Franz Joseph nodded and then invited Jero Bonaparte to a room on the second floor of the Governor’s Mansion.
As soon as he entered the room, Jero Bonaparte got straight to the point with Franz Joseph, "Franz, I hope the Austrian Empire can quickly end its investigation of the Sardinian Kingdom so that the entire Apennine Peninsula can return to a peaceful and stable situation as soon as possible!"
Franz Joseph pondered for a mont, then unexpectedly responded to Jero Bonaparte, "Of course, it’s possible!"
"I know this might be difficult for you, but..." Jero Bonaparte, not yet grasping the situation, thought Franz Joseph had just refused. He hastily and earnestly tried to persuade Franz Joseph, but suddenly realized that Franz Joseph had agreed. He quickly stopped and tentatively asked, "Did you just say yes?"
Franz Joseph calmly replied to Jero Bonaparte, "That’s right!"
"That’s wonderful!" Jero Bonaparte responded to Franz Joseph with a joyful expression.
"However, regarding the matter of the 600 million franc interest-free loan you promised..." Franz Joseph also replied to Jero Bonaparte, "I hope you can implent it as soon as possible!"
"Rest assured!" Jero Bonaparte assured Franz Joseph, "We will grant you the interest-free loan as soon as this matter is completely resolved!
By then, all you need to do is sit back and count the money!"
Franz Joseph and Jero Bonaparte completed the entire transaction in just a few words, and the tug-of-war that Jero Bonaparte had anticipated never materialized.
Then, Jero Bonaparte shifted the topic to ask Franz Joseph, "Franz, what are your thoughts on Italy’s future?"
Franz Joseph was slightly stunned, then inquired of Jero Bonaparte, "What do you an?"
"The nationalism within Italy and the unification of Italy!" Jero Bonaparte explained to Franz Joseph.
After hearing this, Franz Joseph frowned slightly and responded with a hint of hostility to Jero Bonaparte, "Jero, you should know that we will never allow any country to unify the entire Italian region!"
Seeing that Franz Joseph misunderstood his intentions, Jero Bonaparte hurriedly waved his hand and explained, "No, you misunderstood! What I an is not having a single country unify Italy, but creating a relatively loose Italian Confederation, similar to how Prince tternich treated Germany back then!"
"Italian Confederation?" Franz Joseph murmured quietly, "Will this really effectively prevent Italian nationalism?"
Jero Bonaparte honestly shook his head and replied to Franz Joseph, "To be honest, this situation cannot prevent Italian nationalism; instead, it will make Italian nationalism even more rampant!"
Upon hearing this, Franz Joseph frowned even deeper and asked Jero Bonaparte again, "Then why should I form this thing?"
"Because establishing the Italian Confederation can help you disguise as an Italian, thereby defusing so nationalists’ hatred!" Jero Bonaparte explained to Franz Joseph, "Just like the current German Confederation!"
Franz Joseph fell into deep thought, feeling that Jero Bonaparte’s words seed sowhat reasonable, "If the Austrian Empire were to lead the formation of the Italian Confederation, then who should be appointed as the chairman of this confederation?"
"I believe this chairman should not be held by the Austrian Empire, but rather by the Pope State!" Jero Bonaparte said to Franz Joseph, "Moreover, this confederation can be established with the exclusion of the Sardinian Kingdom!
In this way, nationalism originally linked with the Sardinian Kingdom will distance itself because the Sardinian Kingdom is excluded from the Italian Confederation!
This will help you effectively control the various duchies on the Apennine Peninsula!"
As soon as Jero Bonaparte finished speaking, Franz Joseph replied to him, "What you say does make so sense!
However, I do not want to discuss these issues now!"
Since Franz Joseph was unwilling to continue the discussion, Jero Bonaparte could only shrug his shoulders and say to Franz Joseph, "Then let’s temporarily end these topics!"
After speaking, Jero Bonaparte suggested to Franz Joseph that they both go to Augusta and Princess Sisi’s room to have a look.
Franz Joseph also stood up and then followed Jero Bonaparte out of the room.
When Jero Bonaparte and Franz Joseph arrived at the room of Augusta and Princess Sisi, they saw Empress Augusta and Princess Sisi chatting and laughing.
The arrival of Jero Bonaparte and Franz Joseph abruptly interrupted the conversation between Empress Augusta and Empress Elizabeth.
"What’s going on?" Jero Bonaparte curiously asked.
"Nothing!" Augusta shook her head and replied to Jero Bonaparte, then turned to ask, "Why did you finish so quickly?"
"Of course, it’s because we reached a consensus rather quickly!" Jero Bonaparte said lightly to Empress Augusta.
"Yes! The two of us didn’t have much to analyze, so the conversation ended quickly!" Franz Joseph also added.
"So what do you plan to do next?" Empress Augusta continued to inquire of Jero Bonaparte and Franz Joseph.
Franz Joseph was originally going to tell Augusta that he would leave tomorrow, but Jero Bonaparte stood by and interjected, "Of course, take advantage of the leisure ti to tour Milan and its surroundings a bit! Am I right, Franz?"
Franz had no choice but to nod, and the plan in his mind was temporarily put on hold.
...
In the following days, accompanied by Franz Joseph and Elizabeth, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta traveled around Milan and its vicinity.
Also at the invitation of Franz Joseph, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta watched exhibitions of various units of the Austrian Empire.
To be honest, the infantry of the Austrian Empire was slightly inferior in overall quality to that of the French Empire, though their artillery was similar to that of the French Empire.
However, the Austrian Empire’s artillery was still using front-loading bronze cannons, whereas the French side had gradually developed rear-loading steel cannons.
Once France’s rear-loading steel cannons debuted, coupled with France’s Chassepot machine gun and Mauser rear-loading rifle, they would beco harvesters on the battlefield, reaping all life on the field.
Therefore, after the exercises, Major General Albrecht, who was responsible for commanding this army, was specifically called in front of Jero Bonaparte by Franz Joseph.
"Jero, what do you think of our army?" Franz Joseph asked Jero Bonaparte with a slightly proud expression.
"Not bad!" Jero Bonaparte, in order to save so face for Franz Joseph, did not ntion the shortcomings of the army.
"Compared to your French army?" Franz Joseph asked again.
"Franz, compared to our country’s army, your country’s army does fall short!" Jero Bonaparte replied tactfully to Franz Joseph, then gave encouragent, "However, I believe that as long as you continue to work hard, you’ll surely catch up!"
Though Jero Bonaparte was already very dignified, in the proud heart of Albrecht it felt very unpleasant.
Thus, Albrecht asked Jero Bonaparte in a firm tone, "Your Majesty, may I ask where exactly our country’s army lags behind compared to yours?"
"General Albrecht!" Franz Joseph frowned and reprimanded, then continued, "You should not speak to an Emperor in this manner!"
Seeing this, Albrecht quickly apologized to Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, please forgive my previous remarks which may have been offensive!"
"It’s nothing!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head at Albrecht, "General Albrecht, didn’t you just ask where our two armies differ? I’ll tell you, our armies differ in the soldiers’ subjective initiative, in the quantity of the army, and in the individual soldier’s quality..."
Jero Bonaparte listed to Albrecht, "What I ntioned are issues that can be resolved through a prosperous treasury!
However, your country’s finances cannot bear it!"
At this, Albrecht instantly fell silent; the French Empire indeed invested much more in their army annually than the Austrian Empire did. The more investnt in the army, the stronger the combat capability, which is a common principle.
Seeing both Albrecht and Franz Joseph remain silent, Jero Bonaparte secretly revealed a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.
...
Ti passed quickly, and Jero Bonaparte and Augusta were soon approaching the ti to leave.
On the evening before they left Milan, a gathering personally hosted by Franz Joseph was held at the Governor’s Mansion.
During the banquet, Jero Bonaparte approached Prince Old tternich and, with a slightly dazed look in his eyes, said, "Mr. Prince tternich, I hope that the next ti we et, I will still see you!"
Prince Old tternich responded with a touch of sadness, "Your Majesty, certainly!"
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