The city of Florence is a famous historical city that has been recorded in history books since the ancient empire. Its population of more than 40,000 is equivalent to that of Rome and Liguria. It is an outstanding representative of many prosperous city-states on the Apennine Peninsula, second only to Venice with 150,000 people and Milan with 100,000 people.

urban scale.

With close strength, Venice, Florence, and Liguria are collectively known as the three maritime republics.

Of course, since the Ottoman Empire captured Constantinople in 1453, the Republic of Venice has profited greatly because it was the first to shamelessly enter into the pagan business.

So for now, the Maritime Republic is headed by Venice.

Although it has the same name as the Republic of Venice and the Republic of Liguria, it also has a similar supreme assembly that elects one-third of its members every year, and consul elections every ten years. Of course, the consul of Florence is called the "standard bearer of justice."

” to emphasize the judicial power of this position.

In fact, the Medici family has used intimidation, bribery, political marriage and other means to control elections and hold the position of consul for several generations.

Although it has encountered several challenges over the past century, and was even forced to flee by angry citizens because it did not resist the French invasion, today the Medici family came back to take control of this emerald city in Italy.

After years of painstaking efforts, the power of the Medici family is now not limited to Florence. Based on the Medici Bank, one of Europe's three major financial giants, it also has great authority in the neighboring Church of Rome.

His Royal Highness Giulio Medici, the contemporary "standard bearer of justice" in Florence, is also the Cardinal Archbishop of the Cyric Church. It is the embodiment of this power.

However, no matter how unique the title of "Standard Bearer of Justice" is, how effective the Medici family's ability to control elections is.

There is no doubt that "Duke", the most common monarch title in the Holy Roman Empire, is the favorite of the Medici family.

With the Medici family's control over Florence, the biggest obstacle to the hereditary monarch was how to obtain the support and consent of Emperor Charles V.

Therefore, Ladislaus was not satisfied with the fact that His Highness Giulio Medici, the "Standard Bearer of Justice", still did not pick him up a whole day after he entered the city of Frenosa. Instead, he only sent his two nephews to come.

The reception was quite unexpected.

Although Ippolito Medici and Alessandro Medici are the only two male members of the Medici family besides the head of the family, His Royal Highness Giulio Medici, they take turns to come.

It would not be considered impolite to greet a Ligurian fugitive who had just been deprived of his parliamentary seat.

Yes, Ladislaus had already learned from the ambassador that the day after he left Liguria, the Cibot family deprived him of his seat as a member of Parliament for organizing the assassination of Cesare Cibot.

The bleak title also confirms this. Now Ladislaus is technically not even called Your Excellency.

But two young boys, both twelve or thirteen years old, were sent to contact Ladislaus, the agent of the Habsburg family in the Apennine Peninsula.

It would be too disrespectful to take the emperor and the acting grand duke seriously.

With a forced smile, after sending the two young Medici who had come to accompany the guests in the morning out of the embassy, ​​Ladislaus angrily prepared in his mind what he was going to do to sow discord in front of the emperor.

Even their invitation to dinner at the Palace of the Standard Bearer of Justice was rejected by Ladislaus on the grounds that he was tired from the journey.

The emperor's ambassador to Florence immediately went out to greet him as soon as he entered the city.

As soon as I heard about the diplomatic proposal about Liguria at breakfast, I immediately set off for the Republic of Liguria full of enthusiasm. At that time, it was less than two hours after Ladislaus entered Florence.

Originally, Ladislaus thought that the Medici family would receive him with the highest standards, so that he could gain face in front of Miss Anna, but he did not expect to receive such a cold reception.

Although, just two hours after Ladislaus entered the city, two heirs of the Medici family visited him.

However, the financial strength of the Medici family is still unquestionable. The two young masters successively presented Ladislaus with gifts worth more than two hundred thalers, as well as the Medici Bank's three hundred thaler certificate that could be cashed in at will.

The vote somewhat comforted Ladislaus's loss.

In addition, considering the belongings carried by several pack horses, Ladislas made a lot of money from his escape.

Sirica Boss had already gone to a bank that Ladislaus often patronized and entrusted them to dispose of the packhorse team that was no longer needed and some of the jewelry and other trophies from Apple Town that Ladislaus had no use for.

The most important royal bank of the Habsburg family today, the Fugger Textile Society, cannot open a branch in the headquarters of the Medici Bank under any circumstances.

However, other small local Italian financial families can still operate in Florence, and Ladislaus chose one of them.

Most of the trophies obtained from defeating the pursuers of the Xibo family were dedicated to His Majesty Barbarossa, the Knight of Vision. The red feast consumes more than just flesh and blood, although it is the Knight of Vision's favorite.

After calculating that he now had almost 2,500 talers in cash at his disposal, Ladislas felt somewhat confident that he and Anna would go shopping in Florence's high-end commercial plazas after lunch.

However, before going out, Ladislaus did not forget to arrange for the embassy's courier to invite an important guest to dinner. As soon as he entered Florence, a task called "Recruiting Talents" was activated on his panel.

It is also necessary to discuss the dinner arrangements with the embassy’s butler.

Since it was not a large banquet, the silver tableware and candlesticks owned by the ambassador were enough. Ladislaus did not want to use the sideboards currently popular in Italy for the buffet, but still asked for hot dishes on the floor one by one, so the ambassador

The restaurant's chef must hire two helpers.

The ambassador's butler also recommended local young musicians to play music to add to the fun, which is also an essential part of the high-end banquet.

The embassy has good linen tablecloths, but Miss Anna insists on using freshly cut black silk tablecloths. This item alone will cost thirty talers. Although Florence is now the largest silk producer in Europe, the rise of the Ottomans

, and then after the Eurasian and African land bridges were isolated, the Silk Road was cut off, and the supply of silk from the East was greatly reduced. The silk produced in Florence now has no competitors, and is no longer considered to be inferior to second-class products originating from the mysterious country in the East.

Although Ladislas didn't care about the price, because the ambassador had promised to reimburse all the expenses needed for his diplomatic activities before leaving.

Anyway, the emperor and the deputy grand duke have plenty of money, so if they have the chance, it would be two hundred and fifty.

This is also the general principle on which Ladislaus operates today.

But silk tablecloths were too transcendent, and even emperors would only use them when entertaining foreign monarchs. So Ladislaus chose Amazonian tablecloths.

Ladislaus did not comment on other necessary peripheral expenses.

It is necessary to purchase five talers of perfume and antiseptic pine wood liquid to prepare hand sanitizer.

You also need to spray a little perfume on your gloves and rose beads. These are small gifts for guests and entourage. Of course, the embassy staff also have a share. They cost about ten talers. These small items suitable for winter are also the flower emperor's.

Money, save Ladislaus's face.

Anna is really good at organizing things. Ladislaus estimates that after this banquet, his reputation can return to 200, making up for the losses caused by the rumors spread by the Sibo family and the evil worshipers.

Next, comes the menu part of the banquet.
Chapter completed!