The Rise of the European Emperor

Although Edward was imprisoned by Henry VII for more than ten years, he was not old enough to be cunning because of too little experience. However, he is not stupid either.

Years of being a prisoner made Edward give up his innocence and luck and learn to think. He understood that the reason why the French and Scots supported him was mainly to make England chaotic, not for his own good.

Moreover, the French wolf ambitions have long planned to annex England. Of course, the successive monarchs of England also had ambitions to annex France. The two countries of Britain and France, because of the wars of a hundred wars, are too deep to resolve.

Therefore, for this cooperation, Edward was actually very afraid and worried, worried that France would extend its hands to England. Therefore, Edward himself really wanted to discuss with Marin how to deal with France.

As for why Edward believed in Marin? It was because what Marin wanted was just one or two fiefs. If he was given a county, he could basically be "fed". And a behemoth like France may need the whole of England to satisfy its appetite.

Therefore, Edward made up his mind - he decided to win over Marin and boycott the French forces on the British Isle. If he really succeeded in regaining the English throne, it would be a big deal to take some more land on the island of Ireland to reward the French. In short, the territory of England is still not given to the French. Otherwise, the whole of England is in danger...

As for why Scotland was not invited to this negotiation? It's very simple, the three families all want to share more benefits. Moreover, with the addition of Marin and the presence of France, it is enough to solve Henry VII. Why should I find someone else to share the benefits? The benefits this time are not general benefits, but territory and power. Therefore, the less people who participate in the distribution of the spoils, the better.

Moreover, although Scotland is England's traditional enemy, whether it is the army or the navy, they are all scumbags, and neither is England's opponent. For such a thing, not to mention that Edward was unwilling to bring them together to share the spoils, even the French, Scotland's traditional ally, were reluctant to share the benefits with Scotland.

As for an excuse not to play with the Scots? What a great find - Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland, the eldest daughter of Henry VII. If you pull James IV to conspire together, it will be easy to leak the secret... With such a good excuse, excluding James IV is also convenient for the three parties involved in the conspiracy to share more benefits...

After entering the secret room on the ship, Marin didn't speak first. Because he knew that Edward was more anxious than him. After all, Edward is the protagonist in this attack on England.

Sure enough, Edward couldn't hold his breath and spoke first:

"Grand Duke Marin, what do you think of the Kingdom of France?" Obviously, Edward was testing Marin's attitude towards France again.

"France?" Marin pretended to think for a moment:

"Very strong,

It is the largest country in Europe. In terms of the army alone, it can be called the number one in Europe! "

In fact, Marin's current army is not weak. If it is against the French alone, Marin dare not say that he will win against France, but he will not lose. However, in order to keep a low profile, and to prevent Edward from discovering his ambitions, Marin naturally touted the French as the number one in Europe. As for the Ottoman Empire? That's an Asian country, no Europeans think of them as a European country...

Of course, when Marin said this, his attitude was very neutral, and he had no tendency at all, which made Edward a little uncertain. So he didn't bother to go around in circles, but asked bluntly:

"Then, Archduke Marin, what do you think of the French entering England?"

"French into England? Why let the French into England?" Marin continued to ask stupidly.

After Edward gave Marin the middle finger, he said:

"In this tripartite meeting, the French will definitely propose to enter England. For example, like you, put forward a claim for land in one or two counties..."

Marin felt that the heat was almost over, so he pretended to be shocked and said:

"Your Majesty, absolutely! The French are the most powerful country in the army. If you give them a foothold in England, I'm worried that they will annex the whole of England!" Although he didn't say it clearly, Marin had already expressed his inclination. .

Edward was satisfied, but still asked tentatively:

"I divided Northumberland and the Isle of Wight to you, and then divided one or two counties to the French. Is there any difference? Anyway, I will depose all the earls who follow Henry VII."

Marin rolled his eyes and said:

"Your Majesty, that's different! What's my background? Without royal blood, I can't compete for the throne of England at all. But France is different. They have always claimed the kingship of England, and England has always claimed the kingship of France. England and France are mortal enemies, Giving the French a foothold in England is nothing but an act of bringing wolves into the house. As for me, it is impossible for me to become the king of England, whether by blood or by law. Even if Henry VII usurped the throne, he would still have the blood of the English royal family... "

Edward nodded, knowing that Marin was right. Marin had no royal blood, and even if he conquered England, no one would support him as king. Even if he is forced to become a king, he will encounter one after another opposition. On the other hand, the French, British and French royal families are already related by marriage. The Hundred Years War between England and France also revolved around the inheritance of the kingdom of France.

In fact, Britain does have the right to inherit the French throne. Because King Edward III of England was the eldest son of the eldest daughter of King Philip IV of France. The three sons of Philip IV died without any heirs. Therefore, according to the law of succession, Edward III, the great grandson of Philip IV, should inherit the French throne.

However, the French aristocracy was not happy for an English king to be king of France at the same time. Therefore, they forcibly deposed Edward III's succession and chose Philip IV's grandnephew, Philip VI, to succeed him as king of France.

This was not in line with the law of succession, so Edward III was very angry and attacked France, trying to regain the throne that should belong to him. Although England fought a lot of victories in the early stage, they were not able to occupy the whole of France. At the end of the Hundred Years War, the French finally came back, while the British lost all their territory in France.

If a formal lawsuit is filed, the British side will definitely win the case. But this is a struggle for power, there is no right or wrong, only winners and losers. Later, the French, based on their kinship with the British royal family, actually took a bite and claimed to have the right to inherit the British throne. It's just that the French have no foothold in England, and the navy sucks. Even if the inheritance is claimed, it is unable to attack the mainland of England.

However, if following this opportunity to jointly attack Henry VII, the French would gain a foothold in England, then it would not be difficult for France to dispatch a large army to destroy England.

You say the Five Harbors Alliance can withstand the French fleet? Yes, the English navy is indeed stronger than the French. However, if the French rely on the territory they acquired in England and occupy the ports of the Five-Port Alliance and other English ports on land, then the English Navy, which has lost its home port, will not be a climate. Perhaps, those English merchant ships will fall to France in large numbers. After all, if there is no home port, those merchant ships will be unsustainable.

Edward also knew this, but he also knew that he still needed the support of the French, and he didn't know how to reject France.

So he asked Marin angrily:

"I know the danger of the French, but now I can't refuse the French's request to send troops! If the French have landed on the land of England and want them to leave, it will be difficult..." To use the words of the East to describe this In a word, it is "it is easy to ask God to send God difficult"...

Marin pretended to think for a long time on the side, but in fact, he already had an idea. However, in order not to frighten Edward, he still pretended to think for a long time. Finally, Marin raised his head and said to Edward:

"Your Majesty, I have a good idea..."