I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 202 The Triumph of Louis XIII (2)

The wizards of Gayola Island have suffered a certain loss, but it is not unacceptable. After all, they are facing the dark wizards of Flanders, and the more serious casualties are the Bohemian witches, especially the priests. The elders of the regiment, whose deaths caused the young witches to mourn, were accompanied by the king's soldiers - whom Manette had tried to influence, and which Mrs. Milady thought would Shaking these witches, it now seems that the influence is two-fold, the least, the king did not see the usual contempt and indifference in the eyes of these soldiers - there are not many soldiers like the brave grenadier, It's just that some people will definitely change their minds now.

The witches who had their fingers cut off were lucky to survive. The witches' medicines and spells were destined to save many lives - their fingers grew, and the old ring was put back in place, The one who just made the promise has never come back.

   And Vauban, he went to see... Manit, that witch died at the last moment, her face was distorted, Vauban wiped her face clean, rubbed a little powder, and finally looked a little like the original.

   "These... Bohemian women..." After returning to the royal palace in Brussels, he came to the king's study and asked hesitantly after saluting. Viscount Turenne, who was beside the king, gave him a stern look immediately, not for anything else - Vauban made a lot of contributions in this battle and has a bright future, so why bother for a Bohemian woman like Shu To displease the king? Vauban was also a little uneasy, but he mustered up his courage and waited for the king's answer.

Louis put down his quill in deep thought. There are only Bontang, Turenne and Vauban here. There is nothing to hide from them. If Vauban is selfish and cold enough to ignore Manit, he will change his original attitude towards Vauban. Vauban's behavior made some people seem too reckless and useless, but he didn't mind explaining it well to the young man: "You know, Sebastian," the king called Vauban's Name: "For France, for Bourbon, these people," he paused slightly: "These witches are indeed negligent."

Although Viscount Turenne had heard about it, guessed it, and confirmed it, he couldn't help but sigh when he heard the king say it himself. He and Vauban are either the second son or the descendant of the second son, not the heir. , are not allowed to know too many secrets (he did not know that Vauban worked with wizards in the construction of the dock in Dunkirk), and now he really does not know whether to be happy or sad.

"Originally, you shouldn't know about these things, gentlemen." Louis said calmly: "It's just that you have seen it now. The extraordinary power was originally only used against the extraordinary, or in conspiracy, when it was not for others. Known places appear, but now they can be said to be intensifying, wizards can become mercenaries, and of course they can become standing armies - gentlemen, wizards exist in every country, we can't passively wait for the enemy They attacked first... Or, they have already stretched out their tentacles. The dark wizard of Flanders is the first, but definitely not the last. The scene you see may be in any mortal world at any time. on the battlefield.”

   "You mean, Your Majesty, in addition to rifles, our soldiers have to face magic with artillery?" Viscount Turenne couldn't help asking.

   "Yes," said Louis, and Vauban clenched his jaw subconsciously.

   "So you decided to keep those former traitors?" Viscount Turenne asked again.

"That's not the problem," Louis pushed the document on the table annoyed: "Although their malfeasance caused a great person to leave us forever, I am still willing to give them a chance to redeem their sins and be rescued - it's just that you too It should be discovered that after being expelled from the palace, they lost a lot of their original power, and because they have been among the Bohemians for a long time, they have been contaminated with a lot of bad atmosphere." He straightened his back: "They flout all the rules. With the law, including the king and the state, not only can they do nothing for France, but they may make it more confusing."

   "That is indeed a problem," said Viscount Turenne.

   "Manet wanted to know from me when the war was over..."

   "Because my pact with them was until the end of the war," Louie said. "Although I promised them, she was always worried that I would send them against the dark wizards."

  Vauban shook his head: "She's so stupid."

   "The value is too low, but I have to supervise them." Louis said: "It's just that I didn't expect that the dark wizard met them in the end."

Vauban knew that this was indeed an accident. Taking a ten thousand steps back, even if the king was tired of these witches, there were still wounded soldiers in the town of Waterloo. The king would never give up on them. He could only say the tone of these witches. It's really bad, and even if the king intends to drive them to deal with the dark wizards - but from what Vauban heard from the soldiers, when the Bohemite witches face the dark wizards, except for Manit and others. , the other witches were almost powerless to fight back, and even failed to escape.

But there are other wizards... Thinking that he might have to fight with a group of wizards in the future, Vauban looked at Viscount Turenne with sympathy. The money is probably not a small amount.

"Okay, this is the end of the matter," said Louis, before answering Vauban's question: "You see, this can also be said to be a chance for these ladies, of course, the last chance, I originally The expectation is that they can break some stubborn stereotypes, but they...and my soldiers, obviously have done more than I thought. If so, I am not unwilling to treat them tolerantly. It is said that there are many Soldiers are willing to marry them?"

   "Yes, Your Majesty," replied Vauban.

"It's not surprising that they lived and died together not long ago," said Louie. "I also said that if they would protect my soldiers, they would be my people, and you know I've always been very generous to my people. Yes - I told them before, that in a short time, after this battle to be exact, I will build more Inquisitions on the borders of France..."

   "Yeah!" Viscount Turenne exclaimed uncontrollably.

When it comes to the Inquisition, the most profound influence on the Europa people is Spain. At that time, Spain was still in power with two kings. Out of devotion to the faith and the need to govern the country, the Inquisition once spread throughout every province of this powerful kingdom. As the legends of later generations are not the same, the Spanish inquisitions are not many for poor mortals. Those who are hunted and tried are either the rampant dark wizards, or the enemies of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. The reason why it is so notorious is that the propaganda of Protestantism, and the Spanish wizards of the time, were indeed too contemptuous of the royal family.

  Louis now speaks of imitating the former Queen Isabella, which makes Viscount Turenne worried. "This is the future," Louis comforted him, "I just think that France needs order."

Viscount Turenne took a deep breath, "I will do as you order, as long as you tell me." According to him, perhaps it was because they had the king who had gone through a terrible boyhood and was in the middle of his ambitions. When he was restrained by Bishop Mazarin and Queen Anne (after all, he did not know that Louis was not a simple young man), he must have hated the chaotic Paris and even the whole of France. You may say that he was overkill, but what he did did not. I can't say it wrong, I can only say that it will not be easy. The king of France has been collecting power since François I. Although it is quite effective, many people still think that "the king will not order Paris". An unusual thing.

  If his king can really make France as prosperous as Spain from the end of the fifteenth century to the end of the sixteenth century, as the two kings of Spain did, what if he had to sacrifice his life?

   As if to see his firm intentions, the king patted the older soldier on the shoulder soothingly, "Maybe you will be worried, but it is necessary, Mr. Viscount, because I am preparing to count the population."

   "Counting the population?" The Viscount asked rhetorically, it is not that the king before the counting of the population did not do it...

"Yes," said Louie, "but it is slightly different from before. I need a more detailed and accurate figure. Gentlemen, I will make up the household registration. Everyone, every family, must stay in my sight, Not anywhere I don't know."

   "What a huge project that would be." Vauban murmured.

"So this is just an idea of ​​mine, for now," said Louis, before turning to Vauban: "But I can now answer your previous question, those witches, my previous plan was to imprison and monitor them, dare to disobey Those who order will be put to death, like those Huguenots, but if they can do as I expect - then I can allow them a certain degree of freedom, as long as someone is willing to enter into a formal marriage contract with them , I mean, the kind that swears in church, they're going to be baptized, like a proper Christian."

   "I'm afraid they may not be willing, those Bohemian women..." Viscount Turenne said.

   "Then they will waste the chance that Manette and others could save them with their lives." Louis said gently, while Vauban shuddered.

  —————

Having won Brussels, it is no exaggeration to say that the Flanders region is equivalent to Louis's pocket. The ministers who stayed in Paris wrote letters like snowflakes, urging the king to return to Paris as soon as possible, because they were preparing for a A grand triumph.

   "A triumphal style like that of Rome?" Louis asked.

   "Greater than any general or emperor."

   "I'm afraid it will cost a lot of money." Louis said.

"Your mother and brother are quite willing," said Bontang, wiping the king's wet hair, and speaking of this, the loyal valet would frown, because the king had smashed the brass bathtub, and now he You can only wipe the king more often, otherwise the king will toss in the bed and can't sleep.

   "Okay, I'll go back." Louie said.

Bontang looked curious in the mirror, and although he did not ask anything out of caution, Louis answered him: "I am going to attack Holland next." When he said this, it was as if he was He told Bontang not to add sugar to the milk at night, but Bontang shook his hand and dropped the linen towel on the ground. He quickly apologized to the king, picked it up after salute, and held it in his hand.

   Even though this valet was always by Louis' side and heard a lot of secrets, this kind of thing still made his heart palpitate for a while.

"What's surprising?" said Louie, jokingly. "The losses here in Flanders are more than I expected. I mean, my soldiers didn't suffer too much damage, and what worries me most is that I Who is it, Hieronymus Bosch has also turned to dust, why don't I try... to capture the Netherlands?"

   "Just before that," said the king quickly: "I still have a lot of preparations to do, so Paris must go back."

   "If you have such a plan," Bontang asked cautiously, "then your army..."

"The army will stay here," said Louis, "or Lois will go mad." Think about fifty thousand men coming back from Brussels to Paris, and from Paris to Brussels again... Maybe Lou It is possible that Vas would commit suicide in despair: "But even so, Lois will not be happy anywhere." It does not mean that these soldiers who stay in Brussels can not eat or drink.

   "But Philip has to stay here," Louis continued, changing into a linen nightgown with Bontang's help: "Although my mother and Henrietta must have wanted to see him, I don't trust anyone else."

   "Your Highness will do well," Bontang said.

  ————

  On the third day after the Battle of Brussels, Louis met Philip, Duke of Orleans.

As I said before, the Duke of Orleans is in charge of the line from Dunkirk to Kudker and Ghent. The Duke conquered Ghent one day before the King conquered Brussels. In a few words, Louis was brought to a huge wooden box.

   "This is my present for you," Philip said excitedly: "Guess what it is?"

Louis touched the tip of his eyebrows, seriously, looking at the size and shape, his first thought was a coffin... Well, it shouldn't be that, although the Duke of Orleans is sometimes too lively, he wouldn't be so vile with his brother. The joke, not to mention, they are still on the battlefield.

   "I can't guess." The king admitted defeat, so the Duke of Orleans turned around happily and lifted the lid of the wooden box with his own hands.

  Inside is a big silver bathtub.

   (end of this chapter)