Mary Su Stuart

Edinburgh, where the Royal Palace is located, is the capital of Scotland.

It is located at the mouth of the sea on the east coast of Britain, and stands on a stretch of rocky cliffs. It is considered to be the center of the lowlands with abundant rainfall in the south-the further north Scotland is, the more rugged the mountains and the harsher the environment.However, Edinburgh, with its relatively superior location, is inevitably closer to the border with England.

Therefore, whenever its master is defeated, it is difficult to avoid the devastation (;;) of foreign armies.And the repair work requires a lot of effort.

"It's really a waste of time." Mary looked at the report paper presented by the first secretary Maitland, rubbed her forehead, and couldn't help sighing.

Preconceived ideas are good, but reality is always cruel.After learning about the country's population and land in a down-to-earth manner, Mary's pressure increased sharply.

How to make the country rich and strong, how to stabilize the capital... There is still a long way to go for the time-traveling girl if she wants to be a good chief designer.

Seeing the queen frowning, the careful Miss Fleming brought her a glass of thick honey water.Mary took a sip—the blood sugar went up, and she felt a little better, and felt that things would not be so difficult if she slowly changed her mind.

As for why the Queen had hypoglycemia, it was naturally related to the large gap in diet and eating too little food.

Ahem, it is easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but difficult to go from extravagant to simple.The delicately cooked French cuisine has whetted her appetite. Now, Mary finds it hard to swallow the Scottish cuisine that she "thought she could eat" in the past.

However, she was quite optimistic and comforted herself in her heart.Life here is relatively simple - or poor - there are not many people serving the Wang family, and management is convenient.As for the interior of the palace, after she popularized garbage sorting and required strict enforcement, the cleanliness of the palace was much better than that of the Louvre.

As for those big bastards in the barracks... Since it's not a time of war, it's not difficult to clean up according to the rules as a form of training.In particular, Mary's salary is relatively generous, and the soldiers are more able to listen to their opinions.

Under the current situation, it is definitely necessary to repair Edinburgh's fortifications.After all, this ancestral castle is generally quite strong; the population in the city can also support the name of a capital.Mary had no time to dislike the coldness and staleness of Edinburgh, she just wanted to be as safe and tidy as possible.

As for the nearby Holyrood Palace, which my mother was thinking about, I probably had to leave it aside for the time being.

The queen's residence was just handled according to the standards of militarized management.Then, Mary, who was concerned about finances, went on to think about other issues.

In order to save money and travel, she has tried her best to save trouble and convenience.Just this, the supply of food and clothing, still can't be too economical?

In other words, the quantity can be frugal, but at least, the food needs to be slightly improved in quality?

Mary touched her stomach quietly, and thought silently: If she had been abstinent for a few months, if she returned to France, she might be able to wear Queen Catherine's tunic without any difficulty.

Alas, there are things that can be saved, and there are things that cannot be saved.In order to maintain the majesty of the Queen and the action of subsequent "reforms", military expenditures must not be saved.

In order to support the "loyal" guards around her, and even build a reliable imperial army in the future, she couldn't bear to invest.Fortunately, at the moment, Boswell is quite able to hold the field, and Montgomery is also quite a knight.The two captains and vice captains continued to live in harmony in the past. At least Mary didn't have to worry about the details of troop management.

But if this continues, the mere 50 livres can't help being spent.

Marie scratched at the quill, trying to count.

Money should not only be used wisely, but should also be invested in projects that can generate money as much as possible.

The so-called open source is also.

The mercury mirror formula in my hand is not yet suitable for use in Scotland.The local industrial base is weak, and confidentiality is also a problem. It is not easy to make products smoothly.Moreover, Scotland's transportation capacity is underdeveloped, and there are many uncertainties in the market...

It's better to wait for the movement from France and then act as appropriate.

The lucrative luxury goods industry plan can only be postponed, let's focus on the local people's livelihood and civilian use.

Mary writes and draws, and sets a basic rule for herself: First, never increase taxes easily to increase the burden on the common people.

It's not that the queen pursues benevolence and kindness.Rather, with a population of 60 in Scotland and its backward productivity, even if "the meat is chopped off the legs of egrets, and the fat is cut from the belly of mosquitoes", it will not be able to get much real money.Therefore, it is the right way to maintain the current tax and labor standards, or even reduce them to ensure the stability of the people.

However, if the level of production develops, tax revenue will naturally rise proportionally.Moreover, the increase in productivity will lead to the development of the commodity economy, and the income of the monarch will also increase.

Therefore, she still has to try to improve technology and lead the people out of poverty and become rich.

Food is the paramount necessity of the people.Although the highlands are not suitable for farming, Scotland's agriculture cannot be easily given up.After all, compared with the traditional local animal husbandry and fishery, farming has more room for improvement and is expected to feed more people.

Mary sought Maitland's opinion, circled a piece of land near Edinburgh, and invited several local "experts" to guide the farm work.These experts were received by the Queen and discussed many "very down-to-earth" issues with her—

"We don't need to keep sheep in pens like England. We're mainly pastoral..."

"The income from animal husbandry is indeed not as good as farming. Therefore, as long as the climate and land conditions here are acceptable, it is feasible to increase the proportion of farming...As you said, make full use of it."

"The hops introduced this time, as a raw material for brewing beer, should have a good prospect! However, how to expand production like in England still needs careful consideration."

"Marl fertilizer? Yes, we've experimented with it in some places, and it makes the conversion rate between fallow land and crop land faster, which improves yield significantly."

"Green vetch? Oh, you mean this kind of plant...it can increase fertility, and it is suitable to be planted together with pasture? It is really worth promoting...oh, its flowers also produce honey? Take care of beekeeping, as you That being said, it's worth trying."

It was difficult for Mary to explain the various principles of how legumes fix nitrogen and compost in crop rotation.So, under the guise of "spreading from the East", she gave an order as the queen to ask "experts" to work intensively on her experimental field, and prepare to spread the technology throughout the country in the coming year.

She has previously purchased several copies of "Five Hundred Tips for Farming" by English farmer Thomas Tuce, and is planning to print (unauthorized, Khan) several editions by herself, and will distribute them to rural priests at an optional time, so that they can teach farmers well work.

After all, these priests...religious issues really troubled Mary.

Roman Catholicism has existed for thousands of years.At first it was an illegal organization, but it was gradually accepted by the rulers and became the state religion.After the fall of the Roman Empire (especially the Western Roman Empire), religion domesticated many barbarians with its unique energy.The pope gradually replaced the secular kings and lords and became the supreme ruler of Western Europe.

During this period, although there were countless struggles between the religious power and the royal power; but generally speaking, the Holy See still had the name of righteousness and absolute authority.

The territories ruled by the Catholic Church are so vast that if they are called monolithic, that is not the truth.However, generally speaking, on the surface, everyone "must obey" the teachings of the top leaders.

However, over the years, with the development of the Renaissance and the spread of humanism, free thought, like a cicada that has been dormant for many years, has gradually and tenaciously crawled out of the solid soil.

Martin Luther was a religious revolutionary who lit the brightest torch.His success is largely due to his fellow countryman, John Gutenberg.The latter invented the movable type printing press and became the founder of the printing and publishing industry in Europe.Since the beginning of the printing age, books are no longer "luxury goods".Under Luther's translation and dissemination, the "Bible" no longer only has a Latin version, nor is it only hidden in the hands of priests.Literate and hyphenated people and "foolish people" also have the opportunity to get closer to God.

Before Luther, no one was dissatisfied with the various abuses of the church and called for reform.However, even if they accuse the priests and even the Pope of their licentiousness, oppose the exploitation of tithes, and resent those who sell religious places and indulgences for profit... they can only cause waves in some areas, and are overwhelmed by those at the top of the pyramid. Interest groups are "quickly" culled.

However, with the popularity of the "Bible", more people began to doubt: Is worshiping the pope who lives in the world really the only way to believe in God?

At first, Luther wrote treatises and called out loudly, just wanting to reform the evils.But as he participated in various debates, his words aroused enthusiastic responses from all walks of life, and his core thought was finally poured into a towering and bright lighthouse-the religious places and religious ceremonies stipulated by the church are not the relationship between man and God. necessary intermediary.

In other words, everyone can "freely" communicate with God.The authority of the church was greatly reduced, if not completely lost.

Naturally, the Roman Catholic Church would not tolerate such heresy.But Luther, who was condemned as a heretic, was protected by a "good" German lord, thus avoiding the fate of being burned.After all, his doctrine is too vital, too direct to the heart - without the approval and approval of the Holy See, as long as you practice yourself, you can be closer to God and closer to heaven; how free it is.

When the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire became Charles V, who was able and willing to forcibly clean up heresies and heresies in all parts of Germany, Luther received French asylum again.

The French monarch, who also believes in Catholicism, is more concerned with conflicts of interest with neighboring countries than with faith.Therefore, as long as it is the enemy of the enemy, he will try to make friends.

Secular and religious forces pull each other, and Luther's theory has since then thoroughly taken root in the European continent.

But Luther advocated personal interpretation of the Bible, which means that everyone can read different meanings.The resulting new denominations are more difficult to form unity like Roman Catholicism.For example, his successor, the Frenchman John Calvin, who almost established the Geneva Religious State, opposed Luther's so-called "salvation through faith" and believed in fate more.At the same time, Calvin was more excited and extreme than Luther, focusing more on matter and flesh (;;) to eliminate all "heterogeneous".

Because Calvin's theory is more aggressive and he likes to interfere in social affairs, he has received more welcome than Luther—after all, during the struggle with the old Catholicism, he showed his fangs and claws and fought fiercely. Fight for more living space for yourself.

Protestantism, which was originally born among the people, finally penetrated into the high-level castle and the court.

"The most important factor in determining the religion of a country is often its king."In addition to emotions, what determines the king's attitude is complex interests.

Interest is the supreme temptation.If the monarch intends to split with the Holy See and support reforms, he will almost become the head of the domestic church; politically, he will no longer be bound by the Pope's canon, and economically, he can also assign the church's real estate and income to his own name...

But these obvious benefits may not be taken by every monarch.On the one hand, Charles V, the leader of Germany and King of Spain in Continental Europe, is forcibly sweeping away heresies, and his force value is formidable; political and economic privileges no less than those enjoyed by Protestant kings.

Today, Mary is faced with such a difficult choice.Old Church, or Protestantism?

The modern soul under the body of the Queen of Scots has no definite religious beliefs.As far as personal preference is concerned, Mary has a better impression of Luther, who admires himself, and agrees with him not to engage in idolatry.But her legal husband's family, her bound ally France, was holding high the banner of Catholicism.

Therefore, it is safer for her to stay in the Catholic camp...

However, England, which is adjacent to it, cannot stop the religious reformation, and the influence of Protestantism is growing day by day, and her Scotland is also standing on the edge of the huge wave of reformation!

Many years ago, Henry VIII, who had no male heir at that time and had only one daughter, Mary, coveted the benefits of the Reformation, could not resist the temptation to have a son with the young and beautiful Protestant Anne Boleyn, and was determined to have a son with him. Wife divorced.However, the Spanish princess and Catherine of Aragon was the aunt of Charles V, and the Pope refused to approve it.Henry VIII had a big quarrel with the Holy See and broke up resolutely.From then on, he established himself as the head of the Church of England and confiscated the property of the old church...

But Henry VIII still believed in the tenets of the old church; he only adopted the part of the Protestant teachings that was beneficial to the royal power.Therefore, during his reign, except for the translation of the Bible into English, the teachings and rituals of Catholicism were still preserved.

It is fair to say that this level of change does not pose too much threat to the religious environment in Scotland.

After the death of Henry VIII and the succession of Edward VI, England completely fell to Protestantism.

Along with the advance of their front, the more thorough, more extreme, and harsher Calvinism also crossed the border and spread to the whole of Scotland.

People's hearts began to change.So far, though, it's been "peaceful."

Mary Tudor, who is in power now, is an out-and-out Catholic supporter.In order to maintain her faith, she burned many Protestants to death, and was even named "Bloody Mary".Cruel persecution, although scaring away a group of Protestants, will also lead to rebellion and resistance.The problem is that the current Queen of England is dying; and Elizabeth, who is waiting to be enthroned, pretends to be in line with Rome, but is actually ready to return to the embrace of Protestantism at any time.

Since the time of Henry VIII, Scotland has been accepting some "heresy" from its neighbors; now, in a few years, it will probably be "forced" to change by Elizabeth's dark forces.

No, in fact, it is not entirely considered the power from England-although the local turmoil has never been without the "help" of neighboring countries-the will of the Scottish local lord is also an important factor.

Mary knew that the man who was about to preside over the religious revolution in her country was a serious Scottish native, John Knox.

This Protestant leader was once imprisoned by France for attacking Protestants.After his release, he traveled through England and continental Europe, and finally arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, where he found his ideal.

Knox studied under Calvin, a Protestant tyrant, and strengthened his attitude of intolerant, and also understood the spirit of armed struggle.If he ignores it, he will return to Scotland in about a year, impress those mercenary lords, incite the mob, and with the help of all parties, set off a religious civil war in Scotland-until 1570, the new sect, the Scottish Presbyterian, was officially established dominance of the society.

Historically, John Knox was the nightmare of Catholic Mary Stuart—she was almost completely powerless against the various mass movements he led.Now, the young queen, who had changed her core, gritted her teeth and decided to get rid of his bomb as soon as possible.

According to the Queen Mother, although this person is still in Geneva, he is well-known and respected by believers, and he can remotely command religious reformers in Scotland, and has set off some small-scale impact movements.

From the end of 1557, the Queen Mother heard some calls for the "Protestant Reformation".But the prudent regent did not accept their provocation, but suppressed the matter with a negligent attitude.

But over the past year, the arrogance of the Protestants seems to have become more and more arrogant.

Mary thought, maybe this has something to do with the news that the bloody queen in the neighboring country was seriously ill?

From what she knew locally, the situation was really in Knox's favor.If he really appeared in the territory, I am afraid that he would pose a huge threat to himself soon.

Suppose Knox really returned to Scotland in 1559, as in the original history...

The time left for Mary is urgent.

It is also a choice to destroy him physically (;;).However, if the fanatical Protestant did not return home, she would have no good reason and no way to arrest him.But if you want to act secretly...

It's not necessarily easy either.

Even if the assassination is successful, if it is not handled properly, it may turn that guy into a "martyr"; it may even make Scotland grow a few more "John Knox".If it fails unfortunately, it may provoke this "reformer" to be even more indignant, and rush back to his hometown to make a mess.

But, no matter what, at least find a reliable person to monitor him, intercept him outside the country, and then wait for the opportunity to act.

Mary frowned.She once asked Uncle Guise to pay close attention to the movements of this "heretic".But at that time, she didn't have a deep sense of crisis, so she never made them act urgently.As the peace talks between France and Spain gradually become public, the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine may be busy with power struggles and may not have time to take care of this matter.

Mary tugged at the quill at the end of her pen and wrote another name.

Francois Longueville.

I hope her half-brother can take on this important task.