Mrs. Mantenon asked: "Didn't the king's navy defeat the British-Dutch fleet?"

"Yes, Turville fulfilled his duties and defeated the British and Dutch fleet, but it was just a victory without a heavy blow. We did not lose a piece of wood, while the British and Dutch fleet only lost a few ten warships. Most of the warships were retracted into the shallow dunes of London or the Netherlands. You know, the main force of the enemy is still there, and it only takes one or two months to ease it. Reorganize a fleet of more than 85, which is still the same as ours." Loi introduced.

Mrs. Mantenon said: "Marquis, I don't know about war. I think one or two months is enough to do a lot."

"You are too modest, and your understanding of war may be inferior to His Majesty the King." Loire praising Lady Mantenon, who knew that sometimes it was more effective than praising the king directly. Loire explained: "But we were not ready, no one expected that Tulville would have a decisive victory, the army was not prepared, and the navy could not stand fighting again."

The attack by Turville was more about revenge on the British fleet's attempt to block the Mediterranean port. Unexpectedly, the British-Dutch fleet would launch an attack with an absolute disadvantage to make him win. At the French top management, there was no plan to defeat the British-Dutch navy and then land in the UK. This plan originally had, but it was two years ago, but James II was really too unsuccessful.

After defeating the enemy, the French fleet broke out in an epidemic. Not to mention landing in Britain, Tourville did not even pursue it and urgently returned to his home port Brest. When the fleet sailed again, when the army assembled, it would face an English-Dutch fleet. At that time, as long as the British-Dutch fleet avoided war and only served as a fleet, the French fleet and tens of thousands of troops could do nothing.

When Louis believed that he would soon win decisive victory in all directions, how could he consume such a great force at the beach?

When Li Junwei led his army to expedition to America, Dan Tai Yunfeng came to Europe as a special envoy and appeared in the Palace of Versailles. At that time, Louis XIV was very interested in forming an alliance with China. Louis XIV believed that China had two major advantages, one was its financial advantage and the other was its naval advantage. The former could finance the wars carried out by France, while the latter could deal with the colonies and trade activities of the Grand Alliance overseas.

However, Louis XIV got the answer he wanted from Dan Tai Yunfeng. The alliance between the Empire and France was limited, that is, the Empire did not want to be enemies with the entire Great Alliance, but only targeted Britain and Spain. Later, the Empire won one after another in the New World, and used war to support the war, and did not require French support. This goal was eliminated. Now there is only one goal to form an alliance with France, that is, Britain. But the problem is, in Louis XIV's eyes, Austria is the number one enemy, the Netherlands is the second, and Britain is at most third.

More importantly, the arrogant Louis XIV believed that China was taking advantage of him and took advantage of Europe's opportunity to fall into war to seize overseas colonies. Louis XIV believed that even if the two sides cooperated to fight the Grand Alliance, France should share enough colonies, and Li Junwei obviously did not have this plan.

Therefore, there are essential differences between the two sides. Louis hopes to cooperate comprehensively, focus on law, dominate Europe and divide the world. Li Junwei hopes to cooperate partially, each with his needs, each with his own mastery, and gains and losses are up to his own. The huge strategic differences between the two countries are already impossible to resolve by the ability of diplomats. Fortunately, the empire still takes the initiative.

Under the guidance of the attendant, James II arrived at Mrs. Mantenon's room. Louis was very polite to him and still respected him with the etiquette of the king. Although Louis never believed that kings were equal, he at least considered James II as king.

"Dear James, I heard you have made a few new friends recently." Louis XIV said with a smile on his lips. James was not stupid. He knew that Louis XIV was hitting himself. He nodded gently and responded: "Yes, Chinese people have frequently contacted me recently, and I think this is beneficial to our career, so I communicated with them in part, but I know that there is only one Sun King in this world."

Louis XIV is very welcome to James' statement. He smiled and said, "I just remind you that the relationship between China and Catholicism is destined to be together with us. And I don't want to limit your social interactions, but I hope you understand that you can have many friends, but only one sincere friend of the king."

"Of course, of course." The man had to bow his head under the eaves, and James responded.

Louis XIV said: "Now the Kingdom is constantly winning, and Austria and Spain will surrender soon. As long as the Netherlands is solved, William will lose his foundation. The thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland still belong to you, dear James. And the Chinese may not be able to help you do this."

James II was unwilling to leave. He didn't like Louis XIV's attitude. Louis refused to help him and refused to allow Chinese people to help him. He was too domineering. But what James II didn't know was that Li Junwei could not provide the help he wanted, because James II was as arrogant as Louis XIV. He even thought that as long as someone showed him some money and sent him to London, he could respond. It was really ridiculous.

"Your Highness, you are fine."

In a hotel in Paris, Dan Tai Yunfeng saw the lost James II and asked softly.

"Marquis, you seem to be in a much better mood. Perhaps what you failed was just a lobbying, and what I lost were three kingdoms." James said. When he was at Versailles, he saw that Dan Tai Yunfeng was as disappointed as himself. Now it seemed that he had walked out of the haze.

Tan Tai Yunfeng took out a gift bag from his arms and placed it in front of James II. James II asked, "Is this a spice bag? Is it something refreshing?"

"No, this is called a tip, it was sent by His Highness Yu of Lisbon. Tell me that it can only be opened when the plan to land in the UK completely fails, and today is the time, so I just saw it, and you may also look at it, and you should be in a better mood." Dan Tai Yunfeng suggested, but then he thought, the king in front of him knew French but could not speak Chinese, so he started chanting himself.

In fact, the plan to land in the UK is just a holiday in Li Junwei's Western strategy (America + continental Europe). It was just because he had such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and Li Junwei wanted to try it, so he asked Dan Tai Yunfeng to persuade Louis XIV, but it didn't matter if he failed. Of course, based on the principle that the lion fights the rabbit and also makes all his efforts, Li Junwei concealed his attitude so that Dan Tai Yunfeng could do his best.

The real plan is not to jointly land in Britain with France, because it is not entirely in the interests of the empire. It is important to interrupt the bourgeois revolution in Britain, but if it is an alliance with France and land in Britain, it means that Britain will fall into France's control and may form a continental power with complete sea routes, which means that a war will be arranged to break it up in the future.

Li Junwei's real plan was to unite with France to seize British colonies in North America. This was a tripartite cooperation, with China and France plus the James Party, China provided fleets, military expenditures and some army, and France and the James Party provided the main force of the army to attack North America together. Li Junwei gave James II more respect and authority, allowing him to withdraw the troops that were still resisting in Ireland and devote himself to America. He first had a foundation in America, and the province was eyed by Louis XIV in France all day long.

This also forced France to form an alliance. China occupied Latin America, France was powerless, and in North America, France also had New France and Louisiana, and was qualified to divide the British colonies. On the contrary, if it did not join, it would definitely not benefit, and even China might annex the French colonies.

"This is really a perfect plan. The wisdom of the Chinese prince is indeed like..." James II screamed excitedly.

Dan Tai Yunfeng did not disturb him, and James said: "As King Yu said, Louis will definitely participate, he will definitely! I will go to find him now, and I will go now."

Dan Tai Yunfeng stopped him at this time and said, "King, you must be calm. In this plan, China is a necessary condition. Letting France join is to share the cost and avoid being an enemy. And you and your supporters may not be. What if Louis refuses you to participate, especially when he goes to America to break away from his control, what should you do? After all, the cake is limited, and you will get one more portion if you don't have one person, right?"

Only then did James II realize that he was really too excited. The Chinese need their own support because they did not understand the East Coast of North America and needed the "leading party". The French were different. They had colonies themselves and were not unfamiliar with the local area. When the two countries reached cooperation, they could kick themselves out.

"What should I do, what should I do..." James II frowned and said, paced back and forth in the room. When he looked up, he saw Dan Tai Yunfeng who was confident in his heart, so he said, "Marquis, what about your opinion?"

Tan Tai Yunfeng said: "If it were me, I would tell King Louis after the facts existed, so that he had to accept it. For example, there must be an army first, which is loyal to you and is not controlled by King Louis. For example, your army in Ireland can be cooperated by us to first respond to the Caribbean Sea... Of course, there is a shortcoming of my suggestion, which is that it will annoy King Louis, so..."

Needless to say, James II knew that he should find a scapegoat. But James II soon found a suitable person, his illegitimate son, Philip James.

James II immediately said: "My army is under the command of Philip James, so I hope your country can send an envoy to Ireland with my best friend, and both sides agree on a plan to retreat to the Caribbean Sea......"

Tan Tai Yunfeng nodded slightly, and after agreeing with him, he immediately announced that the lobbying trip in France was over and he returned to Lisbon.

Dan Tai Yunfeng, who returned to Lisbon, was welcomed by all parties. The Imperial merchants held a grand welcome ceremony for him at the Portuguese Association and Portuguese merchants. Dan Tai Yunfeng won the lifting of the steam engine for the Imperial merchants and the opportunity to use steam power for the Portuguese merchants. They will naturally be welcomed by all parties. Li Junwei took the opportunity to announce that from today, Dan Tai Yunfeng will serve as the Minister to Europe and be responsible for all the diplomatic affairs of the Empire in Western Europe.

After performing his duties, Tan Tai Yunfeng's first major business was to go to Madrid to conduct peace negotiations with the Kingdom of Spain. In fact, Li Junwei had arranged early contacts for his son-in-law, and even organized a professional team for him. There was a secret support from the Fajado family in Spain, and there was threat from the Imperial fleet and the expeditionary force outside. The use of both soft and hard makes the peace talks go smoothly.

After contact, the two sides did not have any conflicts in principle, especially as the victorious country, and did not propose clauses that Spain could not accept. Therefore, a truce was achieved on the fifth day of arriving in Madrid. However, in some details, the two sides had some differences, which eventually led to the "Madrid Treaty" being reached at the beginning of the 28th year of the Empire. In fact, the terms of the Empire were even much looser than the Spanish thought.

On the land, the Empire only required Spain to ced the Panama region, Florida, Chile, Bolivia and La Plata region, and the Ceuta region in Africa. The Empire had occupied the Peruvian Governor's territory returned to Spain. In these conditions, only Bolivia made it difficult for Spain to give up because it had the Potosi silver mine, but in later terms, the Empire compensated.

The rest, Panama and Florida are important transportation routes. Although the empire occupied it, it is still open to Spain and naturally provides protection. In the eyes of the Spanish, the La Plata region of Chile is a wilderness, and it has not even achieved complete conquest, and if it is lost, it will be lost.

In Havana, Cuba, Cartagena, Colombia, Lima, Peru and other important colonial port cities, the empire all have a concession.

The reason why the Empire was willing to return large areas of colonies was because of the second largest clause, the tariff clause. The Empire helped Spain establish a modern tariff system in overseas colonies, operate the colonial customs system on behalf of the Spanish kings, establish customs schools and tax troops, and assist in the fight against smuggling and piracy. The tariff policy for the American colonies was formulated by the two countries in consultation. This means that the Empire can control the market of the Spanish colonies, and also means that the American colonies with more than tens of millions of people are fully open to the Empire.

The empire could completely reduce tariffs on Chinese merchant ships and increase tariffs on British and Dutch to combat competitors and give imperial goods an advantage in Spanish colonies. Spain has doubts about this, and they are worried that the customs controlled by the empire would exempt Chinese merchant ships from tariffs, resulting in damage to Spanish interests.

This is the crux of the negotiations between the two sides. On the contrary, there is not much contradiction in the issue of territorial sovereignty. Although Dan Tai Yunfeng promised to be supervised by the Spanish king, he still could not satisfy him. In the end, Li Junwei came forward to make a political guarantee to ensure that the colonial customs controlled by the empire would provide the Spanish treasury with no less than two million imperial silver dollars a year. In order to ensure that this guarantee is effective, Li Junwei also proposed that after the two sides officially signed the contract, the Imperial Bank would lend 6 million imperial silver dollars to the Spanish finance, which would guarantee the colonial customs tax. If the income within two years is less than two million, the money would not need to be paid back.
Chapter completed!