Swearing allegiance to a person is indeed the best way to prove one's position.

Especially at this time, taking the oath of allegiance, which seems easy for the Pisan people, is actually not easy.

Tomneo still sits firmly on the throne of the Duke of Pisa, and although everyone thinks that his throne is still not so secure, smart people know that Tomneo is still a long way from stepping down.

And because he had declared that Alexander's descendants would be the heirs of the Duke of Pisa, his position was secure, at least until he relinquished the title.

Even for the sake of his own daughter, Alexander could not see what happened to him in the future, and even if someone was going to be against Tomneo, he had to protect the Duke of Pisa from harm.

Because of this, some people now prefer to associate with Tomneo, some of them merchants.

These merchants knew what pizza was like today, so they could guess what Tomneo was thinking.

The decision to relinquish the ducal throne required a great deal of determination, and the Tomnio family was not without other side branches, but even so, Tomneo agreed to have the title inherited by the descendants of the Count of Montina, not only because of great pressure and coercion, but also because of Alexander's generous annuity.

Tomneo was well aware of the dangers he might bring to himself and even the entire family if he stubbornly held the ducal throne, and he was well aware of the Montina people's power in Pisa, especially after the purge of the entire Pisan nobility and parliament after the last carnival parade, he was clearly aware that not only did the entire Pisa parliament no longer support him, but even the Pisa army had completely abandoned him.

It was because of this that Tomneo made the decision to accept the ducal throne in exchange for the annuity offered by Alexander.

At least a reliable sum of money can guarantee a future life, and stubbornly holding on to a throne that no longer makes sense can lead to worse results.

And it was precisely by borrowing Alexander's desire that he would keep his position as Duke of Pisa for his daughter, that Tomneo began to amass wealth unscrupulously during this time.

"My lord, Miss Estelles must be baptized as soon as possible before you can rule Pisa as the guardian of Pisa's future heirs."

A nobleman looked agitated, and by this time all pretense was gone, and some even saw something in the demeanor of others that was obviously unsettling.

Alexander held Estelles in his arms and looked at the men in front of him.

These men were now closely connected to him, and listening to the incessant advice of some of them, Alexander's gaze swept over the people in front of him.

"If I take over the city as the guardian of Estles, can you guarantee that everything will work out?"

Alexander's inquiry caused the faces of the men to quickly rise with excitement, and they looked at each other, and some saw the hideousness between the expressions of the others.

Everyone understands that at this point no one can quit anymore.

"My lord, I can guarantee that the city defense army will obey your orders." Daddy said in a deep voice.

Alexander nodded, he knew that these people, like him, needed a pizza that had not been damaged by any turmoil, not a city that had fallen into chaos because of the overthrow of Tomneo.

"The Duke's safety must be guaranteed." Alexander glanced at his father, believing that if possible, this man might not have arranged a fatal accident for Tomneo, which was not what one wanted.

Tomneo would remain on the throne of the Duke of Pisa for a long time, and Alexander did not want him to be removed from power so soon.

Two days later, the news of Pisa suddenly spread everywhere, and when people unexpectedly heard that Alexander was going to baptize his eldest daughter, many people couldn't help but speculate about what happened that was unexpected.

Tomneo was one of the first to hear the news.

At first, Tomneo laughed unexpectedly and then with joy in his heart.

According to custom, a baby's baptism is often not performed until a month after birth, and Alexander's rush to baptize Estelles has led many, including Tomneo, to believe that this is because the child's health may have been unexpected.

It was precisely because he feared that the child might die at any time that Alexander had to baptize his daughter in a hurry, regardless of custom.

Otherwise, if the child dies unexpectedly without being baptized, the baby's soul will not be able to enter heaven.

Joy at the thought of this possibility, Tomneo even uncontrollably danced the pisa's peculiar quickstep dance in his hall, but soon he realized that it was inappropriate, and he immediately ordered his servants to go outside and inquire about the truth of the news.

It was only in the evening that a new piece of news that made Tomneo go from overjoyed to worried reached his ears.

Estelles did not appear to be in any health as many people suspected, but it is said that the Count also met with some important people in Pisa with the child in his arms, and although it is not known what Alexander said to those people, Tomneo still sensed something was wrong.

He wanted to know more, but he could only ask the servant to hand it over to some whom he thought he could trust, and he could not count on any information about the fact that these people, who were not having a good time with him because of their close relationship, could find out.

Eventually, however, Tomneo got some useful news.

To his surprise, Father Giovanni de Medici, the priest who had been living in the Cathedral of Pisa since he came to Pisa, offered to baptize Estles, and the imminent arrival of Tomneo, who had also attracted the attention of many Pisan people, also caused a lot of speculation.

Massimo, the new abbot of the Convent of San Marc in Florence, will also take part in the baptism of Estelles.

When the news spread, the Pisan people were no less shocked than the surprise that had been brought about by hearing that Giovanni de Medici was presiding over the ceremony.

Florence and Pisa are a pair of enemies.

However, unlike Genoa and Venice, which had been evenly matched for many years, Pisa had always been shrouded in the shadow of Florence, and now that suddenly two people with an inseparable relationship with Florence will appear at the baptism ceremony of the future ruler of Pisa, Pisa people are surprised and speculated.

Although he also couldn't understand the reason for this, Tomneo still noticed something unusual, he found that the nobles who didn't care about him in the council suddenly became a lot more polite to him, and even some merchants accused him of using the power of the duke to dominate the market was ignored by the parliament and the court, which made Tomneo feel something strange, although this seemed like a good thing for him, but he always felt that things were not so simple.

According to Alexander's arrangement, the baptism ceremony would take place on the Sunday two days later, which seemed a bit hasty, but with the arrangement of some people who had been prepared for a long time, not only Giovanni de Medici and Massimo, who were temporarily living in Pisa, decided to attend, because a letter was sent to Rome, and the news came back that Caesar would also participate in the baptism of the first nephew.

Lucrezia was naturally overjoyed by Caesar's arrival, but Alexander wondered if the brother-in-law was going to play some kind of conspiracy again.

Alexander didn't know that he had almost tasted the Borgia family's unique flavor, Canterella, but even then he could guess that Caesar was definitely not here to attend Estles' baptism, so when he knew that Caesar was coming, he immediately ordered Ofreil to be summoned to the "Lucrezia Palace".

Now the Pisans are calling the house "Palazzo Lucrezia", so Alexander is beginning to wonder if he should renovate the house or tear it down and rebuild it altogether.

Ofreil had arrived from Montina.

He came quickly, but with him this time was a new army of 500 Montina.

According to the agreement, the first 600 Genoese soldiers recruited from Genoa had already arrived at Montina in those days when Alexander rushed to Florence.

The next 2,400 people will arrive in two months.

Gompati was glad that there were 600 more soldiers all of a sudden, and he hadn't quite figured out how to turn these disobedient ruffians into a qualified army.

However, this did not prevent him from immediately selecting a group of more pleasing ones from among the Agri, who were being trained in Montina, to replenish his artillery.

However, just as he was beginning to set about training the Agri and Genoa as Alexander had commanded, Ofleiil brought orders to rush to Pisa with Montina's army at once.

The 500 new Montina troops were suddenly led by Ofreuil and rapidly marched towards Pisa, and at this time, no one knew the purpose of the march, whether it was ordinary recruits or the old Agri musketeers, who had been promoted to officers.

When Ofleiil met Alexander at the Palazzo Lucrezia, he saw the Count carefully rocking his daughter around.

As for the Count's anger at the sound of his footsteps waking his daughter, Ofleiil felt that it was purely a bit of a dazzle on his part.

"Caesar is coming to Rome."

After handing over the child to the maid, Alexander finally relaxed, he rubbed his somewhat sore shoulders and was about to complain, but he stopped when he saw the sweat stains on Ofleiyi's face and dust.

Although it was not long, speed had become one of the most valuable advantages of the Montina army, and even in peacetime training, the Montina army was much faster than any army they knew.

And this quest for speed and discipline has begun to have a profound effect among the veterans of Montina's army, and this influence is slowly taking root in the army with these veterans.

"I hope he won't play any tricks this time," said Oflaiyi disapprehantly, "My lord, our new army has been arranged in the city of Pisa, and they will defend Pisa together with the city defense army without any accidents." ”

Hearing Ofleiyi's deliberately aggravated tone, Alexander glanced at him with understanding.

Alexander was very satisfied with Alflai, with the experience of battles, this former apprentice stonemason is gradually changing to a qualified officer, and the calm and grasp of the battle situation that has been vaguely displayed at a young age makes Alexander quite optimistic about his future.

Especially after the test of the Battle of Livorno, Alexander had great hopes for him.

"Oflei, I think you should hurry up and go to school," seeing the stunned look on Ofleiyi's face, Alexander continued, "You are very talented, but talent is only part of success, a successful general must have a wealth of knowledge in addition to the mind of a genius, knowing that we may face an enemy that we have never encountered before and a war that we have never seen before, when even a genius may suffer a crushing defeat because of mistakes." ”

"My lord, but who shall I learn from," said Oflei, a little helplessly, "I am only the nephew of a stonemason, and the nobles may be willing to let the sons of painters of commoner birth learn rhetoric with their children, but they may not be willing to let a nephew of a stonemason learn how to fight with them." ”

Alexander nodded, he couldn't help but admit that Ofleiyi was right, the nobles would not accept that a large group of civilian officers like Ofleiyi would study military affairs with them.

Moreover, in his conception, with the expansion of the army, military education, mainly for middle and lower-ranking officers, is already a matter of urgency.

It seemed that a special military school would have to be established, the idea crossed Alexander's mind, but the idea was quickly thrown aside by him.

He didn't have time to think about this for the time being, Caesar's arrival might bring some kind of trouble, and he had to concentrate on dealing with that brother-in-law first.

On the evening before the baptismal ceremony, two special guests arrived at Palazzo Lucrezia.

The appearance of the Medici brothers caused quite a commotion.

Giulio de Medici walked ahead, his gaze brushing over the faces of the people who were gossiping in the courtyard, and then he ignored them.

But as they entered the hall under the guidance of the servants, looking at the guests of the house, Giulio slowed down and whispered to Giovanni de Medici, who was following him.

Giovanni de Medici, who was decidedly much more stable than Giulio, listened to his brother's whispered reminder and went through the door and nodded to the Pisan nobles who had already stood up to greet their brother, until Ulliu appeared before them and invited them to a room upstairs to meet the count alone.

This was Alex's first meeting with Giovanni de Medici.

However, although he knew that this man would not only successfully restore his family's rule in Florence in the future, but also use various means to finally ascend to the papal throne, and even paved the way for his brother to become the same pope later, this did not make Alexander feel anything special in his heart.

After all, he has seen too many popes, and there are at least two popes who have become or will become his father-in-law, and as for the pope in front of him, it seems that he is thinking about becoming relatives with him......

Even if all goes well, Alexander is considering how to raise Massimo to become pope in the future.

"It is my pleasure to baptize your daughter, Count," Giovanni de Medici's easy-going attitude, perhaps more or less intentionally close, made Alexander look at Giulio twice, and it was clear that Giulio's whimsical idea did not seem so unreliable to the Medici family, and then Giovanni continued, "If I am not mistaken, the name you gave your daughter has a very special meaning, does it?" ”

"Suffice it to say," Alexander immediately smiled at the mention of his daughter, "I hope that my daughter, like a morning star that lights up the darkness, will bring light to the world that has never been seen before, and I must say that the times that our ancestors lived through before were not only barbaric but also dark, and we ourselves are now standing at the very moment when this darkness is about to end, and I believe that the future of my Estelles will be truly bright." ”

Giovanni de Medici looked at Alexander with blazing eyes, he did not expect that this young man would say such things to him at the first meeting, and he could not find any way to grasp from these words.

What's more, Giovanni de Medici didn't want to do anything because of these words of Alexander.

The harsh rule of the Church was centuries ago, and now the Vatican has almost lost its prestige, and Alexander VI, as Pope, has become the target of criticism.

But what really matters is that Giovanni heard his love for his daughter from Alexander's words, which made Giovanni glance at Giulio who was standing on the side with a smile on his face.

The suggestion from Giulio before couldn't help but come to Giovanni's mind again.

The idea of marrying Count Montina, or Pope Alexander VI, struck Giovanni's heart.

Early morning of May 50, 1498.

A cool breeze blew in through the open window, and a teenager standing by the window rubbed his somewhat swollen head.

The morning light shone through the window, casting the boy's slightly slender figure on the floor and stretching it long.

The sound of hurried footsteps came from the bottom of the stairs outside the door, and the sound apparently interrupted the young man's contemplative thoughts, and he looked at the door in annoyance and helplessness, until the door was pushed open.

"I know you haven't slept all night, but let me see your work, you must have finished it, right?"

A stout young man rushed into the room and immediately shouted to go around the easel, but then he was slightly stunned.

"Why haven't you painted the Holy Child yet?" The young man was a little surprised and asked, "This work of yours is very important, and if it is not completed as soon as possible, it may affect your work on receiving the frescoes of St. Francis's church." ”

"I know," the boy looked at his friend with some annoyance, "but I don't know how to write, Prodo, do you know that I have a shadow in my heart, and I know that as long as I grasp that shadow, I can complete a real masterpiece, but I just can't catch it." ”

"Maybe you need something else, like a girl?" The young man named Prodo asked tentatively, and when he saw the angry eyes of the young man glaring at him, he shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe you just need to go out for a walk, and always let your eyes not leave the canvas may not be able to catch your shadow." ”

Speaking of this, the young man suddenly remembered the reason why he had come to find a friend so early.

"Let's go to the church, today is the day of the baptism of the daughter of the Count of Montina, I have heard that many important people will come, the Medici brother will personally praise it, and the new abbot of St. Mark's Monastery in Florence will also attend, and I have even heard that even the Borgia family will come, this is a real good opportunity, maybe your good luck will start here."

The friend's words obviously moved the boy, but he hesitated when he looked at the still vague outline of the Holy Child on the canvas.

Seeing that the boy seemed to be moved, the young man named Prodo immediately snatched the paintbrush from his hand.

"You should go out and have a look, and maybe you can find some inspiration," said the young man, pulling him out the door, "Let's go and see what the big guys are like, maybe some of them will appreciate you, believe me, you will definitely become a great master in the future, and then everyone will know your name, Raphael Sandy." ”