Mediterranean hegemon

A wisp of smoke slowly rose up. Old Ciano, holding a cigar, frowned and tried to recall every detail of the meeting that day:

"Your party membership was indeed discussed that day, but the merger of the Young Italian League into Fascism was not mentioned. Your party membership was not raised seriously at the meeting. Someone accidentally talked about it during the break. Then the leader told me that he could be your party introducer. I thought it would be a good thing for you personally, so I agreed. Another party introducer was Balbo. He would soon cooperate with the leader to take charge of the Air Force. You happened to be the assistant to the Minister of Aviation and was in charge of the second air force of the Civil Aviation. It was legitimate. Although your opinion was not sought on the whole matter, I think you probably would not object, but I didn't have time to tell you. . "

Contini's face suddenly turned ugly: "It's okay for me to join the party, the key is which guy came up with the idea of ​​merging the Young Italian League into the Fascists? This is not a good thing!"

"Are you worried that your position in the Youth League will be deprived?"

"No! I'm worried that the Youth League will fall apart!" Contini explained, "Father, the members of the Youth League are almost all young Italian students and intellectuals. We now have more than 10,000 members. We have basically surpassed the joint organization of student unions in various middle and high schools. We are the only organization capable of connecting in the Italian academic community. But no matter what, the Youth League is only a student organization. Although the overall guiding ideology is consistent with that of the Fascists, there are still differences after all. The reason why we can be so active is that Because this is an independent non-power political organization - we have our own political pursuits and ideals, but we do not have the goal of pursuing power for the time being. It does not mean that every member of the Youth League will accept and join the fascists. Many people are still waiting and watching the leader's governance and subsequent development, hoping that it will not be a flash in the pan. "

"You mean, if this organization is forced to merge in, many people will withdraw from the league?"

"Not only that." Contini emphasized, "We are still an autonomous organization among students, not a strict political party, nor can we talk about a clear program and participate in political struggles. It is precisely because of this political tendency that the management of various schools has acquiesced to us and does not restrict our expansion and recruitment. It is also because of this attitude of the school, including the Socialist Party, the Liberal Party, and the Communist Party of China. The Communist Party and other parties want to reach out to the school but cannot! This is our only advantage, and joining the Fascists as a whole will weaken this advantage! "

Old Ciano immediately felt the seriousness of the situation: if the news of his son joining the Fascists and becoming a youth leader and the attitude of the Youth League to be included in the Fascists as a whole were clear, other political parties would surely follow suit. At that time, all political parties would reach out to the campus, which would inevitably form a variety of ideological impacts. Other parties might gain something, but the Youth League would lose its dominant position in the school's political position - there are so many schools in Italy, not every school management is pro-Fascist. If it is possible to divide it up, some schools will definitely join other political parties. At that time, the entire middle and higher education institutions will become a battlefield for various political parties.

"Then why didn't you make this opinion clear to the leader on the spot?"

Contini spread his hands helplessly: "First of all, I didn't know the specific situation of the meeting at that time, so it was inconvenient to oppose rashly; secondly, the leader promised me benefits and status, and rejecting it immediately would be a blow to his face. You know the leader's temper better than me. Even if you can't do it, it's better to follow his wishes first; finally, I always think that this matter is not so simple. There must be someone who slandered me in front of the leader, or in other words, thought that we threatened his position, so he secretly shot a cold arrow."

Old Ciano shook his head: There is no need to slander his son. Everything he has done now is actually instructed or hinted by Mussolini. Anyone with a brain can see that Contini is really doing something inconvenient for Mussolini. Slandering can only bring shame to himself. There is only one reasonable explanation. Some people think that the power of the Ciano family is too great and has caused anxiety to others. Moreover, this person is very smart. He did not publicly say that the Youth League should be merged at the meeting. He only communicated with Mussolini alone and obtained the latter's support.

Who has such energy? Who would have such a need?

"Obviously this person is targeting you, father..." Contini smiled, "I am not a member of the party so far, and I am also a junior. I can't threaten anyone. Even if we take a step back, the children of other senior officials can't threaten my position! I am much better than them."

Ciano nodded: This is not an exaggeration. Contini's current ability to toss around, he is also 4 ministerial assistants, the president of the United Group, and the leader of the Youth League, which is far beyond the reach of other second-generations. Many second-generations of senior officials are still very young and are not at the same level at all. If there is a real threat, it can only be because the rapid growth of his son's strength continues to expand the prestige and influence of old Ciano - this will pose a threat to others.

Thinking of this, the scope is immediately narrowed: in the fascist system, Mussolini is the leader, under the leader are the four elders who marched into Rome, and under the four elders are other senior elders like Ciano. This person who is hiding and shooting cold arrows is either one of the "four elders" or another elder with the same status as Ciano.

However, after repeated thinking, old Ciano excluded the other elders, because among the other four elders, he ranked almost at the top and had the deepest qualifications and political experience. His rise would not threaten these people, but It’s hard to say where the four elders are. It seems that anyone is possible, but the old Ciano first excluded Balbo and De Bono. Balbo was excluded because he knew this person better and believed that he had political ambitions. Not too big, usually very low-key, and more willing to focus on development in the army - now Contini is helping the Air Force to raise people, how could he be so stupid as to tear himself down?

As for De Bono, a senior army general who is older than the old Ciano, he believed that the other party did not have the same experience as him. In this way, the remaining candidates were locked in the other two.

Old Ciano asked strangely: "I am so low-key and indifferent to the world. I was just scolded by your mother as a minister who has no enterprising spirit. How come I suddenly become a thorn in others' side?"

"Because you are in the limelight..."

"The limelight?" Old Ciano was puzzled. "Why should I be in the limelight? I said it very low-key."

"He is a low-key person, but he is not low-key in his work." Contini smiled, "Who personally stayed at the train station for more than a month to alleviate train delays? Who transported more than 300,000 black-shirted troops stranded in Rome safely within a week? Back home? Who repaired the bridges and railways damaged during the Fascist movement in half a year? Who organized the construction of the Roman Tramway, the Second Bus Company, and the Milan Bus Company? Who proposed the systematic construction of the Italian transportation layout plan? "

Old Ciano rubbed his scalp and thought for a while, then smiled sheepishly: "It seems they are all from the Ministry of Transport!"

"That's right. The leader spoke in Parliament last October, hoping that it would take one year for people to see the great changes in Italy. Now it is almost July, and it will be time to explain to Parliament in one more quarter. In addition to the results of the Ministry of Transport, Apart from the obvious ones, which other departments have made remarkable achievements?”

"It doesn't seem to be the case. They have only completed routine work. At most, the Ministry of Aviation has established the Air Force, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has solved some employment problems - in fact, many of them were driven by your alliance with the group."

"That's right! Father, I can pull you down if I can't compare with you. Isn't this the norm in Italian political life in the past? ... It's better now, you can use cold arrows!" Contini sneered, "This is It's not that simple, I have to get to the bottom of it..."