As the rulers of Florence, the Medici family ruled the city for a long time as tyrants.

The family has built up a legacy over the years, not only in Florence, but also in other places.

So even after being expelled, the Medici family can still hope to find a chance to recover.

Unlike the Fuggers, the Medici family's pursuit of power was completely naked, and in their quest for Florentine dominance, the family employed no more moral means than their opponents.

However, for the people, the Medici family is still a good ruler, if it were not for the invasion of King Charles of France, and the Piero de Medici at that time was too indisputable to cause the anger of the Florentine people, and then was overthrown and driven away by the people led by Savonarola, maybe the rule of the Medici family would have continued smoothly.

The incompetent Piero de Medici became the sinner who sent the family from the clouds to the mortal realm, but despite this, the rest of the Medici family never gave up on returning to Florence to take power and restore it.

One of the most famous of these was Giovanni de Medici.

As the son of the "great" Lorenzo de Medici, who deserved the most respect at the time, Giovanni Medici had a brighter mind than all his siblings and a more determined character than his stupid brother Piero.

After escaping from Palazzo Medici, Giovanni Medici, who had been separated from his family, immediately sought out some of his old friends and hoped to get help from them.

But the men were apparently frightened, and the only thing they could do was offer Giovanni some money and urge him to leave without implicating themselves.

But even so, none of the people Giovanni took refuge in betrayed him.

This is of course due to the good reputation of the Medici family for their friends in the past, but also because of Giovanni's keen judgment that can read people's hearts.

He knew who to turn to for safer, and he knew who to turn to for help and get a response.

Giovanni and one of his brothers miraculously escaped from the city, and after they left Florence, they began to ask for help and lobby everywhere.

They visited almost all the families in the cities where the Medici family had good relations, and they also asked for assistance from many local churches, and since Giovanni was a priest himself, he wrote to the Vatican asking for the Pope's support.

It's just that Alexander VI was tired of dealing with the French at that time, and then after finally driving away Charles, he had to fall into a battle with the Venetians, which made Alexander VI not only have no time to take care of the Medici family, but also because of the threat from Venice, he couldn't let go of his hands and feet to deal with Savonarola.

Giovanni Medici was apparently well aware of his current situation, so he waited patiently for his chance, knowing that he had few opportunities, and that he had very little money, and that he had almost spent all of his money in exile, and that he had to endure high interest rates and borrow money from usurers in order to recover.

The loan sharks welcomed Giovanni, and some of them even wanted to make long-term investments in him, knowing that although this man seemed to be down, both the family and him had immeasurable potential, especially his background in the church, and even if the Medici family could not be restored, this person would not let them down.

Giovanni was very careful, of course he knew the minds of those people, so he was even more cautious, he didn't want to leave any hidden dangers for himself in the future.

During his years on the run, Giovanni kept a close eye on what was happening in Florence.

When the fire of vanity was lit, he was keenly aware of something unusual, and then, after careful consideration, he decided to send someone to contact some people in Florence.

Giovanni carefully selected among those he thought he could trust, and finally he found a figure who was not very conspicuous at the time, Midino.

Giovanni's vision paid off, and Medino's response was quick to respond, but neither Giovanni nor Medino's vision could have predicted what would happen next.

Now that there was a revolt in Florence, Savonarlo was overthrown, and a new government ruled the city, all of this seemed like a surprise, but Giovanni de Medici felt that his family's opportunity had finally arrived.

The news of Giovanni de Medici's arrival in Pisa was sent by the Pisa Chamber of Commerce, and of course the appearance of a big man like him will naturally attract people's attention, especially since the Medici family itself is a well-known chaebol family in the whole of Europe, although it is still extraordinary today, and it is not surprising that it will attract attention.

So when such a letter reached Alexander, it would not attract much attention.

But it's not that simple.

When it was still in Naples, Alexan proposed to Jisha the idea of the Chamber of Commerce to deliver the news, but this was originally what the Chamber of Commerce usually does, in this era of news blockage, many important news are passed through the traveling caravans that come and go, but some news is deliberately transmitted, and some news is just inadvertently circulated because of people's curiosity.

Alexander insisted that the merchants inquire wherever they went, and he asked the merchants to inquire about the local news in addition to their business when they arrived at a place, from the merchants themselves concerned about the source prices of various goods in the local market, to the news of the local cities that seemed to be of little use to them.

Because of this, he was able to quickly learn that the merchants of Taranto were generally hostile to the Free Trade Alliance, and it was precisely because of this that he was able to know so quickly that the Florentines were trying to buy dumped goods in a big way, so as to mobilize goods from other places in time, and finally completely overwhelm those opponents who tried to resist.

Now the same is true of Giovanni de Medici, an intelligence network established through or under the name of the Chamber of Commerce is gradually beginning to work, and this intelligence network is extending into the interior of Europe in a way that is imperceptible to others.

Naples, Taranto, Palermo, Pisa, Frankfurt, Amsterdam......

As long as there is a businessman, there is an opportunity for someone to pass on all kinds of news while doing business.

Some of these important messages were sent to the Marino Palace, while the vast majority were sent to the Carolingian Palace through the Roman Exchange.

"Giovanni de Medici had been in Genoa before," Alexander said to Ofleiuil, knowing that the marching captain didn't care enough about the news, and that he was more focused on the army, "and now that he's suddenly in Pisa, what do you think he's going to do?" ”

"God, he doesn't think he can take advantage of the riot to take advantage of the rebellion to retake Florence," Ofleiyi looked at Alexander in surprise, "My lord, I don't know how many troops that Medici has, but it would not be a good idea if he planned to attack at this time." ”

"Oh, why?"

"My lord, I was about to report to you that the Florentines had just withdrawn into the city from the lookout posts and small units of some of the towns outside, and they seemed to have sensed something, so they were all pulling back their ranks this afternoon, as if they were preparing for battle, although those mercenaries did not seem to be very powerful, but it would probably be troublesome to attack like this."

"Oh," Alexander said, turning to look at the city below, "Did Sazi get any news?" ”

"Maybe they're afraid we're going to attack them," Ofleiyi smiled, "If you're really going to attack Florence, then I'd suggest you wait as well, at least don't attack for now." ”

"Why?"

Alexander asked with interest, he was eager to hear Oflei's thoughts, and said that the few battles that had so far been quite successful, either in the field or on the defensive side of fortresses, had so far not really taken the initiative to attack an enemy with a well-developed defensive system.

This made him wonder what he would do if he faced such an enemy.

"My lord, we can wait for Gompati to come," Ofleiyi looked down the hill with a regretful look, "It's a pity that Gompati's artillery can't hit that far, otherwise we can build a fort directly on the King's Hill, and then all of Florence will have to be at their disposal." ”

Alexander looked at Ofleiyi with some bewilderment, and the look in his eyes made the marching captain even a little uneasy.

Alexander had to promise that there was a genius in the world, or at least a genius in some way.

At least as an apprentice stonemason, Ofleiyi had no talent to be proud of in his art, but he showed an unusual talent in the military field, or rather in the legal murderer.

Alexander vividly remembered that hundreds of years later, a man had set up a cannon on the King's Hill, as Ofleiil had said, and then the Florentines had opened the door and surrendered without firing a single shot.

"Offrey, you like Ashley very much, don't you?" Alexander suddenly changed the subject, and he reached out and took Ofley's shoulder and walked up the hillside, asking casually.

"Yes, my lord, but you know her father, Pomperny Jr......" Oflair shrugged a little helplessly.

"Yes, Pomperney is a bit stubborn, but if you really like Ashley so much, then hurry up and propose to her, and then marry her as soon as possible, I am willing to be your witness."

"Of course, sir," said Oflai, a little excited, but then he became a little puzzled, "but why are you urging me to get married, my lord?" ”

"For if you are lucky enough not to die in the rest of the war, then you are destined to get ahead, and then perhaps you will have to consider marrying not a girl you like, but some old and ugly widow who is useful to you, and it would be too bad to do that." Alexander smiled at Oflei.

Thanks to the unusual commercial exchange between Pisa and Florence, almost at the same time that Alexandria received the news, the Florentines also learned that Giovanni de Metizi had arrived in Pisa.

When I heard the news, it was as if the whole of Florence had been hit by a sudden and huge storm!

If the overthrow of Savonarola was an earthquake, then the appearance of Giovanni de Metizi was, for many, the end of the world after the earthquake.

Among them, Sazi was the most shocked and the most panicked.

The assassination of Lorenzo de Metizi had forced the Sazi family to flee to a foreign land, and now Lorenzo's son was watching, ready to take revenge and counterattack.

As the consuls of Florence, this time the Sazi family had to face Giovanni de Medici directly without any way back.

This made Sazi secretly worried about the future.

He knew very well what the Medici family meant to the city, and it would not be an exaggeration to describe Savonarola's victory as a fluke

A few years later, the embarrassment of Florence made many people nostalgic for the scenery of the Medici era.

Sazi walked down the corridor on the side of the baptistery, beside him, a middle-aged man beside him.

"The bishop insists that the Pope's conditions must be accepted, otherwise he will not recognize our new government," the middle-aged man whispered to Sazi, "and I fear that the Pope may turn in favor of Giovanni Medici." ”

The middle-aged man's words made Sazi's footsteps pause slightly, his fingers rubbed lightly on the ring gem he was wearing, and after a while, he said slowly in an uncertain tone: "Do you think the Pope will really support the Medici family?" ”

"At least it's not a bad thing for the Vatican," the middle-aged man's voice also showed a hint of worry, "Among the Medici family, Giovanni is the most difficult to deal with, and now he is suddenly in Pisa, which cannot but make people worry, if the Pope's conditions are not met, maybe we will face the army of the Count of Montina outside the city." ”

"But it is said that Medino has rejected the Pope's emissary," said Sazi, with some annoyance, "and I am now beginning to wonder if that Medino had any purpose, and perhaps he wanted a complete break between us and the Pope." ”

"I must say that your suspicions are correct, Archon," said the middle-aged man, breathing a little heavily, "Midino used to be on good terms with the Medici family, but he has since entered the government of Savonarola, and it can be seen that this man is much smarter than any of us are. ”

"But he's not smart this time."

Sazi looked at the middle-aged man, he knew that the political secretary of the government department had coveted the throne of the treasurer for a long time, if this person did not dare to show too strongly when he was the treasurer before, with the change of ownership of the treasurer, this political secretary has begun to seem a little impatient.

The refusal of Mídino to the emissary of Alexander VI had already been reported in the government, and it was at this time that news of Giovanni de Medici's arrival in Pisa had arrived.

Whether there was anything special about it, or whether it was simply two completely unrelated things, Sazi didn't want to delve into it, he only knew that Midino's decision threatened him and his family.

And the person next to him is obviously willing to do things for him that don't seem very clean.

"Midino is a treasurer, and he has a high reputation in both previous and current governments, and it takes proof to charge such a person."

Sadzi looked into the distance, and he noticed that the bishop and the monk Massimo had come out of the prayer hall, and with them was the Pope's private secretary, Nomerlo.

"Rest assured, Archon, I have found evidence that satisfies you." The political secretary nodded slightly, then turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Sazi suddenly remembered something, "there is a man named Machiavelli in the government hall, he used to work for Savonarola, but now he is at my disposal, you can arrange something for him to do, maybe he can help a little." ”

"Obey the Archon." The political secretary bowed slightly and left.

Looking at the few people from the Vatican who were approaching, Sazi tried to squeeze out a smile on his face, he knew that he might face the most demanding conditions next, but he also knew that the only hope to get out of the predicament was all in the people in front of him.

Machiavelli sat behind a desk in the corner of the room, writing earnestly, and on the table in front of him lay a pile of manuscript paper full of handwriting, and several quills had been used up, but he did not feel tired at all, and even a little worried that he was writing too slowly and missing any valuable inspiration.

"There are always many advantages to any country, regardless of size, to have its own exclusive army, and although such an army may place a great burden on the not very good finances, these burdens and losses are tolerable or even negligible compared to the contribution it can make. On the contrary, those countries that abandon this determination simply because they are stingy do not deserve sympathy even in the face of national annihilation......"

Machiavelli's pen moved rapidly across the paper, and the careful observation of the previous period had provided him with enough material and information to make him feel that his manuscript to the consul might become a classic in the future.

"I would like to reiterate to you here some of my thoughts about mercenaries, based on my own personal experience, and in Pisa I saw with my own eyes an army that was even more disappointing than the rabble, and also an army that seemed to me to be the best, which made me see the mercenaries for what they are. I think that they have neither loyalty nor motivation to drive them to war other than a meager salary, and they are keen to serve as soldiers when they are not fighting, but when there is a war they are tired of each other, so I firmly believe that mercenaries are the worst military system, and that even the worst civilian army will inspire a small amount of blood and courage to defend their homeland. ”

Machiavelli paused and rubbed his somewhat sore wrist, looking at the sharply worded arguments on the paper, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Returning to the government hall was not his original intention, let alone his goal, he believed that he was competent enough to take on more important positions, and all he needed now was a chance for the consuls to see what he was capable of.

Machiavelli used the work he was writing as a stepping stone to his reuse.

A rush of footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, and several officials in the room couldn't help but show panic, many people have been suddenly taken away in the past few days, and then never came back, and this kind of thing happens anytime and anywhere, no one knows if they will be the next one next.

The door was slammed open, and a soldier in half-armoured armor with a sword on his shoulder entered, his disheveled bearded face glancing over the faces of several officials, and then asked angrily, "Who is Niccolò Machiavelli?" ”

Machiavelli's hand holding the pen shook instantly, and the ink on the quill fell and splashed a few ink stains on the manuscript paper.

"Is that you?"

The soldier immediately noticed the uneasy look on Machiavelli's face.

"Yes, but I have a recommendation from the Archon here......"

"Come with me," said the soldier, waving his hand impatiently, and said to Machiavelli with sympathy and schadenfreude as several people in the room gazed at him with a faint sense of schadenfreude, "the political secretary wants to see you, go to his office on the second floor, and hurry up and don't let the big man wait impatiently." ”

Machiavelli's words made Machiavelli stunned slightly, and then he didn't come to his senses until another rush came to his senses.

He knew that if he was to be arrested, it would not be the political secretary who would come forward, because he was not qualified enough.

So what else could it be?

Machiavelli became agitated in an instant, grabbed the unfinished manuscript on the table, rushed out of the room, and ran to the second floor under the guidance of the soldiers.

Here's my chance! Here's my chance!

Machiavelli kept telling himself this along the way.

Machiavelli, however, had no idea what was waiting for him.