monarch

When the Duke of Alva walked into the study room behind the excited King Philip II, the first thing he saw was a precise miniature sand table in the center of the room, which was built by more than a dozen skilled craftsmen regardless of cost. , just completed a week ago.The sand table uses exquisite scale to restore the shape of mountains and rivers throughout Europe, from the Pillar of Hercules (Gibraltar) to the holy city of Jerusalem, from Swedish Lapland to the Libyan Sahara Desert, from Western Europe to the Middle East, every mountain, every big river , every big city that can be named is reflected in this sand table.

The sand table is densely filled with pins with small colorful flags, among which the golden yellow ones represent the Spanish army. They are distributed on the long front from northern France to Naples and then to the Pyrenees. Most of the pins are densely packed The ground is inserted in the northern part of France, which represents the Flemish Legion approaching the city of Paris.On the fringes of the Spanish Empire, the golden flags are much sparser, and even in the mainland of Spain, there are not many golden flags left.

France is represented by a small blue flag. Compared with a few weeks ago, the number of blue flags has been greatly reduced, and most of them are concentrated near the capital. The long border is empty.Even those who know nothing about war can see that France is no longer capable of fighting.

All the small red flags symbolizing Britain were planted on the British Isles, and only one small red flag was planted at the Calais Fortress across the sea from Britain.Britain is an island country, so it doesn't need too much army to maintain the country's security. A large part of these small red flags can be sent to the European continent as an expeditionary force.

The entire Netherlands has now become a sea of ​​small orange flags, and the southernmost small orange flag has been planted on the border between France and the Netherlands.Spain has basically lost control of the Netherlands, and now only a few cities on the border are still in the hands of the Spanish army.But all this was only temporary. As the Flemish Army moved eastward after defeating the French, there was no doubt that the Dutch rebels would be driven out of the south.If they are smart enough, they will temporarily withdraw to the north, relying on the dense water network obstacles of the Netherlands to deal with the Spanish army.

Looking further east, another Habsburg family in Austria ruled Bohemia and Austria. Against the overwhelming green Ottoman flags, there are only a few small black flags symbolizing the Habsburg Black Eagle.Austria had been enfeebled like a bedridden patient from long religious strife and civil strife, and would die at any moment without Spanish support.

Like a child eager to show off to his friends, King Philip couldn't wait to introduce the sand table he personally participated in to the design of the Duke of Alva.

"Please take a look at this three-dimensional map, sir. Compared with ordinary combat maps, this sand table is much more accurate. Please take a look at the situation marked with small flags on it. Do you think they are accurate enough?"

"There is nothing more precise, Your Majesty." Duke Alva bowed, "Please allow me to express my congratulations to the geographers who participated in the making of this sand table."

"I will definitely convey it, Your Excellency." Philip II seemed to appreciate Duke Alva's appreciation very much, "The purpose of my building this sand table is to make our conversation today smoother. Regarding the current situation, please talk about it. Your opinion."

"It is my honor, Your Majesty." Duke Alva cleared his throat lightly.

"The Battle of Saint-Quentin dealt a heavy blow to the French, Your Majesty, whose finances were as overwhelmed as ours. For a few years at least, the French will no longer be able to organize an army that can compete with us. Now is the time It’s a good opportunity to sign a peace treaty with the French. I left part of the army outside Paris just for our country to obtain better conditions in the negotiations. If we propose to use the French to withdraw from Italy in exchange for peace, King Henry II has a high probability Will agree."

"Is it just to drive them out of Italy?" Philip II bit his lips lightly, "Some of my advisers believe that now that the French have suffered heavy losses, Paris is already at your fingertips, and you can enter the gate of Paris without much effort , deposed King Henry II, and overthrew the House of Valois."

"This kind of statement is really ridiculous." The Duke of Alva snorted and sneered, "Although Saint-Quentin was a great victory, but England achieved more brilliant victories than this in Poitiers and Agincourt. But look now, the Valois dynasty still rules France. You can force the French out of Italy or cede a few provinces through a war, but it takes decades of desperate struggle to overthrow a dynasty, until we and France Only when one of the people bleeds dry can the battle be won or lost."

"Paris has always been a rebellious city, a hotbed of rebellion, and its citizens have more than once forced the King of France to flee from his capital. They really don't like King Henry II, but we are in their I'm afraid the image in my eyes will be even worse... Once the siege begins, their dissatisfaction with their king will be transferred to us, and the citizens will fight against the French king's army and defend their capital together. Want to seize this city, but It will cost a lot, but as I said, it is far from the end of the war, it is only the beginning. The capture of Paris serves no purpose other than to irritate the French."

"Those gentlemen want to depose Henry II and overthrow the Valois dynasty, but even if all goes well and we accomplish this goal, what after that? Who are they going to ask to be king of France? England and France have fought The Hundred Years' War, that's because the king of England is half French, they have a claim to the throne of France. But the Habsburg family has never claimed the throne of France, do you want to send this crown to King Edward of Britain go there?"

"Perhaps a candidate can be found among the offshoots of the French royal family?"

"That won't make any difference." Duke Alva shook his head, "This collateral royal family can rely on your support to sit on the throne in the Louvre, but if he wants to secure this seat, then he must Do as the kings of France have done throughout the ages."

"Okay, okay." Philip II nodded regretfully, "You are right, I will no longer consider this unrealistic proposal. We will make peace with the French, and you only need to deal with the Dutch Those rebellions are fine, and I hope this annoying rebellion is over before the end of the year."

Duke Alva smiled helplessly, "Many people think that taking down the Netherlands is easy, but unfortunately, Your Majesty, this matter is not as simple as it seems on the surface."

"I don't understand." Philip II asked puzzledly, "Those rebels are just a group of untrained rabble. The British sent them consultants, but in such a short period of time, there is no way to get a group of farmers and The rascals in the city are trained to be good soldiers. You have defeated the French, and you will tell me that these guys are more difficult to deal with than the royal army of France?"

"Naturally, the rebel army cannot be compared with the well-trained French army." Duke Alva explained, "The key to the problem lies in the terrain of the Netherlands. Unlike northern France, it is not suitable for the actions of the large army."

The Duke walked to the edge of the sand table, picked up a slender wooden pole placed there, and pointed to the north of France on the sand table.

"Your Majesty must be able to clearly see that the entire northern part of France is a plain without ups and downs, where the Flanders Army can be fully deployed. The battles fought on this land are usually large-scale battles, The most important factor that determines the outcome is the comparison of the strength of the armies of the two sides and the command art of the commander.”

The Duke moved the tip of the pole northeast again.

"The Netherlands is a completely different land. Your Majesty, there are many rivers here, and a large number of canals have been built for irrigation and shipping. These rivers have divided this land into a fine mosaic. The northern part of Lan, that is, the seven provinces with the most stable foundation of the rebel army. This is not counting the fortresses built to defend this land in the past few decades. They are now in the hands of the rebels. We These nails must be pulled out. On such terrain, our large army cannot be deployed. Here, the Flanders army is like a giant whose hands and feet are bound. Strength is extremely limited."

"I can assure His Majesty that the southern Netherlands will be taken back before the end of the year. The terrain there is relatively regular and more suitable for army operations. Most of the residents in the southern Netherlands are Catholics. They joined the rebellion but Outraged by the atrocities that took place in Antwerp... This is an unimaginable folly, and I have ordered the arrest of the officers responsible for this atrocity, and they will receive the most severe punishment. I believe that through this This move can bring some residents back to our side."

Philip II nodded, "They deserve it."

"As for the seven provinces in the north, I must admit to His Majesty that it will be a protracted and arduous battle to recapture them. This war will mainly consist of scrambling for the various crossings and a long siege of the fortress... All of this may It will last for several years. And the longer these rebels are supported by foreign countries, the better equipped and better trained their army will be, and the more weary our army will be, and the more financially it will become Overwhelmed. The Netherlands will become a terrible abscess in the fabric of our country, a bottomless pit that swallows resources and lives."

Duke Alva's ominous prophecy made Philip II's look even more gloomy.

"The English!" said King Philip with a mixture of anger and disgust. "They are the cause of all my troubles... I never liked that wet and cold island, and my days there were a nightmare. ! If I have the chance, I must settle accounts with them!"

"That's what I want to talk to His Majesty about." There was a vague and mysterious smile on Duke Alva's face.

"You want to talk to me about the British?" Philip II was a little surprised.

"When you encounter a poisonous snake in the wild, what should you do? Naturally, cut off the snake's head."

"Are you saying..."

"If your enemy is a hydra, then Britain is the middle snake head. The other heads will grow two again. It is useless to deal with them. You need to put the middle head Cut off the snake's head, and all problems will be solved."

Philip II yelled in surprise, clapped his hands together, and took a step back.

"Do you mean the invasion of England?" asked the king.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I have been thinking about this matter for a long time." Duke Alva nodded, "I have been conceiving related plans in the carriage on the way to Madrid."

"The key to defeating the English is control of the seas. It will be an invasion of unprecedented scale and will require the strength of the entire Spanish fleet. A mighty Armada will be assembled at Cadiz, joined by warships from the Americas, the Mediterranean and the homeland In this fleet, the old warships will be overhauled, and the warships under construction will be completed and added to the fleet. At the same time, sailors will be recruited and supplies will be stored. The preparations for the entire operation will take about a year, that is, until next spring."

"The Armada will set sail in the early summer of next year. This is the most suitable season, both in terms of wind direction and weather. They will carry a small army from Spain, land in southern Ireland where the English rule is weak, and occupy one or two the bay as a staging point for supplies and a safe haven for the fleet."

"After that, the fleet will go straight into the English Channel, where I expect the English fleet will gather to intercept our fleet. It will be a naval battle of unprecedented scale. As long as we can cross the English Channel, the invasion will be successful. half."

"But what if their fleet doesn't move?"

"That doesn't matter, because our goal is to cross the strait." Duke Alva said, "The Armada will sail to Antwerp to merge with the small fleet we are currently stationed in the Netherlands. In Antwerp, Flanders One of the best of the legion will be on board, and the fleet will carry them ashore in East Anglia. Then the English will have to send their fleet, if they don't want to, or our soldiers' boots will fall on their isles. land."

"Considering the size of the British Guards, the first wave of landing soldiers must reach at least 2 soldiers. For this, we need at least 150 warships. Considering the possible losses during the naval battle, just in case, I hope that the Armada It can contain more than 250 warships, preferably around [-]."

"The first wave of landing troops will occupy and hold a port, and the Armada will travel between this port and Antwerp, transporting a total of about 5 troops to the British Isles. About one-third of the troops. When the transportation is over, the army will march to London. Their goal is to occupy the capital and ensure that the Thames estuary is unimpeded. Our transport ships can transport supplies along the river directly to London. On the pier."

"If this works out, it will be the end of the Tudor dynasty! The godless, degenerate boy will be kicked off the throne, along with his strutting lover, Robert Dudley "Philip II looked very excited, "A new Catholic monarch will lead Albion (an ancient name for Britain) to re-bath in the light of Catholicism... Yes, this is indeed a good idea."

"Things are not that simple, Your Majesty." Duke Alva reminded, "As we said when we talked about France just now, changing dynasties is not a simple matter. There is a high probability that King Edward will move to the north to continue his resistance. Our invasion will be aimed at capturing London, not the entire island."

"But what's the point?" Philip II asked.

"The purpose is to weaken the British." Duke Alva replied, "Britannia's scepter is her fleet, as long as we win the naval battle, they will no longer be able to exert any influence on the European continent. When we take London, King Edward is a nobody, and Britain is like a cabbage, and London is its heart, and if he wants to keep the leaves, let him have them... but till At that time, [-]% of his throne was also unstable. Those nobles who lost their interests because of his policies were all looking forward to this day. They would set off a frenzy of rebellion in the remaining land of Britain. King Edward VI is likely to drown in this wave."

"I thought there were not many of his opponents left." Philip II said suspiciously, "Many of those nobles have already been guillotined, and the rest may have been scared out of their wits."

"The monarch's enemies are inexhaustible, Your Majesty, they are like snakes, temporarily dormant in the cold winter, and when the weather warms up, they will emerge from their caves. We have to play the role of the warm sun. "

"Once London falls, King Edward's power will be greatly weakened, and those who oppose him will naturally jump out again. When the Civil War breaks out in England, both of them are full of thoughts on destroying the other side, and for this they will even be willing to Be friends with us, and you can do what you want, sell arms and mercenaries to each other, and fill your coffers with gold coins stained with English blood, just like Edward VI. What the world is doing now in the Netherlands."

"The French were seriously injured, the British fell into civil war, and the rebels in the Netherlands lost the support of the outside world, and their morale must be exhausted. At that time, whether you want to forcefully suppress the rebellion or negotiate peace is completely up to you. Those Germans A small Protestant country will not be able to make waves after losing foreign aid, so you can use your energy to deal with the Turks. As long as you hold Vienna on land and Malta on the Mediterranean, then you are the undisputed master of the Christian world."

"When all the parties in the Civil War in England have shed their blood, when they are exhausted, then perhaps they will choose a sovereign who will bring them peace, a sovereign who will secure much-needed foreign aid, such as Her Majesty the Queen, Then the crown will fall into your hands."

"The premise is that she can live until then." Philip II's voice was as cold as a frosted window in winter, "not to mention that she might not be able to give birth to a child."

Duke Alva lowered his head, he dared not and was unwilling to comment on the queen's health, but he knew in his heart that what Philip II said was not wrong at all.Mary Tudor's condition had deteriorated to such an extent that medicine stones were useless, and all the doctors agreed that she was unlikely to survive the next winter.When the invasion of England began, she was probably buried six feet below.Even if one day she sits on the throne of England, her state is completely unfit for ruling, and can only be regent by her husband, just like Philip II's grandfather "Philip the Handsome" told Queen Mary's aunt Princess Juana do that.What is more tragic than Princess Juana is that Mary Tudor is absolutely impossible to give birth to an heir, the blood of Catherine of Aragon is doomed to be cut off, and the crown of England is doomed to fall on someone else's head.

"But it doesn't matter." Philip II said to himself, "I will also need a continuation wife at that time. The two remaining girls in the Gray family are very good, and their inheritance rights are very tenable. , as long as they convert to Catholicism. They are young enough to produce healthy heirs."

"You are right, Your Majesty." Duke Alva agreed.

"I heard that you had a quarrel with my son when you entered the city?" Philip II suddenly changed the subject without warning.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Duke Alva said without hesitation, "Prince Don Carlos felt that two of my followers blocked his way, so he wanted to beat them with a whip. These two are loyal servants of His Majesty, Each bears a dozen noble scars, all from serving His Majesty and His Majesty's father, and they do not deserve such rough treatment from the heir to the throne."

"You have publicly stated that he is unfit to inherit the throne," Philip II said dryly.

"I admit that I said so, Your Majesty."

"But I have only one son."

"It is true at present, Your Majesty, but I believe it is only temporary."

"Even if I have a new son, I can't change the order of inheritance at will. You know that. I can't deprive him of his inheritance without reason."

"I'm not worried about that." The Duke of Alva shrugged his shoulders. "Your son will destroy himself in a short time. If he becomes king at that time, he will also destroy Spain."

"But he is still the only heir to the throne." Philip II said, "For your own sake, I suggest that you ease the relationship with him. I don't want a rift between my son and my greatest commander."

"If this is His Majesty's will, then I will obey it, but I cannot guarantee that His Majesty the Prince will accept the olive branch I extended."

"Leave Don Carlos to me." The king's voice was full of unquestionable majesty.

"Then it will be as His Majesty wishes." Prince Alva bowed, "Also about the plan to invade England..."

"I approve, sir." Philip II hammered the edge of the sand table with his fist, and several small red flags planted on the British Isle were shaken, and they were shaken out of the sand table, "please go and talk to the Minister of the Army and Navy Let’s have a chat and work out a plan and timetable together, we will start to prepare according to this plan, next winter Christmas, I hope to attend the Thanksgiving Mass at Westminster Abbey in London.”

He picked up a small red flag that had fallen and threw it to the ground, crushing it with the toe of his boot.

--------------------

Albion is the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, the gods of the sea in Greek mythology. It is said that he brought the craft of shipbuilding and astrology to the British Isles, so Albion has also become another name for England.