After the Italian seized Lazio, they surrounded Rome and blocked all land routes.

Had it not been for the Spanish fleet being eyeing the port of Valencia across the sea, the sea lanes might have been blocked.

Despite the naked aggression of the Italians, until now they had not declared war on the Papal States and Spain, and even all their soldiers had been strictly ordered not to shoot first – apparently hoping for a diplomatic solution.

"How weak." Marshal Juan Prim stood in a safe position on the city walls, holding a telescope, and taunted the Italians 2 kilometers away as he watched.

In his view, after the breakdown of negotiations, Italy should immediately declare war and attack, rather than leave the enemy time to deploy and gather troops.

"How's it going in the city?" He turned to Andrew and asked.

"Basically stable. There is certainly a panic of being surrounded, but as long as the port is not blocked, there will be no problems. Andrew replied briefly.

Despite what the other party said, Prim was still a little worried: "What about business activities? ”

"It's business as usual...... However, the church plans to start a curfew tonight. ”

"That's good." Prim nodded and breathed a sigh of relief, "The next thing is to wait for domestic orders." ”

No wonder he was so nervous, since Alfonso liberated him under Francisco, he was never assigned any mission, and he was not allowed to play in the later counterinsurgency war in the north and the Cuban war.

At one point, he thought that the king was suspicious of his rebellion, so he was refrigerated.

Originally, he had already accepted his fate, and was ready to spend his life in the name of a marshal, but he didn't expect that he would actually think of him in this war against Italy, and he was directly appointed as the commander-in-chief, and he was fully responsible for Italian affairs.

The first foreign war in 50 years was handed over to him, what a lot of trust! He secretly made up his mind that he must fight a beautiful war to decorate the façade.

Andrew, as for him, was in charge of communicating with the Papal States and assisting them in managing the city of Rome in wartime.

Although there is still the meaning of brushing his resume in it, but from all aspects, he is indeed the most suitable candidate.

……

In Madrid, Alfonso didn't expect Prim to have so much inner drama, and he chose Prim, a person with a "criminal record", for no other reason, just because he could play.

After the reconstruction of Spain, there were only two marshals, one Prim and one Garcia, Garcia belongs to the heroes of the times, and his own ability is the most commander-level, this first foreign war, Alfonso is really not very relieved to hand it over to him.

Then there is only Prim, at least he has a good resume, he commanded the Mexican War, he was present in the Crimean War, and the marshal fought all the way up, much more reliable than Garcia.

At this time, he was looking at the "last warning" that the Italian ambassador had just handed over, and he couldn't help but laugh when he looked at it.

The content of the warning letter was unremarkable and nothing more than the same old thing: Spain was ordered to withdraw from Rome and not to continue to interfere in the internal affairs of Italy.

The reason why it is not called an ultimatum is that the most important sentence is missing from it: "The deadline for replying, if the reply is not met by the deadline, after XX time, the two sides will automatically enter a state of war." ”

Instead, there is a sentence: if you don't quit, you will bear the consequences.

Although the wording was strong, Alfonso could see in the letter that it was full of lust and inwardness.

"Don't you dare to declare war at this point?" Alfonso could even imagine King Vittorio's troubled look as he dispatched his army.

It's hard to say about the Italian army, the Italian government and the royal family are definitely unwilling to go to war, and they are not stupid, they naturally know what a fatal weakness the navy is inferior to people.

Moreover, since the establishment of Italy, it has not achieved any good results in foreign wars, and this time it is necessary to face an old power alone, and they are very panicked.

However, the arrow had to be sent, and the people already knew about it, and if it was coaxed again this time, the angry public opinion would be able to crush Italy.

"You don't dare to declare, I declare." Alfonso said to himself that if he only fought a defensive battle, there was no need to declare war, but since he had made up his mind to use the navy, he would definitely have to enter a state of war before he could blockade it.

……

Italy and Prim received an ultimatum half a day later, sending a telegram to Valencia, from which it took some time to travel by sea to Rome.

The Spanish government took this into account and gave a full 24 hours - if Italy did not reply at two o'clock in the afternoon on the 19th, the two sides would automatically enter a state of war.

…… It was useless to have enough time, the Italians could not have agreed to the conditions of the ultimatum, and their army was already ready.

"So Your Majesty, the war will come tomorrow." Inside St. Peter's Basilica, Andrew reported the terrible news to Pius IX.

“… Rome is once again in the midst of war, and 20 years of development will be ruined.

Moreover, Italy is menacing, and this time I don't know how many places of interest will suffer. Pius IX sighed heavily.

After the liberal revolution 20 years ago, the Pope returned to Rome and gradually relaxed social restrictions, and today Rome is an industrialized city.

Its main trading partner was, of course, its good neighbor Italy, and this war caused the goods to lose their markets and the factories to lose their raw materials.

If the war drags on, the blow to the economy will be devastating.

Not to mention that shells fired from outside the city can seriously interfere with the normal operation of society.

Andrew understood the Pope's concern, he thought for a moment and said:

"Your Majesty, don't worry, the range of the Italian army's artillery is only 2 to 3 kilometers, and it can't hit the inner city, at most it will fall on the edge of the city wall, as long as the people there are moved, they won't be able to hit anything."

Of course, if Italy gets the Krupp cannon from Prussia, not to mention the outer city, even St. Peter's Basilica, where the Pope is located, may be affected.

Andrew understood this, but he didn't say, so why bother an old man?

Pius IX nodded, looking like he wanted to say something.

Opposite is Andrew's former boss, how could he not see what the Pope is thinking?

"Is Your Majesty worried about the economy? If Your Majesty does not mind, Rome may join the Spanish market, and I guarantee that His Majesty Alfonso will not object. Andrew proposed:

"Spain is not only more abundant in resources than Italy, but also surpasses them in terms of per capita income and total market, which is completely replaceable."

Pius IX smiled with relief, what he valued most at the beginning was Andrew's intimacy, and after more than a year, it still felt like it was the same.

"Okay, then arrange it as soon as possible."