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While the Italian government was actively discussing how to complete the great cause of unification, Pius IX in Rome was not happy at all.

Although Austria-Hungary is committed to protecting the security and defense of the Papal States, the question is where are your Austrian soldiers? You can't just have sex with Italy across the Adriatic Sea!

Although the Adriatic Sea is not wide and the Austro-Hungarian Navy is not weak, it is impossible for the Austro-Hungarian Navy to go ashore and fight the Italian Army.

Since the Battle of Lisa, the Navy of the Kingdom of Italy has become a laughing stock, and its budget has been significantly reduced. Historically, the Kingdom of Italy did not invest in developing its navy again until 1877. Therefore, the Italian Navy can be regarded as one of its weakest periods at this time.

The Papal State happens to be surrounded by the Kingdom of Italy. Theoretically, the Papal State can attack the east with its only troops. As long as it takes back the original eastern coastal area of ​​the Papal State and provides a landing site for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it can welcome the "King" division".

But when he thought about the strength of the Papal State's army, Pius IX thought this was a whimsical plan.

After the last war, the eastern part of the Papal State was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy, accounting for two-thirds of the Papal State's area.

Not to mention confronting the entire Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Italy can defeat the Papal State in disgrace just by integrating the power of the Papal State that was annexed in the east.

The main force of the Papal State's army, also known as the Zuaf Legion, is basically composed of young unmarried Catholics and is commanded in French by a Swiss colonel. In 1868, the Zuaf Legion consisted of 4,592 people, of which 1,900 Many people were Dutch, and more than 1,300 people were French. Others came from surrounding countries (including Austrians) and even South American and North American Catholics. What was even more bizarre was that a Qing nationality once joined.

The internal situation of such an army is more complicated than that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. You can imagine what will happen when it is commanded.

In addition, there is the Palatine Guard, which was formed by Pope Pius IX to patrol the city of Rome. They are only volunteers and have no military pay. They can only receive subsidies for the maintenance of military uniforms and ceremonial equipment, and their number is extremely limited.

Previously, there were French troops in the Papal State for coordinated defense. France deployed about 4,000 troops in the Papal State. These 4,000 troops were the main military force to maintain the existence of the Papal State.

After France withdrew its troops, it also triggered a chain reaction. Some of the Papal State's own soldiers also resigned. After the French left, they couldn't face the Italian army directly! After all, its origins are quite mixed, and it comes from a motherland. There is no need to be buried with the Papal State. Before, it was fine to follow the French army and fight.

The more he thought this, the more panicked Pius IX became, so he hurriedly invited Freud, the special envoy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

…

Soon, Freud, who was in the embassy, ​​was summoned by a bishop to appear before Pius IX.

"Your Excellency Floyd! After making the statement yesterday, I always felt something was wrong and felt very uneasy. Your country said verbally that it would guarantee the independence of the Papal State, but you wouldn't just give me verbal support! You know Italy The kingdom is sharpening its sword, and the Papal State’s military strength cannot resist the Kingdom of Italy alone.”

Freud smiled knowingly. He had been waiting for Pius IX to ask this question for a long time. When he met Pius IX yesterday, Pius IX, who was already on the verge of despair, seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw.

He just made some requests, and Pius IX agreed. But now Pius IX has come to his senses. Without an army, how can Austria support the Papal State?

"Your Majesty the Pope, actually you don't have to worry about this." Floyd said calmly.

"I...I'm not too worried, but Rome is the holy land of all believers, and the people of your country are also the people of God. The ambition of the Kingdom of Italy is well known to the world. I am doing my best for all the people who have their hearts set on God."

As the Pope, although the Papal State has now declined, he is still theoretically the most noble person in Europe in the world (it would be better if there was no Russian Patriarch). Naturally, he cannot be humble to other countries. In other words, the Pope's request for the intervention of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is not called a request, but an obligation of the Catholic country of Austria-Hungary. He should stand up and ask for the food.

"Your Majesty the Pope, you actually want to talk about the army! In this regard, I can only say that the conspiracy of the Kingdom of Italy will not succeed. Our Austro-Hungarian Empire has already made a plan. Next, you only need to follow our Austria-Hungary's plan. Just follow the Empire’s arrangements,” Floyd said.

"Plan..." Pius IX caught the key word, but this plan only said that the conspiracy of the Kingdom of Italy would not succeed. The conspiracy of the Kingdom of Italy refers to the annexation of the Papal State, but it is hard to say how to operate it.

"Your Excellency Floyd, how does the Austro-Hungarian Empire plan to crack the conspiracy of the Kingdom of Italy? It will not work if you only threaten Italy in Venice and Lombardy. Even if you have some results there, the Papal State may have long ceased to exist."

Pius IX immediately thought of Venice and Lombardy, because the Austro-Hungarian Empire could only think of ways to intervene in Italy from the east. If the Austro-Hungarian Empire won, Italy could spit out the Papal State, and Italy could not annex the Papal State. this goal.

But in the meantime, the Papal State has been destroyed once, and its own safety is hard to predict. With its identity, influence in Italy and appeal in Europe, the Kingdom of Italy has two ways to deal with it. One is to imprison. This is A better outcome would be to eradicate the roots. After all, countries now do not have much fear of religion. Anything can happen during a war. Afterwards, the Kingdom of Italy can find a scapegoat to calm the public opinion of various countries. The dead cannot speak anyway. Here The dead person was talking about himself. Pius IX did not want to bet on what the Kingdom of Italy would choose.

"How could it be! Your Majesty, the reason why we, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, came to you immediately after the French army retreated to discuss the security of the Papal State, you should have thought that we, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, had already predicted the trend of the Franco-Prussian War. Since I contacted you at the first time, I naturally have my own way to maintain the existence of the Papal State. I assure you that it is impossible for the Kingdom of Italy to invade Rome, not even once."

Hearing what Freud said, Pius IX really thought about it. Where did the Austro-Hungarian Empire get the news that the French would withdraw? Doesn't this mean that any disturbance in Rome is always under the supervision of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

And Freud must have the confidence to say this. What could it be? Pius IX began to think.

Suddenly, Pius IX suddenly realized that since the Austro-Hungarian Empire was so concerned about the Papal State and planted spies here, there should also be spies from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the Kingdom of Italy.

Italy was unified just a few years ago. Before that, there were the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, the Kingdom of Naples and other countries. Could the Austro-Hungarian Empire be preparing to instigate the opponents of these countries annexed by the Kingdom of Italy to jump out after Austria-Hungary declares war with Italy? Revolted and restored the country, dismembering the Kingdom of Italy.

The more he thought about it, the more likely Pius IX felt that it was very possible. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had been working in Italy for many years and had many allies. Although the Kingdom of Sardinia withdrew these Austro-Hungarian Empire allies from the outside, they had accumulated over many years. The energy cannot be underestimated.

Pius IX, who thought he understood the Austro-Hungarian Empire's plan, was finally relieved. This move was too cruel. The Kingdom of Italy had no good way to deal with it. Unless it was suppressed by military force, Italy had to defeat the Austro-Hungarian Empire first. Otherwise, where would it go? Finding so many troops to deal with the forces that oppose the unification of Italy, the Kingdom of Italy, which is short of troops, and the Papal State army can also deal with it, so naturally there will be no worries for the time being.

In fact, Pius IX thought too much. If the Austro-Hungarian Empire had the ability to instigate those in Italy, it would be impossible for Italy to be unified. The so-called Austro-Hungarian spy that Pius IX imagined was actually Ernst, the troublemaker.

This time the Austro-Hungarian Empire's intervention in the Kingdom of Italy did not involve any advanced means at all, it was a purely violent solution.