Why is Marin sure that Spain never wants France to obtain enough volcanic ash? This is determined by the geographical environment of the two countries. Spain's land area is not smaller than that of France, but it is useless. Most of them are mountainous. Although many areas were opened up as farmland in later generations, it was impossible in this era because the irrigation technology was not up to standard.
In this era, Europeans only reclaimed farmland in the river coastal areas, and did not know how to dig irrigate rivers, nor did they establish techniques for reservoirs to store water and pump water to high places. In Italy, because of close contact with the Arab region, they initially mastered the technology of digging irrigation ditches. However, it is unlikely to build reservoirs and pump water to high places.
Therefore, even if Spain has a rugged terrain, it is useless even if it gets enough volcanic ash. After all, the rugged geographical environment is there, and only merinos or something can be placed.
But France is different. Although this country is similar to Spain (At that time, France has not yet obtained Corsica, Alsace and Lorraine, and Italy's Nice region), it cannot withstand many French plains! Except for a central plateau, other regions in France are basically plains. Most of the famous Western European plains are in France.
Moreover, France is not short of water resources and rivers crisscross the rivers. In this agricultural era, plains and rivers are everything. Therefore, France, which is extremely suitable for agriculture, has become the largest populous country in Europe.
The Spanish are not stupid, they know that France's advantage is agriculture. If France, the agricultural powerhouse, has enough volcanic ash, wouldn't it go to heaven?
Therefore, as long as the Spanish learn this secret, even if they fight for their family, they will not give up the Kingdom of Naples to France. What's more, after monopolizing the spice trade, Spain's most lacks is money, and they have the confidence to fight with France.
On the contrary, the French also knew how powerful they would be if they were given sufficient volcanic ash. Therefore, the battle between the two sides would no longer be a war of hegemony, but would turn into a life-and-death battle, and neither side would be willing to retreat.
...
Five days later, on the border between France and the Kingdom of Aragon, a bloody knight rushed into the Kingdom of Aragon from the Mediterranean coastal plains at the junction of France and the Kingdom of Aragon, and was soon captured by the border troops of the Kingdom of Aragon.
The Frenchman who was with Alan was an ordinary tax officer in Montpellier, the capital of Russillon. However, the day before yesterday, his wife Jeanna hooked up with Montpellier Justice Edou. Then, the angry tax officer drew his sword and killed the justice that Count Russillon trusted...
Of course, this is the one-sided statement of the Montpellier tax officer named Alan. The actual situation is that he was a spy from Paris to a North Sea Chamber of Commerce in southern France 5 years ago, and his so-called wife Jeanne was actually a good woman from Paris who was bribed by the North Sea Chamber of Commerce. She was used to cover Alan. Of course, his name was not Alan, but Armand. Since he was a spy, his identity and name were naturally fake.
Five years ago, he was ordered to bring Jena, a virtuous Parisian girl, to Montpellier. With his ability to write and calculate, and bribe the local nobles, he got a job as a tax official, and worked for five years.
Three days ago, he received an order, ordering him to appoint his "wife" to ask Na to hook up with a local high-ranking official, then kill him, and then deliberately defected to Aragon...
So, Alan-jean pretended to be his wife, Jeanne deliberately seduced the local judge Renault who lived near their home - this guy was the favorite of Count Roussillon.
Then, Alan deliberately broke through, and then, under the witness of outsiders, had a big fight, and then without hesitation, he drew his sword to kill Judge Renault and Jeanna, who pretended to be his wife...
After killing, Alan didn't even change his bloody clothes, and directly stepped on the horses he had prepared long ago, one person and two horses, running towards the border area southwest...
By the time the city defense team in Montpellier reacted, Alan had already run away. Moreover, because the main force in the country was basically transferred to Italy, the troops in the Russillon area are now empty. The only little troops should be used to guard the city, and they dare not send them to chase Alan at will. In this way, Alan ran for two days and came to the Aragon border, and was deliberately captured by the Aragon border defenders...
Afterwards, Alan deliberately angrily complained to the Aragon border defenders in French for his miserable fate. Fortunately, the Spanish officers on the border knew French and listened to him nagging.
This is not counting. After complaining about his "tragic experience", Alan suddenly made a shocking statement and wanted to report an extremely amazing secret to King Ferdinand II of Aragon. This secret was said to have eavesdropped on Judge Renault when he was following his wife and the new Judge Renault of the Earl of Russillon. The content of this secret is the reason why King Louis XII of France provoked the Naples War at all costs...
Hearing this statement, the Aragon border troops immediately did not dare to take their own actions and quickly reported it.
Ferdinand II was skeptical and was very confused about the defecting French tax officer wanting to see him.
"It's not that I deliberately made excuses to approach me and then assassinate me..."
Ferdinand II, who was worried, quickly sent a spy to Montpellier to find out the news. As a result, the news found was similar to what the tax officer named Alan said. Now, Count Russillon is in a furious attempt to arrest this person...
In the end, Ferdinand II couldn't help but be curious and decided to meet the defected French tax officer. However, he asked the tax officer to lock his hands when he met him to avoid his ability to assassinate him.
Then, Alan was sent to the court of Zaragoza, and met Ferdinand II, who had just recovered from illness, and Juan III, King of Castile who was taking care of his father here.
"Tell me, little tax officer, what secret do you want to tell me?" Ferdinand II asked impatiently in French. His current wife was a French nobleman or Louis XII's niece, so she naturally understood French.
Alan looked at the maids, and Ferdinand II waved his hand and turned them away, but left two trusted guards to prevent Alan from attacking.
At this moment, Alan suddenly asked:
"What can I get if I tell His Majesty this secret?"
Ferdinand II frowned and said:
"Do you think you are qualified to bargain with me?"
Alan shook her head:
"I'm not qualified, but the secret I'm talking about is related to the life and death of Spain. Do you think it's valuable?"
Ferdinand II scoffed at him:
"Stop making a fool of yourself here. If you prove that you lie, you will be hanged, little tax officer!"
As a professional spy, how could Alan be frightened? He said calmly; "How dare I lie? I am now under the control of His Majesty. Isn't lying seeking death? Without full confidence, how dare I talk nonsense?"
Ferdinand II looked at the other party's expression, not like a lie, so he said seriously:
"If this secret is proven to be related to the life and death of Spain, I will not only protect your safety, but also enthrone you as a knight and give you a manor!"
"Trade!" Alan pretended to be very excited. Then, he began to tell the secret he "accidentally heard"...
Chapter completed!