I Am Louis XIV

This happened in every monastery and church in Catalonia.

The Spanish priests and priests were expelled, all the money and land they had accumulated were confiscated, and their positions were replaced by French priests. Catalan deacons and other low-level religious personnel were allowed to stay - after their It was widely announced that the tithe tax would no longer be compulsorily collected during these four months, and the people all praised it - not that they were ungrateful, but that Catalonia now needs a chance to breathe.

These letters from Spanish priests and priests fell like snow on the desk of the Archbishop of Toledo.

This was what he and Rome were most worried about - when Louis XIV of France conquered Flanders, France and Spain were both Catholic countries, so the Roman Church did not intervene, and even deliberately attacked them because they accepted bribes from Louis XIV. The Habsburg demands were ignored; later Louis XIV seized and divided the Netherlands, and the Roman church was also happy to see it, firstly because their bishopric could also share the profits, and secondly because the Dutch were all Protestants , France was dominated by the Catholic faith. At that time, the Roman Church was still dreaming of dreams. If the Netherlands became a Catholic diocese, maybe Louis XIV would show mercy and let them make profits from it.

Everyone has seen the result.

Louis XIV was not stupid enough to return the power of ordination that Francois I had stolen from Pope Leo X to the church, even in Flanders, the Netherlands, and Spain. When Flanders and the Netherlands were annexed, the Roman Church didn't pay much attention, because Flanders was also partly a Protestant parish, and the Netherlands was a place where Protestants concentrated. But the changes in Catalonia meant that: As the Archbishop of Toledo and some keen red princes estimated, even if King Louis XIV of France would not unite the two countries, he would definitely implement his policies in France into Spain.

After losing France and the United Kingdom, Spain can be said to be the only country that can support the behemoth of the Roman Church. Just like the layman whose surname is Alva, he deceived the people to get money, and of course he would There is no part, but more is given to the red prince of Rome to ensure that this position will not be left behind by others. There are thousands of people like this in Spain. Under such circumstances, even Innocent XI would not dare to say that he would continue to support Louis XIV in this regard - otherwise the papal election would definitely have to be brought forward.

After the Archbishop of Toledo read the letter, he could only laugh it off. He had done everything he could, so what else could he do? He even sent his disciples to France.

"Mr. Bishop," the church messenger asked anxiously, "have you already thought about what to do?"

"How to do it?" The archbishop made a strange and distorted voice under the cover of the veil: "I am already shedding Spanish blood. We are fighting for God and the church and making sacrifices. What do you want us to do?"

The messenger was at a loss for words. He really couldn't think of what else he wanted the Archbishop of Toledo to do. The Archbishop had tried his best to find all those who were willing to oppose and fight against the French King Louis XIV. They formed a coalition and were always ready to fight against the French. They fought to the death and even drove their pro-French colleagues to the southernmost tip of Spain. The Spaniards were already bleeding, "Are we just going to watch like this?"

"Then please ask the church to call the kings to help us and drive Louis XIV out." The archbishop said.

The envoy's face suddenly became embarrassed. Not to mention that the current Roman Church no longer has the glory of the humiliation of Canossa. Even Urban II, who launched the Crusade, would not be able to command a Catholic king to fight against the Holy War. Another Catholic king went to war. Even though Louis XIV's behavior was almost the same as that of a pagan, he was powerful and wealthy. He did not have enough interests and opportunities. He did not have a reason to act like Leopold I. No king Will take the Pope's will to heart.

"If you can't do anything," the archbishop said calmly, "then just pray. Go back and tell the princes to pray devoutly in front of God and saints. Maybe the angels will hear your prayers and It will fall to the ground and maybe it will bring the King of France back to heaven.”

This sentence was really a bit harsh, but the messenger also understood that the Roman Church really could not afford anything but a tongue. The red princes were never willing to take out a copper from their pockets for such a thing, and They will not use their personal connections and favors to benefit Spain and the church. While they are worried about the risk that the French King will cut off Spain's continuous flow of support to the church after conquering Spain, they also... to be honest, they may really be dreaming. Angels, and also devils, descended from the sky and took Louis XIV away.

The church messenger left angrily. The boy beside the archbishop picked up the letters falling on the ground and couldn't help scolding the French and the ignorant Catalans: "These damn things, see you." Bastards who forget about God and their benefactors after getting a little profit!" He said angrily, "It's just a few months' taxes - and, even if the French said that, isn't the tithe to redeem them? For their sins, in gratitude for the kindness of the Church and God, did they donate it voluntarily? Master," he asked with a hint of imperceptible fear: "Do those Catalans really dare to refuse to pay the tithe?"

The archbishop glanced at him and couldn't help but miss Alberoni. He once deeply hated Alberoni, and also regretted that he shouldn't let him come into contact with too much complicated knowledge and those lowly people. He felt that it was accurate. It was these two things that caused his favorite disciple to have ideological deviations, so after sending Alberoni away, when he chose a servant, he specifically chose a nobleman's youngest son.

Now he regrets it again. He was dissatisfied with this child. If it were Alberoni, he would be able to see the true intention of the French King at once.

Was Louis XIV the kind of person who would use such despicable means to bribe the people? As a king, Louis XIV was not as benevolent as people say. After he conquered Flanders and the Netherlands, he imposed heavy taxes on the people in both places and confiscated the assets of opponents to repay the merchants. war arrears, and the redemption of war bonds issued domestically.

So why doesn't he do the same to the Catalans? Because Catalonia can be said to be his first stop in conquering Spain, he made gestures to seduce those who were still wavering and hesitant. At the same time, he was also using this method to Catalonia carries out top-down sorting and control - debtors can never speak loudly to creditors, and the same is true for countries. Catalonia has benefited from him, and it is difficult to think about him again. The laws and regulations that need to be implemented are dictated or violated.

After all, for those hungry people, a piece of bread close at hand is much more important than dignity, independence, and even faith.

If Alberoni were here, he would understand the king's intentions without any explanation. But he is not here, he is an idiot - which is not bad. The archbishop does not need to explain anything to him, nor does he need to discuss and analyze in depth. He nodded and patted the child on the head, and the child was overjoyed.

————————

Ruhr's father finally agreed and asked Ruhr to run for the French reserve army.

As we have said before, Ruhl was a strong young man, and with Lupo's guarantee, he obtained the qualifications to become a reserve army without any difficulty. He registered with the officer in charge, received his uniform and hat, and and some scattered military supplies and returned home.

"Musket, where's the musket?" His brother walked around him eagerly, "Let me see your musket!"

"Weapons are not allowed to be taken home." Ruhl said: "Besides, we haven't become real soldiers yet."

"How long are you going to train for?" Rule's mother asked.

"It may take thirty or forty days." Ruhl said, "I can still go home a few times."

"Don't say more about this," Ruhl's father said cautiously, "Let me see your uniform, good guy," he sighed and touched the thick and stiff fabric. Because it was a reserve army, their military uniforms It's not blue, but a calm tan, but there are blue trims on the cuffs and hem. The hat is made of cowhide, the brim is not wide, only one palm, and there is no feather embellishment, but the boots are black and shiny, and Soft, "It all adds up to twenty livres." He said that the price is equivalent to the price of a horse. Thinking about how many people here have become soldiers of the reserve army, the Sun King is indeed as big as people say. Be generous.

Seeing these things, Ruhr's father finally felt relieved. Even for these armaments, the French would not easily treat young Catalans like Ruhr as expendables.

"There is another one, father." Ruel clapped his hands like a magic trick, and there was a golden coin in his palm: "Look, everyone," he said happily: "This is the latest gold coin minted, ours." The chief said, this is not included in the salary - it is a gift from the king to us! His Majesty said..." He tried to imitate the tone of the French officer: "Let us also meet our king!"

"Who is on this?" Ruhr's mother curiously picked it up and looked at it repeatedly. The gold coin was very beautifully cast, with gears on the edge. She didn't dare to go up and bite it out of habit: "It looks like a child." .”

"Carlos III." Rule's father said clearly: "His Royal Highness Charles, the second son of King Louis XIV of France." He took the gold coin from his wife's hand and weighed it, "Half a pistol So heavy, if every reserve soldier had one..."

"Literally everyone has one," Rule said. Ruhl's father did not continue. He looked at the gold coin repeatedly in the sun. Although it was not as heavy as the Pistol, its purity may be higher than the latter in terms of color. The children on the gold coin may only be two. Three years old or younger, the cheeks are bulging because they are from the side, and the fluffy curly hair looks very cute.

"Don't spend it carelessly." Ruhl's father returned it to Ruhl.

"But isn't the family short of money?" Ruel asked doubtfully.

"It is true that no one came to pay taxes this month." Ruhl's father said: "Even if we went to the church to attend mass, pray, and confess to the priest - he did not ask us for money." He looked at his eldest son and said He gave a name to the man who bought Ruhl's father's workshop: "He hired me and your brother to work in the workshop, and the family had enough money." Perhaps it was because he heard that Ruhl became a soldier of the French. , so the businessman didn’t want to make things too absolute. It was impossible to return the workshop directly to Ruhr’s father, but it was not difficult to give them a job. Now this small town, no, the whole Catalonia Everything is waiting to be done, and there are tens of thousands of French people here, who can sell everything: "And your mother and sister, they also found work sewing tents and military uniforms."

"This is really great." Ruhr said. He observed the faces of his father, mother, and younger siblings. Sure enough, they were more rosy and energetic than before. He felt relieved and after having lunch with his relatives, he Walked out the door and prepared to go back to the training camp.

There were even more people on the street than before, especially businessmen, not only Catalan businessmen, but also businessmen from the Netherlands, Britain and even Ottoman Turkey judging from their clothes. After a few minutes, Ruhr suddenly realized - Louis X Four said that no taxes will be levied in Catalonia this year, which means that businessmen will not need to pay any taxes. This is equivalent to Catalonia becoming a huge duty-free zone in these four months.

Businessmen with a keen sense of smell and boldness will certainly not give up this rare opportunity.

As long as it is profitable, businessmen in this era can do anything. Because of this, businessmen are looked down upon by most people. Some priests said that it is more difficult for a businessman to get to heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

But the most important finance minister, Louis XIV, who was a businessman, knew how to drive them. Louis said that businessmen are like algae in a fish pond. Sunlight and nutrients in the water are like interests, which will quickly breed them and strangle the fish pond. other creatures.

But if this is just a pond of barren stagnant water, the algae can turn into nutrient-rich bait, attracting and feeding other creatures in the fish pond.

As long as the temperance is grasped, merchants, ministers, and generals can also become the king's helpers.

There were frequent wars in Catalonia, and the Spaniards repeatedly fished in the lake. It can be said that the place was almost abandoned by businessmen. As soon as the French King's tax-free system came into being, this place suddenly seemed to be blessed by the saints. Whenever possible, businessmen would try their best to go to Catalonia to complete transactions.

They brought wood, ceramics, olive oil, dyes, cotton, silk and woolen cloth... In short, everything you can think of is here. They and their employees need to eat and drink, need to rest, need porters and warehouses, need... They want everything.

Even though Ruhr was just a small town, it was expanded into a large market by businessmen because it was not far from Barcelona. When he was about to leave after completing his training, he actually saw someone building a dock here.