A few days later, Julius II managed to gather 14,000 horses for his army. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 Most of the horses were bought from peasant families around the city of Rome.

Due to the urgency of the war, Julius II could not control so much, and directly resorted to forced purchases. Of course, the money given is not small. After all, Julius II was not short of money, especially after copying the Borgia family. Of course, in fact, he didn't use all this money himself, but directly from the treasury of the Holy See.

On the other side of Florence, the Medici family information soon arrived—it was ready. According to the agreement, Stade's army would arrive at the east gate of Florence, and near the east gate, there happened to be a follower of the Medici family, who had a large mansion suitable for ambushing soldiers and horses. According to the agreement, as long as the army arrives and releases a double cannon into the air, the other side will begin to seize the east city gate and put it into the army.

At this time, there were a total of 5,000 Italian mercenaries in the city of Florence. However, according to the Medici family's intelligence, this group of Italian mercenaries was undisciplined and often harassed the people, so angry that Machiavelli, the official boss of the Republic, threatened to fire all mercenaries and establish a national army.

In fact, Machiavelli's suggestion has indeed been realized. However, that was not realized until 1505. At present, the official authorities of the Florentine Republic are arguing over whether to abandon the mercenaries and establish a national army instead. Viceroy of the Florentine Republic. Sodrini supported Machiavelli's idea of a national army, and he also felt the lax discipline of the mercenaries and the danger to the people of the city. However, Florence is a republic, not an autocracy. Despite being a viceroy, Piero . Sodrini could only support Machiavelli's ideas and try to win over as many parliamentarians as possible, but he could not dictate the situation. So, this matter can't be done for the time being.

However, Machiavelli's remarks annoyed the mercenaries who were in charge of defending the city. After all, Machiavelli was going to ruin their jobs. Therefore, the mercenaries did not have a good face towards Machiavelli. If Machiavelli hadn't been a high-ranking official, the group of Italian mercenaries would have beaten him up a long time ago.

The mercenaries continued to go their own way, harassing the people of Florence and occasionally harming the eldest girls and the younger daughters-in-law. Of course, the Italian mercenaries were not as brutal and crude as the Oriental devils. These Italian mercenaries came by hooking up.

In those days, even in the bustling city of Florence, there were many poor people. This group of Italian mercenaries had money, so they bought a lot of food, or bought some flower cloth, to hook up with the big girls and little daughters-in-law in the city.

Not to mention that women are really fooled by this method, after all, Italian women are not good at stubble. Hooking up into a thing like annihilation, a slap that doesn't make a sound. When both men and women are coquettish, some large-scale events are staged......

The town hall constantly receives complaints from ordinary citizens (mainly men who have been cuckolded) demanding severe punishment for the prodigal mercenaries. These men did not lack courage, but, in the face of organized ruffians, revenge was futile, and the command made himself even more unlucky. Therefore, complaining became the only way. However, there are also factions within the republic. Some Florentine bigwigs believe that these things are all shortcomings of the parents and are not worthy of official action. Moreover, as long as those mercenaries are not strong, they are not considered criminal...... With the support of the official bigwigs, those mercenaries are even more arrogant......

According to the information provided by the Medici family, every night, 3,000 of the 5,000 Florentine mercenaries could be guarded in the barracks and on the walls. The remaining 2,000 people have all gone to pick up girls...... Therefore, if you launch a surprise attack, the success rate is still very high.

Staad was nervous, after all, this was the first time he had led an army alone on a very important mission. Previously, he had always followed Marin or Schwartz, and everything was under command.

Of course, Stader was also excited. He knew the opportunities that this war brings. If he succeeds in taking the city of Florence, then he will become a hero of the Papal States. What is the Papal States? It was the center of religion in Europe. His Holiness the Pope is the head of the Christians in the world and the spokesman of God on earth.

Stade was sure that as long as he took Florence for the Papal States, his master Marin would certainly reap great benefits. But at the same time, as the chief general of this battle, he will also be famous through the ages and be commended by the Pope. Therefore, Stader was very attentive to this attack.

Because it was a rush, this time the army did not bring any baggage, and each person only brought a small bag of dry food. If it fails, the army will immediately be in trouble.

Moreover, the distance of this attack was too long, and the total distance of the march along the Roman road reached about 280 kilometers. Although the distance between the two places is only about 230 kilometers in a straight line, the terrain of the Italian peninsula is complex, and some places require detours. So, if you take the Roman road, the total distance is about 280 kilometers.

If you are traveling with one person and two horses, if you cherish horsepower, you can run about 120 kilometers a day. However, in this way, it will take more than two days.

Julius II thought about it and decided to let Stader run with all his might, even if it was nothing to kill some horses. Compared to the huge gains of the Florentine Republic, the death of some horses was nothing.

So, Stade led his army and began to rush at a speed of 150 kilometers a day......

Two days later, when the army arrived near the city of Florence, 4,000 horses were killed. And the 10,000 horses that are alive are also mentally exhausted.

Fortunately, each of the warriors brought a small bag of oats, and after feeding the horses some oats, Stader hurriedly let everyone take the opportunity to rest. At the same time, release the sentry and ride the horses with good physical strength, and patrol the surroundings to intercept anyone who goes to Florence to avoid leaking the news. This good habit is what Marin has always emphasized. Every time you run, secrecy is paramount.

After a half-day rest, it was almost 10 o'clock in the evening. At this point, Stader arranged for the horses to be gathered together to find someone to look at. And himself, with his soldiers, quietly touched the east gate of Florence......

At 12 o'clock in the middle of the night, in the silence of the night, two explosions suddenly sounded - they were Staad's men firing artillery......

The Medici family's nemesis men, who were hiding in Florence near the East Gate, were stunned for a moment, and then they realized that their opportunity had come......

As a result, about 150 guards and family members sent by many followers of the Medici family with high military value, armed with swords, summoned up their courage to rush to the east gate......

However, the raiders of the Medici family were not like the professionals sent by Marin, all of whom wore full-body plate armor and held shields. They were all dressed in ordinary clothes, but with swords in their hands, not very professional.

Although, these people can be regarded as good martial arts people. However, due to the lack of protection, they suffered a lot of damage when storming the city gates.

Machiavelli, after hearing about what had happened to the city of Rome, attached great importance to the defense of the gates. As an official in charge of military affairs, he repeatedly demanded that the mercenaries be dutiful at night. Moreover, send enough men to protect the gates......

Originally, according to Machiavelli's vision, the number of soldiers and horses guarding the gates of the city should have increased from thirty or forty to about 200. This order was indeed conveyed to him.

It's a pity that half of the 200 mercenaries guarding the east gate went to the city that night to pick up girls......

If those 200 mercenaries were there, then the 150 dead soldiers who stormed the city gate hole would probably be doomed. But fortunately, because of the poor military discipline of the Italian mercenaries, only 100 people were on duty.

With the suddenness of the raid, the Medici dead soldiers caught the Italian mercenaries off guard. But the defenders held the ground after all. As a result, the two sides fought each other and alarmed the defenders of the city......

Stard saw that the army was running down from the top of the city, and it seemed that the raid was in trouble. Suddenly, drops of cold sweat flowed down his forehead. If this operation fails, it will be a big problem. Moreover, he will also lose all glory.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered a few hooks he had brought from Friesland. It is said that it was used by Marin to form some "special forces". It's just that there is no shadow of that legendary special forces yet. According to Marin's plan, the athletic Dietmarshin Fierce General Cage should be the most suitable candidate for the special forces leader. However, Cage's current loyalty is not enough, and Marin has postponed the formation of special forces, and it is not too late to form it when Cage is more loyal.

Stade was more interested in the kind of hooks used to climb the city wall, so he asked for a few to come over, and played with a few of his own soldiers, playing it as a recreational project.

However, the situation was urgent, and Stade could not sit still. If the Medici family in the city failed to attack the city gates, then everything would be over.

So, Stade turned his heart to the guards and shouted:

"Take my hook!"

Several of the guards looked at each other, not knowing what their boss was crazy about. The hook is usually used for games, isn't it......

"General, what do you want?"

"Climb the walls! The Italian bastards in the city probably have a problem, and now they have to climb the city walls, and they have to move fast! Otherwise, no one will want to attack the city! ”

"No, you're the commander, you can't take risks. According to military law, if you take risks and get hurt, we will all be put to death! Several of the guards were taken aback, for fear that Stade would not be able to think about it. Marin's military law is very harsh.

"Then you guys, you must seize that section of the city wall, and then support the battle in the city gate!"

"Yes!" Several guards gritted their teeth, and they were also forced to be helpless.

Coincidentally, dozens of mercenaries on the section of the city wall that Stad's army was facing had all gone down to reinforce the direction of the city gate. So, several of Stad's guards ran directly over and flicked their claws......

After a few attempts, all of the five hooks that Stade usually brought hooked the city wall......

Then, several guards took the lead in climbing up......

Then, Stader had another group of warriors climb up the rope of the clawhook......

After a total of 30 people climbed up, the Italian mercenaries who were panicking at the head of the city realized that someone was climbing the city wall. So, a group of Italian mercenaries rushed up.

However, the walls were narrow, and under the desperate resistance of 30 elite soldiers who climbed to the top of the city, hundreds of Italian mercenaries who rushed towards them were blocked.

Then, more elite fighters climbed up the rope......

After hundreds of elite soldiers climbed up, they immediately routed the group of Italian mercenaries on the city walls. Then, from under the city, Stader shouted:

"Don't worry about the group of rubbish on the head of the city, go down quickly to reinforce the city gate hole, you must open the city gate!"

So, hundreds of elites went down the stairs directly down the city wall and went straight to the city gate hole at the east gate......

At this time, in the doorway of the East City Gate, a tragic battle was going on. Although the Medici dead had wiped out most of the gatekeepers, there were still more than forty gatekeepers who were still struggling to defend the gates with the help of shields, tables, chairs, and other obstacles.

At the same time, about 200 Italian mercenaries descended from the city walls and attacked the Medici dead from behind. At this time, it has reached a very critical juncture. Of the 150 Medici dead, only 80 remained. In a little while, they'll be finished......

At this critical juncture, suddenly, a group of soldiers rushed down from the city, rushed towards the 200 Italian mercenaries who were attacking the descendants of the Medici family, and quickly routed them.

It was Stad's guards who arrived with a group of elites, and after defeating the Italian mercenaries who attacked the city gate cave, they did not hesitate to rush in and launched a fierce attack on the last 40 or so city gate cave guards......

After a while, the guards were finally eliminated. Then, the east gate was opened. Stader took advantage of this opportunity and led a large army into the city of Florence......