Barente did not see the need to work with the French, mainly because of Alexander.

Although he never said it publicly, Barentine could sense Alexander's natural resistance to the French, which was even evident from his advice before his expedition to the Balkans.

Alexander's promise to return to Montina in early summer was also confirmed by the subsequent French invasion.

Although it was never clear how Alexander could have judged the timing of the French invasion so accurately, Barentine could still sense Alexander's strong wariness of the French.

Despite this, Barentia politely invited Master Fichet to stay in Montinado for a while, and it was up to the Master to decide when he would leave.

Maestro Ficher was not displeased by Barentie's rejection of his suggestion, and he followed the Countess's advice to stay in Montina and visited with great interest the new castle of Montina that was being built.

And after Barentia finally received a reply from Naples, she again gave an order to Gompati, who was on the front line in Ferrara: "General, please continue to attack Ferrara. ”

"Dear father, I am on my way to Ferrara, and I know that my family is worried about me, but duty has forced me to go to war again. It's just that I'm a little confused about the mission I'm about to do, and I have to admit that I shouldn't show such doubts as an officer, but I'm really worried about what we're going to Ferrara, and you know that I'm going to the Ferrara barracks on the orders of Madame Regent, but Madame Regent seems to have her own opinion about the war in Ferrara, and when she summoned us, she made it clear that she wanted us not to have a violent clash with the Papal army, and she also expressed some concern about the battle commanded by General Gompati, It's a bit unsettling, father, you know, Pisa's prosperity is inseparable from Montina, and now Pisa doesn't have to worry about being threatened by Florence, it's all because we are like brothers and sisters with Montina, and if there is a rift between the two places because of the conflict between the two ladies, then maybe we may have to go back to the old ways of be, I hope everything is fine, I hope there is no such bad situation, Nicolas who loves you. ”

"Father, it's been 2 days since I came to Ferrara, but please don't worry, I'm safe, or should I say that if I don't need to think about the possibility of choking to death by a sudden shot of artillery in the distance while eating, then I'm really not in danger at all, General Gompati used a very strange tactic, he just ordered to shoot at the walls of Ferrara, after blasting a gap he did not give the order to attack, but ordered to continue shooting another section of the wall, the walls of Ferrara are not very strong, The result of this is that there are already several weak gaps on the opposite side of our fortifications that can be breached with only a slight impact, and I say this because I have seen two companies try to break through after the shelling, and the Papal army hiding behind the gap is confused before they can approach, and when we face the Ottomans, even the banner of the Sultan's feared Guards has not wavered. And the fact that this army serving the Vatican is panicking just because the enemy is approaching makes me wonder how effective they really are, so please don't worry about me, because I feel that this war may be resolved in a very strange way, Nicholas, who loves each and every one of you. ”

Nicolas Macioni gave a silver coin to a merchant who was on his way back to Pisa and asked him to help him deliver the letter home.

Perhaps because his brother had suddenly fallen ill not long ago, Nicola Macioni's father, the second and only male child in the family, became much more concerned about him than before.

Nicolas Macioni had a wealthy family, his father was a shrewd businessman, and when he dumped Florence, the elder was one of the first businessmen to put his money on the bus, and this risky move not only made him cramp in money, but also won the favor of the Lord Regent, who is now a member of the Pisa Council.

When Macheni's brother was alive, the elder Macheni had a total of 6 children, as the second son of the family, Nikolai was not very concerned by his father, while his mother was more concerned about his four sisters, she hoped that they could all find a good mother-in-law, perhaps because of this, when Macheni announced that he had joined the Montina Army Pisa Regiment, the family was a little surprised but did not object.

It's just that now that Macioni is the only male heir to the family, the elder Macioni can't help but care about his youngest son.

So when Lucrezia ordered Maceni to rush to the front line in Ferrara with her letter, the old Maceni family couldn't help but worry about their son's safety.

However, as Nicolas Macioni said in his letter, there was a strange phenomenon on the battlefield of Ferrara, and Gompati seemed determined to drive the Papal army out of Ferrara with artillery, and he ordered the walls of Ferrara to be fired incessantly, although the result was that since the attack had been blown up by two guns, and several gunners had been killed or wounded, the walls of Ferrara had been blown to the ground and mutilated.

By this time it had been seen to anyone that if Gompati did attack, it would probably only take one assault on the city to change hands, but it was clear that Gompati was waiting for something.

Many people were uneasy with the news of the disturbance, including Caesar.

Caesar had already regretted his decision to attack Ferrara in the first place, he didn't expect that Barentia della Rovere would actually send troops to intervene, let alone that things would turn into a dilemma for everyone.

Caesar took Ferrara, but the Montina took Bologna, which seemed to be a loss for both sides, and even he had an advantage, because he had already announced that he would dedicate the city to the Holy See, so even if he was forced to withdraw from the city they occupied like the Montina in the end, that Barente would always drive a nail in Romagna unless he tore directly with the Vatican.

But in fact Caesar was not happy.

Because his army was completely blocked in the Romagna area.

Unless he went north to find the French, he simply could not break through the Montina line and retreat to the south.

It may seem like a scruple that the Montina did not attack Ferrara immediately, but once the Papal army left the city and went into the field, Caesar could not guarantee that the Montina would not take the opportunity to annihilate his army in the field.

Caesar could not have imagined what a blow it would be to lose this army.

So even though the Montina artillery bombarded the walls, he gritted his teeth and persisted, believing that neither his father nor Lucrezia would leave him alone.

Caesar's predicament really moved Lucrezia, and she wrote to Barentia for the second time, and this time her tone became much softer, and even had a faint tone of pleading, she hoped that Barentia would spare Caesar for the sake of "the man whom they both loved", and at the same time said in a slightly threatening tone in her heart that Caesar "is also Alexander's brother, and they are both my father's beloved children."

This tone undoubtedly infuriated Barendi, and she immediately wrote back in a very spicy tone: "Speaking of intimacy, my brother and father are also Alexander's family, but when they hurt Alexander's rights, I tell myself that my surname is Gombray and not Rovere, so if you are still so attached to your past as a Borgia, then I suggest you send troops directly to relieve your brother." ”

The messengers between Pisa and Montina are at loggerheads, while in Rome, the Metropolitan of Romagna and Tuscany, Massimo, is in an awkward position.

Ulliu disappeared shortly after entering Rome, and Massimo had to shoulder the role of Alexander's spokesman in the Vatican.

Although he did not know that he had rubbed shoulders with the famous Cantarella of the Naborgia, Massimo knew very well that his time at the Vatican was truly on thin ice.

When Toni della Rovere was burned at the stake at Montina for being convicted of heresy, even Alexander VI couldn't help but look at the fiancée of the titular Count of Montina differently, and when he saw old Rovere, the Pope couldn't help but praise the cardinal for his kindness in person.

At that time, the old Rovier's expression made Alexander VI very happy, because he was so happy that he ran back to the Potico Palace in broad daylight and made love with his mistress Julia Farne.

But the Pope's pride was apparently too early, and when he stubbornly rejected Barentia's offer to hand Ferrara over to Massimo as Metropolitan of Romagna, Barentia responded to the Pope with a cannon before he could make other conditions.

The result was that both the Pope and the Cardinal were enraged by the fiancée of the Count of Montina!

The elder Rovere sent for his son, and Alexander VI publicly condemned the invasion of the Papal domain by Montina's army.

Massimo suddenly went from being a hot new magnate in Rome to a plague god that everyone avoided, after all, he was disliked by two of the most powerful people in the Vatican at the same time, and the future of the Metropolitan was worried, which was almost everyone's consensus.

While Alexander VI was worried about his son who was trapped in Ferrara, there was another thing on his mind.

That's the letter he asked Nomelo to write to Alexander.

The Pope has always felt that old Rovere is a threat to him, and this is by no means that he is overminded, but in fact old Rovere does not hide his ambitions.

Although Barentia seemed to be showing signs of falling out with her father completely, Alexander VI always feared that Alexander would form some kind of tacit understanding with old Rovere.

Perhaps others did not know Alexander's power, but the Pope knew very well how terrible this son-in-law was, and he believed that old Rovere knew this.

It's just that the letter has been sent for a long time, but Alexander has never replied, which makes the Pope start to worry.

He was worried that this son-in-law had thrown himself into his legitimate father-in-law, but he was even more worried that Alexander had been instigated by old Rovere to be cruel to Caesar.

Perhaps Alexander would not have killed Caesar, but a devastating blow to his papal army would have been enough to shake the foundations of Caesar and even Alexander VI himself.

But agree to Barenti's offer and let Mahimo take over Ferrara?

Even if he just thought about it, Alexander VI felt that his heart was on fire, he couldn't tolerate that he was actually threatened by a young woman to accept the conditions, which would not only disgrace him, but even make people feel that he couldn't even defeat the daughter of old Rovere, so how could he fight against old Rovere.

As for Old Roviere, he can't do anything about that daughter, and it is estimated that many people don't care much about that matter.

Because of this, Alexander VI had to summon Massimo after a long period of neglect, and this time he arranged the place for the summoning in the Pope's audience room, and everything was very formal.

Dressed in his purple robes and round felt hat of the same color, and draped in a ribbon as wide as a hood, the Metropolitan appeared at the side entrance of the Sistine Chapel.

It was still Nomelo who led the way, and when he entered the audience room through the side door, Massimo saw a figure flickering out of the main entrance, it was the Archbishop of Lyon, one of the twelve archdioceses of France, who had just arrived at the Vatican.

"I want to know how that woman would spare Caesar," the Pope's question was straightforward, "is it difficult for me to ask her to withdraw the army, to let Caesar leave Ferrara and return to the Vatican, and of course the Montina in Bologna?" ”

"But your Majesty, you know, the Countess of Montina has her conditions," said Massimo a little helplessly, "she is stubborn in this matter. ”

"Yes, you will take over Ferrara," the Pope said, glancing at the monk in front of him, "this is impossible, I cannot accept such conditions, and I doubt that Alexander will think it is right to do so." ”

Hearing the old man talk about his son-in-law, the corners of Massimo's mouth couldn't help twitching slightly, he wanted to say, "Your family is all the way", but he just lowered his head.

"The French have occupied Milan," the Pope said suddenly, seeing Massimo looking dazed because of his puzzlement, Alexander VI smiled, "You must know that the French king may not be very interested in Romagna, but he is still very persistent in Naples, after the occupation of Milan, the French will be able to send more troops to Naples, at this time the new queen of Naples should not have a good time, I remember that Alexander is the queen's brother, right?" ”

Massimo nodded silently, knowing that the Pope was hinting that if he did not accept his terms, he would use the power of the French, which made Massimo a little nervous.

Massimo's nervous look fell on Alexander VI's eyes, which made him happy.

Although it is true that the French seem to have little interest in invading Romagna, as he suggests, the French landing in Livorno caused considerable pressure on Montina's forces, including Pisa.

At the very least, it is said that the troops left behind in Montina are already moving closer to their western border, and it is assumed that Barentia is also on the lookout for the French to march on Romagna from the direction of Tuscany.

As for Naples, the Pope could not think of how the Neapolitan army could compete with the French, and even though Alexander had already arrived there, the disparity in strength between the two sides still made it impossible.

Alexander VI didn't really want to be an enemy of his son-in-law, who was more and more satisfied, but his partiality for his son forced him to think more about Caesar.

Moreover, although Ferrara is in the Romagna area, because of its special location, it is indeed not owned by Alexandria.

It's just that the situation has reached such a point that the Pope must think about his dignity and not bow to Montina and compromise.

And Alexander's ambiguous attitude that he never replied to the letter also worried the pope, and for this, Alexander VI even decided to ask the French for help.

Maybe the French army in Naples could put some pressure on Alexander and force him to make concessions?

Such an idea made the Pope feel very likely.

He immediately sent a letter to Caesar in Ferrara, and after repeatedly telling his son to be safe and not to take risks easily, Alexander VI wrote in the letter: "I will find a way to help you out of the current predicament, you just need to protect yourself, we will also remember the insult that the woman of the Roveret family has insulted you, but now the most important thing is Alexander, I have made my request to Louis through the Archbishop of Lyon, I believe that he will not abandon you with his respect for you, So what you have to do now is to hold Ferrara, no matter how difficult it is, because your reinforcements will arrive soon, and believe my son, maybe it will only take 1 week or just 3 days to get out of the current situation, so hold on for the last few days. ”

The Pope's letter did not reach Caesar's hands without difficulty, which reinvigorated his heart, which was about to collapse.

On August 18, 1499, King Louis XII of France deposed the Duke of Milan, Ludvico Sforza, in Milan and subsequently declared Milan the possession of the Kingdom of France.

On 19 August, the rested French army left Milan and began to advance south of Lombardy.

Caesar, who got the news, was repeatedly told by his father, but he still excitedly climbed the bombarded city wall and shouted to his soldiers: "Hold on for the last few days, reinforcements will come!" ”

On 25 August, news of the French army reached the commanders of both sides of the Ferrara front almost simultaneously: "The Emperor's army has invaded Milan, and the French army has turned around to meet it. ”

Caesar was dumbfounded when he heard the news, and at the same time, Gompati, who had been waiting for a long time, finally gave the order: "Attack Ferrara!" ”