The fleet of the Ming Dynasty mission headed towards Spain. As soon as they set off, the war between France and Spain began.
The long-planned French army captured Flanders and Luxembourg in the Spanish Netherlands, and the war immediately started at Dunkirk, Brabant, Lille, and Hainaut.
After Franzbekov and his entourage entered Madrid, news came that Louis XIV, the Sun King, had sent an army of 200,000 to attack Franz-Comté, and extended it to Lorraine. The French army took less than three weeks to attack.
Conquered France-Comté and are advancing to other parts of the Spanish Netherlands.
In the Spanish palace, Carlos II received the Ming envoys with a sad face. The Thirty Years' War seriously depleted the strength of the Habsburg family, and neither Spain nor Austria recovered. He could only place his hope in his ally Bonny.
Deland, England and Sweden.
Seeing that the king was absent-minded, Franzbekov and others politely expressed their respect to him, presented him with gifts, and left the palace after presenting their credentials.
The Ming Dynasty had been dealing with Spain and Portugal for a long time. For a long time, they couldn't tell the difference between the two countries, and they called them Francois. Later, it gradually became clear. After Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne, he decreed that the two countries should be called Spain and Portugal.
country to avoid confusion. These two countries have long had trade relations with China, and this trip to Spain is just to deepen exchanges.
Since they were busy fighting the war, it was not convenient to stay for a long time, so the Ming Dynasty envoy continued to go to the Kingdom of Portugal.
"Minister, this Spanish barbarian is considered a powerful country in Europe, with strong ships and powerful artillery. It has also harassed our Ming waters. I didn't expect it to be so invincible," Li Shouzhi said to Franzbekov with emotion.
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"Alas! This is the fate of the country. When times change, France is like the rising sun, but Spain is already setting." Franzbekov sighed sincerely.
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Sailing on the sea is boring, but no matter how boring the journey is, it has an end. Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, has arrived.
At this time, Joao IV, the founding monarch of the Braganza dynasty who led Portugal to independence from Spain and was known as "Joao the Restorer", had passed away. The nominal king was his son, Afon, nicknamed "King of Victory"
Suo VI.
This king was very pitiful. He had been paralyzed since he was three years old and suffered from mental illness. The power was first in the hands of the queen mother; then the powerful official Luis de Vasconcelos-Souza launched a coup and returned the power to the king. This person
He was very capable and defeated Spain continuously, earning Alfonso VI the nickname "King of Victory"; later, his younger brother Pedro usurped power as regent and sent the poor king to the Azores Islands under house arrest.<
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Although the king was under house arrest, Franzbekov still followed diplomatic practice and requested an audience with the king. As expected, he was notified that the king was ill and unable to receive the envoys, and that Prince Regent Pedro would do it for him.
When in a country, do as the Romans do, and when you get to other people's territory, you have to listen to their arrangements.
Franzbekov visited the regent with a smile and found that although he was young, only about twenty years old, he was full of aristocratic temperament, and his words and deeds were polite. However, a pair of small eyes shone with a fierce light.
.I can’t help but feel a shiver in my heart. He is indeed a ruthless person who captured his brother and his wife! This regent prince is not simple!
It is indeed not simple, unscrupulous and unethical!
As soon as the coup was successful, he conducted a so-called investigation and dissolved the marriage of Alfonso VI and his wife, Marie-Françoise Elisabeth, on the grounds that his brother Alfonso VI had no reproductive capacity; and then transferred his sister-in-law Marie to the throne.
·Françoise Elizabeth became his wife, thus becoming a distant relative of King Louis XIV of France.
However, although this man is sinister and vicious, he does have a good way of governing the country. In another time and space, under his leadership, Portugal ushered in a period of prosperity.
The word "bad guy" will never be engraved on the face of a bad guy. On the contrary, this Prince Pedro was very amiable. He greeted Franzbekov and others and gave them a lot of gifts. In return, Franzbekov
Naturally, Tsbekov also gave back a lot of good things.
Between you and me, the two sides had in-depth and friendly exchanges on trade, taxation, Portuguese expatriates in Macau and other issues, which effectively promoted the further development of Ming-Portuguese friendship.
"Bah! Rebellious ministers and traitors, everyone will find them and punish them!"
As soon as he walked out of the palace gate, Dong Xuan, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty, scolded Prince Regent Pedro.
Dong Xuan was deeply influenced by Confucianism and believed in the Confucian ethical principles of king, minister and minister, father, father and son. In his view, Afonso VI was the king and Prince Pedro was the minister. To betray the emperor with his ministers and to usurp his elders with his brothers was
This is treason, treason, and a real traitor! What's even more annoying is that this guy not only put his brother under house arrest, but also took possession of his sister-in-law. The younger brother seizes his brother and his sister-in-law, and Yilun is out of order. It violates the laws and regulations, which is not allowed by heaven!
Therefore, as soon as he left the palace, he spat in contempt and cursed. Of course, this famous gentleman was not stupid. He did not dare to curse in the Portuguese palace just now. Not only did he not curse, he also looked very kind.
.After you leave the palace gate, you scold again, no matter how hard you scold, the guy can’t hear you.
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After leaving Portugal, the Ming Dynasty mission headed for the Papal States. Although this country is small, it has great influence, and all Catholic countries follow it as a model.
There was an incident on the way, and strong winds blew the fleet off the route and to the Kingdom of Sicily. This kingdom is much larger than the Papal State, including not only Sicily, but also the entire southern Italy. However, today’s Kingdom of Sicily is
The territory of the Buburg family, the King of Spain and the King of Sicily.
Because the Ming Dynasty had a good relationship with Spain at this time, the local defender sent a warship to take them to the capital of the Papal States: Rome.
When Franzbekov met with Pope Clement IX, he was heartbroken. He was a Protestant, and the Thirty Years' War created a deep gap between Protestants and Catholics. Even from afar,
He, who is in a foreign land, is no exception.
However, he still followed the etiquette, knelt down on his knees, and kissed the cross on the pope's shoes.
"My child, may the Lord bless you!" Clement IX blessed him kindly.
Strangely enough, Franzbekov suddenly felt a great sense of happiness.
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Then, the Ming Dynasty delegation continued north and visited the Republic of Florence, the Principality of Milan, the Republic of Genoa, the Swiss Confederation and other countries.
Then, enter the Republic of Venice, planning to go directly to Rumi Country (Osmo Turkey) after visiting Venice.
The Republic of Venice, the full name is "The Most Noble Republic of Venice". When you hear this name, you will know that it is unusual.
Indeed, the country was once the overlord of the Mediterranean and Black Sea. However, with the opening of new shipping routes, the European commercial center shifted from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic coast. Venice suffered a heavy blow and was successively conquered by Spain, France, the Holy Roman Empire, the Papal States, and
The Ottoman Turkish Empire was defeated and all its colonies in the Balkans and the Mediterranean were lost. Although the territory is smaller now, it is extremely wealthy. The big businessmen in the city are as rich as any country.
The Ming Dynasty envoy traveled overland from Switzerland to the Republic of Venice. Franzbekov, Dong Xuan, and Li Shouzhi rode in a carriage together, talking and laughing along the way.
"Mr. Dong, Mr. Li, have you ever heard of Marco Polo? He is a Venetian."
"Oh, I have read his "The Travels of Marco Polo"," Dong Xuan smiled.
"I heard that Marco Polo's family is very rich?" Li Shouzhi asked curiously.
"Yes, this person's family is a wealthy businessman in the city, and his family is very wealthy," Franzbekov explained softly.
"Bang~bang~bang~"
After a few gunshots, everyone thought they encountered gangsters, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be soldiers from the Republic of Venice firing salutes.
Venice is a country of merchants, so it naturally understands the importance of establishing diplomatic relations and trade better than other countries. The governor Domenico II Contarini sent a guard to meet him. He was the governor in the name of the chief executive, and was appointed by the Republic.
Nobles are elected and serve for life. The power of the country is in the hands of the governor and parliament.
The negotiations went smoothly, and the two sides reached a number of economic agreements, and then went all the way east to the Ottoman Turkish Empire.
This chapter has been completed!