Alexander VII hoped that Tsarist Russia and the Kingdom of Sweden would also participate in the Crusades. However, what Alexander VII did not expect was that Tsarist Russia was even preparing to launch a crusade on its own, with the intention of regaining the vast territory east of the Ural Mountains, including Siberia and the Far East, which had already been taken away by the Ming army, in addition to punishing the Turks who fled east of Tsarist Russia without permission.

This suggestion was made by two of Tsar Alexei's confidants, Molozov and Miroslavsky.

One of these two is Alexei's mentor and brother-in-law, and the other is Alexei's father-in-law.

Siberia and the Far East have long been an important source of tax revenue for Tsarist Russia. However, in recent years, with the loss of the Far East and Siberia, the tax revenue of Tsarist Russia has plummeted, and the income of the two major families of Molozov and Miloslavsky has also plummeted.

As a result, the two continued to instigate Alexei to launch an Eastern Crusade. In the beginning, Alexei was always in favor of launching an Eastern crusade.

But recently something big happened that made Alexei change his mind. Cossacks, peasants and herdsmen throughout Ukraine held a referendum in a place called Pereyaslavli, which decided to annex the whole of Ukraine to Tsarist Russia.

In fact, there were often Cossacks who wanted to be incorporated into Tsarist Russia, but all of them were rejected by Alexei. Because Alexei was afraid of trouble, once he accepted the Cossacks and the land, he would offend Poland, and then a war with the Kingdom of Poland would inevitably break out.

Alexei did not like to fight, so he refused. But this time the situation is different, this time the entire Ukrainian region was annexed to Tsarist Russia, such a good thing, Alexei really could not refuse, this is a large fertile land, which may not be able to be taken at a huge cost in normal times, but now it can be annexed without spending a single ruble.

"Your Majesty, this is a godsend."

"Yes, it doesn't have to cost a ruble to annex Ukraine, there's nothing better than that."

"The annexation of Ukraine is not the key, the point is that after the annexation of Ukraine, Tsarist Russia will be able to obtain hundreds of thousands of Cossack cavalry, without having to spend as much money on hires as before."

"With these Cossack cavalry, you can launch a battle of revenge against the Ming Dynasty."

"That's right, the Ming Empire dared to compete with Tsarist Russia for Siberia and the Far East, if it can't be punished, wouldn't the order of the whole world be in chaos?" The two henchmen flickered hard at Alexei.

But Alexei's mind was still very clear.

"Of course, I know all of what you're saying."

"But I would like to ask you, what would be the reaction of Poland if Tsarist Russia annexed Ukraine? If Poland is angry and launches a crusade against Ukraine, should we send troops to aid Ukraine? If you don't send troops, you will lose face, but if you send troops, won't it become a negative asset to absorb Ukraine? Where do the benefits come from? "Morozov and Miroslavsky were speechless, war really cannot be avoided.

Just as the two important ministers were thinking about how to continue to fool, a guard hurried in.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty Alexander VII of the Holy See has sent someone to send an urgent decree."

"Doctrine?" Molotsov took the fire-lacquered letter from the guard's hand and slashed it with a dagger. Miloslavsky also came to the letter, and the two were overjoyed.

"Your Majesty, the problem is solved, now there is no need to worry about Poland going to war with us!"

"Yes, yes, not only don't we have to worry that Poland won't go to war with us, we don't even have to face the mighty Ming Dynasty alone, haha!" Alexei frowned.

"What's going on? What did the Holy See say? ”

"Eastern Crusade, the Holy See calls for a Second Crusade to remove the threat of the Ming Dynasty!" Molozov and Miroslavsky said in unison: "Your Majesty, with hundreds of thousands of Cossack cavalry, plus the entire Catholic Church state launched by the Holy See, this time our Tsarist Russia not only has the opportunity to inflict heavy losses on the Ming Dynasty and recapture Siberia and the Far East, but even the vast Central Asia!" Hearing this, Alexei finally felt a little moved.

Although Alexei is lazy, he still has expansion ambitions. At that moment Alexei asked: "You mean to participate in the Eastern Crusade?" ”

"Participate, must attend!" Morozov said,

"But we can't be with the Holy See." Miroslavsky said: "We can organize a Northern Route Army, and it is better to add the armies of Poland, Sweden and Denmark to the Northern Route Army, especially Sweden must join the Northern Route Army." "The Swedish Army is a good fighter in Northern Europe and even in Europe as a whole.

If the Swedish Army could join the Northern Route Army, it would be a great benefit to Tsarist Russia. Therefore, Alexei sent an envoy to reply to the Holy See, and at the same time sent people to Poland and Sweden to discuss the matter of sending troops together.

At this time, Sweden had also received the order. Queen Christina of Sweden quickly replied that Sweden could join the Northern Route Army, and even send a huge army of 60,000 people, which is equivalent to half of the Swedish standing army!

But Christina made a condition. That is, Prince Karl of the Swedish royal family must be the commander of the Northern Route Army.

Prince Karl is also the future Karl X, the cousin of Queen Christina of Sweden, and a disciple of the late Swedish general Thorstensen, with an extremely rich military resume.

Poland demanded that Tsarist Russia sign a secret treaty with them. In this secret treaty, Tsarist Russia must recognize the invalidity of the Ukrainian referendum.

Of course, this secret treaty will not be made public immediately, but will not be announced until after the victory of the Eastern Crusade.

After conspiring with his two confidants, Alexei decided to agree to Poland's conditions, the reason is very simple, if the Eastern Crusade fails, the secret treaty will naturally be nullified, and once victorious, Tsarist Russia may have been promoted to the Russian Empire, and the Tsar may have been promoted to emperor, and there is no need to abide by the treaty signed by Tsarist Russia.

In this way, the Northern Route Army in the Western world was actually formed into an army before the Middle Route Army. The Northern Route Army was commanded by Prince Karl of Sweden, with a force of 300,000.

Among them, there were 100,000 Russian troops, 60,000 Swedish troops, 60,000 Cossack cavalry, about 40,000 Polish troops, and about 40,000 troops from Denmark and other small countries.

The Northern Route Army first reached Belgorod in Tsarist Russia and assembled, and then through the homeland of Astrakhan, it attacked the Kyrgyz steppes from the northern side of the Caspian Sea.

…… When the news reached Rome, Pope Alexander VII was pleasantly surprised. Truth be told, Alexander had high hopes for the Holy Roman Empire, France, England, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, but not for Tsarist Russia, Sweden, and Poland.

But now, Tsarist Russia, Sweden and Poland have actually organized an army of 300,000 first, and have begun to gather troops and prepare food, which really surprised Alexander VII.

However, it is disappointing that France and other traditional powers have been slow to respond, and three months have passed since then, and no country's troops have been assembled, and the promised food and salary have not been traced.

Unable to wait for a reply from France and other countries, Alexander VII could only send people to urge him again and again. Just as Alexander VII was waiting, another unexpected surprise came, the Ottoman Turkey and the Persian Sawifa Empire, which believed in the Green Religion, also sent envoys to participate in the crusade.

"The Ottoman Empire and the Sawifa Empire are also going to participate in this crusade?" Alexander VII couldn't believe that the influence of the Holy See was already so strong?

It was an unprecedented event that the Ottoman Empire and the Sawifa Empire, who believed in the Green Religion, were able to unite under the cross of the Holy See and fight for the honor of Catholicism.

Five hundred years ago, during the First Crusade, these heretics were still fighting with the Catholics for the holy city of Jerusalem, but now they are willing to unite with the Catholics to fight for Catholicism under the cross, and this alone is enough for him Alexander VII to become the greatest pope of all time.

However, the emissaries of the Ottoman and Sawifa empires soon shattered Alexander VII's dreams.

"Your Majesty, I think you're mistaken." The two messengers said in unison,

"We, the Ottoman Empire/Saavifa Empire, can participate in the Crusades, but will not participate in the Crusades organized by the Catholic Church, but will organize another Star and Moon Army in the south to divide the Crusades."

"So?" Alexander VII was somewhat disappointed. But soon, Alexander VII was rejoicing.

The Ottoman Empire and the Saavifa Empire were going to carry out another Star and Moon Army crusade, although he was a little disappointed, but it was a good thing for the Holy See and the entire Western world.

Because the more troops participating in this crusade, the greater the chance of defeating the Ming Dynasty. At that moment, Alexander VII asked: "Dare to ask the two, how large can the Ottoman Empire and the Vivifa Empire organize the Star and Moon Army to participate in this great crusade?" The messenger of the Saavifa Empire said, "Our Saavifa Empire can send 120,000 elite troops. The Ottoman envoy also said: "Our Ottoman Empire can send 180,000 elite troops, and it is led by the great 17th Sultan Murad himself. ”

"Murad Sultan?" Alexander VII's face changed slightly. He had also heard of Murad's name, which was said to be able to make a 120-pound mace.