Chapter 65: No More Money If They Don't Start Fighting Soon
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Late at night.
In a small alley in the city of Turin, three middle-aged men gathered in a grocery store, engaging in a hushed conversation.
The eldest among them asked, "Amor, how are things going?"
"The plan is proceeding remarkably well. The patriotism among the people is running high. Even without our guidance, I believe they would have taken to the streets in protest on their own!" Amor replied with a smile.
"We must not be careless. The more critical the situation, the more cautious we need to be."
"Did you manage to avoid drawing attention from others?" the elder man asked with concern.
"Don't worry, Carmelo! My current identity is that of a patriotic small merchant from Venice. Everything I do now aligns perfectly with that identity. On the surface, it appears that as long as the Kingdom of Sardinia occupies Venice, I will receive generous rewards. In such a situation, it is necessary for me to show hostility towards Austria without raising any suspicions," Amor explained.
There is no shortage of capitalists who, driven by their own interests, advocate for the attack on Venice. Amor, at most, is just showing a slightly more proactive attitude, which is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
"Good, that's reassuring. As professionals in our line of work, the utmost importance lies in being cautious and completing our assigned tasks. We must never become greedy.”
Cesilio, at what stage is your mission?" Inquired the middle-aged man known by the codename Camero.
"It hasn't been going smoothly. I'm just an insignificant figure, unnoticed by the major newspapers. They have no shortage of articles, and for now, my writings can only appear in the tabloids," Cesilio replied helplessly.
He was just a literary enthusiast, and his written articles could be considered good, but they hadn't reached the level of earth-shattering impact. In the culturally rich region of Italy, he lacked a distinct advantage.
Fortunately, the article he was about to publish was perfectly in line with the current situation, employing various means to disparage the Austrians and extol the bravery of the Sardinian army.
Recently, such articles have been appearing frequently, but Cesarino's articles were more explicit and their content more radical, perfectly catering to the tastes of the "chuunibyou" youth.
"Don't worry, we'll take it slow. The nationalism in the Kingdom of Sardinia has exceeded our expectations. Even if we didn't orchestrate it, public opinion would still push the government to send troops to Venice. We're just accelerating the timing.”
“Now that the momentum has been generated, it doesn't matter whether we guided it or not. It's time to change our propaganda approach. Let's highlight the brutal rule of Austria. You can freely fabricate the content, as long as it tarnishes Austria to the extreme. If you can't come up with anything, dig up the dark history of the Sardinian Kingdom's nobility and capitalists, reframe it, and attribute it all to Austria." Camero nodded in agreement.
As Camero thought about it, he couldn't help but chuckle. He had certainly set a record himself. As a spy, he was actively tarnishing his own homeland. It was unlikely that anyone would believe it if the truth were to come out.
Even his two local associates, who were unaware that they were serving the Austrian government, believed that they were part of a secret intelligence organization from the United Kingdom, as Camero had always told them.
Now, by instigating the Kingdom of Sardinia to attack Venice, it was all in line with the strategic interests of the British Empire, aiming to establish a unified Italy.
Under the influence of money and spiritual encouragement, neither of them felt that their actions were wrong. They firmly believed that everything they did was in pursuit of Italy's unification.
Unfortunately, these were the orders given by their superiors. To prompt the Kingdom of Sardinia to swiftly attack Venice, they needed to stoke the flames of national sentiment and exert pressure on the Sardinian government.
There were many individuals involved in carrying out this mission, most of whom disguised themselves as members of British or French intelligence organizations. Some even boldly infiltrated radical groups without raising suspicion.
During this era, there were no identity registration systems or efficient communication methods available. It was easy to fabricate a false identity from the Italian region, as there was no way to verify it effectively.
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Moreover, with the surge of nationalism in the Kingdom of Sardinia, as long as one assumed the role of a patriot, their actions were considered politically correct. Even if their true identity was discovered, the Sardinian government would hesitate to apprehend them easily.
… …
With someone setting the tone, the nationalist fervor among the supporters of the Kingdom of Sardinia grew even stronger. Faced with the pressure of public opinion, King Charles-Albert could no longer hold on.
It should be noted that after the outbreak of the February Revolution in France, the revolutionary spirit in the Kingdom of Sardinia began to surge. Had it not been for his shrewd move to declare war on Austria and shift the focus of conflict, the question of whether he could retain his throne would remain uncertain.
In reality, Charles-Albert did not have any intention of defeating Austria. His initial plan was merely to engage in a limited conflict, gain some advantages to appease domestic demands, and call it a day.
Having already occupied Lombardy, he had exceeded expectations in fulfilling his mission. Continuing the offensive into the Venetian region posed too great a risk, and the chances of military success were not high.
"Where are our allied forces, Azelio?" Charles-Albert inquired with concern.
Prime Minister Azelio's expression darkened as he realized that all the benefits had been devoured by the Kingdom of Sardinia alone. Could he still rely on other nations for assistance?
Moreover, the Italian states are heavily influenced by Austria, and now everyone is compelled by public opinion to participate in this war, which they were originally unwilling to do. With no motivating incentives, it's only natural that there will be a lot of dragging their feet and procrastination.
"The 5,000 volunteers from Tuscany are already on their way and are expected to arrive in Lombardy by the end of the month. The Papal States' 7,000 troops have reached the Adda River. As for the 40,000 reinforcements from Naples, it is anticipated that only a portion of them will be able to arrive by May." Azelio replied with a troubled expression.
"Urge them to hasten their pace, and continue to demand an increase in the number of reinforcements from other countries. In May, we must launch an attack on the Venetian region!" King Charles pondered for a moment before speaking with determination.
This was his last line of defense. The pressure of public opinion was becoming unbearable. At this moment, King Charles regretted his early announcement of the annexation of Lombardy. If he had kept the division of Lombardy as a bargaining chip, he could have used it to keep Tuscany in check.
However, that thought quickly vanished. In an era where public sentiment demanded unification, engaging in territorial division would be politically fatal.
"Your Majesty, now is not the time for a decisive battle with the Austrians. We should at least wait for the escalation of the Austrian civil war and the arrival of the 40,000 troops from Naples before launching an attack. That would be the optimal time to strike!" advised Minister of War, Li Qi.
The Austrian government has not yet begun suppressing the Hungarian rebellion. At this moment, launching an attack on Venice would only further provoke the Viennese government. It is possible that the main Austrian forces might then redirect their aggression towards the Italian region.
Charles-Albert reluctantly explained, "Indeed, from a military perspective, that is the case. However, politically, we can no longer afford to delay. Additionally, there are financial concerns as the expenses of occupying Lombardy have far exceeded our expectations."
Author’s Note: Do not make fun of the name. The Minister of the Army of the Kingdom of Sardinia is indeed translated as Li Qi, and it is not a name I made up.
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