In fact, Ziano has become more and more disgusted with Mussolini, his father-in-law, in recent times.

In his eyes, Mussolini's ambitions seemed endless, and he never knew how to stop.

For Italy, the African campaign was over, and the war was practically relatively static.

However, Mussolini, who was still recuperating in the hospital at that time, kept explaining to Ziano and them the grand map of his great Roman Empire every day.

With the discharge from the hospital in the past few days, Mussolini is even more clamoring to lead Italy to defeat the red Soviet Union, surpass Germany in one fell swoop, and become the new European first!

In the past few years, Ziano has grown tired of war and killing, and has long been anti-war. It's not so much that he loves peace, but that he's in the middle of it and knows all too well how corrupt and inefficient Italy can be.

Take the northern defensive line he was responsible for building, and this project alone made Ziano greedy for wealth that ordinary people could not even believe. Once Italy now ceases the wars from which it has little benefit, it remains neutral.

Even if it is to follow the example of Spain and support Germany in the name of neutrality, it is much better than to go directly to the war and fight with Germany as it is now.

From Ziano's point of view, his wealth is enough. Without the risk of war, he could have spent the rest of his life in Italy.

Money, power, what's not to be satisfied with?

Perhaps, the only one who will not be satisfied is Mussolini, the idiot who dreams of being Caesar all day long.

In particular, Ziano, Italy's foreign minister, saw that Italy's chances of withdrawing from the war were gradually becoming clear, but his bald father-in-law was actually planning a new war.

And the object of this war is still the Soviet army, which even the Germans can't seem to parry!

My God! Where can Italy withstand this toss!

At this time, Ziano vaguely felt a sense of sacred responsibility given to him by history.

That's right, today's Italy does not need the belligerent Caesar, but the anti-war leader like him Ciano.

"Matthew! Oliver! Feeling increasingly that it was time to start preparing, Ziano immediately summoned two of his cronies.

In Italy, Prime Minister Benito Mussolini is not the only minister who has his cronies.

As foreign secretary, Ziano also has many people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who are closer to him than the prime minister.

"Commissioner, is there anything to do?" As a senior head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Ziano, Prime Minister Matthew became a member of the Ziano Supreme Council.

"You two, come with me to the king." Ziano preached confidently.

Meet the King?!

The two persons in charge suddenly couldn't find their way.

"Commissar, why should we go to the king? If there is something to report, wouldn't it be more effective to report directly to the leader? Oliver asked, confused.

The leader he called was naturally even if he always regarded himself as the leader of Italy, and asked others to call him Mussolini.

In the eyes of the Italian public, the current King of Italy, Vittorio Emmanuel III, does not have as much voice as Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini.

In today's Italy, the cabinet is dominated by Mussolini's members, and the Senate has become the legislature under Mussolini's control.

At this time, the king seems to have long since ceased to be so important.

In particular, a few years ago, Deputy Prime Minister Rossi led people to clear the oil reserves hidden by the Italian royal family in caves in the northern mountains, which further damaged the power of the royal family.

In today's Italy, the most powerful voice is undoubtedly Mussolini, whose cronies and party members are all over the government and the opposition. And even if it is the second most powerful speaker, it is Rossi, deputy prime minister and member of the Supreme Council.

In terms of the king's right to speak, even if there is still some left, it is far less than the two prime ministers and vice presidents of Italy today.

However, as soon as Oliver's words came out, what he was waiting for was a sneer from Ziano: "Mussolini? He's just the prime minister, and he's not our king in Italy. ”

Call Mussolini by his last name!

Oliver and Matthew shuddered at the same time.

Faintly, they felt a hint of something unusual.

Sure enough, Ziano continued: "His prime minister, after all, is still given by the king. Just because His Majesty is now in bondage doesn't mean the king isn't a king! ”

"Today's Italy is on the verge of danger. If we can't get Mussolini, as Prime Minister, to stop his crazy and unrealistic expansion plans, the future of Italy, including us, will not end well. ”

"So......" Ziano paused, looked into the eyes of the two cronies, and said, "We might as well meet the king now, tell Mussolini's ambitions, and win the king's support." ”

"With the support of His Majesty the King, we will overthrow Mussolini's rule in the future, and we will have a name and slogan." Ziano said rather conceitedly.

"But, ...... After all, the prime minister controls most of the key departments in the country, and he also holds several cabinet ministers himself, so he has a strong ruling power. ”

Oliver thought about it, but finally changed his tune and did not call Mussolini the leader. However, he also did not dare to call him by his first name like Ziano, so he chose to use the neutral title of "prime minister" to represent Mussolini.

"Yes, the Prime Minister already controls most of the departments in the country. And even the remaining ministries are mostly in the hands of Deputy Prime Minister Rossi. If we want to act, we are the only department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that can use it. Matthew also followed Oliver's tone and used the prime minister to represent Mussolini.

Looking at these two worried cronies, Ziano sighed with some disappointment.

These are already the two closest to him, and it is for this reason that Ziano will promote the two to the senior heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his own use.

But now, even his two closest confidants dare not set foot in their own plans. Ziano was disappointed, are the Italians really as Mussolini said, always so cowardly and timid?

After sighing silently in his heart again, Ziano coldly threatened the two: "Don't give me so many reasons and excuses, I know what you're worried about!" ”

was broken by the small abacus in their hearts, and both of them lowered their heads a little embarrassed.

Indeed, the reason why they are really afraid of their hands and feet is, in the final analysis, afraid of facing Mussolini's revenge if they fail.

"We're all in the same boat." Ziano said coldly without a trace of warmth: "When I divided the money before, I never treated the two of you badly. Now, it's time for you to repay me. ”

"Don't try to do anything behind my back, because our fates have long been tied together! The huge amount of money that you and I had embezzled in the construction of the northern defense line before, the omissions in the construction of the defense line, and the shady dealings we had with the Germans in private would have been enough for us to be shot ten times! In the end, Ziano chose to threaten the two cronies.

Since you don't want to take the initiative to join, then don't blame me for forcing you all the way. After all, from today onwards, I Ziano still need to employ people, and there must be someone available!