The people of Lucca waited for the Archbishop from Florence to make a move, but it was not until the Feast of the Assumption (August 15) that he came out again to preside over the Mass, and he did not have the slightest intention of interfering in the affairs of the world, which reassured the Lucca people. Gradually, the people became less wary of him, and the women felt pity for the pale-faced archbishop after one or two Masses, and the men could not say anything ill about him—the merchants feared that he would demand that Luca pay for the three hundred knights and their servants, a hundred musketeers, and nearly a thousand servants, and the provision of horses and commissions, but no, his servants seemed to be well-bred and never on credit, and the soldiers and knights never bullied the commoners, or stole or plunder, They rarely even appear outside of the Colosseum (which is now their camp), so as not to cause unnecessary panic.

But for the big families of Lucca City, it would be better to let them bear the commission.

If he was really just an incorruptible saint, but he was easy to deal with, but he never showed any intention of letting the knights and soldiers leave Lucca, and the daily consumption of these people was quite staggering, and the dozen or so so-called "monks" around him, whether they were the Castrucio family or the Gunici family assassins, all observed and said that if these guys were monks, then they must be angels.

With such a group of people scattered in the city of Lucca, Danilo felt that the wine had lost its taste, and everyone knew that it was necessary to shoot the arrow away, and he must tighten the strings, and he was sure that the archbishop from the Medici family must have his plan or conspiracy, but if he wanted to say preemptive strike, he was also worried about Giulio. The Medici are waiting for them.

After thinking about it and thinking about it, Guenici's parents muttered a few curses in distress, if Luca only had one family now, Guenici, whether it was a negotiation or a war, he could make decisions, but because of the addition of the Castelluccio family, he couldn't help but be in a dilemma, although the Italians at this time did not know what it meant to "fight with the snipe and the mussels, and the fisherman profited." "But you also know that your enemies will not be afraid to take advantage of your weakness.

"Can't you even touch Rita's heart?" Upon hearing another piece of bad news, Danilo said disappointedly.

"Maybe he's fond of guys who carry sticks with them." Luca's most charismatic prostitute, while playing with a violin casually, said that carrying a stick was a "hidden word", referring to men, and that it was not uncommon for the clergy to like men, especially the 769 children, who were of similar interest to the pagans who were fighting against the church army.

"I've tried, no," Danilo said, "and he looks a little crying and laughing." ”

"But he's a kind and generous man." Lita said, winking playfully as she stretched out her arm to show Danilo the gold ring on her arm.

Danilo had no choice but to add another twenty gold florins to the agreed reward.

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And just when Danilo accepted the "blackmail" of the famous prostitute Lita, the person they mentioned was on the bell tower on the side of the church of San Marino, which had a longer life than the church, so when the Basilica of San Marino was built, in order to match the red and white colors under the bell tower, the church was clad in white marble, although this bell tower was not as tall as the Oak Tower of the Guyniki family, but it was enough to overlook half of the city of Lucca.

And it was Giulio who was looking down on the city of Lucca from this bell tower. The Medici and Ralph, as well as Machiavelli, who had returned to Florence and had decided to abandon his position and go to Giulio, a city that looked so similar to Florence at nightfall that the three men from Florence fell silent until they were awakened by a commotion.

"It's the young guys of the Guiniki family." Ralph said with just one look.

"And Castelluccio's people." Machiavelli said that not only the buildings, but also the young people of Lucca bear a striking resemblance to the Florentines, who are richly dressed and armed, and form two distinct groups in the square, although for unknown reasons, they do quarrel and even move their hands.

"The two families are fighting more and more fiercely," said Ralph, "I thought that your presence would put them to a halt for a while, but they intensified," he shook his head, "and have they despised you to such an extent?" ”

"It's not contempt," Machiavelli said with blazing eyes at his master, "it's fear." When two jackals and a male lion are locked in a cage, they do not think that they can fight the male lion together, but only bite each other under the pressure of fear. ”

"I wish it was true." Ralph quipped that he didn't like Machiavelli very much when they met, and that he was like a cunning and mean rat — or the kind that would come out and bite your toes every now and then, "but I don't think we could fight 70,000 Lukkas at the same time." ”

"Victory or defeat is not just determined by battle." Machiavelli said he turned his gaze to those who were fighting each other: "Thought is what rules everything." ”

"So how about I leave you down?" Ralph said rudely, "Let's see if your mind can make them stop being so noisy." ”

Machiavelli was undaunted: "If you really leave me down...... he was silent for a moment, "I would like to do something else." ”

Ralph followed suit, and after a pause, he glanced at Giulio and then at Machiavelli: "Don't say I went with you, do you want to do that?" ”

"Yes." Machiavelli affirmed.

"They're still very measured." Ralph looked again: "It was noisy, but no one died. He stroked the dagger at his side: "But if someone hides in the crowd, it may not be possible to give a few random knives." ”

"The blood of relatives and friends is oil, and when poured on the flames of anger it becomes uncontrollable," Machiavelli said, "and the night is dark, and if anyone falls, they will not die." ”

Ralph didn't speak again, but looked at Julio. Medici, after all, they all need his orders.

Giulio also looked at those people, he knew that as long as he gave orders, neither Machiavelli nor Ralph could complete this not difficult job, and the hatred between the two families who were already in a tense state and hostile to each other would snowball, Lucca's peace would be completely broken, and people's blood and tears would soak every silk produced in the city, but without the Guenician family and the Castelluccio family, as the archbishop of Lucca, He was able to become both religious and secular rulers at the same time, as was common in places where there were no kings and princes.

The shortcut is in front of you, to go or not to go?

"Nope." "Let these young people go home," he said. ”

Ralph smiled with relief, while Machiavelli looked disappointed, "Your kindness deserves respect," he said boldly, "but a monarch should not pay too much attention to his own reputation - the end result is what matters, for the sake of a greater cause, you should be more ruthless and ruthless, like a lion tearing a rabbit apart, and the weak sacrifice for the survival of the strong, which is God's will." ”

"I see the opposite of you, Nicholò." Giulio whispered, "Castles built on sand will crumble, as will a foundation built on lies and violence." ”

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On the feast of St. Luke (October 18), Julio Murphy. The Medici was astonished to see a Brittany knight weeping, and he went over to him and asked him what made him so sad.

"The person I love is getting married." The knight, who was probably only twenty years old, said.

"Ah......" said Giulio, "she didn't choose you." ”

"That is not her choice," said the knight bitterly, "and if it had been her choice, I would have blessed her with joy, but no, Your Highness, she was compelled to enter into a marriage contract with a Frenchman, and it was not her will, I know. ”

"French?"

"Yes, you know the man I admire, the kind lady of Brittany." The knight said, "Remember, what a wonderful person she was. ”

“…… How could it be, I remember that she was sheltered by the Duchess of Brittany. ”

"It is not the fault of your majesty," said the knight, "that it was not in the agreement, that the king of the French, Louis XII, had forcibly taken away her custody, and Madame Goodheart had to choose one of three candidates for her husband, and they were all French—a bunch of shameless thieves!" ”

With that, he bowed down, kissed the archbishop's ring in gratitude, and walked away, leaving Julio alone.

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The Duchess of Brittany sat motionless in the dark.

After a long time, the door of her room was gently opened, and Mrs. Kindness walked in, holding a candle and wearing a loose linen robe: "Your Majesty, why don't you sleep at such a late hour?" She said, sounding the same as usual.

"How can I fall asleep." The duchess said, "...... I have to wait for you. ”

"Today is my wedding night, Your Majesty."

"You're not here yet." The duchess said, "Come, let me see you, my heart is like a sword cut by fire." ”

"Don't do that," said the Lady of Good Heart, "so that they will succeed, and they will do it to make you uncomfortable." ”

"I'm a mean bastard." Said the Duchess.

"I've got to have a husband." Madame Kindness knelt down and put her hands on her knees, "Not today, it will be tomorrow, I will be happy to make sacrifices for you, Your Majesty, the most important thing is that my concessions allow you to defeat the enemy." ”

The Duchess didn't speak, she lowered her head, pulled open the collar of Madame Kindness, and examined the embarrassing wounds, Madame Kindness looked at her as she pleased, anyway, they had seen each other's most embarrassed looks.

Mrs. Kindness could feel the hot tears dripping down her neck.

"Don't cry," she whispered, "Annie, we can only endure, and we only need to endure......"

"There is an end to our suffering." She said.

"I don't know." "I don't know if you should be allowed to sacrifice so much," said the Duchess, "and perhaps he will not come, never." ”

"He'll come." Mrs. Kindness lowered her voice: "He'll come." She straightened up and put her arms around the duchess's shoulder: "My poor Anne...... Tell me, you're still ...... Love him, right? "That's why you've been waiting.

“…… Yes. ”

"Yes, that's what I'd like to see the most, Anne, and one of us will be happy, even if it's short-lived." She smiled and looked in the other direction, "Did you say yes?" Mr. Bishop? ”