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Text 712 European Diplomacy

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    Philip IV's ability to claim the title of "King of the Earth" was not unfounded arrogance.  As the first empire on which the sun never sets, the Spanish Habsburg Dynasty possesses the richest gold and silver mines in the Americas.  And for nearly a hundred years, Spain almost dominated the Americas and frantically plundered local wealth.  However, the Spanish Empire had been at war for years and was almost the enemy of all of Europe, while precious metals from the American continent were pouring into the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, in the hands of Philip IV's grandfather, the national treasury was already in a very difficult situation.  Although the Spanish quickly recaptured another city after the Armada was defeated by the British Royal Navy, just like the setting sun, the empire had inevitably begun to decline.  In 1627 AD, the sixth year after Philip IV came to the throne, the Spanish government declared bankruptcy.  The following year, the Spanish treasure ship was intercepted by the Dutch.  The national economy is getting worse.  The economic defeat directly led to the decline in the combat effectiveness of the Spanish army and the instability in complex ethnic regions.  In 1640, Philip IV continued to expand his army in order to win the Thirty Years' War, and wanted the Catalans in the Iberian Peninsula to bear part of the military expenditure. As a result, France secretly instigated the Spanish Civil War.  In the same year, the Portuguese Revolution broke out, and Jo?o IV established a new dynasty: the Braganza Dynasty, ending Spanish rule.  Two years later, Spain lost its northern Taiwan stronghold in the Far East, and Manila became almost an isolated island.  In 1648, the Thirty Years' War in Germany came to a conclusion. The Spanish Habsburg family was almost spurned by all of Europe, becoming the most unpopular royal family and losing its land advantage.  Philip IV had to recognize the Dutch independence in exchange for space to continue the war against France.  During the Spanish-French War, although Spain once conquered Naples and Catalonia, it still could not change its decline.  The country's situation is deteriorating day by day.  Philip IV had not heard good news from afar for a long time.  Coupled with the early death of his sons, his life always seemed to be cast in a haze.  On one day in May 1657, just like all the boring days in the past, the fifty-two-year-old King of Spain received a note from the Ming Empire in Portugal.  The Ming Dynasty declared war on Spain.  Because the Ming Dynasty and Spain did not establish ambassadorial relations, nor did they have any channels to send envoys to each other, this note of war was sent by the Ming Dynasty Ambassador to Portugal from Lisbon.  Judging from the time of signing.  The Ming Dynasty had already declared war on the Chinese New Year, and obviously spent a lot of time on the road.  Philip IV stood helplessly in front of the window, letting the hot wind blow on his face.  Speaking of which, he was very fond of the Ming Dynasty. There were many precious silk products from the Far East in the palace, and he also liked the elegant blue and white porcelain. However, there was always a gap between the two countries.  Those nobles who sent distant colonies had no idea of ??respecting a true empire and slaughtered their people like barbarians. It does not seem surprising that they received such a result now.  "The point is," Philip IV squirmed his huge jaw.  "What was the outcome of the war?" Queen Maria Anna just opened the door and came in, and did not hear her husband's muttering.  She came here because she received a letter from her friend Queen Christina, which mentioned that certain Spanish actions in the Far East might cause displeasure to the Ming Empire.  "Mr. King, you must stop your colonial officials. We have no idea what those noble gentlemen want to do! They should not provoke a powerful country, especially when they have no ability to protect themselves." Queen Anna took out Christie  Queen Na spread the scented letter and handed it to her husband.  Under the key sentence that she accidentally mentioned, there are traces of her gently scratching it with her nails.  ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s too late.¡± In exchange, Philip IV handed the Ming Dynasty¡¯s note declaring war to his wife.  The queen looked at the note written in Chinese, Spanish and Latin languages.  Instead, my heart calmed down.  "Then, now we can only wait for the outcome of the war." The queen said.  "I have already thought of the result." Philip IV said firmly: "This is the trouble caused by Sabiniano himself. I will not pay a ransom for him. Regrettably, our business tax  The income is probably much less. "The Spanish way of running a country is very primitive.  Gold and silver were obtained from New Spain and transported to the Ming Dynasty in exchange for tea, silk, porcelain and other commodities. When conditions permitted, Indian spices were also purchased from smugglers.  After passing through the market of New Spain, some of these goods will flow into mainland Europe, which is also the income point of the Spanish treasury.  It can be seen from this chain of economic activities.  Spain did not obtain the real currency of Europe - gold and silver, but continued to transfuse blood.  Philip IV pushed for legislation to ban gold and silverGoing out of the country obviously did not achieve the expected results.  "The gold and silver of New Spain will come back." Queen Anna comforted the king and herself, but she soon lost confidence.  She said: "The premise is that our treasure ship can escape the dirty claws of British pirates." "We were driven out of the Far East, which is really sad." Philip IV sighed and said: "Fortunately, the New World  Europe is still safe." Maria Anna thought so too.  However, they ignored the Ming Dynasty¡¯s new ambassador¡¯s eagerness to perform meritorious service.  The prince-in-law Gong Yonggu never renewed his marriage after his wife died of illness.  Because he really had no place in the court, and there was no easy food to eat under the New Deal, he invited himself to be sent to Europe as an envoy, taking his two daughters to see the scenery of another world.  Ming's declaration of war on Spain was the biggest event since he took office, and it was also an excellent opportunity for him to become famous in a foreign country.  Although in terms of responsibilities, Gong Yonggu only needs to forward the note, but as the spokesperson and eyes and ears of Ming Dynasty in Europe, he can do more.  In April 1657, Gong Yonggu left Lisbon, Portugal and went to Marseille, France.  Under the protection of his reliable musketeers, King Louis XIV of France was waiting there like an ordinary nobleman, excitedly hoping to see the envoys from the Far East, and sincerely hoping to go to the Ming Dynasty in person.  It must be said that the impression left by the Tang Dynasty on Europe was a bit exaggerated.  On a sunny afternoon, with the Mediterranean sea breeze blowing, in this city famous for its resistance to the French court, Louis XIV, later known as the "Sun King", met the Ming Dynasty's ambassador, the Ming Emperor's uncle, Mr. Gong Yonggu.  Wearing white tights, a wide burqa, and long black curly hair, Louis XIV instantly developed a liking for Gong Yonggu, who wore a wide robe and a turban.  "You are so gentle and elegant, making people feel warm and friendly." Louis XIV praised without hesitation.  Gong Yonggu just smiled back with a friendlier smile. He could not understand the mentality of this teenage boy, but he knew that the French King, and even France as a whole, needed to show kindness to him, because he represented the Ming Emperor and  The right to decide on the quota of five hundred guns.  In legend, people also believed that the Ming Dynasty would use huge battleships to transport shiploads of gold and silver¡ªas long as they felt it was necessary.  "I am very happy to see Mr. King." For foreign kings who have not been canonized by the Ming Dynasty, there is no need to use honorifics.  Gong Yonggu said: "Mr. King must have learned that Ming Dynasty has officially declared war with Spain." "Yes, I know, although I have not participated in national affairs" Louis XIV was obviously a little excited.  He glanced at the civil servant beside him.  This civil servant has a fair complexion and always has a gentle smile, showing an upbringing that is in line with the values ??of the current European upper class.  This civil servant is the real person in charge of the negotiations on this trip, Nicolas Fouquet.  Nicolas Fouquet is now France¡¯s finance minister.  During the Fronde rebellion from 1648 to 1653, he stood firmly on the side of Cardinal Mazarin and the dynastic government, laying the foundation for his future reuse by Mazarin.  As for Cardinal Mazarin, he has two other identities: Prime Minister of France, and lover of the Queen Mother Anna of Austria.  Indeed, the current Louis XIV is not the Sun King praised by later generations, but a symbol of royal power without pro-government.  Gong Yonggu has put a lot of effort into the relationship between European royal families and can basically clarify the relationship between them. However, what is difficult for him to understand is: why relatives also engage in tragic wars, almost to the point of life and death.  The king in front of you is an example.  Louis XIV¡¯s mother married King Louis XIII of France when she was fourteen.  She is often called Anna of Austria, but she is actually a Spanish princess, the daughter of Philip III, and the sister of Philip IV, now King of Spain.  After the death of Louis XIII, it was she who firmly supported Mazarin in his protracted war with his motherland.  "Dear Sir, as you can see, after the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, we have been at war with Spain for nine years." Nicolas Fouquet cleared.  Clearing his throat, he didn't realize that the king next to him was squinting at him.  "During the Nine Years' War, France and Spain were like two drunkards, clinging to each other with almost exhaustion of their physical strength, unable to knock the other side down. Both we and Spain suffered from domestic rebellions, people's  They were suffering from poverty and were on the verge of financial collapse. "It is a well-known fact that Nicolas Fouquet did not mind exposing his country's difficulties. ?Gong Yonggu thought of the situation not long before the Ming Dynasty, and could only sigh, unable to find the right words to echo the words of the Minister of Finance.  "So, we hope that the Ming Empire can provide more financial support." Fouquet leaned forward and lowered his voice: "Support of real money and silver." (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, novel updates  Good update faster!
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