After the train carrying Cavour traveled from south to north for several dozen hours, it finally arrived at the capital of the French Empire, Paris.
When the steam train arrived at the Paris Railway Station, it was already about 10 PM. Cavour, carrying a suitcase and leaving the train station, quickly transferred to a carriage heading for the Sardinian French Embassy.
The carriage galloped all the way, crossing most of the city, finally arriving at the entrance of the Sardinian French Embassy.
"Sir, we’ve arrived!" The coachman driving the carriage shouted to Cavour inside, in French.
Sitting in the carriage and reminiscing about the vibrant journey, Cavour snapped back to reality upon hearing the coachman’s shout and responded to the driver, "Ah! I know!"
Cavour picked up the suitcase again, opened the carriage door, and moved next to the coachman. He handed a silver franc coin to the coachman while marveling, "The transformation of Paris is truly remarkable!
The last ti I ca to Paris, many streets and buildings hadn’t begun construction yet!
No need to give change!"
"Sir, you probably haven’t been to Paris for quite so ti!" The coachman, pocketing the silver coin with joy, said to Cavour.
"Indeed!" Cavour nodded as he replied to the driver, "I’ve not been to Paris for a very long ti!"
"Then it’s only natural for you to feel this way!" The coachman shrugged and responded to Cavour, "Even we, who are often in the Paris region, are sotis astonished by the ever-changing city!
Many old buildings hidden in our mories have been demolished, with new structures rising from the ruins of the old...
According to the great His Majesty the Emperor, we are creating a brand new Paris, a Paris for all of Europe!"
At this point, the coachman’s lips curled into a proud smile.
Although he still needed a long ti to afford a house in Paris, he was proud of the city’s rapid developnt.
"Indeed! You truly are designing a new Paris!" Cavour nodded in agreent.
Shortly after, Cavour chatted casually with the coachman before they parted ways.
Watching the carriage leave under the gas street lamps’ illumination into the night, Cavour strode toward the Embassy’s entrance and upon arrival at the door, knocked twice gently.
After a mont, a voice inquired from inside the embassy, "Who is it?"
"I am Cavour, please open the door!" Cavour stated calmly.
The person inside responded hastily, "Pri Minister Cavour, please wait a mont! I will open the door right away!"
"Alright!"
Cavour waited patiently at the door until it opened and a young gentleman appeared before the Sardinian Kingdom Pri Minister.
"Who are you?" Cavour curiously asked the gentleman before him.
"Pri Minister, I am the Second Secretary of the Sardinian French Embassy!" The young man eagerly introduced himself to Fuer and then glanced behind Cavour and asked curiously, "Did you co to Paris alone?"
"Exactly!" Cavour nodded and then continued, "Is your envoy Delaroca in truth here?"
The Second Secretary pointed upstairs and replied to Cavour, "Pri Minister, Envoy Delaroca is still upstairs working?
Should I call him down for you?"
Cavour shook his head and replied to the Second Secretary, "That won’t be necessary, you lead to him!"
The Second Secretary nodded and said to Cavour, "Please follow !"
Under the Second Secretary’s guidance, Cavour reached the French Embassy’s envoy’s door.
"Pri Minister, the envoy is inside!" The Second Secretary pointed to the office and said to Cavour.
Cavour smiled slightly, nodded and said, "You truly are dedicated!"
"No trouble at all! No trouble at all!" The Second Secretary quickly answered humbly.
After the Second Secretary left, Cavour pushed the door open.
At this mont, Envoy Delaroca seed oblivious to the sound as he continued to examine docunts.
"Mr. Delaroca!"
Only when Cavour spoke the first sentence did Envoy Delaroca raise his head to look at Cavour, promptly standing beside Cavour, respectfully saying, "Pri Minister, I truly apologize. I initially assud it was my secretary..."
"It’s nothing!" Cavour gracefully dismissed Envoy Delaroca’s impropriety.
"Pri Minister, when did you arrive in Paris?" Envoy Delaroca continued to inquire of Cavour.
"I have just arrived in Paris!" Count Cavour replied to Delarola.
"Was your journey smooth?" Delaroca continued to inquire.
Cavour nodded again to answer Delaroca, "It was okay! Although there were so minor glitches in between, overall it was quite good.
By the way, Delaroca Envoy, how are things in Paris lately?"
"Nothing major has happened in Paris, except that two days ago, His Majesty Jero Bonaparte and Her Majesty Empress Augusta, along with a group of attendants, left Paris!" Delaroca Envoy reported to Cavour.
"What? His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are not in Paris!" Cavour was surprised upon hearing this, he couldn’t understand why Emperor Jero Bonaparte suddenly left Paris, whether it was intentionally avoiding him.
"Yes indeed! Both majesties have gone to the central region’s countryside for inspection tours!" Delaroca Envoy nodded understandably.
"Then who is controlling the empire’s center now?" Cavour continued to ask.
"Currently, the operation of the French Empire relies on the coordination of the Secretariat under the Tuileries Palace, and collaboration between various departnts, without a substantive person able to take control!" Delaroca Envoy paused for a mont before answering Cavour.
"That’s really bad!" Cavour muttered softly.
Delaroca imdiately asked Cavour, "Your Excellency Pri Minister, what’s wrong with you? Why the frown!"
"My purpose this ti is to discuss with His Majesty the Emperor whether to let go of our dostic liberals!
But if His Majesty is not at the Tuileries Palace, many dialogues beco difficult!" Cavour furrowed his brows and replied to Delaroca.
Delaroca thought for a mont, then sincerely said to Cavour, "Your Excellency Pri Minister, would you be willing to hear my suggestion!"
"Please go ahead!" Cavour responded to Delaroca.
"Since His Majesty Jero Bonaparte is not in Paris, then, Your Excellency Pri Minister, you should go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consult with Minister De Luis, see if the Ministry can make so concessions!
If it doesn’t work out, then find another way!
To et His Majesty the Emperor abruptly is not a wise decision!" Delaroca Envoy suggested.
Cavour bowed his head, pondering for a mont, and said, "That’s the only way!"
"Your Excellency Pri Minister, please forgive my presumptuous inquiry!" Delaroca asked softly, "What thod do you plan to use to solve the challenge posed to us by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs!"
"I plan to use certain benefits to attract France, so they won’t take action against us..." Cavour said half-truthfully.
"Your Excellency Pri Minister, I remind you! If there aren’t enough benefits, I’m afraid France..." Delaroca said hesitantly.
"Don’t worry! There’s no problem!" Cavour confidently said to Delaroca Envoy.
...
Early the next morning, Pri Minister Cavour rode a carriage grandly to the "Ossai Pier."
Entering the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cavour was soon led by the Secretary of State to et De Luis.
De Luis pretended to be unaware and asked Cavour what brought him to France!
"I’m here because of the assassination!" Cavour responded subtly to De Luis.
"Assassination? The case has already been closed!" De Luis still delayed entering the main topic.
"I know the assassination case is over, but the political turmoil triggered by it has not ended. Recently, your Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested our country to shut down dostic liberal newspapers, prohibiting them from talking recklessly about politics... I ca precisely for this matter!" Cavour answered De Luis.
"So it’s this!" De Luis showed an enlightened expression, then asked Cavour, "Right! Since you’ve received our Ministry’s request, why haven’t we seen your Ris’s action yet!"
"Minister De Luis, the reason I personally ca over is to hope you no longer pursue our responsibility! This matter is, after all, just a repeated action by a few individuals! There’s no need to extend it to all liberals!" Cavour said sincerely.
Upon hearing this, De Luis asked with a stern face, "Mr. Cavour, how do you know! This is an action by a few individuals, Orsini clearly stated before he died that there is indeed a large number of radical elents in your Sardinian Kingdom!
Their purpose is to eliminate the monarch, thereby achieving the Republic’s conquest.
We ask you to deal with dostic radicals not only for ourselves but also for your sake, for the sake of the entire monarchy!"
De Luis’s righteous words made Cavour difficult to refute.
"Of course, you can choose not to act!
The result would simply be that our two countries cut off mutual communication channels!" De Luis continued to threaten Cavour.
After hearing this, Cavour felt sowhat uneasy, he imdiately responded to De Luis, "Mr. Luis, such a small matter does not require using the threat of breaking off relations."
"Since Mr. Cavour said this is a minor issue, then I suppose your country should resolve it soon."
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