Well, because of the arrival of Du Li and Carlo, William's initial visit to the Locks Mansion was cancelled. However, seeing that these two little girls were really causing trouble under his nose, William decided to visit
Out of sight and out of mind, I decided to visit Rocks Mansion again.
Of course, the two little girls must not know about the itinerary, so one morning, William quietly left Sanssouci Palace with his people. For the sake of his own ears, William ordered all the attendants, no matter who asked,
William's whereabouts were not known at all.
Just like that, William, who seemed to be an underground party member, set off.
Coincidentally, when William arrived at Locks' mansion, Locks was about to go to the cabinet office. However, seeing William's arrival, Locks had to cancel this original plan.
"Your Majesty, why are you free today? As long as you give your orders, I will naturally go to Sansouci Palace to see you." Rocks asked puzzledly.
Did William want to tell him that there were dozens of ducks making noisy noises in Sanssouci Palace? So William smiled bitterly and said to Rocks:
"I have some important matters to discuss with His Excellency the Duke this time, so I took the liberty to come here and wonder if it is convenient for you now."
William asked Locks if it was convenient. Isn't this nonsense? No matter how inconvenient it is, you are here, and Locks can still drive the king away.
Rocks quickly ordered his attendants to prepare tea, and at the same time led the way himself.
After sitting down in Rocks's reception room, Rocks ordered the attendants to put the black tea on the table, and then ordered everyone to retreat. The royal guards also retreated after seeing William nod.
"Your Majesty, you said you have something important to discuss with me?" Rocks asked in confusion.
"Your Excellency, Duke, you also understand the current situation on the European continent. Why do you think Britain and France are ahead of other countries?" William did not tell what the matter was at the beginning. Instead, he asked Duke Locks about his views on Britain and France.
"This, Your Majesty, I think it may be the reason why Britain and France have many colonies all over the world and can reap huge benefits." Rocks thought for a while and replied.
"Oh, can you explain it in detail?"
William picked up the teacup and took a sip and said
"Facts have proved that a country with an ocean is richer and more powerful than a landlocked country, and Britain and France have a hundred years of accumulation as the backing. From 1519, the Spanish colonist Hernán Cortés used the Indian
After the internal conflicts among people conquered the Aztecs.
In 1521 AD, Hernan Cortez captured Tenochtlán, the capital of the Aztec Empire; in 1530 AD, Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire in Peru. Spain began a fifty-year exploration of the New World and
Exploitation.
According to statistics, between 1545 and 1560 AD, the Spanish navy transported 5,500 kilograms of gold and 246,000 kilograms of silver from overseas. By the end of the 16th century, Spain accounted for 83% of the world's precious metal mining.
It was on this basis that Spain began to gain great advantage and deterrence over European countries. Through the plunder of the New World, Spain began to exert force on the world's territory and occupied half of the world.
Until August 1588, Spain and Britain engaged in a world-famous, fierce and spectacular naval battle in the English Channel. It ended with Spain's devastating defeat. Spain's "Invincible Fleet" that dominated the world that year was completely wiped out. From then on
After that, Spain declined sharply, losing its status as "sea hegemon" and being replaced by Britain.
After taking over Spain's position, Britain continued Spain's foreign policy, which was to compete for colonies around the world and gain profits by exploiting and squeezing the colonies.
The same is true for France. Under the leadership of Louis XIV, who was known as the (Sun King), France began the process of competing for colonies around the world, through the inheritance war with Spain from 1667 to 1668 for the Netherlands.
War with the Netherlands from 1672 to 1688 (Franco-Dutch War), Nine Years' War with the Holy Roman Emperor from 1688 to 1697 (War of the Grand Alliance, also known as the War of the League of Augsburg, War of the Palatine Succession)
) and the War of the Spanish Succession from 1702 to 1713.
The bipolar struggle between France and Britain for world hegemony has begun to take shape, and Prussia is undoubtedly a young country compared to Britain and France. Therefore, Prussia currently only has a certain influence in Europe. In the world, Prussia is temporarily incomparable.
Study English and French"
Rocks' words made William's scalp numb. It is not unreasonable why Britain and France have become the two poles of the world. After a hundred years of accumulation, they defeated the old overlords and then rose up on the corpses of others. It can be said that this path is for everyone.
The only way for a country to rise.
Thinking of this, William said to Rocks:
"Just now His Excellency the Duke also said that Britain and France have gained strength after hundreds of years of accumulation. But if they want to accumulate this strength, I think there must be something unusual in their country. Your Excellency the Duke, why don't you analyze it for me?"
William was completely pretending to be stupid. After decades of ups and downs in the officialdom, how could Rocks, who had long ago become like an old fox, not be able to hear the hidden meaning in William's words.
"The unusual thing about Britain and France is that their domestic voices and needs are the same, and everyone knows what they want.
But there is a very interesting thing about Britain and France, and that is their political system.
Britain is a constitutional system, while France reached the peak of monarchical rule of the country during the reign of Louis XIV.
But whether it is a constitutional system or an autocratic monarchy, their rule is relatively stable, and at the same time they have high prestige among the people. Everyone is willing to obey the orders of the ruler. This is a necessary factor for a strong country."
The old fox-like Rocks did not discuss this issue in depth, but the meaning of his words kept hitting William.
What does it mean to have unified voices and needs, and what does everyone mean to be willing to obey the orders of the ruler? This is not a reminder from the side to William that if the country wants to be strong, it must unite the power of everyone, including those Junkers.
But it happened that the Junkers nobles stood against William because of William's reforms, because once William's reform plan was completed, the interests of the Junkers would be harmed.
"Your Majesty the Duke, you also know that although Prussia is powerful on the outside and has a certain prestige among countries, internally it is far behind the powerful countries such as Britain and France in terms of territory, population, income, etc. If it is not
Without changes, there is no hope for Prussia to rise."
William said worriedly that he had to convince Duke Lockes to support him, because Lockes was not only the prime minister of the cabinet but also a great noble. When the king and the nobles were on opposite sides, only one noble could persuade the other.
A nobleman.
William needs Rocks's influence. Although he won't need it now, after the military reform, William will plan to reform the country as a whole. It may be too late to start work by then. William believes in Rocks and some smart people.
People have already seen their desire for reform in all aspects of the country.
PS: I watched Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons in the afternoon, and it felt like it was just like that. I didn’t have the same joy as when I watched Moonlight Treasure Box.