Alexander thought of many things that would happen when June 15 came, he thought that it would be Zhisa who would send a letter, and that Lucrezia might send someone to report it, but the only thing he didn't expect was that Pope Alexander VI sent him news of Giovanni's death, and he also sent someone to summon Alexander back to Rome unexpectedly.

This surprised Alexander and could not help but feel a little wary, he knew that Alexander VI could not like him, and perhaps, as Giovanni said, if it were not for the needs of Romagna's war, perhaps the Pope would have waged a holy war against him.

After all, for Alexander VI, his actions were an offense to the double majesty of a pope and a father.

Because of this, Alexander was a little shaken by Giovanni's kindness, and if it wasn't for the fact that it might involve too much, he still hoped that Giovanni would live, after all, this person could establish a buffer between the two Alexanders that would not clash head-on.

However, Alexander hesitated only slightly, and then made up his mind to return to Rome.

Whatever Alexander VI's mentality was to recall him back to Rome, whether hostile or friendly, it meant that he already had a certain status in the eyes of the pope, which was important to Alexander.

Another reason why Alexander decided to return to Rome was Lucrezia.

Caesar had been to Naples for a long time, and whether or not the Count of Mordillo had secretly manipulated the marriage as he had said, Caesar's errand could not have gone so well.

Now Giovanni's sudden death would be a fate-changing opportunity for Caesar, and from then on, the future Duke of Romagna would embark on a long path of power, but at a time when Alexander did not want Caesar to achieve his wish so easily.

This means that Caesar will have more control over Lucrezia from now on, and he will use Lucrezia's marriage as a bargaining chip for him again and again.

This is something that Alexander absolutely did not want.

He may not love Lucrezia, but he can't stand watching Lucrezia marry again and again.

In this case, it is necessary for both Alexander VI and Caesar to see his power.

It's just that what will happen to Lucrezia in the future, Alexander never thought about it.

Make her her your own mistress?

Just thinking about this thought, Alexander felt that the Pope's excommunication was not far from him.

The news of Alexander's decision to return to Rome excited the Agri, who were always in the mood for a luxurious city, and now the Agri had begun to pursue this luxury and pleasure.

Because of this, however, Alexander's training became more severe, and while promised a few days of short rest in Rome, Alexander gave Agri harsher orders than ever before.

The march was 20 to 25 fats a day, and it had to be completed within 4 days.

The Agri were dumbfounded by this order, and several of the detachment leaders looked at Alexandre in a daze, thinking that either the Count had said something wrong, or that they had heard it wrong.

"You heard it right," Alexander quickly dragged the Agri out of his fantasy, "I want you to go these ways, and that's the least. Alexander said as he threw the reins of his horse to Paolo Busako behind him, "All the horses are to be used to carry food and tents, and I don't need any baggage vehicles, let alone anything unnecessary." ”

As he spoke, Alexander took a soldier with an icon in his hand and set it aside.

"I want you to carry nothing but food and water for the last few days, and the necessary equipment with you, and then on the evening of the fourth day I will see the gates of the city of Rome, and I hope that you will follow me then, and not fall somewhere on the way."

Alexander said as he walked over to the map, his hand first scribbling down a route on the map, and then he looked at the Agri in front of him, who was in a daze.

"Do you remember how we got back to Rome from Mount Sunniro, or did you forget how to walk in those good days in Rome, or did Oral's victory take you off the fighting spirit?"

"Of course not adults!"

An Agri blushed and shouted, "We are the same Agri as before, the Agri who came out of the Agri with you!" ”

"Then let me see how you can accomplish a miracle in these 4 days that no one else can do!" Alexander gave the order to the detachment commanders: "Go back and get ready, and then we will set off at once." ”

"Yes, my lord!" The roars of the detachment leaders pierced through the courtyard and spread among the already busy Agri outside.

Alexander VI sent a close confidant close to him, although he was not as favored as Pelotto Cadron, but because he had been with the Pope for many years, he was also well-informed.

And as a person close to the Pope, this envoy will inevitably show a condescending attitude.

Although he did not dare to show arrogance in front of Alexander because of Lucrezia, he would not be so polite to the Agri and Montinates.

But it soon became clear to the messenger that much of the things in the Château de Montina were new, or rather that he seemed a little unheard, at least he had never seen the clean barracks of the soldiers, and the armor that was polished as if it were going to a jousting convention.

As for the unusually quick preparation of the Agri soldiers, the messenger was even more surprised.

He imagined that even the departure that would take two days at the earliest, and it was completely ready that afternoon, and if it weren't for the heavy rain outside, perhaps the Agri would have set off.

"No wonder the Herald says that you are different from the others," said the Herald with curiosity at last, as he was alone with Alexander, "and the Herald says that you are the strangest man he has ever met. ”

The emissary's words reminded Alexander of an equally interesting man, the herald of the Council of Roman Order, Skop, a lucky mercenary who had slipped into the Farne house by holding an elderly widow's lap.

However, if it was a little dishonorable to rely on the widow's thigh to get out of the way, now Alexander feels a lot closer to Skop.

After all, what he is doing now is no different from Skop.

"You're familiar with the herald?" Because of Skop, Alexander thought he might be able to find out more from this man.

But he soon learned how wrong he was.

"My family has always served the Farne," the messenger bowed slightly, "My grandfather also received an honorary title. ”

Alexander nodded a little disappointed, he probably already understood that this person should belong to the more cronies of the Farne family, probably because of Julia Farne, this person also worked beside Alexander VI.

A man from the Farner family would not have a good impression of him.

Speaking of which, Julia Farne had not yet asked him to settle the account for the murder of her brother, which made Alexander not only not relieved, but more vigilant in his heart.

The people of the Farne family were never tolerant saints, and this Alexander knew it very well.

The rain is still heavy, and this season is just around the corner of the rainy season.

"Depending on the weather, we may not be able to leave tomorrow." The messenger was a little helpless and seemed relieved, for the fatigue of running fast horses for two days in a row had almost broken his body, so he still wanted to stay for one more day.

Seeing the Agri's almost frantic preparations, he even thought that the Count was going mad and set off the next day.

"No, you can stay here and continue to rest," since he knew that this man belonged to Farne's family, he did not intend to keep him by his side any longer, and now seeing the messenger's lazy appearance, Alexander simply decided to leave him in Montina, "Let's go now." ”

The messenger looked at Alexander in amazement, then involuntarily pointed out his finger to the door.

"Yes, now."

Ignoring the incredulous-looking messenger, Alexander strode into the rain.

It's mid-June, but when the rain pours on you, you feel a chill after the hot breath.

"Agri!"

Alexander's roar pierced through the rain, and it was only then that the messenger realized that the prepared Agri soldiers were concentrating in the open space in front of the castle gates, led by their captain, in the heavy rain.

The rain ping-pong on their armor ran like a curtain of water down the brim of their helmets and into the collars of the soldiers.

Alexander stood in front of the group, equally drenched, and looked at the soldiers standing opposite, his gaze sweeping over everyone in front of him.

"Remember the Bruino Valley?!"

"Remember, sir!"

"Remember the night in the village of Saniro?!"

"Remember, sir!"

"Remember the victories of Pisa, Oral, Chimone?"

"Remember, sir!"

"Some say we've won enough victories and should be proud, but I'll tell you it's not enough," Alexander struggled to get his voice through the pouring rain to reach the ears of the soldiers in front of him, "I want you to do something that is no easier, or even more difficult, than these battles, I want you to endure hunger, exhaustion, sleepiness and anxiety, and then follow me from here to Rome in 4 days or less, I hope all of you will follow me, And I will always be ahead of you. ”

Alexander's words caused a small commotion among the soldiers, and some of them looked at Alexander through the gap between their companions in front of them, who felt that this was somewhat impossible.

Sensing the suspicion among the soldiers, Alexander gestured to Oflei.

"Model soldier, spear wielding~"

At Ofleiyi's order, a platoon of soldiers at the front of the line suddenly raised their spears in the air, and each of them had a pennant hanging from the top of their spears, although the rain prevented the flag from flying, but the people behind could still see it.

"You will follow these banners, and you will see if these exemplary soldiers in front of your ranks can keep up with me, and if you can do the same as them, then you have the opportunity to be one of them."

Alexander announced loudly to Agri, as his eyes turned to the soldiers of the Model Army.

In addition to watching the daily comical dance exercises, Alexander did not give up the opportunity to let these future model soldiers as seeds reach their potential.

Much faster than usual, and endurance training that was unusual, albeit a short time, Alexander believed that these exemplary soldiers were at least better suited to his requirements than the others.

From Montina to Rome, almost 80 fats.

These 80 fats will be a new test for the Agri.

"My lord, are you going to leave now," the messenger came running in the rain, he looked at Alexander in amazement, and somehow he always had a feeling that something was not right, and when he saw the Agri people who were standing quietly in the rain, but made him feel very uncomfortable, the messenger suddenly understood the reason why he was wrong, "You want to return to Rome with the army?" ”

"That's right, I'm going to take my Agri back to Rome." Alexander looked back at the messenger and smiled, the rain running down his cheeks and dripping down his chin.

And the messenger's mood sank like a drop of water.

It is not that no one entered Rome with an army, on the contrary, there were many people who marched to Rome with an army in order to show their great strength.

Even Alexander did this, and the shock of the Bohemian cavalry when they received his order to enter Rome is still fresh in people's memories even after all this time.

But this time, it's two very different things.

The suspicions and rumors brought about by Giovanni's sudden death have turned the city of Rome into a powder keg that could explode at any moment!

The speculation about who the murderer is has completely drowned out all kinds of rumors and conspiracies.

Even if it was just an entourage, the messenger could feel the nervous panic and maddening suffocation everywhere.

At such times, Alexander was to openly march into Rome with a field army that had just experienced slaughter on the battlefield, and the emissary's throat was almost speechless at the thought of the disturbance it would cause.

"My lord, I thought you were just bringing some necessary retinue......" The messenger wanted to say more tactfully, but his face began to turn pale as he looked at the soldiers who made him more and more nervous. ”

Seeing the uneasy look on the envoy's face, Alexander lowered his voice and asked, "Do you know why His Majesty the Pope sent you to summon me back at this time?" ”

The messenger shook his head stunned: "I don't know, my lord." ”

"I don't know," Alexander chuckled, "but at this time His Majesty has ordered me to return to Rome, do you think that I am only going to go back to the Requiem Mass of the Duke of Gandino?" ”

With that, Alexander ignored the still stunned entourage of the Farnes, and walked to the front of the procession, first saluting the flag according to custom, and then looking at Gompati, who was silently watching all this.

"Remember your promise to me, Gompati," Alexander lowered his voice, "I think you know what I said, and I hope to see you meet me at the gates of the Château de Montina when I return." ”

"Yes, my lord, I will meet you at the gate of the castle." Gompati bowed, and then he said with a little concern, "But this kind of rain is a big trouble for the musketeers, and I don't think they can help you much." ”

Alexander smiled, and he looked back at the musketeers who had wrapped their muskets as tightly as possible: "I think they can fight even without muskets, and don't forget that they were good soldiers before they became musketeers." ”

"May God bless you, my lord." Gompati saluted again.

"May God bless us all," Alexander turned back and ordered after saying these words that were obviously unfair to his dead brother-in-law, "Go!" ”

The sound of the drums in the rain sounded strange, but it didn't stop the exemplary soldiers from following the drums.

The flag moved, and more and more Agri walked out of the castle on the muddy road.

The mud reminded those of those who had participated in Suniro's journey of the difficult march, and many of the Agri's began to feel a lighter step than the staggering and hardship of the snow.

This is just the beginning, my soldiers.

Alexander looked back at the army behind him and said to himself.

Forward, keep moving forward, the rain is still falling, the clothes are extremely uncomfortable because they are completely soaked and sticking to the body, and the equipment that was not heavy has begun to feel the weight on the shoulders as it keeps moving.

The rain stopped, and the fresh air brought people cool, but the wet clothes on their bodies became cold.

At the orders of the officers, the soldiers took off their uniforms and were told to keep walking, and the rising sun dried their clothes, completely enveloping them in the steaming heat.

The numbness had begun under their feet, and the soreness in their knees, which were so heavy that they could barely lift them, made everyone want to lie down and never get up again. 、

Alexander heard the whining and wailing of the soldiers behind him, but he didn't look back, he knew that it was only the first day, and the next two days were the crucial days that really tested them.

How many people will not be able to withstand this test, or how many will be able to persevere?

Alexander pondered, and then he shook his head secretly.

If the battle at Mount Chimone was a test of the army's will to fight, then this march into Rome will bring about a more noticeable change in this army.

On the first day, when the horn of the camp finally sounded, the Agri miraculously completed the journey of 17 fathoma, and by the time they set out, it was already noon.

"My lord, at this rate, maybe we can really walk 25 miles, or even more, tomorrow."

Looking at the panting but extremely excited Ofley, Alexander shook his head.

"No, Ofrey, tomorrow is the time to really test us," Alexander looked at the soldiers who were so tired that many of them sat directly on the muddy ground, "Tomorrow will be a difficult day for all of us. ”