Northern Italy is obviously much colder in winter than in the south. Perhaps because the weather has gradually become colder in recent years, it will be snowy until winter. It looks covered in silver, but the cold wind that comes on its face that is as cold as a knife makes people not have much leisure to enjoy the beautiful scenery in this cold weather.

The snow is very thick, and some places even step on their calves directly. It is very difficult for people to walk in the snow. It is much more laborious than usual, and even if they can't go far, they will sweat and exhaust all over.

It was in this weather that Montina's team crossed the Magiorasca Mountains.

The altitude of Magioraska Mountain is very high. Of course, no one can accurately calculate the height of this mountain at this time, but looking at the top of the mountain that has been shrouded in clouds all year round, many people are first scared.

Alexander did not rush to urge the team to speed up the marching pace because he knew that he was not so nervous.

At this time, France and Austria really exclaimed. The previous aristocratic entertainment-style war has gradually been replaced by cruel fighting. The knights can no longer go to the battlefield to kill each other, and go down to drink and have fun. More importantly, both sides seem to finally realize that this war seems to be to destroy the other party's army, rather than to use the peacock fighting for a spouse. As long as you show off your beautiful feathers, you can scare the other party to retreat timidly.

Classical and elegant wars are quietly withdrawing from the stage. With the arrival of the 16th century, the way of war is gradually changing.

The confrontation and fierce conflict between two European powers obviously did not come to an end so quickly, especially when the two monarchs appeared on the battlefield, such wars often became long and complex. Even if many people found that this war was obviously much crueler and fierce than when Charles VIII invaded Italy not long ago, it might be a decisive battle that could determine the fate of both armies and even the country, but would not break out for a while.

It was at this time that Alexander took his Montina army to cross the Magiorasca Mountains and enter the Lombardy Plain for 4 days.

Although the Magiorasca Mountain is towering, it is not completely without a road to pass. The process of climbing over the Magiorasca Mountain is because there has been sufficient preparation and time for wealth before, so although it is very hard, it is not very difficult.

The most important thing is that the Montina army has no strict discipline in any other contemporary army.

Alexander did not want to use so-called spiritual motivation to deceive his soldiers. In his opinion, any incitement that does not talk about benefits but only feelings and beliefs is a hooligan.

Montina's army was trained with whips and military sticks. The repeated movements over and over again made the soldiers completely numb. They didn't need to know what kind of enemies and dangers they were facing, but just knew what they should do after the battle started.

The motivation to maintain soldiers' discipline is not about faith and honor, but about the spoils that Alexander promised them and the rewards after obtaining military achievements.

Land, money, and finally honor. Everyone has different wishes. Alexander just promises that they can get what they want the most.

The Balkan soldiers were fierce and brave, and they wanted to get commissions. The Agri Musketeers were a group of wooden soldiers who had been trained to a little dull. They longed for land, while the Genoese, who were sleek but had rich combat experience, wanted to make a fortune in the war. As for the hunting guards, besides wealth, they were soldiers with a stronger sense of honor than others.

6,000 people, after leaving behind a group of less than 1,000 people stationed in Laspea, this is all Alexander's troops entering Lombardy.

On January 4, the Montina army first appeared on the Gevna Plain in Lombardy. When he saw the wheat fields in the distance, although covered with heavy snow, he could still imagine how beautiful it was in the harvest season. Looking at the vast land that stretched far away, Alexander couldn't help but breathe deeply.

The breath turned into a white mist in the cold weather and then drifted away, but the flame burning in Alexander's heart became even hotter in this cold season.

"This is really a gift from God." Gompatti, standing beside Alexander, sighed sincerely. Although he had heard of Lombardy's wealth, when he saw this fertile land that was invisible with his own eyes, Gompatti felt that he could not think of anything else other than sighing about God's partiality towards Lombardy people.

"But the richer the place, the more coveted it will become the target." Alexander said disapprovingly that in his memory, the richness of Lombardy did become the original sin of this land, and countless people coveted this land, which led to the Italian wars in the following decades, and even many wars in the centuries later, all aimed at fighting for the Lombardy region.

"What about you, sir, are you interested in this land?" Gompatti asked interestingly.

"Interested," Alexander did not hide his desire for Lombardy. "You must know that Lombardy has something more attractive besides wealth," he said, looking into the distance, narrowing his eyes slightly, and murmured in a very low voice. "There is a truly noble crown here."

The sky is gray and gloomy, and the snow is very heavy. You must be careful when walking on the road, otherwise you will either slip or trip up by something buried in the snow.

A woman with a tight body was walking on the street with some difficulty. Although she wrapped her whole head and face because of fear of the cold, it can still be seen from her healthy figure and very agile steps that this woman should be very young.

With a thud, the woman's right foot wearing thick boots stepped on a snow pit. Although the snow pit was not deep, it suddenly made her body lose balance. Then she fell forward and lay on the snow.

The snow was very thick, so it didn't hurt if you fell down, but the young woman lay in the snow without moving. It was not until after a while that she was so cold that she couldn't stand it, so she got up with some difficulty.

The turban wrapped around her head had fallen out, her black hair was dispersed and looked messy, while her face was covered with snow.

The young woman seemed very patient. She slowly packed her body and waited until she was almost done before she walked forward a few steps, bent down and picked up a small package that she threw out when she fell.

The wrap was leather and had a long strap. This thing that looked more like a schoolbag was covered with snow. The woman carefully unbuttoned the belt buckle and saw that some paper notebooks inside were not soaked. She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

But then, the woman suddenly turned her back and poured everything inside into the snow.

Then she stepped on the notebooks with all her strength, and then bent down and grabbed the notebooks as if she was still confused, until they were completely broken and shattered. Then she threw the torn pieces of paper and spread it all over the sky.

This tossing made the woman so tired that she couldn't breathe. She kept gasping for breath, then put her schoolbag on her shoulders, and continued to walk forward in a daze.

Two men pushing cars in the distance walked forward with difficulty. The things on their cars were piled up, and the wheels crushed two deep marks in the snow. The heavy body made them feel difficult to push.

The woman quickly caught up with the two people, but because the oncoming wind and snow suddenly became heavier, the woman simply followed not far behind them and let the car in front cover the sudden heavy wind and snow for herself.

The two obviously didn't pay much attention to the woman behind. Although the wind and snow were very strong, they seemed to be in a surprisingly good mood. They even chatted while walking. It was just because the wind and snow were very strong that the two had to speak loudly. As a result, the woman behind them vaguely heard their conversation.

"I hope God blesses these things should be sold at a good price." The person who pulled the cart in front turned his head and shouted to his companion behind him, "We are suffering enough in such weather. I hope that the adult will be more reasonable in terms of our difficulty."

"You really dare to think about it," the person behind said, joking or sarcastic, "Aren't the nobles all the same, they are stingy, and they are a little poor and like to show off their tricks."

"But this Count Master shouldn't be so stingy," said the person who pulled the cart in front of him with some difficulty. "I heard that his army is dressed well. Many soldiers look like decent people. Such an army is rare. Maybe our luck is coming, and I also heard that this Count is very rich."

"It might be better if that is the case, but the rich nobles may not be stingy," the person behind replied a little deliberately, but then thought about it and said, "I hope we are lucky. After all, there are not many people who can deliver him things in this kind of weather. This is our opportunity. As long as the Earl Montina is not too stingy, I am still willing to sell these dishes to him."

The two of them said as they pushed the car full of goods forward and walked forward, but the young woman couldn't help but stop after hearing them.

She looked at the back of the car that was getting farther and farther in front, and then turned around and looked at a tall building that was faintly visible in the snow and wind. After thinking about it, the woman took a step and chased the two of them.

Pavia is a city located in the middle of the Lombardy Plain. The continuous Po River provides Pavia with abundant water. In addition to the large area of ​​fertile land, it is enough to provide enough people with enough food and clothing, and has also become a very important commercial city in the Lombardy region due to its well-connected transportation.

The Pavians were smart. The first waterwheel for farmland irrigation recorded in European history appeared here. The University of Piacenza, which is as famous as the University of Bologna, was built with the University of Pavia as its predecessor.

As a vassal of Milan, Pavia has always been a subordinate minister of the Milan rulers. Whether it was the Visconte or the later Sforza family, Pavia was very obedient and became their vassal.

But now, the Paveyas were a little confused.

After the French arrived, they drove away the Sforza family, who had ruled Milan for nearly 50 years. Then the French declared that they had become the ruler of Milan. The Paveians did not hesitate. They immediately announced their acceptance of Louis XII as their monarch according to the traditions over the years.

But before the Paveyas could clean up all the items marked with Sforza in the city, Ludvico Sforza returned to Milan under the protection of the emperor and took power again.

This is inevitably a bit embarrassing. Although changing the sway has always been the secret of the Paveya people to protect themselves, the storm has changed too quickly, which makes them feel a little difficult to adapt.

And now, Paveia has ushered in a new occupier, Alexander Juliant Gombre, Earl of Montina.

To the Paveians, this young count is actually not unfamiliar with it, because whenever someone mentions Lucrezia, the widowed wife of the unlucky Giovanni Sforza, people will naturally mention this count.

Various gossips about the cause of Giovanni Sforza's death have a large market in Paveia.

People are interested in talking about the various secrets and anecdotes of the Duke's family. If they involve the adulterer's murder of his own husband, they will be even more pleasant to hear.

Now the Count who was said to be hooked up with Lucrezia and then the two of them jointly poisoned Giovanni Sforza suddenly arrived in Paveia. For a moment, the locals were both afraid and curious. Because Giovanni was poisoned and the legend is well known, Alexander had a rather cool nickname in the streets and alleys of Paveia.

Of course, Alexander had no idea that he had successfully snatched the title of brother-in-law. After leading Montina's army across the Magiorasca Mountain, he arrived in Paveia on January 6 after two consecutive days of march.

When he saw Paveia from afar, Alexander was a little excited because Paveia could be said to be the gateway of Milan. Once he occupied this place, it would mean that Milan's gate had been opened to him.

Alexander could guess that the monarchs of France and Austria should have known his whereabouts, but now they obviously don't care about him anymore.

The price of the French cutting off the Austrian retreat was because of its far-reaching advance, and its supply line was also exposed to the Austrians. Although Maximian was obviously not as determined and decisive as Louis XII, and his generals were obviously not as wise as Count Langserge, when facing a huge crisis that might be completely defeated by the French, and even the emperor himself might become a prisoner, the Austrian army still showed courage and tenacious fighting spirit.

The result was that both sides launched a massive winter battle on the plains in western Lombardy. The army of nearly 90,000 people on both sides fell into an unprecedented cruel battle in the snow-covered Northern Italy.

The battle at this time is no longer something that anyone can stop, and both sides dare not withdraw from the battle voluntarily. Even during a brief ceasefire, the two armies could no longer seem as relaxed and comfortable as before. Instead, they sent a large number of scouts to investigate the enemy's movements so that they could formulate countermeasures at any time and prepare for the battle.

The traditional medieval knight warfare was rapidly disintegrating and dying at an unexpected speed. The war was no longer the romance and passion praised by the minstrels, but the terrifying and cruel bloody massacre.

It was at this time that the Montina people appeared in Paveia.

The reason why Alexander was interested in Paveia was not only because this was the only way to Milan, but also the University of Paveia.

What impressed Alexander the most was that the modern medical enlightenment in Europe originated from the Medical School of Paveyah University, which has almost the most advanced medical education system in Europe today.

Alexander was very interested in this university. When he stood under the circular column of the Lake Palace in Paveia, he was not thinking about how to squeeze more oil and water from this wealthy city, but how to "mov" the university.

Just as Alexander was planning this, Schell came to him, with a strange expression on his dark face. When he stood in front of Alexander, hesitated for a moment before saying, "Sir, there is a woman asking to see you."

"What?" Alexander was slightly stunned.

"A young woman," the Balkans said, and then emphasized "a not very beautiful woman."

"Oh?" Alexander still looked at the Balkans silently.
Chapter completed!