The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1094: Chapter 94: Prophet Moses and the Expedition to Savoy (Part 2)

Garibaldi received the support of two revolutionary comrades and couldn’t help but shed tears: ”I swear, I love France and Italy equally deeply. Whenever I hear the word ’homeland,’ it’s as if I’m seeing the first flash of the lighthouse on the horizon. When the French July Revolution occurred in 1830, my joy was even greater than that of many French sailors aboard.

Because I suddenly realized there were truly people sacrificing themselves to save Italy! Paris overthrew the Bourbon Dynasty, sheltered so many Italian exiles, and actively supported our cause. Overnight, we seemed united again, just as we had under the leadership of Napoleon in the French Empire and the Italian Kingdom.”

Perhaps to future generations, it might seem very strange for an Italian to empathize with the French.

But in this era, not only Italy had figures like Garibaldi who saw France as a lighthouse and guide; such pro-French people existed in Central Europe’s German states, Switzerland, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Russia, and even Britain.

And at the very start of the Great Revolution, the disheartened Whig Party in Britain, the liberal factions outside the party, and even the Tory Party, had many members with great affection for this new France, viewing the French path as Britain’s future direction.

However, due to the miraculous subsequent plot of the Great Revolution, the pro-French faction within the Whig Party was repeatedly embarrassed. By the time Napoleon assumed the position of First Consul, these people in Britain quickly dared not utter a single slogan supporting France.

And when Napoleon announced his accession to the throne as Emperor, these former cheerleaders of the Revolution could no longer bear it. Perhaps because their passion turned into disdain, they immediately changed course and became the most anti-French force within Britain.

Even within the British, who had been enemies for a century, there were so many ’traitors,’ not to mention the Italians and Poles, who received tangible benefits from the French during the Revolution and Napoleonic Empire.

Garibaldi turned to Great Dumas and said, ”Alexander, you cannot love Italy as you love France. I do not blame you, for before I met those Saint-Simonists from France, I thought the same as you.”

”Saint-Simonists?”

Arthur was not unfamiliar with the term, as the French Government had only recently shut down their newspaper.

Garibaldi nodded slightly and said, ”Indeed, I was then sailing to Cagliari and met Mr. Barrot on the ship heading to Constantinople. At that time, I didn’t know them well, only that they were followers of a new religion persecuted in France. As a patriotic Italian, it was my duty to introduce myself to them.

I expressed to them my narrow-minded nationalist thoughts and talked about Italy’s issues. Every time I recall the scene from that night, I can’t help but blush. We argued intensely that night, but I was no match for Mr. Barrot in terms of thought; I was too shallow back then.

Mr. Barrot told me: A person who defends their own country or attacks another is nothing more than an unknown pawn. But a person who has become a world citizen, who sees other countries as their homeland, and who offers their sword and blood to those fighting tyranny in various nations, is far more than just an unknown pawn; they are a true hero.

They also said that Constantinople was just a transit point, and their ultimate goal was to go to Egypt. One of the leaders of the Saint-Simonists, Father Barthelemy Enfantin, was preparing to lead his followers in Egypt to establish a community and immediately begin realizing their dream—to dig a canal connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Once this canal is open, not only will the Egyptians benefit, but all Europeans will gain from it.

As a sailor, no one understands the role of this canal better than I do. It means that from now on, we no longer need to sail around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa to travel to Asia, which will at least save several months of travel time. And Father Enfantin’s actions remind me of the feat described in the ”Bible,” where Prophet Moses led his followers across the Red Sea.

I thought such figures would never appear again, but suddenly I turned around and realized this group of Saint-Simonists was fortunate to have leaders with saintly qualities, just like the first missionaries of Catholicism. Barrot also talked to me about the grand plan of Saint-Simonism, telling me that Egypt occupies a crucial position in their plan.

These Saint-Simonists see Egypt as the cornerstone for incorporating Africa into their worldist movement. Located at the crossroads of three continents, Egypt, an ancient civilization of the world, is tasked with restoring its former glory and splendor, establishing a brotherhood that unites all humanity, and using European technology and science to solve all problems—a set of interwoven goals and hopes all placed upon Egypt.

And digging the Suez Canal symbolizes the ’brotherhood’ connecting different continents separated by the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, even though Egypt is a Muslim territory and there is indeed strong opposition and hostility towards the Saint-Simonists, they still aim to spread their gospel to Egypt, like the first Catholic missionaries such as Saint Peter, even willing to sacrifice themselves, being strangled by the Roman Emperor.”