"Minister, why didn't you tell the Danes that you were going to visit Sweden, but instead told them that you were going to Germany? Your Majesty's order to us was to make good friends with Sweden and to contain Tsarist Russia," Dong Xuan asked Franz in confusion.
Bekov.
Franzbekov sighed, "Do you think I don't want to go to Sweden? My hometown Livonia is still in Swedish hands." Livonia originally belonged to the German Teutonic Knights, and the residents were all genuine
The Germans were later occupied by Poland. After Sweden defeated Poland, it became Swedish territory.
"Then why did you tell the Danes that you were going to the Holy Roman Empire?"
"Denmark and Sweden are feuding. If we tell them directly to go to Sweden, we will definitely be blocked. But if we tell them to go to the Holy Roman Empire, we will be able to go smoothly. So, let's go to Germany and Poland first, and then go to Sweden."
Franzbekov said calmly, deliberately concealing the fact that the Danes gave him a box of gold coins.
On that day, Prince Christian of Denmark gave him a box of gold coins, and then they chatted about life with him. The content of the conversation was only one thing: scolding Sweden, scolding the Swedes for how cruel, overbearing, and aggressive they were, etc.
Franzbekov understood it and immediately followed suit, scolding the Swedes for being shameless, invading Germany many times, and occupying his hometown of Livonia??. After chatting, he immediately changed his mind to go to Sweden.
We decided to go to the Holy Roman Empire first.
"All subordinates obey the orders of the servant," Dong Xuan said with admiration.
??
At this time, Germany was nominally ruled by the Holy Roman Empire, whose full name was the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Large and fertile territories in Central Europe such as Austria, Hungary, Bohemia and Silesia belonged to this empire. Of course, it was only in name.
.
Since Charles IV issued the Golden Seal in 1356, the imperial emperor must be elected among seven electors. They are three ecclesiastical electors: the Archbishop of Cologne, the Archbishop of Mainz, and the Archbishop of Trier; and four secular electors.
:The Counts of the Rhine-Palatinate, the Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg, the Dukes of Brandenburg and the King of Bohemia.
In addition to these seven electors, there are more than 300 princes, large and small, in the empire. Before the Thirty Years' War, there were even more, with 390 states. After the Thirty Years' War, some states perished, leaving 314 states.
States and 1,475 knight manor territories.
Because the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire was elected among the seven electors, the capital also changed within these seven noble territories, successively: Magdeburg (Otto dynasty), Speyer (Saxony)
Lien Dynasty), Prague (Luxembourg Dynasty) and Vienna (Habsburg Dynasty). In addition, Aachen is the place where the emperor was crowned, Regensburg is the seat of the Imperial Parliament, and Nuremberg is the place where royal treasures are kept.
Of course, the person elected by the seven electors can only be called the "King of Germany". Only when he is crowned by the Pope can he be qualified to be called the "Holy Roman Emperor".
In this era, the Austrian Habsburg dynasty served as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and the capital of the empire was Vienna.
After Hungary and Bohemia were annexed to the Habsburgs in 1556, the ambitious Habsburg family was not satisfied with being a nominal emperor, but wanted to actually control the entire Germany. Between the Pope, the Catholic princes, Spain, and Poland
With the support of the Communist Party of China, the Protestant princes in Germany were persecuted, which triggered the Thirty Years War.
Sweden, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Britain, and Tsarist Russia sided with the Protestant princes. From 1618 to 1648, the whole of Europe was plunged into war. Approximately 25% to 40% of the population of the German states were wiped out, and the economy regressed by 200 years.
Year. In the end, the Habsburg family was defeated and was forced to sign the "Peace of Westphalia", losing control of most of the vassal states of the Holy Roman Empire.
Because the Elector of the Palatinate transferred the electorate rights to his cousin Bavaria, in the "Peace of Westphalia", an eighth elector was established as compensation and awarded to the Count of the Palatinate. In this way, the seven electors became
Eight.
??
Franzbekov led the delegation and first visited the three major church electors: the Archbishop of Trier, the Archbishop of Mainz, and the Archbishop of Cologne. These three are all servants of God, and they are so beneficial to the country and the people in building transportation and trade.
It's a great thing, and I naturally support it with both hands.
It is said that among the eight electors, the Archbishop of Mainz is the convener of the electors and the imperial regent and prime minister. When the candidate for the king cannot be determined, he can decide the final candidate for the king, the real head of the seven electors. But Franzbekov
But he only stayed in Mainz for a few days before going to another country. Without him, strength determines diplomacy. These three church electors have small territories and are just small countries. No matter how high their status is, it is not worth wasting time.
"Hey! Seeing it is better than hearing it. They say that Germany is rich, but except for the double-headed eagle national emblem with a crown on its head that can be seen everywhere, there is no life at all. In my opinion, it is poorer than Denmark!" Li Shouzhi was confused!
Solution.
"You don't know something. Germany was indeed rich in the past, but after thirty years of war, no matter how rich it was, it couldn't afford it!" Seeing that his former mother country had declined like this, Franzbekov felt very uncomfortable.
He looked a little dazed.
Seeing that he was uncomfortable, Dong Xuan hurriedly changed the topic, "Servant, which country should we go to next?"
"Go to Munich and meet the Elector of Bavaria Ferdinand Maria".
??
The solemn Munich Palace, built in 1385, was the residence of successive Bavarian monarchs.
In the king's palace, the Elector of Bavaria Ferdinand Maria was preparing to receive the envoys from the Ming Dynasty. Queen Enricetta Adelaide broke in, smiling like a flower, "Your Highness, I heard that the envoys from the Ming Dynasty were carrying a large number of
A rare treasure, please beg me for a fine mink fur."
In fact, the output of mink fur in Siberia is not low, but because Tsarist Russia had previously monopolized the mink fur trade, the price of mink fur was constantly inflated as high as gold. Emperor Guangwu sent envoys to Europe, and in order to express goodwill to various countries, he brought a large amount of mink fur with him.
Mink fur, silk, porcelain and other gifts.
Franzbekov was a master of giving gifts and was extremely snobbish. He gave precious gifts to big countries and cheap gifts to small countries. His gifts opened the way and he became famous and received unanimous praise from all countries.
Ferdinand smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, Queen, you will definitely make your wishes come true."
"That's great, my dear." Queen Enricheta Adelaide gave her husband a sweet kiss and ran out of the King's Palace happily.
The envoy of the Ming Dynasty arrived and presented the gift list. When Ferdinand saw that there was no mink fur, he could not help but frown slightly. When discussing the establishment of diplomatic relations and trade matters, his attitude became cold, neither yin nor yang, bright and dark.
It's strange that Bavaria is a poor country, and the gifts I gave are not small. Why is it still unwilling to build a transportation business? Franzbekov was surprised in his heart, but he looked at ease and patiently went around in circles with the elector.
p>
How could the thirty-year-old Ferdinand be a match for the sixty-year-old Franzbekov? He finally lost his composure and asked with a blushing face: "I heard that Siberia in your country produces beautiful mink furs?
”
Haha, it turns out I want mink fur!
Franzbekov secretly laughed in his heart. What he gave to Ferdinand was a set of top-quality cloisonné palace porcelain and ten Eastern beads, which were much more valuable than ordinary mink furs. After the Ming Dynasty conquered Siberia, they obtained a large number of mink furs, and they also
I didn’t take it seriously. I didn’t expect people to want this!
Although he was not surprised, the old guy still pretended to be in pain, hesitated for a long time, and said hesitantly: "I have a fine sable fur, which I would like to give to His Highness."
Valencia is mainly an agricultural country, and its commerce is not developed. The young and simple Elector did not understand the intrigues of businessmen. He thought he had taken advantage of others, and he suddenly became embarrassed. Not only did he agree to build a transportation business, but he also gave a lot of gifts in return
Local specialties, and a group of envoys were left to have a banquet and listen to the opera.
Beautiful days are always short. On this day, Franzbekov said goodbye to the elector, "Thanks to His Highness's warm hospitality these days, I come to say goodbye today."
"Oh, which country are you going to?"
"I'm going to see Charles II, Elector of the Palatinate."
Ferdinand smiled and said, "Oh, you want to see Karl, that's easy to do, he is my cousin. I will edit a book and give it to you to take with you. When he sees my letter, he will definitely welcome you warmly!
”
This chapter has been completed!