I Am Louis XIV

This birthday banquet had more effects than Madam de Montespan expected. The originally turbulent situation in Paris and Versailles calmed down a lot on the day the king came back. Once the banquet was over, it seemed that everything Everything is back on track. The corpses on the gas lamps were lowered, and the people of the Bastille were imprisoned, exiled, and executed in an orderly manner; officials and nobles continued to come from all directions, scrambling to find ways to gain the right to see the king, or to They are seen in the salons or banquets of various dignitaries; tourists and students who are not pursuing power, but pursuing beauty and knowledge are once again strolling on the streets of Paris or Versailles like schools of fish in the sea; some shops and theaters Although the owner was lost, someone else soon took over and re-decorated it to become even more beautiful. Unfortunately, there were very few artists and scholars who were involved in the disputes, because Madame Montespan knew very well what the king valued. What is it), their classes, galleries and workshops are also filled in a timely manner.

To put it bluntly, if Louis XIV looked worried and something was not going well after returning from Florence, it would make more careerists and opportunists ready to take action, but as soon as he stepped into France, it seemed that he was completely unstoppable. He had never heard of any rebellion. After returning to Versailles, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to hosting a banquet for Madame de Montespan and their son, giving alms to the people, and even invited Viscount Turenne to Versailles - this is an understatement. , the attitude of not taking the rebels seriously made some people even more angry, and also made some people hesitate to move forward - as mentioned before, there were not many people who really wanted freedom and independence. King Louis XIV of France Although he was not as tolerant to the people in the occupied territories as he was to the French, he also set clear terms and requirements. These were preached by priests and low-level officials one by one in the streets and villages to ensure that everyone Clearly understood.

This approach had two very bad effects on those with ulterior motives. First, they were unable to collect more taxes in the name of the French King, especially since Louis XIV set up a reporting system and a direct After the ladder of Tianting, this means that a person with a little knowledge or even courage can break their mask; secondly: it is impossible for them to incite and intimidate civilians to participate in riots, which may not even happen with their own fingers. Countless farmers and craftsmen at least know one thing, that is, there is only one case in which they will be sentenced to death, and that is rebellion!

Other crimes resulted in at best a whipping, imprisonment or exile, and more often involved paying a fine, cleaning toilets and streets, or working for the king - building warehouses, roads, forts, etc. , but the latter also has three meals a day and some income.

But just when those little people who have not been able to visit the Palace of Versailles or the Louvre are feeling sad, some guys with a keen sense of smell have already smelled a different smell.

The most vivid traces are those who were left behind after the Duke of Montreal's birthday party, including Colbert, the Marquis of Lovas, the Duke of Luxembourg, the Viscount of Turenne, Marshal Schaumberg, General Vauban, etc... ...Some people may say that these people were originally close ministers of the king, and they all had their own rooms in the Palace of Versailles. It was not strange to stay overnight, but there were also some young people who were favored and were able to watch the sunrise from the window of the Palace of Versailles. scene.

Several of them will become as famous as their predecessors in the future, but now, for various reasons, they are still just a group of immature children.

At least that's how the generals and marshals in the king's chamber saw it.

"But it's definitely an opportunity," Schaumberg said.

"One or more tests," Viscount Turenne said, "If anything happens, we can save it in time."

"I cannot express my opinion, your majesty," said the Duke of Luxembourg, who was left behind in Paris while Louis was on his campaign. Madame de Montespan stood before the curtain, behind which he disappeared, for he was a brave general, But he also has a delicate heart. In front of the army and police forces under his control and command, no thugs or criminals can escape by chance.

"You have to believe in your students," the king said. "Have you not praised them many times in front of me?"

The above generals and marshals have all been professors at the French Royal Military Academy, compiled teaching materials (which caused a lot of hardship for generals like Schaumberg who came from mercenaries), and gave guidance to students, but among them The one who spent the most effort, unexpectedly, was the Duke of Luxembourg, perhaps because of his relationship with Prince Condé—Prince Condé was a traitor before and is now the King of Poland. As his brother-in-law and closest friend, the Duke of Luxembourg once For a period of time, I thought that I would never be reused again, and I was even more disheartened after being framed, so I devoted all my energy to writing books and teaching.

His military writings predate even the king's announcement to establish a military academy.

Even when he was assisting Madame Montespan to "clean up" Paris, he did not forget to go to class, and he also suppressed the distracted students in the military academy one by one. His achievements were noticed by the king. His attitude towards him also became softer. Even if the Duke of Luxembourg was the only one in the room who expressed vague objections, he didn't mind: "My dear Duke," Louis said, "What are you worried about?"

"If it's just a riot," the Duke of Luxembourg said, "I believe they can handle it, but..." As he said, he couldn't help raising his hands and pressing his chest: "Your Majesty, I want to thank you for your trust in me - —We would also like to thank you for your support and tolerance for Ludwig I, so here I would also like to carefully remind you that if things develop as we suspect, we may usher in another national war. "

"I understand what you mean," Louis knocked on the armrest of the chair: "You hope that when things are showing signs, you can fight them back in one fell swoop, so that maybe you can delay the next war."

"You are a wise, brave and kind king," the Duke of Luxembourg bowed and said: "Under your rule, France is like a strong lion, invincible and invincible against your enemies. Trembling at your feet, full of fear of you, but too much fear is hatred, Your Majesty, you should know that fear brings surrender, but hatred brings rebellion - you should perhaps loosen the noose a little and let them stay In awe of you, not in desperation. And…”

He did not continue speaking, but the king looked at Colbert, and Colbert took a step forward. Of course he could take over the Duke of Luxembourg's words, but he could not do so to make the king feel that his ministers were singing along - Colbert could A merchant's son climbed to his current position. With three ducal sons-in-law, he would not make such a stupid mistake. He bowed to the king and then said: "Although France's current financial situation can support another battle like the one against The Netherlands, and even a bigger war, but the problem is that we still need time to digest the Netherlands, Flanders, consolidate Lorraine and Alsace, and the fruits of your victory in the previous Battle of Camnico—— Your Majesty, if possible, I would like to have three to five years to resolve these issues."

"Three years or five years..." The king pondered for a while, then smiled slightly at his brother Philip, the Duke of Orleans, who had been leaning against him: "What do you think?"

Here, the Duke of Orleans has always been the person closest to the king, no matter in any sense: "But our enemies will not give us time, Colbert," he nodded unceremoniously to the person in charge of France's finances. Name: "You also said that my brother achieved gratifying results at the Battle of Camnico, not only against the pagans, but also against Leopold I. He faced a card of one hundred and fifty Although the bill of ten thousand livres can be paid in installments," he smiled contemptuously: "But do you think that Austria can afford even any of it with its current situation?"

Although Louis allowed Leopold I to pay in installments, in fact he would not give him a few decades. In fact, Leopold I needed to repay this huge debt within one year. Leopold I couldn't even refuse, because Louis XIV was called by the Roman Church as an alliance of Catholic countries to send troops to assist Leopold I. From the perspective of tradition and covenant, Leopold I had to Responsible for the military expenses of the reinforcements, otherwise if something like this happens again, don't expect anyone to come to the rescue.

And since the pope of the Roman Church was replaced by Innocent XI, who continued to show favor to Louis XIV, the church was also urging Leopold I to repay the debt as soon as possible, because in this kind of covenant, the church was similar to business The intermediary and half-guarantor in the act, if Leopold I did not pay, the church would have to give France the reward it deserved on his behalf.

"The problem is, Leopold I's reinforcements are not limited to France." Vauban said bluntly, which was followed by a subtle silence.

"If it were you, Philippe," Louis asked, "what would you do?"

"I will ask the creditor's enemies if they are willing to buy something from me." Philip touched his chin and said meaningfully: "This may be what the Duke of Luxembourg is worried about, and Leopold I will definitely use tricks to solve it. Offset this debt."

"The rebellions in Lorraine and Alsace are inseparable from His Majesty's involvement," Schaumberg said.

"So this is what you are worried about," the Duke of Orleans said to the Duke of Luxembourg: "Once those young people make mistakes, fail to quell the riots, or even fall into the enemy's trap, making the situation worse - those unscrupulous bastards It’s like finding an opportunity.”

Louis coughed twice: "Don't talk about an emperor like that."

"Hey, do you know who I'm talking about?" Duke Orleans' eyes widened, "Very good, it seems we all have a unified understanding of his qualities."

"This is also a quality that every king must have." The Duke of Luxembourg said coldly. This sentence is true. In another position, Louis XIV would do the same, otherwise the pressure would be transferred to him and his people. However, Leopold I's original plan was to use pagans to consume France's military power, and Louis XIV only repaid him one or two, which should be said to be quite fair.

“Then again,” Schaumberg said, “I think we should trust our students.”

"I believe in them, but they still need more training and cannot directly give them command at such an important time." said the Duke of Luxembourg.

"I also think we should be more cautious." Colbert also said boldly. He didn't interrupt just now, but now it seems that he also feels that it is a bit dangerous for the military school students to try their hand at riots at such a critical moment, and then Tire Viscount Na was also a little hesitant. Although he wanted to see the younger generations show their own grace as soon as possible - here he is the eldest one, but the Duke of Luxembourg's concerns were also reasonable.

"Then let's make a bet." Louis took out a gold coin from his pocket: "I allow you to mobilize the army, just in case." His eyes swept over everyone in the room: "But if they If you can do it well, then you owe me a gold louis, yes, a gold louis for each place."

"Brother Wang, I am." The Duke of Orleans followed with a smile.

Schaumberg also agreed with the king's idea, and he went with the king, and then the Duke of Luxembourg and Colbert fought against each other - not because they firmly opposed the king's opinion, but because they all followed the king. Who would take the bet? The king was obviously trying to appease the somewhat nervous Duke of Luxembourg - to express his attitude so that the Duke of Luxembourg and others would not worry about the king leaving any grudges due to this matter.

Viscount Turenne looked around and pressed the Duke of Luxembourg dumbfounded. After that, everyone present pressed a gold Louis one after another. The king cleverly received three more gold Louis. It was simply... It can only be said that everyone is playing with His Majesty, but they also consider the dignity that the King should have.

"Let them stay here," Louis stared at the two piles of gold on the table, "but I think I will win."

"You always win," said the Duke of Orleans.

————————

Jean Bart was a Dunkirk native.

He is twenty-seven years old this year and is one of the first batch of graduates from the French Royal Military Academy. From the beginning, it has been impossible for the military academy to recruit children. Even college students are not included in the recruitment process for the time being. All students and teachers have They come from the military, so almost all the students are between the ages of 20 and 30 and have combat experience. Jean Bart's background was not very outstanding among many dignitaries - he was originally a privateer captain, which is what people usually call a pirate, and he also worked under the general of the Dutch.

However, he always remembered that he was a Frenchman, so as soon as he heard that Dunkirk was back in the hands of the French, he immediately ran back to Dunkirk. Because he came back with a ship, he was immediately promoted to Navy captain.

After the king established the military academy, he was recommended to the king by the wise Marquis de Senele (son of Colbert). He was not only a student in the academy, but also a half-teacher. Don't be surprised. Such a situation in the academy It is not uncommon here. When transportation and information are not developed enough, it is difficult to learn from others and teach others. For example, Viscount Turenne entered the army as soon as he became an adult and then served in the army. He became a general under the guidance of his uncle.

Barr's father and uncle should both be hanged figures, but they were very lucky. Not only could they spend the rest of their lives in peace, but they could also teach their sons and nephews to continue their careers-that is, to be pirates. However, the so-called navy at this time, whether it was the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain or Portugal, was almost all transferred from pirate private to public. Therefore, as long as Jean Barr has real materials, students with extraordinary backgrounds are also willing to listen to his lectures. .

Although Barr is more bragging and boasting than lecturing, so most classes end with laughter and curses - this does not affect Barr's friendship with his classmates, let alone their They also have to train hard together, eat and drink together, and visit the "famous ladies" in the Bois de Boulogne together - the relationship between them is as rich as the class fees Barr received after the semester.

This made Barr very reluctant to leave when he graduated. After getting drunk for the last time, he even missed the carriage and could only ride back to Dunkirk by himself. He said that this would be more free. He bought After buying some delicious and not perishable oatmeal cakes, butter cakes, sausages and wine for him and the horse to eat and drink on the road, he got on the horse and walked along the clean and tidy road-this was also built after the king took over. There was water on rainy days and no dust on dry days. It was so flat that it would not hurt the horses' hooves. He galloped all the way without any hindrance and was extremely happy.

Dunkirk is about eighty miles away from Paris. The Baltima horse was a gift from the Marquis de Seigneret. As the son of Colbert, he was never short of money. This horse is also the best Serra horse in France. , although it is not as famous as the Arabian horse or the Artekin horse, it is stronger than them, more suitable for the French climate and food, and is good at traveling long distances - and this horse was carefully selected, and its height has exceeded the usual Serama, as tall as five feet two inches.

It could run forty miles in a day. Barr cherished the horse and only let it run thirty miles before resting at the inn. In this way, he also ran less than one mile away from Dunkirk on the third day. In a small village where one of his relatives lived, Baal and his horse ate all the food and drank all the wine, and decided to stay here for the night.

It was already late at night when he and his horse walked into the village. The village was so small that there was only one chapel and one street. He found the chapel by familiar means, knocked on the door, and received a warm welcome - this relative was also related to pirates. He was a cunning businessman who was responsible for selling stolen goods to pirates. However, since he made a mistake and was almost hanged, , he firmly believed that God was punishing him, so he decided to become a priest-that is, he continued to do his business in the skin of a priest.

Barr went to Paris. He knew that this nephew had a bright future and certainly deserved a better reception. While the priest was groping up and down, looking for his good treasures, someone suddenly knocked on the door outside.