monarch

Robert's last report to King Edward was sent aboard a clipper ship back to Britain the day before the Spanish fleet blocked the mouth of the Douro from Lisbon to sea.

In the past few weeks, the development of the situation in Portugal has become a hot topic in the streets and alleys of cities and towns in Britain, especially in the political center of London.In salons of all levels, the opening hour was filled with discussions about the latest developments in Portugal.And in the taverns on the street, those casual workers, apprentices and shop assistants are also willing to spend a few coppers for a glass of ale or beer, and chat a few words about Portugal with people they know and don’t know. gossip.

Although still under the shackles of Sir Walsingham's censors of books and newspapers, Britain's journalism and publishing industry exploded under King Edward's rule.Compared with continental Europe, Britain's policy of religious tolerance made it the cultural center of the whole of Europe. A large number of Protestants and Jews who were persecuted by the Catholic Church in France and Germany immigrated to Britain. Most of them belonged to the educated class. These people also brought their cultural achievements to this small island on the edge of Europe.

When King Edward VI first came to the throne, there were less than ten printing houses in the whole of Britain using the new Gutenberg press. Today the number has reached sixty.Five years ago, there were no more than [-] legal newspapers and tabloids published nationwide, but now they have already surpassed three digits. In almost every top-ranked city, at least one newspaper is being published.The content of these newspapers ranges from national events, European situations to local market miscellaneous affairs, and even fashion introductions for ladies and life tips for housewives. Choose their favorite newspaper to read.

For the content of these newspapers, the government has adopted a very tolerant attitude. Even criticism of the government is published on the front page, with the only exception being those that attack the royal family.Previously, a tabloid invested by a certain nobleman attacked the well-known relationship between the king and Robert Dudley with insinuations. Within a week, the entire newspaper, from the editor to the typesetter , were exiled to the colony of Newfoundland.It is said that the whole newspaper has returned to its old business in the local area, and soon became one of the newspapers with the largest circulation in Newfoundland, but this time they must have been more cautious when selecting articles.

As for the great nobleman, of course he was scared out of his wits, and died in depression on his own bed within a few months. Before he died, he donated more than half of his property to His Majesty the King in exchange for His Majesty's forgiveness to his family. Finally, he won't die in peace.

For half a month, the news of Portugal's arrival has almost become a frequent visitor on the headlines of major newspapers. Since Queen Elizabeth is the king's biological sister, the cautious editors did not dare to criticize her, but for the Duke of Braganza Well, Joao III and his son and the King of Spain, who has now become the greatest enemy of Britain, their pens are not so polite. Not even a newspaper in Fleet Street is willing to say a few good things for these people.

Regarding the next step and the policies that Britain should adopt, a debate of unprecedented scale was set off in the field of public opinion, and the battlefield was the current affairs commentary section of the third page of the newspaper.Many aristocrats, officials, and big businessmen, together with their wives and children, all contributed to the newspapers they usually read under pseudonyms with great enthusiasm.

Some people, represented by celebrities in the business world and import and export business practitioners, believe that since war is going to be fought with Spain, it is better to fight in Portugal in front of Spain than off the coast of Britain. After all, the latter means that the whole The temporary interruption of national shipping and trade, the business community will face serious losses.

Others consider it from a military and financial point of view. Sending an expeditionary force to Portugal means maintaining a supply line of nearly [-] miles. The cost will be astronomical, and the effect is also very doubtful.Portugal was on the couch side of Spain, and if King Philip was determined to conquer Portugal at any cost, no country could stop him.Considering that the soldiers are often unaccustomed to the soil and water in the labor expedition, it is not impossible to lose thousands of people in vain before fighting the Spaniards.But fighting near the British Isle is waiting for work at leisure, taking advantage of the right time, place and people. Why waste the resources that can be used to win in vain on Portugal, a dead bone in the tomb?

Cecil was sitting in the anteroom of Hampton Court Palace with the paper in his hand at this moment.For the convenience of His Majesty and your lords, Hampton Court Palace has ordered all the newspapers of the highest size. Every morning, the servants will iron the newly delivered newspapers with hot irons to prevent the ink on them from staining the readers. The hands of the nobles who reported it.

Cecil had just read the last commentary on the third page when a servant came to inform him that the king was ready to receive him. He folded the newspaper and threw it on the seat.

When he entered the King's study, he found the same newspaper lying on His Majesty's desk, also spread out on the third page.

"'Portugal is like an anchor to the legs of a drowning man. If we be friends with them, they are a burden to us, and will not rest till we are dragged down and drowned.'" The king read the newspaper comments with interest, "'So you might as well push her to the Spaniards, and let them worry about it! We will do us far more good by having Portugal as an enemy than as a friend.' You read this Is there an article?"

"I just finished reading it outside the door." Cecil bowed to King Edward, "It's quite interesting, I don't know which nobleman the author is, maybe it's my colleague, if I would really like to meet him if I get the chance.”

"Maybe it's not 'he', but 'she'." The king put down the newspaper and looked up at his minister.

"That's not impossible." Cecil shrugged his shoulders. "It's become a new fashion for ladies to contribute to newspapers. I received a letter from my mother yesterday. She seems to be eager to try it. It seems that she wants to Gotta get a column in the town paper and write something about gardening and all, you know, the old country ladies have their gardens as their lovers, and not only are they so considerate of it, they even show it off to each other. Showing off lovers There will be a scandal, but it's much safer to show off the garden."

The king was also amused by Cecil, "Since you also read this newspaper, you must also agree with this newspaper's opinion?"

"I really don't agree with wasting too many resources in Portugal." Cecil replied, "We have to concentrate our limited resources in the local waters, where we have the greatest chance of winning."

"But this does mean that shipping and import and export will be temporarily cut off. Orders for import and export will disappear, and the price of raw materials will rise sharply, even food prices." The king leaned back in his chair, "Businessmen will complain, especially It's the shipowners who cut their chests with a knife to keep their ships in port."

"It's just a few months of suspension." Cecil said in a sarcasm and confident tone, "These people are like roosters, they crow loudly before they are plucked. The Spanish fleet will set sail in early summer , as long as they don't land in Britain before winter, the invasion will be a failure. The merchants have made a lot of money under your administration, and now it's just a matter of suspending their business for a few months. If anyone even wants this If they resist, their loyalty is really questionable. As for the increase in the price of daily necessities, it can be completely eliminated with financial subsidies, which will not cost too much money, and everything will naturally return to normal after the war is over."

"Businessmen don't have any loyalty." The king sneered, "The only thing they are loyal to is profit."

"If the shipowners are not willing to let their ships idle, then His Majesty can order their ships to be requisitioned, and the rent will be paid according to the market price. The fleet needs a large number of auxiliary ships for transportation. These merchant ships can just come in handy. If in If there is a loss in the war, they can also receive compensation after the war is over. I believe this policy will surely calm these iron cocks.”

"That's a way." The king nodded, "Also, please tell the business community that as long as they strongly support the government's policies during the war, these merchants who are loyal to me can get three years of taxation after the war is over. relief."

"Your Majesty is merciful." Cecil said, "I believe that these two policies can resolve most of the objections."

"Then what about Portugal?" asked the king again. "Shall we send the aid we promised them?"

"Naturally, at least before we take over Brazil, the aid will be delivered in small quantities." Seychelle said slyly. At present, a fleet is crossing the Atlantic Ocean, bound for Brazil in the southern hemisphere, and the fleet is carrying [-] soldiers. The British soldiers are enough to initially maintain the basic order in the Brazilian colony, "I am honored to report to Your Majesty that the first batch of aid has been loaded and will sail to Porto tomorrow. This matter is also related to our credibility. Others shed blood for us , then we shouldn’t begrudge some money and supplies.”

"Excellent." The king nodded approvingly again. He looked around the room, paying special attention to the doors and windows. Then he opened the drawer of the desk and took out a few sheets of paper, "I received a letter from Lisbon report."

Cecil is no longer surprised by this, "What did the report say?"

The king took out two of those papers, "Look for yourself."

Cecil took the two pages from the king's hand, and after reading a few lines, the expression on his face became serious.

"I don't really mind Princess Elizabeth taking refuge in our colony." After reading the two pages, Cecil handed them back to the king and said seriously, "but that child will be a problem."

"Indeed," said the king, "and what do you propose to me?"

"It depends on how you view the prospect of this child inheriting the British throne." Cecil said bluntly, "Please forgive my bluntness, but I think His Majesty does not plan to get married?"

Edward glanced at Cecil lightly, then nodded slightly in silence.

"Then in this case, this child is the heir with the purest blood." Cecil did not make any comments on the king's answer, but immediately returned to the original topic, "Although I don't know who his father is. Clear, but no one is better than that idiot Joao Manuel. The blood of the Portuguese royal family is poisonous, and I would never let that poisonous blood contaminate the blood of the British royal family. In case there is What if one day we have a similar idiot king? It would be a terrible disaster."

"But the child's mother..." the king hesitated, "If I make him the heir to the throne, then objectively I will reintroduce Elizabeth to the center of power in Britain, whether she is in London or Rio de Janeiro, with this child, She will re-establish her influence in Britain."

"And you don't want to see that happen," Cecil added.

"That's true." The king frowned. "She is indeed an excellent politician, but this means that she can become a dangerous enemy. She is cold-blooded and unscrupulous, that's all, but she sometimes really It's kind of crazy... have you seen the part about the truth about the death of the King of Portugal?"

"I see." Cecil nodded with a stiff face, "Now I'm starting to regret eating so much for lunch."

"If I want that child to be the heir to the throne, sending his mother to America so that they can never meet will only make him hate me." The king sighed, "If someone provokes me, then this hatred The seeds of will will grow into towering trees one day. And you know, there are many people with similar hearts in this world."

Cecil also looked a little disappointed, "You're right, this is indeed very dangerous, and it may lead to another civil war... It would be great if the child's mother didn't exist."

"Are you implying something?" The king shook his head, "That won't work, there is no impenetrable wall in the world, and one day the child will know that I got rid of his mother, and we will go back to what we said earlier. in that situation.”

"We don't need to make a decision now." Cecil said, "It's still a long time. This child is still in the mother's womb. Whether it can be born healthy and grow up safely is still unknown. You know, even in the In a noble family, the infant mortality rate is extremely high. As for the talent and character of this child, it is even more unpredictable now. Maybe he is suitable to inherit the throne, maybe he is not suitable, we can make a decision ten years later .Maybe in this ten years, God will be gracious to get rid of the biggest trouble for us."

The king sighed, "Let's do this first. If Lisbon falls and she wants to come to Britain, I will not stop her. She can live in Ireland until the child is four years old, but she can only move around in the manor. She can't go anywhere, and if she wants to see any visitors, she must get my approval... and the child's teacher, servant, and babysitter are all in your charge, and his mother can't intervene."

"I obey His Majesty's orders." Cecil immediately took over the task, "There is one other thing, since the situation in Portugal has reached this point, shouldn't it be time for Lord Robert to come back?"

"I think so too, but he doesn't want to." The king frowned even deeper, "He thinks that Viscount Canning, our ambassador in Portugal, is incapable of grasping the current complicated situation there."

"I agree with that," Cecil said.

"In addition, he feels that if Elizabeth is really to be evacuated from Lisbon, he is also the most suitable person to preside over the operation." The king pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers, "He is right, and I have no way to refute it."

"Lord Robert is indeed the most suitable." Cecil also expressed his agreement, "Your Majesty needn't worry about anything, he has a full purse and loyal subordinates, as long as he has these two things, then There is nothing impossible in the world.”

"I hope so, sir." The king sighed again, and he put the two papers together with the others, and put them back in the drawer.