Chapter 509: Change of Focus
"Damn Castile, damn Aragon, for wasting my fleet and putting the kingdom in danger."
Joao was forced to gather all his soldiers and prepare to send them to Sevia to deal with the Roman army. You must know that after Seville is Cordoba, and then Portugal.
In the past few years, he has also worked hard to develop the country's economy and navigation. Now that the Portuguese fleet has been completely wiped out and the land is in danger, he hopes that Rome can leave after plundering like the previous army, and not stay for a long time. Portugal is now in a state of poverty. It wants land but no land, and wants money but no money. It is planning to develop a navy and march to the ocean. However, it was completely annihilated by the Roman navy. He provoked whoever he provoked, and even when he entered the blue land, he was attacked.
Besides, Portugal and Rome are thousands of miles apart, so no matter how hard you fight, you can't hit him. Why was he so embarrassed to join the Iberian coalition in the first place? Now that he's fine, he can either pray to the other party not to fight, or fight to the death. . Religious emotions kill people!
The Pope in Toledo also gave them the right to launch a holy war, allowing them to drive Rome out. Judging from the current situation, the one attacking Castile was only a Roman partial force and could be easily defeated.
But soon, news of peace negotiations between Rome and HRE reached Iberia. Such bad news really surprised them, which meant that Rome would turn its attention to Poland or Iberia. Alone they must face the wrath of Rome.
Castile and Aragon quickly formed an alliance because their monarchs more or less relied on the local parliament, and the local parliamentarians agreed to send troops, but in Portugal, because Joao was a strong king, the role of the parliament was reduced. . He preferred diplomatic solutions to war.
In addition to mobilizing troops, he also sent people to Sevia and Rome to meet with the Roman emperor and generals. If he could get a promise, he could continue to march to the sea and seize the Canary Islands of Castile. After the capture, Castile planted sugar cane on it and made a huge profit. Portugal has long been greedy and intends to swallow it all.
After Peter withdrew his troops from Mainz, he took a side trip to Geneva. The Swiss Confederation was delighted with their independence and introduced the first consul, Leuthard, to sign a formal treaty of alliance with Peter on behalf of the entire Confederation. Peter was also generous. He directly signed a one-year employment contract for 20,000 mercenaries, and selected 2,000 of them to be permanently employed by the Praetorian Guards. At this time, the population of the entire Swiss Confederation was only 400,000, and the favor of the Roman Empire was enough for them to survive.
Switzerland also knew that it acted as a buffer between Rome and the HRE, and acted carefully. However, the most important thing was to guard against the HRE, especially the Habsburgs who wanted to regain their ancestral homeland. They did not have a German king here. . I don’t know what the Count of Tyrol will face, but those in Austria will not give up.
"You performed well at the negotiating table this time. You are worthy of someone who has been to the East." Peter praised Mason.
"This is all your Majesty's credit. Sigismund was still a little unconvinced, but he was convinced immediately after being beaten once in Mainz. The only way is to make them feel the pain."
Mason talked about his insights on Shinra and also reported on his work. The Venetian Water City will soon cease to exist. The lagoon will be filled with soil and stones transported from other places. According to calculations, if the land is completely filled, it can accommodate 300,000 people and allow a large number of factories to enter. The increase will be endless. Less taxes.
"You are doing very well. Not only that, you are also very comfortable in the mall. You spent hundreds of thousands of lei without blinking an eye."
Mason was stunned for a moment and quickly adjusted his expression. "The family business is all managed by Chen's brothers, and I don't have time to interfere."
"I don't blame you, but the speed of wealth expansion is faster than my expansion of territory. I will learn how to do this someday."
Upon hearing this, Mason broke into a cold sweat. He even thought that His Majesty had discovered something illegal and was about to kill the pig. His family was indeed richer than many people. He had also made great contributions to the empire's contact with the East. In addition, His Majesty had been with him for more than ten years. No matter how you look at your friendship, it doesn't look like it can kill you.
Peter looked at the other person and knew that he was thinking too much. He didn't mean anything, he was just interested in the Mason family. And he also needs Mason to develop vast colonies. He also knows about the Southern Company. Colonization controlled by the government is currently impossible because Africa and Asia are too big and the government has limited strength. It can only be through chartered companies. to explore and develop southern Africa. The Mason family was an important part of colonizing Africa.
The Southern Company began to try to develop Sofia and the surrounding areas. The local indigenous people did not seem so friendly. The defenders launched an expedition, but the population was not enough and they were defeated by the opponent. They can only try to outsource things in Africa to other families to reduce the financial burden.
"Recently, Southern Company has suffered some losses in its business and had to sell its shares. Then it was sold out in less than half a month, which shows that the other party is strong. You are my personally appointed Earl. Although this land is desolate, I believe You can make this place more beautiful.”
He didn't know what the emperor wanted to do, but what Mason was sure of was that every move of the family was under the emperor's surveillance. In order not to be suspected and then fall to the point of destruction, he must do his best to serve the royal family. In the East, he had read in local books that many families had their homes confiscated and exterminated because they offended the emperor. He suspected that the emperor also wanted to learn this way. Good practice.
The current Mason family, headed by the Governor of Tuscany, the eldest son manages the family business, the second son is a high-ranking official in Dalmatia, and there is a relative in the cotton business. The annual income can be said to be an astronomical figure. If there is no sufficient backer, then these wealth will become the object of competition.
Mason thought so, the messenger came from afar to deliver him a letter, and his wife gave birth to a daughter for him. While he was happy, he also began to consider the old routine of keeping the family long-lasting: marriage.
And he also wanted to write a letter to his father, saying that the emperor might give the family a big task recently, and be prepared.
Rome took back Sardinia this time, and the emperor established the Sardinia Province here, starting another round of cultural cleansing process. Peter is also ready to return to Eastern Europe to solve those two stubborn problems. With them in Eastern Europe, it will be difficult to stop. And it is not good for the family to rule the whole of Europe. As a reactionary bastion, Rome has the obligation to eradicate them.