Vol 3 Chapter 86: Do you want to board the ship?

For Taranto, located in the southeast corner of Italy, the Ionian Sea is proof of the city ’s existence.
Since the Roman era, the Romans had hoped to conquer the city completely in response to the threat from the Ionian Sea. However, although the Roman legions were strong, their navies were inevitably somewhat unsatisfactory. At the beginning, Taranto closed the mountain pass between the Agrig Plain and Cosenza, and once blocked the Romans from Taranto, so that they could not attack the city, and then the Romans could only I hope to conquer the city by sea.
But Taranto ’s navy is powerful and even terrible. With the good port, the Taranto people have been able to build large ships to gallop on the Mediterranean Sea very early, and with the conquest of the Greeks, Taranto Tuo's shipbuilding industry was once unique on the ancient Italian peninsula.
And this uniqueness has also continued.
Conquer, resist, conquer, and resist again. Although many generations have changed and the owners have changed countless times, the city of Taranto has experienced the ups and downs of the historical turmoil unique to most cities of this era. Now, the owner of the city is Earl Hossen, a nobleman who strictly says that he is dependent on the royal family of Naples, but the reason for this dependence is a little far away, so Taranto is actually partly out of the present. The royal family of Aragon only needs to make various claims on major occasions, the title of the Kingdom of Naples will be carried out as a standing angle or a proof of some kind of power.
Earl Hosson is a very energetic person. It is said that he had participated in the first large-scale battle with the Ottomans in the Mediterranean in the early years. At that time, the Ottoman Empire, which had conquered Constantinople, tried to conquer the entire Mediterranean with one blow Europa, the earl joined the Venetian navy when the entire Europeans were in danger, and participated in several major naval battles to remove the threat from the Ottomans in the Aegean Sea.
It was only that Europa was able to temporarily relieve his breath, but in the face of the great threat of the Ottoman Navy, the Earl, who had not yet succeeded to the title, felt the pressure from the East deeply.
So when he returned to Taranto, he devoted himself to the construction of the navy. Relying on the traditional navigation skills and shipbuilding standards of the Taranto people, under the vigorous promotion of the Earl, the Taranto navy had to rely on Venice. People gradually gain attention, and even sometimes the Venetians will actively propose cooperation. Less than 30 years later, Taranto seems to have a tendency to return to the source of hope in southern Italy.
It ’s just that the Earl is still very cautious, or vigilant. The years of chaos and conspiracy on the peninsula made the Earl refuse to believe anyone, especially after the first marriage, he was careful to maintain contact with others, although His dead wife gave him a son who was very satisfied with him, but his wife ’s family tried to use marriage to control or even annex Taranto, making him instinctive to anyone who wanted to approach him. Take precautions.
"Elliot, do you really think this lady is suitable to be my wife?" Looking at a small portrait in his hand, the count asked a bit critically. "It looks like she is not very old, and I don't like those things. Blonde girls, I always think they are too naive, like a bunch of flies without brains. "
"My father, the flies are not bumpy, according to the observation of a friend of mine, these nasty things have big eyes, and they can always find food faster than people," Elliott corrected his father seriously. Some common sense fallacy. "As for this Countess, I have to say that if you think about her inheritance of a big castle, her family has a significant position in Naples. Even these are the only ones you say. It ’s not a good, silly, blond, silly girl. What ’s more, I can assure you that this lady is absolutely smart.
Speaking of this, he added in a small voice,
Even smart, sometimes not very flattering. like."
"Then I'm even less interested," Earl Hosson put down the portrait, took a look at the letter on the table, and hummed in his nose: "I know what Modillo is thinking, he hopes to complete his marriage with marriage A great dream, he was thinking about making Naples the most powerful kingdom in the South, so that he could fight against Rome, Venice, Genoa, Milan. After all, when Charlie was in Naples, what he did was not flattering. If Ferdinand was there, then Frederick succeeded, and Modillo began to feel that life was not so good. "
"You said that to your father very well," Elliott laughed. "I told you before. I've seen Frederick's men use mercenaries to try to rob Kosenza's territory."
The earl snorted again. He stood up and walked to the window to look at the bay far away. This is a fortress close to the Ionian Sea. When the earl is fine, he will look over the strait here. More time than in his palace.
"Frederick is also an annoying guy, maybe he doesn't dare to do anything now, but if he is given the opportunity to control Kosenza, he will surely swallow the entire Agrig Plain afterwards, and then continue to Until Taranto was down. "The earl knocked on the window sill, and then he turned to look at his son." What do you think of that Gombre, I heard that he is in Rome now. "
Hearing his father ’s inquiry, Elliott paused a bit as if wondering how to answer, and then shook his head slightly confused:
To be honest, father, I do n’t know how to describe that person. You ’ve seen him before. Those proposals, as well as the merchants he sent to Taranto and the office he built in the port, these all clearly show that he came to fight for our profit, but ... "
"But you know that, but he has enough benefits for you, so he can't refuse his proposal, does he?" The count finished. "This is what I am most worried about. I can feel those The change of the merchants, I mean those of us in the chamber of commerce, the excitement of their desire to open up new markets can be smelled across the Mediterranean. "Earl sneered sarcastically." So that Gombre really portrayed them. Beautiful picture, those businessmen are against it, but in fact everyone is looking forward to the establishment of this free trade zone as soon as possible. Ironically, it is because of this that they are more disliked by the businessmen from Naples. "
Elio nodded characteristically. He believed his father's eyes and knew nothing could hide his eyes. Just as he was about to continue speaking, a servant appeared at the door.
"Sir, the Venetian fleet is here," the servant reported, not forgetting to add "they also brought a double sailboat."
"Really, is the Venetian ready to do business in my Taranto?" Count Husson asked sarcastically. "In what name did they bring the ship, supply?"
"No, it is said that it was a merchant ship captured on the road," the servant was obviously very savvy, and he had already inquired clearly before. "But the Countess Kosenza who came with the ship denied this statement and only admitted that the ship was with them to Taran For those who do business, the Venetians have no power over this ship. "
"Wait a minute," Elliott stood up from his chair at once. "What are you talking about, Countess Kosenza coming with the ship? Russa Kosenza?"
When the servant nodded, the count and his son looked at each other unexpectedly for a while, and both faces showed strange expressions of surprise.
"Father, your fiancee is here to see you, maybe you should dress up now," Elliott quipped with interest. "Trust me, Rosa Kosenza is definitely a beautiful woman who can make any man tempted. Beauty, speaking of this, I even feel a little jealous of you. "
"Is that true? I'm a little bit interested in saying this. Who would have thought that the Countess would just come to Taranto, and you went to the pier to greet the Countess, as for me," Earl Hosson picked up The portrait on the table looked at it, and then touched the white short beards with well-trimmed jaws. "You really need to dress up."
When Luosha walked on the springboard, the wind shook slightly, and a Venetian officer behind her instinctively reached out to help. When his hand touched the young girl ’s slightly curved arm, she felt uploading from her body. The gentle temperature came, and the officer's hand shivered.
Luo Sha turned around and smiled at the officer behind him: "Thank you, Mr. Barbarig."
The officer bowed slightly at the same time, at the same time, he slightly supported Lu Sha from the springboard with a little force, and when the foot stepped on the solid ground, the officer's heart rose inexplicably disappointed.
Elliott, who stood outside the two fences, looked at this scene interestingly. There was a large open space between the two fences, which was used for immune isolation.
In the early years, the horror caused by the Black Death that almost killed all Europeans forced Europeans to strengthen the immunization regulations especially at the ports. Even passengers from not far places like Naples, according to the regulations At least one day of isolation and immunization is also required, while those from other places can take up to a week to be allowed to leave the port.
"Immunity is a must, but for many businessmen, one week is enough for them to make a small fortune, and it is enough for them to withstand huge losses that they cannot bear at all, so a special temporary landing trading area was opened in the port to let They can trade freely here, and as long as the goods here do not leave a specific area, they will be exempt from the high docking fees, which is an irresistible temptation for all ocean traders. Imagine my sister, this kind of trade alone What a huge market it can drive, and the ultimate goal of this kind of trade is to make the entire free trade zone a real whole, a trade alliance with Florin and Ducat as the pillar. "
Ruosha stood by the fence and remembered the kind of flamboyant look when Alexander explained these details to her, which made her confess that she was fascinated.
Ruosha remembered what had happened in the farmhouse of Agrig at the time. Alexander at that time was clearly beyond the limits of being a brother.
Then she thought of the letter from Rome.
Alexander in the letter was not only more daring than when facing her, but even revealed an exclusivity that a brother should never have.
Ruosha pulled the skirt of her body that could not be fluttered by the sea breeze. She clearly remembered that Alexander in the letter asked her not to wear the armor in front of other people. Own treasure.
Who is Alexander Juliant Gumbre?
Is her half-brother Joel Modillo?
Or simply a stranger?
The thought lingered in Ruosha's heart until she saw Elliot across the two rows of fences, who was waving her hand slightly towards her.
The earl's son bowed far, and he noticed that the Venetian in half-armor standing behind Russa cast a hostile look, so he nodded to the Venetian again.
"Will you let me stay with you?"
The Venetian asked slightly, the pride of the family made him feel that he could not shrink back in front of the Taranto, and the Countess did make him feel emotional, thinking of his identity in the family, he would have been somewhat confident , I feel that even if it shows the intention of pursuing the countess, it will not appear rude.
Unfortunately, Ruosha didn't seem to want to give him too many opportunities. After nodding slightly, she politely declined, leaving the Venetian who was alone and looking at her back, and walked to the side of the fence.
"I'm sorry Miss Countess, but this is a must, you know ..." Elliott gestured helplessly.
Unlike land travel, the long-term closure of sea travel often not only causes serious illness to the crew, but the cargo carried is also likely to become a hotbed of pathogens, which makes all port terminals have to be cautious. Unexpectedly, the terrible plague that killed almost half of the Europeans 200 years ago was not too careful.
"Please tell the Earl ~ EbookFREE.me ~ I hope to meet him as soon as possible," Zuosha said to Elliott. "I think we may be able to sign some truly meaningful agreements."
"I hope so, too," Elliott bowed again. "My father hopes that you will live in the Palace of the Golden Palms, which was the residence of the Earls of Taranto, and there have been more than one king who stayed there. "
Ruosha nodded her head and said that she had been crumbling for several days on the sea, especially after the departure of the Venetian, although the route from Naples to Taranto was not very far, but the actual The Upper Venetian did not sail directly to Taranto, but patrolled the sea for two days before sailing to the destination.
The experience of these past few days is really not so good.
A sound of footsteps came from behind, and Ruosha turned her head to see the businessman from Baleari who was walking over with Mahimo.
"Dear Countess," Matthews Thieg first licked his lips, then looked at the monk who was quietly pushing him, and finally gritted his teeth, learning the monk's tone and saying, "I heard your hand There is a nice big boat in here, I wonder if I am honored to be able to come up? "