronger and wider carriage, its wheels are made of inflatable rubber. In addition to the body becoming more stable, the horses can also pull the carriage with very little effort - —The carriage will be faster.

This was an unexpected blessing. At least Barras could finally take a long nap comfortably in the carriage.

——————

While Barras was napping on the road, Louis was going about his ordinary busy day.

He has returned to Versailles from Paris. He stayed in Paris to support his daughter and niece. Didn't you notice that even the Duke of Orleans, who always likes to be free, stayed in the Louvre for fifty days? ? Fortunately, no one dared to try to offend the king, and the four academies of art, headed by the eldest princess, the eldest princess, the dauphin and the Duke of Colonna, greatly satisfied the curiosity of the provincials and the vanity of Parisians, and even when the public display was over , there are still a large number of painters, dancers and musicians staying in Paris. On the one hand, they want to wait for an opportunity to go straight to the top, and on the other hand, they also want to meet their most basic needs in life because Parisians and tourists flocking there.

Of course they could return to their original city, but after seeing Versailles and Paris, how could they be willing to stay in a remote and lonely place? This place is full of beautiful scenery, noble people and opportunities. Although few people can get their wishes, who can guarantee that they will not be the next Rembrandt?

When the Marquis of Loise came to see the king, Louis XIV was taking a rare moment to appreciate the gift given to him by the Dauphin, which was the "Night Watch". Later, he heard the unlucky Dutch painter Rembrandt say , this is not the original "Night Watch". Although the Night Watch made his employers very dissatisfied, they finally took the painting back at a discount, but their attitude towards the painting was different from the creator. Quite different. Not only did they cut off the surroundings of the picture in order to hang the painting on the designated wall, making the overall picture unbalanced, they also used peat open fires for lighting and heating in the room, so a layer of puddles accumulated on the picture. Thick black ash.

Rembrandt was very sad when he heard about this from a friend, so he repainted "The Night Watch", which was smaller than the original but more perfect, because this painting did not need to satisfy the employer, only to achieve the goal of creation. It is the target of the hunter. It is no surprise that it was spotted by the eldest princess at a glance. Even Louis can be said to be unable to put it down.

After the Marquis of Loise came in, Louis waved him over to admire this work with him. Those who were not familiar with His Majesty might feel uneasy. However, the Marquis of Lovas had been following the king since the Battle of Flanders. How could he not know that this was the king's expression of closeness? He quickly took a few steps forward, stood beside the king, and looked at this painting carefully. work.