Vol 6 Chapter 13: "Death is coming"

The 15th century was a chaotic era. At the end of this century, people were lost.
There are also many things that happened during this New Year's greetings, some have long been forgotten, and some are deeply into everyone's heart.
For Europeans on the west coast of the Mediterranean, the fall of Constantinople shocked them, and the power of the Crescent Empire dreaded them, but these are far away after all, especially for Western Europeans. These things seem to be ignored Asked, but one thing happened to them at any time and anywhere, which made them hateful.
That is corruption and oppression from the church.
The Pope's corruption and depravity openly support mistresses. Bishops stared at each bone like greedy wild dogs, and the priests' unscrupulous mixing with nun ghosts has become a common phenomenon nowadays.
A devout priest who adheres to Benedict ’s canon is just a different kind, and wanton behavior and the accumulation of unrighteous wealth have become the most normal thing. This kind of atmosphere is from the Vatican to almost every corner of the parish. Is happening.
Savonarola decided to completely change all this because of the intolerance of such abhorrent things, but his ending was burned to the torture rack.
Machiavelli was once one of Savonarola's most loyal followers, and his radicalism at the time gained the favor and trust of Savonarola, which also helped him to be in Savonarola's government. The position he laid laid the foundation, but Machiavelli was utilitarian and realistic. He could celebrate the devotion of the monk while thinking about himself, which allowed him to think about the new government after the fall of Savonarola. Regained appreciation.
Although this behavior may not be likeable, Machiavelli is undoubtedly a man with a bright mind and a keen insight.
So although there were only a few lines of text on the paper, he quickly found something shocking and even dangerous from it. He quickly looked at the door and waited for Mahimo after making sure there were no people nearby. Stop it, take the paper to the burning wax table in the corner and ignite it.
Mahimo tried to stand up, but then sat back slowly, but Machiavelli did not intend to let him go like this, watching the paper finally burn into a cloud of ashes, falling with the wind blowing from the window. On the ground, Machiavelli walked a few steps to Mahimo and lowered his voice in an angry question: "What are you going to do, kill all of us, do you know what you have written? Your dangerous ideas are from Where does it appear or who said something to you? "
Mahimo looked silently at Machiavelli's wickedly ruined face, picked up the cup on the table and drank, and then he slowly said, "Are you afraid?"
"Of course I'm scared because the man's torture stand is still standing on the outside square like a piece of art. Every time I pass there, I can still smell the disgusting charred skin, and you do it now. It ’s about adding firewood to the next torture, and being burned to death is you. "
Machiavelli murmured angrily, his expression was indeed a little panic, or Mahimo's move really terrified him.
The position of the dean of St. Mark ’s Abbey is prominent. Whether it is the former dean or later Savonarola who directly became the ruler of Florence, the dean of St. Mark ’s Abbey can become a huge influence on Florence if he wants to. , Or even directly intervene in the fate of the city.
But because of this status, what kind of uproar would be caused if the things written by Mahimo, even if they were just words, would make Machiavelli creepy.
"A true ruler will not do what he cannot do, because that would only put himself in a dangerous situation, but you have now put us all in danger."
Machiavelli started rummaging through boxes and cabinets in the house. He ignored that Mahimo just kept turning around, and then piled everything he thought was dangerous on the table.
"Look at what books you read," On Florentine "," Florence "," Victory of the Cross "," Analysis of the Apocalypse ", God, don't you want to be the next to be sentenced to death by being tied to the torture rack People? "
"We should not watch the fall continue to damage our world and spirit," Mahimo shook his head self-deprecatingly. "It's funny to say that I am just such a person. I am an inexperienced person, a liar and a lecher. The disciple, until one day he knew that someone could achieve this level for his ideals, and even sacrifice his life, so I do n’t think it ’s possible to do it anymore, because it ’s because of doing something. "
"Shouldn't you do it!" Machiavelli refuted unkindly. "Do you know you have put us all in danger, and what do you think the Earl did for you to come to Florence, just to let you Will one day become the second martyr? "
Hearing Machiavelli ’s words, Mahimo looked up. He looked at the Florentine in front of him with a complex expression, and said with an ironic tone: "Listen to your tone as if the count is your master, not a Officials in Florence. "
Machiavelli, who was busy, paused. He unnaturally coughed to cover the embarrassment flashed on his face, and then continued to turn around in the house until he found out what he thought was dangerous. Sit down like a tone.
"Listen to me not arguing with you. Everything I did was for Florence. You should already know what Savonarola ruled when you ruled the city. Do you think his pizza is better than that? Was it better when the Medici family ruled? "
There was a hint of hesitation in Mahimo's face, and he could not but admit that Machiavelli's question was sharp, or directly hit him.
The private life of the Florentine people during Savonarola's reign was not only extremely poor, but even the problem of eating was difficult. Many originally wealthy families became extremely poor, and most ordinary civilian families were due to the depression of the city. Lost job.
What Savonarola can do in that situation is not to find solutions to these problems, but to try to move God to help them with non-stop prayer.
It can be said that Savonarola not only tempered himself with hard work, but also led the entire city to extreme poverty.
"My mission is not to make people happy, but to make everyone, including me, suffer."
This seems to be the ultimate goal of Savonarola.
Seeing Mahimo's silence, Machiavelli did not feel complacent. He knew that Mahimo was just confused for a while. What made him care was that Mahimo was obviously deeply affected by Savonarola, which worried him. The monk may cause trouble to all of them in the future.
"Maybe you should contact the earl as soon as possible. I think he should make you awake," Machiavelli said helplessly. "And do you really think that the Florentines need the kind of piety you think?"
The muscles on Mahimo's face shook slightly, and he knew why Machiavelli asked that. Like people in many places he had seen, the Florentines seemed to be accustomed to the life of indulging in luxury, especially civilians. As the fanatical worship of Savonarola dissipated, the civilians began to pursue a desire for freedom and a more comfortable life than before. This radically different change is even more than some nobles and artists. Strongly, at least Botticelli still insisted that it was correct to take the initiative to burn his own paintings on the day of the false fire, but the people have begun to wear beautiful clothes and jewelry that were absolutely prohibited by the Savonarola era. Take the streets to enjoy the beautiful city view that many people can't enjoy in this era.
Of course, Mahimo knew about these changes, and this is where he was puzzled. He did n’t understand why the people were so forgetful or even ungrateful, and what Savonarola did for them seemed to be in a short time. When they were forgotten, they forgot to say nothing, and they even rewarded his self-sacrifice with more depraved behavior.
"I hope to see the earl earlier," Machiavelli said again, and he sat down to take a breath, then slowly said, "Believe my friend, you ’d better not do anything now, in fact, you did well before. You know, Sazi still pays attention to you, and he often feels uneasy even if he does n’t know what you think. "
"Is it because I don't go out all day?" Mahimo asked sarcastically, seeing Machiavelli nod slowly, and the monk's expression became serious. "Tell me what you are going to do, I know you are Do something for the count, but you have to tell me what you want to do. "
"I'm doing things for Florence," Machiavelli still did not forget to correct before saying his goal. "The government of Sazi is not very good now. Savonarola is leaving a very bad situation. If you know Sazi knows how bad his life is when he takes over the city. "
Mahimo nodded, but he could imagine that the rule of the Savonarola era had made Florence's situation very bad, and the subsequent economic invasion by Alexander made the situation uncontrollable.
Mahimo even felt that Sazi was already amazing. At least so far the city has been able to maintain it without collapse, which is one of the reasons why he feels confused.
Obviously, if it is still under the rule of Savonarola, perhaps without the promotion of Alexandria, Florence may have been completely bankrupt. It is the Sazi government's efforts to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
"Maybe the count is not doing right," Mahimo said suddenly, but then shook his head again. "But even if there is no count, there will be others."
"You shouldn't think about it like this. The count is different from us," Machiavelli said disapprovingly. "For the monarch, morality is not something he should consider, he just needs to consider how to make morality fit his arrangement."
Mahimo obviously did not accept this argument. He flicked his lips and picked up the glass on the table, and then looked at Machiavelli: "Let me come to see me for what?"
"The earl is coming back," Machiavelli repeated again, watching Mahimo take it seriously, before he continued. "I think whether it is for historical reasons or the actual intimacy today, We all seem to have a closer relationship with Pisa, so this needs your help. "
Massimo glanced at Machiavelli, and instead of speaking immediately, he groaned slightly.
"What are you waiting for? Isn't that your mission to Florence?" Machiavelli urged. "You are the dean of St. Mark's Abbey. This is so important. Only you can guarantee this proposal. Pass, be aware that many people are very dissatisfied with the pizza robbery, but they obviously do not see the benefit to us by doing so. "
After a while, Massimo nodded slowly: "To be honest, I'm a little confused now, I don't know what is right."
"This is not good news," Machiavelli shook his head, looking at the monk with a somber face. "Do you know where Savonarola is really powerful? He always thinks he is right, even if the whole world is against it He, he is still the only one who is right. This is why he dared to be an enemy of everyone and even the Pope. If you ca n’t do what he did, I advise you to make yourself easier. "
Massimo pondered a little before sighing softly.
Seeing that Massimo finally seemed to compromise, Machiavelli secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At this time, he really hoped that Alexander would come to Florence as soon as possible, because he did not know what would happen to Massimo in the future.
When two Florentines disputed the future fate of the city, Alexander had already arrived in a town not far from the city.
The appearance of the hunting guards caused a little panic among the people in the town, but after seeing this army seems not so difficult, the townspeople calmed down.
The town is not very big, but the scenery is very good. From the high side of the town overlooking the entire city, the picturesque scenery of Florence is presented like a perfect work.
Although he was in a hurry, Alexander was not in a hurry to enter the city after arriving here. He asked Aufrei to find a comfortable house in the town and live in, and sent someone to send a letter to Florence.
As the Earl of Montina, suddenly visiting another city is certainly not so simple, not to mention his current identity, if he does not inform the Florentines of his arrival in time, it is easy to attract all kinds of criticism and speculation.
However, as he said to Barendi, there are some things that are not suitable for writing in a letter, or not suitable for landing on paper, so that in the future it may become a handle that falls into the hands of others.
From Medici to Savonarola, and now to the new government headed by Sacchi, Florence has experienced too many things, although Alexander did not show up when he tried Savonalola before, even when After he left, many people did not know that the Earl of Montina had been here, but the government officials in Florence knew very well that although the Earl acted in a low-key manner, his actions outside Chen Bingcheng were once ordered. Those Florentine figures were so worried that it was the deterrent of Montina's army, that even when the Savonarola sentenced, the emissaries sent by the Pope exerted great pressure on the Florentines, forcing them to finally have to make Capital punishment.
What most remembered the rulers of Florence was the economic looting by Pisa against Florence. The catastrophe even nearly made the city famous for prosperity collapse.
Now everyone knows that the true ruler of Pisa is the earl.
So when the messenger dispatched by Alexander just appeared at the gate of the city, Sazi received the news and hurried to the Medici Palace, which had been renamed the People's Palace, and saw several other ruling officers who came to the same news. Qi's heart relaxed a little, but then he cried again: "Where is Nicolo, I want to see him now!"
"Your Excellency, the secretary seems to have gone to St. Mark's Abbey."
A small official responded carefully, and before waiting for his words to drop, Sazi had annoyed the order: "Go and recruit Nicolo and tell him I need him here!"
The little official immediately turned around and ran. Although he didn't know what happened, he could see that the ruling adult's angry appearance also knew that it would not be a good thing.
"Why did Count Montina suddenly come to Florence?" A governor asked with some worry, and saw other people's eyes looking at Sazi, and the governor also cast his eyes on the chief ruling.
"Who knows, maybe the Pope has any new intentions," Sazi whispered uncertainly, and the death of Savonarola eased the relationship between Florence and the Vatican, at least the two sides were not as good as before Opposition to each other, but this does not mean that they have become harmonious with the pope, on the contrary, after the common enemy against Savonarola, after the cooperation ended, the short-term alliance between the two sides was declared broken.
The Vatican ’s attempt to regain control of Florence has never changed, and even if Savonarola has turned into ashes, it does not mean that the Florentines are willing to bow to the Pope, so that the relationship between the two parties becomes subtle. Woke up.
"How many troops did Count Montina bring?" Sazi asked anxiously, noticing the strangeness and even the uneasy expression of panic on the faces of other people who heard his words, but he did not blame those people. It would be so unrelenting, regarding the record of Montina ’s army in the Balkans, it has been gradually passed back to Italy, which has caused many Florentines to take to the streets and shouted
arms of God
in excitement, but now When they faced this army themselves, the Florentine talent was shocked to find out how terrible the enemy they were dealing with.
"Sorry, we don't know that the count's messenger came suddenly, and we don't even know where the count and his army are now." A captain of the civilian army replied in a panic. He was chattering, but this was not the case. It is because of character, but because of fear.
"Why didn't Nicolo come yet?" Sazi asked again impatiently, "Let him go to see the count, at least to explore his intentions ~ EbookFREE.me ~ A few rulings take it quite seriously Agrees that Machiavelli once worked for Count Montina. Many people know that even if he can become the second secretary of Sazi, it has a lot to do with this.
"Now if someone can tell me why the count is coming to Florence, I can even promise him any conditions." Looking at the officials who were in a hurry, Sazi said annoyed to those around him.
"Really?" A loud voice came from outside the room. Along with this voice, a tall, gray figure appeared in front of several consuls. "If I can hear his intentions, you really Can you promise me any conditions? "
Sazi looked at this sudden and stout man for a while before he calmed down. He looked at this rather familiar man with some doubt, but nodded and asked slightly suspiciously: "So You can get news for us. If this is the case, I will keep my promise and promise you the conditions, but first tell me who you are? "
Faced with Sazi's inquiry, the big man puffed up his dirty robes, and then answered in a slightly proud tone: "Bonarotti, my name is Michelangelo Bonarotti, I am Old friend of Count Montina. "