Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 2410 The Changed Game

Fenelon was soon in Morocco.Surprisingly, with a large entourage, he did not disembark at a port controlled by the Moroccan Sultanate, but disembarked at Danji Port, which had already belonged to the east coast.

Porto Dangi was guarded by Portuguese soldiers.These men are wearing new uniforms and carrying new weapons, and they seem to be in good morale.But who would have thought that they performed very poorly in the battle with the Moroccans, and suffered heavy losses in the face of the impact of the Berber cavalry?

The Portuguese are really outdated, they have passed their era!But then again, if you can't go into battle, you are still very competent as a watchdog.In the current shortage of troops, the people on the east coast handed over the heavy responsibility of guarding Danji Port to a Portuguese infantry regiment with its own dry food, but it saved the old nose.

Fenelon checked into a newly opened hotel as soon as he landed.This is the Danji Hotel invested and constructed by the state-owned Dongfang Hotel Group. It integrates catering and accommodation. It was a big deal, so he received a grand reception.

"I heard that this hotel has shares of Huguenots?" Fenelon asked after standing in front of the window and watching the sea view for a while.

"Yes, sir. They were not involved in the construction, but after the construction was completed, in order to reduce the risk, the majority shareholder of the Danji Hotel took public care. Three exiled Huguenots from Lie Sun jointly contributed and received 10 % of the shares. In addition, the Italians also invested 10% of the shares, the Dutch invested 5%, and the local businessmen on the east coast received 24% of the shares. Yes, the major shareholders control the remaining 51% of the shares. They still have the final say on the hotel." A scholar wearing glasses replied respectfully.

"Victor, why do you know so much?" Fenelon asked with a smile.

"Sir, people on the east coast have always claimed to be fair and open in the business field. Since it is a public offering, everything will be made public. Moreover, they once posted advertisements in Bordeaux. A friend of mine who was engaged in ocean trading was interested in investing. But the IPO has been completed, he didn't get the chance, so I learned some 'little secrets'." Victor replied.

"I keep hearing that Protestantism is a legal religion on the East Coast, so is it legal in name or is it really legal?"

"It's really legal. But like Catholicism, Orthodox Church, and Green Church, they are severely suppressed. They cannot get any government funding, and it is difficult to get approval for the land where the church is built. Moreover, the church cannot own any property and can only rely on donations from believers. , so the development has been very slow. These religions, to be honest, are just some vases, used to embellish the vases of 'religious freedom' that the people on the east coast boast." Victor said in a somewhat complaining tone: "In fact, Taoism on the east coast Rule everything in the spiritual realm.”

Fenelon sighed.East Coasters are so domineering in the field of religion, but why are there still many Catholic or Protestant countries flirting with them?The Portuguese and Italians are really shameless. They don't want any dignity for money. Now they are helping them guard the gate like a watchdog, which is completely humiliating.

Of course, Fenelon will never think of the centuries-old 'friendship' between Catholic France and Green Christian Turkey in order to combat Christians at this time.In order to deal with the Leopold family, who are also Catholics, Louis XIV even sent money and officers to the Turks. Isn’t this an act of blasphemy?

"How many Huguenots are there?" Fenelon asked again.

"Not many, maybe more than 3000 people. I'm not very sure about this data, and I need to check it. People on the east coast dare not accept too many. If it weren't for the fact that most of the Huguenots were scholars, craftsmen, businessmen, and military officers, People on the east coast may not want to accept any of them. Now they have closed their mouths, maybe because they are afraid that this place will become a Protestant world." Victor said: "Stupid Huguenots, the people on the east coast are just using Their money, craftsmanship, and knowledge came to lay the foundation for this poor place. Once the construction is completed, their status will plummet, and it is even possible that they will be kicked away. Huguenots have no home. .”

"It's better than staying in the Southern Netherlands." Fenelon said: "The sense of smell of these people is really keen. Sometimes I even doubt that Paris has their eyeliner, and they can know some important decisions in time."

"Maybe the English or the Dutch are tipping them off," Victor said.

England, the United Provinces, and the German states, Protestant and Catholic alike, now watched with horror at the possession of the vast Spanish lands.If it fell into the hands of the French, Louis XIV would rule Europe and endanger Protestantism.In the hands of the Austrians, Leopold would jeopardize the commerce of the United Provinces by canceling the unequal agreement imposed on the ten provinces of the Southern Netherlands by the League of Seven Provinces, while he would also reduce the autonomy of the German states, Thereby gaining more power and soaring strength.

In short, Spain is not right for anyone, and it makes people feel bad.If it is necessary to choose the lesser of two evils, then Austria is better. If France unifies Spain, the Southern Netherlands and parts of Italy, it will be really terrible.

So, now the British and Dutch countries are keeping their eyes on France the closest, and will help any country or force that can cause them trouble.There are more than 100 million French Huguenots who fled abroad. They are rich, skilled, and knowledgeable. They hate Louis XIV from the bottom of their hearts, and it is normal for them to get help from anti-French forces.

"By the way, are the Italians still in Ceuta or Tangier? If so, I want to meet you." Fenelon said suddenly.

"Unfortunately, I have already left." Victor said, spreading his hands.

Of course he knew why his boss wanted to meet the Italians, and it was also related to the East Bank.In 1698, King Louis XIV of France secretly negotiated an agreement with Britain, the Netherlands, and Austria. The agreement stipulated that Spain, the Spanish West Indies, Sardinia, and the Spanish Netherlands were entrusted to Leo Pod's grandson Joseph Ferdinand ruled, part of Tuscany (a port city), Naples, and Sicily were handed over to Louis XIV's grandson, while the Duchy of Milan was given to Leopold's second son, Archduke Charles .

Louis XIV and Leopold rejected the agreement, the former because he did not get the South Netherlands, the latter because he felt too disadvantaged.Therefore, in 1699, the four countries negotiated another agreement, stipulating that the port city of Tuscany, the Two Sicilies and the Duchy of Lorraine were handed over to the grandson of Louis XIV, and Milan was compensated to the Duke of Lorraine, and the rest of Spain ( Including the Americas and the Philippines, excluding the Southern Netherlands) to Leopold's son Archduke Karl, the status of the Southern Netherlands is to be determined.But this agreement was rejected by King Carlos who got the news because he didn't like his country being divided.

At this time, the Italians also got wind. They strongly protested against the sinister intentions of Britain, France, Austria, and the Netherlands to disregard the well-being of the Italians and wantonly carve up the peninsula.Especially Tuscany and Milan, the reaction was particularly violent.Grand Duke Cosimo of Tuscany believes that they have ruled the famous commercial port of Livorno for many years, and there is no dispute here, while the Duchy of Milan expresses that it does not welcome any party to become their master.

At this time, the East Coast Republic became the largest backer of the Federation of Northern Italy. Cai Zhenguo went to Genoa, Milan and Venice several times to cheer them up, saying that the East Coast would like to see the independence of the Italian peninsula. "Italian affairs are handled by the Italian people." Self-determination" is his most prominent point.

The furious Italians burned some French goods in protest, and the Port of Livorno once refused to allow Dutch merchant ships to dock. If Pope Innocent XII hadn't intervened, this matter would not have ended.But in any case, the Italians have seen clearly the faces of France, England, the United Provinces, and Austria. They have not considered the feelings of the Italian people at all, pointing on the map with a very arrogant attitude, thinking that they can decide at will The fate of others, how arrogant is this!

The Northern Italian Federation is no longer a pitiful creature to be kneaded by others.They have a parliament - well, a little loose, because there's a lot of bickering and it's not very harmonious - there's an army, and they're talking about flat tax rates, creating a common market, and everything is moving in a good direction.But why do France, Austria and other countries still despise them so much?no!One must speak out, we Italians have stood up!

Indeed, Paris, Vienna, The Hague, and London couldn't really ignore the voices of the Italians after such a toss from the people on the east coast.Especially last year, when the Italians sent troops to fight in Morocco, they broke a lot of stereotypes, so that Louis XIV was willing to send people to contact them, no longer a high-ranking and arrogant posture.

Fenelon had received such instructions before leaving, so he wanted to observe the Italian troops and officials in Morocco.But it is a pity that it is said that Paul, the stubborn old man of the Doria family, has gone back, and the Italian army has also withdrawn, which cannot but be said to be a pity.

"I can't do anything." Fenelon was a little helpless. After walking around the room covered with Persian carpets twice, he sighed and said, "Then let's get in touch with the people on the east coast. They have gone deep into the Mediterranean Sea now. The Italians and Portuguese have obeyed their orders and have become members of the poker table. Let’s see what they think. After contacting the people on the east coast, we will set off immediately to Meknes. The bearded sultan should have already Wait, he desperately needs comfort now."

(End of this chapter)