Creed of the heavens

Before parting, Lu Xiao made a suggestion to Katerina.

"Based on the current fragmented situation in Italy, once France ends the war with the Holy Roman Empire, it will be difficult for Romagna to stop the French army going south."

"Don't stick to this barren territory. If you can't do anything, immediately take Rousseau and flee to Florence for refuge. The Auditore and Medici families will definitely not treat you badly."

Katerina hugged Lu Xiao tightly, and after a moment of silence, she nodded lightly in his arms: "I know, I'm not the kind of person who dies in the city, if I really can't stop the French, I will I will take Rousseau out as soon as possible."

Chapter 64

France, many people think of insulting the law and French military salute when they mention this country, but in fact, France has also had a strong period in European history, the most famous one being the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte of Corsica .

Although Napoleon has a great reputation, the France he ruled was not the best in history. The real strongest period in France was the Bourbon dynasty from the end of the 16th century.

Before that, Louis XIII defeated the Holy Roman Empire, and later, Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, fought all over Europe and became the undisputed European overlord at that time.

Almost all countries that flourished for a while will eventually decline, and the Bourbon dynasty is no exception. The great empire conquered by Louis XIV was finally defeated by Louis XVI.

The fatuous Louis XVI only knew how to spend his days and nights, and he didn't care about the life and death of the French people. This finally triggered the French Revolution that left a strong mark in history. Louis XVI also became the first person to be guillotined by his own people the king.

In the 15th century, France had just emerged from the Hundred Years' War between Britain and France. Louis XI made great efforts to govern and almost completely recovered the original territory of France within his lifetime, but this also annoyed the Habsburg family who gradually controlled the Holy Roman Empire.

At this time, the Holy Roman Empire has turned from prosperity to decline, and separatism has begun to appear in various parts of the empire, and it is no longer as strong as it used to be.

Maximilian I seemed to be the last ray of the Holy Roman Empire before its decline. The Austrian army he led suppressed Louis XI's French army in Ginegat, and the situation of the war gradually became clear.

Lu Xiao headed west through Milan and Turin, entered France from the border of the Savoy province, and then went north all the way, and arrived in the Paris region at the end of March 1478.

Paris is the capital of France, the largest city in the country, and the economic, political and cultural center of the entire country.

The Paris Region, also known as the Ile-de-France, is located in the middle of the Paris Basin and is densely populated.

However, perhaps because of the impact of the war, after Lu Xiao entered France, most of the well-dressed French nobles looked worried.

The person who came to greet Lu Xiao outside the city gate of Paris was a middle-aged man named Jean Martin. He was dressed in a more popular style, and he didn't look like a wealthy businessman or aristocrat with a high social status.

Jean Martin bowed politely to Lu Xiao, and greeted him in French with flicking tongue: "Welcome, friend from the East, I am a member of the Paris Brotherhood, Jean Martin."

Lu Xiao also skillfully returned the salute with the usual European etiquette of this era: "Hello, Mr. Martin, I'm Lu Xiao from Daming."

Fighting is raging on the border between France and the Holy Roman Empire, but Paris, the capital of France, still looks calm.

Unlike other regions of France, the aristocrats in Paris don't see much worry on their faces, and they still enjoy their daily lives leisurely.

Let Martin take Lu Xiao around in Paris, and finally came to a rather luxurious mansion.

This mansion is located in the Louvre district in the center of Paris, not far from the world-famous Louvre. Judging from the size of the building and the rather luxurious interior furniture, the owner here should have a considerable income in Paris. status.

Let Martin not mention any information about the Brotherhood other than introducing the customs of Paris to Lu Xiao along the way, as if he has been on guard against something.

Lu Xiao could intuitively feel through the strengthening of the sixth sense of the pupil of the eagle that the person Martin was wary of was not him, an outsider, but some suspicious elements wandering the streets of Paris.

Templars?

In 1478, the Italian Renaissance trend had not spread widely in France. The churches in Paris still used the most famous Baroque spiers in the Middle Ages, and the folks naturally followed suit.

Following Jean Martin into this typical Medieval-style mansion, after sitting in the living room for a few minutes, a young man in gorgeous aristocratic costumes rushed in after a group of attendants.

Lu Xiao's first impression of this handsome young man was not very good. He was a little displeased by the arrogance deliberately shown by the other party's head held high.

"You are Lu who left many legends in Florence and Venice?"

The arrogant young man nodded symbolically to Lu Xiao: "Philippe de Messier, nice to meet you."

Philip hurriedly walked to sit opposite Lu Xiao, and the attendants lined up behind him. The other party seemed to think that this method could show his style.

"So, Lu"

"cough!"

Suddenly there was a suppressed angry cough from outside the door. Philip, who was trying to put on an arrogant posture before, shook his whole body, his high head drooped at a speed visible to the naked eye, and he was no longer as arrogant as before.

Oh?

Lu Xiao looked at the majestic middle-aged nobleman outside the door with great interest.

Under the angry gaze of the middle-aged nobleman, Philip seemed to have turned into a quail, shrinking his head and not daring to look up.

"Philip, who asked you to receive my distinguished guests without authorization, and also put on a funny posture like a country noble meeting a farmer?"

"Father."

"To shut up!"

The horsewhip in the middle-aged nobleman's hand exploded in the air, and Philip sat up straight trembling like a duck shot by a gun, not daring to talk back.

Glancing at Philip angrily, the middle-aged nobleman waved his hand resentfully: "Get out! Let me see you are ignorant again."

"Yes! Father."

Before the other party could finish speaking, Philip quickly left the living room with a group of dejected attendants.

"call"

Taking a deep breath to adjust his emotions, the middle-aged nobleman dissipated his anger and returned to his previous elegance and easygoing.

"Lu, nice to meet you."

The middle-aged nobleman introduced himself, "I am the leader of the French Brotherhood, Sainte de Messier. I hope you don't care about Philip's prank."

"Oh, of course not."

Lu Xiao smiled back and said: "I also met the dudes of the Auditore family in Florence. Children from noble families lacked experience when they were young, and they would indeed act more independent. As their experience increases, they will gradually become sensible. of."

Sente smiled wryly and shook his head: "Are you talking about Ezio? If Philip can turn back like Ezio in the future, I will be satisfied."

"Hey, that's all for the chat, let's get to the point."

Sente's face returned to seriousness: "As the leader of the French Brotherhood, I don't want to admit my incompetence, but the current situation really prevents us Assassins and Templars from acting. You came at the right time."

"The French Brotherhood of Assassins and the Knights Templar are almost equal in power. Once the two sides fall into the situation of holding each other back, it is difficult to decide the winner in a short period of time. Usually, external assistance is needed to break the situation."

"I have already learned the purpose of your coming to France from Giovanni's letter. As long as you can help the Brotherhood obtain the Holy Sword of Eden, I promise as the leader of the French Brotherhood that I can temporarily hand over the Holy Sword to you. with the Italian Brotherhood."

Lu Xiao nodded calmly: "Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Center, so where is the holy sword now?"

Sente rubbed his brows with a headache: "In the Louvre, the merchants who helped the pirates sell their stolen goods somehow learned about our and the Templars' secret concern for the holy sword."

"In a hurry to sell, he donated the Holy Sword to King Louis XI at a relatively low price, and it is now stored in the Louvre."