The Recklinghausen region has a land area of about six or seven hundred square kilometres, which is very important in the Ruhr area. Moreover, the land was forcibly cut off from the country of Markbá west of Dortmund and the region of South Münster. If Recklinghausen were to be captured, the western part of the Ruhr region of the Mark kingdom would be united with the South Münster region, which would facilitate Marin's rule.

Of course, more importantly, there are many coal fields in it......

Although the Recklinghausen region has small coal reserves, it is not an important coal-producing area. However, it has a larger land area. If it is not included in the map, it will seriously affect the continuity of the area between the Ruhr and Lipper rivers in the Ruhr area. On top of that, it affects the transportation of coal......

According to Marin's estimates, in the future, the coal from the Ruhr region and the northern region will definitely be transported directly to the Lipper River, directly through the Münster Canal into the Ames River, and to Emden. However, coal from the southern Ruhr region, such as Marin's hometown of Bochum, had to go through the Ruhr and then into the Rhine. Then enter the River Lippe and arrive at the Münster Canal......

The Recklinghausen area, on the other hand, is located in the lower reaches of the Lipper River and controls both sides of the Lipper River. To transport coal from the Ruhr to the Münster Canal from the Rhine, you have to go through the Recklinghausen area. If the other party sets up a card to collect taxes...... That's disgusting......

Therefore, for the sake of the economic grand strategy of "a game of chess for the whole country", Marin must solve the hidden danger of the Recklinghausen area. Moreover, the unclear property rights in the Recklinghausen area also gave Marin the opportunity to intervene and seek to seize it.

Of course, it is precisely because of this lack of clarity that it is more difficult for Marin to get the Recklinghausen area......

In any case, it stands to reason that the property rights of this land belong to the Archbishopric of Cologne. However, the Archbishopric of Cologne owes money to the people Gomen and Schaumburg, and it is the boss of the money. It's not that the Archbishopric of Cologne can't afford to change it, but it doesn't want to return it...... So, things have to be delayed like this...... As a result, Gomen and Schaumburg continued to control the Leikorecklinghausen area......

Marin initially wanted to buy Recklinghausen. For example, give money to Gomen and Schaumburg and spend money to buy this land......

But it's not right, why? In the final analysis, the property rights are still in the hands of the Archbishopric of Cologne, but Cologne has refused to pay for redemption.

However, if Marin wanted to pay for the land, it would be different. Originally, Cologne was still dragging it, but seeing Marin intervening, he might suddenly figure it out and be willing to take out the money to redeem Recklinghausen......

Therefore, if you want to get the Recklinghausen region, the Archbishopric of Cologne is a hurdle that cannot be bypassed......

What to do with the monks of the Archdiocese of Cologne? Marin thought of throwing money at it......

As a result, Marin sent a lobby group represented by Kohler to Bonn, where the Archbishop of Cologne was located, to lobby Archbishop Hermann IV of Cologne and the senior bishops of the Archbishop of Cologne, hoping that they would agree to Marin's purchase of the Recklinghausen area.

After all, for now, the owner of the Recklinghausen area is the Archbishopric of Cologne. And the Gomen and Schaumburg, in fact, can only be regarded as tenants who give "rent".

As long as the "landlord" of the Archbishopric of Cologne is negotiated and the property rights of the "house" of Recklinghausen are bought, then they can take over. As for the weak Gomen and Schaumburg? Who cares about their opinions? Weak countries have no say...... Anyway, Marin will help pay off the arrears of the Archbishopric of Cologne......

"I'm curious why His Excellency Marlin wants to buy Recklinghausen......" Herman IV somewhat did not understand Marin's approach.

Kohler thought about it, and according to Marin's instructions, he told Herman IV about the theory that "wealth and nobility do not return to their hometowns, such as brocade clothes walking at night, who knows", and said that Marin went to seek the kingdom of Mark out of such a plan.

However, in the Ruhr basin of the country of Mackber, although there was a Münster Canal in the South Münster region, it was necessary to enter the Lippe River through the Rhine region.

The Rhine section is easy to solve, and the Duchy of Cleaver is an ally of the North Sea State after all. But Recklinghausen's control of Gomen and Schaumburg is not, and if they suddenly block the river to collect tolls, Marin is also helpless. So, Marin decided to solve the problem roughly - to take the Recklinghausen area directly......

Herman IV was a little dumbfounded—is this okay? Just because I am afraid of being charged tolls, I want to buy it if I don't agree with it?

As nonsense sounded, Archbishop Hermann IV of Cologne decided to believe Kohler's words. Because, Kohler quietly sent him 20,000 gold coins......

However, the episcopal state is not a one-word decision for archbishops. The senior bishops, like the senior councillors in parliamentary countries, have a lot of say. So, even if Herman IV agreed, the senior bishops would have to agree......

Kohler then began his lobbying journey. Of course, every time you finish your tour, you will be given a gift - a few thousand gold coins......

As a result, several high-ranking bishops also fell......

Then Herman IV and several senior bishops convened a synagogue to vote on the question......

But herein lies the problem......

The conference was attended by several hundred people, all of whom were middle and senior priests, many of whom were abbots. Those abbots, although their level is not very high, but their vision is not low. If you give a few hundred gold coins, the other party may not be able to see it. But if you give away a few thousand gold coins...... There were hundreds of people present, and hundreds of thousands of people were spent...... It's not a good deal......

Many abbots are also equivalent to a small prince. They may not have any intention of taking back the Recklinghausen area. However, he was unwilling to sell the sovereignty of this land. Even if Herman IV and several senior bishops agreed, most of them, did not agree. As a result, things are at an impasse......

"How so?" Herman IV began to sweat in his head.

In the past, Herman IV accepted Marin's money and expressed his support for Marin, but he did not see the opposition of these abbots...... This......

Actually, it's no wonder. After all, in the past, Herman IV supported Marin in the Imperial Diet, and that was a foreign affair, and the abbots in the country generally did not pay much attention to it. Even the transfer of the Episcopal State of Münster to Marin is not a matter for the Archdiocese of Cologne. After all, the Episcopal State of Münster was governed only by the Archbishop of Cologne, not by the abbots. In the final analysis, the Episcopal State of Münster is only a subject state of the Archbishopric of Cologne, not the territory of the Archbishopric of Cologne.

But Recklinghausen is different, it is the territory of the Archbishopric of Cologne, and the abbots have a say. Although they may not have any interests there, the sight of the Archbishopric of Cologne betraying its territorial sovereignty is still very shameful for them. You must know that the Archbishopric of Cologne is one of the seven electoral states, and it is a German bigwig-level existence. It is very shameful to lose sovereignty for no reason......

For a time, the meeting reached a stalemate......

Kohler felt that the problem was difficult and sent someone back to Aurich to ask Marin what to do.

Marin thought about it for a moment and decided to use a compromise - that is, to give up the management of religious affairs in Recklinghausen and recognize the nominal possession of Recklinghausen by the Archbishopric of Cologne. However, civil and land rights, especially mineral ownership, belong to oneself...... Of course, he will also pay another 100,000 gold coins to the Archbishopric of Cologne......

At the same time, Marin also secretly ordered that each of the 300 low-ranking clergy councilors of the Archbishopric of Cologne be given a bag of silver coins......

These silver coins are worth 100 gold coins. However, the silver finney itself weighs less than half the weight of a gold coin, and contains less than half the silver. Therefore, the 100 gold coins that could only hold a small bag were replaced by Finney silver coins, and there were more than 2,000 pieces, a large bag, which looked very visually impactful......

Seeing that Marin had made concessions, no longer seeking ownership, and even relinquished the management of religious affairs, the abbots said no more.

You must know that in general, in sovereign vassal states, although the appointment of bishops is decided by the church, the princes themselves also have a great right to make suggestions. It is even possible to veto the church's candidates.

Marin relinquished the right to manage religious affairs, which was tantamount to relinquishing half of his sovereignty in an era when clerical power was no less than governing power. As a result, the Council of High Clergy of the Archdiocese of Cologne passed a motion approving Marin's purchase of secular rights in the Recklinghausen area.

Immediately after receiving this agreed, Marin sent an emissary to Recklinghausen to ask the lords of Gomen and Schaumburg to buy the secular governance of Recklinghausen for 200,000 gold coins, and to present the decision of the Council of the Archbishopric of Cologne......

In fact, Marin did not consult with the Gomen and the lords of Schaumburg, but came to give an ultimatum. Moreover, he is not afraid of causing trouble this time - the "landlord" of the Archbishopric of Cologne has agreed, and you are a small "tenant" of Gomen and Schaumburg, even if you don't agree, what can you do?

Marin came according to the legal process and was not afraid of causing trouble......

Moreover, Marin was not in the slightest worried about the Gomen and Schaumburg bombings. Because, in terms of brawls, who has Beihai been afraid of? What's more, this time the Beihai Kingdom is in charge......

At the same time that Marin sent envoys to Gomen and the lord of Schaumburg to "discuss" the forcible purchase of the Recklinghausen region, Marin also sent an army of 10,000 men south with great fanfare. It is said that it is to take over the country of Mack, but in fact it is to go straight to the Recklinghausen area and intimidate the other party by force......

The Gomen Territory and the Schaumburg Count combined were more than 600 square kilometers of territory, with a population of just over 10,000. Including the 30,000 inhabitants of the Recklinghausen area, the total population does not exceed 50,000. It would be very scary to be able to make up three or four thousand people, not to mention combat effectiveness. In the face of the dual diplomatic and military threats of Marin, they were powerless......