open sea

Chapter 749
In spring, flowers bloom and everything grows.

On the other side of the ocean, tens of thousands of mesta nomadic nobles on the Iberian Peninsula began to nomad northward from the southernmost tip of the peninsula. More than 200 million merino sheep were mighty and mighty, eating everything they could see.

Sheep trampled the fields and ruined the crops, and the court knew it, but the mesta nomadic nobles were the taxpayers of the Spanish region - they had to be nomads.

The architectural style of the Madrid Palace is unique. This city, which replaced Toledo as the capital in the 39th year of Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty, still reveals the rural atmosphere of a small place in all aspects, which makes the artist try his best to decorate with tall domes and complex religious paintings. Every public building here.

The barber sheathed his knife, and King Philip stood up slowly. The man in the mirror had extremely short hair, and his eyes were full of firm piety. The thick dark circles under his eyes gave this piety a hint of madness.

Two attendants used soft brushes to clean the broken hair on the king's bare upper body, and then put on a black shirt with intricate patterns on his body. The king turned his head to look at the dignified court barber who was standing beside him, and spoke.

"Every morning, the face wash gets bigger and bigger, and I need a hat."

Philip easily accepted the fact that he was going bald on the top of his head, but he couldn't miss today's portrait, in which he needed to be still heroic.

A black shirt with intricate patterns is worn over a black jacket with intricate patterns, and a black cloak with intricate patterns is worn over the black jacket with intricate patterns.

He also had a pair of white boots.

The portrait is a good thing, the portrait will not let people know that he is starting to go bald, and the portrait will not let people know that he is disabled.

After saying "May the Lord bless you" to the barber, Philip led the courtiers and limped around the corridor under the protection of the guards, and walked towards the bedroom.

He ignored the doctor who reminded him that he should go for a bloodletting.

According to the words of the doctors in the Ming Dynasty, the king’s disease was called gout, and the medical books did not fully understand this disease. They only knew that it was blood stasis and phlegm dampness, which accumulated between the limbs, where the muscles and bones met, and the pain was caused by the openings. .Those with scorching heat and swelling and pain are heat heavier than dampness, those with heavy limbs are dampness, and those who are seriously ill at night are blood stasis.

The general treatment method is to dispel wind and dehumidify, nourish blood and dredge collaterals, clear away heat and detoxify—the effect is slow, or it can only relieve symptoms.

In Europe, this kind of disease is called "can't walk disease". The cause is unknown, only eunuchs don't get it, women only get it when they are very old, nobles and kings often get it, so it is also called emperor's disease.

There are countless treatment methods. The conventional ones include physical therapy and diet therapy. The diet therapy is relatively simple: roast a fat goose, stuff it with minced cat, lard, incense, wax and rye flour, and then let the patient eat it.

High purine, brother!

Physiotherapy is much more complicated. Bloodletting depends on the astrology, season, climate, and location. Based on the color, concentration, smell, and taste of the urine, it is determined which part, how much to put, whether to cut it or suck it with a leech.

In this way, starting from the burning of Antwerp in the Netherlands in the 29th year of Emperor Shizong Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty, and the increase of tariffs but affecting Spain's own finances, Philip's gouty feet became more and more serious after experiencing tremendous inner pressure, unrestrained eating habits and strange treatments. It is swollen, has grown tophi and deformed, and can no longer ride a horse.

But Philip, who was no longer young, was not afraid.

He has the most unshakable belief. Just yesterday, the recruiter from Portugal successfully took away the mercenaries from Germany and Wallonia from Spain. Half a month ago, the Spanish mercenaries also rushed to Portugal.

The preparations for the war against the Moors by King Sebastião of Portugal are almost complete.

This was probably the only piece of good news recently, and Philip was very happy to mention it to his courtiers. He asked left and right: "How are the Moors planning?"

Philip really didn't stumbling Portugal, nothing at all, all he did was not agreeing to Portugal's request to let the Spanish Legion join the war, but he didn't object to Portugal's recruitment of troops under his rule Great support was given.

If he does not give support, it will be difficult for Portugal to recruit a large army that can dominate the southern expedition. Now, more than [-] mercenaries have gathered in Lisbon, and there will be more troops after several months of preparation.

"Morocco has prepared a lot of Berber light cavalry. According to the news sent back by spies, Ottoman intends to support their operations and will send a reinforcement of two to 3000 people."

"In addition, some infantry regiments composed of mercenaries who defected to North Africa from Europe will also fight for the Moors, and the Moroccan light cavalry is composed of musket cavalry and spear cavalry. Although their equipment is slightly inferior, their combat power high."

"However, Sebastiao also has Berber cavalry. Mutawakkil is convinced that the Portuguese can help him take the throne, so he intends to join the Portuguese coalition army. They may serve as flanks in the battle."

"Personal conquest, hehe, the pirates of the Ming Dynasty blocked the Arabian Sea and created an opportunity for Portugal to withdraw from the East India."

Philip with a big chin smiled, limped but happily swayed forward, and said: "Netherlands, France, no matter what they are, how many troops can we mobilize? It must be a Spanish veteran who is well-known in Europe." .”

This condition is too difficult, regardless of the Netherlands?The nobles of the Netherlands rebelled against Spain from the north and the south. The beggars at sea kept raiding the Spanish fleet in the Mediterranean, and the beggars in the forest kept attacking their army on land.

Regardless of France?The Protestants are getting more and more violent, and it won't be long before they will be united with the Netherlands. What's more, now that the French and German armies are entering the Netherlands, things are getting more and more complicated.

Which place does not need a garrison?
"Perhaps we can form an army of ten thousand veterans?"

The smile froze on Philip's face shaking his head, his footsteps also stopped, and he turned his head and said, "Ten thousand? No, I need [-] soldiers who can invade Lisbon in a week after recruiting today. As long as Portugal loses this war, I will declare myself king of Portugal."

"Is the land of Seville ready?"

Something about the Ming Dynasty suddenly popped into Philip's mind. Although they were separated by an entire ocean, the people of the Ming Dynasty did not come to take over the leased land in the east of Seville, which made him feel bad.

"Be sure to warn everyone not to try to get involved in the leased land in the east of Seville - our trade with Ming continues, whether they come to receive the land or not, we must not give Ming Dynasty any more excuses for war."

"Summon the Duke of Alva, after Sebastian's expedition, he should lead the army again."

At this moment, a letter was sent to Philip by the hands of more than ten people, and the messenger whispered: "His Royal Highness, an urgent letter from Almansa, Governor of New Spain!"

　Good morning!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)