This time, Paul's plan to cover up the operation went very well, taking advantage of the opportunity for the main guard force to go to the backyard of the palace to protect the big people, and the guard force in the front yard of the palace was very mixed. And with the fake waist card provided by Paul, plus the person who did it happened to be at meal time. So, things went exceptionally well.

Spies sent by the Paris branch of the North Sea Chamber of Commerce pried open the door to the archives and happened to open the letters containing the contacts between France and the Duchy of Guedes. Coincidentally, in addition to the letters from the Duchy of Guedes and France, there were also letters from the French in support of the Swiss resistance to the Habsburgs.

Marin was overjoyed when he saw these letters......

Originally, he was also worried that his actions would attract special attention from France. However, as soon as he received a letter from the French in private support for Switzerland, he immediately understood that there was finally someone to help attract firepower......

As long as the letters secretly exchanged between France and the Swiss Resistance were handed over to the Habsburgs, the Habsburgs would certainly negotiate with France. Although it will not change the situation that France will still support Switzerland, it is certain that the French will be exhausted and scramble.

After all, it was in the hands of the Habsburgs. No matter where the lawsuit goes, the French are at the expense. Therefore, when the time comes, when they launch an attack on the Duchy of Guedes, the French will probably not be able to care about supporting the Duchy of Guedes. Because, they are also entangled in lawsuits.

Moreover, because of the failure of the expedition to England, the French were wounded. Although a few thousand knights remained, the loss of material and property to the French made it impossible for the French to support the Duchy of Guedes in the short term. Even if you put pressure on Marin, you don't have time to take care of it. Because, in any case, the pressure of the Habsburgs, they could not ignore it. Taking advantage of the opportunity of the political game between the two powerful families, Marin quickly cut through the chaos and solved the Duchy of Godes......

……

Marin was also surprised by letters from Charles II, Duke of Guedes, to King Louis XII of France, one of which blatantly called Emperor Maximilian I a "greedy tyrant" and complimented Louis XII as the wisest and most promising monarch in Europe...... Charles II flattered Charles II for nothing, but to call Maximilian I a "greedy tyrant" is too much of a problem......

You know, Maximilian I was also the king of Germany anyway, and after his coronation, he was the emperor of the HRE. Nominally, Maximilian I was the monarch of Charles II. It is a capital crime for a subordinate to slander the monarch and put it in a centralized monarchy. Even if Germany was divided and so denigrated the monarch, Maximilian I would have a reason to punish Charles II. Even, destroying the Duchy of Geddes is not excessive.

It's just that now that the Habsburgs are trapped in Switzerland, they can't spare the strength to clean up the Duchy of Goddes. Therefore, it is most appropriate to let other princes "do it for you".

With the letters as ironclad evidence, and Marin hiding behind John II, Duke of Clifford, even if the German princes were dissatisfied, they could not attack. After all, who let the Principality of Guedes let people find evidence? The princes did not miss anything to denigrate Maximilian I. However, everyone just talked about it in private, never said it publicly, and left no evidence. It is no ordinary misfortune for someone like Charles II to be found with documentary evidence. Moreover, the letter also left the autograph and personal seal of Charles II. Whether it's true or not, you can know it by comparison......

……

However, John II, Duke of Cleaver, was a little afraid of the wrath of the French. So, he didn't know how to face the reproaches of the French. If the French sent an envoy to question him, he did not know what to do. After all, France is the number one power in Western Europe. Although the HRE is strong, it is fragmented, and none of the HRE can compare with France in terms of strength alone.

"Well, if the French ask, you will say that the Habsburgs instructed you to do this. Without you, someone else will come forward. Marin thought about it for a moment and suggested.

"Huh? Can it still be like this? Doesn't this offend His Majesty the Emperor? John II was dumbfounded.

"What are you afraid of? Anyway, France and the Habsburgs are going to turn their faces, and the French can still find His Majesty the Emperor to verify it? Marin said nonchalantly.

"What? Did they turn the other cheek? How did I not know? "John II was somewhat baffled.

So, Marin simply took out the letters that France secretly supported the Swiss that he had received at the same time and showed them to John II, Duke of Cleaver. When John II read it, he immediately understood - as long as these letters were seen by Maximilian I, the two sides would definitely tear each other apart. Even if it can't be fought, diplomatic relations are broken. Therefore, it is impossible for the French to ask His Majesty the Emperor for confirmation of this.

"What if the French send troops to help the Duchy of Guedes?" John II asked worriedly.

"Where do they send their troops? Is there enough money to support it? In the past, the French supported the Duchy of Guedes by paying Swiss mercenaries to help the Duchy of Guedes. But now, the Swiss mercenaries are not enough for their own use, and they have just been captured by His Majesty the Emperor by 10,000 people. Without Swiss mercenaries, would the French send their own army? That's the ...... that would anger the Habsburgs."

Marin gave John II a good analysis, and it was only then that John II was relieved.

Furthermore, Marin took out a map and showed it to John II—France did not share a border with the Duchy of Guedes. Even if the French wanted to enter the war, they would have to pass through the Netherlands, which were controlled by the Habsburgs. But will the Habsburgs let the French army through? Apparently impossible......

Eventually, John II, Duke of Cleaver, left Aurich to his satisfaction......

……

And Marin, after sending off John II, will also begin to prepare for the attack on the Duchy of Godes......

First of all, Marin decided to arrange a group of spies to be stationed in several cities of the Duchy of Godes. What are they going to do? Naturally, he cooperated with the army to open the city gates.

Marin even planned to arrange for them to quietly dig tunnels from several cities in the Duchy of Gedes to the outside of the city. In this way, when the city is attacked, Marin can directly send troops into the city to capture the city gate.

In addition, Marin, the principality of Gedus, was not worried, he was worried about the reaction of the German princes. Therefore, he needs more troops to guard against a possible alliance of princes......

For this reason, the remaining 30,000 troops in the country are somewhat insufficient......

First of all, to attack the Duchy of Godes, at least 20,000 soldiers and horses will be mobilized. But if Marin sent 20,000 troops, then there would be only 10,000 people left in the country. If the princes had been impulsive at that time and organized a coalition to attack Marin's homeland, it would have been dangerous.

Therefore, Marin decided to expand the army again......

However, this time, Marin did not want to expand the regular army, but planned to train a reserve force of 20,000 people.

These people are guards in wartime and serve the people in peacetime. When the farm is not working, they are all gathered to train together. When the farm is busy, they are scattered in the fields......

This is somewhat similar to the military system of the Tang Dynasty, and it is also very similar to the Eight Banners system of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Above all, this method of recruiting troops was very stealthy and did not cause panic among the other German princes. After all, on the surface, those new recruits are basically the people, and only in wartime will they pick up the team to fight.

Therefore, these people are not a standing army and do not occupy the establishment, so it is difficult for other countries to make other countries nervous. If you directly say that you will recruit another 10,000 or 20,000 troops, it is estimated that those German princes will be scared to death...... If it is overstimulated, Marin is expected to attract a wave of joint conquest by the German princes...... Therefore, all this needs to be laid out in advance......