In the study room of the Qianqing Palace of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Houzhao convened a small meeting with important ministers as usual.
Different from the past, Zhu Houzhao is much more mature now. He participates in all court meetings normally, but often seems listless.
Especially after the enthronement ceremony, for two or three months, Zhu Houzhao seemed to have no energy. Everyone knows the reason. A large number of beauties have been donated from various places. Zhu Houzhao is more beautiful at night. Being busy, I naturally don’t have much energy during the day.
But fortunately, after all, he was about to run for his fourth year, his temperament was much more stable, and he knew the responsibilities on his shoulders, so he never missed anything like this.
"Your Majesty~"
"A call came from the European Governor of Hong Kong. The Spanish Empire is preparing to attack the Netherlands and other lowland areas!"
Liu Jin looked at Zhu Houzhao. He had dark circles under his eyes and a pale complexion. He must have worked too hard that night.
Liu Jin was worried that he would not die from an illness as happened in history. If he continued to indulge in excessive sexual activities, his body would have serious problems.
I am still young now and can still withstand it, but in a few years, this will become worrying.
"Oh, Spain is finally going to take action against the Netherlands?"
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately became energetic.
What he likes most is actually the military, and what he wants most is to be a champion, able to lead an army across all directions and expand territory. As for women, that comes second.
It's just that the Ming Dynasty has developed to the current stage, and there are almost no battles left to fight. If the battle continues, the whole world will be included in the territory of the Ming Empire.
Now that I heard that Spain was finally going to take action in the Netherlands lowlands, everyone was excited.
"Charlie V bought a large amount of arms and weapons from our Ming Dynasty. I thought he was just going to buy them for fun. Now he has finally started to do it. I just don't know what Charles V's strategic vision and commanding abilities are. Sample."
"The ambition is enough and we have it, and the means are not bad. If we can become a hero and unify Europe, haha, then our Ming Dynasty will have something to play with."
Zhu Houzhao became more and more excited as he thought about it.
The Ming Dynasty is now lonely and cold, with no opponents. He, the emperor, also finds it very boring. He wants to find someone to take care of him, but he can't find him.
After being beaten twice by the Ming Dynasty, the Ottoman Empire is now very honest. It obeys the Ming Dynasty and does not dare to neglect anything. If you want to beat him, you can't find an excuse.
As for Persia, it can be considered an old friend of the Ming Dynasty. Last time, he attacked several Persian beauties. This was also a different feeling. This was definitely not to hit the Laughing Man.
It seems that there are only a few countries in Europe that can fight, such as France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, etc., but they seem to be a little less interesting and not strong enough, even if they win, they will not win. What is the taste.
But if the Spanish Empire could unify Europe and establish a powerful empire, that would be different. Being able to defeat such a powerful empire would be a taste and a sense of accomplishment for Zhu Houzhao.
Liu Jin was dumbfounded when he heard Zhu Houzhao's words.
Is there such an operation?
Why have I been working hard to suppress Europe for many years, always keeping Europe in dire straits and distracting Europe's power?
Isn't it because they are afraid that Europe will rise and become a competitor and obstacle to Ming Dynasty?
Otherwise, why would I have to work so hard to allow Ming Dynasty to participate in the two European wars, and also go all out to support Spain, allowing Spain to defeat England and France?
Now you are doing well, actually saying that you want to support Spain to unify Europe, and then come to have a good fight with Spain.
Isn't this just looking for trouble, specifically to create a strong competitor for yourself?
Once Europe is unified, its strength will quickly increase. A unified Europe will not be the Europe that can be manipulated by the Ming Empire like it is now.
Is this Zhu Houzhao's brain damaged by playing with women?
Liu Jin couldn't help but complain in his heart.
But if you think carefully about Zhu Houzhao in history, you can really do such a thing.
Like the rebellion of King Ning in history, Wang Shouren had already captured King Ning, but Zhu Houzhao, who led the army south, was very unhappy.
You arrested Prince Ning before you even showed your military command ability?
Isn't my trip south just in vain? That's not okay.
So Zhu Houzhao ordered people to release King Ning, and then sent people to capture King Ning again.
It was like a cat playing with a mouse, which made him addicted.
Zhu Houzhao did a lot of ridiculous things in history, so Zhu Houzhao first supported the Spanish Empire and waited for it to unify Europe and become stronger before he could compete with the Spanish Empire.
This is not impossible, maybe he plans to do this in his heart.
After thinking about this clearly, Liu Jin felt as if ten million horses had passed by.
In my heart, I can somewhat understand the helplessness of Liu Jian and Li Dongyang in history. When encountering such a master who is so willful, there is really nothing that can be done.
Especially in history, Zhu Houzhao succeeded to the throne at a young age, with an undecided temperament and a playful nature. He was also the emperor and acted arbitrarily, so there was nothing that could be done against him.
I'm pretty good now.
At least he is about to reach his fourth birthday, and at least from the current point of view, apart from being lustful, there is nothing else out of the ordinary about him.
Go to court when it's time to go to court, and criticize memorials and edicts when they need to be approved. They have their own opinions on many things, and they also have their own ideas about governing the country.
For example, Zhu Houzhao now attaches great importance to the construction of railways. Not long ago, he and Liu Jin discussed building a faster express railway to strengthen the exchanges between various places in the Ming Dynasty. Well, by the way, it will also make it easier for Zhu Houzhao to go to various places in the Ming Dynasty when he is in a good mood.
Take an inspection.
"Your Majesty, the unification of Europe will not be of any benefit to our Ming Dynasty."
"A dispersed Europe is most beneficial to our Ming Dynasty."
Liu Jin quickly stood up and said.
"I know, I know, I just admire this Charles V more."
"Well, he has ambitions, means, and strategies. He is a good monarch."
"We, the Ming Dynasty, have reached the point where we are now lacking competitors. It will not work if we continue like this. As the old saying goes, we are born in sorrow and die in happiness."
"Our Ming Empire is too powerful. It is so powerful that it has no rivals. If this continues in the long run, the million lions of the Ming Dynasty will be useless. Occasionally, they still have to be taken out to train their troops. Only in this way can we know whether this army can really carry it.
Take responsibility and shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting your home and country.”
Zhu Houzhao smiled and nodded.
"Your Majesty, what you said makes sense."
Liu Jin was speechless, but what Zhu Houzhao said actually made sense.
After all, the Ming Dynasty has not used foreign troops for several years. The millions of troops it maintains are often practiced high and low, with its own people and their own people.
The main reason is that the Ming Empire is too powerful and no one in the world dares to mess with it. If you want to find someone to train your troops, you can't find anyone.
In the past, the Ottoman Empire could be taught a lesson, and the Ottoman Empire could train its troops, but now the Ottoman Empire has been beaten well and does not dare to provoke the Ming Dynasty.
Looking around the world, the Ming Empire has millions of lions, but it has no rivals.
"Haha, you think what I said makes sense, right?"
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately laughed happily.
"Our Ming Dynasty needs an opponent, a competitor."
"Since Charles V of Spain has ambitions and a foundation, we in the Ming Dynasty might as well support him more."
"If he wants arms and weapons, we will sell them to him. If he has no money, we will give him a loan."
"Let him struggle to his death in Europe, I want to see what he can do."
"Anyway, no matter what happens to Spain in the end, we will all make money for our Ming Empire."
"We can sell arms and weapons to both sides and make money from both sides, and let them slowly fight for it."
"If Charles V failed, there would be no loss to us. If he succeeded, our Ming Empire would also have one more competitor. Appropriate external pressure and competition is also a good thing."
"We can't always keep an eye on the nonsense inside the Ming Dynasty. It's just a struggle for power and profit. It's been like this for thousands of years, so there's no shortage of time."
Zhu Houzhao stood up, looked at the important officials of the Ming Dynasty present, and said slowly.
Liu Jin listened carefully to the words of the princes, and sighed in his heart, Zhu Houzhao's more than thirty years were not in vain.
In history, Zhu Houzhao acted arbitrarily, doing whatever he wanted, and doing whatever he wanted, without taking into account the feelings and difficulties of his ministers.
But Zhu Houzhao is different now.
Although he is still willful, he knows better methods and techniques.
He wanted to support Spain in fighting the war in Europe. He would not directly say that he would support Spain, but would talk about the many benefits of supporting Spain.
I also know that combined with the current situation of Ming Dynasty, it is said that Ming Dynasty needs a competitor and must have a sense of urgency.
In fact, at the end of the day, Zhu Houzhao just wanted to see that after Spain became stronger, Ming Dynasty could go to war with Spain, and his emperor could live like a champion.
The people he admired the most since childhood were Huo Qubing and Wei Qing, and he even believed that a man should open up territories to carve out a wife and a wife. This is what a man should do.
This has never changed.
"Spain's power is still too weak now and is simply not enough to unify Europe."
"Send electricity to Charles V. We, the Ming Dynasty, are willing to support him. We will give arms and weapons if you want them, and we will give you loans if you want them!"
