Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 922

922. The Imperial March (2) – Charge of the Turtle Ship, Running on Land. (10)

-Everything the ‘Sage of the East’ says is right!

-The Pope of Rome must abolish all the evil practices that have been going on!

-The fate of Italy must be decided by us Italians!

After Savonarola publicly expressed his support, public sentiment in Florence was able to unite once again.

It was thanks to the fact that those who had hesitated due to the ‘excommunication’ had an excuse to rejoin.

“At least in Florence, Savonarola has as much power as the Pope. The Gonfaloniere [chief magistrate of Florence] will have a headache,” Hyang said.

Shin Suk-ju responded with a cynical tone, “It is a disaster of his own making.”

Savonarola was famous as a religious figure, but he was even more renowned as an authority on humanities, philosophy, and medicine.

The reason Lorenzo de Medici invited Savonarola to Florence wasn’t primarily religious; it was because he was a famous humanist.

Even though he received support from the Medici family, the problem was that Savonarola politically attacked the Medici family, especially Lorenzo de Medici.

Hyang nodded at Shin Suk-ju’s explanation. “I see….”

‘Ah, damn it! I almost blurted out that song!’

Hyang barely suppressed the song that was about to come out involuntarily at the words ‘a disaster of his own making.’

Barely suppressing the fanboy [덕심] impulse that came out almost instinctively, Hyang hurriedly moved on to the next topic.

“The letter of protest must have arrived at the Pope by now, right?”

“It must have arrived.”

After the argument with the Cardinal, Hyang’s request for a five-day recess had several hidden intentions.

The first was to bring in Savonarola, and the next was to observe the alliances and breakups of the participating countries’ envoys, including the great powers.

As the Pope’s envoy publicly mentioned ‘excommunication,’ the great powers also had a justification to move publicly.

Finally, it was to secure time to send a public letter of protest to the Pope.

The contents of the protest letter, jointly written by Shin Suk-ju, Seong Sam-mun, and Yu Eung-bu, were simple:

-How dare a mere Cardinal speak impudently to the Grand Emperor of the Korean Federal Empire!

-As a proud imperial citizen, and as a subject of the Empire, we cannot simply overlook this!

The next morning, a poster with the full text of the protest letter was posted on the embassy wall, and the Imperial Army cavalry and the Florentine Army cavalry, carrying the same protest letter, set off for Rome in broad daylight.

All the citizens and envoys of Florence were made to see the scene of them heading towards Rome, fluttering the flags of Florence, the Medici family, the Imperial Army, and the white flag.

Hyang smiled bitterly after hearing the answer from Shin Suk-ju. “The Pope must have a lot of headaches. I heard he’s been having various negotiations with the Ottoman Sultan these days.”

Shin Suk-ju nodded with a similar expression at Hyang’s words.

* * *

“It’s become a headache. Haa~.”

As Hyang expected, Pope Alexander VI sighed, placing his hand on his throbbing forehead.

“To cause such an accident after sending him as an envoy….”

He wanted to summon him right away and remove him from the position of Cardinal, but it was difficult to do so.

This was because his loyalty to the Pope’s authority, in other words, his faith and loyalty to Alexander VI himself, was as solid as a rock.

For the reform policies that he had conceived and started 추진 [pushing forward] as soon as he took office as Pope to succeed properly, he needed many Cardinals who were absolutely loyal to him. Therefore, he could not 함부로 [recklessly] dismiss the Cardinal who had caused this incident.

“But to 욕 [insult] the Emperor of the Empire as ‘impudent’ and ‘heretic’… This will cause problems with the Ottomans right away… Haa~.”

Alexander VI’s headache worsened as soon as he thought of ‘Ottoman.’

“If I make a mistake, a useful 패 [card] will disappear; this is a big problem.”

The ‘useful 패 [card]’ that Alexander VI mentioned was Cem, the brother of Bayezid II.

* * *

Cem was the one who competed with Bayezid II until the end in the civil war to determine the Sultan to succeed Mehmed II.

Cem, who lost the civil war, entrusted himself to the ‘Knights Hospitaller’ to save his life.

Worrying that his brother might return and start another civil war, Bayezid II provided considerable bribes to the Knights Hospitaller and the Pope.

And this useful card was passed on to Alexander VI.

* * *

What Alexander VI was worried about was the relationship between the Ottomans and the Empire.

As long as Cem was alive, the possibility of a civil war 재발 [reoccurring] was quite high. Therefore, Bayezid II was refraining from external expansion.

In addition, unlike Mehmed II, who preferred European culture, he was an 이 [one] who emphasized a return to Islamic traditions.

Even Bayezid II always maintained a good relationship with the Empire.

Bayezid II was the one who would stop what he was doing and greet the Empire’s envoy when they visited.

If this incident were to reach Bayezid II’s ears, there was a high probability that he would abandon his 지금까지의 [until now] domestic-oriented policies and return to expansionism.

-He insulted the great Emperor of the East! What would Islam think! It is a holy war!

If that happened, Cem’s value would disappear.

Because if they found him while waging a holy war, they could just kill him.

* * *

“I have no choice. I have to go according to the principles.”

The answer that Alexander VI found after much 고민 [deliberation] was ‘go according to the principles.’

Alexander VI’s order to the Cardinal staying in Florence can be summarized as follows:

-Apologize ‘publicly’ and ‘must be 정중하게 [respectfully]’ to the former Emperor of the Empire.

-Promise to send an answer regarding the 제례 [ritual] issue raised by the former Emperor within 2 years at the latest.

-Respond to other issues, especially those related to the Papal States, from the perspective of a secular monarch.

-I will send a helper in relation to the above issues.

Alexander VI, who wrote the letter in his own handwriting, stamped his seal on it and sealed it, ordered his aide. “Send it to Florence as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

Alexander VI, who was left alone after the aide left, tapped the desk with his finger and was lost in thought.

“‘According to the principles’… The problem is that ‘principle’.”

Alexander VI muttered with a bitter expression.

The power of the Pope, which was so strong that it created the event called ‘Humiliation of Canossa’ in the old days, gradually weakened over time.

In particular, the weakening of the Pope’s power gained momentum as he experienced ‘Avignon Papacy.’

Still, it 과시 [displayed] a considerable presence even now because of the political power based on the faith deeply rooted among the people of Europe, and the actual economic power and military power symbolized by the Papal States.

If he had as much power as when he caused the ‘Humiliation of Canossa,’ the principle would probably have changed.

No matter how much the Emperor of the Empire was, he was a heretic.

* * *

The Cardinal, who confirmed the order sent by Alexander VI, visited the conference hall and bowed his head to Hyang. “I am a short-sighted person and have committed a great rudeness to His Majesty. I beg you to forgive me.”

“I will tolerate one mistake. But there will be no second time.”

“Thank you.”

Hyang, who received the Cardinal’s apology, looked at the newly arrived Cardinal.

‘If I only look at the priest’s robe, he’s a Cardinal, but he’s too young.’

“Who is the one who came with you?”

At Hyang’s question, the Cardinal introduced the new companion. “He is Cesare Borgia, the Archbishop and Cardinal of the Diocese of Valencia.”

“I am Cesare Borgia, who has been given the 과분한 [undeserved] position of Cardinal. It is an honor to meet Your Majesty.”

“Nice to meet you.”

While answering Cesare’s 정중한 [polite] greeting, Hyang muttered inwardly. ‘A stormy figure who will remain in history has come.’

“That’s right, is the newly arrived Cardinal taking over this position?”

Cesare stepped forward and answered Hyang’s question. “No. I came to discuss ‘what belongs to Caesar’.”

“What belongs to Caesar? Hahahaha!”

Hyang laughed heartily at Cesare’s answer. He 멋지게 [coolly] answered by using the logic he had put forward.

However, Hyang’s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not.

‘As expected? It won’t be easy. But…’

Hyang looked at Shin Suk-ju and Seong Sam-mun, who were preparing for the meeting next to him.

‘I have two 쓸만한 [useful] cards.’

* * *

With Cesare, who came with the title of ‘Representative of the Ruler of the Papal States,’ joining, the meeting finally began to move in earnest.

To be precise, ‘building 명분 [justification] for war’ and ‘편 가르기 [dividing sides]’ began in earnest.

“This is the method that the Empire has thought of for the ‘peaceful unification of Italy’.”

“I’ve already heard it, do I have to hear it again?”

At Louis’s 지적 [remark], Shin Suk-ju looked at Cesare and answered immediately. “Since there is a new person, shouldn’t we go over it again?”

“That’s right.”

As Louis 물러서 [backed down], Shin Suk-ju immediately moved on to the next topic.

-The unification of Italy must be led by Italians.

-The Empire recommends a federal system for peaceful unification.

-The duchies, republics, and kingdoms that make up Italy maintain their 독자적인 [independent] systems. However, this is only if they 인정 [acknowledge] that they belong to the unified nation of Italy.

-The duchies, republics, and kingdoms belonging to the federation – hereinafter referred to as members of the federation – do not possess 독자적인 [independent] military power. Instead, they operate an integrated military organization called the ‘Italian Federal Army’.

-The members of the federation maintain 독자적인 [independent] systems, but taxes and justice follow federal law. In other words, Italians living in Italy are subject to the same tax system and judicial system regardless of where they live.

“…That’s all.”

As soon as Shin Suk-ju’s explanation was over, Louis immediately 지적 [pointed out] the problem. “I ask this every time I hear this story, but how will you determine the monarch who governs the self-proclaimed ‘Unified Italy’?”

“I answer every time, but didn’t I already say it at the very beginning? I leave it to the Italians.”

“Humph!”

Louis lightly 코웃음 [scoffed] and glanced at Cesare before asking Shin Suk-ju. “What if the Italians choose the Pope as their monarch?”

“If it is the choice of the Italians, we will 당연히 [naturally] accept it. But!”

Shin Suk-ju, who 잠깐 말을 끊은 [paused], glanced at Cesare like Louis and continued. “We will accept it if it is a choice through peaceful means. But if it is a method that calls for blood, the winner will have the right to choose.”

Cesare was able to know for sure while listening to the conversation between Shin Suk-ju and Louis. ‘This place is not a place to discuss peace! It’s a place to write a declaration of war!’

Cesare, who learned the nature of the meeting, 다듬고 [cleared] his voice and carefully opened his mouth. “Does the Papal States also include that 연방 구성원 [federal member]?”

“The Papal States located in Italy are included.”

“But the Papal States….”

As Cesare 나서 [stepped forward] to 반박 [refute], Hyang, who was only 보고 [watching], 끼어들었다 [interrupted]. “Remember that the Cardinal came here to discuss ‘what belongs to Caesar’.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

In the end, Cesare had to do his best in the meeting to protect the interests of the Pope and the Papal States.

* * *

As time passed, the meeting went as Hyang expected.

The meeting was 뒷전 [secondary], and the envoys’ 진심 [true feelings] were revealed after the meeting was over.

‘편 가르기 [Dividing sides]’ was almost 마무리 [finished].