"O Rome, after many years of absence, you are still so beautiful! I remember the last time I saw you more than 20 years ago, but I still remember your magnificent architecture and long history and culture. After William led an army of more than 90,000 troops to be stationed outside the city of Rome, he looked down on the ancient and magnificent city of Rome on a hill, as if he had seen his old lover after many years of absence.

"Your Excellency the Governor de Dis of Pisa, and Your Excellency Manfrido of Genoa, what do you think? Rome. William retracted his gaze and turned his head to face the two governors beside him.

The Governor of Pisa, Dedis, and the Governor of Genoa, Manfrito, looked at each other incorrectly, but they did not dare to attack in front of William, and after hearing William's question, the two immediately turned their heads to look at William and said: "Your Majesty, Rome is indeed the capital of the world, a historical city, but we may not have such a deep feeling as you. ”

"It's nice that you two of you can often enjoy the beautiful scenery of Rome because you live in Italy, but we Normans have to survive in the cold wind of the North Sea, where can a great city like Rome be born?" William couldn't help but sigh again.

"Your Majesty, I have often heard that Paris, the capital of the Norman Kingdom, is no less than Rome, and that your capital London and Rouen are also among the famous cities of Rome in Europe, and these cities are developing rapidly and are full of vitality, where can the lifeless Rome be compared?" The Governor of Pisa, Dedis, said modestly.

On the other side, Manfrido of Genoa smiled flatteringly and complimented: "Yes, Your Majesty, the decaying Holy See and the insatiable Pope are like this boundless cloud, which obscures all the vitality and hope of the city of Rome.

You have come to tear through this cloud and clear the Holy See that has sucked the vitality and blood of Rome and Italy! ”

"You both said it well, and it is for this mission that I have come, and it is the mission that God has given me to cleanse Rome. Victory is now in sight, but we must not be careless. A smile curled into the corner of William's mouth, and he said to the two: "Dedis, Manfrido, you two go down first, lead your own troops, and follow orders!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." The two of them fell to one knee and bent down in response.

After the two had left, Count Russell stepped forward and bowed down to report, "Your Majesty, the situation in the city of Rome has been clarified. ”

"Good work, Earl Russell, tell me about it." William nodded slightly.

"Yes, Your Majesty, now the city of Rome has long been in turmoil, due to the last war between the Holy See and the Roman aristocracy, the two forces have been on the same footing, even if our troops are in the city at this time, the two sides still do not have the slightest intention of reconciliation, but gather forces to confront each other."

"That's great news, it's great for us!" William stroked his palm and smiled: "By the way, Count Russell, have you contacted the Tusculum family, last time they failed to compete for the Pope, they were stabbed by the Holy See, they must be very unwilling."

Will the Tusculum family and the Roman nobles be willing to cooperate and open the gates of Rome for our army? ”

"It is a pity, Your Majesty, that in spite of their intentions, it seems difficult to make up their minds to turn their backs on the Holy See, and not to bear the responsibility for betrayal." Count Russell shook his head expressionlessly and spoke.

"Then add fuel to the fire, and you immediately spread rumors in the city of Rome that the Holy See, in order to meet us, will completely purge these half-hearted Roman nobles and magnates, and take all the forces in their hands for themselves.

Then my side will intensify the oppression of the city of Rome. I think they'll make the right choice! William looked up at the Roman sky and smiled confidently.

"Your Majesty is wise, and the minister thinks so." Count Russell stooped in answer with a long-lost smile on his face.

"Sure enough, heroes see the same thing, with your help, this is really the greatest gift God has given me." William looked at Earl Russell and complimented.

"Your Majesty, you have been falsely praised. The minister took care of the matter first. The Earl of Russell humbly said goodbye to William.

"Well, please, Count Russell." William nodded slightly.

As Count Russell said, the city of Rome has long been an active volcano that may erupt at any time, and the conflict between the Holy See and the local wealthy families of Rome is constantly brewing in the city, and the anger of the Roman citizens against Pope Nicholas and the Holy See.

Because of the siege strategy adopted by the Norman army against Rome, the city has not imported food and various materials for a while, and the merchants in the city colluded with the clergy of the Holy See to frantically hoard and raise prices, so that the people in Rome have long been boiling with resentment. The current situation in the city of Rome may only be a little spark, and it can be ignited in this powder keg, and then with a bang, the Pope and the Holy See will be torn to pieces by the anger of the Roman citizens.

Just as William is, under the actions of Count Russell, dozens of riots and riots have broken out in the city of Rome because of bread, and the contradictions between the Roman magnates and the Holy See have become more and more acute, and the two sides have completely cut off all contact, so it can be said that the city of Rome is on the verge of breaking out at this time.

In the past two days, he would order his artillery groups and trebuchet positions to drop projectiles into the city of Rome almost every moment, destroying countless buildings, killing countless soldiers and civilians, and greatly damaging the morale of the Roman army and civilians.

When facing the Norman army that could not be seen at a glance, and knowing that he had been kept warm by the army of 100,000 Normans, this despair from the bottom of his heart cannot be described in words.

As William had predicted, the collusion between the Holy See and the profiteers culminated in the great anger of the citizens of Rome, coupled with endless despair, and the citizens of Rome immediately launched an uprising against the Holy See, which spread from the Roman Forum in the south of Rome to the Vatican City in the northwest corner of Rome.

The nobles and magnates in the city of Rome saw that the situation was not good, and feared that the anger of the Roman citizens would harm them, and although they were very reluctant, they had to give up the idea of bargaining with William, and immediately opened the east gate of Rome to welcome William and his army into the city.

On April 24, 1062, Easter Day, William led his troops into the city of Rome very smoothly, and loudly declared himself the master of this great city, while Pope Nicholas, Grand Vice-President Hildebrand and others did not dare to stay in Rome, and after hearing that William had entered the city, they fled to Salais in a hurry.