After sending Columbus's fleet away, Marin breathed a sigh of relief, and the long preparations were finally over. This voyage is of great significance to Marin. Of course, it does not refer to the profit of the trade, but to the future.
For example, when he went to India this time, Marin specifically asked Draco to search for the seeds of soybeans and mung beans. Needless to say, soybean is the king of feed, and it is an important source of vegetable oil, which is very important. Although this thing is produced in China, India borders China. Although the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has great obstacles, the two countries also have exchanges. For example, Indian sugarcane was introduced to China through Nanyang during the Zhou Dynasty. Marin is not familiar with the history of the spread of soybeans, but it is estimated that it should have been introduced to India at the end of the 15th century. As long as there are soybeans, a large amount of vegetable oil can be produced, and excellent fodder for war horses can be obtained. Whether it is civil affairs or military, soybeans are extremely important strategic resources.
As for mung beans, that's by the way. The origin of this thing is India, and you can definitely get it in India. Although it has no strategic value, Marin likes bean sprouts made from mung beans. Moreover, drinking mung bean soup in summer seems to be good...
Moreover, saltpeter in India is much cheaper than in Europe. European saltpeter costs 10 pfennigs a pound. In India, it only costs about two or three pfennigs, which is only a little more expensive than Ming Dynasty saltpeter. As Europe enters the age of guns, the demand for saltpeter will increase greatly, and with the soaring prices, the price of saltpeter in Europe will also increase greatly.
Marin will definitely need a lot of gunpowder if he wants to use the queuing and shooting tactics in the future. And saltpeter, the main raw material of gunpowder, is indispensable.
Therefore, for Marin, the most important things in India are the same - soybeans and saltpeter...
As for the spices, it's just incidental, it's best if you have it, and it's okay if you don't have it. But soybeans and saltpeter are both strategic materials and must be taken seriously.
After being busy with going to India, Marin is finally free to deal with Angela's problems...
Angela is important, it goes without saying. Marin also expects to use Angela to replicate Lu Buwei's legend of "extraordinary goods to live in". Therefore, Angela cannot let go.
How to maximize the value of Angela? Best when married to it!
After becoming the son-in-law of the Rovere family, his status will not rise after a few years? At that time, with the Pope's support, Marin may not hang himself on the tree of the emperor.
Maximilian I was not as happy as his descendants, and he seemed to be stingy with the award of the title. Of course, it was not that Maximilian I was stingy, but that he was too shrewd, and used the title, the only reward he could get, to the extreme, attracting people to work for him.
As a modern person, Marin has very independent thinking. He has no interest in such things as loyalty to the emperor and patriotism. As a player of strategy games, Marin prefers to participate in the hegemony by himself.
Therefore, when Marin becomes strong to a certain extent, he must leave Maximilian I and do it alone. However, it is not easy to do it alone. The old-fashioned nobles did not accept themselves very well, and Maximilian I was poor and stingy. Therefore, Marin needs other external forces to help him.
Then, Julius II, the most powerful pope in European history, the "Pope of War", became a good choice for Marin.
However, Julius II is not a fool, and will not support Marin for no reason. Then, marrying the Rovere family and marrying his niece (Marin still doesn't know that Angela is actually Julius II's illegitimate daughter), then the Pope will definitely stand by him.
As long as you get on the line with the Pope, most people have to weigh it if they want to move themselves. Maybe big countries like Britain and France can live without the Pope. But those German princes are not yet strong enough to challenge the Holy See. Because the Holy See has a great influence in the German region. In a bunch of bishop states in Germany, bishops need to be appointed by the Holy See. Even, in order to obtain the position of the bishop of the episcopal country, some bishop candidates also spent a lot of money to go to Rome to engage in bribes in order to obtain the position of the bishop of the bishop with the general status of a prince. For example, Caesar is now the manager of Alexander's private sale of the position of the archbishop of the bishopric state in Germany. Whoever sends the most gold coins will get the position of bishop...
As long as he is married to the Rovere family of Julius II, nothing else will be said. At least, when fighting for hegemony, those bishops will not be enemies to themselves, at least they will be neutral, and they may even help themselves.
The Holy See has a great influence in Germany, and there are several strong bishops near the territory of Marin alone. For example, the Archdiocese of Utrecht, the Archdiocese of Bremen and the Archdiocese of Münster. These are all powerful princes. Although they have great autonomy, they need the approval of the Holy See when the bishop changes. Without the approval of the Holy See, it is impossible to become an archbishop. Because the bishops of the bishop's country are not hereditary like the aristocratic territories, but are appointed by the Holy See.
Of course, when some powerful emperors in the Holy Roman Empire reigned, these archbishops could also be appointed by the emperors. For example, Otto the Great and so on. However, the Holy Roman Empire had few powerful emperors. Therefore, after Charles IV promulgated the "Golden Seal Edict", the emperor's authority was greatly lost, and the Holy See had completely gained the upper hand in competing with the emperor for the right to appoint archbishops. Now, the appointment and dismissal of the bishops of the bishops in Germany is decided by the Holy See...
And how powerful are these bishops? Of the seven electors of the empire, three were appointed by the Holy See—the Archbishop of Mainz, the Archbishop of Trier, and the Archbishop of Cologne...
Although these bishop states cannot be said to occupy half of the country in Germany, there is no problem with the overall strength of more than one third.
Therefore, as long as they get the support of the Pope, there will be many bishop states in Germany who will stand by their side or not embarrass themselves. This point, even the emperor can't do it. You know, the only allies of the emperor now are the Swabian League and the Duke of Saxony.
So, all in all, there are many advantages to marrying Angela...
As for marriage resistance? Marin couldn't see it at all! You know, when Julius II was down and down, he had no time to take care of his mistress Lucrezia and his youngest daughter Felice. In order to survive, Lucrezia, who hid in the countryside of Genoa, even married Felice, who was only 15 years old, to an unknown small rural landowner in 1498 in exchange for the other party's shelter.
The other members of the Rovere family were also suppressed and hunted down by the Borgia family in an all-round way, with no face to speak of. At this time, it was the most desperate time for the Rovere family. Marin, a baron with strong strength, was willing to marry the daughter of the Rovere family, which is definitely a face.
Of course, Marin didn't dare to declare bluntly that he married a girl from the Rovere family. In that case, the Borgia family had to mobilize the German archbishops to encircle and suppress themselves. Therefore, Angela had to change her identity. Fortunately, the way of communication in the Middle Ages was backward, and it was not difficult for Marin to fabricate a false identity for Angela.
However, for now, the most important thing is to coax Angela, a beautiful big loli, to marry herself before Julius II returned to Rome to succeed the Pope in 1503.
Therefore, in order to achieve this "little goal", Marin had to do his best to coax and pursue the beautiful big loli Angela...
And Marin himself is also very interested in the plan to cultivate a beautiful big loli into a beautiful little wife. After all, fighting and killing every day is also very boring, and some adjustments are needed...