The old town of Valejo is a village on the north bank of the lower Mincho River.

It was the first place for Pope Pius II, who stayed in this ancient town for almost four years.

Later, in his autobiographical work On Faith, he wrote: "The four years in Valejo were the happiest days of my life, and even when I stood in front of the crowds to receive prayers, I always remembered those good times. ”

There is a very old church in the old town of Valejo, almost everyone remembers when it was built, and it seems that it has been around since the time when the town existed.

Gompati is now in this church.

The bell tower next to the church is not very tall, but it is the tallest building in the town.

The key is that standing on the bell tower you can clearly see the movement of the Venetians on the other side of the river.

When the Roman army reached the Mincio River, they found that the Venetians had destroyed the only wooden bridge over the river, and if they wanted to find another bridge to cross the river, they would have to walk at least a dozen fats upstream.

To make matters worse, the upstream terrain is complex, with large swamps and wetlands on the opposite bank after crossing the river.

It was clear that heavy weapons such as artillery would not be able to pass through the swampy wetlands, so Gompati had made the decision from the beginning to prepare to force a force crossing of the Mincho River.

It's just that now this season is the time of spring flooding, and the Mingio River, which was originally very turbulent because of the terrain, has become a roadblock for the Roman Thescian army.

"We must cross the river as soon as possible," said Gompati, touching his neatly trimmed beard on his chin, "and we must settle the Venetian side before the French do something stupid." ”

"What will the French do?"

An officer asked with some curiosity that the officer named Calarioni was a student personally selected by Gompati from the Military University of Bologna.

And before he entered the university, he was a well-known architect.

In Montina, Gompati saw Calarioni, who was surveying a turret on the site where the castle was being built.

When the architect calculated the height of the turret, which was clearly higher than the surrounding section of the foundation, using a very simple variable of the angle between a few wooden sticks, Gompati was immediately amazed at the mind and potential of the other party.

He was almost semi-forced to send the architect to the newly opened Military University of Bologna, where he became one of the first students of the Military University of Bologna and the first student of the specialized artillery department.

Now Cararioni was Gompati's lieutenant and assistant, but as one of the earliest professional artillery officers, the halfway architect, who was over 30 years old, had a lot to learn.

"They're going to attack Milan."

Gompati muffled his words, in fact, everyone knew that his western army was not only monitoring the Austrian army in the direction of Milan, but also the French army in Genoa.

So now he suddenly swung his troops eastward, even to the banks of the Mincio, which was not only unexpected by the Venetians and Austrians, but also probably by the French.

The French will attack Milan.

Just think about it, and you can feel how intolerable it is.

For Milan, which is now like an air-defended city, it is like a woman who has accepted her fate, and anyone who wants to be the master of sleeping with her.

But neither the Austrians in the city nor the locals of Milan want to be slept with by the French.

"My lord, are we going to get back to Milan?"

Calarioni asked, a little worried.

He did not participate in the war with the Ottomans, nor in the Second Italian War against France, to be precise, it was his first time on the battlefield, and as for the current relations between Rome and other countries, he was completely unfamiliar.

"It's up to Oflei." Gompati said a little helplessly.

Gompati knew that Offleiil had always regarded him as his biggest competitor, and as the Roman Tescian army system gradually stabilized, the faction of officers represented by the two men had gradually taken shape.

If Alexander's army had not yet formed a complete officer corps system, now for all Roman Thesian officers, it was the beginning of a real establishment of oneself in this vast military group.

In addition to the Roman and Mesian armies, they also included the armies of Pisa, Naples and Sicily, and perhaps in the future Castile.

Gompati was one of the few who had a clear understanding of Alexander's plans for the future "Great Imperial Army".

Of this plan, Gompati just wanted to say: "The Duke's idea is 'fresh'. ”

Has Ofreiil crossed the Po River without any problems, and what will he do next?

Because there was no news about Oflei, Gompati was a little uncertain about when to cross the river, after all, according to the information, the Venetians had deployed about 6,000 troops in the Veneto area east of the Mincho River, and if Ofleil really lost, then once he crossed the river, he might be entangled by the Venetians in the Veneto area.

At that time, even if the French were still calm, they would probably take risks because of this rare opportunity.

His task was to ensure that the French could not occupy Milan until the Austrian army arrived.

Milan is indeed like a woman who has become defenseless, but this woman is only more attractive when she has not yet been handed.

Alexander just wanted Milan to be the pawn that made the two countries disputed.

"Prepare to cross the river."

Gompati spoke suddenly, his expression calm and his voice calm, as if he were just saying that he was going to go for a walk on the other side of the river, rather than that a fierce battle was about to break out with these words.

"Your Excellency, do you wait any longer, maybe there will be a letter from Lord Oflaiyi's side soon."

The lieutenant dissuaded him with some concern, and he was secretly worried about the huge casualties that might result from crossing the river, after all, for any monarch, excessive casualties would mean not only the loss of the army, but also the massive loss of combat effectiveness caused by the large number of pensions and the recruitment of new soldiers.

If that were the case, the general would definitely be reprimanded by the duke.

"Can't wait any longer, we don't have that much time, we have to deal with the Venetians before the French have made up their minds, as for Ofleuil," Gompati frowned imperceptibly, "Believe me, when he was the captain of the marching army, the Duke had asked him to command the troops in his place more than once, so he knew what to do." ”

Gompati's words relieved the adjutant, and although some of the rumors about the chief of staff seemed to be at odds with Gompati's, Calarioni decided to trust his commander.

Looking at the back of the adjutant who was hurrying away, Gompati rubbed his forehead, which was a little sore because he tried to restrain himself from wrinkling, only then did he rub his fingers.

"Ofleiyi will be an excellent chief of staff in the future, his seriousness and meticulousness can make a plan full of holes almost invulnerable, and can also turn a group of rabble into well-trained elite soldiers, which is the advantage of Ofleiyi, but because of this, he is only suitable to be a chief of staff."

This is what Alexander once said to Barendi in private, and he would analyze and evaluate his subordinates in such detail, just hoping that Barendi would be able to apply the exact cause during his regency.

However, although this was a private discussion between Alexander and his wife, it did not mean that others were not aware of the characteristics of the marching captain.

"Don't let me down, Oflair,"

After saying this, in which even he was not very confident, Gompati left all his worries, worries, and worries behind.

"Gompati is an attacking guy, but the interesting thing is that he's very good at defending, but with his character, even in defense, as long as there is the slightest chance to seize it, and then resolutely take the initiative to counterattack."

Gompati didn't know that Alexander had not only said this about him, but even told Barondi: "When you are at a critical moment and it is difficult to make a decision, send Gompati to complete this task, because even if he fails, the situation will not be worse than this." ”

The Roman-Thescian army began to cross the river in the morning.

At this time of the day, the water of the Mingio River slows down slightly, but even so, when a wooden boat has just entered the river, it is immediately swept away by a wave, and then the wooden boat immediately goes down the river as the cable held by the soldiers on the shore is released, and the Roman soldiers on the shore still can't help but change color.

"My lord, the river is too fast."

The adjutant looked at the soldiers who were a little confused on the river beach and said anxiously.

"This is the most suitable time of day, and at noon it is even less suitable for crossing the river." Gompati said, looking up at the sky.

Seeing a dark cloud drifting by in the distance, his face also became gloomy.

"Order the regiments to start crossing the river in company positions."

Gompati paused slightly, and then said in a low tone, "Tell all the troops that I will confer the title of 'Valecio Company' on the company that crosses the Mincho River first, and I will ask the Duke to grant him a military flag." But again, the troops who are not in good hands will be severely punished, and if necessary, I will exercise the authority conferred upon me by the Duke as commander-in-chief of the legion. ”

Calarioni nodded vigorously, he heard the murderous aura in the general's words, a different kind of majesty from the prestige that Ofleiyi had accumulated over the years.

This made the adjutant not doubt at all that if necessary, the general would not hesitate to use a few lives to remind the timid soldiers how to perform their duties.

One by one, the wooden boats were lowered down the river, and the Venetians, apparently in their haste of retreat, did not have time to collect the boats along the river, although they broke the bridges over the Mincho River.

Even when the bridge was destroyed, many of the planks were discarded haphazardly on the shore and on the stone embankments near the already bare piers.

Under Calarioni's command, the Roman soldiers not only quickly requisitioned all the boats in the town, but also used the discarded planks to fasten together some of the broken boats, which were broken and damaged, but could be used as raft supports, and used them as temporary platforms for crossing the river.

"My lord, so that we can transport the artillery to the other side as soon as possible."

The first graduating students of the artillery department of the Military University of Bologna excitedly explained to Gompati the purpose of the wooden platoons.

Gompati looked at the wooden raft silently, then approached Calarioni and whispered to him, "When this battle is over, you should go back to the university and continue your studies, I don't want you to be the first student to fail to graduate because of me." ”

The movement of the Roman Thescian army aroused the vigilance of the Venetians, and in the makeshift fortifications built by the riverside village not far from the river bank, the Venetian commander looked at the busy Roman Thescian army on the opposite bank, and the corners of his eyes kept beating.

"They're going to attack, we have to give them a little bit of a look."

The commander commanded, and suddenly his body trembled and he nearly tripped under his feet.

"Your Excellency."

The guards next to him immediately held up the commander.

"This damn leg," cursed the commander in a low voice, "this is the same injury he was wounded in Pisa, and it hurts terribly when the weather is bad, and it seems that the one defending Pisa at that time was the Gompati on the other side." ”

As soon as the commander finished speaking, he suddenly paused, he quickly raised his head to look at the sky, and when he saw a thin cloud in the distance blocking the originally hot sun, the commander couldn't help but let out a cheer in excitement, "God bless!" ”

"The river must be crossed before the weather turns bad," Gompati was also giving the order at this time, "order all the companies to spread all their forces along the river as best they can, except for the necessary reserves, and we shall seize the opposite bank as quickly as possible, and begin to cross the river!" ”

As Gompati's words fell, the long-awaited artillery fired fiercely at the opposite shore almost simultaneously.

At the same time, the western legions of the Roman Thessia launched a fierce attack on the opposite bank on a wide frontage about half a mile of length in the lower reaches of the Mincho River.

Although it was true that they had been prepared for a long time, the Venetians were still suppressed by the momentum of the Roman Thesians who went all out as soon as they made a move.

Especially in the face of the fierce shelling of the opponent who had not yet crossed the river and seemed to be about to shoot all the shells at once, the Venetians could not help but be frightened, and many soldiers instantly lost their armor and retreated under this completely unexperienced artillery fire.

With a "boom", the muffled sound of a cannon exploding in the distance startled many people.

This also made the other artillery pieces that were firing non-stop a halt.

Calarioni immediately ran towards the exploding cannon, and he kept urging him to continue firing.

After a while, Calarioni ran back, his face a dark purple color, and his hands black.

"My lord, the artillery can't withstand such a fierce rate of fire." The adjutant was somewhat worried: "Maybe we can divide the artillery into two teams and take turns firing." ”

"No, keep shooting, tell the gunner, try to keep the artillery safe, and shoot me all the shells across the river."

Calarioni wanted to say something, but he didn't say anything, and immediately turned and ran to give orders.

And it was at this time that the army of Roman Thescia began to force its way across the Mingio River.

When a cannonball fell into the water, the high column of water splashed down and drenched the soldiers on board, and the Venetian artillery began to fight back.

It was just that the Roman Thesian artillery, which had been prepared for a long time, immediately poured solid bullets with terrible destructive power in the direction of the Venetian artillery, whose position had been exposed by the firing.

Smoke and dust rose from the open space between the two houses on the opposite bank, and even the two stone houses were blown up and collapsed, and rubble flew everywhere.

At the same time, the ships of the Roman Thescian army had crossed the center of the Mingio River and began to row towards the opposite bank.

A line of disheveled but dense gunfire rang out, interspersed with the sound of heavy muskets, which were distinctly deafeningly loud.

A wooden boat that rushed to the front was immediately and horribly struck, and its hull was hit with lead bullets, and the sawdust was scattered and riddled with holes.

Although the soldiers on the ship raised their shields, they could not withstand such a dense fire, and in the midst of repeated screams, the soldiers were shot one after another.

Some fell directly into the water, and were immediately swept into the turbulent water and disappeared.

There was a loud bang, and a boat was hit by a heavy gun, and the hull was directly pierced through a huge hole, and to make matters worse, this shot happened to break the wooden beam.

As the hull of the ship twisted back and forth, and finally with another cracking and crisp sound, the wooden boat broke in two from the middle, and everyone on board immediately fell into the water.

Bursts of gunfire rang out from the other side, and crossbow bolts poured down from the shore into the river.

More and more soldiers were shot, and the river was filled with desperate cries for help from people who had fallen into the water.

"My lord, this is not going to work......"

With sweat on his forehead, Calarioni tried to dissuade Gompati, but seeing the general's expressionless face throughout, Calarioni found that he couldn't say what was going on.

"Calarioni, you go to the artillery position and supervise it yourself," Gompati finally spoke, and he instructed his adjutant "I want you to cover me completely with shells on the other side, as long as you think there is a threat, don't be stingy and break it directly." ”

"Yes, sir."

Calarioni knew that there was nothing more to say by this point, especially since he had heard with his own ears the general's order to move the legion's reserves to the riverbank, and it was clear that Gompati was ready for a final assault.

"Venetian?"

Gompati looked up at the sky, and the clouds were getting thicker, and the wind on the river was getting stronger, and the river was becoming more turbulent, and many boats were not hit by the enemy, but capsized because the current was too strong.

"Let the reserves prepare." Gompati gave the order to the herald next to him, and then his eyes turned to the opposite bank.

The attacks of the Roman army of Thessia became more and more intense, and the resistance of the Venetians became more and more intense.

The two sides engaged in a fierce offensive and defensive battle in the river and on the shore.

"Wait, hold on!" Sensing the wind getting stronger, the commander of the Venetian garrison shouted loudly to the people next to him, "When it rains, it's time for the fall of Rome Thesia!" ”

As he spoke, a raindrop of beans suddenly fell on his face, and the commander was stunned for a moment and then laughed.

"The Roman-Thesians are finished!"

He shouted and ran a few steps to the shore.

At this moment, a horn suddenly sounded from the direction of the upper reaches of the river.

The commander followed the prestige, stunned for a moment.

"My lord, the reserve has crossed the river!"

On the other side, the heralds excitedly reported loudly to Gompati.