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As the Austro-Hungarian expedition forces were actively preparing for war, the Italian Kingdom’s army, together with the Garibaldi volunteers forming the Liberating Rome Allies, was advancing rapidly toward the city of Rome. They were now just over twenty kilometers away.

”We haven’t encountered any resistance along the way, it seems the Italian citizens and soldiers within the Pope Country also support our action. With their support, the final issues of this march to Rome will surely be resolved easily,” said General Cadorna of the Italian Kingdom optimistically to Garibaldi.

Garibaldi did not argue, but he understood clearly that the lack of formidable resistance was not due to the kindness of Pius IX, but rather because he had concentrated all his forces in Rome. Thus, he said, ”Unification is the shared desire of the entire Italian nation, but our real enemy has yet to appear. Only Rome, the place where the Pope resides, is the final stumbling block to Italian unification, and it is also the last stronghold of resistance on Italy’s path to unity. Only by taking Rome can our endeavor be considered complete!”

”Yes, that’s right, but our army will easily crush them,” Cadorna said confidently.

In Italy, a region with often questionable combat strength, the Kingdom of Sardinia was the most militarily strong, or rather those unified Italian state governments were too incompetent.

So, when facing the Pope Country alone, Cadorna could be confident that the final piece of the great unification of the Italian Kingdom would be accomplished by him today, and he would also be immortalized in Italian history.

Coincidentally, on the day Garibaldi and Cadorna arrived in Rome, August 30th, Emperor Napoleon III had also withdrawn to the Sedan area. The Prussian army had already assembled there, and the Heixinggen brigade was about to participate in its last battle in the German region because the Heixinggen brigade had suffered significant losses in previous battles, with nearly one-fifth wounded. After delivering the final blow to France, Ernst also intended to withdraw them, leaving Prussia to handle the subsequent matters.

...

Rome.

At this moment, Pius IX was deeply agitated, pacing back and forth in his palace because he had received intelligence that the Italian Kingdom’s army was about to be at the gates.

Yet the widespread conflict he had envisioned within Italy, planned by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, had not occurred. This meant that apart from the Austro-Hungarian forces, which had made no major moves in northeastern Italy, the Pope Country now stood alone.

Could it be that the Austro-Hungarian Empire was playing him! Reflecting carefully, that day’s conversation with Freud, the Austro-Hungarian envoy, indeed did not specify any detailed plans of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, could it be that the Austro-Hungarian Empire merely intended for him to block the bullets for them?

The more Pius IX thought about it, the angrier he became, and he also felt fear. Coupled with the oppressive heat, Pius IX lost his composure and quickly instructed his subordinates, ”Go and invite Austro-Hungarian envoy Freud over quickly!”

Before long, Freud sauntered into Pius IX’s palace. Seeing Freud, Pius IX seemed to have grasped at a straw in dire straits.

”Your Excellency Freud! You finally came!” He grabbed Freud’s arm excitedly as he spoke.

”Your Majesty, what is the matter you seek me for?” Freud asked, looking at the anxious Pius IX.

What’s going on? At this crucial time, he’s still pretending with me! Pius IX felt that he was being played.

With grief, he questioned, ”Your country’s good deeds? Do you not recognize them!”

”?” Freud’s face was full of confusion.

Pius IX continued, ”What about the promised situation where the various other conquered Italian kingdoms would jointly resist the Kingdom of Italy? Why has it not materialized? Did you not assure me days ago that the Austro-Hungarian Empire would take care of everything, letting me prepare with peace of mind? In the end, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is merely using us as an expendable pawn. Does faith lose its rallying power? The Lord will not allow you traitors to find salvation…”

”Ah!” How did it lead to invoking the Almighty? And what’s this about various countries jointly resisting Italy? I never said that! Freud asked, utterly puzzled, ”Your Holiness! What do you mean? And what countries are you referring to, have you secretly contacted other countries? Is it Spain?”

Pius IX erupted with anger, ”Was it not your Austro-Hungarian Empire that orchestrated a joint resistance to the Kingdom of Italy by those disgruntled nobility from the other Italian kingdoms that were annexed? How can you feign ignorance now?”

”No such thing! Who told you that? Why don’t I, an Austro-Hungarian envoy, know that our empire had such a plan?” Freud countered, suspecting someone had impersonated an Austro-Hungarian to hoodwink Pius IX.

”It was, it was...” The word ”you” hung on his lips but didn’t come out, as Pius IX suddenly halted!

Just in that moment, he suddenly recalled that Freud indeed never told him those things, and they were all conjured up by himself in recent days.

The scene became slightly awkward, and Pius IX strived to calm himself, stammering, ”Oh! You see my temper, it must have been affected by the hot weather, causing some memory confusion, really sorry, Excellency Freud, for making a fool of myself.”

”No problem, the current tense situation likely has effects on this as well; the Holy Father’s excessive concerns may have influenced his thoughts, which is understandable!” Freud diplomatically smoothed over.