Alexander VII hoped that Tsarist Russia and the Kingdom of Sweden would also participate in the Crusades.
However, what Alexander VII did not expect was that Tsarist Russia was even preparing to launch an eastern expedition on its own. In addition to punishing the Turguts who fled eastward from Tsarist Russia without permission, it also wanted to recapture the Urals that had been taken away by the Ming army.
The vast land east of the mountains, including Siberia and the Far East.
This suggestion was made by two of Tsar Alexei's closest confidants, Morozov and Miloslavsky.
One of these two people is Alexei's mentor and brother-in-law, and the other is Alexei's father-in-law. Because Alexei has a weak and lazy temperament, the government has always been in the hands of these two people.
The large quantities of furs in Siberia and the Far East have always been an important source of tax revenue for Tsarist Russia.
However, in recent years, with the loss of the Far East and Siberia, Tsarist Russia's fur tax revenue has dropped sharply, and the income of the Morozov and Miloslavsky families has also dropped sharply.
As a result, the two men continued to instigate Alexei to launch the Eastern Campaign.
At the beginning, Alexey always disapproved of launching the Eastern Expedition.
But something big happened recently, which made Alexei change his mind.
Cossacks, farmers and herdsmen throughout Ukraine held a referendum in a place called Pereyaslavli, and the meeting decided that the entire Ukraine would be annexed to Tsarist Russia.
In fact, Cossacks often wanted to be incorporated into Tsarist Russia in the past, but Alexei rejected them all.
Because Alexei was afraid of trouble, once he accepted the Cossacks and the land, he would offend Poland, and a war with the Kingdom of Poland would inevitably break out.
Alexei didn't like fighting, so he refused.
But this time the situation is different. This time, the entire Ukraine region has been merged into Tsarist Russia. Alexei really can't refuse such a good thing. This is a large area of fertile land. Normally, it may not cost a huge amount.
It can be captured, but now it can be annexed without spending a single ruble.
"Your Majesty, this is a God-given opportunity."
"Yes, there is nothing better than annexing Ukraine without spending a single ruble."
"The annexation of Ukraine is not the key. The key is that after annexing Ukraine, Tsarist Russia will be able to obtain hundreds of thousands of Cossack cavalry without having to spend as much money to hire them as before."
"With these Cossack cavalry, we can launch a battle of revenge against the Ming Dynasty."
"That's right, the Ming Empire dared to compete with Tsarist Russia for Siberia and the Far East. If it cannot be punished, wouldn't the order of the entire world be disrupted?"
The two confidants tried their best to deceive Alexey.
But Alexey's mind was still very clear.
"Of course, I understand everything you said."
"But I want to ask you, if Tsarist Russia annexes Ukraine, how will Poland react? If Poland becomes angry and launches a crusade against Ukraine, should we send troops to assist Ukraine? If we don't send troops, it will be shameful, but if we do, we will annex Ukraine
Doesn’t it become a negative asset? Where does the benefit come from?”
Morozov and Miloslavsky were speechless. War is indeed inevitable.
Just when the two important ministers were thinking about how to continue their deception, a guard hurried in.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty Alexander VII of the Holy See sent someone to urgently deliver the decree."
"Edict?" Morozov took the lacquered letter from the guard and cut it open with a dagger.
Miloslavsky also came over to read the letter together. After reading the letter, the two of them were overjoyed.
"Your Majesty, the problem has been solved. Now we no longer have to worry about Poland going to war with us!"
"Yes, yes, not only do we not have to worry that Poland will not go to war with us, we don't even have to face the powerful Ming Dynasty alone, haha!"
Alexey frowned.
"What's going on? What did the Holy See say?"
"Eastern Crusade, the Holy See calls for the launch of the Second Crusade to eliminate the threat of the Ming Dynasty!"
Morozov and Miloslavsky said in unison: "Your Majesty, with hundreds of thousands of Cossack cavalry, plus the entire Catholic Church country launched by the Holy See, this time our Tsarist Russia not only has the opportunity to severely damage the Ming Dynasty and recapture Siberia
As well as the Far East, and even the vast Central Asia can be taken over!"
Hearing this, Alexey finally couldn't help but feel a little moved.
Although Alexei is lazy, he still has ambitions for expansion.
At that moment Alexei asked: "Do you mean to participate in the Eastern Expedition?"
"Participate, you must participate!" Morozov said, "But we cannot join the Holy See."
Miloslavsky said: "We can organize a Northern Route Army. It would be best to add the armies of Poland, Sweden, Denmark and other countries to the Northern Route Army. Sweden, in particular, must join the Northern Route Army."
The Swedish Army is considered capable of fighting well in Northern Europe and even in Europe as a whole.
If the Swedish Army could join the Northern Route Army, it would be a great benefit to Tsarist Russia.
So, while Alexei sent envoys to reply to the Holy See, he also sent people to Poland and Sweden to discuss sending troops together.
By this time, Sweden had also received the edict.
Queen Christina of Sweden quickly replied that Sweden could join the Northern Route Army and even dispatch a huge army of 60,000 people, which is equivalent to half of the Swedish standing army!
But Christina put forward a condition.
That is, Prince Carl of the Swedish royal family must be appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Northern Route Army.
Prince Carl is also the future Carl X, the cousin of Queen Christina of Sweden, and the disciple of the late Swedish general Thor Stenson. He has an extremely rich military resume.
Poland asked Tsarist Russia to sign a secret treaty with them.
In this secret agreement, Tsarist Russia must recognize that the referendum in Ukraine is invalid.
Of course, this secret agreement will not be made public immediately, but will be announced after the victory of the Eastern Expedition.
After a secret discussion with his two confidants, Alexey decided to agree to Poland's conditions. The reason was very simple. If the Eastern Expedition failed, the secret treaty would naturally be invalidated. Once the victory was achieved, Tsarist Russia might have been promoted to the Russian Empire.
The tsar may have been promoted to emperor, and there would be no need to abide by the treaties signed by tsarist Russia.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! In this way, the Northern Route Army in the Western world was actually formed before the Central Route Army.
The commander of the Northern Route Army was Prince Carl of Sweden, and its strength reached 300,000.
Among them, there are 100,000 Russian troops, 60,000 Swedish troops, 60,000 Cossack cavalry, about 40,000 Polish troops, and about 40,000 troops from small countries such as Denmark.
The Northern Route Army first arrived at Belgorod in Tsarist Russia to assemble, and then passed through the hometown of Astrakhan and invaded the Kyrgyz steppe from the north of the Caspian Sea.
…
After the news reached Rome, Pope Alexander VII was really pleasantly surprised.
To be honest, Alexander had high hopes for the traditional European powers such as the Holy Roman Empire, France, England, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, but he actually had no hope for countries such as Tsarist Russia, Sweden, and Poland.
But now, Tsarist Russia, Sweden, Poland and other countries had actually organized an army of 300,000 troops first, and had begun to gather troops and prepare food and wages. This really surprised Alexander VII.
However, what is disappointing is that the response of France and other traditional powers has been very slow. Three months have passed and no country has yet completed the assembly of its army, and the promised food and salary have disappeared.
After waiting for a reply from France and other countries, Alexander VII could only send people to urge him again and again.
While Alexander VII was waiting, another unexpected surprise arrived. The Ottoman Turkey and the Persian Saavifa Empire, which believed in the Green religion, actually sent envoys and wanted to participate in this Eastern Expedition.
"The Ottoman Empire and the Savifa Empire will also participate in this Crusade?"
Alexander VII could not believe that the influence of the Holy See was already so powerful?
It was an unprecedented event that the Ottoman Empire and the Savifa Empire, which believed in the Green religion, were able to unite under the cross of the Holy See and fight for the honor of the Catholic Church.
Five hundred years ago during the First Crusade, these pagans were still fighting to the death with Catholics for the Holy City of Jerusalem, but now they are actually willing to unite with Catholics under the cross to fight for Catholicism.
, he, Alexander VII, is enough to become the greatest pope in history.
However, the envoys of the Ottoman Empire and the Savifa Empire soon shattered Alexander VII's dream.
"Your Majesty the Pope, I think you have misunderstood." The two envoys said in unison, "We the Ottoman Empire/Sawifa Empire can participate in the Eastern Crusade, but we will not participate in the Crusade organized by the Catholic Church, but will
Organize another Star-Moon Army in the south and branch out to march eastward."
"Is this so?" Alexander VII was a little disappointed.
But soon, Alexander VII became happy again.
The Ottoman Empire and the Sawifa Empire were going to launch another Star-Moon Army Crusade. Although it disappointed him a little, it was ultimately a good thing for the Holy See and the entire Western world.
Because the larger the number of troops participating in this Eastern Expedition, the greater the chance of defeating the Ming Dynasty.
At that moment, Alexander VII asked: "May I ask you two, how large a scale of the Star and Moon Army can the Ottoman Empire and the Vivid Empire organize to participate in this great Eastern Expedition?"
The envoy of the Sawifa Empire said: "Our Sawifa Empire can send out 120,000 elite troops."
The envoy of the Ottoman Empire also said: "Our Ottoman Empire can send 180,000 elite troops, and the troops are personally led by the great 17th generation Sultan Murad."
"Sultan Murad?" Alexander VII's face changed slightly.
He had also heard of Murad's name. It was said that he could wield a 120-pound mace and was extremely brave.