I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 44 How the King Persuaded Viscount Turena (Part 2)

Just when the Viscount Turenne was eager to listen, the king glanced at Bontang, and the first valet, who was very favored by the king, immediately poured him a glass of low-alcohol wine from Epernay. The monks added peaches and spices, and more sugar to the wine, and the king chose it only because it had a lower alcohol content than normal wine, after all he knew that alcohol was not good for the human body - he only sipped it After taking a small sip, he handed the cup to Viscount Turenne, who hurriedly stood up from the stool and took it with both hands, perhaps because he noticed a lot of things he hadn't noticed before, he absentmindedly took a sip. After drinking it clean, it was a little rude to do so, and he stood up again and apologized in embarrassment, but the king just waved his hand.

"You know, I've always liked to read," said Louis. "Books can enlighten people, probe minds, illuminate ourselves like a mirror—you know Richard III." He looked at Viscount Turenne , Viscount Turenne, the second son of the Duke of Sedan, also received a complete education. Although he left home to join the army at the age of twelve, he did not let go of what he should learn. Of course he knew about Richard III." He was the king's second son, the king's younger brother, and the king's uncle. He had fought against rebellious ministers three times, and was consistently on the side of his elder brother Edward IV in the battle for the throne. , the fairness of governance was therefore deeply loved by the people, he established parliaments, built universities and churches, promulgated laws that were beneficial to the people, and recaptured the occupied territories from the Scots... Viscount, like this A man, even if he was not a saint in his lifetime, he will be canonized after death, so please tell me what his final outcome is?"

Of course, Viscount Turenne had read the records about the king. If Louis directly accused Richard III of being a despicable thief, he would be able to justify the king's previous achievements, but Louis first listed the reasons. Charles III's good deeds, only to ask his end, and the reason for this ending, had to make him feel embarrassed, because as Louis said, Richard III was indeed like a saint before deposing his nephew Edward V. , his virtue is beyond reproach, his merits are unshakable, and there are many overlaps with the current Prince Kongdai.

But to let Viscount Turenne tell the truth about why Richard III suffered such a fate is like forcing him to blame the Prince of Condé himself - because when Richard III's brother Edward IV died, he was banned from doing so. The Duke Protector, who owns the regency, is already under one person and above ten thousand people, and has a large area of ​​northern England as his territory. No matter in terms of power, status or money, he is unmatched, but at that time it was still Gloucester. Richard the Duke was still greedy and, as mentioned earlier, managed to bribe a bishop by claiming that Edward IV's marriage to the current queen was not legal, thereby disinheriting his two nephews, Deposed Edward V and made Richard III himself.

It was just that the throne obtained in this way was not firm. Two of his former supporters, Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, and Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, both rose up against him in the first rebellion. , the Duke of Buckingham lost to Richard III and was beheaded, but Henry Tudor fled and launched a second rebellion with his uncle.

In the battle with Henry Tudor, the three most trusted ministers of Richard III, Thomas Stanley (the first Earl of Derby), Sir William Stanley and Henry Percy (the fourth Noble The Earl of Tumberland) turned their backs to Henry Tudor, even though the latter's succession was not as advanced as Richard III's, they still did so, so that those who originally had an advantage in numbers and on the battlefield Richard III was finally defeated, and even died on the battlefield.

  Although he was still fighting at the last moment and was extremely brave, people always only mentioned his last roar sarcastically, which was "Treason! Treason! Treason!..."

Richard III thought that Henry Tudor was the traitor, but in fact everyone knew that he was the real traitor. His body was shown naked, and when it was brought back on horseback, it was still a stone. He was smashed to blossom, he was buried in St. Francis' Church in Leicester, all his exploits were wiped out, no one mentioned his past, he was called the most evil and ugliest king, Even the tiniest of shortcomings were repeatedly commented on by people, expansion, even if these people wanted to see Richard III while he was alive, it was impossible.

   "They are different, Your Majesty." At last Viscount Turenne could only say that.

   "What's the difference?"

   "His Royal Highness is not such a cruel person."

"Nor Richard III," said Louis, "you are not a fool, so I will not say anything grand to you, but I can only say that you despise me only because I am a child, but Monsieur Viscount, who can be It's not just children who are manipulated - do you think Richard III didn't want to be an upright man? Was he a wicked man from birth? Or was it a devil who crawled out of **** to lure him? No? , no, he may have been sad, but also joyfully took over the authority given by his brother, and wanted to raise his nephew wholeheartedly to grow up, but what changed him?

I didn't expect it at first, but when I saw Prince Kongdai, I understood, sir, it's you, and many people around him, who keep pushing him and instigating him to go to that disreputable way. Walking down the road, you only saw his prominence after he became king, but not the danger he was bound to face. I can guarantee that as long as he sits in that position, everyone who sees him will not cry. 'Your Majesty', but shouted in my heart 'Look at that traitor! ', every careerist will be ecstatic, because he is not the king's son, and his inheritance is not before me, and when my father Louis XIII left, he put my hand in his hand, because he wanted him Assist me instead of asking him to replace me..."

   "Alas, Your Majesty, Alas, Your Majesty..." Viscount Turenne shouted to and fro, clutching the silver cup tightly, but he didn't know what to say, because the king's words had nothing to refute.

"This is what I want to tell you, Mr. Viscount, as a general, as a prince, Kong Dai has no shortcomings and can even be blamed, but as a king, Kong Dai's weakness is like a target hanging in front of the fortifications Just as conspicuous, his enemies would gleefully attack the position first, smashing him with his honor, his exploits, and he would not even have the possibility of fighting back, for he could not propose any law that would stand. or human affection.

As for me, and my brother Philip, he could be his new sin at any time, Monsieur Viscount, not because he was not noble enough, but because the intrigues in the dark are always pervasive, like we still can't be sure of Edward V Whether or not his brother died at the will of Richard III, but when people mention Edward V, they say, ah, the child king who was killed by his own uncle!

  If it were you, and your master and friends, Condé would still go his own way," said Louis, "I swear someone will call Condé that one day! "

He shook his head and continued, "So I don't understand what you're thinking, what are you doing? For power? Obviously not; for honor? Neither; , then you ought to admonish, not push, to get your friend on the right path—if for France, by God, Monsieur Viscount, as you told me, turn your head and see Look out the window and look at the people who are struggling with the famine."

  Viscount Turenne looked out the window uncontrollably. Although there were only empty squares and high walls outside the window, he still remembered the starving people and the gallows he encountered along the way.

   "Mr. Viscount," Louis said in a questioning tone for the first time: "How many times do you think they will survive? One, two or three? Or more?"

   "Hey, Your Majesty, please stop talking..." Viscount Turenne pleaded.

"I have watched my people die needlessly," said Louis, "but even if your wishes are fulfilled, the war will not end, and my uncle Gaston, duke of Orleans, has in Paris petitioned the High Court to declare him deputy King, and England, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire are our enemies, and our allies," he said with a smile: "If we had, do you think they came back to help us, or to bully us?"

   Viscount Turenne was really embarrassed now. He had to admit that the king's words were right, but his commitment to friends and benefactors made him unable to make an immediate decision.

   "Well," said the king, "are you gambling?"

This question confuses Mr. Viscount. To say the king's words is like a punch that makes him dizzy, and then this question is like pouring him a glass of strong wine, and he feels a little pitiful. "Occasionally, Your Majesty," he replied, "gambling money is an exercise that is good for the mind and body, when done properly."

   "Then are you willing to make a bet with me?"

   "Please say, Your Majesty, it's just that I'm afraid I have nothing to give you right now."

"You are wrong, you have a lot of chips," said Louis. "I want to tell you now, Monsieur Viscount, that you have been worried that I am being manipulated by the Bishop of Mazarin, but in fact it is not so, although People thought he looked after me like a father.

  If I have to say, I can only say that I believe him, because he is the one who was given to me by my father. "

"So?"

"I want to prove to you that I am not a puppet in his hands, so, Viscount Turenne, please be a guest here for a while, and I will send a letter to the bishop asking him to retire for me to Liege."

   "How is this possible?"

"Why not," said Louis. "He is neither Gaston nor Condé, and he will obey my request." He stretched out his hand: "Would you be willing to bet with me? Be willing to obey my orders and retire to Liege, and you will come to me and fight for me, even if you have to face your friends."

   "What if you can't?"

   "Then I will give you a horse, a servant, a full purse, and your arms and cloak, and let you go like a kind and generous king."

"I can not believe it!"

   "This is the king's promise," said Louis.

Viscount Turenne stood up, and from his changing face, he could see that he was engaged in a fierce ideological struggle, but the words of the king and the things he saw on the road made him make a decision. Putting his hands on the king's, he knelt down and said, "I am willing to make this bet with you."

Louis immediately showed a happy smile, and he asked Bontang to send Viscount Turenne out. Given his trust in Viscount Turenne, he could walk freely in this castle, like a guest rather than a criminal, but Bontang , came back with a worried look. Louis knew what he was thinking, but he couldn't tell Bontang - didn't the Queen Mother Anne say she had received a secret letter from Mr. Bishop before the battle started, because of what happened later, she even forgot to tell Louis - Mazza However, the bishop said in the secret letter that since the rebels have always claimed that he was the culprit in their decision to rebel, then, for the sake of the king, the queen mother and France, he is willing to make concessions.

   Therefore, Bishop Mazarin has decided to retire to Liege. Only the Queen Mother Anne knew about it before, and Louis just learned about it this morning, but this did not prevent him from cleverly taking advantage of the time difference.

   (end of this chapter)