I

  Chapter 765 762 [A country cannot live without a king for a day]

  The Louvre.

  When Lu Tianxiang and Zhang Ruifeng walked into the room, they saw that the Frenchmen all looked serious, and there was a hint of anger in them.

   What happened?

   "Everyone, please sit down."

   Queen Mother Anne waited for the Chinese envoy to sit down before asking: "Is your envoy still going to England?"

  Lu Tianxiang nodded and said, "I'm going there. It's an order from our emperor to send envoys to various countries along the way."

Prime Minister Mazarin said: "Just yesterday, the usurper Cromwell sent an emissary to announce that he will officially serve as the protector of the United Kingdom early next year. He has re-enacted the British Constitution and the power of Parliament will be transferred to him alone. It is extremely unreasonable for him to launch a rebellion, and killing the king is even more vicious. Even if the British king is a tyrant, after killing the king, he should support nobles to succeed him."

"And now, Britain has not only lost its king, but even its parliament has been disbanded. All his actions have no basis, and he has destroyed traditions, legal principles and rules! France will not recognize Cromwell, and I hope that Chinese envoys will not go to the UK access!"

   Several months ago, Cromwell dispersed the Long Parliament, but did not completely dissolve Parliament.

   Members of Congress, just can't call the shots. However, the overall framework of the Congress was still retained, and it was ordered to start diplomatic negotiations with the Netherlands, assist Cromwell in formulating a new constitution, and so on.

   Before the Anglo-Dutch war was over, negotiations had already begun.

  The talks in the parliament were a mess, and Cromwell finally couldn't stand it. He simply wiped out the parliament and went to discuss with the Dutch in person. The same is true for the new constitution. He asked his confidant Ai to preside over the compilation in the future, otherwise the parliamentarians will drag on and do not know when it will be delayed.

  The more than half a year period, if placed in China, can be understood as the "preparation period for abdication".

  For the Chinese dictator to usurp power, he needs three requests and three speeches before Zen. For Cromwell to usurp power, he needs to amend the British Constitution and transfer the power of the country by Parliament, so that he can establish his own legal system.

  The parliament is certainly not reconciled, but it can't survive, so it can only choose to compromise.

  Cromwell also had to compromise, and he couldn't force the congressmen to death, otherwise it would be ugly. Therefore, the re-enacted British Constitution retained many interests of the nobles and big businessmen, and limited some of Cromwell's powers.

  During the period, Cromwell also wooed, divided, and intimidated, and by "treating the royalists well" and other means, he pretended to support a new king, which scared the MPs and said that everything was easy to discuss.

  The rabbit dies and the fox is sad!

  The news of Cromwell's imminent dictatorship completely angered the French royal family. I received the news yesterday, and today I invited the Chinese envoys to express their attitude straight to the point, hoping that China would not recognize Cromwell's rule.

Feeling this attitude, Zhang Ruifeng immediately condemned along the Huatou: "There is an ancient book in China called "Laozi Xianger Zhu". Okay? There is an old saying in China, "If the name is not right, the words will not be right". Then Cromwell claimed to be the protector of the country, and he was neither a monarch nor a subject. The king is not a king, and the minister is not a minister. What is this? baffling!"

  Louis XIV clapped his hands and praised: "The wisdom of the Chinese sages is really extraordinary. This is the reason. The Lord Protector is neither a king, nor a nobleman or a minister. There is no legal order at all."

   "Laozi Xianger Zhu" is a commentary on "Tao Te Ching", and it is said that the author is Zhang Daoling.

   To be honest, this book is so-so. In some places, the "Tao Te Ching" has been annotated with a Confucian flavor.

  This annotation method may be intentional, because "Laozi Xianger Notes" belongs to Taoist classics (not Taoism). Now that a sect has been established, it must have an organizational structure and cater to the rulers at that time. Borrowing Confucianism's idea of ​​loyalty to the emperor can guide believers to be loyal to Taoist leaders, gain the approval of the court and ministers, and attract more scholars to believe in religion.

Queen Anne said to Mazarin: "Let the businessman buy this book from China, translate it into French, and submit it to the French Academy for research. Especially the section 'A country cannot live without a king' must be vigorously promoted. , let those rebels see it!"

   "A country cannot live without a king" is too good, and the commentary completely distorts Lao Tzu's thoughts!

  In the paragraph "will want to take the world and do it", the key point of Lao Tzu is the word "for", which can be understood as occupying, playing with, controlling, etc.

  It means that the power of the state is a very magical thing. Governing the world must be careful, and it must be guided by the situation and act naturally. Governing the world with rough and tough means is doomed to failure, and may even lose control of the country.

  The annotation of "Laozi Xianger's Note" is: The world is an artifact, and the emperor obtained it by the destiny. Those who want to rebel and seize the artifact are all arrogant and arrogant. To rebel and kill the king is against the way of heaven. Without the approval of the destiny, even if you become an emperor, you will be finished. If the emperor conducts benevolent government, the destiny will take care of him. The emperor's bad governance will bring disaster to himself.

   Is it the Confucian way?

   When the French Academy is studying "Laozi Xianger Notes", it will definitely engage in skin-changing operations, understanding "God" as "Jesus". Use Chinese Taoist classics to explain the divine right of kings in Europe, so as to consolidate the king's rule.

  It’s very interesting. The French rebels are looking for rebellion theory in Chinese books, and the French royal family is also looking for legitimacy in Chinese books.

   Actually, it’s just an idea: Look, even Chinese books support me! I was right, you were wrong, you should listen to me.

Mazarin stood up and took the order: "This matter can be handed over to the East India Company. Their merchant ships go to Banten every year. If Banten can't find this book, you can ask the Chinese businessmen in Banten to buy it from mainland China. Bring a few copies with you."

After getting closer to the sense of identity between the two sides, Zhang Ruifeng continued: "Although Cromwell's approach is incorrect, as Chinese envoys, we must fulfill the imperial order. We will definitely visit London, England. As for whether to admit Cromwell's rule, this needs to go back to the country to ask His Majesty the Emperor, we cannot make decisions without authorization."

Queen Anne praised: "This is what it should be. You are very loyal to the Chinese emperor, and this is what a minister should do. All actions of officials must be approved by the monarch. Like Cromwell, he is a traitor. Should be hanged in the streets of London!"

   "The Queen Mother is really wise!" Zhang Ruifeng said flatteringly.

   Queen Anne was even happier when she heard that, and she no longer obstructed the Chinese delegation from visiting London.

  Seeing the smile on the other side, Zhang Ruifeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. If you insist on going to London without persuading the French queen mother, the diplomatic achievements in Paris will be in vain.

   Another grand farewell banquet was arranged, and the Chinese diplomatic mission finally left.

  Louis XIV reluctantly took them to the Seine Pier in a carriage himself. This guy took Zhang Ruifeng's hand and looked at Lu Tianxiang again: "Mother has changed her mind. She will send a group of scholars and artists to follow the Chinese fleet to the east. The scholars will study Chinese books, such as the book "I Want You" Note". Artists will learn Chinese architecture, sculpture, painting, and when these artists come back, I will build a Chinese-style palace!"

  Actually, Louis XIV still wanted to marry a Chinese princess, but he dared not say such things openly.

   France, the filial son of God, is not Portugal in decline.

  As the king of France, as a devout believer, he cannot marry a pagan.

  Portugal didn't think much about it, because it had already fallen out with the Holy See.

  The Jesuits are suspected of distorting the teachings and trying to integrate the "Bible" with the Four Books and Five Classics, which offended the Pope to death. When Portugal was restored, the Inquisition opposed Joao IV, and only the Society of **** supported the restoration of Joao IV.

  In this way, Joao IV is on the side of the Jesuits, and the Pope has hated him to the bone. He has refused to receive Portuguese envoys for more than ten years, and he has not recognized Joao IV's rule over Portugal.

  Since falling out with the Pope, it doesn’t matter if you marry a pagan—the main thing is to use Chinese power to secure Portugal’s Indian colony. In the event of a Dutch attack, you can ask China for help at a critical moment. This is also the reason for dowrying the colonial port.

  Louis XIV asked the guards to come over, and each guard held a box in his hand: "These gifts are personally given to Chinese friends."

  Main members of the mission, each with a gift.

  Zhang Ruifeng opened it and couldn't laugh or cry.

  The waist pendants are all made of gold and precious stones. Louis XIV felt that the jade pendants were too shabby and wanted to exchange them for better ones for his Chinese friends.

   Alas, it will be melted when I return to China.

  Gold is melted into gold leaves, and gemstones are set into jewelry for the wife. If this thing is worn out, I am afraid that I will be laughed to death by my colleagues.

  Louis XIV pointed to the dung mountain outside the city wall and asked: "I heard that there is no dung piled up outside the city wall in China. How do you deal with it?"

  Zhang Ruifeng said: "Let someone transport it away."

  Looking at the dung mountain, Louis XIV muttered, "It will take a lot of manpower."

  The dung mountain outside Paris can be described as majestic. It has been piled up for centuries, and once the enemy attacked Paris, they climbed directly from the dung hill.

  In order to ensure safety, the city wall can only be increased continuously.

  With the dung mountain in Paris as the background, the two sides bid farewell.

  Watching the fleet of envoys drift away, Louis XIV turned around and walked towards the city, and said to the guards: "I won't take the carriage, I want to walk back to the Louvre."

  The reason for this exquisite boy to walk back to the palace is very simple. He wants to show his new hairstyle to the Parisians.

  Louis XIV, who had 48 royal wig makers in history, still has no ancestral hair loss problem. The hair on his head is abundant, and he can wear a small crown to make himself look more oriental.

  High heels, tights, brocade robes, and now a small crown.

   Such a mix of Chinese and Western style, it really becomes the most beautiful boy on the street. People have been discussing the king's hairstyle, and they think it looks awesome, and those who are a little rich already want to imitate it.

  Louis XIV held his head high, his heart full of pride.

   Of course, the robe did not dare to drag the floor. It was rolled up and hung on the shoulders, so as not to be soiled by street feces. His hair crown is made of pure gold, inlaid with an emerald, which is much more expensive than the small crown of the Chinese envoy.

   This guy also wrote a letter to Zhao Han, all in Latin, not in French, it would appear disrespectful.

  In the letter, Louis XIV expressed his yearning for China and his admiration for the Chinese emperor. He hopes to be friends with the emperor of China. In the future, he will rule the west, and the emperor of China will rule the east, and together they will lead the fashion trends of the world.

  (end of this chapter)