[Henry VIII] Tudor Crown

Queen Juana was holding the urgent letter sent by the border sheriff, and stood by the window of Ghent Castle, lost in thought.

In the cathedral not far away, the body of Enrique II was still shrouded in a sacred white veil, and he did not receive eternal peace and God's blessing, but at such a critical moment, Queen Juana wanted to Focus on France, which is about to move, and always be on guard that Henry II will directly take Belgium or Flanders at her father's funeral.

"Does William know that France is gathering troops on the border between Luxembourg and Belgium?" Queen Juana's nails poked crescent marks on the envelope one after another. After Johanna led people to control the Duke of Guise, she asked very anxiously. Said: "What do you think Henry II wants to do? At this sensitive moment, make a reminiscent move."

After all, Queen Juana seemed to think of something again, and then asked one more question: "Has Spain already known about France's behavior? Or is there a shadow of Spain behind France's movements?"

"Your Majesty, I think it is unlikely that Henry II will form an alliance with Philip II." Johanna replied: "If it is really going to march into the Netherlands, then it is impossible for Philip II to make an alliance before Charles V. At the moment of delegating power, let the Duke of Palmer pay condolences to your father."

You must know that the young Duke of Palmer is the heir to the Farnese family. If he died in the Netherlands, then Spain's ten-year layout in Italy would be ruined.

For the ambitious Philip II, this undoubtedly made him watch the Medici grow bigger in Italy.

Queen Juana feels that it is not yet possible to relax her vigilance against Spain. After all, Henry II can send the Duke of Guise as a living target, so it is not surprising that Spain sent the Duke of Palmer.

Even though Queen Juana was surprisingly angry at France's actions, for the sake of the future of Belgium and Flanders, she still could not punish the Duke of Guise who came empty-handed.

only……

"Duke of Guise, I'm afraid he's going to become an abandoned son of France." Queen Juana analyzed: "If you can kill the Duke of Guise with my hand, then Henry II will have a ready-made reason to go to war, and he can be righteous. Brightly guard the heir of the Duke of Guise, and if I don't kill the Duke of Guise..."

"Then your relationship with the Duke of Lorraine and the Duke of Guises will deteriorate further." Johanna and Queen Juana once lived in the court of Francois I temporarily, so they made friends with the Duke of Guiss there.

The Duke of Guise, a Catholic supporter, was extremely dissatisfied with Francois I's decision to marry his sister to a Protestant.

While Queen Juana was having a headache, the Spanish ambassador and William III, who was far away in England, also moved after hearing the news.

The young Duke Paval did not believe that his grandfather, who was far away in Spain, would not be able to hear the movement of the French army, but he was very curious about how Queen Juana would deal with the current deadlock.

It can be said that the Duke of Guise is the poisonous bait thrown by Henry II. Regardless of whether Queen Juana takes the bait or not, she has to shed a layer of skin.

"Perhaps William III will have other solutions." Little Duke Palmer should pay more attention to his personal safety than worrying about Queen Juana's situation.

After all, he is the emperor's grandson.

If the French really attacked Belgium, then the little Duke of Palmer was likely to be taken by Queen Juana or Henry II to negotiate terms with the emperor.

But even if the little Duke Palmer wanted to escape from this place, it was not an easy task.

Half of Belgium's border has been blocked by France, and the waterway will pass through the English Channel controlled by William III.

No matter which one it is, someone will stop the little Duke Palmer from escaping.

Moreover, after Johanna took the Duke of Guise away, Queen Juana's confidants surrounded Ghent Castle.

Although in name they were protecting the personal safety of the guests, everyone knew that if Henry II really invaded Belgium, they would be Queen Juana's bargaining chip.

After all, compared with Spanish envoys, the number of French envoys must be more than doubled.

As for the English envoys...

But anyone with a brain will not stop them from reporting the situation to King William III.

In England, which is not far away, William III, who was informed of the movement of the French army, did not show the same flustered expression as Queen Juana, but calmly said: "I knew that Henry II was going to be at the funeral of Enrique II." It’s just that his handwriting this time is really too big, so the outcome of the confrontation will become a big problem affecting the European structure.”

Sir Cecil, who was summoned into the palace overnight by the king, drank a large cup of coffee on the way to ensure that he could have a clear mind to discuss the unexpected situation in Belgium.

John Dudley knew this was his chance to flex his muscles.If Henry II really invaded Belgium, then the English navy would be the first to act.

Not only the garrisons at Poole and Southampton, but even William III's military installations on the Isle of Wight could be tried.

It's just that Matthew Stuart is more cautious than John Dudley.

He is very clear that this is the biggest confrontation in the Christian world, and even more serious, any situation in the Netherlands may trigger the second major war between Protestantism and Catholicism, and it will be difficult for William III to maintain internal power. Calm down, completely destroyed.

"I should change my view of Henry II. His strategic vision is not inferior to that of his father." William III has already figured out what Henry II wants to do, so he is even more frightened by the opponent's madness.

"You mean, the King of France doesn't actually want to go to war, but wants to use this to negotiate with you and the King of Spain?" Francis Walsingham said very sharply: "If this is the case, then his unexpected move is very important. There is a reasonable explanation."

"Your Excellency Walsingham, what are you talking about?" John Dudley's political vision was not as good as that of the other three people present, so he didn't understand what Francis Walsingham wanted to express. .

Sir Cecil glanced at the Secretary of the Admiralty, and asked instead of Francis Walsingham: "If there is a real war, do you think England will definitely have the upper hand?"

"Not to mention that there are no Spanish or German princes in France this time to involve military power in the east, let's talk about the nobles who attended the funeral of Enrique II. Just arranging them requires great diplomatic efforts." Francis Walsingham added: "Although it was France that caused the trouble, those nobles would think that they were involved in Belgium, so they would demand various compensations from Queen Juana, and even the king himself. "

"I'm afraid this is also the main reason why Henry II will attack at this moment." Sir Cecil, like William III, had underestimated Henry II's ability to govern too much before.

I'm really not afraid of rogues throwing hooligans, but I'm afraid that the rogue who plays hooligans is a cultural person.

"Your Majesty, what are you going to do?" Matthew Stuart had never encountered such a difficult situation, so he subconsciously looked at William III, hoping that he would make a wise decision that would make people shine.

"If we really want to go to war, we may not fight alone." William III said abruptly: "Compared with Belgium's plight, spending money to eliminate disasters is not an unacceptable decision."

"what do you mean……"

"Funding Austria and Florence to attack the Duchy of Milan, and then in order to punish Henry II for his wanton behavior, let's take Lower Normandy as well!" William III said lightly: "In this way, Philip II of Spain is If you want to reap the benefits of the fisherman, you will also attack France under the temptation of the weak Brittany."

When William III said this, he put the cup heavily on the table, expressing his determination to fight back against France: "If we really negotiate peace with France, then Juana and I will lose face. "

"But Your Majesty, will Austria really attack the Duchy of Milan?" Sir Cecil still hesitated, "After the Duke of Milan passed away, the ownership of the Duchy of Milan has always been a controversial topic."

Although France and Spain took turns to take over the control of the Duchy of Milan, there is still no reasonable explanation for the ownership of the Duchy of Milan.

Once Austria attacks the Duchy of Milan, the balance of Italy will be broken again, and it may even trigger an internal war in Habsburg.

"But Your Majesty, will Austria really attack the Duchy of Milan against the will of the emperor?" Matthew Stuart still hesitated: "After all, France will not believe that this is the personal decision of the Archduke of Austria."

"What you can think of, wouldn't Ferdinand of Austria not think of it?" William III asked back: "If you are sitting in the seat of the Archduke of Austria, how long can you bear with Charles V?"

Matthew Stuart could not answer William III's words, because any normal person would not accept Charles V hanging himself with the land while handing over all the Habsburg territories to his own son's manipulation .

To be honest, Ferdinand of Austria can be regarded as a peerless good brother in this era. He has been conscientiously helping his brother pull the German princes, while fighting for the Habsburg family on the front line against the Ottoman Empire.

But in the face of such a hard-working Ferdinand, what did Charles V give him?

Hungary, which was supposed to belong to Ferdinand's wife, was split by more than half by nationalists, and the Polish throne was also instigated by Prince Transasia, and had nothing to do with Ferdinand of Austria.

Seeing that his children would live without a family, Ferdinand's only appeal to Charles V was the position of Duke of Milan.

However, Charles V still disappointed Ferdinand, so the once close brothers had the biggest dispute in history.

At the same time, it also allowed William III to successfully match the two major sufferers of Charles V (Ferdinand and Cosimo I), thus gaining the power to hold Spain hostage.

"I understand what you mean. I will soon send merchants from the Netherlands to visit King Cosimo I and Archduke Ferdinand of Austria with large sums of cash." Sir Cecil responded: " Sir Dudley and the Keeper of the Seal should also be prepared to attack Lower Normandy. If we land in Upper Normandy, the pressure on Belgium's borders will also be relieved."

"You ask the envoy to Florence to bring a message to Cosimo I." William III clasped his hands together and said, "Crying children have candies."

"If he is still thinking about the title of Grand Duke of Tuscany and the position of the next pope, please seize this opportunity and let Philip II and Charles V see his determination."