Chapter 572: Marriage and Dowry

Chapter 572: Marriage and Dowry

Baptiste didn't know what to say. There are good officials, and there are bad ones. It's impossible for all officials to be selected to be good. This requires adaptation.

"These officials are really no good. If they continue like this, they will be no different from those oppressive nobles."

Alexander vented his complaints, and Baptiste kept persuading him. Official corruption cannot be stopped. Only continuous supervision can prevent the corruption of the entire bureaucracy. This is a long process and cannot be solved in a few steps.

After dealing with the inheritance tax, the Eastern Minister handed over an important message to Alexander: After the Ming envoy, the head of the Shimazu family in Japan will also send people to Constantinople.

The head of the family's campaign in Kyushu caused dissatisfaction with Ashikaga Yoshimochi, and he sent Sasaki Yoshimasa twice to question the Shimazu family. The situation of the opponent becoming stronger and stronger must be interrupted, so other Japanese families have been asked to join forces to attack the Shimazu family several times.

Thanks to the money left by trade in recent years, the Shimazu family was able to withstand several attacks, which also gave the head of the family the idea of ​​replacing the Muromachi shogunate. He sent his son and two retainers to Constantinople to see if he could get more assistance. He knew that the Ming Dynasty in the west had gone to the West twice and gained a lot of things. Now he should be able to send people there himself.

"They are all guests, so there is no reason to treat them badly. If they really come to Constantinople, treat them well."

Alexander has been curious about Oriental people since he met the Ming Dynasty envoys last time. His father seemed to have a special complex about the Ming Dynasty and gave them 15 artillery pieces of military supplies as gifts. Regarding the situation where missionaries were blocked in the Ming Dynasty, the emperor also said that when in Rome, do as the Romans do. This is completely different from the situation in Europe.

However, as he attended more Privy Council meetings, Alexander knew that his father wanted to take full control of this road to wealth, so directly governing India and inciting internal hostile forces in other countries were all part of the plan.

The people at the trading post reported various local situations to Constantinople, and tried to split Japan and Korea in East Asia as much as possible. This was the national policy formulated by the emperor himself.

The prince was still very reliable, so Peter took a rest these days. However, major events still need to be discussed with the prime minister.

"Your Majesty, the King of England has sent an envoy, hoping that we can support his claim to the throne of France."

Peter bowed his head in thought, and Stefan was ready to start fighting. I just don't know what the result will be, either becoming the King of France or being pushed back by the saint.

"Your Majesty, forgive me for being frank. The Empire has now gained enough benefits in France. If it intervenes again, the originally neutral Valois will lean towards Luxembourg."

Listerlin knew that although Rome had become the strongest country in Europe, it had not yet reached the point of being the only one. Try not to participate in the fights between other countries. If the neighboring countries are in turmoil, the Empire will end.

"He is the youngest in the family, and his mother loves him more. Of course, he also longs for more honors and attacks France, worrying that he will repeat the mistakes of Edward III."

The lesson of Edward III's victory first and then defeat is vivid, and Peter does not want his brother to repeat the same mistake. At present, Stefan's situation is not much better than Edward III, and in order to appease the Welsh people, he directly gave the Prince of Wales to someone else. With Scotland in the north, Stefan is in some danger.

"The Empire cannot turn against France now. The Crown Prince's wedding is approaching, and this situation cannot happen."

"Your Majesty is right. The request of the King of Britain will come according to Brandenburg's reply."

"Well"

France is now tense from top to bottom. Rome is at the doorstep, Britain is at the doorstep, and two people from the same family are guarding the north and south directions respectively. France is surrounded.

The Duke of Orleans did not quarrel with the Duke of Burgundy, and was directly busy in the government. He tried to boost local defense, but John of Burgundy obviously did not think so. He actually sent people directly to London to negotiate with Stefan to divide France.

This is the first time I have seen it, but Stefan is also happy to see one more ally, so he agreed to form an alliance with Burgundy. When Burgundy is independent, he will get Paris.

Charles VI's mental illness is incurable, and Prince Charles and the Queen are regents. France is now at its weakest time. Stefan decided to devote all his strength to this war, which will surely succeed.

"What is the Duke of Bourbon doing recently?" Peter asked.

"The Duke has met quite a few people recently, some of whom are businessmen."

When Peter heard the word "businessman", he probably knew. This person was trying to collect a dowry for his daughter.

Dowries in the Middle Ages usually included jewelry, valuables, land, slaves and other property. Women's dowries were their guarantee in marriage and an important part of their economic status. In some places, women can keep their dowries after marriage, and they will become their own property after divorce.

Some women gained wealth and power through marriage, such as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, who became the Queen of England through her marriage to Henry II, and her property and family's land and castles in England were greatly expanded. In many cases, women cannot inherit property because land and property are usually inherited by men. In this case, women can usually only obtain property and wealth through marriage, and their dowries will also affect their status and economic status in marriage.

The Duke of Bourbon was marrying the Roman royal family, and the object was the crown prince of the empire, so the dowry had to be prepared a lot so as not to be looked down upon by the other party.

However, it was not easy to collect the dowry. Fortunately, after hearing that the Duke of Bourbon and Rome had hooked up, many people came to give gifts, and the Duke accepted them all as Elizabeth's dowry. It was about 250,000 lei.

This would be enough if the other party was an ordinary earl or duke family, but the other party was the Roman emperor, at least 700,000 lei would be enough. The Duke had no choice but to look at the merchant loan.

"It's really miserable. If Anna gets married in the future, she will also have to prepare a dowry."

Peter also saw the situation of his children from this. Each of the three princesses had to prepare a dowry; except for the eldest son, the three sons had to arrange their whereabouts.

Theodore was the future king of Iberia. Alexius said that if Georgia was not honest, he might as well give it to him. The youngest Basil couldn't think of it yet, so it would be better for the time being.

However, he could start saving up dowries for his three daughters now. His daughters deserved the best in the world.