Chapter 856: We Must Have Revenge!
The Genoese Parliament worked with remarkable efficiency. By noon the following day, the vote was finalized and a public announcement was issued: Genoa formally renounced its status as a neutral state and authorized Governor Abbiasso to apply for membership in the Iberian-Apennine Security and Defense Organization.
Milan moved slightly slower. Four days after Joseph proposed the creation of the Milanese state, its parliament also voted unanimously to join the security alliance.
Even as they were still preparing the various logistics of nation-building, it did not stop them from drafting laws in advance, stipulating that joining the security organization was a fundamental national policy.
Three days later, the founding meeting of the Iberian-Apennine Security and Defense Organization convened at the Tuileries Palace.
In truth, the organizational framework and terms had already been vetted and confirmed by the member states over the preceding weeks. This meeting was merely a formal ceremony for the representatives of each nation to sign the accord.
Naturally, some representatives requested minor adjustments to the organization's details.
For instance, the Governor of Genoa proposed renaming the alliance to the "Mediterranean Security and Defense Organization."
After Joseph expressed his agreement, the representatives of all nations passed the new name by a unanimous vote.
At eleven in the morning, representatives from France, Spain, Sardinia, Milan, Parma, Genoa, Lucca, and Baden signed the agreement one after another.
The organization's headquarters were set up in Marseille.
A standing "Peacekeeping Legion" of five thousand men was established, with troops provided by all member states. The annual recurring military budget of six million francs was to be shared among all members in proportion to their national fiscal revenue.
A Security Organization Intelligence Center was also formed, responsible for synthesizing military intelligence among the member nations.
The famous French general, the Marquis de Lafayette, was elected as the organization's first Chief of Staff for a five-year term.
As for how Baden, a German state, ended up mixed into this group, it could only be said that Grand Duke Karl Friedrich's political instincts were incredibly sharp.
The moment he heard news of the Iberian-Apennine Summit, he realized it was a monumental opportunity. He immediately dispatched Crown Prince Ludwig to Paris post-haste, barely managing to secure a spot as a founding member of the organization.
On the very afternoon the organization was founded, the French Royal Armory received weapon orders totaling more than five million francs.
With the exception of the cash-strapped Spanish, every member state ordered a vast amount of French equipment.
Genoa and Milan, in particular, intended to completely re-equip their entire armies with French weapons. They even went so far as to adopt military uniforms identical in style to the French army, with only slight variations in color to distinguish them.
The following day.
The Iberian-Apennine Summit took a one-day recess.
At the invitation of the French Crown Prince, the various national representatives traveled to the royal hunting grounds on the west side of the Palace of Versailles for a hunt.
The old royal hunting grounds had been to the east of Versailles, but that area had since been developed into an urban district and connected to Paris. Consequently, a new hunting ground had been established to the west.
Unlike in the past, the new grounds were open to the public three days a week. Anyone who paid an annual membership fee to join the Royal Hunting Club could come here to hunt. As a result, the place had become the latest fashion for Parisian high society.
Of course, today the grounds were serving as a diplomatic venue and were under strict martial law.
Servants led hunting dogs in a wide arc from several kilometers away, driving herds of deer toward the guests.
The various royals and diplomats chatted about hunting, yet they remained subtly clustered around the French Crown Prince, their ears pricked to catch his every word.
Sure enough, Joseph suddenly looked toward them and spoke loudly. "Gentlemen, I am curious to know—to whom does the Apennine Peninsula truly belong?"
The group looked at each other in dismay.
The ten-year-old Spanish Crown Prince, remembering the instructions of the Count of Floridablanca, piped up in a childish voice, "Your Highness, it belongs to you, of course..."
The Spanish Chief Minister's face darkened, and he hurriedly silenced the boy with a sharp look.
Talleyrand, standing behind Joseph, declared loudly, "Your Highness, I believe the Apennine Peninsula rightfully belongs to the various Italian states."
The high-ranking officials from Sardinia, Parma, and the others immediately showed looks of delight.
Joseph nodded and continued his line of questioning. "Then, who was it that brought disaster and suffering to Italy?"
This time, the Crown Prince of Sardinia caught on and immediately replied, "It was the wicked, shameless Austrians!"
Talleyrand promptly added, "And their accomplices."
"Exactly!" Joseph exclaimed with righteous indignation, waving his hand. "The Austrians have ruled with brutality, persecuting Northern Italy for over a century.
"Vienna has taken your every coin, occupied your lands, and turned Italians into slaves!"
Crown Prince Vittorio Emanuele shouted, "It was the great nation of France that drove those evil invaders away!"
Joseph smiled at him and then looked back at the crowd. "We have not yet completely purged those demons.
"Wurmser's army still occupies Mantua, ready to reinvade Italy at any moment."
The leaders of the various nations hesitated. Thinking the Crown Prince wanted them to send troops for the siege of Mantua, their enthusiasm immediately dampened.
The Prince of Parma gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness, my country is willing to dispatch four thousand soldiers to assist in the assault on Mantua!"
The Governor of Genoa followed, "I propose that we convene a meeting of the Mediterranean Security Organization and have all member states send troops to Mantua together!"
Joseph waved them off. "I appreciate the sentiment, gentlemen, but Mantua can be left to General Napoleon.
"In fact, battle reports from two days ago show that he has already completed the encirclement of the fortress and secured a victory in a key engagement."
Governor Abbiasso asked cautiously, "Your Highness, then what do you mean?"
"Besides Mantua, there are still many Austrian lackeys on the Italian peninsula who have not been cleared out!" Joseph declared. "This requires the true masters of Italy—all of you—to defeat them!"
The officials looked at one another again, their faces filled with confusion.
Abbiasso was forced to ask once more, "Your Highness, who are you referring to?"
"Tuscany," Joseph said, "and the Papal States!
"Tuscany is ruled by members of the Habsburg family. During the Austrian invasion of Genoa and Parma, they provided a massive amount of logistical support. I have no doubt that if Franz II required it, the Tuscan army would march for him at a moment's notice.
"All of this proves that Tuscany has, in fact, declared war on France, Genoa, and Parma.
"As for the Papal States, for the sake of political favors from Vienna, they have betrayed the divine word of God to support Austria's criminal war. They called the invaders the 'Shield of the Lord' and encouraged Austrians to join the invasion of Italy.
"The Papacy has seized vast amounts of land from Italian states over the centuries, and now they are once again conspiring with the Austrians to harm us!
"I have reason to believe the current Holy See has lost its piety, blinded by greed and desire. We must have our revenge!"
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