I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 264 The Value of Mrs. Montespan (4)

   Once Prince Kongdai makes a decision, the next thing will begin.

The first is to separate a part of the spies to Poland-because Poland was separated from France by an entire Holy Roman Empire, so the power of France is not strong there, the Holy Roman Empire is just the opposite, but it is still the same problem, that is The spies are not enough. They are now almost scattered in Holland and Flanders. After all, the newly conquered territories are often the places where rebellions are most likely to arise. The governors, generals and chief executives that Louis now throws away will all be required in the future. What was reused could not be wasted in such a place - like what happened to Lorraine, the king would never allow it to appear again.

   "If I leave this to you, ma'am." Louis turned around and asked, "Can you handle it properly?"

If other ministers saw that their newly appointed royal wife also participated in such an important meeting, they would be surprised. Although there is a precedent for royal ladies to participate in politics, this also requires accumulating their own authority and the king's trust. Prince Kong Dai Wei Wei Moved, but still didn't say anything, he should get used to the king's whimsy, especially after so many years - the king has not made any big mistakes in government and state affairs.

"I think I can," said Mrs. Montespan proudly, her face flushed with excitement, and although the king did not have the same room with her last night, which caused some rumors, a diamond necklace from the king more than offset the displeasure , to give a good look to those ladies who gloat over misfortune, but unfortunately they can't know that she still bears such a heavy responsibility with the king.

"Are you sure?" The Duke of Orleans said indifferently: "As far as I know, there are 23 members of the Polish noble assembly who can speak, and there are eight or nine who can control the situation. They use one vote. The veto system, and the basis for our decision will all depend on the information you provide, are you sure you can?"

"My spies will be more credible and quicker than yours," Mrs. Montespan countered sharply. "You will see how accurate their information is—I assure you they will never commit such a minimal Wrong, or I will punish me however you want."

The Duke of Orleans glanced calmly at Louis behind the desk, his brother seemed to be casually fiddling with the feathers on his pen, although Madame Montespan insisted that she would not say how she established her team of spies, but As long as there is an incident in Poland, they can compare the sources of intelligence to know where the spies come from. After all, the sources of intelligence that spies probe into are often related to their identities, just like the same thing, the Duke of Orleans, D'Artagnan The Count's and Madame Milady's spies must have different content.

"It doesn't matter," Louis said, "we can accept some losses." Before Prince Condé was elected king of Poland, bribes, bribes and even assassinations, let alone the king of France, even Prince Condé could afford, It was a kingdom anyway, and Prince Condé had plundered cities in Holland and Flanders, as well as the king's bounty - once he became king of Poland, his lands in France would also be returned to the royal family , this is what Louis agreed with him.

   "You need an army," said Louis to Prince Condé.

   "I need an army, yes," said Prince Condé, "but not too many, and not all French."

"General Schumberg is willing to provide part of it, and you can also hire part of it from Switzerland," Louis suddenly smiled: "But if there are only a few French people around you, the Polish nobles will feel at ease, but they will also be suspicious... "

"You can have a big quarrel with me." Prince Condé also said with a smile: "Anyway, I have committed treason before, and I have established a new crime in the war against Holland and Flanders. Too illustrious feats, they will not doubt your fear of me, and my dissatisfaction - for those Poles, they were originally some sinners who contempt for the king, their king to them, they to their king , like a pack of ravenous hyenas and a mad lion, they must think that the same is true for others."

   "I don't want to do that, good sir," said the king affectionately, "but only in this way will your odds of winning be increased."

"Perhaps you can still..." interrupted the Duke of Orleans. "How many times have you been sick," he said, "they would have wanted a weaker king more than a strong young M. Lorraine, lest he have Too much energy fighting them for power."

   "That's a good idea," said Louie, "I'll ask my doctor to do you a favor, and make sure whoever sees you will think you're a dying man."

"I really don't know how to thank you." Prince Kongdai said respectfully while savoring the king's words. Of course, not only the king's imperial physician, but also the unknown support and... He raised his head to meet with him. The king glanced at each other, and seriously, his wife, Richelieu's niece, probably wouldn't know the inside story, because she would definitely think it was the king's conspiracy, when Prince Condé led his army to the Netherlands. She had been noisy once, and this time - Prince Condé couldn't help but shudder slightly, once he accepted the Polish throne and handed over his territory, then he really had no way out, no, not only So did he, and his son, the Duke of Enghien - born in '43, thirty this year, forced into exile with his mother and later with the Prince of Condé at the time of the Frond rebellion He fled to Spain, and became the most powerful subordinate of Prince Kong Dai when he became an adult.

"The Duke of Enghien is going with me," said the Prince of Condé. "I need him. A father's son should not be much alarming, but may his son, Your Majesty, stay at Versailles?" At the time, he quickly glanced at the Duke of Orleans. The Duke of Orleans' eldest daughter was born in 62, and his eldest grandson was born in 68. Although there were inevitably some errors in age, the difference between the two was The marriage contract is not impossible. Once he becomes the king of Poland, the real king, the daughter of the Duke of Orleans will be the queen of Poland.

As long as Louis XIV has not yet decided - as the princess Elizabeth had to face, the daughter of the Duke of Orleans will also accept a marriage of match or political purpose, and it is said that several envoys are already inquiring about this. The situation of a county lord, but because the crown prince Louis is in front, she is not the one that attracts the most attention.

   "You made a wise decision," Louis gestured. Bontang took the basically transcribed documents and distributed them to the people in the room. Here is the general situation of the interior of the Kingdom of Poland.

  Although everyone here will have a certain understanding of the situation in the outside world, after sorting and refining, the so-called "Szlachta" in Poland, that is, the power system composed of members of the noble council, has become more clear at a glance.

Unlike France, which had a sole kingship, the members of the aristocratic parliament in Poland had enormous and extensive powers—they were free to revolt or rebel if they felt that the king had violated their liberty; They can oppose everyone else, veto any rules or decisions made by the council; they can also ally with any country or faction they want.

   They can build their own armies, and they can overrule the king on important matters, taxes (change existing ones or impose new ones), foreign affairs or laws, or even any decree that they think is illegal.

   Then someone has to ask, what does the king have? Well, it's probably the Convent Treaty - that is, the treaty made by the original King Henry and the nobles to limit and bind the king.

  No wonder Henry III of Valois returned to France unbearably after only one year as King of Poland...

And even if the king is willing to swallow his breath and suffer silently, just for the crown, look at John II, who was directly deposed, and then look at his next one, the sad majesty Michal, Did those Polish nobles still divination, predicting that he was going to see God soon? Of course not, this one may not end up any better than John II.

  Thinking of this, Louis also hesitated for a while: "The situation in Poland is really difficult to grasp," he looked at Prince Condé: "We may be able to try to get John II to return to Poland."

John II, who was almost made a ham by Amon, went to France to seek asylum in 68. Louis was busy with the war at the time, so he put him in the bishop of La Riviere, and the bishop reported, Sent him to St Martin's Abbey in Neville.

It is said that he became a monk there, lived a peaceful life, was in good health and was in a good mood - although Amon was quite disdainful of this human being, but from what Louis XIV learned, the king was not so mediocre, He fought with the Russians, nearly married Queen Christina of Sweden, and then he went to Vienna, as a foreign minister, joined the army of the Holy Roman Empire and fought against the French, only that time his legions were on the battlefield Failed.

He once tried to get the princess of the Habsburgs to rule Courland, but he was unsuccessful. Later, he came to Spain to become the governor of Portugal, but was caught by the secret agents of Bishop Richelieu and imprisoned in secret for two years. was rescued,

   He joined the Society of **** in 1941, became a cardinal in 1943, and resigned from the priesthood in 1947 to become King of Poland.

The decline of Poland can't be blamed entirely on him, he has thwarted Cossack insurgents and fought valiantly against the Swedes, the problem is that it was not only Schlachta who interfered and held back - at worst they Even without access to supplies and armaments, and the threat of the Grand Dukes of Brandenburg and Transylvania, while Russia, Denmark and the Netherlands are all on Poland's side, they are reluctant to give real support - or rather, They are equally ill-conceived.

John II can be said to be a tragic figure, but it is such a person, Louis will not regard him as the first person, the same is true of Prince Condé, the king only mentioned John II, he shook his head and refused: "I am willing to go Give it a try," he said: "what you said to the Viscount Turenne at that time, which he also told me, yes, your majesty, you are quite right, when I think about the throne of France, I am a Shameful traitor, but when I was made king by Shirazita, I did what God and the law allowed for them - maybe it was God who hated their misdeeds and gave the opportunity in our hands."

"It would be best if you wish," said Louis, "and let the son of the Duke of Enghien stay here, and he may live in Versailles with the dauphin and the son of the Duke of Orleans, and my mother and wife will take good care of him. of."

   "Thank you very much, Your Majesty." Prince Kongdai stood up and said with a salute.

   "I trust you, sir, that the Bourbons' side branch is flourishing in Poland," said Louis.

  ——

When the Prince of Condé left the king's room again with joy and anxiety, before dusk came, the Earl of Clarendon, the old man with white temples begged to see the king - about Louis, Duke of York He didn't want to hide his former father-in-law and Charles II. Even if the Duke of York could return to London this time, it wouldn't be a good thing to wait for him. If he could hold a grudge against Princess Henrietta, would he still respect and love himself? Brother, have mercy on his little nephew?

Glancing at the vial in front of him, and the glittering vial inside, the Earl of Clarendon had nothing to say, as a loyal leader who had followed Charles II for nearly twenty years and never left him in exile. Man, of course he wouldn't deny or shirk like a scoundrel - and there was absolutely no need for Louis to do so, the relationship between the Duke of York and Charles II had been so bad after the queen was pregnant and had a child, and Charles II was still in the Duke of York. When he was in Beihai, he canonized his son as the Prince of Wales, that is, the Crown Prince. The Duke of York's sweet dream suddenly came to nothing, and his new marriage contract made ministers worry that he would become a Catholic king, and those who supported him did not account for it. Advantage, it was discovered that the deceived Duke of York had even quarreled with Charles II, but in the end it was nothing.

  Louis still had some sympathy for the old man. He didn't say much, and asked the Marquis of Lois to take the Count of Clarendon to the Bastille. Of course, the Duke of York could not be kept in France. Now Britain and France are barely allies.

The Duke of York said he was interrogated, but he was not tortured - the king's clergy just showed him the torture device, the cell and an iron mask, and he said everything - when he realized that although Louis could not kill him , but his anger and courage vanished together when he was imprisoned forever, as Charles II had hoped.

Even so, when Earl Carlarendon saw him, he almost didn't recognize him. In just a few days, the duke was thin and pale as if he had endured years of torture. , for fear that Louis XIV had reached an agreement with Charles II to keep him in the Bastille.

   (end of this chapter)