When the final result came out, the council chamber was unusually quiet, and the cardinals no longer even exchanged glances and squirmed lips as usual - when the pope's candidates could still be exchanged for money and positions, the money promised by the candidates was generally directly given to their trusted relatives or servants, and the promised positions were to be distributed after the pope ascended the throne. The Medici make any deal.

So how did this ridiculous situation come about?

It's also very simple to say - with George. Morality. The French cardinals, led by Cardinal Amboise, knew that it was impossible, but they voted for Cardinal Amboise, Archbishop of Rouen, a close friend of Louis XII. The name of the Medici - the cardinal was now an ally of the Queen of Spain after all, and the cardinals of the Holy Roman Empire, who were under the control of the Holy Roman Empire, because they could not get instructions from Maximilian I, simply cast their votes according to their own ideas, and the cardinals of other countries and regions were almost the same. The Medici still had the advantage in the number of votes.

So Joe. How did the Medici get chosen?

This is to blame for his previous good popularity, even Cardinal Amboise has said before, when it comes to eating, drinking, and merrymaking, no one in Rome can compare to this Medici - compared to Giulio, although he is not good enough, but he is extremely self-aware, he knows that he cannot conquer others by talent or looks, in this case, he found another way, waved the money bag in his hand, and with the Medici's usual luxury and pursuit of pleasure, he became a figure like the god of wine, Bacchus - although he had power and family, He has never posed any threat to others or hindered their futures, and it is no wonder that many people laugh when they think of him, whether it is out of contempt or circumstance.

Isn't that a guy like that, better than Giulio. Is Medici good? Yes, for these cardinals, a good old man who is always cheerful is always more fit to be their holy father, Joshua, than another possible Julius II. Lovere & Giulio. The Medici were all students of Pius III, and what Yolovelle had done, it is hard to guarantee that the Medici would not continue, but they also had to take into account that Giulio. The power of the Medici in the Holocaust of Rome - they certainly wanted to remember his favor, and in that case, Joe. Isn't the Medici just a Medici?

But in the end, it was the cardinals who were promoted by Julius II, and although not all of them did what Julius II had previously ordered, their numbers were destined to play a pivotal role in this silent battle.

"What kind of order did Julius II give you?" Giulio asked.

In front of him stood a cardinal with a thin face and a long figure, although he was wearing a red robe, but there was no decoration on his chest except a golden cross, and there was only a bishop's ring on his hand, and the inlaid amethyst was not so clear, and there were cracks, which looked very cheap, but his eyes and gestures showed that he was proud of this cheapness.

"Holy Father...... Tell us, "When he mentions this title, he is clearly not referring to Joe. Medici: "Once he happened...... Any accident that makes it impossible to continue our great and glorious cause, the Sistine Chapel is closed once again, and the cardinals want to elect a new pope, if ...... If we still have the corresponding power at that time, we have to make the last ...... for him The last thing......" At this point, he choked up slightly: "That's for...... For Rome, for Italy, for the whole of Christendom, to elect a truly holy man—he tells us that if we declare that we will exchange money and office for votes, there will be people who will try to trade with us, and we must choose the one who will never waver in it. ”

He looked at Julio with some unwillingness: "Yes, it's just you, and ...... A handful of people who didn't come to us, we looked at the list, and there were some of them who couldn't have been chosen at all, and of course, maybe you also thought that it was inevitable that you would become pope - many people thought so, but there was one more person who you didn't think of, your brother, Joe. The Medici, he didn't try to bribe us with money or the priesthood. ”

"So, you chose him over me."

"yes." The cardinal said: "Although we must obey the will of the Father, we also have the right to veto a possible murderer. The cardinal said bluntly, looking up proudly, for he knew that he was rebelling against Julio at this time. The Medici was a very ill-advised thing, but as Giulio had guessed, there were still some of the people chosen by Julius II who stuck to their character and will.

"Well, you know what you're up against." Giulio said.

"Yes."

"Then resign from your position as soon as possible," said Cardinal Medici, who did not need to distinguish them by name, calmly, without the look of chagrin or remorse on his face, as expected by Julius II's important subordinates: "To leave Rome, it is better to leave Italy," said Giulio, "you are not my enemies, but you are not my friends, and the Medici's protection will not fall on you." ”

The cardinal was stunned, he knew of course what Giulio was referring to, that what they had done in Rome, or the hatred and wrath of Julius II's drastic reforms, had already fallen on them, and that their continued presence in the Holy Court would only provoke merciless attacks...... Even if they were killed, nay, even if they resigned from their teaching positions and left Rome, but, as Giulio said, they decided that Julius II's death was inextricably linked to the other, and he hated them just as much—for they were willing only to be loyal to his enemies, and they had nothing to say about it—and they could not resent others while hoping that they would give them refuge.

He walked out with a stiff expression.

Julio closed his eyes gently, if he had been ten years ago, he might have managed to save their lives and even allow them to continue to realize their worth...... He could do it, whether it was a church school, or a charity order, or a Knights Hospitaller in Greece, there was a need for a large number of monks and priests - he could hide their tracks, change their faces, give them other names, but would they be grateful to him?

No.

They will only question him and hate him.

Sometimes, gratuitous favor is more unbelievable and bearable than gratuitous punishment – this is Joshua. Lovere taught him.

He won't make such a mistake again.