The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1637 The Investigator's Visit
Parma Province, Busseto.

In a luxurious manor on the outskirts of the city, a black carriage was being pulled by two pure black horses, followed by a troop of black-clad cavalry.

Throughout the entire Austrian Empire, there were only two professions where black was the dominant color: the funeral industry and the Austrian Empire's censorship agencies.

Due to the nature of their profession, coupled with the fact that they often carried out less-than-merciful tasks, the Austrian Empire's censors were a truly fearsome profession.

Upon arriving at the villa, a young man stepped down from the carriage and exchanged a few words with the estate's butler, who then hurriedly ran inside.

"Lord Verdi, an examiner who claims to be Baron Palvin wishes to see you."

Giuseppe Verdi, the most famous Italian nationalist composer of the 19th century. He was slightly distracted, and the teacup in his hand fell to the ground.

However, Giuseppe Verdi quickly recovered, sighed almost imperceptibly, and then turned to his wife and said...

"Honey, could you excuse me for a moment? I have something to discuss."

"You don't have to face all of this alone."

"No, I must face it."

"Giuseppe Verdi said firmly," his wife said. She didn't insist further; after all, this wasn't the first time this uninvited guest had visited. She simply felt that the legendary young emperor didn't seem to be the tyrant portrayed in the rumors.
After a while.

"Master, I apologize for disturbing you."

(Meister, a title of respect for artists.)
"You didn't come here to apologize to me, did you?"

Giuseppe Verdi spoke bluntly, but the young man opposite him was not annoyed.

“You are as bold and direct as your art.” The man took a deep breath. “Master, I have come this time with the benevolence and goodwill of the Empire and His Majesty.”

I hope you won't refuse.

Giuseppe Verdi leaned back in his armchair, looking languid.

"tell me the story."

As an examiner, Palvin had never encountered anyone who dared to disrespect him so much. He calmed himself down and decided to reconsider his words.

"We have read your new works, Il Trovatore and La Dame aux Camélias. Your talent is admirable, and your works are full of power and passion."

Inspector Palvin abruptly changed the subject and continued.

"But your work has not passed the review of the Ethics Committee for Literary Works. Its power is easily misinterpreted and abused. We do not want you to be used by people with ulterior motives and become a tool to undermine the imperial order and morality."

"Shakespeare once said, 'There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's minds.' I am just an opera composer, and I tell stories about love, hate, and passion."

As for how the audience interprets it, that's their own resonance with the work. I can't control that.

Giuseppe Verdi spoke with righteous indignation, but the censor Palvin was so angry that his mouth twisted in disbelief. He had received a strict aristocratic education since childhood and had been through so many years of experience. He thought he was absolutely rational and would not have any emotional fluctuations, but at this moment he slammed his fist on the table and roared.

“You only have one Hamlet, and he cannot be against the Church, against Austria, or even against the Habsburgs. Your art is not pure. I do not know your motives, but I can tell you the consequences will be severe.”

“Serious? Are you going to kill me? I’m not afraid of death!” Giuseppe Verdi also slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

"You're not afraid of death, yet you're pushing millions of people to their deaths? You're inciting war. You did it once in 1848, and hundreds of thousands of people died because of it. They could have enjoyed peace and prosperity, they could have enjoyed this unprecedented golden age, they should have been with their families."

Yet you send them to their deaths for that vague, unattainable kingdom you speak of! You are the true butcher!

Giuseppe Verdi simply smiled at the accusations leveled by the censor, Palvin.

"I didn't send anyone to their deaths; I simply told them that they could have lived another life. Their deaths were for the great revival of Italy! They were heroic sacrifices!"

Italy is not an illusion; it is the reality we touch, breathe, and feel every day! It is deeply rooted in everyone's heart; it has already flowed into our blood and our soul!

He is the land beneath my feet, the sky above my head, and the burning melody in my heart!

Giuseppe Verdi felt his expression should be solemn and sacred when he spoke, but the censor Palvin saw it as paranoia and madness.

"Italy is just a fragmented geographical term! The Italian nation is nothing more than a concept you forcibly created."

You are a famous playwright, so you are welcomed and admired wherever you go, but people who were born in Parma like you are only seen as country bumpkins in Lombardy and Venice. Venetians will not recognize that you are the same kind of people.

Similarly, how do the people of Parma view the Romans and Neapolitans? You have so many mistresses, why don't you acknowledge the maid from Sicily outside your door?
Is she of lowly status? Then why would you publicly disclose your relationship with a prostitute?

The examiner's words immediately caused Giuseppe Verdi's expression to change several times.

"You bullshit!"

“I’m not making this up; I can provide you with plenty of evidence. Although you don’t want to admit it, you subconsciously believe that the islanders of Sicily are unworthy of being treated as equals.”

You don't see her as someone like you at all!
Prejudice in people's hearts is like a mountain; whether you admit it or not, it's there!

"you!."

Giuseppe Verdi was so angry at the evidence on the table that he was speechless for a moment.

"Do you want me to tell you what the leaders of the Italian nation did in 1848?"

They hoarded goods and drove up prices during the war, causing widespread suffering, while making a fortune on the black market. Some even lent money at exorbitant interest rates while manipulating the market, leaving borrowers with debts they could never repay.

They used their power to incite the people, suppress dissidents, and persecute and purge those with differing political views and potential competitors without any bottom line, using supplies to turn the army into a private armed force loyal to them.

They use the banner of the nation and the people to plunder public funds and then appropriate them for themselves. They use the guise of equality to bully and oppress the people! It's truly despicable!
The number of people who died directly from the war was less than 10% of the total death toll. The warriors you mentioned were all killed by instigators like you!

And look at the brutal empire you speak of. We have built hospitals, schools, and railways, reduced taxes for most people, and our police and judges have brought peace to this land.

The people of this land no longer need to worry about war, famine, and plague.

Palvin's tone was full of pride, after all, the changes brought about by the Austrian Empire were truly visible to the naked eye, and in just a few years, everything had undergone earth-shattering changes.

“We brought unprecedented prosperity and peace to this land, and what did you bring? Slaughter, destruction, hunger, poverty, and your reign of terror!”