What is significant about the phrase, “What winnowing fan is that upon your shoulder

i don't really know the circumstances. i personally think not due to it not being fair for all parties and how hated i'd become if i thought it was a good thing.

i believe it is the first option, having taken lessons

the answer is:

to persuade readers that a conquering prince must destroy a former republic if he hopes to hold it.

in the excerpt from "the prince," the author niccolò machiavelli suggests that to take possession of a city and endure the control over it, it is necessary to destroy it first. otherwise, people who have known freedom will eventually turn against the new rulers and fight back to recover their power.