Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 921

921. The Imperial March (2) – Charge of the Armored Ships, Running on Land. (9)

The Cardinal couldn’t mount a proper counterattack against Xiang’s assault.

‘Damn it! His Holiness should have come instead!’

Alexander VI, or Rodrigo Borgia, held a doctorate in canon law from the University of Bologna. He wasn’t just a legal scholar but one who was highly praised as ‘the most outstanding and discerning legal scholar.’

If he had come in person, the outcome of this debate would have been different. Or, even if the outcome couldn’t be guaranteed, they certainly wouldn’t be pushed back as they were now.

However, having ascended to the papacy, Alexander VI found it difficult to leave Rome.

Moreover, the Cardinal present wasn’t particularly skilled as a legal scholar. He wasn’t of the Borgia family bloodline; he became a Cardinal and came to this position solely because of his loyalty.

Therefore, he could only repeat fundamental defenses.

“The position and duties of the Pope are inherited from Saint Peter, and Saint Peter was chosen by the Lord…”

“If you read the scriptures,” Xiang interrupted the Cardinal, continuing his attack.

“The founder of Christianity told Peter to be the rock of the church. If the Pope is the successor to Peter, he should be the rock. Why does he seek to be the crown above the head? Likewise, the founder told Peter to fish for people, not to judge them.”

“Th-that is…”

Stuttering, the Cardinal desperately searched for a logical rebuttal, pulling out the most commonly used argument.

“The Lord said to Saint Peter, ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Judging people, as Your Majesty said, is binding and loosing, and this is the Pope’s authority, passed down from Saint Peter.”

As the Cardinal asserted the Pope’s primacy passed down through generations, Xiang smiled more deeply and asked again.

“Really? Then let me ask. Is that binding and loosing of people’s souls, or of people’s bodies?”

“Uh… wouldn’t it be… everything?”

“Let me say it again. The founder said, ‘Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.’ Binding and loosing even people’s bodies seems to be coveting what belongs to Caesar, doesn’t it? Are you even violating the teachings of the founder?”

“Insolent!”

The Cardinal shouted, but Xiang calmly concluded.

“This place is where the representatives of Caesars gather to discuss secular matters. It is not a matter of the soul. Nevertheless, if you try to speak while sitting in this place, I can only think of the Pope as a secular ruler. If you acknowledge that, I will recognize your right to speak.”

“The heretic is insolent!”

The Cardinal screamed hysterically. Xiang, looking at the Cardinal whose face had turned red with humiliation and anger, continued.

“This insolent heretic will ask. Your founder said to spread the truth to the ends of the earth, not to kill and destroy heretics, right? Are you following the teachings of the founder? Or are you following the orders received by the Jews who escaped Egypt and tried to return to Jerusalem? Do you believe in Christianity, or Judaism?”

“Truly, you have the tongue of the devil!”

Finally, the Cardinal couldn’t bear it and stormed out of his seat. Before leaving the conference room, the Cardinal looked at the envoys, aides, and Lorenzo de Medici sitting in their seats and issued a warning.

“Those who join hands with or negotiate with that devil’s minion, the heretic, will all be regarded as heretics and excommunicated!”

At the Cardinal’s warning, Xiang rested his chin on one hand and retorted.

“That part seems to be the Pope’s authority, doesn’t it? Are you superior to the Pope?”

“Eek!”

The Cardinal stormed out of the conference room, sputtering with anger.

As the Cardinal and his followers disappeared from the conference room, Xiang turned to the envoys.

“How about we stop here for today?”

Louis quickly stepped forward to answer Xiang’s suggestion.

“That would be good. Others will agree as well.”

“I agree.”

“Then how about the next meeting in five days?”

“Five days…”

‘By then, the Pope’s answer will come from Rome. Well, I can guess what kind of answer it will be. In the meantime, I should talk to the envoys from other countries,’ Louis thought.

After a moment of contemplation, Louis nodded.

“That seems appropriate.”

“I agree.”

“Then let’s meet in five days.”

The envoys and aides who agreed with Louis’s words tidied up their seats and stood up.

Before leaving the conference room, the envoys paid their respects to Xiang. Xiang returned the greetings and left meaningful words to the retreating envoys.

“You are probably happy that you have gained a good cause now, right? But let me tell you something: do you think I didn’t know that when I spoke? Think carefully.”

“…”

The envoys, who had paused for a moment at Xiang’s words, soon left the conference room. The faces of the envoys leaving the embassy were stiffer than ever.

The meeting was over, but Xiang remained in his seat to talk with Lorenzo.

“I am sorry to the Gonfaloniere [a historical Florentine magistrate].”

Xiang apologized to Lorenzo first. The Cardinal’s warning was certain to be more than just a warning. And, in Lorenzo’s case, the choice of severing ties with the Empire was no longer possible. In the end, it was clear that Lorenzo would be excommunicated.

At Xiang’s words, Lorenzo responded with a smile.

“No. Where there is excommunication, there is also absolution.”

Lorenzo answered with an expression that conveyed it was nothing, and this was genuine.

Excommunication targeting European monarchs was not a religious issue but a political one. Thanks to this, if the Pope changed or the power of the excommunicated king became very strong, absolution would follow at any time.

Of course, even if this wasn’t the case, absolution would follow immediately if a considerable bribe was given and a little bow was made.

In Lorenzo’s case, he had sufficient financial resources, and his family’s Cardinal was also in Rome. He was powerful enough to participate in the conclave [a meeting of Catholic cardinals to elect a new pope], so Lorenzo had a relaxed expression.

“Will you hang today’s events on the wall as well?”

“Of course.”

At Xiang’s answer, Lorenzo’s face became a little serious.

“Wouldn’t it be better to skip today?”

“Why? I have always hung them whenever there is a meeting. If I don’t hang it, the residents will be curious, and soon it will turn into suspicion.”

“However, the Cardinal warned of excommunication. I don’t care, but the residents are a different case.”

At Lorenzo’s explanation, Xiang nodded.

“Of course, that could be the case. How about using a good assistant for this part?”

“Assistant?”

“Savonarola.”

“Ah!”

* * *

Not long after the envoys left the embassy, the residents of Florence gathered around the embassy.

It was to read the posters that the embassy officials were putting up.

Soon, as the Imperial officials put up the posters, the residents flocked to read them.

“Hmm… Huh?”

“Oh?”

The residents who were reading the posters had perplexed expressions. It was because of the excommunication mentioned by the Cardinal.

“Excommunication… what should we do?”

“But, it seems like there was nothing wrong with what the Emperor of the ‘Land of Flowers’ said…”

“That’s true, but it’s excommunication!”

As the story spread, the residents of Florence began to stir. Although the authority of the church had weakened a lot compared to the period before the Black Death, the authority of the church was still powerful among ordinary residents.

In a situation where daily life and even interactions between residents revolved mostly around the church, being excommunicated was a matter related to survival.

However, it was also a problem to revolt against the Medici family and the Empire. They also knew well that Medici and the Empire were the reason why other cities and powers could not touch Florence.

“No, a war will break out anyway, but then the ‘Land of Flowers’ will be even more necessary.”

“Oh dear…”

While many of the residents of Florence were wavering, there was also someone who was cheering while looking at the sky.

“This is truly the Lord’s blessing!”

It was Savonarola.

* * *

Born into a noble family in Ferrara and having gone through the Dominican Order, Savonarola was famous for his outstanding scholarship and ascetic life.

In 1482, Savonarola, who was dispatched to the San Marco Monastery in Florence and entered Florence, gained high reputation and support from the residents of Florence.

Afterwards, Savonarola traveled around Florence and nearby cities, preaching republicanism and political liberalism.

Politically, he was a liberalist, but morally, he was an ascetic, so the residents of Florence, who were moved by his sermons, even created a famous anecdote of burning erotic paintings and novels in the Florence square.

As a republican and political liberalist, the targets he attacked were Lorenzo de Medici, the ruler of Florence, and the Pope.

“Lorenzo de Medici is a terrible dictator! He is suppressing the freedom of the residents of Florence!”

“The Pope and the Church must awaken! Look at the current state of the Vatican and the Church! The merchants whom the Lord drove out of the temple are wearing priestly robes and sitting inside!”

In some ways, Savonarola was a radical republican and liberalist, but he was surprisingly favorable to the Empire.

“The republic is the ultimate system, but if that is not possible, the emperor and political system of the ‘Land of Flowers’ are the best!”

Savonarola always praised the Empire.

Savonarola came to praise the Empire after hearing about the actions of Sejong and Xiang.

“If a monarch must exist, this is how it should be!”

Savonarola, who had been fostering goodwill by reading books made to the level of travelogues, completely turned into a pro-Empire faction when he obtained a Latin translation of ‘Chobeop’ [likely refers to a legal code or set of principles].

“That’s right! Equality before the law! This is what must exist!”

Having become such a pro-Empire faction, Savonarola read the leaflets recording the debate with the Cardinal and shouted to his supporters.

“When the Lord was born, the wise men came from the East! And this time, a sage has come from the East! This is the Lord’s blessing!”

Savonarola, who took the pulpit, preached to his supporters in a loud voice.

“Everyone, what is wrong with what the sage of the East said? There is nothing! Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s!”

“It is a clear mistake for the successor of Peter to act like Caesar!”

“Do not succumb to the Vatican’s threats of excommunication! Trust your conscience!”

“Threatening to excommunicate monarchs symbolizes the corruption of the Vatican. Do you know how much wealth must be offered to be absolved of excommunication? Then where does that wealth come from? It is what you have been deprived of through taxes!”

“The Vatican must return to the Vatican! The war that will take place this time is a holy war for that!”