Kangxi, your Qing Dynasty is dead

Chapter 426: Pope, come and judge my Louis! (Please subscribe, please vote)
The resolution to set up a special criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, to try the Sun King Louis XIV and the Ming Dynasty General Li Zhongshan, and to claim compensation of 1 million Dutch guilders from them, was passed as expected - first in the Amsterdam City Council and the Dutch Provincial Council. passed and then passed by the Grand Council of the United Provinces of the Netherlands.

The reason for such a procedure is that at first glance, the Federal Republic of the Netherlands in this era seems to consist of the provinces of Holland, Zealand, Groningen, Friesland, Utrecht, and Overijser. It is a federated provincial republic composed of seven provinces: Erl and Gelderland. These seven provinces are all on an equal footing.But in fact, among these seven provinces, the Netherlands has always been the largest province. Both in terms of population and economy, it is larger than the other six provinces put together.The Netherlands Province has long accounted for more than 50% of the revenue of the government of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and is the proper leader of the seven provinces. Later, the world simply only knew about the Netherlands and not the Netherlands.

And within the province of the Netherlands, the city of Amsterdam is the absolute big brother!
Therefore, for the national affairs of the United Provincial Republic of the Netherlands, it is not enough to just pass it by the Grand Assembly - the Dutch Provincial Assembly will not spend money if it does not agree, and here in the Netherlands, nothing can be done without money.

As for the Dutch Provincial Council’s nod, it still needs to be approved by the Amsterdam City Council.Otherwise, if the big capitalists in Amsterdam don’t come up with the money, the Dutch provincial councils will have nothing to do with it.

Of course, if the Federal Republic of the Netherlands intends to cause trouble on the European continent, it will not be enough to pass through the Grand Council of the Netherlands, the Provincial Council of the Netherlands, and the City Council of Amsterdam. It will also have to come from Nassau, Germany. The military oligarchs, the Orange family, nodded.

The Orange family in Nassau has a good background. His ancestor had an Adolf who was the boss of Germany!

Although it later declined, with only two counts, one lord and one prince remaining, the Orange family was well-respected in the German mercenary circle. Their hometown was not peaceful from the Middle Ages to modern times, and they were constantly fighting. Rich in mercenaries.

Moreover, the Orange family has also produced many famous generals who can fight, such as "Morris of Nassau" (the great-uncle of William III) who became the consul of the Republic of the United Provinces at the age of 16 and the commander-in-chief of the navy and army of the Republic at the age of 21. ), the most outstanding military strategist in Europe at the same time.

So the Federal Republic of the Netherlands is actually a republic supported by the money of the Amsterdam business oligarchs and the mercenaries of the Orange family!
The relationship between Amsterdam's business oligarchs and the military oligarchs, the Orange family, has always been bumpy. As long as the French and Spanish do not attack, what the business oligarchs in Amsterdam are most worried about is that the Orange family will take over Ned's rule. The United Provinces Republic of Lanzhou became the property of their "Old Austrian Family".

And the Orange family always hates the business oligarchs in Amsterdam who are unwilling to spend money happily. If it weren't for insufficient money, the Orange family would have to build a big kingdom!

And this time, thanks to the two robbers King Louis and Li Zhongshan, William III finally kidnapped the Amsterdam business oligarchs and put them on chariots - Li Zhongshan used the name of Louis XIV to control the Spice Island controlled by the Dutch. The move, as well as the act of bypassing the Netherlands and conducting intercontinental trade directly with France, really angered those business oligarchs. This principle of blocking people's financial paths is like killing their parents, which is true in the East and the West.

Now Louis and Li Zhongshan are equivalent to killing the parents of these business oligarchs in Amsterdam - these oligarchs are all filial sons!Can you not be angry?

If you get angry, of course you will be easily boarded on the Orange family's pirate ship.If Louis and Li Zhongshan had not "killed their parents", even if William III could mobilize [-] fully armed Dutch patriots to enter Amsterdam, it would be difficult to force the Dutch Provincial Council and the Amsterdam City Council to submit.

After all, at that time, the Orange family was the common target of Amsterdam businessmen. This group of business oligarchs did not only have money but no force. Amsterdam's business oligarchs usually invested in the financial industry and shipping industry at the same time.But these days, there is only a layer of veil between pirates and merchant ships, and all merchant ships are armed!And among the Dutch navy, they are all descendants of Amsterdam.

So as long as Amsterdam's business oligarchs work together, they can still curb the ambitions of the Orange family!
But now Louis XIV has become the mortal enemy of Amsterdam merchants!Even if there are still people who put curbing the ambitions of the Orange family first, they cannot be sure of the thoughts of other oligarchs.It is impossible for the Orange family to deal with all the Amsterdam business oligarchs, but if they want to deal with one or two of them, everyone should know how the Werther brothers died, right?
The oligarchs are not stupid. Of course they know that if anyone does not behave actively enough at this time, he may be treated as a Dutch traitor by William III and his lackeys!

So each of them behaved extremely indignantly.

And William III, Gaspar Figg and Anthony Hines want this effect!
"Gentlemen!" Gaspar Figg immediately struck while the iron was hot and began to ask for money. "Since we have passed the resolution to try Louis, we should capture Louis and bring him to the Netherlands!"

Anthony Hines immediately helped: "That's right, we can only try Louis if he is captured in the Netherlands!"

If the Sun King invaded The Hague, then he arrived at The Hague who were loyal to him. What a waste of time!
"Dear Consul," Gaspar Figg immediately asked William III, who was sitting in the Amsterdam Parliament Hall, smiling and seemingly confident, "How much military spending do you need to defeat Louis and his accomplice Li Zhongshan? Woolen cloth?"

William III held out two fingers: "At least [-] million guilders!"

"Two hundred million? That much?" Anthony Hines had an exaggerated expression on his face.

The congressmen below all had expressions of surprise and heartache - they were different from the ladies and gentlemen of the American Capitol Hill and other human beings of other genders in later generations. Those people voted to spend other people's money, and the empire they owned was extremely powerful. , seems to be immortal.Most of the parliamentarians in Amsterdam and the Dutch provinces are business oligarchs. The countries they own are not invincible, but may collapse under attack from powerful enemies at any time.

So these people not only decide how much tax to collect and how much debt to issue, but also really take out a large amount of money from their pockets. If they don't do this, then this federal provincial republic with 300 million people will have been given to Louis XIV long ago. Destroyed, then they business oligarchs will have no choice but to be slaughtered by Louis XIV!
Of course William III had already figured out the minds of these oligarchs - those people really care about the Netherlands!

"Gentlemen," said William III, "I have just received reliable news that Louis XIV has reached an agreement with the Ming Dynasty envoy to develop the 'Pacific-North American Continent-Atlantic' route to replace the 'Eastern Sea Route' we control. Indies-Indian Ocean-Atlantic' route. In addition, in order to ensure the smooth communication lines of the North American continent, Louis also planned to establish an American empire in North America with the Ming Dynasty. Louis himself would serve as the Eastern Emperor of the American Empire, and the Ming Emperor would also serve as the Western Emperor of the American Empire. emperor!"

"What? How could Louis do such a thing?"

"God, Louis is the devil!"

"No, it cannot be allowed!"

"He must be stopped from doing this."

The oligarchs in Amsterdam were really panicked now - although the cost of this trade route through the North American continent must be much higher than the Dutch taking the sea route!But the problem is that the gross profit margin of the free trade monopolized by the Dutch is extremely high. Even if the other party wants to pass through on the North American continent, it will definitely still be profitable, and it will be quite profitable.

Therefore, Louis' plan to bypass the Indian Ocean and the East Indies and go to North America was completely feasible.

And once this plan is implemented, then the lifeblood of the Amsterdam business oligarchy will be cut off by Louis!
What William wanted was this effect. He looked at the congressmen below with a serious face: "Gentlemen, you are right, we must stop Louis. But how do we do it? Maybe you can send free privateers Team to fight against this despicable business practice, but you must not forget that Louis' army is at our doorstep. You must not forget that Louis' France has a population of more than 2000 million. If he can have enough military spending, he can even Form an army of 100 million!"

100 troops
The United Provinces of the Netherlands only had a population of 300 million, and the Holy Roman Empire only had a population of 1600 million. Together they were less than one French person.Moreover, Louis also has two "big fans" in the East, one is Poland and the other is Rakshasa. Their combined population is more than 2000 million!

If Louis were given an unlimited limit on military spending, wouldn't he be able to sweep across Europe with his troops?
William III continued to scare people: "If the spices, silks, porcelain, and tea in Louis' hands can be sold at a good price, he will have at least 3 million livres in additional military expenditure. By then he will really have 100 million Army! If you want to stop him, you must provide 2 million Dutch guilders in additional military expenditures. This money will be raised in the form of national debt. Every patriot of the Federal Republic of the Netherlands has already purchased as much as he can!

Because you only have one Federal Republic of the Netherlands! "Consul, you are so right. I am a patriot of the United Provinces of the Netherlands!" "Anthony Hines was the first to jump out and perform, "I subscribe for 50 guilders of national debt! "

Seeing that Anthony Hines had taken the lead, Gaspar Figg immediately added more money: "I also love the United Provinces of the Netherlands and I subscribe for 80 Dutch guilders!"

Once these two people take the lead, how dare the other congressmen below not to subscribe?If you don’t subscribe, you don’t love the Federal Republic of the Netherlands. Even the national debt has to be subscribed. Of course, you have to vote for the issuance of 2 million guilders of national debt!

The United Provinces of the Netherlands passed a resolution to try Louis for compensation, and also passed the news that 2 million guilders of national debt had been used to increase military expenditures. The news soon reached the Palace of Fontainebleau and King Louis XIV of France. and in the ears of his good brother, the "radiant" Philip I, Duke of Orleans.

King Louis XIV of France, who was about to attend the ball, had not yet lost his temper. He was short in stature and had a bulging belly. He was dressed in women's clothing, with all kinds of jewelry on his hands, wrists, and neck, and his wig was tied up. His good brother Philip I, Duke of Orleans, who wore all kinds of beautiful ribbons, sprayed all kinds of perfume on his body, and behaved very frivolously, was already angry. The Duke snorted: "Huh, these Dutch people must be crazy. My dear brother who dares to judge our French king, please let me command the invincible French army to fight, and I will definitely win the Hague for you!"

Hearing the words of the Duke of Orleans, Jia Guozhu, who was a guest in Louis' court, was simply stunned. He quietly asked the little Colbert beside him: "This princess can still fight?"

"He is not a princess," little Colbert whispered, "he is His Majesty's brother, Philip I, Duke of Orleans, and he is also a lieutenant general in the French army."

"Lieutenant General." Jia Guozhu was stunned again and again, "Can such a Lieutenant General fight?"

"Yes!" said little Colbert, "Philippe I was a very brave soldier. Although he would not forget to apply makeup and powder on the battlefield and would wear the most beautiful wig, this did not prevent him from leading the cavalry. Charge into battle.”

A sissy lieutenant general wearing women's clothing, makeup, and a beautiful wig was charging into the battle. Jia Guozhu thought to himself: Is there any other way to fight like this?Can you be more serious?

Louis XIV, who was dressed like a butterfly himself, was actually not quite able to accept a duke dressed as a woman leading the French army to the battlefield. Although the French army had once achieved brilliant victories under the command of a real woman.

"Philippe, now is not the time for war," Louis XIV said to his little brother, "because we are not ready yet, and our allies, the Ming Dynasty and the Rakshasa, are not ready for a full-scale war. As for our vassal in the Americas, the American Empire has not even been formally established.”

In Louis XIV's vision, future wars will break out in Asia, America, Europe, the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and other regions!
All the great powers in the world will be involved, so France and her allies and vassals must be fully prepared!

France itself was under great pressure because it had to face the siege of the Netherlands, Britain, Germany, and Spain in Europe and could not easily go to war.

"But we can't let William III be humiliated, right?" Philip I said angrily.

"Of course not!" Louis XIV frowned, lost in thought.

Now, when William III was scolding before the war, the entire Hague Criminal Court came out not only to humiliate and anger France, but also to discredit France and smear France into a robber country that destroyed the Dutch monopoly of free trade and robbed the Dutch colonies.

If France is smeared as a bandit, doesn't the Netherlands become a good guy?
"Your Majesty the King, I have a way to attack the Netherlands and Spain without going to war." Jia Guozhu also understood what Louis was thinking. After all, Li Zhongshan was also a defendant!

Although Li Zhongshan dared to do what he did, he was not afraid of the Dutch suing him, but the war of public opinion must be fought as it should!
Louis XIV smiled and said: "Guozhu, my friend, just tell me if you have any ideas!"

"Your Majesty," Jia Guozhu said, "we can also judge the Netherlands and Spain. They are the real robbers! The Spanish used cruel and despicable means to destroy the Aztecs and Incas and killed tens of millions of Native Americans. Committed the worst crime in the history of mankind! The Dutch plundered and acted wantonly in the East Indies, especially the Banda Islands in the Spice Islands, which carried out a massacre and killed tens of thousands of local residents, just to Monopoly on Lilac.”

Louis XIV frowned slightly: "Guozhu, should we also set up a court to try William III and Carlos II?"

Setting up courts to try foreign rulers was a prank in Louis' opinion, and it also undermined the monarch's authority. Later, before everyone went to war, various courts were set up to turn the rival monarchs into wanted criminals. This was too disgraceful. Bar?William III was a consul, not a king, so of course he could be dishonest, but Louis could not.

"Your Majesty," Jia Guozhu said, "I think you can ask the Pope to comment! The Americas were assigned by the Pope to Spain and Portugal... The Spanish and Portuguese have done so many bad things in the Americas, and the Holy See always turns a blind eye. , Isn’t this appropriate? Why should the Spaniards and Portuguese be excommunicated!

In addition, although the Dutch believe in Protestantism, they still have one God, right?Moreover, when the Dutch invaded the so-called East Indies, the Netherlands was still part of Spain. There is nothing wrong with asking the Pope to comment on it, right? "

It seems to make sense!Louis thought to himself: That old guy Innocent XI is always against me on the issue of ordination in France.It’s time to find an opportunity to embarrass him!
Thinking of this, Louis XIV said to his brother: "Philippe, why don't you and Ambassador Jia go to Rome and ask Innocent XI to come forward and comment."

Philip I asked: "Brother King, I'm afraid the Holy See will not agree to our request... The Holy See has always valued the Habsburg dynasty more."

"I know," said Louis XIV, "but the truth of the world is on my side! Spain and the Netherlands have always used the name of God to do devilish things and bring shame to Christianity. The Holy See has ignored this and never condemned it. .

If the Holy See just blindly pleases the Habsburgs and does not correct their evil deeds, then what right does the Holy See have to point fingers at upright French Catholics? "

"Brother King," Philip I shook his head, "but the Holy See may not recognize our truth. Everyone knows that today's Pope is old and stubborn."

Louis XIV smiled coldly: "He will not ignore it... because I will not let you go to Rome with bare hands. You will lead the French Army, which has always been able to defend the truth, to meet the Pope in Rome!"

(End of this chapter)