On the evening of September 13, two days before the start of the meeting, Spanish Foreign Minister Cruze had already arrived in Rome ahead of schedule, and at the place where he stayed, he welcomed an unexpected visitor, French Foreign Minister Gramont.

Cruze was a little strange, France was acting as a peacemaker in this meeting, they had already had a conversation during the day, and what was the other party doing so late all of a sudden?

The Duke of Gramont is also a well-known historical figure, he was bold enough to threaten William I not to get involved in the Spanish throne, and then William I's response was added to by Bismarck, and finally provoked the Franco-Prussian War.

As a foreign minister, he did not know how to be tactful at all, he was arrogant to the king of Prussia, and he could not be calm in the face of other people's provocations, so it can be said that he was partly responsible for France's initiative to attack Prussia.

"Count Cruz, I'll be straight to the point if there's anything to say." The Duke of Gramont was still so straightforward: "I have discussed with Timothy during the day, and we can completely settle the dispute in Rome privately. ”

Cruze was silent, he probably guessed what the other man was trying to say.

Sure enough, Gramont continued: "The minimum requirement in Italy is the partition of East and West, and even if it is put to the conference, it cannot be lowered.

The French Empire felt that this request was more reasonable. ”

The Duke of Gramont accentuated the words "French Empire".

Cruze felt ridiculous, now that France was being beaten to the ground by Prussia, and it was France who was asking Spain, how could it still use such a slightly threatening tone?

He shook his head decisively and said: "His Majesty the Pope has rejected this proposal, and Spain's position will be consistent with that of the Papal States." ”

"Don't be in a hurry to refuse, listen to me......" Duke Gramont waved his hand: "If Spain can withdraw its troops, France can provide you with a low-interest loan......"

He held out two fingers.

"Twenty million?"

"Two hundred million... Franc! ”

Cruze's expression quickly turned from surprise to disappointment, two hundred million francs was more than 7 million pounds, which was neither less nor less, but not enough for Spain to betray the Papal States.

You know, in normal history, reparations have been paid 5 billion francs.

Grammon noticed the change in the other party's expression, and was a little annoyed, but he couldn't offer more, so he could only know that he was emotional.

"The partition of East and West did not treat the Pope badly, as long as we are in harmony, there is no need to take into account the interests of the Papal States. What can the church do? The church can't do anything..."

"Let's tell you the truth, there is a Prussian shadow behind the recent Italian actions, and if they are treated unjustly with us, they may turn against our enemies.

At that time, not only France, but also Spain will face an even more difficult war.

To be honest, I don't really understand why you are helping the Papal States, France used to garrison troops for the sake of regional balance, but Spain should not have this need, is it really in response to God's call? ”

"Please come back, there is something to say at the meeting." Cruze didn't want to deal with the other anymore, maybe Grammon himself was unconscious, but he was already feeling humiliated.

As for why help the Papal States...... He also couldn't figure this out, and in his opinion, the fall of the Papal States would also help to alleviate the overly religious atmosphere in the country.

It's just that the king and the prime minister have solemnly explained it, so there must be their considerations.

The night conversation broke up unhappily, and the two countries failed to reach an agreement.

However, the rift between the two countries has not been shown on the surface.

On September 15, the Rome Conference was held as scheduled, and the Spanish Foreign Minister Cruz, the Italian Foreign Minister Timothy and Crown Prince Umberto, and the French Foreign Minister Duke Gramont all arrived on time.

The representatives of the three countries were decent and took the meeting very seriously, but when it was the turn of the Papal States, they sent an unexpected figure - Andrew, Alfonso's personal religious adviser.

Andrew has been following Alfonso for a year and a half years ago, and has been doing his job as a religious advisor in a regular manner, and he is also considered his close minister, taking advantage of this religious reform, Alfonso intends to promote him.

Unexpectedly, the Pope did not forget this former assistant deacon, and proposed to Alfonso the idea of letting Andrew represent the Papal States.

Alfonso naturally readily agreed, and with this resume, Andrew could logically be pushed to a higher position, and with such a loyal and open-minded church leader, it would be more convenient to reform later.

Although Andrew has become a Spanish citizen, his position in the church has not been abolished, and it can be said that he is a dual citizen in a sense......

There were only four countries in Spain, France and Italy, but more than 300 people actually came, and the vast majority of them came to observe, which was a matter for the future of Catholicism, and the Papal States agreed to the request of all European countries to observe.

As soon as they entered, the Italians did not give the Spaniards any good face, and the prisoner of war incident and the stationing in Rome made the two sides a mortal enemy.

Especially Prince Umberto, who was originally not so good with his aristocratic temperament, but the last incident not only greatly hit the prestige of the royal family, but also squeezed every penny of the royal family of Savoy, and even he, the crown prince, is now living a miserable life.

Naturally, he blamed all this on Spain, completely forgetting who sent the volunteers first.

The proponent of the conference was France, and the organizer was the Papal States, and Pius IX was the first to speak, giving a courteous and thoughtful speech, saying nothing more than to discuss the future of Rome and the Church.

The words did not count the number of Italy's nos, and it seemed that they were afraid that the other side would leave the table angrily, and war would be inevitable.

Unfortunately, the Italians failed to grasp the Pope's kindness, and as soon as the Pope finished speaking, Timothy said:

"Rome is the natural capital of Italy, and a united Italy has unquestionable ownership of Rome.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am not rude to the Church, but I hereby solemnly propose to re-examine the secular status of the Papal States! ”

……

Alfonso was waiting for the outcome of the meeting at the Royal Palace in Madrid when he suddenly heard a telegram from Barcelona from Paris.

"Spain is invited to focus on the interests of Italy, the emissary is on the way." Alfonso looked at the translator's handwritten manuscript and read it out word by word, on which was the outgoing Prime Minister Olivier.

Don't think about it, this must have been sent by Eugenie, and she used Olivier's name if she couldn't pull her face.

Alfonso smiled, this time is quite clever, fortunately the communication is not smooth this year, and there is no time for France to operate in the dark.

He would never sell the Papal States, and it seems that this time he had to save face for the French.