1598 Spring The Spanish army took down Algiers, which was one of the main centers of the Barbary pirates. And it was a death sentence to the Ottoman Navy in the Western Mediterranean Sea. The Naples - which is under a real union relationship with Spain - the army was stationed at Tunisia and Algeria. Of course, the local Muslims still resisted by organizing guerrillas, so there were a series of battles between the Spanish and the Muslims. Meanwhile, at the Balkan peninsula, both the Crusade of the Holy Roman Empire(Germany) and the main troops of the Ottomans were in a deadlock. The latter lacked the power to advance into Croatia, and the former was barely getting hold of the Principality of Transylvania and the Principality of Wallachia. So, I've decided to support Spain, and ordered to make manufacturing complex in Portsmouth. The complex was different from the original handicraft system. The original system was gathering blacksmiths from all over the country, and they made cannons, guns based on their own measure unit. However, this manufacturing complex's measure unit was standardized into the Gregorian Measurement Unit (* It's the equivalent to the Metric System in the original history, which was adopted by the French Revolutionary Assembly in 1795. And with this, pound/yard/inch all disappeared. Metric System from now for short.) devised by the that I've devised and spread into entire Europe via Papal State during 1588 Spring and Summer. With the rulers and lathes made by the Metric System, all parts were standardized and could be replaced and fixed if broken. And on the wooden conveyer belt, each blacksmith just made one part of the weapon and all parts were assembled at the end of the belt. In short, Adam Smith and Henry Ford, you're all fired! Congress first expressed concern. "Your majesty, although supplying war supplies to our ally Spain is important, won't this complex infringe the rights of the Guilds?" And I - Edward VII/Eduardo I, the son of Felipe II and Mary I, and the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Netherlands(*The United Kingdom for short from now.) - replied "Then, let the Guilds run their own workshops in this style as well! Also, after this Portsmouth complex is completed, I promise to distribute the production lines in this complex to the Guilds via auction. What say?" Then the Parliament passed this complex construction bill. Also, I've distributed the lathes, steel rulers and wooden conveyor belts made according to the Metric system to the Guilds and ordered them to follow the manufacturing system. For now, it's just for producing military goods, but later, it'll be used to making goods for the public and will be one of the pillars of the United Kingdom. 1598 Summer My father, the King of Spain and Portugal(=The Iberian Kingdom) died of cancer. It is said that his last words were "I'm sorry, holy father and Jesus Christ. I've failed to fully crush the heretic Muslims..." He would have been a great priest, but he was a bad ruler. Anyway, he was succeeded by Felipe III - the former Prince of Asturias, Felipe - who is my half-brother. At his coronation which was held in Madrid, I've sent my eldest son and Prince of Wales, Richard as an envoy. 1 month later, Richard returned to London, and I've asked him "How's the new king of Iberia like?" "U...um...he was weak and stupid." 'Sigh' "Okay, you can go back to your room." "Y...yes, your majesty." 'Yes, you're also weak, Richard. But at least you've got talent in studying, my boy.' Meanwhile, in the Far East - Japan to be more exact - the Shimadzu Clan conquered the entire Kyushu Island(*The westernmost island in the Japan Isles) and landed its troops at the Honshu Island(*The center island in the Japan Isles. It's where the Japanese emperor's palace - Kyoto - and Toyotomi - the current regent of Japan -'s feud, Osaka is located.) At the same time, in the Korean peninsula(Joseon Dynasty at that time), the East India Company established another branch in Pusan along with the monastery of the England Branch of Society of Jesus. And according to missionaries' report, 7 local Koreans who became interested in Catholic faith were baptized. 'It's just like later days of the Roman Empire. They're sick and tired of the long war and want to find some mental relief and that's where new religion - Catholic in this case - comes along. Isn't it?' Anyway, I sent message to missionaries in the Far East "Be careful of your words and deeds, so that the heretics will honor the Holy Father voluntarily." 1598 Fall In France, Henry IV announced the Edict of Nantes. "...I hereby announce the freedom of religion and other sorts of freedom to the Huguenots, just like the Catholics." Some Huguenots cheered and returned to France "Yeah! Long live Henry IV!" others were sarcastic and stayed in North Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands and Great Britain, etc. "Oh, really? Whatever. We're not returning. Who knows the succeeding king, or Henry IV himself will nullify it later." And the Papal States and Spain went bananas "That son of a bitch!" "He betrayed the Catholic faith, and sold France to the devils!" The United Kingdom? Kept silence, which was an unofficial 'Aye'. Since the seats of Protestants in the House of Commons in England's Congress was increasing day by day - let alone Scotland's and Netherland's self-ruling parliament where the Protestants were the majority - it had no choice. At the same time, in the Far East - Japan, to be more exact - the alliance of Shimadzu Clan and the Tokugawa Clan's army burned the Osaka Castle - which was a castle in Toyotomi's feud. And it is said that he left a will like 'O conspiracy, Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils are most free?' 1598 Winter(December) At Christmas, my eldest daughter and queen of France, Elizabeth - not Elizabeth I in the original history, but a girl who was born between me and the late princess of Austria, Maria - visited London. Officially, she stated that she wanted to strengthen ties of France and the United Kingdom. 'Oh, really? Is that all? Haven't you still given up the ambition of becoming the Queen of England?' "How are you doing in France, young queen?" At the Christmas banquet, I asked her formally, not as a father-daughter relationship, but as a King of the United Kingdom to the Queen of France. "Oh, father! Every day is a blessing to me, thanks to Holy Father, Jesus Christ, and Virgin Mary's blessing!" she cheerfully answered, bowing slightly, still treating me as her father. 'Yeah..great...The eldest son is a scholar, and the eldest daughter still wants the throne.' On the day she returned to Paris, I quickly arranged the engagement of my son, Richard and the younger sister of the Maurice, the Prince of Orange (*He is a stadtholder of the Dutch Republic in the original history, who claimed independence of the Netherlands by fighting with Spain till the end. But in this timeline, he's my one of my royal servant and one of the highest rank nobles in the United Kingdom.) - Emilia. And their marriage was held on the first day of the New Year. (1599) Since Richard was just 14, turning into 15 (He was born in 1582), and all this thing happened in less than a week, even Maurice - who became brother-in-law with Richard and became in-laws with me - was bewildered. "Your majesty, I'm very honored and grateful that my younger sister has become a Duchess of Cornwall. But isn't it a bit of a rush? Their engagement and wedding took less than a week! It might have been better if they had more time of getting to know one another...for about a month, at least." "...Of course, I would have wanted it too, dear Prince Maurice. But, I have a hunch that France won't be quiet." "D...did you say France, your majesty?" "Yes. I hope I'm wrong, but we should be prepared for just in case. England and the Netherland's ties should be strengthened, don't you agree?" "...O, of course, your majesty."