1635 Han style rises again

August 1671, 8, Paris, France.

The court of Louis XIV possessed an air of grandeur that overshadowed and overshadowed all other European courts.Louis XIV called himself the Sun King and hoped that his light would shine on everything around him. He hoped that every Frenchman could be respected in Europe and even in the world.

In terms of governance methods, in order to make his ministers completely obey his orders, he tried his best to satisfy their vanity, never forgetting to rule them on various occasions, so that they feel that as long as they serve the king faithfully, they can obtain a lofty and superior position and Generous annuities.

The king also personally designed a gorgeous robe, embroidered with precious gold and silver thread on the sapphire blue velvet, with complicated and exquisite patterns and various badges, as rewards for outstanding ministers who have served him, so that in large countries During the ceremony, these ministers had conspicuous things to show their noble status.

You must know how attractive this gorgeous thing is to the ministers who are greedy for vanity. People pursue it crazily and dedicate everything they have to the king without reservation.

What is worth talking about here is the clothes that were popular in the court at that time, the tight jacket with beautiful silk borders sewn on the collar, the coat with large cuffs embroidered with colorful patterns, and an armed belt slung across the coat, wearing a sword, and on the armed belt is another I received the great ribbon of the Order, a three-cornered hat with two rows of feathers on my head, and a lace scarf around my neck.This kind of dress has been popular in European courts for nearly 20 years, and everyone is vying to imitate it.

In the Palace of Versailles (not yet fully completed at this time), Qi Guohongyu Temple Youqing, the General Representative to Europe and Ambassador to the Netherlands Peng Zhonghui is in the middle of many French court dignitaries, simple attire, different faces, and strange oriental costumes , making him appear extremely abrupt.

"Are you the representative of the State of Qi from Hanzhou, a new continent in the south?" Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Secretary of State of the French Royal Family, Minister of State for the Navy and Auditor-General of Finance, looked Peng Zhonghui up and down carefully.

"I am Peng Zhonghui, Youqing of Honglu Temple of the Great Qi Kingdom and the General Representative to Europe." Seeing the king's favorite dressed like a proud big rooster in front of him, Peng Zhonghui nodded slightly after listening to the translated words. He nodded, and then said neither humble nor overbearing: "Here, please express my most sincere greetings to His Majesty the King of your country."

"Our Majesty the King is busy with affairs, so we may not be able to take the time to meet you in person." Colbert said, "However, His Majesty the King has entrusted me with full authority to deal with the establishment of diplomatic relations with you. Before that, could your envoy explain , your Qi State suppressed and restricted the trade of our French merchants in Siam for no reason."

In 1662, the first group of French missionaries Rameau and others came to Siam to preach. In 1664, Bishop Balu was ordered to lead another group of missionaries to Siam, and their missionary activities were supported by the King of Siam. Narai's approval.As a result, French forces began to gradually infiltrate Siam.

Among the foreign political forces in Siam, there is a French Catholic priest named Shuisi, who will become a key figure in the upcoming rise of French power.He described France as the most powerful country in Europe, and Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, Britain, and the Netherlands were all prostrate at the feet of France.If Siam has good relations with France and grants various privileges to French businessmen and missionaries, it will inevitably receive strong support from France.

France under the rule of Louis XIV was eager to seek huge overseas interests like the local tyrant Holland at that time.However, the method for the French to seek overseas interests is not simply to do business, but to take missionary work and political intervention as the vanguard, followed by businessmen to create a comprehensive overseas interest agency system.

After learning that King Narai of Siam approved the establishment of churches and preaching by French missionaries, Louis XIV even wrote to King Narai himself to express his gratitude.This also made King Narai feel unprecedented glory and courage, so he gave the French more missionary convenience and commercial privileges.

In the face of the aggressive expansion of the French's commercial power, not to mention the Dutch East India Company, which had cultivated Siam for decades before, was a little nervous, even the Qi State, which regarded the entire Indochina Peninsula as its sphere of influence, was greatly surprised.

There is no mistake!These Frenchmen are too fussy, they don't even pay homage to their elder brother and second brother, just broke into Siam with a dull head, and even want to seek the unique (monopolistic) status of the country.

The French Catholic priest named Shuwazi even persuaded King Narai of Siam to convert to Catholicism several times and was willing to baptize him.Although King Narai did not agree, it is undeniable that his heart has been inclined to the French, hoping to use the power of this European power to check and balance the growing Dutch and Qi people in Siam power.

The Qi State has always regarded Siam as an important support point for its strategy in the Indochina Peninsula, and regarded it as its own back garden. How could it tolerate a new foreign force easily meddling.

Under the planning of the black clothes guards of Qi State, the prince faction headed by the commander of the elephant team, Pat Pelacha (Papilaja), began to attack the pro-French forces headed by Prince Yapayet, and ordered an assassin to capture Shuwa. Father Qi was wounded.At the same time, the representative of Qi State in Siam continued to issue subtle warnings and pressure to King Narai.In a country dominated by Buddhism, rashly introducing Catholicism will inevitably cause domestic religious disputes, national turmoil will break out at any point, and foreign forces will inevitably intervene strongly in this regard.

Under the double pressure at home and abroad, King Narai was forced to succumb, restricted the missionary activities of France to a certain extent, and canceled some preferential trade policies for French businessmen.

This move made the French very dissatisfied, but in the face of the powerful and influential Qi State forces, they could only temporarily stop their efforts and wait for another suitable opportunity.

Louis XIV, who was full of curiosity about the Eastern world, had once considered sending a large Eastern mission to have in-depth contact with Siam after he learned that the distant Siam had shown a more friendly attitude towards Catholicism and France. Establish diplomatic relations and spread France's fame to the other side of the world.

However, under the joint pressure of the Qi State and the Dutch East India Company, although Siam's relationship with France has not been completely reversed, it has also become uncontrollably alienated, and French missionaries and businessmen have also been subject to various restrictions. , This caused a huge gap in Louis XIV's heart, and he also felt somewhat disgusted with that domineering New World country.

However, Colbert, the king's favorite in charge of the French money bag, did not show a bad and rude attitude to the country because of Louis XIV's personal emotions.Because he had just taken over as the Minister of State for the Navy and was ordered to build a stronger French navy, Colbert somewhat knew about the country.

This New World country, which was established only more than 20 years ago, defeated the Dutch East India Company twice successively more than [-] years ago, and achieved absolute maritime hegemony in the East Indies region.In addition, they also extended their influence to India, Persia, Arabia, and Africa.It can be said that this country has a pivotal position in the entire Indian Ocean region.

This country not only has a strong sea power, but also a highly developed level of industrial manufacturing.For example, pocket watches that are popular in European courts, cloisonne that can be regarded as a work of art, exquisite porcelain that makes people obsessed, various canned food and calico that are popular among the people... By the way, there are also those that are relied on as national strategic materials steel bars.

In addition, this New World country has a very close relationship with the Netherlands, not only economically, but also politically and militarily. The two sides also have in-depth cooperation.It is said that during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, the Qi Navy sent hundreds of officers and soldiers into the Dutch Navy to observe and learn large-scale naval battles on the spot.

Under the needlework of the Netherlands, Qi also established formal diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Portugal and other countries, making this southern New World country gradually known by Europe.

This country seems to be more tolerant to all kinds of religions. Every year, various craftsmen and scholars are introduced from Europe, regardless of religion and origin, and the promised treatment is higher than that in Europe.In France, many scholars of the Huguenot sect, who were discriminated against and suppressed, accepted the invitation of Qi State and sailed to the distant Hanzhou continent by boat.

If Qi becomes hostile to France, it will endanger France's entire eastern trade, and even Bourbon Island (now Reunion Island) in the Indian Ocean will face unpredictable risks.Although our French sea power is growing rapidly, its strength is far from reaching the point where it can be projected to the Indian Ocean region.

Moreover, France's main expansion goal is still the European continent. As for conquering the endless ocean, it is not within the scope of Louis XIV's consideration for the time being.And Colbert was not keen on the policy of grandiose achievements, but the king hoped to have a strong force to deter Europe and the whole world, so he had to do his best to establish and maintain a strong naval force for France.

After more than a year of careful preparation, France has mobilized all its forces, including diplomacy, politics, economy, and military, and has completed preparations for war against the Netherlands in order to completely conquer this wealthy small state.

So in the upcoming war to conquer the Netherlands, what attitude will this country located in Hanzhou, a new continent, take?
The long distance made it impossible for them to affect any changes in the situation in Europe. However, for the French East India Company (founded in 1602, it failed three times until 1650, and it was established by Cole in 1664) Colbert was established for the fourth time, mainly engaged in trade with India and East Africa), Colbert was still a little worried.Will the Qi Congress cut off and destroy France's eastern trade in one fell swoop because of the close relationship between the Netherlands?
Therefore, Colbert specially invited Peng Zhonghui, Qi’s general representative to Europe, to France, preparing to intimidate and lure him, forcing the other party to recognize the situation when the Franco-Dutch war broke out, maintain the necessary neutrality, and refrain from targeting and attacking France's Eastern trade fleet and stronghold in the Indian Ocean.

"I hope that our French businessmen can get reasonable and fair trade opportunities in the Far East." After listening to Peng Zhonghui's pale explanation of the restriction and suppression of French businessmen and missionaries in Siam, Colbert did not get too entangled This matter changed the subject, "France is the most powerful and far-reaching country in Europe, so I think your general representative office of Qi in Europe should be moved to Paris."

"Your Excellency, what do you mean...France is willing to establish formal diplomatic and commercial relations with Qi?" Peng Zhonghui heard this, although his expression remained calm, he was pleasantly surprised in his heart.

"That's right, France is willing to establish formal diplomatic relations with you." Colbert said with a smile, "But we hope that you, Qi, must assess the situation and not get involved in unnecessary disputes when dealing with affairs in the European region. "

"My Daqi Kingdom has always adhered to the following principles in the course of its foreign exchanges, that is, mutual respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence." Peng Zhonghui seemed to have heard some kind of hint from the other party's words.

"Yes, equality, mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence." Colbert nodded and said: "I believe that the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries will inevitably promote economic, trade and cultural exchanges between the two sides. At that time, I will ask Your Majesty to send a diplomatic team to The mission will go to your Hanzhou and visit your Qi State to promote the in-depth development of the relationship between our two countries."

"We, France, are a big European country with a profound historical heritage. We also have more than 2000 million hardworking and kind subjects. Under the leadership of the great and wise King, our France will be committed to Promote peace and stability on the European continent and work to eliminate all trade that imposes inequality and injustice."

"France cherishes the sincere exchanges between countries, and is willing to make due efforts to promote economic, trade and cultural exchanges between our two countries. In the future, when the situation in Europe is undergoing major changes, I hope that you, Qi, can fully Respect and support the reasonable choices and necessary actions made by our France. In this way, you Qi will win the most sincere friendship from our France."

Peng Zhonghui listened to the interpreter beside him relaying Colbert's words word by word, and the expression on his face gradually became serious.

The French have already told him that when the situation in Europe undergoes "major changes" in the future, Qi should choose to stand by their side, so as not to offend the powerful European overlord and gain their friendship .

Oh, are the French ready to attack the Netherlands immediately?
For this reason, a special warning was given to Qi in advance. After the outbreak of the Franco-Dutch War, it is necessary to make a "wise and reasonable" choice, and respect and understand their invasion of the Netherlands, so as to realize the expansion of France's natural borders. plan.

So, how should our country of Qi respond to this?