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Chapter 856: Visit to the Western Yi (4)

"Minister, I have something unclear. The Elector of the Rhine-Palatinate is just a small count. There are many dukes and marquises in Germany with higher titles than him. How can he become one of the eight Electors?"

Dong Xuan asked Franzbekov puzzledly. He, who was very particular about superiority and inferiority, was very puzzled by this.

"Mr. Dong doesn't know that there are four types of counts in the Holy Roman Empire, namely, castle counts, border counts, palace counts and feudal counts." Franzbekov smiled coquettishly, "This Rhine-Palatinate

There are four words "Palatinate" in front of the title of earl, which means palace earl, also called royal earl. It has the power to exercise royal power in the territory. It is extremely noble and can compete with the duke, so it can become one of the eight electorate.

”.

After listening to his explanation, Dong Xuan and Li Shouzhi were filled with admiration. No wonder the Holy One appointed him as an envoy. This man is really a master of Western Yi!

The group arrived at Heidelberg, the capital of the Electorate of Rhine-Palatinate.

"Stop, what are you doing?" The soldiers guarding the city gate blocked the way.

Franzbekov winked at Li Shouzhi. Li Shouzhi understood, straightened his back and stepped forward, saying loudly: "We are the envoys of the Ming Dynasty and want to see His Highness Karl II. This is Bavaria

Letter from Elector Ferdinand to His Highness".

After speaking, he handed over Ferdinand's letter. The Elector of Bavaria and the Elector of Rhine-Palatinate were cousins. Ferdinand once said that if Karl II saw the letter he wrote, he would definitely welcome them warmly.<

/p>

Sure enough, when the city gate guard heard that it was a letter from the Elector of Bavaria, his attitude suddenly became more polite, "Please wait a moment, I will submit it to His Highness immediately."

In the Heidelberg Palace, Karl II carefully read the letter from his cousin. He was sixteen years old, with blond hair and blue eyes, and deep eyes. Although he was young, he was wise.

"Well, what my cousin said makes sense. Friendly trade and development of trade can help restore the economy that was shattered by religious wars. It is really a good thing! If you come, please invite the envoy to the palace."

"No, Carl!"

A panicked voice sounded, but it was Princess Ernestine of Denmark. After this princess learned that her father was going to marry her to the Ming Dynasty royal family, she resolutely ran away from the marriage and ran to her lover's territory.

"Dear, why not?"

Karl II looked at his lover tenderly. From the moment she came to him at the risk of ruining her reputation, he made up his mind to protect her with his whole life.

"This must be my father's plan. The people outside the city are not the Ming Dynasty envoys, but the people sent by my father to arrest me!" the little girl exclaimed, terrified at the thought of being captured back to Denmark.
p>

"My dear, you don't have to be afraid as long as I'm here." The young elector was determined to stretch out his broad shoulders to protect his woman from the wind and rain.

He called the captain of the guard and said, "You, take the guards and drive out the envoys outside the city."

"Yes, your highness."

"Mr. Dong, tell me, what kind of gift will this little country use to welcome us?"

"You don't have to ask, of course that count came out of the city to welcome you."

Outside the city gate of Heidelberg, Dong Xuanzheng and Li Shouzhi were joking and laughing. Franzbekov listened with a smile and waited quietly for Karl II to send someone to greet them.

The city gate opened, and hundreds of elite soldiers walked out, each with a lion badge wearing a crown on their chest.

"Elector Guard?" Franzbekov's eyes narrowed.

"Get ready to fight!"

The guard captain waved his hand, and his murderous subordinates formed a battle formation.

"What are you doing? We are envoys of the Ming Dynasty, and we are here with friendship," Franzbekov shouted.

"Your Highness has an order for you to leave the country immediately," the guard captain's words were as firm as iron.

"We want to see His Highness Karl II," Franzbekov refused to give up.

"Bang", he was answered with a gunshot, and the bullet flew out against his hat.

"咴聿聿!"

The war horse was frightened and almost knocked Franzbekov off his horse.

"Bah~bah~bah~"

The guards fired their guns into the air one after another, shocking the envoys to the point where they fell on their backs.

"Turn around and retreat!"

Franzbekov gritted his teeth and ordered to retreat. The guards followed closely and did not stop until the delegation was driven out of the border.

"Bah, these barbarians are so rude! They must go to Shu Sheng and destroy their country to relieve the hatred in their hearts," Li Shouzhi cursed angrily.

"Li Yuanwai, be careful! As an envoy, every move you make affects the image of the Ming Dynasty. A country that destroys people is such a big deal, so you can't talk nonsense," Dong Xuan said hurriedly to Li Shouzhi. He asked Franz Bieko again.

Husband: "Minister, the Electorate of Rhine-Palatinate has no sincerity in establishing communications and trade. What should we do next?"

Franzbekov calmed down and said: "Don't worry about it, let's continue to the Electorate of Brandenburg. The Electorate of Rhine-Palatinate is just a small country. As long as the big countries establish diplomatic relations and trade with me, the Ming Dynasty

, the trade routes will be opened, and the wealth will be rolling in. When the time comes, we don’t need to look for him, he will naturally come to us."

"Then what kind of monarch is the Elector of Brandenburg? He's not another reckless man like Karl II, is he?" Dong Xuan was a little shocked.

Franzbekov laughed loudly: "Don't worry, the Elector of Brandenburg is a duke. He rules the Electorate of Brandenburg and the Principality of Prussia. His ambition is not as small as that of Rhine-Palatinate."

It can be compared with the Bo Kingdom."

"But, I heard that big countries will also have mediocre leaders," Li Shouzhi interjected.

Franzbekov shook his head, "The current Elector of Brandenburg, Frederick William, is a powerful leader who is good at training troops and fighting. He continued to expand his territory and forced Poland to give up its suzerainty over the Principality of Prussia;

Efforts were made to heal the wounds suffered during the Thirty Years' War, attach importance to industry and commerce, build canals, reward culture, and accept French Huguenot immigrants. You think, how could such a far-sighted monarch not see the benefits of establishing transportation and trade with the Ming Dynasty?

?So, don’t worry!”

The Electorate of Brandenburg, located between the Elbe River and the Oder River further east, was the bridgehead for Germany's eastward expansion. In 1618, the Elector of Brandenburg, John Sigi, came from the Hohenzollern family.

Smond inherited the throne of the Prussian Duke, and Brandenburg-Prussia began to be established.

Because the Principality of Prussia once pledged allegiance to the King of Poland, Poland did not agree. If they could not reach an agreement, they could only fight.

The current elector, Frederick William, is a master at leading troops in war. After he ascended the throne, he expanded the standing army from 3,000 to 25,000. He also carried out military reform and established a War and Munitions Office to manage finances and resources, and fight against war.

Poland lost its temper. Through the Treaty of Werau and the Treaty of Oliwa, he obtained complete suzerainty over the Principality of Prussia.

During his reign, the Duke reorganized the army, suppressed local forces, and strengthened autocratic rule. He can be called the founder of Brandenburg-Prussian centralized militarism.

Such a talented and strategic monarch naturally understands the benefits of economic development to the country.

As soon as Franzbekov and others arrived at the gates of Brandenburg Castle, the city gates opened. Frederick William greeted them personally without any pretense of an elector.

As soon as he saw Franzbekov, he laughed boldly and said, "Welcome, envoy from the East. I heard that you are German? I have prepared a banquet at the palace. Welcome home!"

Several years later, Dong Xuan, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty, recalled in his "Visit to the Western Yi": "He was a very charming Western monarch with a Prussian beard. His laughter was very contagious.

Cheerful and sincere??”


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