I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 222 The Dark Wizards of Holland

The painters of this era have always had the habit of painting themselves in group portraits. Sometimes they are sinners (as Michelangelo did in the Sistine ceiling painting), and sometimes they are onlookers (Like Botticini's identity in "The Doctor Comes to Worship"), sometimes it is simply the original identity of the painter, (The mirror of "Portrait of the Arnolfinis" reflects the Dutch painter Jan Van Eyck), and in "Seven Blind Men", the last person is Bruegel. That's right, he gives the impression of a haggard old man. In fact, he "died" when he was only forty. At the age of four, he was in his prime, and it was a strong farmer who came down from the picture. His body exuded a strong oily scent, and the pupils in his eyes were only a little bigger than the tip of a needle, which was daunting.

Mr. Prime Minister held the armrest of the chair behind him, as if to give himself a little courage, and Bruegel just sneered, he was the most like Bosch's disciple, but not the most talented and liked him. Perhaps it is precisely because Bruegel's soul is as evil as Bosch, his fit with Bosch makes Bosch lose interest in torturing him - Bruegel firmly believes that this is the teacher's love for him , well, whatever the devil says, "Looks like you've thought about it." He looked around and said arrogantly, "Mr. Prime Minister."

   "Make a deal with you and I'll definitely go to hell, but it's okay, I'll see my enemies walk ahead of me."

"I don't know how you are going to convince those despicable merchants," said Bruegel: "but don't forget that we are wizards and servants of the devil, Mr. Prime Minister, and you will suffer the most terrible if you break your contract with us. revenge."

Thinking of Bruegel's request for annuities, territories and mansions—and slaves, Mr. Prime Minister felt a palpitation. He knew that the parliamentarians also hired wizards to do things, but those wizards were almost all in the colonies and used to deal with those infidels— As if by tacit understanding, the merchants had enemies in Holland and all over Europa, but they never made matters so bad that they needed a wizard to get involved. De Witte is about to break this taboo.

   "If they don't want to," said Mr Prime Minister through gritted teeth, "I will sell all my assets and complete the contract."

"That's really good." Bruegel said, he came from a peasant family, and of course he didn't like these businessmen, let alone tell him that the remaining dark wizards in Flanders had decided to attack the French King Louis XIV again. -Since he took the lead in breaking the gap between the inner world and the outer world, then he would have to bear the consequences, and Bruegel still had a little selfishness of his own, that is, he heard that when he completed the curse on the French king, Bosch did not summon him but called Rubens, which made Bruegel, who was jealous and hated of Rubens, annoyed. If he can complete the work that the teacher failed to complete, then, Does it mean that he not only surpassed Rubens, but also surpassed Bosch?

Bosch's reputation among the black wizards of Flanders is almost ruined, but it is equally powerful. Bruegel is fighting for the position left by Bosch, and cursing a king is simply a medal - just Like Bosch's role in the death of Louis XIII.

   One last deep look at Mr. Prime Minister, Bruegel returned to the picture, the brown bearded farmer was motionless again, only the expression on his face was a little more sarcastic.

It was only then that Mr. Prime Minister realized that his mouth was full of blood - he clenched his teeth too hard and hurt his gums, he hurried back to his office, picked up the silver jug, poured a full glass of wine, and drank it with his own blood He went down, looked in the mirror again, wiped away the remaining blood between his teeth with a silk scarf, and then went to the town hall to see the messenger of Leopold I.

If Leopold I said that he could endure when France attacked Flanders, but secretly contacted other countries of Europa to fight against France, then after Louis XIV took the whole of Flanders, not only did he not When he retreated, and even continued to increase his chips, everyone could see that his appetite was beyond everyone's expectations. Even if it was only his first expedition, he not only captured Flanders, but also the Netherlands. .

The lowlands, that is, the entire Netherlands, were in fact originally Habsburg territories, but the Habsburgs gradually became weaker with the passage of time, allowing his vassals and enemies to take advantage How could he endure Louis XIV's pressing step by step - even if his secret covenant with Louis XIV is still in the hands of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, but now, Spain can't see Leopold I must have some plans of my own? Leopold I had decided not to pretense his actions against France, and sent envoys to Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Brandenburg, Spain and the territories of the various princes of the Holy Roman Empire with great fanfare. strangled in the cradle.

No one knows the conversation between Leopold I's messenger and Mr. Prime Minister, but after that, Mr. Prime Minister's messenger also quickly went to surrounding countries and regions, including even to Sweden, to the United Kingdom, Mr. Prime Minister also A businessman, and businessmen always know when to accept the fact that they lose money, but as long as they keep the basics, there is always a chance to make them back.

  ——

The messenger of Mr. Prime Minister and the messenger of Louis XIV met on the Queen's Island in Stockholm.

Louis has never been an arrogant person. He also knows that as long as the kings need it, they can tear up the covenant anytime and anywhere. The game between countries has never tolerated the existence of innocence and dignity, only interests, The interests of all sides - the French messenger is justifiable, after all, the French princess has a marriage contract with the Swedish king, he is here to send a portrait of the princess every year, but also to take the king's portrait back - Princess Elizabeth has grown up again. Years old, girls become mature very quickly, and the court painter LeBlanc will also draw such portraits closer to dignified and elegant. The corners of her mouth are bent upward, as if she is always smiling, and she has a pair of sapphire blue eyes that are like a lake under the snow. Her skin is as white as cream, and she does not have too much jewelry on her body. She only wears King Carl XI of Sweden. The bead chain was given to her. A round pendant hung on the bead chain. In the pendant was a small portrait of Carl XI. Although there was a drapery of golden lilies behind her, she wore a crown of lily of the valley on her head. It is an extremely common flower in Sweden, and its meaning is self-evident.

Charles XI is fifteen years old this year, and is already a real boy, just as Louis XIV expected, even if he is not very handsome, but at least healthy and strong, he is almost the same as the Count of d'Artagne, the envoy of France. Tall, dark hair and eyes made him look more mature, but when he was with the Queen Mother, he was taciturn, and he could only glimpse a little bit of the youth's spring heart and his love for him from the actions of looking at the portrait from time to time. Satisfaction with this marriage—although, at this time, the marriage between countries is more like a covenant, but who doesn’t want to have a beautiful and lovely wife? In any case, the orthodox heir can only be born from the womb of the queen, and no matter how attractive the royal ladies are, their children will never be recognized by the people and princes.

The Count of D'Artagnan is already gray on the temples, but his age has no influence on his suaveness. The brilliant achievements he once easily achieved in Paris and Versailles reappeared in Stockholm again. Laughing, of course he would not refuse him to go out hunting with the king - when the Count of d'Artagnan mounted his horse, he did not need help and jumped on the stirrup. A color.

The hunting ground on Queen's Island is just a bush by the sea. After all, it can only be said to be the king's palace - John III, his younger brother is Carl IX, the father-in-law of Carl X, and the grandfather of Carl XI. The palace was built by John III for his queen, Princess Catherine of Poland, and the island is also called Queen's Island, but to say how beautiful and rich the island is... "There are still many goats here." Karl XI said.

  The long-sleeved Count D'Artagnan, who was good at dancing, certainly wouldn't say anything to spoil the mood: "Oh, Your Majesty," he said diligently, "I like lamb the best."

A few gunshots caught the attention of a few fishermen, but they soon found out that it was the king hunting, so they gleefully raised their hats, waved at Karl XI, and continued to bend over and **** themselves work.

Count D'Artagnan kept these in mind and adjusted the sight of his spear. Next, his grades were not inferior to the king's. Relief, he reminded D'Artagnan of his king, and when he came to the king, Louis XIV was the same age as the current Charles XI, but isn't that the case with all kings? Charles XI's mother, Eleonora, did not do as well as the Queen Mother of France, Anne, and Charles XI's education was greatly delayed. Although he had already set a wedding date with the French princess, his French was not so good. It's still very bad, and it's bad to D'Artagnan to guess whether the Queen Mother of Sweden allowed him and the king to go out hunting so easily, because even if they wanted to do, they couldn't communicate freely without translation.

   You must know that there is no room for error or misunderstanding at this critical moment.

After the king's entourage was piled high with the goats and rabbits they had hunted, the king, who spoke almost fewer words than a peasant could write on a piece of paper, suddenly raised his whip, pointed forward, and then Suddenly, only one D'Artagnan reacted in the presence of the horse - perhaps because he was a musketeer after all, perhaps because he had been paying attention to the king's every move, anyway he quickly chased after him. Before the people, they moved quickly through the sparse woods, constantly beaten by the drooping branches, and D'Artagnan's heart was beating violently - not worried about himself, but worried about whether the king of Sweden would be impulsive because of this. Broken neck due to behavior.

Fortunately, Charles XI stopped after a few minutes, and D'Artagnan found that they had run to the bottom of a deserted cliff, the protruding tongue rock was pressing over their heads like a huge canopy, and not far away was gray. The sea water, Charles XI turned the horse's head, D'Artagnan looked along his line of sight, and found that it was a corner of the palace that was over the treetops.

"This palace was built by John III for his queen Catherine," said Karl XI, in that slow, stifling tone of voice: "It was, well, burned down nine years ago, Now . . . we've made some repairs, sir," he turned to stare at D'Artagnan, "and am I fortunate enough to know . . . Princess Elisabeth's preferences?"

D'Artagnan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood that even if the Queen Mother of Sweden and the Regent were shaken, Charles XI still decided to fulfill his covenant with France, even though the young king was not yet in power, But his performance was not inferior to any other king. He not only revealed his attitude, but also had a direct dialogue with the envoy of the French king, which is almost a omen. As a French , D'Artagnan is of course happy to see it succeed. After all, Charles XI has a false reputation and is still in power, which directly affects the situation of Princess Elizabeth, just like Queen Teresa, although the Queen Mother and the people in the French court are not How to like her, but because of Louis's authority, she can still get respect and preferential treatment.

   "I will convey this matter to the princess and ask her to tell you in person in the letter."

Karl XI showed a kind smile. King Louis XIV of France did not restrain his daughter too much. This is not like the education of the Spanish court. Everyone knows that the Spanish court is an old-fashioned and harsh representative. Princess Elizabeth There have always been correspondence with Karl XI. From these letters, which are written as simple and clear as possible, but with no lack of sincerity, it can be seen that Princess Elizabeth is not as vulgar and ignorant as those noble girls that Karl XI saw. Saying that she was educated with her brother, and even under the guidance of her father, her letters attest to this—there is hardly anything empty and boring, and the princess can make Carl ten with bright descriptions of even the smallest things. I read it with gusto, and then even more thoughtful - what he needs is such a wife, Karl XI almost has to thank Ms. Christina, the former Queen of Sweden, after all, if she hadn't been so reckless and short-sighted, King Louis XIV of France would not give up her easily in favor of Charles XI.

But today, he said this to Princess Elizabeth, and even more so to King Louis XIV of France. He did not agree with the idea of ​​some ministers-no matter what else, Princess Elizabeth could get a fief of Flanders For a dowry, would the Netherlands be willing to cede a province, even just a port city, The Hague or Absterdam to Sweden?

   And everyone can see that Louis XIV has a very good chance of winning.

   "Yes, Your Majesty," said the Count D'Artagnan suddenly, "do you know Livonia?"

   (end of this chapter)