A Guide to Becoming a God Starting from a Monastery

Damn, these protectors of the nation are more arrogant than each other! They actually ignored the Pope's orders?

Although he knew in his heart that Huguo was indeed qualified to be arrogant and domineering.

It seems that this Knight Joseph is very loyal to the previous Holy See.

Also very reasonable.

A national defender-level soldier, who has always kept his identity secret and been inconspicuous in the Pope's guard... He didn't even get the status of a high-ranking noble, but only received a not-so-generous military salary. What kind of spirit is this?

This is a true loyal minister!

Especially after the new Pope took office, he spent a lot of effort to carefully investigate Knight Joseph and his family.

It turned out that their family did not get any special benefits.

You know, when one person succeeds, everyone around him prospers. This is a universal rule, and the Vatican is no exception.

In other words, either Knight Joseph, as an illegitimate son, has a bad relationship with his family...

Or maybe this person is truly devout and loyal, not caring about the salary at all, and is only willing to be loyal to the previous Holy See and serve as Christ's Vicar on earth.

So even if he was sent to the Knights Templar, he would continue to serve Thomas loyally.

It is indeed difficult for such people to change their stance immediately.

Unless the situation arises that "We are ready to fight to the death, why does Your Majesty surrender first?"

As he thought of this, he glanced at Thomas.

Thomas was still there, disheveled in the wind.

Obviously, the tough diplomatic letters from the four powerful countries have frightened this commander who is known for his bravery and fighting ability.

From now on, as long as Thomas opens his mouth, Knight Joseph will have no objection at all.

He was about to say something and put in some extra effort when he saw another familiar face.

Little Balbo Knight!

It must be said that little Knight Balbo and his father look quite similar.

One look at them reveals that they are closely related.

The envoy was overjoyed, as this was also a good breakthrough.

Chapter 372 Everyone’s Choice 1

Venice, in the Doge's private estate.

It was already dark.

Governor Balbo had completed most of his work for the day and was now comfortably warming himself by the fireplace.

Although it is spring, the weather is still quite cold.

In addition, Venice is an island water city with a humid climate after all.

This is a rare moment of leisure for the governor, who is no longer young.

At the same time, a close attendant whom he completely trusted was putting sheets of discarded manuscripts into the fireplace.

Among these scraps, some were letters he had received, and others were letters he had written.

Now that the new pope has been elected, the letters used to bargain with other people must be destroyed.

Others are drafts.

Although Governor Balbo was born a military man, he was actually both civil and military.

Being a brave general on the battlefield did not affect his later becoming the ruler of a country.

He has the habit of carefully considering every word and sentence when writing letters, so he often revise his drafts several times.

Behind a completed letter there are often five or six drafts that have been revised repeatedly.

As a cautious politician, the governor always has to see those things turned into ashes before his eyes before he can feel at ease.

He never threw a pile of letters into the fire at once.

Because he knew that in this case, there was a high probability of residue.

He always burned them one by one, so as to ensure that nothing would go wrong.

Of course, burning them one by one is actually very tiring work, so the governor always lets his servants do it.

Just watch by the stove.

This also shows that he really has the qualities of a politician. Even if it is a very trusted servant, there is no chance that he would steal the discarded manuscript.

Among these scrapped manuscripts, some are signed or even stamped, and there will definitely be "surprises" when they are taken out.

Human nature cannot be tested; human nature cannot withstand the test.

"Owner!"

The Governor's gaze immediately turned to his entourage.

He held a piece of paper in one hand and a thick stack of manuscripts in the other, but his eyes were looking at himself.

When burning something, it is natural to see the contents of the scrap manuscript in the light of the fire.

As a servant of the Governor, one cannot be illiterate. An illiterate person is just an errand boy and cannot be a confidant.

"Um...you want to declare war on the Knights?" the servant asked hesitantly.

The scrap of paper in his hand was a letter threatening war against the Knights of Rhodes Island in the name of the Republic.

"But...that...the Second Young Master...is in the Knights!"

Everyone in the Governor's family, big and small, knew that little Balbo had joined the Knights Templar and was now their standard-bearer.

It was said, just said, that he had become a protector of the country - but the old servant didn't really believe it.

There are so many rumors these days that even smart people can't tell them apart.

If the Republic and the Knights went to war...

No matter how you look at it, it's a disaster for little Balboa.

Outsiders might think that little Balbo was a hidden chess piece that the Governor had inserted into the Knights Templar.

But everyone in the family knew that little Balbo was completely different from his father.

When Governor Balbo was young, he was definitely a man of both civil and military talents.

Little Balbo inherited his father's talent for martial arts, and it can even be said that he is even better than his father. He is an expert in wielding spears and sticks.

But cultural knowledge, artistic appreciation, political acumen, judgment, social skills...

Sorry, that really wasn't inherited at all.

To put it in a more understandable way, everyone in the family knew that little Balbo was a complete reckless man.

But fools have their own luck, and he is the most favored by the governor.

Of course, in this day and age, the "primogeniture system" is deeply rooted. No matter how much his father loves him, little Balbo cannot inherit the family business. Therefore, sending him to the Knights is also a good way out.

Anyway, this servant had watched little Balbo grow up, and he knew very well that little Balbo could not be a secret spy.

That's a kid who doesn't have much brains—all muscle.

At that time, being able to read and write was the limit.

I can’t do such delicate work!

He has no problem fighting one-on-one or in group fights, but being a spy is really difficult for him.

"Ah, you misunderstood." The Governor shrugged. "I have no intention of going to war with the Knights."

What a joke! A cannon shot is worth a fortune. Unless it is an irreconcilable conflict, who would be willing to go to war?

There was indeed widespread dissatisfaction among Venetian merchants with the Knights.

But it is only dissatisfaction, not disgust, let alone hatred.

As the governor, Balbo must also follow the will of the people. How can he act rashly?

"Well... I saw that you threatened war against the Knights." The servant looked at the letter in his hand again.

This was a scrap, but he was sure that the owner must have written the letter and sent it out.

"Hahahaha... I'm just following the trend... following the trend!" The Governor laughed.

"Master, follow the trend?" The old servant had followed the governor for a long time, but he didn't understand what "follow the trend" meant.

"There are four identical letters," Governor Balbo said. "From us, Genoa, Florence, and Milan! All written to the Knights Templar! But..."

"...The three letters are genuine, but this one is fake," the Governor laughed. "Because we have never reached any secret agreement with the Knights, let alone an alliance, and of course, we have no financial or material support."

"But the other three countries should have it," he added in a low voice.

"Why?" the servant asked. "What if..."

"There's no chance of that happening," the Governor said confidently. "You've probably heard about the Genoese sending a protector of the kingdom to the Knights for forty years, right?"

The story of the Five Knights of Christ was a hot topic even in Venice.

In the city of Venice, this story was being told in every street corner.

After all, this matter is too big. Suddenly, five protectors of the country appeared, claiming that "this era no longer exists"!

It’s simply...that’s it...the favorite of the crowd!

And according to the rules of rumors, there are now N versions!

The old servant believed everything else except that his second young master was one of the five knights.

Without the support of the five protectors, how could the Knights, with less than 10,000 men, be able to fight against the 200,000-strong Turkish army?

"...So, the Genoese must have reached a secret agreement with the Knights forty years ago. Although I don't know the content of this agreement, it definitely exists. I just don't know...how much the Genoese paid and how much they received."

"Besides, the Florentines and the Milanese... it seems, at least those two knights, were also sent into the Order under the guise of protecting the kingdom. They were previously kept secret, which is clear... Of course, it's also possible that Leo XI used divine revelation," the Governor said. "So, at the time, both families must have reached a secret agreement with the Order..."

Of course, his own son, little Balbo, is the only exception.

Chapter 373 Everyone’s Choice 2

Family members know their own business. The Governor knew very well that when he sent his son to the Knights, his son was definitely not going to protect the country!

After being sent to the Knights, there was no room for the divine enlightenment to operate.

In other words, his son became the protector of the country through his own strength.

The Governor was very proud of this, but at the same time he regretted sending his son to the Knights Templar.

Of course, he wouldn't say that.

As long as he doesn't say it, no one else will know.

Everyone thought that the situation of the Republic of Venice was the same as that of the three of them, and that they also sent a national protector-level warrior to the Knights Templar.

And signed a secret treaty.

It's better not to know, it's better to have a misunderstanding! Governor Balbo can sneak into this "debt collection group" and get benefits for himself with just a letter!

Thinking of this, Governor Balbo felt like laughing.

He could even imagine the expression on Grand Master Thomas' face when he saw the letter.

That must be a puzzled look.

Because everything the letter said does not exist.

The Republic and the Knights Templar had neither an alliance treaty nor human or material support, let alone any debt owed to any one.

But it doesn’t matter. If Captain Thomas doesn’t understand, then he doesn’t understand.

The Republic of Venice would indeed not go to war with the Knights Templar. The so-called threat of war was just talk and existed only in diplomatic letters.

but……

The Venetian Republic is fake, but Milan, Florence and Genoa are real.

Even if the Venetians did not participate, could the Knights defeat those three?