The officers of Zagreb stared gloomily, or rather ugly, at the army across the street.

At the front of that army was a man sitting alone on a horse and confronting them.

It may be a bit difficult to use a crossbow at this distance, but if you use a bow and arrow, you can shoot it, and if you use a musket, even if you can't hit it in one hit, if you shoot several or a dozen guns at the same time, that person can't escape.

But although the idea had been in the minds of the officers for a long time, not only did no one dare to do it, but they did not even dare to make this suggestion.

Because that person was Viscount Helva, heir to Duke Signaci of Zagreb.

It was not difficult to kill an exiled duke's heir, and even the man's father was murdered himself, but to do so after most of the nobles had been kidnapped would be a bit of a problem with the brain.

"Viscount, get your army back!"

An officer shouted loudly, looking at the army on the other side of him with a headache, these are the mountain people who knew at a glance that they were difficult to deal with, these dirt buns that had been in their eyes before were now flooded around like a hornet once they entered the city, and now they were approaching the Zagreb people along the streets and alleys, and these guys were obviously very disobedient, and by their eagerness, perhaps someone would rush up before Viscount Herva gave the order.

"I won't back down, it's my right," Viscount Helva replied in the same loud voice, he was actually very worried, the army on the other side could rush at any moment made his throat tight, but he knew that no cowardice should be shown at this time, otherwise the enemy would pounce on him like a wolf seizing the opportunity and tear his throat open.

Or, as the Count of Montina had told him before he left, if he could escape from the battlefield if he was timid, he would have lost the chance to regain the Duke's crown.

Viscount Herva did not doubt the words of the count, he knew that the Montina army did not follow him, but only let the recruited Balkans follow him into Zagreb for the purpose.

It was evident that the Montina were watching him, and if he flinched, they might indeed abandon them and turn away, at which point he would either have escaped and gone into exile, or would have died in the rebellion in the unsuccessful revolt.

But no matter what the outcome, he's completely finished.

Viscount Herva didn't know that Alexander had voluntarily locked himself up in the Arijoe Monastery, so it was impossible for the Montina people to abandon him, but because he didn't know about this, the Viscount could only stand at the forefront completely.

"My father is Duke Signaci of Zagreb, many of you know him, some of you have served under him, and now I am back to inherit my rights, what are you going to do?"

Herva shouted hoarsely to the other side, looking at the slight commotion caused by the other party, the viscount couldn't help but feel nervous and a trace of anticipation at the same time.

"I don't need you to oppose your lord, I just need you to give me a way out, maybe tomorrow you will find that I have become your duke, and then I will repay you."

Helva's words added to the commotion in the ranks of Zagreb, where the soldiers looked at each other and then at their officers.

"What are you doing?" An officer looked at the people next to him and saw that they were looking at each other inquiringly, and the officer, who had been promoted only after Duke Signacci had been killed, immediately drew his sword: "You actually believe that man, he is nothing more than a beggar who has been kicked out, look at the people around him, as long as we rush over, they will definitely be scared away, and then we can capture this traitor alive." ”

"But that's the son of Duke Signacie." Another officer reminded that "he has the right to ......"

"What right does he have?!" The previous officer interrupted the other party's words, "He is an exiled criminal, and now he dares to come back, should we still be polite to him?" ”

"Don't forget that the nobles are still in the monastery," another officer began, "and if he orders them all to be killed, he will be the only one in Zagreb who is entitled to the title of duke." ”

As soon as he said this, everyone couldn't help but fall silent.

They had never encountered anything like this, and even those who had been involved in the murder of Duke Signacci had never thought of exterminating all of the Duke's men, because that would cause too much trouble.

But now the Viscount of Herva on the other side seemed to have no scruples about these at all, and the thoughts of the nobles who were locked up in the monastery made the officers' expressions look ugly.

They did command the army, but because they were not of high origin, without the support of the great nobles, perhaps the army would mutini in the next moment.

At this time, a piece of news from the rear made these people feel that they suddenly saw hope from their dilemma.

The Abbot of the Monastery of Alijoe has arrived.

The abbot was forced out of the monastery with a spear, and although it was a bit of a drama to do so, when he felt the spear tip of the spear being pushed forward on his back, the abbot broke out in a cold sweat in the cold early spring.

There was also a man who came out with the dean, little Cacho.

When the dean was brought to the officers, and watching the officers respectfully kiss the dean's hand to congratulate him on escaping the danger, little Cacho just watched coldly from the sidelines, until the eyes of those people fell on him, and it seemed that he was about to do it immediately, that little Cacho spoke: "I have come to inform you by order of my lord that there is no one who can prevent Viscount Helva from inheriting the title of Duke of Zagreb." ”

This sentence made the hearts of those officers instantly surge with a wave of ominousness!

They looked to the abbot for some revelation, or rather proof, of the idea they could not believe.

The dean was silent for a moment, but finally nodded helplessly.

The officers' faces instantly became extremely ugly, and the officer who had insisted on fighting before reached to his waist to grasp the hilt of the sword, but before his fingers could touch the blade, a sharp sword had already pierced him under the ribs.

"What are you going to do," the officer asked, then his voice grew louder as he looked around at him with the look thrown at him, "What are you going to do?!" ”

"What are we going to do, Lord Dean?" An officer asked a little hurriedly, a panicked look on his face, looking at the abbot's eyes with a flash of anticipation, "Are we going to war with the Viscount's army?" ”

The abbot's eyes flickered, he seemed to be about to say something, but he seemed to have some scruples, but when his eyes fell on the team of Viscount Helva, who was far away opposite, the abbot exhaled softly: "Zagreb is a city with traditions, and its duke should be great and noble, but the throne of the Duke of Zagreb has been empty for too long, and now its rightful heir is there, isn't this God's arrangement?" ”

The faces of the officers began to change, although this answer was actually secretly buried in the hearts of many people at the beginning, but no one was willing to put it forward first.

The murder of Duke Signaci of Zagreb alone is enough to make many people have all kinds of scruples about Helva's return.

No one can claim to be completely innocent of the Duke's murder except those who were exiled with Herva, and this is enough to worry about what Herva would do to him if he inherited the Duke's title.

So although there have been many rumors about Viscount Herva, no one in Zagreb wants to side with him except for his supporters.

But now a situation that no one could have imagined appeared in front of them.

Those nobles, at least the great nobles, are all dead!

The officers looked at each other, their intertwined eyes flashed with a meaning that seemed to be clear and not clear, and the atmosphere around them became a little weird, although it was winter, the breathing of several people was a little heavy because of the heat on their bodies.

"Lord Dean, if we," an officer looked at his companion and lowered his voice slightly to the point that only a few people nearby could hear it, "what do we get if we are willing to obey the Viscount's orders?" ”

"God-given honors and rewards," said the abbot, looking at little Cacho to the side, "and forgiveness and friendship from the viscount. ”

The officers looked at each other, and then all eyes fell on Cacho's face.

"The words of the Dean are what my master meant," little Cacho smiled, "I can assure you that all the promises made to you today will be fulfilled, not because of the Viscount of Helva, but because of the promises of my master, the Count of Montina. ”

"Obey orders, children," the dean sighed helplessly, "too much has happened in Zagreb, the death of Duke Signacci has punished the city by God, the throne of the Duke has been empty for too long, and now is the time for someone to sit on it." ”

Speaking of this, the abbot looked back at the monastery not far away: "Believe me, even if you refuse to surrender, it will be useless, I believe that someone should have made a choice earlier than you at this time." ”

Alexander looked at the man across from him with a look on his face that looked like a smile on his face.

This is a Zagreb nobleman, who may not have been a big figure before, but now he is the highest ranking among the living nobles in the monastery.

"Proclaiming the Viscount as Duke of Zagreb will preserve your position and dignity," Alexander said simply, and there is no need for excuse or persuasion at this time, and the stiff corpses and dried blood stains are the most convincing proof of this. ”

The person on the other side licked his tongue slightly, Alexander put a lot of pressure on him, but this person was still a little hesitant.

"Will the Viscount trouble us for his father's affairs, I mean, will he take revenge on the others?"

"Enough people have died today," Alexander took a breath, the faint smell of blood and gunpowder in the air was unpleasant, "Believe me, the viscount needs the crown of the Duke of Zagreb and not simple revenge, but if you can't satisfy him, maybe revenge will be his only purpose." ”

The nobleman's face changed, he knew that Alexander was threatening him, but it was obviously useful.

"Our army can stop them, and there is the castle on the right bank, they should already know it now," the nobleman whispered to himself, and then his expression slowly calmed down, and he looked at Alexander with a slightly playful smile, "Maybe we shouldn't have made a choice too soon." ”

Alexander tilted his head slightly to look at the man in front of him, and he admitted that what this man said was actually not bad, or that even if he could launch such a sneak attack with Viscount Helva's previous strength, he would eventually have to face a dilemma because he did not have enough troops in his hands.

Thinking of this, Alexander straightened his eyes slightly and looked at the nobleman opposite.

"I think I can introduce myself a little more," Alexander smiled at the other as he was, "I am Grand Giulian de Gombray, Lord of Agri, Count of Montina, father of Estelles, Duchess of Pisa, my daughter is the only grandson of His Majesty Pope Alexander, and my fiancée is Barentia della Roverre, the third daughter of Cardinal Genoa Rovier. ”

"Bang dang"!

Alexander's voice was still echoing, and the man across from him was already on his feet! The chair that had been knocked over because it had been pushed too hard made a loud noise, but the man had no idea about it.

Under the light, the muscles on the nobleman's face could be seen trembling slightly, and his eyes that were open and squinted from time to time due to stimulation seemed to be two eyelids biting each other.

"Why are you telling me this?" The nobleman finally couldn't help but ask in a thick voice.

"I'm just helping you choose, and I can assure you it's the best choice."

The nobleman sat back in another chair, and he pulled forward to bring himself closer.

"Tell me how I can convince you," said Alexander, after a pause, as if not wanting to provoke him, he continued, "I do not doubt your identity as an earl, but I wonder how you can guarantee that what you say will come true, and that you yourself are now trapped in this monastery." ”

"Then why do you think the Dean is willing to do what I say," Alexander stood up and walked out, "Come on, let me show you the evidence." ”

Alexander walked slowly ahead, and as he stepped onto the towers within the monastery walls, he looked at the apparently smaller besieging troops outside than before, but instead of looking in the direction of the confrontation between the army of the Viscount of Herva and the Zagrebs in the distance, he looked back at the right-bank castle looming in the distance.

The right-bank castle gets its name because a river called Tyroni flows through the city, dividing Zagreb in two, while the two castles of Aríjoe and the right bank are built on both sides of the river.

"You are here now," Alexander looked at the nobleman, "so who do you think is in the castle of Alihoe now?" ”

Alexander's words made the nobleman's face, who had not yet known what to look at, first show surprise, and then, as if suddenly thinking of something, he leaned forward with all his might, and even shouted loudly, ignoring the danger of being killed by the army outside: "Go to the castle!" Someone is going to attack the castle! ”

The terrible shouts alarmed the troops below, and the people of Zagreb looked up, and one raised his crossbow only to be stopped by someone who recognized the nobleman next to him.

At the same time, the man's shout alerted the people below, and immediately a small group of soldiers, led by an officer, ran in the direction of the castle of Alijoe.

"The results will soon be known."

Alexander smiled at the group of soldiers who had disappeared into the street in the distance, he had been waiting for this moment since he had decided to take people directly into Zagreb.

Why did Viscount Herva lead only the Balkans?

Alexander believed that the Zagreb people who confronted the viscount should not have fully made up their minds by this time, but it didn't matter anymore, and he decided to help them make a choice.

"Believe what I say to you now," Alexander said to the nobleman in a very sincere tone, "and you will be grateful in the future for all that I have done for you." ”

As his words fell, a loud gunshot suddenly rang out in the direction of Alijoe Castle in the distance!