CHAPTER 13 #4
Hedy, feeling somewhat agitated while listening to the news, had just finished explaining how to dilute and inject medicinal powders when a thought suddenly crossed her mind—if they were to defend against a siege, boiling water and boiling oil would be highly effective weapons.
At that moment, she remembered the boiling room to the west of the city, with its well-maintained boiler.
"Dechio! Bring people with me!"
She immediately led a convoy to the boiling room and instructed the craftsmen to stoke the furnace and boil as much water as possible, even if it was unfiltered river water. Then, using horse-drawn carts, they transported over twenty barrels of water to the city gates.
As they began to unload the barrels, Hedy spotted a pile of horse manure in the distance and pointed at it. "Scoop that manure water into the barrels!"
The workers, though confused, obediently followed her instructions, mixing the scalding hot manure water with the boiling water and carting it to the siege ladders.
Boiling water was already a powerful weapon for scalding, but when mixed with manure, it became not only foul-smelling but also highly likely to cause deadly bacterial infections.
At this moment, Hedy led the workers in delivering bucket after bucket of hot water to the city walls, carefully pouring it down from the right angles.
The boiling water splashed onto the faces and hands of the attackers. Some, in an attempt to avoid it, fell suddenly from the siege ladders, tumbling to the ground and losing their lives on impact.
Da Vinci's figure soon appeared on the western side of the city. He was helping load ammunition and adjust the giant crossbow.
Upon noticing the continuous supply of boiling water pouring down like a chain, his first instinct was that Hedy had come to help.
The two of them exchanged a brief, knowing look over the distant city wall, and then, without further words, continued their coordinated efforts to repel wave after wave of enemies.
Hedy quickly assigned a few of her assistants to help control the process of transporting water and manure, then rushed back to the rear to begin teaching the panicked peasant women how to make sandwiches.
In this era, even something as simple and convenient as a sandwich didn’t exist. Originally a part of the Jewish Passover tradition, it now seemed entirely reasonable for her to oversee its mass production.
Plain dry bread was insufficient to sustain the soldiers through the immense physical exertion. They needed enough sugar and fat to keep up their energy.
Boxes of quick meals were sent to the frontlines. The soldiers could eat one-handed while still operating their crossbows, the thunderous sound of muskets and firearms blending with the crackle of fireworks.
The tide of the battle began to turn, and the offensive outside the city gradually weakened.
The lord immediately ordered the city gates to be opened for a counterattack and even suggested marching southward toward Rome.
Since it was the pope who had initiated the war, not only could they reclaim the city of Sarzana, which had been occupied four years earlier, but they could also seize more territory and ports.
Massive crossbows were loaded onto ten carts, and mercenary cavalry and musketeers began to march in groups.
Hedy quickly arranged for the nurses, the maid-nuns, to take medicine on another cart and follow the army. However, she suddenly realized that she had arranged for nearly everyone, yet didn’t have a place for herself.
In the next two or three hours, the French began to retreat, and soldiers were stationed inside the city for protection.
If she followed the advance, she might be able to play a more significant role—
Before she could find another cart, the young man with brown hair rode in quickly on a black horse. He stopped sharply and neatly in front of her.
"Coming?" Leonardo raised an eyebrow and extended his left hand.
"Okay." Hedy gripped his hand tightly and, with a single pull, mounted the saddle, sitting in his arms.
Without a second thought, he took the reins and held her close, looking up and shouting loudly, "Hya—"
The black horse reared and whinnied loudly, charging forward with them, joining the army's march.
The Papal States were twice the size of Florence and had trading ports on both the eastern and western coasts.
Although Rome itself struggled with trade and agriculture, the vast territories on the northeastern side of the Papal States were fertile and had several coastal ports.
Once taken by force, they could easily establish better contact with Venice and France, which would allow for faster fleet development.
The surprise attack came out of nowhere, but no one had expected that a small city like Florence could stand its ground against the combined forces of France and the Papal States, using astonishing weaponry.
Meanwhile, Naples launched a rapid counterattack, sending its army to assault the Papal States' holdings in Fossanova and the surrounding regions.
This created a situation where the Papal States were attacked from both sides. The French army, in a lightning-fast retreat, withdrew, signing a new agreement with Lorenzo. They claimed that their actions had been the result of "being deceived" and were "unintentional offenses."
Pope Innocent VIII panicked and, in a desperate move, sent peace proposals to both countries, requesting a ceasefire once again.
Just like his predecessor had done four years ago.
He had recklessly stirred the flames of war and even started it, only to be forced into an embarrassing attempt to force an end to it. But this time, things weren’t going to be that easy.
Lorenzo, who had long coveted the eastern territories, seized the opportunity to capture multiple cities. He advanced from Urbino to Pesaro, plundering towns along the way.
Though these villages and territories were guarded by some mercenaries and militias, no one had ever seen such terrifying artillery and firearms. Some of the forces, upon hearing the roar of cannon fire, began to scatter in panic, showing no intention of defending.
At this juncture, the pope again appealed to envoys from Venice and other city-states, hoping to negotiate peace.
Although the youngest son of the Medici family was in Rome, it was clear that the lord had many sons, and this one did not pose a real threat.
The peace treaty not only required the papacy to recognize the Medici family's status but also granted Lorenzo the title of papal authority in the region.
This dual honor of political and religious power was like giving Lorenzo even sharper fangs, and the coronation ceremony was held immediately after the treaty was signed.
This war had transformed Florence's territory, stretching across the central islands, and many of the cities that had been conquered were reassigned to new governance. Even the Duchy of Ferrara, to the north, anxious about the outcome, sent ambassadors to offer their goodwill.
When the war ended and the army returned victorious, Florence plunged into five days and nights of wild celebration.
Mercenaries and blacksmiths danced joyfully, actors dramatically reenacted the glorious moments of battle, and the choir in the church began composing new songs to praise the lord’s numerous achievements.
Several artists even started creating fresh paintings, attempting to elevate more Medici family members to the status of gods.
Now, Lorenzo de' Medici was not only the supreme political leader but also the pope of the city.
Even the indulgences, clinking in the treasury, illuminated the Medici family crest with the shine of gold coins.
After a long absence from drinking, Lorenzo raised a cup to the crowd, greeting everyone, and the people cheered loudly, wishing him a long life and the eternal spring of Florence.
The banquet went on so late that when the guests began to leave the Doge’s Palace, the first light of dawn was already breaking over the horizon.
Lorenzo had indulged in wine more than usual, and by the time he was walking out, he was swaying slightly.
Clarice and the children had gone to sleep at midnight, and Cosimo, seeing Lorenzo unsteady on his feet, had to help him to the study to rest, so as not to disturb the nervous lady of the house.
Seeing him struggle alone, Hedy approached and offered to help him.
Drinking so much, he would surely suffer from gout later.
The man’s expression was a mix of intoxication and clarity. As he stumbled into the study, he nearly fell, catching himself just in time.
He managed to steady himself, then turned to Cosimo.
"Wait at the door. I have something to discuss with Miss Kiesler."
The servant nodded and stepped outside.
Hedy instinctively poured him a glass of water and gently said, "Drink some, you should wake up a bit."
Lorenzo didn’t take the water, but instead furrowed his brow and looked at her.
Lorenzo had originally wanted to express his gratitude to her for everything she had done for Florence, especially her excellent skills in bandaging and stopping the bleeding during the war.
Without her, perhaps this city would have already been taken by the pope, and he and his family might not have survived.
But at that moment, as he gazed at her in the darkness, he felt a sense of unwillingness creeping into his heart.
He had grown accustomed to giving up so many things. From letting go of his first love in his youth, to sacrificing his own freedom for marriage and political stability, to abandoning many desires and obsessions for the sake of his family and the balance of the city-state—
As a lord, he was supposed to remain calm, always rational. He should always be able to let go of anything without showing a hint of emotion.
Yet when he looked into those pale blue eyes, it was as if he could hear a beast roaring against its chains deep inside his chest.
Just like during the ball, if he tilted his head down, he could kiss her.