In March 1656, Pope Alexander VII stood in the basilica of St. Peter's Basilica and looked closely at Michelangelo's sculpture The Holy Martyrdom.

It is a white marble sculpture based on the biblical story of the Virgin Mary holding the body of Christ and weeping after Christ Jesus was captured and crucified by the Jewish governor. Michelangelo was only 24 years old when he created the sculpture, and it is the only work he signed.

On top of the tall sculpture, the lines of the two figures of the Holy Spirit come to life. Every time Alexander VII looked at this group of statues, it was like seeing the catastrophe that Jesus had experienced, and the ruthlessness and pride of the cruel Roman consuls.

Being ruthless is a sin.

Pride is an original sin.

Alexander VII made a cross on his chest.

"Great art, great Michelangelo."

Alexander VII paid tribute to the creator of this work. There is no doubt that this sculpture is of great artistic value and represents the great achievements of the European Renaissance. In this way, the more works of art with religious themes, the better, and each more of them, the influence of the church will be stronger.

In Europe today, the influence of the Church faces a number of challenges. Alexander VII was a learned pope, he was the great-grandson of the former Pope Paul V and was well-educated and could easily penetrate many complex issues. In the Pope's view, the Reformation and a series of religious wars in the last hundred years were due to the Age of Discovery.

The cultural changes brought about by geographical expansion led Protestants to try to challenge the old order, which had no gaps. In the north of Europe, Protestantism, which did not serve the interests of the Church, gradually overwhelmed the power of the Church.

However, Alexander VII was a pope who knew the times, and he understood that the old order could not be restored.

The situation in the Papal States can still be maintained, and the countries of the Mediterranean coast are still religious. Even Europeans who choose Protestantism still revere themselves. Now the pope is a powerful and influential power in the city of Rome and its vicinity, and nominally the religious leader of all the peoples of Europe, and that is enough.

Alexander VII was now concerned with another issue, a new one that would affect the life and death of all of Europe - the threat from the East.

He withdrew his gaze on the "Holy Martyr" and slowly walked out of the mother's chapel, and the grand St. Peter's Basilica appeared in front of the Pope's eyes.

This is the most magnificent church in Europe, and at the center of the church is a bronze canopy carved by the great artist Bernini. The magnificent bronze building used to preside over the Mass is five stories high, with a huge statue at the foot of each column, sculpturing the image of the saint, standing on four blocks of hard marble.

Outside the canopy, the huge church is stunning. The whole building can accommodate 50,000 or 60,000 people, but there is not a single place that is not full of statues and artworks.

The Pope looked at the palatial church and finally turned his gaze to King Louis XIV of France, who awaited him.

Young Louis XIV stood in the center of the hall with his head held high, looking at Alexander VII with cold eyes. The King of France, who would later be known as the "Sun King" by Europeans, was still only a seventeen-year-old boy, but he already had everything he needed for a wise king. Extraordinary wisdom and uncontrollable greed condensed in him, and there was an awe-inspiring pride all over his body.

Such a monarch will not give up a trace of power, and France is destined to be an absolute monarchy in the future. It was as if Alexander had seen all the French nobles trembling at the feet of Absolute Louis XIV.

Of course, at this time the career of the young king was just beginning.

He saw the Pope stop in front of him and said bluntly: "Holy Pope, you should not venture to the East. “

After thinking about it, the noble young man added: "That's not what a person of your status should do. “

Hearing the words of the King of France, the bishops behind the Pope were slightly stunned.

None of them expected the Young King to be so direct.

Alexander VII looked at Louis XIV, and he actually admired the speed of the young king's reactions. After learning that he was going to take a steamship to the East through his Portuguese connections, Louis XIV rushed to Rome as soon as possible to try to stop him.

"My child."

Alexander VII stroked Louis XIV's hair and said slowly: "The rise of the pagans in the East has caused a bloody storm from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean. My child, I have to go to the East to see what is going on there. “

"What kind of thing appeared in the far east that suddenly made the eastern forces that had no ability to attack suddenly become so powerful? I had to go and see for myself. “

Louis XIV did not like to be touched by the Pope. He took a step back and looked into Alexander VII's eyes, his face getting colder and colder.

"With all due respect, Holy Pope, when you go to Tianjin, isn't it as simple as taking a look at the situation?"

Alexander VII slowly withdrew his hand, calmly looked at Louis XIV, and did not answer the question.

Louis XIV sneered and said: "In your opinion, as long as the influence of Catholicism can be expanded, it does not matter whether the yellow race or the white race dominates Europe. In your eyes, we European royals and hillbilly aristocrats are just replaceable pawns! “

Louis XIV looked straight into the eyes of Alexander VII and said with a sneer: "If Li Zhi is willing to accept Catholicism and let Catholicism spread in the East, I am afraid that you will cooperate with this terrifying yellow race and betray the whole of Europe!" “”

Alexander VII looked at the young king's cold expression and did not speak.

Originally, relations between France and the Papal States were very good. This relationship was an important tool for Alexander VII to influence the whole of Europe. Indeed, the majority of the people of Europe are religious. But to really control politics, it also takes some aristocracy close to religion to move closer to the church.

Alexander VII was not angry, but said lightly: "Young Highness, Europe is not for royalty and nobility, but for all believers. ”

Louis XIV's eyes narrowed when he heard this, and the expression on his face became even colder.

Alexander VII looked at the young man's expression and said: "I will not betray Europe, never." “

The future Sun King seemed to hear a ridiculous joke and laughed.

"It sounds like an oath, an oath that can be interpreted at will."

The young king stopped laughing and said, "Li Zhi has defeated the invincible Ottoman Turkey, defeated the Persian Empire, and conquered India. All European sailing ships in the Indian Ocean returned to Europe. It is believed that in a few years, the Middle East will be ruled by Chinese. Southeast Asia, which was both Dutch and Portuguese, was completely in the hands of Li Zhi. Now in the northern part of the New World, Li Zhi's forward forces had begun to attack the Caucasian colonies. Last month, the front-line Tiger Army had reached the east bank of the Mississippi River. The British army lost four pillboxes in three days. “

"The entire European civilization is trembling under the threat of Li Zhi."

"And now, while all the people with brains are thinking about countermeasures, the popes in Europe have put aside all their pride and gone to Portugal to take a steamer, and to Tianjin tens of thousands of miles away to negotiate with Li Zhi."

Louis XIV sneered: "It's easy to send some spies. With all due respect, if Your Majesty the Pope doesn't want to make a secret agreement with Li Zhi, if you don't want Li Zhi to accept Catholicism, why do you want to make a trip yourself? “

Hearing the words of Louis XIV, Alexander VII did not speak for a long time.

"My child."

Finally, Alexander VII said: "My child, what do you want to say? “

Louis XIV looked at the bishops around him. These papal assistants were not of the same level as the Pope, and when they heard the young king's words, they were a little nervous. After all, France is the most powerful country on the European continent, and if the French king tears up with the Pope's power, no one can say who will die in the end.

The young king raised his head and said in a loud voice: "Pope, with all due respect, you cannot go to Tianjin. Li Zhi would not allow Christianity to spread in his territory, it was impossible. If you go, you'll come home empty-handed. And at that time, all of Europe will abandon you, abandon your followers. “

When Alexander VII heard this, he sighed.

He looked at the statue of Jesus in front of the basilica. The marble statue of Jesus crucified as if representing the whole world of Alexander VII.

Alexander VII reached under his shirt with his left hand and touched the bullet of a Gatling gun there. The bullet that fell into the hands of the Church from India was truly made in China, and convinced the Pope of the incredible machine gun rumors.

It only took a dozen seconds for the Pope to make up his mind before the threat of the King of France.

"My child, don't worry, I'm not going to negotiate with Li Zhi, I'm going to see what is going on there. The Church will not betray Europe, never. No matter how you threaten me, I will personally go to Tianjin. “