Alexander may never know what's in that glass of wine he's been hesitating to taste.

Under the leadership of the Pope, he accompanied Alexander VI along the corridors, and whenever he saw the priests and priests approaching, Alexander VI would respond to them very easily, and sometimes listen to them and whisper to ask if a monk who had just arrived in Rome from afar was adapted to the life of the Vatican and the climate of Rome.

At this time, the Pope was very kind, and there was no smile on his face that was deliberately shown to show favor to anyone, and when someone respectfully kissed the corner of his robe, he would caress the top of the man's head very easily, and then gently encourage him.

"Tell me what people say about me," the Pope suddenly asked Alexander, seeing Alexander's somewhat stunned look, Alexander VI seemed to have realized something and waved his hand slightly, "Let me think about it, greed, evil, depravity and terrible, I think that's all there should be." ”

Alexander was silent, of course he would not praise the old man's self-knowledge without interest, but the look on his face actually said it all.

"You know, in fact, the one I appreciate most in these words is terrible, because it portends power." Alexander VI raised his hand slightly and motioned for Alexander to open a door for him, where the Pope usually rested, and a large marble globe was placed in a prominent place in the room, on which the famous meridian dividing line looked quite noticeable.

"That's the one thing I can boast about," said Alexander VI, noting that he was staring at the famous papal meridian on the globe, "and that proved that even a less powerful party, if used properly, could be the arbiter of certain important matters." ”

"Your Majesty, the Vatican Pope has always been powerful." Alexander slapped his husband on the back invisibly: "You are the arbiter of the whole Christian world." ”

"It was," Alexander VI corrected, holding out a finger and shaking it, "if it were the time of Urban II, Innocent III, or Gregory II, there would be no suspicion of flattery in your words, because they are all true, but now I can only say that you have not learned enough." ”

Alexander smiled disappreciatively at the Pope's sarcasm, not caring if the Pope thought he was being a sycophant.

"Your Majesty, in fact the Vatican has always had a role that cannot be ignored," Alexander explained softly, "there are churches in every corner of Europe, and the power of the Church penetrates into every country, every princely domain, and even every most remote village, and this is a power that no monarch can match, and now you can fully exert this power." ”

"Are you talking about issuing currency?" Alexander VI looked at the flames that couldn't stop beating in the hearth, "What you just told me about the equivalent of 400,000 florins, do you think this figure is reliable?" ”

"It's very conservative, even a little too careful."

Alexander walked over to the globe and noticed that it was resting on a large stone base, with a recessed groove in the base holding the heavy marble globe in place.

"It's like this globe," Alexander pushed hard, and the globe began to roll slowly in the grooves, "Is it possible that I weigh more than this stone, but I can push it, because I know that with a clever use of power, we can push this boulder, and the same is true of the currency issued, and we can use all the profits we make in the transaction as credit, and even the profits we can make in the next few months or more as collateral, If that were the case, we would be able to issue more than just 400,000. ”

Alexander VI's gaze jumped slightly.

Is 400,000 a small number, let alone 400,000 florins.

Alexander's words gave the Pope the illusion that the Vatican's finances were really humiliating, although he was well aware that with the situation of the Vatican, it was already rare to have such a surplus every year.

"Your Majesty's instruction that the Vatican needs to be changed in order to defend itself against the Ottoman invasion is important, and I believe that the issuance of a new currency for this purpose should be acceptable to the people."

The Pope looked at Alexander silently, he listened carefully to the words of the young man in front of him, he listened very carefully, and sometimes asked some questions, such as how to get the people to approve the new currency as soon as possible, after all, the Mamluks in Egypt had issued a new currency in order to stabilize the position of the increasingly volatile dinar in an attempt to reverse the disadvantage, but because of the turbulent war in the East and the resulting market instability, the dinar was increasingly at a disadvantage in competition with Florence and Ducats throughout the Mediterranean.

The gradual loss of confidence in the dinar eventually led to the fact that the dinar, which was once one of the important circulation documents of the entire Mediterranean, had to gradually become dependent on the huge commercial power of the Ottoman Empire in order to continue to exist.

"Our credit is our market and our great trade union," Alexander patiently explained to the Pope, "our alliance is expanding, low tariffs are the key to thriving trade, and more importantly, because of the exchange, the whole alliance has a huge volume of goods and capital mobilization that outsiders can hardly match, and in the face of this power, even the kings and archbishops of the electors cannot fail to recognize our value." ”

Alexander's voice was not high, but the words he uttered were enough to shake people.

This is also the first time that Alexander has publicly demonstrated the huge potential of the free trade alliance, but even he did not expect that this is the first time to show this power to his father-in-law.

The Pope listened calmly, except for a slight surprise at first, his feelings quickly calmed down, and when Alexander described the impact of the Free Trade Alliance to him, the Pope looked up at him.

"If all this is really as you say, I want you to do it for me first, we all know that this is related to the future of the Vatican, so I must see the results of your actions before I can make this decision."

Alexander nodded in agreement, he knew that Alexander VI could not agree to such a big thing so easily, whether it was the cunning peculiar to the Borgia family or the prudence cultivated by years of survival in the Vatican, which was full of conspiracies, he would not make a decision so easily.

"Then Your Majesty, how do you think it should be proven?"

"A city, use a city to prove that all the benefits you say can be realized."

Hearing this, Alexander already understood.

And what better place to meet the conditions set forth by Alexander VI than in Florence today.

The difficulties of Florence are evident today, and Savonarola's reign has gradually become turbulent, and his attempt to purify the idea of saving the city with pure thought is only to make Florence, the capital of art admired by all, slowly fall into ruin and death.

Obviously, even so, Alexander VI still refused to let Florence go, whether out of personal hatred for Savonarola, or because the people of the city had always been unruly towards the Holy See, Alexander VI wanted to teach Florence a hard lesson!

"I will arrange this matter, Your Majesty," Alexander bowed slightly, "I will discuss this matter with the people of the Fugger family, and the new currency can be put into the market in Florence first." ”

The Pope finally had a smile on his face, he gently lifted Alexander up as he had done with the others before, and after giving him his blessing, the Pope suddenly said: "I think that Massimo's Order deserves more help, now they are developing everywhere, but it seems that this is not enough, someone should be able to provide them with better conditions, I believe that Mahimo can bring the gospel to the people." ”

Alexander, who understood what the Pope meant, only nodded slightly, knowing that since the Pope had opened his mouth, it was inevitable that he would have to give generously to Massimo's Order.

But this is exactly what Alexander wanted to see, thinking that the pope suddenly mentioned Massimo when he mentioned Florence not long ago, and now that the pope himself is begging for money for Massimo, Alexander felt that it was time to talk to the monk.

Alexander did not see Caesar again until he said goodbye, which made him somewhat relieved, but then he was not so relieved.

So it wasn't until he met Paul Busako that Alexander secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Father, why did you let Cambrai go," Caesar came out of the secret door after Alexander left, "I know you have decided to punish him before, only because it concerns Lucrezia, so you have not made a final decision, but I see that you personally stopped him from drinking Canterella, why is that?" ”

Caesar's whispered complaints, which could not hide his anger, echoed in the room, and to his surprise, Alexander VI did not explain, which made Caesar even more dissatisfied.

He walked back and forth in the room, suddenly stopping to stare at the door, as if hesitating whether to catch up with him, and with a sword he killed Alexander.

"You ask me why I hesitated," seeing that Caesar seemed eager to try, Alexander VI finally spoke, "Actually, you know the reason very well, we need that Gombray now." ”

"We don't need him," said Caesar, a little excitedly, "Father, we can make that exchange ourselves, Cambrai has done everything for us, and the next thing we have to do is to reach out and take it." ”

Caesar made a snatching gesture as he spoke, his eyes shining with excitement.

"I heard about the exchange, that place can make us a lot of money," Caesar said excitedly, "Father, do you remember the old Medici, the original Martin V once confiscated the property of the Medici family, and the old Medici, who was the papal treasurer at that time, did not finally obediently obey?" ”

Alexander VI's expression moved slightly, he knew that the old Medici mentioned by his son was the true founder of the Medici family, Cosimo de Medici.

It was this man who transformed the Medici family from a merchant family into the ruler of Florence, and his contradictions with Pope Martin V at that time were once the key to the fate of countless people.

As the papal treasurer who had previously financed Martin V, Cosimo Medici certainly showed extraordinary financial skills, but it inevitably caused the pope to covet the wealth in his hands.

In the end, Cosimo Medici was imprisoned by Martin V, and the Medici family was able to save Cosimo Sr. at a terrible price.

"That made Martin V one of the richest men of his time," Caesar encouraged, "and now this exchange will bring us better luck than Martin V had then." ”

Alexander VI seemed to be moved, and he slowly spun in place, stopping and turning his head to look at his son, and then continuing in circles.

"That Cambrai has a good army, and it's a threat to my rule in Romagna," Caesar urged his father, "and Lucrezia, do you really want her to give Gombray a child and live as a mistress?" ”

Caesar's last words seemed to strike at a fragile spot in Alexander VI's body, and he paused and clasped his hands in front of him, his face tingling with gloom from time to time.

"That exchange," Alexander VI said slowly, "do you think we can do that place well if it weren't for Cambrai?" ”

Caesar looked at his father with a slight pause.

"And Pisa, Genoa, Naples and ......" Alexander VI paused and looked at Caesar, "Florence, do you think we can play with his mistress and let these places do our bidding?" ”

Caesar's expression was gloomy, and he already knew that his father obviously did not approve of his revenge on Caesar.

"And the Fuggers family, in whose eyes maybe the Vienna court is more pleasing to the eye than the Vatican's Holy See, and now they are negotiating coinage with Gombray."

Speaking of this, the Pope, who had already made his attitude clear, slowly walked up to Caesar, and he reached out and put his hand on his son's shoulder, and pressed him against himself.

"We need this man," Alexander VI whispered to his son in a soft tone, "and the wealth he can bring to our family may not have been imagined before, but that's not the most important thing, what really matters is that he may make me a man worthy of the greatest popes in history." ”

Caesar was a little stunned, he couldn't understand why his father could think so highly of Alexander.

"The Vatican has never had its own currency, except for tithes, the source of wealth we really have is almost blank, but now this is not the case, this Gombray can not only let us have wealth, but also help us to create a set of sources of income, and even allow us to have our own currency, all this, if successful, is enough to change the influence of the Holy See on the whole of Christendom."

Caesar took a deep breath, he already knew that his father had clearly made up his mind, which made him realize that it was impossible to kill Alexander, at least not in Rome.

Even with the Pope's description, Caesar was already a little skeptical, wondering how the Roman nobles would react if they knew that he was going to kill Alexander.

Caesar felt that the time away from Rome was really a long time, so that when he returned, he found that the little nobleman who had not been in his eyes had now become a behemoth that he could not shake for a while.

"Take your army," Alexander VI's hand pressed slightly on Caesar's shoulder, "and don't forget Giovanni's efforts during his lifetime." ”

Caesar's neck stiffened, and he understood what his father was hinting at.

Caesar's mind quickly flashed a young figure, arrogant and irritable, but full of talent and passion.

King Charles VIII of France was a man of extraordinary significance to Caesar, and it was he who showed Caesar what true power was, and it was he who aroused Caesar's ambitions.

"Father, will Charlie go to war this year?"

Caesar suddenly felt that Cambrai was not so important, and even the humiliation of Livorno seemed to fade a little when he thought about it, and he knew that it was not because his father had dissuaded him, but because it really didn't matter so much compared to the coming French invasion again.

"I don't know, Charlie is a very conceited person, you know this very well," Alexander VI looked at his son, "I will not forget the insult that Gonzalo gave me, so I would rather choose to negotiate with Charlie to reconcile, this Giovanni did a good job, and now you are the only one who can continue to do this." Alexander VI said and gently put his hand on Caesar's neck and let him look at himself, "Don't let me down, don't let Giovanni down, Gombray is nothing compared to this, hear him is nothing!" ”

Caesar nodded incessantly, he closed his eyes and gasped as if to take these words of his father to heart, and it took a long time for him to open his eyes.

"I know what to do, father, I will not disappoint you, since Gombray is willing to make money for us then let him do it, I will use the money he earns to retrain the army and buy weapons, and then one day I will make him pay for what he has done."

Caesar's voice echoed slowly through the room.

Snowflakes fell again from the sky, and it became heavier and heavier as the howling cold wind and snow,

Alexander returned to Marino Palace and immediately inquired about the whereabouts of Josha, and was relieved when he learned that Josa had returned for a while.

Caesar's sudden escape from prison made Alexander feel a little in danger, he didn't know that he had actually gone round the gates of hell, but his vigilance against the Borgia family made it impossible for him to ignore Caesar's threat.

So, when he saw Josha, the first thing he said was, "You must get out of Rome as soon as possible!" ”

"Where are you going for me?" Josa didn't ask why, not knowing that Alexander had actually met Caesar, but had heard about his escape.

"Go back to Naples," Alexander said, "Go back to your uncle, he will protect you." ”

"What about you?" Jossa stared at Alexander.

"I must stay, but I will probably leave Rome soon," Alexander said, looking out the window. Believe me, I'll be safe as long as that time comes. ”

"But before that?" Jossa understood the meaning of Alexander's words.

"Until then, I'm safe," Alexander comforted Josha, before adding, "Don't forget that I am the father of Lucrezia's unborn child, and I promise you that I will be the father of all her children for the rest of her life." ”

"What?"

A strange question emanated from Shosa's mouth.

Alexander, who was extremely excited because of the excitement of the crisis, realized that some words seemed to be wrong!