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As the citizens fled in panic, the well-trained legion under the diamond banner entered the town. They not only captured the lord's family, who was trying to escape with rolls of gold and silver, but also found a map of the surrounding area.
The map was indeed a valuable thing.
In an era without satellite reconnaissance, people had no idea what other regions were like, where mountains or seas were located.
The modern, scientific concept of map-making was only just beginning to take shape, and the map in the parchmentscroll was vague with few markings. Still, it provided enough reference.
Beyond Massa, it was La Spezia.
And taking La Spezia would bring them to the doorstep of Genoa.
This small city had a self-sufficient system, with food and fisheries developed to a mediocre degree, and commercial trade was rough, based on private dealings without independent caravans.
Its only specialty was its high-quality marble.
However, the marble was heavy and hard to transport, so its sales to the outside were limited.
— Perhaps Michelangelo would like it here.
Hedy did not stay in the city long. She instructed Luris's second brother to send a small group of people to remain stationed here, telling them to check fingerprints when receiving orders and to take good care of the messenger horses.
The army rested in and around the city for three days before continuing their march north.
Luka, Massa, La Spezia…
She sat in the carriage, listening to Leonardo playing the olive branch, and suddenly thought of something. She opened the curtain and looked at Luris, who was riding alongside: "Do you know anything about La Spezia?"
"I heard it's controlled by the Genoese, and the guards are pretty strict," Luris mocked. "But it's just a matter of one or two cannon shots, nothing to be too nervous about."
"I mean—does the city have any resources?"
"Resources?" Luris stroked his chin, indicating he wasn't sure.
But Mr. Fabio, who was sitting on the ox cart behind her, suddenly said something that seemed to answer the question.
Hedy stuck her head out of the window and asked, "What is the old man saying?"
The knight grinned and, with one hand, hoisted the old man onto his horse. The old man, flailing his arms, almost fell off but glared at her angrily.
"That's the place where heretics are punished," the old man, refusing to hold on to her, clung tightly to the saddle with both hands, swaying beside the window as he spoke. "There are countless coal deposits there—my lady, you know how bishops punish heretics. They force those sinners to drag such filthy things around; it can even stain their souls!"
Hedy frowned and repeated, "Coal? You mean the kind of coal used for fuel?"
"Not just coal fields..." The old man, jostled by the horse like he was sitting on a trampoline, spoke in intermittent bursts. "It's a place full of sin, even the spring water that flows underground is the devil's black blood!"
Hedy felt her mind go blank. She knew what this information meant.
Wasn't the naval and munitions base of Italy a hundred years later located right here?
When she had looked through battle reports and news articles, she seemed to recall seeing images of submarines or something similar—
Which meant this place could very well serve as a breeding ground for modern industry?
Abundant fuel, an excellent deep-water harbor, and the ability to connect Genoa and Luka, with the protection of the Apennine Mountains behind it.
What a lucky coincidence!
The army had been split twice, and now there were only around five thousand mercenaries left.
