"Sit down."

Chen Dexing smiled and nodded to the two chairs opposite the desk. Seeing the two Italians doing it, he handed Cardinal Doria the analysis report submitted by the Army and Navy Staff in his hand.

"This is an analysis of the battle in Europa made by my military staffs, you can take a look at it, and we'll talk about it after reading it."

The young cardinal was stunned for a moment, and he still had to make an analysis report in the war? But what is analyzed from tens of thousands of miles? The situation is not clear! He thought so in his heart, but he still respectfully took the folder with both hands, opened it and looked at it carefully, and the more he looked at it, the tighter his eyebrows became.

The report is accompanied by a map of the situation in Europa, which is very detailed, at least the topographical map of the Mediterranean Sea is very accurate, not much different from the map in the secret collection of the Republic of Genoa, but not the kind that can be bought on the market. This shows that there are highly skilled cartographers in the Seris mission, and in a short period of time they have already mapped the whole of Europe!

In addition to the accuracy of the map, the report also provides a good analysis of the situation in Europa. The strength and weakness of the knight army are very well grasped (in fact, the army staff uses the Japanese samurai army as a reference for the knight army), and the knights' combat methods and levels are exactly the same as they described!

This shows that the Seris have mastered the reality of Europa's military power!

Giovanni. Doria quietly handed the folder to Pietto, who was beside her. Godenico waited for him to read it carefully before he said to the latter, in the Venetian dialect of Italy: "The Seris know us very well, including the terrain of the Mediterranean and the stupidity of the knights. ”

Pietto. Godenigo replied in the Genoese dialect: "Europa had not only knights, but also Italian navy and mercenaries. They are the real army. And there is a real government and politics in Italy, as long as there is Italy. Europa will not fall! ”

Pasta will become the mainstay of Europa! Any person in the 21st century would be amazed at this. However, in Europe before the Industrial Revolution, no one dared to see Italy as a side. Italy at that time had the most powerful navy in the world. The largest arsenal and the largest shipyard. After the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire, the Republic of Venice in Italy was a great wall of the sea to resist the Ottoman invasion to the west.

This small state, with a population of just over a million, fought a series of large-scale naval and land wars against the mighty Ottoman Empire (with a population of tens of millions), dragging at least half of the Ottoman Empire's military power over the Mediterranean. The more famous battles alone include the Battle of Zocchio (the defeat of Venice), the Battle of Libandor (the defeat of Venice for the Isthmus of Collins), the Battle of Morton Island (the defeat of Venice), the Battle of Kepharonia and Ithaki (the victory of the Venetian and Spanish forces), the Battle of Preveza (the defeat of the Christian coalition led by Venice and Spain), the Battle of Cyprus (the defeat of the 8,000 Venetian troops against the 25 Turkish troops after more than a year of hard fighting, Venice coach Bugatin was captured and skinned alive by the Turks), the Battle of Libandor (the Venetian and Spanish fleets won a decisive victory, and the Turkish fleet was almost completely annihilated), and the Battle of Crete (after 25 years of long war, Turkey won and Venice lost).

Although in this series of battles, the Venetians lost more than they won. In the end, all the colonies were lost, allowing the Turks to open the passage from the sea to Italy. But the process took 200 years! The Europa had completed two military revolutions, progressing from the end of the age of knights to the era of standing in line to be shot. Britain and the Netherlands have even completed their bourgeois revolutions and are about to enter the industrial age. Moreover, several European powers close to the Atlantic already have colonies overseas that are dozens of times larger than their mainland and rich in resources. The Russians have also completed the big drama of Dick Si's counterattack, and they are approaching the great era of Peter the Great.

These European countries have become unshakable behemoths of the Turkish Empire, and the resistance of the Venetians has wasted the precious 200 years of the Turks, and the Europa people have completed the transformation from dick to rich. The Turkish Empire, on the other hand, has lost its former vigor and has become a twilight empire. Just over a decade after the fall of Crete, the Ottoman army retreated from under Vienna for the last time. Thus began a long process of decline.

"Your Majesty the Emperor," Giovanni. Doria spoke Chinese, word by word, as if every word had been carefully considered. "Europa is sure to go through a long dark age, and the Mongols who win on the Vistula River will occupy large areas of plains, and perhaps the capital of France, Paris, will fall. But the tenacious Italians will not give in. That is certain. The peoples of Venice, Genoa, Florence, Milan, Parma, Pisa, Siena, Lucca, Ferrara and Cremona, among others, will not give in! We will raise a huge army of hundreds of thousands of men, and every mountain pass leading to Italy will be best defended. Our navy will throw any Mongol who dares to enter the Mediterranean into the sea to feed the fish! ”

The cardinal did not brag, the Italians did have such power. Each city-state has the financial resources to employ tens of thousands of mercenaries. Their handicraft industry is also very well developed, enough to supply weapons and equipment for so many armies. As for the source of troops, it is not a problem, after the Mongols wreak havoc on the plains of Bode and France, there will definitely be countless Europa knights who are unwilling to die and flee to Italy. They have no land, and they can't be masters, so they can only make a living as mercenaries, and accept all kinds of strict military discipline.

Pieto in Venice. Godenigo added: "In addition to Italy, Europa also has the Kingdom of England and the Iberian States, and they will also resist with us Italians. The English would attack from the sea, and the Iberian states would defend the Pyrenees.

In addition, the Holy Roman Emperor is still there, and the Germans will resist to the end under his leadership. Switzerland, the Black Forest, Austria and Bohemia will all become battlegrounds. Your Majesty the Emperor, rest assured that Europa will not give in. When hell freezes over! ”

He looked at Chen Dexing with burning eyes, "If His Majesty the Emperor can lend a helping hand in Europa's most difficult time." Then the Ming Empire will be able to win Europa's eternal loyalty! ”

"Eternal loyalty?" Chen Dexing raised his eyes and looked at the Venetian.

Pietto. Godenigo took a sharp breath, "The Republic of Venice will be a vassal to the Ming Empire!" The Republic of Venice will become a vassal state of the Ming Empire! ”

On the way to China. This Venetian had long learned from Wen Tianxiang that all Chinese emperors had a penchant for coming to court. He and Giovanni. Doria agreed that he could exchange the support of the Ming Empire with the condition of "being a vassal".

Chen Dexing's face was expressionless, and he could allow the envoys of the two small Baiyi countries to sit opposite him and talk, which actually showed that his emperor was not the same type as those Chinese emperors who were arrogant and crazy in the past.

The purpose of diplomacy is to seek the interests of the country, not to earn face for the emperor.

Noncommittal, he turned his gaze to Giovanni. Doria.

"The Republic of Genoa is also willing to regard His Majesty as its suzerain." Giovanni. Doria replied.

The city-state republics of Genoa and Venice are very pragmatic countries, with a very soft stature and interests first, and they will not get by for the sake of face and real interests.

"What about the Ecumenical Church?" Chen Dexing is not nonsense. Asked directly about the Ecumenical Church. The submission of several city-states is nothing, and the Ecumenical Church is the master of Europa.

"Church ......" Giovanni. Doria's brow furrowed deeply, "Your Majesty, I don't have the authority to do so. ”

This was an excuse for him to submit to the Ming Empire without the authorization of the Assembly of the Republic of Genoa.

"I need the Pope's authorization to negotiate, but before that, should I make sure that Italy does not fall to Mongolia?"

This is to ask for aid, and to get aid before the Ecumenical Church and the Ming can start negotiations.

As long as the war in Europa is stabilized, the Ecumenical Church will be able to avoid submitting to the Ming Empire, after all, God's representative on earth will submit to an Eastern emperor. It is extremely detrimental to the prestige of Christianity.

Chen Dexing smiled slightly and said, "Then, I will first put forward the conditions of the Ming Dynasty: first, all independent countries in Europa, including the Ecumenical Church, must submit to me and the Ming Dynasty; Second, the election of the pope of the Ecumenical Church must be approved by the Ming Emperor. The election of the Pope must also be held under the supervision of the Ming Emperor's envoys; Third, the commodities of the Ming Empire, its subjects and the people of the Heavenly Daoist Sect can freely enter and exit all the Europa countries that are subject to the Ming Dynasty, and the tariffs to be paid on all Ming goods entering Europa cannot exceed 5% of the value of the goods in Europa in principle; Fourth, Tiandao can be spread in all the countries of Europa that are subject to the Ming Dynasty; Fifth, all Europa countries subject to the Ming Dynasty are not subject to the jurisdiction of Europa law, and judicial cases involving them must be adjudicated by the Ming diplomatic mission; Sixth, the Ming Empire will purchase land in the territory of all the subject Europa countries to establish concessions. As a concentrated settlement of Ming merchants and subjects in the country, the concession was not subject to the governments and laws of the Europa countries.

These six principles are the principles that I adhere to. We will never back down! You can ask Rome for instructions first, and I have time to wait. And Europa won't fall so quickly. Because the Mongols needed time to put their occupied territories in order. As far as I know, the Mongols have now learned the lessons of their defeat in the Central Plains and will be able to put some effort into governing the occupied territories, which will take a long time. ”

……

"Great Khan, Minister...... Thankless! ”

Liu Xiaoyuan walked into the Great Khan's chamber in Krakow Castle, and when he saw Kublai Khan, who was sitting cross-legged on the Hu bed reading a book, he quickly knelt down and kowtowed to plead guilty—his military campaign in Greece had been thwarted...... Defeated by pasta!

Of course, it was not a catastrophic defeat, and the Duchy of Athens was still occupied. But the assault on the Hou state of Achaea was hampered by the Isthmus of Collins. The Venetians sent 5,000 crossbowmen to help defend the isthmus, and more than 100 gales sailed into the Libandor Strait to threaten Liu Xiaoyuan's flank. As a result, the army commanded by Liu Xiaoyuan could not capture the Isthmus of Corinth, and even the city of Athens was threatened at all times. As a last resort, he had no choice but to take all the citizens and property in the city of Athens and return to the territory of the Eastern Roman Empire. The offensive cannot be said to be a complete failure, but there was no victory after all.

Nearly 20,000 Zhenghongqi troops plus 10,000 Eastern Roman troops were not defeated by less than 10,000 Venetian and Achaean combined troops, and they were forced to abandon the Duchy of Athens. This really made Liu Xiaoyuan's face a little disgraced? However, it also made Kublai Khan further realize that Italy is not a bowl of noodles that can be eaten casually. Although the infantry of the Italian city-states was not very good, their methods of fighting made Kublai Khan think of the Song army.

The Italians were good at using crossbows, their crossbows were very powerful, and their crossbowmen would carry a large shield on their backs to the battlefield, which could be used to defend against bows and arrows when shooting arrows. In the Battle of the Vistula, there were quite a few Mongol warriors who fell under the arrows of Italian crossbowmen.

These crossbowmen weren't too difficult on the plains, but what about in the mountains south of Europa? Castles built on mountainous terrain and combined with crossbowmen are very difficult to break.

Plus, these Italian city-states are all very rich! Being rich meant that you could hire German and French knights in exile as soldiers. Although these guys are very unprofessional in fighting, no one can say that their martial arts are not good. With strict training and discipline, they will soon be able to form the most elite army.

"Get up," Kublai Khan waved his hand, "and sit down." ”

Liu Xiaoyuan sat down on a very hard, somewhat ass wooden chair. He then handed a Bible and a letter he had brought with him to Kublai Khan's guards.

"Great Khan, Chen's uncle met Chen Dexing's biological father in Tianzhu." This was the main purpose of his visit to Krakow, to report to Kublai Khan on the negotiation process in person, and to sell a copy of the "Liu Pi" Bible.

"What did Chen Huaiqing say?" Kublai Khan took the letter and the Bible, placed it on the bed, and continued to question.

"Chen Huaiqing asked us to stop the Delhi Sultan from mercenaries in Afghanistan, Persia and the Western Regions first. Then I will let my uncle go to the Central Plains. ”

"What an old fox!" Kublai Khan snorted coldly, "Liu Qing, what do you think?" ”

Liu Xiaoyuan looked up at Kublai Khan, he was also an old man of the Jinlianchuan Shogunate, so he could naturally see some clues from Kublai Khan's expressionless face - whether to continue to transfuse blood to the Delhi Sultan, the key is not what Liu Xiaoyuan thinks, but what Kublai Khan thinks. (To be continued......)