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The fastest thing in the world is light, and sound comes second.
If it were daytime, they could use the color changes in the flags to convey messages, much like Morse code.
Although she still held a fondness and nostalgia for the idea of radio, the existence of radio would only become feasible once people understood how electricity could be stored and transmitted—something that would have to wait until after this war ended.
Moreover, if she truly had to explain the concept of electricity, she couldn’t avoid discussing many things that wouldn’t happen for several hundred years in the future… This was also one of the reasons she hesitated about marrying him.
Hopefully, all these concerns could be resolved smoothly.
“During the day, we can use bright colors to convey messages.” Hedy showed them her sketches. “Black, yellow, red…”
“Flags—” Niccolò’s face lit up with realization. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of flags!”
“Exactly, and…”
“The colors of the flags can easily be tied to commands, and we can write combinations to create different effects!” The young man jumped up excitedly, grabbing her sketchbook and quickly crouching down to scribble. He was muttering to himself as if performing a mass, already lost in his work.
It seemed like he could complete all the designs on his own.
The idea of flag signaling and different ways to display it during the day and night entered the design process at a rapid pace. As the secretaries passed the meeting room, they saw various generals and artists arguing, their faces turning red as they bickered passionately.
As the weather began to cool, Christmas finally arrived.
Genoa’s way of celebrating the holiday was quite different from Florence’s, but the locals’ enthusiasm for floats and theatrical performances was no less fervent.
People in costume reenacted miracles and myths, while many foreign merchants came and went in the port.
The whole city was alive with organized prosperity. The winter was as warm as spring, and the rain was infrequent.
By early spring of 1487, their army finally returned in triumph.
In just five short months, the entire army had conquered and absorbed all the nearby duchies and knightly territories, and along the way, they recruited over ten mercenary bands of varying sizes.
When they first set out, they had only around four thousand men, but by the time they returned, their numbers had grown to seven thousand.
Not only had Ferrara and Asti sworn loyalty, but from Genoa to the coastal mountains, they had taken control of the entire coastline.
The power of their cannons and matchlock guns was enough to intimidate all of Europe. The bloodthirsty mercenaries were mad for it. It was said that some even offered up their sisters to the brown-haired, brown-eyed general in exchange for a matchlock rifle of their own—only to be promptly thrown out of the office.
The neutral small towns were powerless to resist such conquest, and upon hearing the commotion, they quickly raised their white flags.
Meanwhile, other cities that put up resistance clearly didn’t fare as well.
The mercenaries of the Zino family were cold-blooded and fierce enough, scattered like a pack of battle-hungry wolves, nearly pushing across the mountains to strike at France.
Now, the lord of Genoa held lands that resembled a crescent moon on the Ligurian Sea, their total area surpassing that of Florence in the present day.
—And the reputation of this female lord had begun to spread across the royal courts of Europe.
Hedy stood with her ministers, waiting outside the western city gate, watching the long line of soldiers return in triumph.
Her general sat atop a black horse, his smile gentle and radiant.
Leonardo had grown even more handsome and mature, his entire demeanor exuding a calm yet sharp presence.
He signaled for his horse to stop, dismounted, and walked toward her.
Unscathed, though looking slightly thinner, he knelt on one knee before her, lowering his head to kiss the back of her hand.
