Chapter 1134: Poison Wrapped in Honey |
Upon obtaining the specific plan from Cavour’s mouth, Jerome Bonaparte silently weighed the benefits that France could reap from this action against the potential risks that France might bear.
After a brief consideration, Jerome Bonaparte spoke again, his expression serious as he addressed Cavour.
"Mr. Cavour, may I ask you one more question?"
"Your Majesty, please do!" Cavour said deferentially to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Is it true that the Kingdom of Britain chose to stand by your side because you promised them conditions they couldn’t refuse?" Jerome Bonaparte said slowly.
After hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, Cavour’s expression changed subtly. He was unsure whether he should honestly inform Jerome Bonaparte.
Seeing Cavour lost in thought, Jerome Bonaparte approximately guessed the conditions Cavour might have proposed. He raised his hand and said to Cavour, "Mr. Cavour, don’t speak yet, let me guess!"
With that, Jerome Bonaparte pretended to be deep in thought for a moment and then began to answer his own question.
"If my guess is correct, you must have promised Britain that you would help them limit the power of the French Empire in the Mediterranean!"
"Mr. Cavour, you only need to answer yes or no!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately interrupted Cavour’s explanation, asking deliberately.
Cavour remained silent for a moment, showing a melancholy expression, and finally nodded reluctantly.
Having gotten the answer he wanted, Jerome Bonaparte gently stroked his chin and continued speaking to himself, "I knew that to persuade the Kingdom of Britain to act, there had to be enough incentives!
The return that you (Sardinia) could offer to Britain is limited to this!"
"Your Majesty, we..." Cavour wanted to argue but saw Jerome Bonaparte raise his hand to stop him from speaking.
"Mr. Cavour, you don’t need to explain!" Jerome Bonaparte promptly defended Cavour, "I understand your situation very well, so I don’t feel anger over your promise to the Kingdom of Britain!
If I were in your position, I would certainly choose to favor the Kingdom of Britain this way!"
Then Jerome Bonaparte spread his hands and continued to Cavour, "After all, the strength of the French Empire Navy in the Mediterranean has already threatened the British Navy.
Otherwise, the Kingdom of Britain wouldn’t have desperately turned to you!
However, if you (the Sardinian Kingdom) can unify Italy, it would indeed limit the French Empire’s military strength in the Mediterranean to some extent!"
"Your Majesty, we do not want to be your enemy!" Cavour replied cautiously, fearing Jerome Bonaparte might stop him from speaking again.
Jerome Bonaparte pursed his lips, his deep eyes looking at Cavour, and after a while, he shrugged his shoulders.
"Perhaps while you are alive, the French Empire might still be able to achieve peaceful coexistence with a unified Sardinian Kingdom.
However, after your death, whether the French Empire can coexist peacefully with Sardinia, only heaven knows!
Whether from a geopolitical perspective or our bilateral relations!
Our two countries could potentially find themselves in a state of hostilities in the future!"
At this moment, upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s remarks, Cavour’s heart, which had been at ease, was once again lifted.
"Your Majesty, the future Sardinian Kingdom will surely not be so short-sighted!" Cavour assured Jerome Bonaparte.
Of course, Cavour also understood that such promises could never convince Jerome Bonaparte.
However, Cavour now didn’t know how he could assure Jerome Bonaparte that the Sardinian Kingdom would never be an enemy of the French Empire.
Even Cavour himself did not believe that a unified Sardinian Kingdom would avoid conflict with the French Empire.
"That I don’t know!" Jerome Bonaparte replied calmly.
Seeing the conversation seemingly at a deadlock, Cavour had no choice but to take out his final "ace".
"If your Majesty is not at ease with us, we are willing to show enough sincerity to make you believe that our Sardinian Kingdom has absolutely no intention of confronting your esteemed country!"
"Oh?" Jerome Bonaparte stretched his voice, showing interest, "I would like to hear your sincerity!"
"If General Garibaldi succeeds in conquering Naples, we hope that the French Empire will respect the will of the people of Naples (agree to merge)," Cavour said to Jerome Bonaparte, "The Sardinian Kingdom is willing to give Sardinia to the French Empire as a token of gratitude!"
Hearing Cavour willing to give Sardinia to the French Empire, Jerome Bonaparte was greatly surprised.
In a certain sense, Sardinia is another "place of dragon rise" for the Savoy Royal Family, and it also possesses a very strong strategic position.
Owning Sardinia is equivalent to controlling the maritime rights of the entire Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Moreover, the strategic position of Sardinia will become increasingly important with the renewal of weapons.
By the time of World War II, owning the Mediterranean is equivalent to controlling the rights of the entire Mediterranean.
[A quick note here, during World War II, the Kingdom of Italy, even with possession of Sardinia, was still unable to fully control Mediterranean dominance.
This was due to Italy’s own strength, not the geographical position of Sardinia.
In terms of geographical location, as long as enough aircraft were deployed on Sardinia, enemy countries’ ships could not pass smoothly.]
Mr. Garibaldi handed such an important island to Jerome Bonaparte, astonishingly prompting Jerome Bonaparte to feel an immediate impulse to agree.
However, Jerome Bonaparte was not someone who acts impulsively without thinking.
After a brief moment of impulse, Jerome Bonaparte silently calculated the pros and cons of including Sardinia under his command.
Sardinia indeed facilitates France’s further control over the Mediterranean, but it will inevitably provoke wariness from the Kingdom of Britain.
The Kingdom of Britain might tolerate France temporarily in land rights without assurance, but it would never allow the French Navy to gain the opportunity to suppress Britain in maritime rights.
If the French Empire seizes Sardinia from the Sardinian Kingdom, then France must consider being fully monitored by the Kingdom of Britain.
In history, the German Empire’s ambition to suppress the Kingdom of Britain in naval matters was met with Britain’s bold strategy of "you build 1, I build 2," rendering Germany immobile.
To completely block Germany’s "naval dream," the Kingdom of Britain was even willing to reconcile with the Russian Empire and the French Republic.
It’s known that Britain and France’s conflicts in the Mediterranean and Britain and Russia’s conflicts in Central Asia were no less significant than those between Britain and Germany.
Jerome Bonaparte did not wish to see the Kingdom of Britain, in order to thwart France, opting for goodwill and reconciliation with multiple parties.
Especially since the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire are not yet at an irreconcilable stage.
If the Kingdom of Britain indeed spends lavishly to achieve a temporary reconciliation between the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire, and then redirects their conflict toward France, Jerome Bonaparte would be left with no options but sorrow.
Not to mention, during the upcoming American Civil War, Jerome Bonaparte was hoping for the Kingdom of Britain to cooperatively work with him, bringing the goodwill of Europeans to the Alliance Country and the United States.
Incorporating Sardinia will only make the Kingdom of Britain take it seriously, with no trust in France’s concessions in the Mediterranean, leading to the loss of the last trust France could have flown over.
After much consideration, Jerome Bonaparte was convinced that Sardinia was a cake wrapped in poison.
At this stage, forcibly annexing it would bring him endless trouble.
Jerome Bonaparte made up his mind not to annex Sardinia.
Then, Jerome Bonaparte lightly tapped the sofa with his hand, slightly pursed his lips, and said, "Aren’t you afraid the Kingdom of Britain will turn against you?"
"Your Majesty, as I have said! The Sardinian Kingdom does not want to be an enemy of the French Empire, and giving Sardinia to the French Empire is enough to represent our sincerity!" Mr. Garibaldi candidly told Jerome Bonaparte, "As long as your country occupies Sardinia, you can fully blockade Sardinian waters at any time!"
"You are indeed very sincere!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, he had to admit that Mr. Garibaldi’s considerations were indeed thorough.
Just when Mr. Garibaldi was entirely expecting Jerome Bonaparte to agree, Jerome Bonaparte shifted topics and said to Mr. Garibaldi, "However, I don’t want to completely anger the Kingdom of Britain!
So, Sardinia should remain in your hands for now!"
"Your Majesty!" Mr. Garibaldi expressed a look of urgency.
"Mr. Garibaldi, rest assured! I will not obstruct your actions!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled and continued to say to Mr. Garibaldi, "However, you still need to answer my last question!!"
"Your Majesty, please go ahead!" Mr. Garibaldi responded promptly.
"In your heart, which weighs more heavily, the Savoy Royal Family or the Italian Nation?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired of Mr. Garibaldi, then thoughtfully added a sentence, "Please answer this question carefully; your answer will directly affect my judgment!"
Unaware of why Jerome Bonaparte raised this question, Mr. Garibaldi dared not defy and could only choose to carefully contemplate the status of the Savoy Royal Family and the Italian Nation in his heart.
After a while, Mr. Garibaldi spoke to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I am a subject of the Savoy Royal Family, and I will always be loyal to the Sardinian Kingdom!"
"Very good!" Jerome Bonaparte clapped his hands, "In that case, I permit you to take action against Naples, but I also have one condition!"