Outside the tent, a storm raged with thunder and lightning; inside, candles burned brightly, and everyone sat together as the dinner had already begun.
War was imminent, and alcohol was forbidden in the army. As the Pope and the Commanders of various armies, they should set a good example. Furthermore, Pisani was advanced in age and should not drink, so they opted for tea instead of wine.
Augustus gave a simple opening speech, and after some polite exchanges among the attendees, they began to eat.
Everyone was mostly eating their own food, with hardly a word spoken for a long time. Compared to the banquet held for Riccardo's arrival a few days ago, the atmosphere of this banquet was much more subdued.
The people from the Papal States knew this was a deception, and each of them was cautious in their words and actions, fearing they might let something slip. Riccardo himself was hostile towards Venice and was only sitting there for the greater good, so he also preferred not to speak much. As for Venice, Pisani was enjoying his food with gusto, looking as if he did not wish to be disturbed.
While others remained silent, Augustus could not simply eat in silence and be done with it. That would not be in line with the etiquette of hospitality, and this banquet would lose its purpose.
Moreover, the Venetians had a trick up their sleeve; most of their naval power was still in their own hands. If they felt neglected or if the situation seemed off, they were highly likely to find an excuse not to send the Navy later.
Augustus deliberated for a long time, and finally, he bit the bullet and made conversation: "Pisani Commander, Ferrara is poor, not as prosperous as Venice, so the ingredients and cooking conditions are naturally inferior. I wonder if today's dishes are to your liking?"
"Not bad," Pisani replied without lifting his head, chewing his food. "Although it is indeed far from the delicacies of our Venice, it is still passable. Edible."
He was clearly expressing approval, but his arrogant demeanor and condescending tone made people very uncomfortable.
Duke was about to reprimand him but noticed that the Pope showed no sign of displeasure, merely taking a sip of tea calmly. Duke felt puzzled but quickly composed himself and adjusted his expression to appear natural.
The faces of the other people present were more or less off, and the air seemed to freeze in an instant, but Pisani seemed blissfully unaware, continuing to enjoy the delicacies on his plate.
"Pisani Commander, isn't that a bit rude to speak like that!" Riccardo was unaware of the Papal States' high-level plans, nor did he pay any attention to the Pope's reaction.
Sitting with the Venetians for the greater good did not mean he had to tolerate them in every way. Allowing the Venetians to be arrogant at the banquet would not only be an embarrassment for the Papal States, but he, as the Admiral of the Navy of Tuscany present, would also be partly to blame. So he spoke out righteously.
Pisani then put down his knife and fork, not even glancing at Riccardo, and directly raised his hand towards the Pope, saying, "My apologies, truly my apologies. When one gets old, it's easy to get too engrossed in things. I was just immersed in the food and momentarily neglected His Holiness the Pope's question. I beg your pardon."
Augustus waved his hand and said, "No matter, you and I are comrades in arms, partners who live and die together. Why bother with such formalities! Pisani Commander, you can speak freely."
"Thank you, Your Holiness," Pisani said, glancing at Riccardo with a hint of mockery.
Riccardo's anger was instantly ignited, and he snorted coldly, "Didn't you just say that the food here is inferior to Venice? How are you so immersed in it now? Perhaps even the banquet hosted by His Holiness the Pope cannot cater to you Venetian bigwigs who have tasted all the delicacies!"
Seeing that Pisani was completely unmoved, Riccardo became even more furious and continued, "You say that at your age, you should be enjoying your twilight years, eating your fill and enjoying family happiness in Venice. Venice actually sent you to serve as the Commander of the fleet, aren't they afraid you'll die halfway? Is Venice truly devoid of talent?"
"Oh, how could the food meticulously prepared and warmly served by His Holiness the Pope not be delicious? This is simply the most delicious food I have ever eaten in my life!
As for Venice's food being better, I was just speaking casually. His Holiness the Pope didn't take it to heart, so why are you, a young man from Tuscany, so stubborn!"
No matter how Riccardo provoked him with words, Pisani remained completely unconcerned. Pisani simply chose to ignore Riccardo's later remarks, making Riccardo feel as if he was punching cotton, with nowhere to exert force.
Pisani's attitude suddenly did a 360-degree turn, catching everyone off guard.
Indeed, the older ginger is spicier. There was a reason Venice sent him; one cannot be careless! Augustus thought to himself.
"Pisani Commander, you flatter me. If you like it, that's all the better. Please enjoy," Augustus said humbly first, then turned and said, "Pass it on, heavily reward the chefs who prepared the banquet today."
"Your Holiness the Pope's kind treatment of us Venetians truly flatters me. On behalf of all Venetian officers and soldiers, I solemnly thank His Holiness the Pope!" With this leverage, Pisani became even more energized.
"Slick-tongued and glib!" Seeing that His Holiness the Pope was inexplicably favoring Pisani, Riccardo was displeased and muttered softly.
To everyone's surprise, Pisani not only heard him but also cheerfully saluted Riccardo, saying, "You flatter me!"
"Your Holiness the Pope, I am feeling unwell today, so I will take my leave now." With that, Riccardo stood up directly and strode out of the tent without looking back.
Augustus had long expected Riccardo to be displeased, but he hadn't expected Riccardo to be so impatient. Augustus was secretly pleased and gave a knowing look, and Karl chased after him to appease Riccardo.
Pisani watched Riccardo's retreating back, his heart filled with the joy of a successful scheme. Excluding Tuscany, and even harming Tuscany in the subsequent war, would allow Venice to gain more benefits in the post-war distribution and also allow Venice to be in a more transcendent position in the regional balance.
"Pisani Commander, don't worry about it. Come, let's continue. I will toast you with tea. For the upcoming battle with the Ottoman Empire, we still need your strong support!" With that, Augustus even solemnly raised his cup.
Pisani followed suit, raising a cup of tea to return Augustus's toast.
"If possible, I hope the Venetian Navy can be ready as soon as possible. I also want our Navy to open up the sea lanes and create some trouble for the Ottoman Empire before the allied forces are fully assembled," Augustus urged cautiously.
"Naturally, I will write to the Doge immediately to urge him," Pisani replied readily.
Whether on the battlefield or in daily life, the more power one holds, the more advantageous one's position. Pisani was very clear about this.
Sending ships in batches for safety and determining the final number based on the Papal States' attitude was itself the result of negotiations among those in power in Venice.