Vol 5 Chapter 3: First place

Although not going north, many people still feel the obvious cold after leaving Romagna.
The blizzard is still very big, but unlike in Montina, in the days after entering the Balkans, the entire army thought that the world seemed to be frozen.
There are more mountains, and the gradually unfamiliar environment makes many soldiers realize that they have moved away from their hometown.
The Balkans are full of mountains, which surprised even the Agri people who came from the mountains of southern Italy. They felt that they would never be able to walk through the mountains. Whenever they crossed a beam What I saw was higher peaks and wider and deeper gorges behind.
The mountain people here also surprised the Italians. They found that they often encountered groups of silent locals. From their dark faces, they could only see deep suspicion and a little hostility. Obviously these locals Outsiders are not welcome.
In addition to this rather strong exclusion, these locals seem to have rare patience and stubbornness. They will not easily accept the help of others, especially if someone shows sympathy and pity to them, it may not be gratitude, but Anger that feels humiliated.
The people here seem to be very poor, but the Montina people are surprised to find that many people here have bronzes that are almost extravagant for ordinary Italian families. These bronzes may be a jug or a pot, Some people who are a little bit past may even have a bronze icon alcove, although the workmanship is rough, but the weight is absolutely stunned.
This kind of shrine seems to be a very popular thing in the local area, perhaps because it has gradually entered the Orthodox territory. Those shrines with obvious Orthodox and Eastern Roman styles made the Montina army feel strange and because of such "luxury "Unbelievable.
Alexandria was also surprised. Although it is known that the current Hungarian copper mine is the largest copper mine in addition to the later Sweden ’s Iskay copper mine, the local copper ownership rate has actually reached this point, which still makes Alexander think It's really eye-opening.
Although he did n’t know until a long time ago, the reason why the locals owned the bronzes so frequently was more because the importance of the Roman Empire during the early years, they sent heavy troops to the Balkans, and the copper mine at that time belonged to Rome. The empire is not owned by the individual.
Years of mining have gradually brought the underground mining here to the world. The precious copper and silver are continuously transported to Constantinople to support the amazing city that has been called the largest city in the West for thousands of years. The consumption and cost, and the Romans stationed in the Balkans from generation to generation, also established cities and villages here.
The Roman army thrived here, and their descendants gradually took root in this land. As one of the benefits of the copper mining area directly owned by the descendants of the Roman army and the empire, the copper gradually accumulated by generations. , So that many ordinary people are richer than those of some small nobles and rich merchants in Europe.
The news was heard after a long walk and after entering the mountainous area of ​​the northwest of the Balkans, although some of these words are not untrue. For example, there should be a lot of those copper wares that were gradually lost as the Roman Empire gradually lost the Balkans Control, and the troops stationed there gradually separated from the influence of the empire, so that the Hungarian copper mine later became the private property of the warlord oligarchs and the army, but even so, centered on Hungary ’s Ouwang copper vein, toward The richness of the underground minerals that extend in the mountains of the Balkans still amazed Alexander.
Copper and silver, as well as rare gem mines, this is a charming place in Alexandria known to Hungary.
In fact, as long as you think about the dazzling jewelry that Bohemians always wear on your body, you can think of the richness produced in this place, although most of those jewelry are not valuable.
In a remote and unfamiliar place, and many locals who speak a lot of unfamiliar languages, the Montina army entered a place they had never been to.
At the beginning of January 1499, Alexander from Montina led his army across the Po River, passing through Venice with permission.
Looking at the city of Venice from afar, Alexander was somewhat melancholy.
In the last life, he had planned to go to Venice to visit the world-famous water city, but the result was that he plunged into the water, and then came out to be a reincarnation, jumping for hundreds of years, and this time he still rubbed shoulders with Venice However, this made Alexander a little bit melancholy.
As an expression of agreement with Alexander, the Venetian representatives waited on the road that Montina ’s army must pass. In addition to expressing their blessings to the Earl ’s journey, the messenger also very quietly gave away a carriage, quietly Completed the procedure of paying an expensive fee.
The whole process is equal, friendly and frank. No one would think that the two sides had fought a war in Romagna just two years ago, nor would they think that just recently, Venice had sent people to try to hijack and support. An opponent of Alexandria.
From Venice through the Po Delta, it has been eastward, and after passing through the rather narrow Adriatic coastal plain, it entered the Balkans.
According to Alexander's original plan, his destination was undoubtedly Ouwang, a famous copper mine in Hungary, but rumors about Sophia completely broke his plan.
Especially when I heard that the Ottoman Sultan actually went on a personal trip this time, Alexander felt that even if he could not bring Sophia back smoothly, he had to find a way to hear her whereabouts, and then send someone to send her a letter to let her leave Bucharest as soon as possible. Ground.
As for preventing or even defeating Sudan, Alexander never thought about this.
Nearly a hundred thousand Ottoman army, this number makes Alexander feel a headache if you think about it.
If you encounter such an Ottoman army hundreds of years later, perhaps Alexander will also have some confidence and courage. After all, the heyday of the Ottomans ended in Vienna after a century and a half.
After the great siege in the late 17th century, the Ottoman Empire finally consumed all the wealth and resources accumulated by the ancestors of the empire for centuries, and then the entire Ottoman Empire quickly declined until it finally became a European meal.
But it is now 1499, the time when Ottoman ’s crescent moon has just risen over the European continent. The prestige of the ten magnates has not yet been praised by the world, and the most terrifying of these ten magnates is also the most frightened European. Emperor Man, is still just a little boy who can run neatly.
The father of Suleiman the Great is Selim, the most beloved son of Basayet II.
This prince, who is said to be as talented as his grandfather Mohammed II, is now fighting around in the East. This future Sudan, who will be called the conqueror in the future, has no chance of expedition to Europe, but he What has been done is enough to make the Europeans look different.
In the face of such an enemy whose family is like God of War, Alexander did n’t even have a hint of confrontation. The only thing he wanted to do was find a way to find Sophia, and then see if he could take advantage of Hungary ’s copper mines. , And then immediately evacuates if the situation is not good.
This is Alexander's whole idea, simple and practical. As for what he said to the Venetians against the pagans, although he himself did not believe it, he also knew that the Venetians also did not believe it.
The Venetian is willing to bear such a large military expenditure for him, it is entirely due to the same huge sugar tax he promised.
The Venetian apparently also inquired about his news on Crete, and Ruosha began to call workers everywhere before, and then at no cost to move them by boat to Crete, let the Venetian realize Alexandria is indeed a must for Cretan plantations.
In this case, the Venetians are still willing to do this for a sum of money and get a profitable agreement in the future.
As for the confrontation with the Ottomans, the Venetians did not think that Alexander ’s army of less than 4,000 men could play a role in the upcoming war.
According to the information obtained by the Venetians, nearly 100,000 troops of Basayet have crossed the Neretva River and moved along the hilly area of ​​the southern foothills of the Balkan Mountains. They will bypass Belgrade and then turn northeast towards Bucharest.
The news made the Venetians uneasy. Mohammed II, who was a conqueror of Constantinople nearly half a century ago, unexpectedly collapsed in Belgrade. The Sudan ’s 150,000 army finally paid a heavy price after a protracted siege. After that, he had to evacuate tiredly from the city.
This was a rare defeat in the life of Muhammad II. Because of this fiasco, the Ottomans ’expansion in the Balkans had to stop, and Belgrade once became a barrier against Hungary ’s invasion of Ottomans.
But in recent years, as Wallachia and Moravia have to successively confederate to the Sudan, the situation in the Balkans has become worse and worse, especially when it is heard that the emissaries of Sudan have already passed by the Grand Duke of Wallachia After Belgrade's acquiescence, the Venetians felt that the situation was extremely bad.
Once the Ottomans are free of threats from behind, they can attack Bucharest without any worries, even if they are allowed to build a stable supply line, perhaps the kind of urban cannon that captured Constantinople in the first place All may be transported to the city of Bucharest.
By that time, not only the doors to Hungary and Bohemia, but also to Vienna and Venice will be opened to the Ottomans.
This idea really scared the Venetians, so that before Alexander left, the emissaries of Venice solemnly handed a letter to Alexander, begging him to find a way to persuade the nobles and knights he could meet along the way, Hope they can join the war against the pagans together.
As for remuneration, it is "good negotiation".
Alexander felt that he could not refuse this beautiful difference. He immediately agreed readily, and at the same time comforted the messenger that everything was wrapped in him.
Obviously, Alexander felt no guilt about using Venetian money to do things for himself.
The rolling hills are one after another, and many soldiers began to complain, even the Agri people were surprised by the complex mountain here.
Because of the fear of complex terrain and not being able to get the previous news in time, the scouts sent have increased by 2 people. It can be said that the only laughter in the entire team is the Bohemian cavalry.
For these Bohemian cavalry, although this is not their territory, it is at least closer to their hometown, especially when they hear complaints from the Montina people, the Bohemians feel better than Drinking alcohol is still exciting.
In addition to the soldiers, Gumpati's look was not very good along the way.
Gompati was very interested and hopeful about this trip. He had heard about the Belgrade defensive battle that was praised by Europeans a long time ago.
Earlier, Compati was only looking forward to the great warriors and their stories, and when he stayed in Montina, he had time to carefully understand some details of the offensive and defensive battle.
So when he heard that Alexander wanted him to go to Hungary with him, Compati was very excited.
It was only along this way that Comparty gradually lost patience.
"This kind of road is simply not suitable for transporting artillery," Gompati looked at the pavement, which can hardly be called a road. "But if you want to defend the Ottomans, you can't do it without powerful artillery. It is said that the Ottoman army is larger than the king's army Much more. "
Alexander nodded silently, and he knew that King Compatti said that the king was now Bohemian and Hungarian King Vladislas II, that is, the husband of Queen Bohemia who had a close relationship with Nashan .
Speaking of Nashan, Alexander's face collapsed.
Uliu finally reported to Mrs. George Anne and Nashan about him, which made Alexander very angry at first.
He wanted to write a letter to his romantic mother at that time, and asked her not to hit her boss even if she was looking for a lover, but then he could only write a letter to his sister.
Think about it. There is really no other way to deal with this, except for Rausa to dissuade their overly ridiculous mother.
"Without a cannon, the Ottoman soldiers cannot be eliminated in large numbers," Compatiti was worried about the upcoming hard fight. "Unless we have the strength to fight the enemy, it is said that the maximum of 50,000 people a king can mobilize is almost double. Enemy, I cannot believe how to win. "
"Don't forget that the battle of Belgrade was also won. At that time, Muhammad was carrying 150,000 troops."
Alexander laughed, he was not really worried, for him Bucharest or Belgrade, these places can not impress him.
His purpose is only two, Sophia and the big copper mine in Hungary.
"But that was not the same. At that time, in addition to the setbacks under Belgrade City, Mohammed was more likely to have a crisis in his rear. At that time, Sudan ruled the place he occupied was unstable, and many places he conquered. It ’s all rioting, but it ’s different now. Moravia is said to have claimed his position, so at least there is no threat behind him. If he can pass Bergerrad successfully again, then Bucharest is really Is dangerous. "
Listening to Gompati's analysis, Alexander also nodded silently. He knew that Gompati said something quite reasonable.
The defeat of Mohammed under Belgrade in today ’s Bucharest may not reappear, even if this time the Sultan of Basseyet brought fewer troops than Muhammad, but as Gompati said Now, the situation in the Balkans is not the same as before.
Alexander thought about it secretly, he hoped that the trip would be smooth, after all, if it was not for Sophia, he had never thought of taking this path.
According to his plan, after crossing the Po River, he should lead his army north into the Grand Duchy of Vienna, then cross the Danube River, then turn to the east, and go directly to the Ouwang copper mine in Hungary.
But now he has brought his army to the Balkans, and if he remembers correctly, if he continues to move forward, what he is about to enter should be the territory of the Principality of Canola.
Alexander was very thoughtful. He knew that Sophia had to be found to rescue her from that messy and dangerous situation, otherwise, as he heard the rumors, maybe the Balkan locals really regarded her as a symbol of Joan, but as long Thinking of Jeanne ’s ending, Alexander felt that this was not a metaphor.
There was a whistle in front, and Busako, who was next to him, immediately urged the horse forward, and he knew that it was the scout sent before that was back.
These scouts are Bohemians, perhaps because they have embarked on their way back to their hometowns, and these Bohemians appear extremely excited.
"There is a team of travelers in front of the lord," the scout yelled in excitement, and the greedy look in his eyes made Alexander wonder whether he would say, "Let's get a vote."
"Who is it?" Seeing the Bohemians around him seemed to be about to move around, he had to ask, thinking if they would really pounce on those fat sheep if it was one o'clock at night.
"Like a rank of nobility," the scout licked his tongue and seemed a bit greedy. "But they didn't have many guards."
"Okay, go and say hello to their leader, and ask the situation nearby. It would be better if they could provide us with a guide." Alexander said, looking at the scout's face, he thought I still want to shake my head, "Forget it, you can lead the way."
Busako immediately blew a whistle, which was the command signal of the hunting guard during the march. With the sharp whistle, the surrounding hunting guards quickly moved closer to Alexandria.
"Remember that you are the Montina army, the glorious hunting guards," Alexander shouted before he said to the scout, "Take me to see those people."
With a scout, Alexander led the hunting guard towards the top of a hilly hill in front.
Arriving on the slope, Alexander immediately saw the team that the scout said, but the other party obviously also found the trace of the Montina. Now the team is gathering in a panic. Some vehicles are being pushed to the front as obstacles The men and women in the team seem to be preparing for the game in a hurry.
"Look, those carriages are very deep, and there are those boxes on the car," the scout muttered, licking his lips, and after glancing at Alexander, he still said the words, "Master, are we doing Last vote. "