I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 503 French and Spanish (5)

"But Catalonia, and Spain in general, is different," said Eugen Jr. "First of all, it was a powerful country that is still very large, although it was a merger of Castile and Aragon. But it has been unified for nearly three hundred years, and its foundation is more solid and unshakable than that of Holland.”

   "Go on, child."

Little Eugen paused, thought for a while, and sorted out his language: "Spain is not only powerful but also huge," he repeated: "It once almost replaced England as France's enemy." The succession has been fought for nearly a hundred years, but as the tentacles of the Habsburgs have repeatedly extended to the Europa countries through marriage, the Holy Roman Empire and Spain have become new threats to France. They are like two in one person. Arms, holding France tightly in his arms: "The Habsburgs have ruled Spain for almost two hundred years, and their rulers have deeply imprinted the idea of ​​'the French are the enemy' in the minds of the Spaniards. At the time of Lançois I, Carlos I fought with him for 50 years before he established the status of Spain's first power, and then the reason why Spain and France did not have frequent conflicts does not mean that the hatred between the two countries has disappeared. , it can only be said that they had to face new and more difficult enemies at that time."

   "The Spaniards met the British, and we waged eight religious wars," said the Duke of Luxembourg.

"Now that Spain is in decline and France is climbing, we should drink that our former mighty enemy has become weak," said Eugen. Look at the present—everyone who is awake knows that as long as Spain does not perish, it will always be the enemy of France."

"no doubt."

"But if we want to perish such a behemoth, even if we can do it, we will be hated by the kings of the world." Little Eugen took a deep breath: "Flanders and Holland have no king, but Spain Yes, one king executes another king, this will be a harbinger of its demise, and it is absolutely unacceptable evil, if His Majesty does what he wants, he will be the enemy of everyone." He looked at the Duke of Luxembourg, not surprisingly in He saw the same light in his eyes: "But inheritance is different, of course, a country will definitely need a king, the people need someone to guide, officials and generals need someone to manage, even if it is God, sir, it needs someone who can help him Good man who shepherds the flock. This is the birthright and duty of His Royal Highness Charles, beyond reproach."

"At that time everyone said that our Majesty was too cowardly to ask Philip IV for the dowry of half a million livres, but now it seems," said the Duke of Luxembourg, "that half a million livres buy a country , how cheap."

"But also because of this reason, His Majesty can't treat the Spaniards like the Flemish people, and for the Spaniards, they don't all want the son of Leopold I to inherit the Spanish throne, ha Busburg has been operating in Spain for a long time, consolidating his power and attracting blame and trouble."

   "Your Majesty said that the most conspicuous thing is the target." The Duke of Luxembourg said with a rare wit.

"So the best way forward is for the Spaniards to calmly accept this outcome," Eugen Jr. said. "But it seems impossible now, and the Habsburgs and the former vested interests will not allow things to go this way. It is developing in the right direction." He rubbed his fingers, showing great interest: "Of course, we would also like to have the opportunity to make meritorious deeds, but His Majesty is a kind person, and he prefers to see our soldiers return happily. It is a rare honor to go home, even though dedicating one's life to the king."

   "War is inevitable, but as you said, Your Majesty will definitely avoid unnecessary casualties and losses," said the Duke of Luxembourg.

"So His Majesty needs an example, he wants everyone, especially the Spaniards who were ruled by the Habsburgs for a long time, to see the difference between Louis XIV and Philip IV, and Carlos II. Catalans It was the first region to bow its knees to France, and the king gave them favors, like giving the most docile lambs the freshest grass." Little Eugen said: "He didn't want to plant too much in this pasture. What a poisonous seed of hatred, after all, this is a vast land with a large population and complex borders, and if the natives of Spain are stirred up like the natives of the Netherlands, we will have no peace for the next twenty years."

   "And with the example of Catalonia, His Majesty's subsequent policies can also be implemented and implemented."

"People follow their interests." The Duke of Luxembourg said: "In fact, if you look closely, my son, His Majesty's approach is no different from that of the Spaniards. He also selected the young and middle-aged people who were most likely to launch riots in the newly occupied territories. , like using heavy labor and work to kill their energy, dulling their minds, like replacing the original managers with their own troops and officials, like depriving opponents of wealth and land..." He winked at little Eugen. Eyes: "But we have also seen that, not only did the Catalans not fall into panic and chaos, but instead, like a small tree that was washed and dirty, its branches and leaves bloomed vigorously."

"This is where I am puzzled," said Eugen, "there must be a difference, sir, and that is that His Majesty has given up all the taxes in Catalonia for the past few months, which is a sum of money. Considerable money, but even Carlos II, or Philip IV, any king and emperor can afford this loss, why don't they do it?" Even the opposite.

   "Because they can't, don't want and don't want to do it." The Duke of Luxembourg said calmly and terribly: "Our Majesty does not need nobles, child."

   His eyes were always focused on Little Eugen's face, but he couldn't find shock and shake in it - "It seems that you young people did discover this earlier than us."

"The reason why the nobles at the court of Versailles are so numb," he continued, "is because His Majesty has always restricted and persecuted his enemies, domestic rebels, foreign monarchs and lords, and Charles VII borrowed the With the opportunity of the Hundred Years' War, he obtained the power to collect taxes and recruit troops, making the French king a 'real king'. Now Louis XIV is taking the opportunity to expand his territory to clean up those things that he thinks are useless and may even change. Constrained lords and lords, let his voice be 'the only voice'. He does not need to rely on nobles and priests to manage the people for him, 'I am the country' he said, he only needs to face his The people, face France, not a bunch of stubborn, greedy parasites."

   "...I think Your Majesty is more than that." Little Eugen said after being silent for a while.

"That's why I hated him at first, not only for my brother and friends," said the Duke of Luxembourg, "but leaving France, without the crown that the French had put on him, his enemies must be able to see through His Majesty. The truth is, even for their own sake, they will resist at all costs." He picked up his teacup and swallowed the cold tea in his stomach, "So, child, the enemies we encounter may be the same as those encountered by His Majesty. completely different."

   "And that's what I fought for," said Eugen Jr.

   "I really don't know if I should be happy or sad or depressed." The Duke of Luxembourg said: "You know what, it means your descendants will..."

   "There will be a better future," said little Eugen mildly, "if I had."

  ————

Of course, little Eugen could not be just a soldier. Even if he is not the eldest son of the Count of Soissons, he also graduated from the Royal Military Academy. Although he can only command five companies for the time being, which is equivalent to half a regiment, but among them There was a team of grenadiers and auxiliary soldiers, totaling about 800 people. At the beginning, the company captains were worried about this young commander. Don’t get me wrong, they were not worried about little Eugen, but such a young nobleman, even if he didn’t despise ordinary soldiers. On the battlefield, he caused serious battle damage due to impulsive impulse, or because he saw the terrifying scene of blood splashing for the first time, he trembled with fright, lost the ability to think, and would only run away or slump to the ground.

Although little Eugen did not know what the company captains were thinking behind their respectful masks, in addition to what he had learned in school, he had an incomparable advantage in having his own room in Versailles, that is, he could ask for advice at will. Famous battlefield generals such as Viscount Turenne, Vauban and even Grand Condé may not be able to immediately teach a young man who has never seen the battlefield to become a victorious general, but it is really important for him to understand and familiarize himself with the battlefield. It couldn't be easier.

Let Eugen see that the real battlefield is terrifying, but it will not shake his firm will. After a few small-scale but tragic battles, he also understands why the Duke of Luxembourg had such a dialogue with him. -The kingship of Spain was severely weakened under Philip IV. When Carlos II, the situation of independent governance became even more serious. They were not faced with a large-scale and established Spanish standing army, but local nobles. These private armies belong only to "vassal vassals", adhering to the "chivalry spirit" that has been passed down for hundreds of years, fighting bravely and not afraid of casualties, and the retinues and soldiers who accompanied the knights on expeditions, although most of the latter are Farmers and craftsmen, but like the kind of people that Louis and Eugen mentioned, they have no education and can't have their own ideas, they are just a bunch of blind animals, only willing to follow familiar people, even if You tell them that as long as they are willing to come to the French, they will have low-rent land, spacious houses, gentle laws, and they will not believe you and betray their "lord".

In the face of the well-trained and well-equipped French army, even if these private troops were as fearless as Don Quixote who dared to challenge the windmill, they could not stop the Duke of Luxembourg, but what made little Eugen uncomfortable was that those surrounding The eyes around them, fear, hatred... He saw graves with damp topsoil built on both sides of the road. It was like a silent protest and curse, but the most terrible thing was the mortals hidden in the shadows.

   "They will be removed soon," said the Duke of Luxembourg. "You see, as the king did in Orleans, and in those Huguenot settlements."

Little Eugen breathed a sigh of relief involuntarily. He had seen the data and maps, and knew why the king did that—people would become cautious in unfamiliar places, and no one would easily take responsibility for someone they didn’t know. Risk, not to mention that forced relocation will not allow them to take all their property, and the fields, workshops and shops that cannot be moved can only be left in place. When the villagers and citizens who hated the French were moved to another place, it was hard enough to ensure the survival of themselves and their families. Even if they wanted to take revenge and resist, they might not be able to hide it. neighbor's eyes.

  In this way, when they finally settle down and can continue their plans... they will find that time always takes away a lot of things, courage, energy, memory... If not, then death can.

The Duke of Luxembourg's march was not as stagnant as Louis XIV, but it was not fast either. Eugene the young saw a steady stream of people coming across the Pyrenees, and French priests and officials methodically took over cities and villages. All sorts of affairs in - they were all trained in the elementary and secondary schools opened by Louis XIV in the previous twenty years, and they were familiar with all the things that the king wanted them to know, even if the situation of the place was not very clear. , can also rely on a strict and rigid "cover" to manage everything properly with the French garrison responsible for stuffing the people into the "cover".

   Followed by countless businessmen, although only the Catalonia region was declared tax-free by Louis XIV, but a city has a new ruler, can the businessmen still find the opportunity to make huge profits? The licenses issued by Spanish officials are bound to be invalid. Whoever gets the licenses issued by French officials first will be able to make a fortune?

There have also been attacks on soldiers, officials and businessmen, but about this, Louis XIV also informed the Duke of Luxembourg long ago that in any city or village where this kind of thing happened, not only would the attackers be hanged, they would stand still. If this kind of thing happens again and again in the three places, the tax will continue to rise, until the people here have to use their own land and assets to offset it. until tax is charged.

Once such an order was widely advertised, the situation in the occupied areas really calmed down a lot.

   (end of this chapter)