It’s great to have friends coming from far away. Over the ports of the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway, bells are ringing, seemingly welcoming guests.
But Franzbekov looked pale, "No, they thought we were invading Swedes. The ships retreated quickly to avoid the range of the artillery. If anyone comes, send a small boat with a white flag, and I will tell you personally
Danes, we are here to establish diplomatic relations, not to fight."
"Absolutely not, Minister, you are an envoy and cannot take risks easily. I'd better go," Li Shouzhi, the deputy envoy of the Ming Dynasty and the concierge of the Court of Concierge, said loudly.
"That's fine, bring the translator with you and be careful," Franzbekov warned.
Li Shouzhi took a small boat and sailed towards the dock with a white flag.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Several shells exploded not far from the boat.
The oarsmen were too frightened to row, but Li Shouzhi smiled and said: "The Danes are just warning us. If they really wanted to shoot, the boat would capsize long ago. No problem, just wave the flag and move forward."
The oarsmen waved the white flag and rowed towards the dock. Sure enough, no more cannonballs were fired.
As soon as Li Shouzhi and his party landed ashore, they were escorted by a group of soldiers in red army uniforms to a middle-aged general wearing a three-cornered hat, black boots and holding a sword.
The general chattered a lot, and the translator translated: "Uncle Li, he said that this is the Oslo Port of the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway. He is the governor of Oslo County Um. What are we doing here?"
p>
"You tell him that we are the envoys of His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty has defeated Tsarist Russia and captured Siberia. It is willing to establish diplomatic relations with the Western Yi countries and open Mangazeya (Xida City) to trade with other countries. Mink Skin
, silk, porcelain, tea and other commodities are all available."
When he heard Mangazea, Um's expression changed. Although Tsarist Russia sealed the border, there was an endless stream of businessmen going to Mangazea for smuggling every year. When he heard "mink fur, silk, porcelain, tea" again
, his eyes were glowing red. Since Tsarist Russia monopolized the trade between Europe and Siberia, mink fur is now more expensive than gold! As a border general, he naturally heard about the war between Ming Dynasty and Tsarist Russia. If Ming Dynasty is really willing to open up Manchuria
Gazea trades with Denmark, which means opening a door to wealth.
At that moment, he calmed down and softened his tone, "This matter is of great importance. Please come to Hong Kong and rest. Let me report to Prince Christian and then I will reply to you."
Christian was the eldest son of Frederick III. In order to guard against the Swedes, the king sent him to garrison the city of Oslo. As a prince, he naturally knew the significance of opening up a new trade route. Denmark, which had just ended the Northern War, urgently needed to solve its financial crisis. Immediately
The order was given: "Wumu, please invite the envoys and attachés of the Ming Dynasty to the city to rest, send troops to protect them, and don't let other people get close. Tonight, I want to treat the envoys to dinner."
The dinner party was not extravagant, just some meatballs, Danish puff pastry, boiled cod with mustard sauce, etc. However, because of the common economic interests, the two parties discussed it very speculatively.
Especially after Prince Christian learned that the Ming Dynasty’s envoy Franzbekov was German, he became even more affectionate because he himself married Princess Charlotte Amalie of the Grand Duchy of Hesse in Germany; his sister Anna Sophie
The princess married the German Prince of Saxony, Johann Georg. Franzbekov also liked Christian very much, thinking that he was a noble and well-educated prince.
"Haha, this prince has blond hair and blue eyes, like a porcelain doll, but he is quite handsome." Li Shouzhi muttered secretly.
??
The matter was so serious that Prince Christian personally led the army to escort the Ming Dynasty envoy to Copenhagen, the capital of the United Kingdom of Denmark and Norway.
This famous Nordic city, the "Merchant's Port", was built in the twelfth century. In this era, although there were no Tivoli Gardens and mermaid statues, there were beautiful round towers and student buildings. The whole city was filled with romance, and it was worthy of its name.
The most fairy tale city in the world.
The prince settled the delegation in the city and rushed to Rosenberg Palace to meet his father Frederick III. "Father, the Ming Dynasty defeated Tsarist Russia and controlled the entire Siberia. They sent envoys to open Manga.
Zeya trades with our country. This is a good opportunity to make money and can effectively improve the poor finances."
The fifty-nine-year-old Frederick III, who had gone through the test of war, exuded domineering power without anger. He glanced at his son and said lightly: "My son, don't forget, Sweden is far away from Mangazer."
Asia is closer, and they can also benefit from trade; moreover, Tsarist Russia is our ally against Sweden, while Ming Dynasty is Tsarist Russia’s enemy. Doing business with Ming Dynasty may anger Tsarist Russia and make us lose an important ally.
.The gains outweigh the losses!”
Prince Christian was unconvinced and argued: "Father, I don't agree with you. Although Sweden is closer to Mangazea, our country has more good ports than them and is closer to the European continent. Moreover, Sweden and Tsarist Russia are
Enemies, their trade routes will be harassed by the Russians, so trade with the Ming Dynasty is more beneficial to us."
Frederick III nodded slowly, "What about our ally Tsarist Russia? It is not cost-effective to lose an ally for a little commercial gain!"
"Haha, father, I think Tsarist Russia needs us now more than we need Tsarist Russia. They have lost Siberia and their national strength has declined. Although King Carl XI of Sweden is only twelve years old, he is brutal and aggressive. The five great nobles of the Regent House
They are all veterans of the era of Karl X, and they have continued the expansion policy of the era of Karl X. The weak Tsarist Russia is just a piece of fat in the eyes of the Swedes. How dare they not do business with us just because we do business with the Ming Dynasty?
What about forming an alliance? Moreover, Tsarist Russia is like the setting sun, while the Ming Dynasty is like the rising sun. Is there any reason not to embrace the rising sun but to embrace the setting sun?"
Frederick III closed his eyes and thought about his son's words. The more he thought about it, the more reasonable he felt. He suddenly opened his eyes and said: "Christian, you are right, the Ming Dynasty is indeed the rising sun. In order to embrace the rising sun, I decided to
Your sister Ernestine married to the Ming Dynasty."
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Frederick III had many daughters, and only three are currently adults. The eldest daughter, Princess Anna Sophie, married Prince Johann Georg of Saxony; the second daughter, Princess Frederic Amali, married Hors
Christian Albrecht, Duke of Tijn-Gottorp, is engaged; his third daughter, Vihemine Ernestine, is sixteen years old and not yet married.
"What!"
Prince Christian's eyes widened, "Father, a while ago, didn't you say that you wanted to marry Ernestine to Charles II, Elector of the Palatinate?"
"My child, you must remember that as a member of the royal family, you have no right to choose love. It is only because the Palatinate's national power is not as good as that of the Ming Dynasty. Tell the envoys of the Ming Dynasty that I will entertain them at the Rosenborg Palace tonight.
", the old king said quietly.
??
Franzbekov, the Minister of Concierge, Dong Xuan, the Minister of Rites, and Li Shouzhi, the Foreign Minister of the Concierge, entered Rosenborg Palace, the Royal Palace of Denmark.
This palace was built by the late King Christian IV. It has towering walls and is surrounded by a moat. Only the north gate and the south gate are accessible. The north gate is the main gate, and there is a suspension bridge to cross the moat. There is a tower on the east side, and inside the castle
There is also a large garden full of exotic flowers and plants.
The three of them walked through the garden under the guidance of a Danish ceremony official, and the rich fragrance of flowers made them feel relaxed and happy.
Not only the people of the Ming Dynasty liked to talk about things while eating and drinking, but Frederick III also liked it. The meal was very enjoyable, and the two sides agreed to establish diplomatic relations and open the port to trade with each other.
"Dear Ambassador, my third daughter, Vihemine Ernestine, is sixteen years old. For the sake of the friendship between our two countries, I would like to marry you. How about it?" The old king said to Franz with a smile.
Bekov said.
As a German, Franzbekov knew that in Europe, marriage between royal families was a normal thing. He smiled and said: "I can report this to Your Majesty, but based on my understanding of Your Majesty, he will definitely agree!
”
"Humph, the minister really knows your majesty. Yes, if the princess is married to a foreign country, your majesty will definitely not agree; but if you marry a princess back, your majesty is still happy," Li Shouzhi muttered in a low voice.
??
"Your Highness, it's not good, His Majesty the King wants to marry you to the Ming Dynasty." Sixteen-year-old Princess Ernestine was dressing up in the palace, and her personal maid Lena hurried over to report.
"What!"
The little girl dropped the comb in her hand and murmured to herself: "Don't father know that I love Carle?"
Unlike the princesses of the Ming Dynasty who were kept in the palace all day long, princesses from various European countries often attended palace banquets.
At a banquet, Princess Ernestine met Charles II, the Elector of the Palatinate of the same age. The two sixteen-year-old boys and girls had a spark of love. One would not marry unless she was a minister, and the other would not marry unless she was a monarch.
The little girl thought that Karl was sunny and handsome, knowledgeable, educated, brave and sincere. In short, everything was good, so she begged her father to marry the Elector of the Palatinate. Originally, the two were considered a good match, and the old father verbally agreed. Who
It was expected that the dark horse of the Ming Dynasty's envoy was revealed, and the two sides were defeated.
If she were the princess of the Ming Dynasty, she could only cry bitterly and then accept her fate with despair.
But Princess Ernestine was not the one. He wanted to resist and resist the feudal forces that interfered with the freedom of marriage! After being sad for a while, the little girl ordered the maid: "Pack your things quickly and follow me to find the Palatinate election."
"Emperor".
Princess Ernestine escaped from her marriage and fled to the Rhine-Palatinate in Germany to find her sweetheart Karl, leaving her helpless old father lamenting in the Rosenberg Palace: "What should I do? I will become the laughing stock of the European royal family.
!"
"Father, the only solution now is to let Eleonore go," Prince Christian said.
Princess Ulrike Eleonore is the younger sister of Princess Ernestine. She is only ten years old this year.
"She is only ten years old, is she too young?"
"The Ming Dynasty is far away from Denmark, and it takes several years for envoys to come and go. The time is just right."
"Alas! This is the only way!"
Frederick III summoned Franzbekov again and said that he was too old and had given the wrong name. The person who married the Ming Dynasty was Princess Eleonore, not Princess Ernestine.
Franzbekov, who has become a mature man, naturally agreed.
??
Dong Xuan, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty, recorded this matter in his "Visit to the Western Yi": "The country can only have peace if the country has its rules and regulations. Marriage depends on the orders of the parents and the words of the matchmaker. How can it be done privately?"
Yes? However, the Western barbarian countries do not read poetry and books, and are difficult to accept enlightenment. There is a country in Northern Europe named Denmark. The princess ran away from her marriage and elope, which made other countries laugh. It is a strange phenomenon that has not been heard for a hundred years!"
However, Li Shouzhi, a concierge who was traveling with him, had a different view. He wrote in his book "Miscellaneous Talks from Various Countries": "Everyone says: marriage is a major event, parents' orders, matchmaker's words. However, looking at the Danish princess's escape from marriage,
It’s really inspiring to do this!”
In the Ming Dynasty, when capitalism was in its infancy, the two ideas of democracy and freedom and dictatorship and loyalty to the emperor were in fierce conflict. As Mr. Lu Xun said: "Silence, silence! If you don't break out in silence, you will perish in silence."
This chapter has been completed!