It was not unfounded that Philip IV was able to claim to be the "King of Earth". The Habsburg dynasty in Spain, as the first empire to set, occupied the richest gold and silver mines in the Americas. Moreover, for nearly a hundred years, Spain almost dominated the Americas and plundered local wealth.

However, the Spanish Empire had been fighting for years and almost as enemies as the entire Europe, while precious metals on the American continent poured into the Ming Dynasty like flowing water, so in the hands of Philip IV's grandfather, the treasury was already in a very difficult situation.

Although the Spaniards quickly regained another city after the Invincible Armada was defeated by the British Royal Navy, the Empire had inevitably declined.

In 1627 of the Jeremy, the sixth year after Philip IV ascended the throne, the Spanish government declared bankruptcy. The following year, the Spanish treasure ship was intercepted by the Netherlands. The country's economy became even worse.

The economic defeat directly led to the decline in combat effectiveness of the Spanish army and the instability of the complex ethnic areas. In 1640, in order to win the Thirty Years' War, Philip IV continued to expand his army and wanted the Catalans on the Iberian Peninsula to bear part of the military expenditure. As a result, France secretly incited it, which led to the Spanish civil war.

In the same year, the Portuguese movement broke out, and Joao IV established a new dynasty: the Braganza Dynasty, ending Spanish rule. Two years later, Spain lost its northern Taiwan stronghold in the Far East, and Manila almost became an isolated island.

In 1648, the 30th Years of Germany's War was decided, and the Spanish Habsburg family was almost despised by the whole of Europe, becoming the most unpopular royal family, and losing their land advantage. Philip IV had to admit that the Netherlands was in exchange for room for continued war against France.

During the Spanish-French War, although Spain once conquered Naples and Catalonia, it still could not change its decline.

The country's situation declined day by day. Philip IV hadn't heard good news from afar for a long time. In addition to the early death of his sons, his life always seemed to be covered with a layer of haze.

On a day in May 1657, just like all the boring days in the past, the fifty-two-year-old Spanish king received a note from the Ming Empire from Portugal.

The Ming Dynasty declared war on Spain.

Because the Ming Dynasty and Spain did not establish an ambassador relationship and did not have any channels for each other to send envoys, this declaration of war was sent by the Ming ambassador to Portugal from Lisbon. Judging from the time of the signature, the Ming Dynasty had declared war on the New Year of the Chinese calendar, and it was obvious that it took a lot of time on the road.

Philip IV stood helplessly in front of the window, allowing the hot wind to blow on his face.

Speaking of which, he was full of favor for the Ming Dynasty. There were many precious silk products from the Far East in the palace. He also liked the simple blue and white porcelain very much, but there was always a gap between the two countries.

The nobles of the distant colonies had no idea of ​​respecting a true empire and slaughtering their people like barbarians. It seems that this result should not be surprising now.

"The key is," Philip IV squirmed his huge chin. "What is the outcome of the war?"

Queen Maria Anna just pushed the door open and didn't hear her husband murmuring. She came here because she received a letter from her friend Queen Christina, which mentioned that some of Spain's actions in the Far East might lead to displeasure of the Ming Empire.

"Mr. King, you must stop your colonial officials. We have no idea what the nobles want to do! They should not provoke a powerful country, especially without self-protection." Queen Anna took out the letter of Queen Christina's fragrance and handed it to her husband. Under the key sentence that was unintentionally mentioned, there were traces of her gently scratching her nails.

"I'm afraid it's too late." In exchange, Philip IV handed his wife the Ming Dynasty's declaration of war.

The queen looked at the notes written in Han, Western and Latin languages, and her heart calmed down.

"Then, now we can only wait for the outcome of the war." said the queen.

"I have thought of the result." Philip IV firmly said: "This is the trouble that Zabiniano himself caused. I will not pay a ransom for him. Unfortunately, our business tax revenue is probably much less."

Spain's national business method is very primitive. It obtains gold and silver from the New Spain province and transports it to the Ming Dynasty for tea, silk, porcelain and other commodities. Under conditions permit, it will also purchase Indian spices from smugglers. Some of these commodities will flow into Europe through the New Spain market, which is also the income point of the Spanish treasury.

It can be seen from this chain of economic activities that Spain did not obtain the real European currency - gold and silver, but continued to transfusion of blood. Philip IV once pushed for legislation to prohibit gold and silver from flowing out of the border, but obviously did not achieve the expected results.

"The gold and silver of New Spain will come back." Queen Anna comforted the king and herself, but soon lost her confidence. She said, "The premise is that our treasure ship can escape the dirty claws of British pirates."

"It is indeed sad that we were driven out of the Far East." Philip IV sighed, "Fortunately, the New World and Europe are still safe."

Maria Anna thought so too.

However, they ignored the urgent mentality of the new ambassador of the Ming Dynasty to make contributions.

The son-in-law Gong Yonggu never re-established his wife after his death. Because he had no place to stay in the court and had no idle food to eat under the new policy, he invited him to go on a mission to Europe and took his daughter to see the scenery of another world. The Ming Dynasty declared war on Spain, which was the biggest event since he took office and also a great opportunity for him to become famous in foreign countries.

Although in terms of responsibility, Gong Yonggu only needs to pass the notes, as the spokesperson and ears of the Ming Dynasty in Europe, he can do more.

In April of 1657, Gong Yonggu left Lisbon, Portugal and went to Marseille, France. Under the protection of his reliable musketeers, the French king Louis XIV was waiting there like an ordinary noble child, excitedly hoping to meet the messengers from the Far East, and sincerely hope to go to the Ming Dynasty in person.

This is a bit too exaggerated when the Tang King left Europe.

On a sunny afternoon, the Mediterranean breeze blows. In this city famous for its resistance to the French court, Louis XIV, who was later known as the "Sun King", met the ambassador of the Ming Dynasty, the uncle of the Ming Emperor, and Mr. Gong Yonggu.

Wearing white tights, a wide burqa, and with long curly hair, Louis XIV instantly felt good about Gong Yonggu, who was wearing a wide robe and a crown scarf.

"You are so gentle and elegant, and you feel warm and friendly." Louis XIV praised without any attention.

Gong Yonggu just smiled with a more friendly smile. He could not understand the psychology of this teenage boy, but he knew that the French king and even the whole of France had to show kindness to him, because he represented the Emperor of Ming Dynasty and the quota decision of five hundred artillery.

In legend, people also believe that the Ming Congress brought gold and silver into ships with huge battleships - as long as they felt it necessary.

"I am very happy to meet Mr. King." There is no need to use respect for foreign kings who were not enthroned by the Ming Dynasty. Gong Yonggu said: "I believe Mr. King has learned that the Ming Dynasty has officially declared war with Spain."

"Yes, I know, although I did not participate in national affairs..." Louis XIV was obviously a little excited. He glanced at the civil servants beside him. The civil servant looked fair and always had a gentle smile, showing his upbringing that conformed to the values ​​of the upper class of European society today.

This civil official is the real person in charge of the negotiations during this trip, Nicholas Fukai.

Nicholas Fuke is now the French Chancellor of the Chancellor.

During the Trench Rebellion from 1648 to 1653, he firmly stood on the side of Cardinal Massalin and the dynasty government, laying the foundation for his future reuse of Massalin.

As for Cardinal Massalin, there are two other identities: the French Prime Minister and the lover of Anna of the Queen Mother of Austria.

Indeed, Louis XIV is not the Sun King praised by later generations, but just a symbol of royal power without rule.

Gong Yonggu put a lot of effort into the relationship between the European royal family and was able to basically clarify the relationship between them, but what he found it difficult to understand was why relatives also fought fierce wars, almost to the point of death.

The king in front of you is an example.

Louis XIV's mother married King Louis XIII of France at the age of fourteen. She is often called Anna of Austria, but in fact she is the daughter of Spanish princess, Philip III, and now the elder sister of King Philip IV of Spain. After Louis XIII's death, it was she who firmly supported Massalin to fight a protracted war with her motherland.

"Dear sir, as you can see, after the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, we had fought a war with Spain for nine years." Nicholas Fukai cleared his throat and did not notice that the king beside him was squinting at him.

"In the Nine Years' War, France and Spain were like two drunks, holding each other tightly while almost exhausting their physical strength, and not be able to defeat the other. We and Spain both suffered domestic rebellion and the torture of people's poverty, and were on the verge of financial collapse." Nicholas Fuke did not mind exposing the embarrassment of his country at all, which is actually a well-known fact.

Gong Yonggu thought of the situation not long before the Ming Dynasty, and could only sigh, but could not find a suitable language to echo the words of the Minister of Finance.
Chapter completed!