After leaving Turin, the two endured hours of exhausting travel before finally arriving at the border area between the Sardinian Kingdom and the Austrian Empire.
The Sardinian General stationed at the border rushed over as soon as he heard of Jero Bonaparte and Augusta’s arrival.
Under his escort, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta were able to reach the borderline.
"Your Majesty, beyond here lies the border of the Austrian Empire! Please forgive for not being able to accompany you across," the Sardinian General pointed to the few Austrian soldiers behind the barricade and apologized to Jero Bonaparte.
"It’s alright!" Jero Bonaparte, seated on his horse, smiled and replied to the Sardinian General, "You may retreat now!"
"Yes!" Following Jero Bonaparte’s order, the Sardinian General retreated.
Jero Bonaparte and Augusta, each on horseback, advanced towards the Austrian Empire’s barricade. The distant Austrian soldiers, unaware that it was the Emperor of the French Empire on horseback, quickly raised their rifles and warned Jero Bonaparte and Augusta in German, "Halt!"
Jero Bonaparte raised his head and stopped Augusta from proceeding, and the two horses halted precisely at the boundary line between the Sardinian Kingdom and the Austrian Empire.
The stationary Jero Bonaparte also introduced himself in a loud German voice, "I am Jero Bonaparte, Emperor of the French Empire, and next to is my wife Augusta! We have been invited by your Emperor Franz Joseph to go to Milan!"
Upon hearing Jero Bonaparte’s response, the Austrian soldiers behind the barricade displayed expressions of astonishnt and skepticism. In their impression, an emperor should be surrounded by a retinue, yet there was no one accompanying Jero Bonaparte and Empress Augusta.
No, there was indeed a group of Sardinians by their side just now, and one of them was even a Sardinian General.
Realizing this, the Austrian soldiers believed Jero Bonaparte’s identity to a great extent.
However, one soldier, out of caution, still asked Jero Bonaparte, "How can you prove it?"
"I need no proof!" Jero Bonaparte replied to the soldier with a calm and confident tone, "If you are unwilling to believe, you can report to your superior!
If your superior does not wish to believe either, he can go to Milan to report!
I will stay here, not moving a step! How do you find my proposal?"
This ti, all the Austrian soldiers were convinced that the person in front of them was indeed the Emperor of the French Empire.
If he were not the Emperor of the French Empire, he would not be so composed and unhurried.
As Emperor Franz Joseph is currently in Milan, they could easily send soone to verify Jero Bonaparte’s identity if they so wished.
Therefore, the possibility of this individual being an impostor was minuscule.
The Austrian soldiers hurriedly slung their rifles back over their shoulders, removed the barricade, and approached Jero Bonaparte. The leading junior officer even spoke with a humble tone, "Your Majesties, we truly apologize for earlier!"
"It’s nothing!" Jero Bonaparte and Augusta dismounted and shook hands with the junior officer.
Led by the junior officer, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta entered the territory of the Austrian Empire.
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte curiously inquired of the junior officer why there were so few soldiers in the border area.
The junior officer inford Jero Bonaparte that when Emperor Franz Joseph arrived in Milan, he ordered their border troops to retreat. They complied with Emperor Franz Joseph’s order and retreated a few kiloters, leaving only those who monitored the Sardinian Kingdom’s border movents daily.
"I see!" Jero Bonaparte showed a knowing expression.
"Your Majesty, 3 kiloters ahead lies the location of our army encampnt!" The junior officer pointed northeast and responded to Jero Bonaparte, "General Benedek is at the camp!"
"I understand!" Jero Bonaparte nodded, then mounted his horse together with Empress Augusta.
The Austrian soldiers below hurriedly saluted Jero Bonaparte, and Jero Bonaparte, in return, saluted the soldiers before galloping northeast.
After about 15 more minutes, Jero Bonaparte and Empress Augusta finally arrived near the Austrian Empire’s encampnt. Another group of Austrian soldiers blocked Jero Bonaparte’s path and inquired about his purpose.
Jero Bonaparte truthfully explained, and the soldiers quickly saluted Jero Bonaparte, loudly calling out "Your Majesty!"
"Take to your General Benedek!" Jero Bonaparte ordered the soldiers.
The soldiers promptly guided Jero Bonaparte to Benedek’s tent.
Before the soldiers could enter the tent to report, Jero Bonaparte intervened, dismounted, handed the reins to a soldier, and entered the tent with Empress Augusta.
At this mont, General Benedek was still resting. He was unaware that Jero Bonaparte and Augusta were about to enter the tent. When they stepped in, the adjutant next to him quickly awakened Benedek from the rocking chair.
Benedek unwillingly awoke and then inquired of the adjutant beside him what was happening.
"General Benedek, long ti no see!" Jero Bonaparte, not far away, imdiately spoke to Benedek.
Only then did Benedek realize soone had entered the tent. He followed the voice, and the owner of the voice was indeed Jero Bonaparte. Benedek’s face imdiately showed a hint of surprise as he said, "Your Maj... Your Majesty Jero!"
"Hmm!" Jero Bonaparte nodded in response.
Subsequently, Benedek swiftly approached Jero Bonaparte and saluted him with a straight military posture.
Jero Bonaparte solemnly returned the salute and then teasingly said to Benedek, "Were you taking a nap just now?"
Benedek nodded slightly, embarrassed, and then changed the subject by asking, "Your Majesties, why are you here?"
"We were invited by Franz Joseph to co over! Happened to see your troops stationed here along the way, so I specially ca to take a look!" Jero Bonaparte replied to Benedek, "I hope we did not disturb you!"
"No! Not at all!" Benedek shook his head repeatedly, "It’s our honor for Your Majesties to co over! We’re more than happy!"
"Glad we didn’t disturb you!" Jero Bonaparte replied to Benedek and then added, "Alright! We’ll let you get back to work. Augusta and I will continue our journey to Milan!"
"Your Majesty, let see you off!" Benedek said to Jero Bonaparte.
"That would be inappropriate!" Jero Bonaparte hesitated slightly and said to Benedek.
"It’s nothing, Your Majesty!" Benedek shook his head in response to Jero Bonaparte, "We must ensure the safety of you and Her Majesty the Empress!"
"Then I’ll trouble you!" Jero Bonaparte said gracefully.
Under Benedek’s arrangent, a troop of Austrian Cuirassiers escorted Jero Bonaparte and Empress Augusta on their journey.
After another half-hour of riding, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta finally saw Milan.
"Your Majesty, look, over there is Milan!" The officer in charge of the Cuirassiers pointed to the distant cluster of buildings and said to Jero Bonaparte.
"Hmm!" Jero Bonaparte nodded and continued to move forward.
Soon, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta entered the city of Milan.
On the roadsides, the Milanese (or Italians) looked at Jero Bonaparte and Augusta on horseback with eyes full of curiosity and hatred.
For them, the soldiers of the Austrian Empire were their greatest enemies, and Jero Bonaparte and Augusta, protected by these soldiers, were also their enemies.
Thus, under the hostile gazes of the Milanese, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta entered the courtyard of the Governor’s Mansion.
At that mont, in the rooms of the Governor’s Mansion, Franz Joseph and Old tternich were discussing when Jero Bonaparte and Augusta would arrive when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Co in!" Franz Joseph said casually.
The door opened, and a servant from the Governor’s Mansion reported to Franz Joseph, "Your Majesty, His Majesty Jero Bonaparte and Her Majesty Empress Augusta have arrived!"
"What!" Both Franz Joseph and Prince Old tternich had looks of surprise in their eyes. Franz Joseph continued to ask, "When did they arrive?"
"Just a mont ago!" The servant quickly replied.
"Your Majesty, we must go and greet them!" Prince Old tternich reminded.
Franz Joseph finally reacted and quickly left the room.
When Franz Joseph arrived at the living room, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta were already standing there, along with Albrecht and Franz Joseph’s wife, Empress Elizabeth.
Empress Elizabeth was warmly holding Empress Augusta’s hand, and upon seeing Franz Joseph’s arrival, she even led Augusta away first.
Franz Joseph could only apologetically say to Jero Bonaparte, "Jero, Qianqian she..."
Before Franz Joseph could finish, Jero Bonaparte said to him, "n discuss business, won exchange emotions, isn’t this allocation perfect!"
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