"Now, can we start negotiating?" Francesco forcibly suppressed his anger and watched as the maid brought the beautifully plated meals to Sofia.

"Your Highness, this is green Portuguese sauce, which His Majesty John just prepared for you, and it is said to be a perfect match for pan-fried fish fillet."

The maid served a small plate of crystal clear sauce, and the imagination of the sweet and sour taste made people salivate.

"Hmph, you know how to perfunctory me with this kind of thing......"

Sophia picked up the silver fork and dipped it in some green Portuguese sauce, when the fragrant fish fillet and delicate and soft green wine bloomed on the tip of the tongue, it was indeed the most extreme enjoyment in the world.

"Sister Evelei, you can try it too...... Ah, Governor Francesco, we can begin and share your thoughts. Sophia elegantly wiped her mouth with a napkin, and then motioned for the attendants to serve the guests from afar.

"This charcoal-grilled pork rib is our Eastern Roman specialty, and it is a must try. Many Ottoman envoys have already tasted this delicacy. ”

This was Sophia's first sword, and it also meant that the empire had no possibility of compromise at all. Today's sumptuous banquet will definitely set off a bloody storm without gunsmoke.

"Her Royal Highness Sofia Valleologo, I have to say, it is indeed very well done, fragrant and delicious, and it is a rare delicacy." Francesco replied with ease, as if he did not feel the threat in Sofia's words, "We have proposed a sincere trade agreement to the Empire, and your Emperor has negotiated and approved it with his Imperial Council, but why should Epirus refuse?" ”

"Governor Francesco, it is not for nothing that you have been called the Light of Venice. Your keen insight shines like a sky full of stars. You know even the most important secrets of the Empire. It seems that the cooperation between the Empire and Venice has reached the point of inseparability. Sofia sat up slightly straighter, then kicked the ball back to Francesco's feet, "So if the Doge is so shrewd and wise, can you guess why we refused?" ”

Francesco smiled and took a sip from his teacup. He had tasted fragrant tea from the East, and the tea of the Empire was more astringent, and the tea bricks of England were the inferior.

"Profit comes and goes, it's nothing more than a money word. This is the best problem to solve. Francesco took the proposal that had been prepared a long time ago to his entourage, and then handed it over to Sofia, "The Venetians have always been affectionate and righteous, the Roman Empire is Venice's best partner, and we are willing to give up a part of the profits, how about it?" ”

However, Sophia simply tossed the proposal aside, and then took another sip of John's concocted drink.

Speaking of which, bartending was one of John's few hobbies in his previous life, and if it weren't for the lack of raw materials other than base wine in the Middle Ages, he was confident that Sophia could drink different alcoholic beverages every day of the month. Although she doesn't drink much, she is still interested in this sweet-tasting thing.

"Your Royal Highness, what does this mean?"

"You have the right to propose all bills, and the Empire has the right to veto all bills." Sophia smiled calmly, "It's not the most important thing right now, what you have to do now is to persuade us to agree to let you build a commercial port." ”

"You ......"

"What's wrong with me? Epirus was the territory of the Empire, and the sea power of the Adriatic Sea was also in the hands of the Empire. I don't deny that you Venetians have helped us a lot, but I want to clarify that the sovereignty of the Empire cannot be violated by anyone, not even Albania, which has signed an agreement with the Holy Alliance, without the permission of the Empire, and not the slightest benefit from the Empire. ”

"Sea power? Your Royal Highness, I take the liberty of it, but do you think that with the seemingly huge warships of the Empire, you can compare to the fleet of Venice? Francesco sneered, "The fleet anchored in the Venetian military port has terrified the Tunisian pirates, and the Mamluk fleet has been afraid to avoid it, and the guarantee of sea power depends on strength!" ”

"Are you threatening the Empire?"

The entire banquet hall suddenly fell silent.

Sofia raised her eyebrows in confusion, and Francesco's eyes became a little strange.

For another second, Francesco even thought Sofia would pounce on a lioness. But thinking about Venice's absolute authority on the sea, he calmed down a little.

"I am telling the truth, Your Highness Princess, it is true that the Empire has been revived this year, but how much of it has been with the help of the Crusaders and our Venetians? If now the Venetian fleet retreats from the Aegean Sea, how long can the Empire's suppression of the Ottomans on the coastline be maintained? ”

"What if the empire demolished the trading port of Venice and then transferred all the commercial interests of the eastern, northern and Aegean seas to Naples-Aragon? Oh yes, the Genoese should be interested, right? ”

"How dare you ......"

Sophia raised an eyebrow again.

Francesco, who was furious, was forced back into his position by a few casual men.

Accustomed to buying and selling, when did he, the Doge of Venice, suffer such a grievance? All the countries that had commercial ties with Venice also ceded sea power to the Venetians, and the Venetian fleet could be said to be the Mediterranean police at that time. Most of the trading ports had Venetian garrisons. The fleets of these countries themselves could not maintain security at sea, and leaving it to the Venetians, not only to protect them from pirates, but also to maintain law and order, and to collect some taxes for nothing, for most countries it seemed to be a sure deal.

"Your Highness, don't talk about Aragorn or Genoa, Aragon is still busy dealing with the issue of the Western Mediterranean to the Strait of Gibraltar, the Genoese are now at odds with the Empire, and even the Empire has a plan to seize Galata, let alone cooperate, now, the Empire has only one way to choose, and that is to agree to Venice to establish a Jawell trading port." Francesco took a few deep breaths, "But in order to show the sincerity of our Venetians, we are willing to give another three percent." ”

Francesco's entourage handed in a second proposal.

Hiss –

Suddenly, the proposal turned into a pile of confetti in Morey's hand, which came out of the side.

"Mr. Francesco, don't you understand what our little princess means?"

John was still dressed in between, but with a moving fish basket in his hand.

"Empire, never give up the right to the sea easily!"