Chapter 720: Haidu Story

In 1000 AD, Venice at this time only had underground wooden houses, docks and warehouses, far from the appearance of the later ocean empire.

After the merchant ships left Venice at that time, they were often attacked by pirates, sometimes Normans, and sometimes mercenaries who had no business, which seriously affected the commercial development of Venice.

Before Oscioro became consul they relied on paying tribute to pirates to keep their trade safe. After he became the owner of the Doge's Palace, he refused to provide tribute, formed a powerful navy, personally participated in expeditions to fight against pirates, and relied on military strength to maintain the safety of Venice.

The land suitable for cultivation in Venice is scarce, and if it wants to develop and even survive, it must do more in business.

Therefore, after taking office, what Oscioro did before developing the navy was to expand Venice's business partners as much as possible.

So Oscioro sent ambassadors to sign trade agreements with Christian countries to explore more trade routes.

Merchants have always been despised by the nobles because they have no faith and loyalty at all, but is the Venetian approach essentially different from the later sacrilegious alliance between France and the Ottoman Empire? The same is a relationship of interest.

Like Venice, no country can maintain its state system for 1,000 years, including China, which has a history of 5,000 years. The Florentine Republic, which was established on the basis of believing in people's conscience, came to an end in 1530. The Republic of Venice, established on the basis of human conscience, lasted another 300 years after the demise of Florence.

The once swampy tidal flat has been transformed into a sea city. Although there are many profiteers, the Venetians are kind by nature and advocate peace. They don't want to be pirates.

Many tourists who come to Venice often complain about the commercialization of the city. There is no humanistic atmosphere of the Renaissance at all. They cannot let themselves be sprinkled with a layer of cultural fragrance, and there is a faint smell everywhere.

Venetians don't like tourists either, they prefer to be quiet and enjoy the coquettish beauty of this enchanting city.

It is the birthplace of the Renaissance in Western Europe and the "financial center" of medieval Europe. On May 12, 1797, the Congress of the Republic of Venice passed a resolution of non-resistance and surrender to Napoleon with 512 votes in favor, 20 votes against, and 5 abstentions. Four days later, 4,000 French soldiers entered Venice, and a country full of legends and dreams officially came to an end.

Napoleon is the pride of France, but the Italians don't like him. This "Emperor of France and Italy" plundered many treasures of the Italian Renaissance, and the French emperor came uninvited.

The so-called tragedy is to destroy beautiful things for the world to see. This dreamlike city is being destroyed, and it is gradually sinking into the bottom of the sea just like Atlantis.

No one wants to admit that they are persona non grata, especially those tourists who drive the local tourism industry.

A very simple reason is that the foundation of Venice is made of wooden piles one by one, which are laid in the soil. After they are firmly laid, formwork is laid, and then the house is built. Therefore, some people say that the city of Venice is covered with stones and the forest below.

The displacement of the giant tanker made its fragile foundation more severely damaged, and accelerated the sinking of Venice. The present generation has played with it, and future generations have no choice but to watch it. This is the characteristic of modern civilization.

A city has its carrying capacity. Venice is a typical capitalist society. Otherwise, you can live in a local hotel, eat and live on a cruise ship, disembark for a walk and leave. This city is not cheap prostitutes. If you don’t have money, don’t Come.

Oh, the people here are really vulgar, they look down on people without money.

Apart from doing business, the local people don't know any other way of life. It is impossible for everyone to be an artist like Titian and Michelangelo.

The helplessness of giving up dreams and running around for life is often encountered by many young people who are not ambitious. At first, Titian imitated his brother's paintings, almost to the point of being realistic, and then he developed his own style.

Women sometimes do the same, and have to come to terms with the fact that the Fabio family lived in a house that might have been the home of a prostitute.

But now the house is a female painter. There are several easels in the well-lit room, all of which are copies of world-famous paintings. This kind of hand-painted paintings will have a more oil-painting texture than printed ones. It is also Rosa’s supplementary household a way of

There are many things that can be sold. The little game that Pomona and Severus played, Alicia didn't need to sacrifice her life to keep the secret. The problem that Pomona thought of, Severus can solve with money .

Also when he was young, he was far less rich than James Potter, and he was also not favored by the god of love, and sometimes the god of love is so partial to the god of wealth.

"You're not like most tourists I've seen." A woman with short hair, all white hair, but a kind face said to her in a wheelchair. She had a very Greek nose. "I can tell you are who?"

"Witches." Pomona said while admiring Rosa's paintings, "Do you know where wizards meet?"

"I guess I can't tell you, I'm just a regular old woman."

"Your grandson and granddaughter said they saw it in your family's picture album." Pomona piled the cockroaches on her arm. "Don't worry, it's the 21st century, and no one will hunt wizards."

"This is Venice, and there are many wizards living here. Even in the Middle Ages, the problem you mentioned is probably the least of my worries." Rosa smiled and said, "But I really don't know where there are wizards, I'm just a squib , I did not choose to stay in the wizarding world, the Muggle world is just as beautiful."

"But you keep that book, why?" Pomona asked, "You're still curious about that world, right?"

"Who is not interested in magic?" Rosa said lightly, "but I think you should also be very interested in Muggles. You didn't wonder why the paintings on those paintings were the same as my father when you saw them for the first time. Nobody moves."

"I think static also has its beauty."

"This is what my mother told him. The beauty that freezes in that moment constitutes eternity. You can understand this, which is already unknown to those who have been living in the wizarding world."

"Where's your father?"

"He participated in the war led by Grindelwald, died on the battlefield, and he was on the side of anti-bloodism."

"Because your mother is a Muggle?"

"Yes, I regret not being a half-blood wizard, but I don't regret being his daughter. That album was bought as a birthday present for me. He thought I should know a little bit about the wizarding world even if I couldn't go to magic school." s story."

"So what made you choose to stay in the Muggle world."

"It's a beautiful city, and I stayed here." Rosa said looking out the window, "It's a wise choice."

"You chose a Muggle as your husband." Pomona paused and said, "Have you ever regretted it?"

"I believe you chose a wizard, witch, do you regret it?" She looked at the paintings. "I can see you liked them."

"Just because I like art doesn't mean I choose a Muggle life for it."

"I like the stories of wizards, but it doesn't mean I want to choose the life of wizards. I am fine now. My son and granddaughter are with me. In the early years, I put down my paintbrush to make a living. Now my son supports me to continue pursuing my dream. He He also said that I will be like Dandolo, and I can achieve great achievements at the age of 90." Rosa said with a wry smile, "He still likes to make me laugh as much as when he was a child."

Pomona recalled the middle-aged woman in the restaurant. She was doing well, she always had a happy smile on her face, and she looked like Penny in a certain way.

Enrico Dandolo, a blind 90-year-old man, became consul of Venice at the time of the Fourth Crusade.

Investing in war is a very risky act. If the Crusaders lose, all the investment will be in vain, but if the Crusaders win, Venice can become a new ocean empire.

After careful consideration, Dandolo decided that the Venetians would fund the construction of ships, prepare supplies, and use the national fortune to gamble on this game.

After the agreement between the two parties was reached, Venice began to build a large number of warships and provided sufficient supplies for the Crusaders. However, the number of soldiers summoned by the Crusaders lords was far from meeting expectations, but the ships had already been built. Ships were lost, and the Crusaders were heavily in debt.

Dandolo thought of another idea. He controlled the Crusaders by threatening debts and used this army to serve Venice. In this way, the Crusaders pointed the finger at Venice's long-standing master, the Byzantine Empire.

While the Republic of Venice helped the Byzantine Empire undertake the defense work, the Republic of Venice itself grew stronger.

The Roman emperor did not expect that the dagger used to deal with the enemy would stab himself one day.

"What is this painting?" Pomona walked to a completed painting that was being framed.

"That's the oil painting of the Governor's Palace, the Madonna who is not afraid of Roman soldiers." Rosa said lightly, "But sometimes, women are not afraid of war, but men are. How sad. I'm so happy that I have a brave son."

Is this why Maria, who is holding her son's body, smiles?

"Why don't you copy the Mona Lisa?"

"I've never seen that oil painting, and I don't want to copy it either." Rosa shook her head, "I don't like that woman."

"Why?"

"Do you like her?" Rosa asked back.

"No." Pomona said helplessly.

"Why?" Rosa asked again.

Because she was so noticeable, like those young girls skiing in bikinis, stealing the limelight from the old lady.

Smiling is sometimes to please others, since you can't please everyone, why bother to please others with a fake smile?

She didn't want to live to please others, even if the price of doing so was death.

"Rosa, can you do me a favor?"

"Let's see if I can help you with this, tourist."

"My husband is looking for me. If he finds me, he might kill me." Pomona imitated him, twisting her lips, smiling maliciously, and speaking half-truths "Don't tell him I'm going to the Governor's Mansion."

"Since you don't want him to know, why did you tell me?" Rosa asked strangely.

"Because it's a secret," Pomona said with a smile.