The Family - Mario Puzo [48]
The French troops had succeeded in occupying Naples; King Masino, without a struggle, had abdicated and fled. King Charles had won. He had overcome the first obstacle to his conquest of Jerusalem and the overthrow of the Infidel. And he had little interest in dampening his mood by worrying over Cesare’s escape. All he wanted now was to enjoy the beauty of Naples, the food, the women, the wine.
But with Cesare free, Alexander moved quickly to put in motion his plans for the Holy League. Now that King Ferrante was dead, and there was no longer any threat of Naples invading Milan, Il Moro was willing to align with Rome again. Troops from Milan and Venice began to gather in the north: they had plans to join the Spanish, whose ships would land below Naples, and move up the Italian peninsula.
Alexander, seated on his throne, called Cesare and Duarte Brandao to his chambers to review his military strategy and plans for the Holy League.
“Are you not concerned, Father,” Cesare asked, “that King Charles will consider it a terrible offense that you have broken your word about Naples?”
Alexander looked puzzled for a moment, then frowned. “Broken my word?” he said. “What are you speaking of, Cesare? I vowed not to interfere with his conquest of Naples. Not once did I say I would allow him to keep it.”
Duarte smiled. “I doubt the young king is able to grasp that subtlety.”
Cesare continued. “So it is your plan that the forces of the Holy League should cut off the escape route, so that the French army will be crushed between the Spanish in the south and the troops from Venice and Milan in the north? Father, that is to be caught between a hammer and an anvil.”
Duarte asked, “And if the French army makes it past the Spanish and Neapolitan troops to Rome?”
Alexander was thoughtful. “If they escape our troops in the south and find their way to our city—if only for a few days—they could still do considerable damage. They would certainly sack the city . . . ”
Duarte said, “And, Holy Father, this time I have grave doubt that King Charles would stop them . . . ”
Cesare thought a moment, then made a suggestion. “Charles must realize that if he wishes to reclaim Naples, he must convince you to break your alliance with the Holy League. He also must be crowned by you and receive your blessings, for you are the suzerain.”
Alexander was impressed by his son’s analysis, yet he felt there was something Cesare was not saying. “And, my son, your strategy would be?”
Cesare smiled slyly. “If the French king finds Your Holiness here in Rome as he retreats, he might seize the opportunity to force you to make concessions. But if you are elsewhere . . . ”
When the French advance guard entered the city, they reported back to Charles that the Pope had gone north to Orvieto. King Charles, determined to convince the Pope to do his bidding, ordered his army through Rome and on to Orvieto. But when Alexander’s scouts spotted the French advance guard approaching Orvieto, Alexander was ready. Before long he and his envoy were on the road, racing to Perugia, where he would meet with Lucrezia.
From Orvieto, Alexander had already sent Don Michelotto to accompany his daughter back across the mountains, for he had not seen her in several months and needed to reassure himself of her well-being and talk to her about her husband. The Pope felt it would be pleasant to have Lucrezia’s company; it would help pass the time while he waited for the outcome of the French invasion.
King Charles entered Orvieto anxious to convince Alexander to sign another treaty. But frustrated by the news that the Pope had moved on to Perugia, Charles angrily ordered his army out of Orvieto and on to Perugia.
Suddenly on the road ahead he recognized one of his advance guards. The soldier, breathless, stammered with the news that troops of the Holy League, in serious numbers, were concentrated in the north. Charles had to change his plans. Then he received another piece of bad news. His new ally, Virginio Orsini, had been