Alexander VI was going to launch a crusade?

This thought made many people feel incredible, especially those who thought they knew him well, and even thought that the news sounded more ridiculous than a joke.

In Alexander VI's philosophy of life, there is either immorality and luxury, or intrigue and greed, and the only thing that is not is probably piety and justice.

This is the only impression that many people have of this pope, so much so that someone once described it as "We have been seized by a man as terrible as the devil, and there is no pope in history who can bring the Holy See to such shame as it is now, and it is frustrating that we simply cannot escape the rule of such a man." ”

So when the pope suddenly made a speech that stunned everyone, the first reaction was, "What is he going to do?" ”

No one thought that Alexander VI would actually launch a crusade, not only because he was by no means the type of Urban II, but also because the time was no longer the time for Urban II.

Even a century earlier, there might have been people who believed that he would have done this, but at the end of the 15th century, no one would have foolishly thought that salvation could be achieved through so-called holy holy wars.

In the eyes of many people today, the only way to save themselves is to live more wealthy.

The pursuit of wealth has become the strongest voice these days, and people are willing to deal with anyone who can bring them wealth, even if he is a heretic.

So that big luxurious house in Ashulk is always lively.

Admiration and amazement at the magnanimity of the host were always the main talk of the house among the bustling guests, not because the Romans were deliberately flattering the pagan, but because they were indeed struck by his oriental luxury and dazzling wealth.

When the servants presented the dried cinnamon from shiny silver plates, marinated in precious spices, to the guests who had just come to join in the fun, the Romans were stunned by the extravagant delicacy, not to mention the silver plates that seemed to dazzle the people.

The more important guests tasted other rare foods, precious ingredients from the same Orient that would amaze any discerning aristocrat, and rare delicacies that had never been tasted before.

Ashulk was so enthusiastic that he could talk to anyone who greeted him for a long time, and everyone who spoke to him would be surprised to find that this Oriental nobleman was surprisingly erudite, for in addition to being fluent in several languages, he was also well-read and memorized, and could always have a good time talking to each other on any topic he was talking to.

In short, this is a man who can quickly like him, an elegant, sophisticated, and very good Eastern magnate who will enjoy life to the fullest.

However, Alexander VI's sudden remarks seemed to spoil the atmosphere at once, and many people were secretly watching, wondering how Ashulk would respond to the Pope's unusually strong statement.

However, the reaction of the Oriental seemed to be somewhat unexpected, and he seemed to be completely unaware that the Pope had made a speech that was like a declaration of war, and his attitude was still so calm that some people could not help but turn the subject to Alexander VI's speech when visiting him, and then hoping to hear something from him, but the Oriental nobleman was very indifferent and just said: "I have only heartfelt respect and respect for your Pope." ”

The Romans were surprised, they did not understand what the man was thinking, or what he was planning.

Just as the people did not believe that Alexander VI would actually launch a crusade, the Romans also believed that Ashulk must have had some intentions.

Sure enough, Ashulk visited the Rovere family's villa for the second time.

If the first visit was polite, then the second time is inevitably a bit noticeable.

The Oriental, however, apparently did not care much about the eyes that stared at him all day, and he came to the old Rovere's villa with a large number of gifts and a striking procession of servants, and then unexpectedly said to the servants who were about to inform him: "Please go and tell me that I have come to visit Mademoiselle de la Rovere, and it is Mademoiselle Barentia de la Rovere." ”

The servant reported it in astonishment, and his strange appearance at that time made it clear to Barondi, who heard the report, that something strange was unusual.

A man suddenly visits a single lady, and with such a generous gift, I believe that anyone who hears the news cannot but have some strange thoughts.

Of course, Barendi didn't believe that the Oriental nobleman would suddenly visit because she was tempted by herself, and if she really wanted to say that she was tempted, she would prefer to believe that the person was interested in the influential position of the Roverley family in the Holy See.

However, Barendi could not help but admit that Ashulk was a good person to talk to, and to her surprise, in all the legends of the East she had heard, the low status of women did not seem to be obvious in Ashulk, at least when talking to her, the Oriental nobleman showed enough respect.

"Miss Barondi, I notice that you seem to be a little wary of me," said Ashulk, who was smiling, and his words made Barendi a little unsure of how to answer for a moment, "Maybe it's because you already have a fiancé that you let you do this, but please believe in my respect for you and the entire Rovile family." ”

Coming, Barendi said in her heart, she sensed that this Oriental was about to get to the point.

"Your respect is to go out of your way to visit a single woman who, as you say, already has a fiancé?"

Barondi looked at the Oriental nobleman in front of her seriously, and she couldn't help but admit that this person had some kind of fascinating charm, whether it was his well-trimmed beard or the deep eyes with brown eyes, which made this person exude a strange contagion.

"Of course I want to have your father's friendship, but I also want to be friends with you," Ashulk smiled and stood up and touched his chest with a slight salute, "Speaking of the fact that you already have a fiancé, I would like to have a chance to be friends with your fiancé as well." ”

Listening to Ashulk's words, Barundi suddenly had a vague feeling that this person had come to visit her today, and it seemed that the latter sentence was the real purpose.

This conjecture was soon proven, and after his farewell, Ashulk suddenly visited the Marino Palace, which could not help but arouse the imagination of many people, after all, it is well known that there is a former queen of Naples in the Marino Palace.

The visit to the queen was not long, and after a gift that made Joanna happy, Ashulk suddenly asked to speak with Countess Cosenza.

Joanna immediately made an excuse to leave the hall, and now she had truly come to appreciate the fact that she was indeed the "former" queen, and although everyone was still respectful to her, Joanna could feel that it seemed a fool's dream for her to regain her former majesty and power.

Frederick's throne was so secure that there was no need to show her that little false respect, and even a few days earlier she had received a letter from Frederick in which he tactfully told her of the predicament of Naples and the difficulty of making ends meet.

In a word, the annuity that belongs to her is gone.

This is also the reason why Joanna immediately felt better after seeing the gift from Ashulk, and from this month onwards, she could only live on the help of others.

Ashulk was curious about Khisa, and this curiosity was not the same as that of Barundi.

Barendi has always been doing things for her family, and because of the backing of the behemoth Rovier, Barendi often has no scruples when she starts to dig things.

She can bargain ruthlessly with those merchants, and at the same time use forceful means to instruct the chamber of commerce belonging to her family to squeeze those competitors out of her territory, all of which does not have to be considered too much, so Ashulk feels that what Barondi is doing is actually not very difficult, all she needs is a more shrewd head than most men.

Unlike Josha, Ashulk didn't even know how to describe the Countess in front of her, who surprised him with beauty and filled him with all kinds of curiosity.

"We have a mutual friend who thinks I should come to visit you," said Ashulk earnestly, feeling that the young girl in front of him was certainly very smart, but that was not the main reason for her current achievement, but the real reason that made her a legend on the west coast of the Mediterranean was something that perhaps no one else knows.

Perhaps, once you know the reason that can motivate her, it will be much easier to deal with this girl.

But before that, Ashulk secretly reminded himself that he must be cautious.

"Can I know who that mutual friend you are talking about is?" Ji Sha asked with a little curiosity.

"Of course, it's no secret, his name is Grogenin."

Hearing Grogenen's name, Gråtha's face slowly sank.

She hadn't actually met the Hanseatic merchant who was said to have come from the north, but there was another person she was familiar with.

At least I've heard a lot of rumors about her.

Orgala, a woman who is said to have fascinated even Gonzalo and Kotschach.

But this is not the most important thing, the important thing is that it seems that Alexander's relationship with the woman is somewhat unclear.

Ashulk did not know that of all the avenues through which he could get in touch with the Countess of Cosenza, he had chosen the most difficult path.

Shosa's gaze rested on Oshulk's face, and she wanted to find out what the Ottoman was trying to do.

Although he had not met Groganin, that didn't stop Zhisa from being equally interested in the lowlander.

Or that the "offense" that the lowland man "offended" her again and again made her have to pay attention to that person.

Josha knew that Sophia was the one Grorganin had sent back to Alexander, and that the man had sent a very simple woman to act as a liaison between him and Alexander.

And that woman proved her extraordinary skill with her charm.

Josha had been keeping an eye on that Groganin, believing that the man could not have just found Alexander by chance, and what happened later proved that she wasn't thinking too much, and that the lowlander did have some kind of purpose.

Now that Ashulk also mentions Groganin, Zhosa was surprised at the unusually wide range of acquaintances with the man, but she was more concerned with the Ottomans, or perhaps with Groganin's purpose.

"I've heard you're trading in some way," Ashurk said, looking at Ashura, "it's said to be a very peculiar way of trading, and I wonder if I want you to be involved in your trade, and I don't know what kind of terms I should accept." ”

Ji Sha looked at the Oriental man in front of her with some surprise, she knew that this person was very rich, and maybe even the richest person she had ever seen.

And people who can have such a huge wealth often have a keen insight that is different from ordinary people, and he is from the East, so it is not unusual for him to find his unique trading circle, but Jisha did not expect Ashulk to propose to participate, which made Jisha a little unsure of how to deal with it for a while because of the accident.

"I beg your pardon for the presumptuous request, but I do have a lot of interest in the way you do business, Mademoiselle Countess, I have already visited the young lady of the Roverley family before coming to you, and I think it should be your sister-in-law, so please believe that I do want you with some sincerity," Ashulk paused for a moment, and then continued, "or your brother's trust, and I think that if your brother can trust Groganin, then I am confident that I can also gain this trust." ”

Khosa was a little puzzled, she couldn't understand how the Ottoman could be so confident, until she saw a slave girl standing next to her respectfully present her with a document that had already been prepared.

It was a list of names of places, with enticing strings of numbers next to them.

"These are all the ports in the Mediterranean that I have been able to offer you so far to dock," said Ashulk, smiling, "and these places are now under the rule of the great Sultan, and I, as the Sultan's most trusted vassal, have sufficient power to collect taxes on ships in these places." ”

"So, these numbers are ......" Jisha couldn't help but be in a trance in her heart.

"Yes, you guessed the Countess, these are the taxes," Ashulk smiled slightly, "and that's only part of it, I don't think you understand how much power the Sultan has in these places. So I can assure you that once you can get the right to operate your trade in these places, you will be able to make profits that you would never have imagined before. ”

As she stared at the list in her hand, or rather sweating from excitement, she suddenly felt a little thirsty.

Jisha couldn't help but admit that this Ottoman was really a lobbyist who was hard to refuse, and even though she knew that this person must have some ulterior motives, it was difficult for her to say no words.

After more than half a year of traveling, she saw a lot, but the more she ran, the more she felt how huge and far-reaching Alexander's plan was.

At times, she can't even imagine what it would be like if the project had been a complete success.

A huge market alliance that encompasses most of the cities and ports on the western shores of the Mediterranean, a huge power that can influence the pricing and output of almost all commodities, an invisible hand that can pry the world with the glittering florin.

Such a prospect that makes people feel suffocated just thinking about it, even makes Jisha wake up in the middle of the night, both inexplicably excited and uneasy.

It's just that Jisha also knows that it will take a long time to achieve all this, maybe years or even more than ten years before seeing the huge impact of this plan.

Now, an opportunity is right around to make that plan a reality.

Visa gasped for breath, and she warned herself that she had to be calm.

"I think I'll need an answer for a while," said Josha slowly, "knowing that my brother is in Romagna now. ”

Ashulk smiled, he was clearly in no hurry to get an answer.

And after coming out of the Marino Palace, the Ottomans looked at the somewhat hot sun overhead, and a smile appeared on their angular faces.

"Next, it's time for us to visit the princess of Rome."

Ashulk said to the maid beside him with a smile.