1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 38: Western Tour
In the first half of 1447, Europe entered a rare period of peace.

Britain and France were licking their wounds, the Holy Roman Empire was busy fighting among itself, Eastern Europe was still in a mess, and Albania and the Ottoman Empire were also in a standoff.

Poland and Lithuania had not yet completely eliminated the threat of the Teutonic Knights in the north, and Moscow was still deeply trapped in the Tatar yoke.

News came from the south that King Abdullah had managed to escape back to the capital, Sabha, and he immediately declared Adnan Sheh and Fatih Sheh traitors. He also recruited tribesmen from nearby and carried out a large-scale purge to eliminate Fatih's influence in the capital, and only then was he able to stabilize the situation.

Fatih Sheikh declared independence with his entire tribe and no longer obeyed the kingdom's control.

Count Adnan went south to Ugu Spring, defeated the king's garrison, occupied the local fields, pastures, water sources and iron mines, and announced the establishment of the Ugu State, with Eastern Orthodoxy as the state religion, and was subject to the Grand Principality of Surt.

Count Ugu immediately announced that he would invest 1000 ducats in the Surt United Chamber of Commerce, allowing the Surt United Chamber of Commerce to establish a branch in the city of Ugu and exchange local iron ore for slaves and armor in the north.

Seeing that he was so sensible, Isaac went with the flow and sold 500 war slaves to Adnan at the lowest price.

At this point, three forces, Fatiya, Abdullah and Adnan, were formed in the southern part of the Grand Principality of Sirte. The three forces were hostile to each other and tried their best to win over the small tribes that were watching from the sidelines.

The Hafsid dynasty in Tunisia was on the verge of civil strife, and the Mamluks were busy dealing with the rebels in Damascus and could not spare any effort.

For a short period of time, the area around the Grand Duchy of Soult is safe.

The next period of time will be a matter of gathering strength, attracting refugees, and waiting for the opportunity.

The entire Sirte region is now generally calm, and the population of the port of Sirte has increased to more than 7000, more than half of whom are immigrants.

The news that Isaac defeated Fezzan and captured the Oasis of Jufra had spread throughout Italy. The Pope rewarded Isaac's act of jihad and vigorously promoted this long-awaited victory in Italy.

Many landless knights and mercenaries from southern Italy came to the port of Soult and then headed south, hoping to get a piece of the pie in this turmoil.

The Jufra region has temporarily submitted to Isaac's pressure, but there will definitely be more rebel forces in the future.

All three legions are stationed in the Jufra region, ready to suppress any disturbance immediately.

"This is the current situation. The fourth batch of immigrants from Dobruja is about to arrive. You should take good care of them and try to place them in the newly surrendered tribes to supervise them for us."

"I will be away for a while to visit our overseas territories."

"After I leave, everything will remain the same, with Lord Isurt in charge of government affairs and Count Mikhail in charge of military affairs."

"Tell Albert to pay more attention to the situation in Albania and report immediately if there is any situation."

"Yes!"

Isaac raised his cup and drank with them.

On February 1447, 2, Isaac left the port of Soult on the Morea and headed for his first destination, Rome.

When Isaac arrived, the whole city of Rome was in mourning.

Just a few days ago, Pope Eugene IV died.

This pope kept moving from one ecumenical council to another, always opening the meetings with hope, only to return in despair.

The new Pope has not yet been elected, and the city is in the midst of a turbulent time.

When we arrived at the port, Gutenberg, the head of the Roman printing house, was already waiting there.

"Your Highness, welcome to Rome again."

Gutenberg saluted Isaac warmly.

He knew very well that the success of his career today was entirely due to the support of His Highness Isaac.

"Your Highness, the Roman Printing House currently has 120 workers, three factories, and a monthly profit of ducats."

"Your previous strategy was brilliant. Now many Italian nobles collect books printed with the Pope's emblem and the purple double-headed eagle emblem. The efficiency of other printing houses is far inferior to ours."

“We are planning to build factories in Ravenna and Monferrato to further capture the rich market in northern Italy.”

"Very good, dear Mr. Gutenberg, I suggest that you also open a printing house and a supporting papermaking workshop in my new territory, Soult."

“We can use our geographic advantage to sell books to Tunis and Cairo, and even as far away as Damascus and Baghdad.”

"Don't limit yourself to the Christian market. Muslims also have a great demand for books."

Isaac nodded and commented.

"I heard that your son Jost is proficient in law. My territory is still short of judges. I wonder if he is willing to serve me and become a chief judge?"

"Thank you so much, Your Highness."

Gutenberg was so excited that he was a little incoherent.

"Everything is according to your instructions."

"Then it's settled. Jost can report directly to Governor Isurt."

Isaac patted Gutenberg on the shoulder and got into the carriage prepared for him.

"To the Barentucelli's."

Isaac instructed the driver.

After a while, Isaac arrived at a manor, a typical Baroque building.

The servant led Isaac into the door, walked through the garden path, passed through several corridors painted with Christian theological paintings, and arrived at the master's reception room.

The owner is a rather energetic middle-aged man with a smiling mouth, black eyes, brown hair, and a somewhat funny hooked nose.

His face was kind and generous, and he seemed like a farmer.

He was wearing a red cassock and a religious hat, holding a cross in one hand and flipping through a book on the table with the other.

Isaac took a look and saw that it was Plato's "The Sophist".

The exquisite cover is marked with a purple double-headed eagle.

"Greetings, Venerable Cardinal Nicholas, a lost traveler from afar comes to seek your guidance."

Isaac met the king with courtesy and kept a low profile.

"Hello, brother from the East. I have heard about your great deeds in North Africa and I am very happy for you."

Tommaso Barentucelli, whose Christian name was Nicholas, was the famous Nicholas V in history, the last Pope of the Middle Ages and the first Pope of the Renaissance.

This pope came from a commoner class and was a famous Renaissance pope. During his reign, the Renaissance spread widely in Italy and throughout Western Europe. He was known for his open-minded and tolerant administration.

Historically, in order to save Byzantium, this pope risked his reputation to seek help from the whole of Western Europe and levied tithes to finance the holy war against the Ottomans.

Obviously, he failed, and no monarch was willing to throw his purse into the bottomless black hole of Constantinople.

Finally, he hired a fleet and Italian mercenaries at his own expense to join the defense of the city.

"It's all for the sake of spreading the Gospel of Christ, Your Majesty."

Nicholas smiled.

"I am not yet the Pope, dear child."

"No one is more pious than you, and no one is more qualified to be Christ's Vicar on Earth."

Isaac signaled to his servants to bring up the gifts he had brought.

"Your Majesty, these books are treasures of the royal family of Constantinople. My printing factory has hardcovered them. I heard that you love reading, so I specially gave them to you."

The servants carried up a box of hardcover books, some of which were works by ancient Greek sages, and some were collections of works by Roman thinkers.

Nicholas briefly flipped open a copy of Aristotle's Ethics, and a scent of fresh fragrance and ink wafted out, and the whole room seemed to be quiet for a moment.

"Thank you for your trouble."

Nicholas said with a smile.

"My child, these books are worth a lot of money. Thank you very much for your kindness."

"I am a servant of God. I don't have any money. How can I help you?"

"Your Majesty, don't you think the Duke of Savoy is expanding too quickly in northern Italy?"

Nicholas smiled but did not answer.

Amadeus VIII, former Duke of Savoy, good uncle of Marquis John IV of Monferrato, and Felix V, the pseudo-pope of the current Remnant Synod.

This man was a talented person. In just over a decade, he expanded the small County of Amedeo into the powerful Duchy of Savoy in northern Italy.

Amadeus VIII was elected Pope by the Residual Council in 1440 and passed the dukedom to his son Ludovico.

He is a natural enemy of the Roman Catholic Church. "Marquis John IV of Monferrato is my cousin. I hope you can unite with the Venetians and help him get rid of the control of Savoy and bring peace to northern Italy."

"I can guarantee that Marquis John will be your most reliable ally in Northern Italy."

……

After visiting Cardinal Nicholas, Isaac continued his journey north along the Ligurian coast to the city of Genoa.

Cardinal Nicholas did not give a clear answer to Isaac's request, but said that he would not condone the Savoy family to desecrate the purity of the Holy See.

Historically, under the combined pressure of Venice, the Pope and other forces, Savoy eventually gave up its sovereignty over Monferrato.

Since Isaac has been the lead this time, there shouldn't be any major problems.

At night, Isaac was warmly welcomed into the castle by Marquis John IV.

The two exchanged pleasantries and then sat down as host and guest.

It was mentioned that Isaac's 10,000 ducats and the trading company's continuous profits greatly alleviated the territory's predicament. Now it has turned losses into profits and started to recover from the shadow of defeat.

"Dear John, William is now my Colonial Secretary and is traveling across the Atlantic. We won't be able to see him for a while."

"That kid should experience some experience to avoid getting into trouble..."

When they were half drunk, Isaac told Nicholas V everything about his previous agreement.

"John, I want to ask you something."

Isaac moved closer.

"You said."

"Is the Duke of Milan, Visconti, in poor health?"

Isaac's expression was euphemistic.

John glanced at Isaac.

"Yes, I heard that he couldn't get out of bed."

The two were silent for a moment, staring at the flickering candlelight in a daze.

Visconti, Duke of Milan, had no legitimate children.

He only had an illegitimate daughter who married the mercenary leader Sforza.

"Many cities west of Milan were taken from Monferrato."

"Ah."

"The Visconti family of Milan is related to you by blood, right?"

"Ah."

"Many local business nobles are still connected with you."

"Ah."

John looked up and looked into Isaac's eyes, which were shining in the candlelight.

"You mean, take this opportunity to retake the territory?"

"If possible, you can even ask for the title of Duke of Milan."

John shook his head.

"Sforza has many skilled soldiers and generals under his command. I am no match for him."

"Listen to me, after the Duchy of Milan is extinct, the local business council will most likely establish a republic on its own."

"Neither the Doge of Venice, nor the Pope, nor Sforza, nor you, want to see this."

"Everyone wants to take a bite out of Milan's fat piece of meat."

“This is your chance.”

Brother! I told you the answers, but you copied them!

"We have just recovered, I am afraid we don't have the strength to fight them?"

John still had doubts.

"I'm sure you've heard that I have a territory in North Africa, and I will support you."

Isaac gave John a final shot of cardiac stimulant.

Looking at Isaac's sincere eyes, John finally became firm.

"Okay! I'll start preparing now!"

In March 1447, with the support of all parties, Cardinal Nicholas ascended the throne and became the new Pope, known as Nicholas V.

On April 1447, 4, Nicholas V persuaded Felix V to abdicate and, together with the Doge of Venice, forced the Duchy of Savoy to give up its sovereignty over Monferrato.

On April 1447, 4, Isaac bid farewell to John IV, left Italy, and sailed westward.

"Captain Fidel, what's going on?"

Isaac boarded the ship, returned to the cabin, and pulled Captain Fidel in for questioning.

"Your Highness, the businessman from the Snowpia family is unwilling to do business with us anymore. He is also afraid that the matter will be exposed."

"We talked to him repeatedly for several days, but each time he was vague about what he was talking about, or he just kept trying to sell us his own boats."

"This Genoese is really cunning."

Fidel gnashed his teeth.

"Really? That's a pity."

Previously, Isaac sent Captain Fidel to discuss the purchase of a ship with Nicolo Snopia, hoping to repeat the same trick and buy another "retired" carrack.

Of course, Nick Lowe refused.

Anyone would be suspicious if several large warships were retired in just a few years.

Isaac sighed.

This is like being strangled by others. If they don't want to sell, it's useless even if you have money.

Originally, Isaac wanted to build a shipyard in the port of Sirte, but later found that it was simply unrealistic.

There are no big trees.

This is troublesome.

In the future, we will have to find a truly permanent naval port for the navy, with a repair shop and shipyard, and many fishing villages nearby to recruit sailors.

"Well, after we arrive in Portugal this time, I will try to ask Prince Henry for the right to purchase large galleys and carracks, but don't hold out too much hope."

Fidel nodded regretfully.

"By the way, tell all the captains to look for ship designers from all the ports. I will reward them regardless of their skills."

"Let them all go to the port of Sirte."

With the sails fluttering and the waves sparkling, Isaac followed his previous journey, sailing from the port of Genoa around the western Mediterranean and entering the Atlantic Ocean through Gibraltar.

The waves suddenly became strong, and the ship seemed like a lone boat in the vast ocean.

This time, everyone didn't stagger around like before and adapted quickly.

The sailors became excited. The old sailors told the new sailors stories about the adventures they had with His Highness and unbuttoned their clothes to show the scars on their bodies.

The storm is the cocoon of the sailor, and those who survive the storm will transform into the most shining butterfly.

With the presence of these people, the ship has a soul.

They will pass down Isaac's story from generation to generation until the day they leave the ship.

Fishing boats and merchant ships appeared ahead, busy with their own livelihoods.

Lisbon is not far away.

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(End of this chapter)