The neat single drum beat is accompanied by a very unique tune, and all the teams act like puppets under this tune.

But these puppets are not funny, on the contrary, there is a kind of depression that inexplicably suffocates onlookers.

This was Alexander's first military parade, not spectacular enough, not majestic enough, only simple and monotonous unity and neatness.

This is an army unlike any other army in our time, each soldier does not seem to matter, no one seems to recognize their face, because they are a single unit, and the soldiers stand together as if they are only an insignificant part of the whole.

The horsemen were only part of the ranks, although some of the soldiers looked pleasing to the eye with their slightly strange but rather conspicuous majestic majestal busts, and the dark red uniforms attached to the cuirass attached to the cuirass were very pleasing to the eye.

Sharp spears lay overhead in a terrifyingly sharp jungle known to anyone with a modicum of common sense to be an infantry phalanx used against the knights' charge.

In front of the phalanx, a row of equally neat halberd troops would slam the ground with the tail ends of halberds less than 2 meters long with every step.

Further in front of the halberders, the weapons of the sword, shield and musketeers glittered in the sunlight.

This was the first time that the Pisan people had seen the entire Montina army, and it was also the first time they had taken a serious closer look at the invaders who had suppressed their revolution and deprived them of their freedom.

From liberator to invader, this is the definition of Alexander by some Pisa.

Some well-informed Pistians have heard that Tomneo and Alexander are preparing to reach a deal that is unfair and even humiliating to Pisa.

Because of this, the jousting tournament received a special kind of attention from the very beginning, and many of the Pisan nobles rubbed their fists against each other, and they wanted to show off their strength at the jousting tournament, and they had to use their spears and shields to show the Count of Montina that even if they were conquered, the enemy could only conquer their bodies, but not their hearts.

But everything seems a little weird, there are no loud horns, no broken spears colliding with each other, and there are no shield badges hanging high one by one to represent honor.

Some are just soldiers, soldiers, and in the end still soldiers.

People looked in amazement, though in a hurry, but apparently through the simply laid out venue, at the procession moving forward to the beat of drums and strange music.

Those knights who were in full armor and helmets were inlaid with all kinds of dazzling colorful flowers, and looked at this scene that puzzled them in amazement.

Konstantin was also surprised, in his imagination this should be the most perfect place for the pursuit of honor and love that he was familiar with, the galloping iron hooves, the spears that collided with each other and roared, and the exclamations of the noble ladies who were terrified and felt extremely excited, this is what the competition should be, but the scene in front of him made him feel unconcerned.

But looking at the muskets in the hands of the Agri musketeers who walked with the sword and shield soldiers, he still couldn't help but feel a shock in his heart, Konstantin knew the power of the muskets, although he was extremely obsessed with the honor of knights, but he was not the kind of blind and arrogant person, he knew the horror of muskets, especially when he saw those heavy muskets in the team that looked unusually eye-catching, he knew very well that the heavy big guys were the mortal enemies of the knights, even the strongest shields and armor, could not resist the roar of that kind of thing!

Looking at the procession passing in front of him, Konstantin had the same unpleasant face as the Pisan knights who were also in bright armor, and of course he did not sympathize with the Pisan people, but felt some kind of inexplicable uneasiness and pressure like everyone else.

"Why are there no knights," Konstantin smiled reluctantly, he still felt that this was just a little trick made by Alexander to deter the Pisa, although this little trick also made him feel a little uncomfortable, "Is there only such a soldier in your army, I remember you once showed off your bohemians, although there were not many of them, but they were impressive." ”

Alexander smiled, he could understand Konstantin's thoughts, but the purpose of his contest or simply the parade was to make everyone uncomfortable, and Konstantin was just "unlucky" to catch up.

The age of knighthood was gradually passing away, and in its place was the more civilian cavalry, relying on great mobility and formidable impact, and it would be the cavalry and the infantry arrays that were more organized and rigorous to counter the cavalry in the vast battlefield.

Alexander looked at an inconspicuous cannon not far away, which was not mighty compared to the guns that Gompati had taken away, and because of this, the cannon was mounted on a two-wheeled gun carriage, with a long prop propped up on the ground, and the black muzzle of the cannon was faintly pointed at the group of soldiers passing in front of it.

And artillery, which is still not valued in the eyes of the vast majority of people, but is regarded as a purely urban defense and offensive weapon, will appear more and more on the field battlefield in the near future.

At that time, it may be the beginning of a new era.

"Konstantin, do you believe that the time of knighthood has passed?"

Alexander's words surprised Konstantin, and he opened his mouth slightly in astonishment, as if he didn't know what to say, or that he could vaguely feel the answer to this question in his heart, but he didn't want to face it for real.

The age of knights has passed, and the romance and romance of long-form contradictory glitter armor is about to be replaced by infantry formations organized by ordinary civilians and increasingly rigorous and large-scale.

The thought had already unnerved Konstantin as soon as it shook through his mind, and the army he saw in front of him made it even stronger.

"A knight is a symbol of honor!" Konstantin's voice was a bit high, which had already attracted the attention of the others, but he didn't care because he was excited: "Do you think that you can fight a war by relying only on those soldiers recruited with money, and you will not remain loyal without honorable soldiers." ”

His words were met with a wave of approval from the Pisans around him, perhaps to preserve the glory of the knights, or perhaps purely to console themselves, who preferred to believe that Alexander's army had no sense of honor, because then they could tell themselves that the army that had conquered them could also be defeated.

The mood of the Pisan people is complicated at this time, for a few months, they are very clear about the changes that have taken place around them and in the city, there are more merchants, the goods bought and sold in the market are cheaper, and if you do not consider the fact that the goods of the locals are also affected by the cheap prices of foreign goods, the Pisan people are surprised to find that their life is better than before.

Although some local merchants complain that they can't sell their goods, most of the Pisan people are not at a loss, and some people are already wondering whether to sell those bargains in the market to other places, and some simply buy and sell directly from those merchant ships, and then only need to pay a transit tax, and you can be a broker to resell those goods, although the profit from doing so seems to be less, but think that as long as you sit at home in Pisa, you can have a large supply of goods, Instead of venturing out with a merchant ship, you feel that it is a very good deal.

Because of this, while feeling this creeping change, while recalling the freedom they had been insisting on for many years, it made many Pisan people feel indescribably at a loss.

They used to resist the oppression and ambition of Florence because they knew that the Florentines treated Pisa as their vassals and as a pure port terminal, which the Pisians could not accept, but now they were feeling a different kind of domination than before, a way that seemed more acceptable to them than before.

"Konstantin you are well aware, or all of you are well aware, that the age of knighthood is coming to an end," Alexander looked at the people in front of him, "maybe you will say that France still has the most powerful knights, but I will tell you that even the French are changing, and soon you will find that the noble knights will become more and more lonely on the battlefield, because their companions are gradually disappearing, and maybe it will not be long before the knights will have to relive their former glory to their descendants in their farms, But more often than not, they fell on the battlefield and used their blood and lives to prove the end of that glorious era. ”

After speaking, Alexander raised his arm slightly, and heard the loud shout of Paul Busako who was following closely behind, and Alexander's arm slammed down!

A loud roar that resounded across the earth almost simultaneously rang out from the field like a thousand thunderbolts, and the dull sound of cannon mixed with it was even muffled by the loud sound of the muskets.

As the Pisas screamed or hid in the midst of the misery of the accident, a white mist and sparks erupted from time to time on the open field.

Immediately afterwards, the pungent smell of gunpowder came with the wind, which made many people cough.

"This is the bell of the New Age, Konstantin," Alexander opened his arms slightly, as if to show the people in front of him the shock he had brought, "Barondi and your father have seen the shadow of this New Age, and I hope you can see it too." ”

Konstantin was not as flustered as the others, he knew that it was Alexander warning the Pisa, but even then he was shocked by the volley of muskets.

The rows of smoke were like wisps of dust raised by knights on their horses on the battlefield, but they were the result of a group of ordinary soldiers who had been peasants not so long ago.

The knights, dressed in beautiful armor and completely wrapped in steel, carrying a thousand years of honor, rose in the center of this deafening sound of gunfire with a dazed dazed spirit.

They didn't know what to say about what they were seeing.

It was these peasants who had never been taken seriously by them now possessed not only weapons that could compete with them, but also with their oppressive drums and formations, like wild beasts that could not stand still but watch over them at any moment, as if they would pounce at any moment to bite their swords, gnaw at their shields, tear their armor, and deliver them a fatal blow!

Is the age of knights really coming to an end?

Konstantin felt an indescribable melancholy in his heart, although he did not approve of Alexander's words, but a voice could not help telling him from the bottom of his heart that Alexander was not wrong.

Even he admitted in his heart that neither Barondy nor his father, Old Rovier, seemed to see some things more clearly than he did.

The tight formation and neat pace sound very strange, but the sound is like a drum beat and music that touches the depths of the heart.

Looking at the procession of flat-ended muskets passing in front of him and the formation of spears that followed closely forward, Konstantin seemed to see the end of an era, and the arrival of a new era that confused him and many others, but his heart throbbed.

For the Pisan people, this is a "contest" that makes them feel mixed emotions and don't know what it feels like.

No Pisan knight had the opportunity to proclaim with their swords and spears the courage of the Pisan people to never bow down to the forces of evil, much less to prove their determination to that Cambrai.

Pisan people don't even know how to describe what they see.

Even the officers of the Pisa City Defense, who also participated in the tournament, were confused by the formation they saw.

In their opinion, these Montina troops did not seem to be any different from them, except that the ranks were more neat and their uniforms were somewhat excessively clean.

But because of this, the officers with a lot of experience were surprised by the surprise.

They didn't know what it was like, the soldiers seemed to be forever following the tune and the beat as they walked, every step, every movement, every sound of the clash of armor and weapon, it seemed so monotonous and in accordance with the beat.

It was this suffocatingly neat gesture that made the officers feel dull and choked in their chests.

What happens if you encounter this army on the battlefield?

The officers couldn't think of it, but they had a hunch that this was a different team than any army they had ever known before.

Tomneo, like the other Pisa, didn't know how to describe the tournament, or like everyone else, he understood Alexander's purpose in inviting them.

An undisguised threat!

Tomneo didn't know if Alexander's army would be able to defeat the others, but he knew that Pisa would not be able to hold them back.

Tomneo felt that the matter of signing the amnesty should be reconsidered, and at least Alexander should be obtained.

The Pisan aristocracy, who had also seen this purely one-sided show of force, were as frustrated as Tomneo, and they did not know whether they should continue to insist on their loyalty to Pisa, and although they did not really face this army, many had a vague premonition in their hearts that the Count of Montina seemed to be gradually losing patience.

Perhaps when he finally got impatient with the ambiguity of the Pisan people one day, it was probably time for this army to show its fangs.

For Constantine's arrival, Tomneo seemed more enthusiastic than Alexander.

On the day of Constantine's arrival, Tomneo personally arranged for him to be placed in the ducal palace, and then the next day he very politely proposed to hold a grand party to welcome Constantine.

Constantine showed sufficient interest and response to Tomonio's overtures, but in private, he made a not too excessive request: he did not wish to be present with a certain lady at the party.

Tomneo understood this request that Konstantin did not want to be embarrassed by everyone.

In fact, Konstantin was hoping for an agreement with Alexander.

"My father wants to know what you're going to do," Konstantin looked at Alexander in front of him, "Now it seems that your kidnapping of Lucrezia was premeditated, but we don't know what your purpose is, you know that you are still Barentia's fiancé, so if you want us to support or at least keep silent, you have to tell your whole plan." Konstantin raised his glass and shook it at Alexander, "But that's what my father meant, and according to Barondi, she thinks that no matter what you're paying attention to, the Rovere family will have to take a share." ”

Alexander let out a soft "oh" in surprise, he didn't expect Barente to be so "confident" in him.

"Our family's business is good during this time," Konstantin scratched his hair, as a nobleman who admired chivalry, he was not very interested in doing business and making money, but even so, when he heard that the family's trade in the Mediterranean was improving for nearly half a year, he couldn't help but feel very happy. ”

"The whole Mediterranean is slowly dying?"

Alexander's heart throbbed slightly, he knew that Barendi's words had actually hit the pulse of the Mediterranean world very accurately, or in this day and age, in fact, some people with a long-term vision had foreseen the irreversible decline of the Mediterranean trading world in the future.

It's not because of the New World, which is only beginning to show its magic and charm even a few decades later.

The real point is that after almost a dozen centuries, Mediterranean trade has indeed reached a point where it is difficult to maintain the status quo.

"Konstantin, the army you see during the day is the elite unit that I personally trained, and I will train the army in the future in this way, until one day they can fight any powerful army in this world," Alexander waved his hand to stop Konstantin who was about to speak, "But I want to tell you that the real conquest of this world is no longer the knight's spear and shield, but it will not be muskets and cannons, it is this that can really rule the world." ”

Alexander put a large gold coin in front of Konstantin.

"When you go back, you can say to the archbishop that I can agree with his offer to increase the weight of his funding, but I ask him to guarantee that I will have a place in the Carolingian Palace when I become a cardinal."

"I can tell my father about this."

Konstantin nodded, the purpose of his visit this time was actually for this, with the news and personal experience that the Luo Wei Lei family had received in the past six months or so, both the old Luo Wei Lei and Barondi had a strong sense of the huge effect that the free trade zone could have.

What's more, the elder Rovie saw a deeper meaning and impact of this trade area than his daughter.

"Barondi's request may be a bit excessive," Konstantin was a little embarrassed, thinking that his sister actually proposed to get involved in Alexander's business no matter what, which made Konstantin a little curious about what this brother-in-law wanted to do, "But can you tell me about your plan, I think the tone of Barendi's tone when he said this when he came was like he was going to make a heavy bet in the casino." ”

Alexander nodded silently, he was sure that Barendi could not have known about his plan, but it was clear that Barendi was keenly aware of something.

If you think about it, maybe Barondi wasn't pretty enough or very smart, but it was that sheer sense of timing that made her a more important figure in the Roverley family than the men.

"Constantine, I suggest you go back and tell the archbishop that I hope he will be ready to rejoin a war as soon as possible," Alexander thought for a moment, thinking that perhaps he could push forward his own plan while helping the Roveret family, "I think maybe in one year at most, the French might start another war." ”

Alexander smiled at Konstantin as he spoke, and when he saw the brother-in-law sitting opposite him looking at him with a strange expression, Alexander couldn't help but smile meaningfully.

Giuliano de la Roverre's collusion with the French is already well known, and at least until now, the archbishop, who claims to be the largest party leading the way, is still on a honeymoon with the French, so it is impossible to say that he did not know that King Charles of France had the intention of rekindling the war in Italy.

It's just that no one knows when this new war will come.

And Alexander was well aware.

He knew that Charles VIII was actively preparing for a new war, and that he had decided to start it again in the spring of the following year, 1498.

All this plan was secret at the time, but Charlie did not hide what he regarded as the main leading party to stay in Italy.

The conditions required to invade a country were so complex and so long, that Alexander was absolutely certain that the French would launch another invasion of Italy in 1499 because of the good preparations they had made.

And the reason why the war will be a whole year later than planned is because no one would have thought that the king of the French would suddenly be replaced.

Now, looking at Konstantin's strange look at him, Alexander raised his glass to him.

"Let's join the duke's march around the city, believe me, as I said before. It's a fresh start. ”