CHAPTER 23
"Lord! Grant them eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them—"
The day after Genoa was occupied, the lord ordered a solemn funeral to be organized. The fallen soldiers were collected and laid to rest, and over a thousand crosses, like a birch forest, were erected in the southern cemetery.
Some of the people prayed and wept nearby, while other soldiers continued to carry coffins in and out. The continuous rain heralded the arrival of early autumn, and the scent of burning tree branches in the air added a mournful tone to the scene.
The lord, wearing a black robe, conducted the ritual of mourning alongside clergy who had come from Florence.
"May the love of the Father, the grace of Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you," a priest from Florence proclaimed loudly.
"—And with your spirit," the crowd murmured in response.
The local cardinals of Genoa stood by with grim faces, sensing the awkwardness of the situation, yet unable to protest or warn anyone. Even the Pope's severe punishments toward kings now seemed like mere pinpricks; as subjects of the defeated country, they could lose their lives at any moment.
"—May the Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive our sins, and grant us eternal life."
Hedy lifted her head, gazing at the cross, and softly whispered, "Amen."
Her eyes had lost much of their former softness, becoming more determined and profound.
This new lord seemed to be a complex and contradictory figure. After the war ended, she immediately began organizing post-war recovery and compensation. She took in beggars and orphans from the streets and even sent people to offer basic care to elderly widows who had lost their sons.
Not only that, but the relevant decrees and proclamations were soon issued, strictly investigating mercenaries for theft and robbery while also providing adequate reassurance.
The public was not fully convinced, but they continued to learn more about the matters related to the war. They heard that the Holy Roman Empire was involved, and these southerners were fighting to reclaim lands that originally belonged to them.
It also seemed to be related to the Pope? What exactly was going on?
Before they could gossip further and form more opinions about this female lord, another piece of news hit like a stone thrown into water, causing public opinion to surge once more.
The cardinals of Genoa were dragged to the square, where they were publicly stripped of their ecclesiastical titles, and a chaplain from Florence was openly nominated by the lord as the new bishop!
How absurd this was! For centuries, the church's authority had always recognized the power of the emperor, but when did things reverse like this?
"The Holy Roman Church has long been defiled and invaded, fallen into the darkest of realms," the ceremony officer shouted loudly. "Our lord will restore the rightful order and bring prosperity to the world once again—"
The lord, dressed in a deep purple robe, turned around on the podium to face the crowd, which was boiling like the waves of the sea. On either side of her, armored guards assumed defensive postures.
"—From this day forward, the tithe is abolished!"
At the moment those words were shouted, the entire square fell silent, as if a flock of crows had been struck dumb.
What?! How could this be possible?! Was it really the day that the infamous tithe would be abolished? They couldn’t possibly be dreaming, could they?!
Leonardo stood by the flagpole, raising the golden-red flag high.
Luris shouted with a voice so loud and powerful that it resonated across the square.
"Wherever the flag of the Immortal Bird flies, the church will never again have the power to control!"
"From Luka to Genoa, from this starting point to every city in the future, countless parasitic taxes will be reduced and erased. Merchants and farmers will have equal protection before God!"
"Abolish the tithe! From now on, all are equal before the New Faith!"
The crowd screamed and shouted in disbelief, unable to process what they were hearing.
"—No more indulgences in this world!" Leonardo roared.
"—No more indulgences in this world!" Countless voices echoed back, their arms raised high as their cries reverberated like the howling of wolves in a valley.
No more indulgences in this world!
From now on, they would no longer have to endure hunger and cold, surrendering their food and warmth to the church. Even after a murderer’s violent crime, justice and punishment would prevail, and they would not be able to absolve themselves with the sound of the treasury’s coins ringing!
"—In the name of our lord!" Machiavelli shouted.
"—In the name of our lord!!" The response was overwhelming, like a roar that could pierce through the entire city!
In the name of our lord!!
From now on, their lord was one of love and mercy, no longer only listening to the pleas and prayers of the rich. Even the humble farmers and merchants could ascend to heaven after death!
Trade and commerce would now be open and free, and no longer would there be heavy restrictions and cuts between cities in their transactions!
"—For the New Faith born for salvation!" The cardinal raised his staff high.
"—For the New Faith born for salvation!!" The crowd followed suit, raising their arms and roaring in unison, giving all their strength to the chant.
For the New Faith born for salvation!
The flag of the Immortal Bird flapped and soared in the long wind, its wings raised high above the diamonds, gleaming like flames from the fingers of the gods in the bright golden sunlight!
In just a few days, the entire city's direction had shifted, and even the streets began to prosper once again.
The clergy of the larger and smaller churches were all scrutinized and reformed. The boxes for indulgences were collected and publicly burned—some excited citizens even rushed forward to kick them violently.
In the past, no matter the crime of murder or plunder, one could pay a bishop a sum of money to absolve their soul of sin. Under such absurd arrangements, the law was like a crumbling fence, about to collapse. But now, this lord had done what countless people had never dared to imagine!
Revolutionary cannons had turned centuries of cold weapon warfare upside down, and even the threats and intimidation from the clergy had become hollow and powerless.
Though many vested interests sought to fight back fiercely, they all remained silent before the barrels of the guns, as if they had no intention of defending any doctrine.
Wisdom, military power, the faithful, interests, and doctrine...
Many elements had come together, creating a marvelous and convincing result.
Hedy gazed out at the golden-red flags flying on the rooftops of the houses outside the castle, faintly hearing the sounds of celebration.
The man draped a woolen vest over her shoulders and stood beside her.
"Leonardo, what is that noise outside?"
"It’s a parade and celebration," Leonardo replied, watching the fireworks in the distance. "They’re cheering and celebrating the new policies."
Genoa was a typical trading city, where the high taxes imposed by the Church had long silenced the people’s anger. Various harsh dogmas also forced them to surrender all their wealth in exchange for peace in the afterlife.
Hedy’s measures, however, aligned with the tide of the Renaissance, encouraging people to pursue happiness and enjoyment in this world through the sudden emergence of the New Faith.
—This was very Medici, and very Florence.
News soon came from Florence as well.
Although the lord there held a reserved stance on the New Faith, they approved of the tax reductions and relaxation of tariffs.
From now on, trade from there to Genoa would only require paying two taxes, and the cuts were much lighter than before.
So much had happened recently—territorial annexations, new political and economic measures, and reforms related to the New Faith...
Milan and France had started to send letters for consultations and probes, while the Roman Church had yet to respond.
No matter what, these three cities were now under her control, undergoing tremendous transformations.
Hedy had never imagined she would make such practical attempts in so many areas.
In her past life, she had been nearly identical to Leonardo da Vinci in history. Despite all her intelligence, she was constantly interfered with and obstructed.
And due to her status as a woman and the limitations of that era, she couldn't even choose another profession at that time.
Suggestions to improve airplanes, participate in torpedo communication designs—there were so many biases and prejudices that it was hard to breathe under them.
But in this era, Hedy could try almost anything.
The order and laws were continually crumbling, and she could even become a creator of those very rules.
The Medici family identity, Leonardo's and the mercenary group's support, along with the modern concepts of law and all her memories related to history, were like divine aids.
She could analyze Napoleon's and Martin Luther's conquests and reforms, making wise choices based on future historical contexts at this time.
Just as Leonardo had said:
“Hedy, you’re doing great.”
They were quietly discussing matters related to commercial laws when Dechio knocked on the door again.
“My lady,” she said with a light smile, “your old friends have arrived.”
Hedy turned around and heard several pairs of footsteps approaching.
“Hedy—” Atalante quickly strode forward, his thick beard brushing against her neck, making her itch slightly.
Hedy joyfully hugged him, and when she looked up, she saw Michelangelo standing in the doorway.
The young man clearly hadn't expected her to become the new lord, and he seemed hesitant to come forward, casting a pleading glance toward Leonardo instead.