Milan, Illusions, DaVinci (4) Horse
在大西洋沿岸国家成为欧洲政治经济中心之前，地中海周边才是欧洲的利益核心。是利益的核心就必然成为政治角逐的焦点，是政治的焦点就难免变成战场。欧洲文明就起源于地中海边的古希腊，再到罗马共和国和罗马帝国，如今意大利境内的邦国：那不勒斯王国，弗洛伦萨共和国，威尼斯共和国，教皇国，米兰公国，……这些城邦国家沐浴在文艺复兴的春风里，正享受着喷薄而发的艺术和源源不断的财富，与此同时，真正的掠食者们正磨刀霍霍，准备分食这群养肥了的羊。城邦国家之间因为长期的利益纷争和纠葛斗得不可开交，自然开始寻求外部势力的支持，从这一刻起，城邦国家的命运再不能掌握在自己手里了，正真的玩家已经换成了他们身后的法国，西班牙和神圣罗马帝国，长达半个多世纪的意大利战争，将从此拉开序幕，欧洲的中心也将从地中海转向大西洋。
当法王路易十二亲帅自己的精锐骑兵和善战的瑞士雇佣军越过阿尔卑斯山时，米兰公爵卢多维科正把神圣罗马帝国遣使送来的密信撕得粉碎，大骂道：“马克西米连，你个懦夫！连个议会都搞不定，还当个卵子皇帝呀! 你要不能出兵，你当初跟我拍个卵子胸脯啊！你这一掉链子，我他妈完了！本来是一盘好棋，能玩儿死威尼斯，那不勒斯，还有他妈的法国，这下全他妈完了…….我 去你大爷！“ 卢多维科是风雅的，文艺的，这不能怪他，人到了自己最无能为力的时候，除了往死了骂，还能怎么发泄呢？路易十二利用了他对威尼斯西部边界的克雷莫纳和吉亚拉达达的野心，把他给耍了，如今要先把米兰不吐骨头的吃下去，再拿下那不勒斯。说好了联合米兰出兵来制衡法国的神圣罗马帝国皇帝马克西米连又被本国的君主立宪派给玩儿残了，立宪派把持着帝国议会否决了出兵……而西班牙国王费迪南德正发遣舰队，准备从西西里登陆来分亚平宁半岛的一杯羹，眼瞅着意大利的邦国都得完，可米兰将是第一个出局的，在这场博弈中，谁会甘心自己是第一个玩儿完的呢，筹码一旦全输掉，下了这张牌桌，游戏再精彩，也跟你无关了。
斯福尔扎城堡中，达芬奇正和助手查理斯在中庭打着粘土的坯子。旁边一匹雄壮的马，黏土塑的马，有二十多尺高，曲颈奋蹄，鬃尾乱乍，威武异常！达芬奇拿着手里的抹刀一边刮着要成型的马的左腿，一边跟身边的查理斯说：“你那个水再多加点，好，好了，够了够了，再来就稀了，我看看……还行，内什么，你下回得换个更细点的筛子，现在还是有小沙粒儿“，自从达芬奇的助手兼学徒达奥立诺给他炼钢伤了眼睛，有些粗活达芬奇就不让他干了，反正手头项目有的是，这些年下来达奥立诺也能独当一面了，正好派他去了米兰西边的城墙上，指导着守城的雇佣兵架青铜大炮呢。这个新雇的查理斯挺机灵的，达芬奇是他的大偶像。”打这马的模型，光粘土咱们就用了多少了，等到了真铸的时候，得用多少青铜啊!” 查理斯自言自语道：“Master，您说这城准守的住吗？一定守得住的，对吧？” 达芬奇全神贯注的刮着马左腿上多余的粘土，没有接查理斯的茬儿。大公跟自己念叨好几年了，说要在城堡的中庭添个摆设儿，塑像已经有不少了，你说塑点什么呢？哎----，来个马吧！马好啊，就来马了！大公喜欢马，说马是贵族，勇敢和征服的象征，就塑它个青铜马！大马！
战马嘶鸣，炮声近了。一百多重甲骑兵正在城堡中外庭列队，他们是卢斯维科的亲卫，中庭停满了马车，仆人们疯子似的往马车上装行李细软，大公的家眷们正由各自的侍女们搀扶着上车，斯福尔扎城堡中乱成了一气。
火把的光把卢多维科的脸映的凄惶，大公左手拉着一匹自己平日里最喜欢的西班牙纯血马，右手攥着达芬奇的手，相望无语。十八年前，卢多维科做为米兰公国的摄政，和刚从弗洛伦萨来的达芬奇一见如故，彼时两人都刚而立，意气风发，一个权柄在握，正要大展宏图，一个学有所成，势要建功立业，一个礼贤下士，一个才高八斗，一个爱才若渴，一个学富五车……
炮声更近了。再凄惶，大公也是一国之君，贵族的高傲和矜持不允许他再表露更多的悲情，左手一带，把爱马的缰绳交在达芬奇手里，马鞍两侧的挂袋里装满了金币，大公一向是周全的人，尤其对达芬奇，如今法军已经攻破了外城，离别之际，还是为达芬奇打点周全，也不枉主客一场，君臣一场，知己相惜一场……“芬奇呀，现在形势不太好，我可能要离开米兰一阵子……我先派人送你到威尼斯，从威尼斯转道去弗洛伦萨，十八年了，你正好也回家看看……我是要回来的，到那时，我再派人去接你，我这一摊儿也离不开你，米兰这儿多少事儿等着做呢”……卢多维科再也说不下去了……“Your Grace，我跟您走吧……” 达芬奇心里难受，酸。” 此一去山高路远，前途未卜，我哪能……” 卢多维科又哽住了，” 走吧，用不了多久的，米兰还会是那个米兰，咱们的米兰 “。
达芬奇打马出城，一路向西。新雇的助手查理斯（注1）本该跟达芬奇一起走，可他是米兰人，任谁的军队打过来，任城头上悬的是谁的家徽，米兰，最终还是米兰人的米兰。他要留在城堡里，这里还有达芬奇塑的马的粘土模型，他要留在这，等达芬奇回来，完成自己作为大偶像助手的第一个作品。
卢多维科和公爵府的近卫骑士们护着家眷出了城北，一路奔向蒂罗尔…… 此一去，大公至死再没踏进过自己苦心经营的斯福尔扎城堡。（注2）
一道火光划过天空，轰---一声巨响，斯福尔扎城堡西北角的城墙被抛石机抛出的巨石砸出了一个大豁口，法军的瑞士雇佣兵一拥登上了城墙，塔楼上斯福尔扎家的黑鹰蛇身人相间的家徽旗伴着升起的烟尘飘飘落下……轰---又是一声巨响，抛进城堡来的一块炮石正砸在中庭中二十多尺高的黏土的马上，马瞬间化为粉碎，激起几丈高的尘土……一堆没了型的黏土下，露出了查理斯的帽子。
炮声和火光中，米兰的黄金时代结束了……那也是卢多维科的黄金时代……更是达芬奇的黄金时代……
乘车来到离米兰市中心不远的圣西罗大球场，逛了逛曾经的意甲豪门AC米兰的主场，意兴阑珊，刚出来，就看到不远处有块大场地，径直来到跟前，才知道是米兰赛马场。正要走，一眼瞥见赛马场前立着一尊雄壮的马，青铜塑的马，有二十多尺高，曲颈奋蹄，鬃尾乱乍，威武异常！（注3）马不是已经……已经毁了吗……大公不是…达芬奇……我怔住了，就呆立在马前，达芬奇的马前……米兰已经不是那个米兰了……米兰还是那个米兰。------全文完
后记：去机场的火车上，人不少，是旅行总要结束的。不经意间和对面坐的美女相视，我报以微笑，我爱她的小雀斑。她用带着浓重德国口音的英语问我从哪来，“美国，你呢？“ 奥地利”她说，“因斯布鲁克”，“我去过，挺漂亮的滑雪小镇”。听说我去过她家乡，她有点兴奋，“你经常旅行吗？去过很多地方吧？”还好“，我心不在焉，”那你跟我说说你为什么旅行呢？“，她没有要就此打住的意思，谁说德国人奥地利人不爱瞎搭茬了？ ”我? 我为什么要旅行？“，我重复着她的话，她见我不答她，接着问：”那你为什么来米兰？“ ，”我，我为什么来米兰？“，我更答不上来了，看我语塞，她好像得了意，又问：”那你在旅行中 想要 什么呢?”, “我---我 想要 回家“。
注1：达奥立诺历史上确是达芬奇助手，可文中新助手查理斯为虚构，是笔者向四百多年后出钱出力完成《达芬奇的马》的查理斯.丹特致敬。
注2：卢多维科在法军攻陷城堡前逃出米兰，瑞士几个州不满法国的态度，同意向他提供1万雇佣兵，他带着这支队伍在第二年春杀回米兰。此时卢多维科的前雇佣兵队长特里武尔奇奥的独裁已在米兰遭到激烈反对，米兰人听到卢多维科将到来的消息，便起而占领了各个城门。特里武尔奇奥弃城而走，卢多维科在人们的拥戴之中进城。然而，他的好运气也就此完结。法军顽强的坚守着米兰城堡和公国中的其他据点，卢多维科的人力物力都已枯竭，眼前就是家国故业，自己一生苦心经营的斯福尔扎城堡，却久攻不下而力竭。1500年4月8日，他在诺瓦拉不战而溃。卢多维科逃跑未遂，被法军俘获。曾经叱咤风云的米兰公爵作为阶下囚在法国度过余生。
注3：达芬奇的马是达芬奇受米兰公爵卢多维科·斯福尔扎之托开始制作的一个雕塑，但没有完成。达芬奇为这座雕塑做了一些准备，其中一些见于马德里手稿之上，但最终他只作出了一个黏土模型，还没来得及作进一步的行动，此模型就在1499年法国军队进攻米兰时被毁，也终止了雕塑的继续创作。五个世纪之后，在1977年一位退休美国飞行员查理斯·登特（Charles Dent）开始在宾夕法尼亚州阿伦敦雕刻此雕塑，1994年登特逝世，根据遗嘱由纽约的一个基金会“Tallix Art Foundry”委托日裔美国雕刻家妮娜·阿卡姆（Nina Akamu）进行雕刻，终于在1999年9月10日正式宣布雕成。这座青铜像在美国完成后被拆开运往米兰，放置在米兰的赛马场前面，高达7米（23英尺），据信可能还是世界上最大的马雕塑之一。
When Louis XII led his elite cavalry and the war-experienced Swiss mercenaries climbing over the Alps, Duke Lodovico Sforza of Milan was ripping apart the confidential messages sent by the Holy Roman Empire ambassador, cursing, "Maximilian, you coward! You cannot even handle a parliament, and you still want to be an emperor? If you can't send troops, you should have made a pact with me! Now I'm done for! I was about to win against Venice, Naples and even France, but now it's all over... Damn it!" Lodovico Sforza was elegant and cultured, so one could not blame him for his outburst when all seemed lost. Louis XII had outplayed him by exploiting his ambitions over the Cremona and Giaradadda of the Venetian west border. Now he had to swallow his pride and take Naples. The Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian had promised to unite with Milan and send troops to counter France, but the constitutionalists in his own court had seized the Imperial Parliament and vetoed the dispatch. Meanwhile, the Spanish King Ferdinand had sent fleets to the western Sicily, ready to divide the spoils of the Apennines. It seemed that all the Italian towns were doomed, and Milan would be the first to go. Who would willingly be the first to leave the table, when all their chips were gone, yet the game was still so exciting?
In the Castello di Sforza, Leonardo da Vinci and his assistant Charles were playing with clay in the courtyard. Beside them stood a magnificent horse, more than 20 feet tall, with an arched neck and flailing tail, full of strength and vigor. Leonardo was sculpting the horse's left leg with his spatula while talking to Charles: "Add some more water, good, that's enough, if you add more, it'll be too thin, let me see... “okay, what else?” “You need to get a finer sieve next time, there are still small grains here." Since his assistant and apprentice D'Arrino had hurt his eyes while forging steel, Leonardo had stopped letting him do the rough work. There were plenty of projects to go around, and D'Arrino had been sent to the walls of Milan in the west, instructing the hired soldiers on how to set up the bronze cannons. Charles was quite smart, and Leonardo was his idol.
"How much clay have we used for this horse? When we cast it in bronze, how much bronze would we need?" Charles mumbled to himself. "Master, do you think this castle can hold?" "It must hold," Leonardo replied, totally focused on scraping the extra clay from the horse's leg. The Duke had been talking about adding an ornament to the castle courtyard for years now, and they had already made many statues. What else to make? Ah, a horse! Horses were a symbol of nobility, courage, and conquest, so they decided to make a bronze horse, a big one!
The war horses neighed, and the cannon fire was getting closer. More than a hundred heavily armored cavalrymen were lined up in and outside the castle. They were the personal guards of Ludovico, and the courtyard was full of carriages. The servants were crazy packing luggage onto the carriages. The Duke's family were being helped into the carriages by their respective maids. The castle of Sforza was in a mess.
The light of the torch illuminated Ludovico's face, looking sad. The Duke was holding his favorite Spanish purebred horse with his left hand and grasping Da Vinci's hand with his right, without saying a word. Eighteen years ago, Ludovico, as the regent of the Milanese state, met Da Vinci who had just come from Florence. At that time, the two of them were just starting out. One had power in hand and was about to make a grand plan, the other had achieved something and was about to build a career, one was a noble and the other was a genius, one loved talent and the other was highly learned...
The cannon fire was getting closer. Even in such a sad state, the Duke was still the ruler of a country. The arrogance and pride of the nobility did not allow him to show more emotion. With a wave of his left hand, he handed the reins of his beloved horse to Da Vinci. The saddlebags on both sides of the saddle were filled with coins. The Duke had always been considerate, especially towards Da Vinci. Now that the French army had broken through the outer city, he still took care of Da Vinci before parting. It was not in vain for the lord and the subject, for the bosom friends... "Leo, the situation is not very good now, I may have to leave Milan for a while... I will send someone to take you to Venice first, and then from Venice to Florence. It's been eighteen years; you can take a break in your hometown... I will come back to Millan soon, and by then I will send someone to pick you up. There are still many things to do here, and I can’t do it without your help". Ludovico could no longer speak... "Your Grace, allow me to go with you..." Da Vinci felt bitter and sour in his heart. "It's a long way, and the future is uncertain. How can I..." Ludovico chocked up again. "Trust me, it won't take long. Milan will still be the same Milan, our Milan!".
Da Vinci rode out of Millan, heading west. His new assistant, Charles, was supposed to go with Da Vinci, but he was a Milanese, and no matter which army came, or whatever crest was hung on the city gate, Milan would ultimately be Milanese’s. He wanted to stay in the castle, where there was a clay model of the horse that Da Vinci had sculpted. He wanted to stay here, waiting for Da Vinci to come back and complete his first work as a great idol assistant.
Ludovico and his guards escorted the family out of the north gate of the city and ran towards Tivoli... The Duke never stepped into the castle he had worked so hard for again until his death.
A fire crossed the sky, and then a loud bang. The northwest corner of the castle wall of Sforza was smashed open by a huge stone thrown by a catapult, and the Swiss mercenaries of the French army rushed onto the wall. The Black Eagle flag with the serpent-like family crest of the Sforza family flew up with the dust, and then fell... Bang - another loud bang, a cannonball thrown into the castle hit the twenty-foot tall clay horse in the middle of the courtyard. The horse instantly turned into powder, stirring up a few feet high of dust... Under the pile of shapeless clay, Charles' hat was revealed.
Sforza Castle was swallowed by fire, and in the light of the flames, the golden age of Milan was over... It was also the golden age of Ludovico Sforza, as well as of Leonardo da Vinci.
Coming to the San Siro Stadium, not far from the center of Milan, I visited the home stadium of the Serie A giants AC Milan and felt a bit melancholy. Just coming out, I saw a large field not far away, and went straight to it. I found out that it was the Milan racecourse. Just about to go, I caught sight of a majestic horse standing in front of the racecourse. It was a bronze-cast horse, more than twenty feet tall, with a curved neck and spirited hooves, and a wild mane, exceptionally impressive! “Wasn't the horse already... already destroyed... Didn't the Duke…” I was stunned and stood in front of the horse, the horse of Da Vinci’s work... Milan is no longer the same Milan... and Milan is still the same Milan. ------The End.
Epilogue: On the train to the airport, for the journey had to come to an end. I glanced at the pretty girl sitting opposite me, and I smiled at her, admiring her cute freckles. She asked me in English with a heavy German accent, "where are you from?" “States, DC. You?” "Austria," she said, "Innsbruck." "I've been there, it's a nice ski town." Hearing that I had been to her hometown, she seemed a bit excited, "Do you travel a lot? Have you been to many places?" I was not in talkative mood, "Not really." "So why do you travel?" she asked, not wanting to stop there. Who said Germans and Austrians are taciturn?
"Why do I travel?" I repeated her question. Seeing my hesitation, she continued, "So why did you come to Milan?" I was even more speechless. She seemed to understand, and asked again, "So what do you want out of your travels?" I paused, then answered, "I...I want to go home."
