Chapter 28 Chapter Twenty Eight

Machiavelli came to Senigallia with the duke.He had a day of anxiety.It is dangerous to go out alone or without a weapon.If it was really necessary for him to leave the shabby inn where he lived temporarily, he took Piero and his servants very carefully.He didn't want to be killed by excitable Gascon fighters, or worse, by drunken soldiers. At eight o'clock that evening the duke summoned him.Before that, every time Machiavelli met the Duke, he was accompanied by other personnel from the Duke's side, either secretaries, clergy, or members of the Duke's staff.But this time, contrary to his expectations, the officials who brought him to meet the Duke led him into the room where the Duke was, and immediately withdrew.So he and the Duke were alone together for the first time.

The duke was in high spirits.With his dark brown hair, neatly trimmed beard, rosy face, and piercing eyes, he seemed to Machiavelli more handsome than ever.He may have been but the illegitimate son of a cunning priest, but he had the appearance and bearing of a king.As usual, he got right to the point. "And now I have done your lords a great favor by killing their enemies," said he. "I want you to write them a letter asking them to gather their infantry and combine them with their cavalry and send them to me so that together we can march towards Castello or Perugia." "Perugia?"

A happy smile appeared on the Duke's face. "Baglione refused to sign the agreement with those men, leaving them saying: 'If Cesare Borgia wants to find me, he can come to Perugia with troops and come to me'. That's what I'm going to do now." Machiavelli thought to himself, those who signed the agreement did not end well.But he restrained himself from speaking, and just smiled. "Destroying Vitellozzo and Orsini would cost the Custodium a fortune, and they're far from being as clean as I am. I don't think they can be ungrateful." "I'm sure they mean nothing like that, sir."

The Duke smiled, but his cunning eyes were fixed on Machiavelli. "In that case, let them show their sincerity. They haven't lifted a finger so far. What I have done for them should be worth 100,000 ducats to them. Their obligation is not There is no legal requirement, it's just a tacit understanding, and I think they'd better start fulfilling these obligations now." Machiavelli knew very well that the ruling body would be furious at such a demand.He didn't want to let himself pass such a request.He was glad he had figured out how to get out. "I think I should tell your Excellency that I have asked my government to recall me. I pointed out to them that they should have an envoy here of a higher status and authority than mine. I think that if your excellency can agree with my It would be more rewarding for the successor to talk about it."

"You're right, I'm sick and tired of your government's stalling. It's time to ask them to make up their minds whether to be with me or against me. I should have left the city , but if I do that, the city will be in a catastrophe. Andrea Doria will dedicate the castle tomorrow morning, and when I'm done I'll set out for Castello and Perugia. I'm in When I'm done there, I'll turn my attention to Siena." "Will the King of France allow you to take the cities that are under his protection?" "He won't, and I'm not stupid enough to think he would. My suggestion is to gather them together under the banner of the Church. All I want for myself is my city-state, Romania."

Machiavelli sighed.He had to admire this person's fighting spirit and his high self-confidence that once he made up his mind, he would be invincible. "No one will doubt that you have been favored by fate, Your Excellency." He began. "Fate favors those who know how to seize the opportunity. Do you think that the owner of the castle is only willing to give the castle to me? It's a coincidence, and it happens to be a coincidence that is beneficial to me. In the end, I took advantage of it? " "I don't think so. It would be unfair to you, Your Excellency. Seeing what happened today, I guess you were prepared."

The Duke laughed. "I like you, Mr. Clerk. You are a man to talk to. I will miss you." He paused for what seemed to be a considerable time, and then looked at Machiavelli with inquiring eyes: "I almost really wish you were serving under me." "Your Excellency is really kind. But I am very satisfied with serving the Republic of Florence." "What good does it do you to work for them? They pay you so little that you have to borrow money from your friends to cover your expenses." Machiavelli had just felt an opportunity to refute, when suddenly he remembered the twenty-five ducats that Bartolomeo had lent him.

"I'm not good at money, and I'm extravagant," he replied with a pleasant smile. "It's really my own fault if I sometimes live beyond my means." "You would never be like this if you served me. It is very pleasant to be able to find a ring, a bracelet or a brooch for a beautiful lady when one is trying to please the lady .” "My policy is to only find women who are easygoing and unassuming to fulfill my desires." "This principle is only good when one can control one's desires. Who can predict how much magic love can exert on a man? Have you never discovered, my lord, that when a man loves How much money will it cost to find a beautiful woman?"

The Duke looked at Machiavelli with a mocking look.For a moment Machiavelli wondered uncomfortably to himself whether it was possible for the Duke to realize that his desire for Aurelia had not been satisfied?But as soon as the idea came up, he was dismissed.The duke had too many worries to worry about the affairs of an envoy of the Florentine Republic. "I still prefer to believe that my principles are feasible, and I am willing to let others have those happiness and the price to pay for these happiness." The Duke gazed thoughtfully at Machiavelli.You might guess that the duke was wondering what kind of man this was, but the question was out of idle curiosity rather than any hidden motive.It's like when you are sitting alone with another stranger in the living room of the office, you will try to judge from the appearance of the other person what industry, occupation, habit and personality he has.

"Actually, I should have thought that you are so sensitive that you won't be willing to be a subject in the rest of your life." The Duke said. "I learned from Aristotle that only the superior wisdom can make a person cultivate the mean way of life." "Could it be that you have no ambition at all?" "Not at all, sir," replied Machiavelli, smiling. "My ambition is to serve my country to the best of my ability." "That's the kind of thing you can't get support for. You know better than anyone that in a republic a man of talent is not trusted. A man rises to a high position on the basis of his mediocrity, because only mediocrity makes his colleagues feel less threatened. This is why a democracy is not led and ruled by competent men, but by a bunch of insignificant people who will not cause panic among the people. The reason why people are ruling. Do you know what corrodes the heart of a democracy?"

He looked at Machiavelli, as if waiting for Machiavelli's answer, but Machiavelli did not answer him. "Envy and fear. Those little men in the yamen are jealous of their fellow men. They would not wish for any one of them to gain prestige, but would rather prevent someone from taking a certain measure, even if that measure was vital to the life of the nation." Abolition is crucial. Also they are fearful, they know that there are many people around them, who are ready to replace them by any means, including lying and using tricks. What is the result? The result is the degree to which these people are afraid of doing the wrong thing far outweighs their zeal to do the right thing. The man who said a dog doesn't bite a dog has never lived under a democratic government." Machiavelli remained silent.How much truth there is in the prince's words, he himself knows best.He well remembers how fiercely the campaign for the office he now held had been fought, and how he had beaten his opponent so badly that he had seized it.He also knew how his colleagues watched his every step, ready to catch his inadvertent mistakes so that the ruling group could fire him.The duke went on. "A prince like myself is free to appoint people on merit. He does not need to give office to an incompetent person just because he wants to gain a person's influence, or to reward the support of a group behind him. He does not Afraid of any competition, for he stands above it. So instead of favoring and promoting mediocrity, he seeks talent, energy, initiative and intelligence. No wonder things are getting worse in your republic. Measure whether a man should Advancement to a position depends on his ability to do so." Machiavelli smiled slightly. "If Your Excellency allows, I would like to remind Your Excellency that the favor of a monarch is notoriously unreliable. The will of the monarch can lift a person to the sky or trample a person to the ground." The duke couldn't help being amused too, and laughed frankly. "You are thinking of Ramiro de Roelca. A prince must know how to reward and how to punish. His rewards must be generous and his punishments severe. Ramiro committed a heinous crime, He deserved to die. What would have happened if he had been in Florence? Surely there would be some who would resent his death sentence, and there must be some who would intercede for him, because they had benefited from his evil deeds. The ruling body will hesitate in the end, and in the end they will send him as an envoy to me or to the King of France." Machiavelli laughed. "Believe me, Your Excellency, the envoys sent by the ruling group to you are impeccable in character." "He may bore me to the extreme. There is no doubt that I will miss you, Mr. Secretary." Speaking of this, as if a thought suddenly came to his mind, he showed a warm smile to Machiavelli: "Why don't you join my team? I'll commission you to do something that calls on your quick thinking and broad experience, and you'll find me rewarding you generously." "How can you rest assured about a person who betrayed his country for money?" "I do not ask you to betray your own country. You can serve Florence better by serving me, and you can do much more than you can do as secretary of the Second Chamber. Many Florentines have served me Service, I believe no one will regret it." "Followers of the Medici would do anything to make a living while their lord was banished." "Not quite. Da Vinci and Michelangelo weren't too proud to refuse my offer." "Artists. They're willing to serve any patron. They're not responsible." When the Duke answered Machiavelli, he still stared at Machiavelli with a smile in his eyes. "I have a manor in the outskirts of Imola. There are vineyards, arable farmland, pastures and woodlands. I am willing to give it to you. I think the income this manor brings to you can be yours. Ten times as much as those miserable acres in San Casciano can produce." Imola?Why did Cesare think of this place and not others?Machiavelli once again had doubts floating in his mind. Could it be that the Duke already knew about his futile pursuit of Aurelia? "The miserable acres of San Casciano have been in our family for three hundred years," he replied bitterly. "What use is that estate on the edge of Imola to me?" "The villa is new, very beautiful and well built. In summer, it can be an ideal summer resort." "Your Excellency, I don't know what you want to say." "I am going to send Agapito to be governor of Urbino. I know that you are the most suitable person to succeed Agapito as my chief secretary because of your talents. But if I arrange this, you will It would be an embarrassing situation to start negotiations with someone from Florence to replace you. I am going to send you as governor of Imola." Suddenly Machiavelli felt his heart stop beating.This is an important position, one that he has never even dared to think about.From time to time, Florence will also annex some city-states, but the people sent by the Republic to manage these cities are from rich families, or have extensive and deep connections. If he serves as the governor of Imola, Aurelia will be proud to be the governor of Imola. His lover, besides, under the circumstances, could easily find an excuse to send Bartolomeo elsewhere.Now it seems that it is almost impossible for the Duke to make such a promise if he is completely ignorant of the events surrounding him and Aurelia some time ago.But how did he know all this?Faced with the double temptation of the moment, Machiavelli was still extremely determined and unmoved. Thinking of this, he couldn't help applauding himself. "I love my country more than my soul, sir." Duke Valentino is not used to bumping into obstacles, and Machiavelli thought that the Duke would wave his hand angrily and let him go.Unexpectedly, the Duke idly played with the Order of Saint-Michel on his chest, still looking at him thoughtfully.When the Duke spoke again, it seemed a long time had passed. "I have always been open and honest with you, my lord," said the duke at last. "I know you are not one to be deceived, and I will not waste my time trying to deceive you. I will put all my cards on the table. Once I reveal my plan to you, I will not will ask you to keep me secret; on the other hand, you will not betray my trust in you, because no one will believe that I told you this. facts to improve your standing with them." The Duke just paused for a moment. "My grip on Romagna and Urbino is solid. It won't be long before I have Castello, Perugia and Siena. Pisa is completely within reach for me. If I want to If I take Lucca, Lucca will also be mine. If all the city-states around Florence are under my control, what will happen?" "Dangerous, no doubt, but we still have a treaty with France." Machiavelli's answer seemed to amuse the Duke. "A treaty is made between two nations for the common good. A prudent and wise government should repudiate the treaty when some of its terms are no longer favorable. If I propose to the king of France, if he acquiesces in my Take Florence, after I get Florence, I will be willing to attack Venice with him, what do you think he will say?" Machiavelli couldn't help but fight a cold war.He knew too well in his heart that Louis XII would not hesitate to sacrifice his honor for the sake of profit.He took some time to think, and then answered the Duke.He answered with caution. "Your Excellency is making a mistake if you think that Florence can be taken with little cost. We will fight to the death for our freedom." "What can you rely on? Your citizens have always been too busy earning money to train themselves to defend their country. You have been using mercenaries to fight your wars so that you can all go about your business without interference. It's stupid! Mercenaries go to war for nothing but the money. But that money is not enough to make them sacrifice their lives for you. A nation is doomed if it cannot defend itself. And do The only way to be able to defend yourself is to recruit soldiers among your own citizens and create a well-armed and well-trained army. But are you Florentines ready for these sacrifices and responsibilities? I don't think so .You are governed by a bunch of businessmen, a businessman whose idea is always to make an agreement at any cost. They want short-term profits and rewards, peace now, even at the risk of disgrace and catastrophe later. Not sparing. Your Levi taught you that a republic is only as good as the honesty and integrity of those who compose it. Your people are impotent, your government is corrupt, and deserves to perish." Machiavelli's expression became serious.He has nothing to say.The duke explained the truth very thoroughly. "Spain is now united, and the French have gotten rid of the British. The time when small countries could maintain their independence is over. Their independence is an illusion. Because these independences are not based on force. The reason why they still have Independence, because it is in the interest of the great powers to maintain their independence for the time being. The city-states under the control of the Church are all under my control, and Bologna will also fall into my hands. The fate of Florence has already been determined. By then I will be Overlord of the country, to rule over the vast area in the south where the Kingdom of Naples is, and in the north where Milan and Venice are. I will have my own artillery and Vitelli's artillery. I will build a Romanian army like mine As capable troops. Our spoils from Venice will be divided between the King of France and myself." "Sir, if all this is accomplished as you wish," said Machiavelli grimly, "what you will achieve will be to increase the power of France, which will arouse fear and envy in both Spain and France. They Any one of them can crush you to pieces." "True. But with my armed forces and my wealth, I would be a formidable ally to any of them. Whoever I stand with will ensure victory." "But even then, you'll be just a vassal on the winning side." "Tell me, Mr. Clerk, you have been on a mission to France and dealt with the French. What is your impression of them?" "They are frivolous and unreliable. If the enemy resists the force of their first attack, they will waver and lose their courage. They cannot bear hardship and hardship, and before long they will become indifferent, So easy to take advantage of their slack and beat them." "I know this. When the cold winter comes and the rain and snow come, they will sneak away from the barracks one by one. At that time, they will have to be at the mercy of a more determined opponent." "On the other hand, that country is fertile and fertile. The king has broken the power of the nobles and is strong. He is a bit stupid, but he has some wise men around him to advise him. These wise advisors are with us Italian advisors are just as good." The Duke nodded. "Now tell me what you think of the Spaniards." "I've never dealt with them." "Then let me tell you. They are brave, tough, determined, and poor. They have nothing, so they have nothing to worry about losing. On the contrary, they have hope of taking anything. They are an irresistible enemy, but in a situation They are not difficult to defend; they must come across the sea with their troops and equipment. If we drive them out of Italy, it will not be difficult to prevent their return." Silence fell.Duke Valentino rested his chin on his hand and fell into deep thought, while Machiavelli looked at the Duke leisurely.The duke's eyes were firm and blazing with brilliance.His gaze seemed to traverse a future landscape of tortuous diplomacy and bloody battles.The duke was still reeling from the excitement of the day's events and the astounding triumph of his cunning double-handedness.Agitated and excited, he felt that no career was impossible, and no career was too dangerous for him.And who knows what vision of greatness and glory inspired his daring imagination?he laughed. "With my assistance, the French can expel the Spaniards from Naples and Sicily; with my assistance, the Spaniards can expel the French from Milan." "Whoever you help, that person becomes master of Italy and of you, sir." "If I help the Spaniards, that's exactly what you're talking about. If I help the French, it's different. We drove them out of Italy before, and we can drive them out again." "They will bide their time and wait for the opportunity to counterattack." "I will be ready to deal with them. That old fox King Ferdinand will not regret in vain. If the French attack me, he will take this opportunity to take revenge and march on France. He sent his daughter Married to the son of the King of England. The English never miss a chance to declare war on their age-old enemy. That is why the French fear me far more than I fear them." "But the Pope is old, Your Excellency. His death will take half your troops and most of your reputation." "Don't you think I haven't taken that into account? I've made all kinds of preparations for what might happen if my father dies. I've prepared for it. I'll choose the next Pope, he It will be guarded by my troops. No, I am not worried about the Pope's death. It will not interfere with my plans." Suddenly the Duke jumped out of his chair and began pacing up and down the room. "It is the church that has divided the country. She has never been strong enough to unify Italy, but she is strong enough to unify anyone else. If Italy cannot be unified, it must not be rich and strong." "Indeed, it is precisely because so many warlords and lords rule over our poor country that it suffers from the ravages of barbarians." Duke Valentino stopped pacing, his sensual lips changed into a mocking smile, and he looked directly into Machiavelli's eyes. "To find a solution, we must turn to the Gospels, my lord clerk. The Gospels tell us that Caesar is Caesar's, and God's is God's." What the Duke meant was straightforward.Machiavelli gasped in surprise and horror.Machiavelli could not help feeling a strange interest in the duke as he watched the man before him calmly utter a step that would throw the whole of Christendom into a panic. "A prince should support the Church's position of spiritual authority," he said calmly, "because it will make his people honest and happy. The Church can only be restored to her sadly lost spiritual leadership by letting her give up The burdens of managing the world. I can't think of a better way to do it." Faced with such a cold and cynical assertion, Machiavelli could not find any good answer for a while.But at this moment there was a sudden knock at the door, and Machiavelli was spared the trouble of answering the Duke. "Who is it?" The Duke yelled because he was suddenly disturbed. No one answered.But the door was pushed open.A man walked in.Machiavelli recognized this man as Don Miguel, the Spaniard known as Michelotto.It is said that he himself strangled Alfonso of Biseri, the handsome and unfortunate boy whom Lucrezia loved dearly.Migelotto was a big man, well built, with a bushy beard.With fierce eyes, bushy eyebrows, a stubby nose, and a grim expression. "Ah, so it's you." The Duke said, his expression softened immediately. "Murieron." Machiavelli knew almost nothing about Spanish, but it is not impossible that he did not understand the meaning of this grim word.They are all dead.The man continued to stand at the door, and the Duke walked towards him.They were talking in Spanish in such low voices that Machiavelli could not make out what they were saying.The Duke asked a question or two from time to time, and the other party seemed to be answering the Duke in detail. From time to time the Duke let out a few light laughs, expressing his satisfaction and amusement.After a while Don Miguel left, and the Duke sat back in his seat with a smile. "Vitellozzo and Olivellotto are dead. They lived bravely and died shamefully. Olivellotto begs for forgiveness. He blames Vitellozzo, saying he was misguided gone." "How about Paglo Orsini and the Duke of Gravina?" "I will take them away tomorrow. I will lock them up until I receive instructions from His Excellency the Pope." Machiavelli looked puzzled, and the Duke answered him. "When I arrested some hooligans, I immediately sent a letter to the Pope asking him to arrest Bishop Orsini. Paglo and his nephew must wait for their punishment until I receive confirmation that Otto Cardinal Sydney has also been arrested." Borgia's face became serious, as if a heavy dark cloud hung over his brows.The room fell silent, and Machiavelli, thinking the summons was over, rose to his feet.But the Duke made a gesture of impatience and motioned him to sit down again.When the Duke spoke again, his voice was low, but his tone was strong, angry and determined. "It is not enough to destroy the petty tyrants who ravage the people. We are prey in the hands of barbarians; Lombardy is plundered, Tuscany and Naples pay tribute. beast. I alone can liberate Italy." "God bears witness. Italy has been praying for a liberator who can free her from bondage." "The time is ripe. The great cause of reunification will bring incomparable glory to those who participate in this cause, and incomparable blessings to the people on this land." Machiavelli, as if he thought the power of his blazing gaze could reverse the latter's determination: "How can you stop me? Surely no Italian will refuse to follow me." Machiavelli gazed gravely at Cesare Borgia, and he sighed deeply. "The greatest desire of my heart is to liberate Italy from the savages who ruined and plundered us. The barbarians who destroyed our land, raped our women, and ravaged our citizens. Maybe you are God's choice to free us The man in the country. But the price you made me pay is to join you in destroying the freedom of the city-state that gave birth to me." "Without your assistance, Florence would have lost her freedom." "If that's the case, I will live and die with Florence." "You say that like a Roman, but not like a man of the moment." He waved his hand arrogantly, meaning that he would see the end.Machiavelli stood up, bowed, and said an ordinary honorific.At this moment, the Duke, who is an excellent actor, immediately changed his tone to a friendly one. "Before you go, my lord clerk, I wish you could give me some advice that you befriended Bartolomeo Martelli at Imola. The one or two things he did for me Not bad. I need someone to go to Montpellier to negotiate with the wool merchants there. Then this person can also drop by to Paris to do some other chores for me. According to what you said to Bartholomew I understand, do you think I should send him?" He said this in a normal and relaxed manner, as if there was nothing else in the question.But Machiavelli understood what was behind these words.The duke was suggesting that Bartolomeo should be sent on a long-distance trip, so that he could be away from Imola for a considerable period of time.It is now certain that the Duke has mastered Machiavelli's desire for Aurelia.Machiavelli's lips were drawn together, but apart from that his face showed no inner activity. "Since your Excellency condescends to consult me, I should say that Bartholomew's role in maintaining the satisfaction of the people of Imola with your rule is so important that it would be a great moment to send him elsewhere. mistake." "Perhaps you are right. He should have stayed." Machiavelli bowed again, and stepped back.