Franz. Joseph nodded, and then invited Jérôme. Bonaparte went to a room on the second floor of the Doge's Palace.

Jérôme entering the room. Bonaparte immediately joined Franz. Joseph got straight to the point, "Franz, I hope that the Austrian Empire will end its investigation into the Kingdom of Sardinia as soon as possible, so that the entire Apennine Peninsula can return to a peaceful and stable situation as soon as possible!" ”

Franz. Joseph muttered for a moment, and then spoke unexpectedly to Jérôme. Bonaparte responded, "Of course!" ”

"I know it may be a little difficult for you, but ......" Jérôme, who hadn't turned the corner yet. Bonaparte thought Franz. What Joseph had just said was refusal, and he hurriedly tried to persuade Franz to do so. Joseph, suddenly he realized that Franz. Joseph said yes, but stopped abruptly, and then asked tentatively, "What did you just say agree?" ”

Franz. Joseph looked at Jérôme with a blank expression. Bonaparte replied, "Yes! ”

"That's great!" Jérôme. Bonaparte looked cheerful to Franz. Joseph replied.

"However, the one you promised to take out an interest-free loan of 600 million francs...... Franz. Joseph was also interested in Jérôme. Bonaparte replied, "I hope you will be able to do it as soon as possible!" ”

"Don't worry!" Jérôme. Bonaparte vs. Franz. Joseph assured, "We'll give you an interest-free loan when this is over!"

When the time comes, you just need to sit and count the money! ”

Franz. Joseph and Jérôme. Bonaparte completed the whole deal in just three words. The tug-of-war envisioned by Bonaparte simply did not materialize.

Immediately afterwards, Jérôme. Bonaparte changed the subject and asked Franz. Joseph, "Franz, what do you think about the future of Italy?" ”

Franz. Joseph was slightly stunned, then asked Jérôme. Bonaparte said, "You mean?" ”

"Nationalism in Italy and the unification of Italy!" Jérôme. Bonaparte vs. Franz. Joseph explained.

Franz. After hearing this, Joseph frowned and said with a hint of hostility to Jérôme. Bonaparte said, "Jérôme, you should know that we will never allow any country to unify the whole of Italy!" ”

See Franz. Joseph misunderstood what he meant, Jérôme. Bonaparte hurriedly waved his hand and explained, "No, you misunderstood! I don't mean to unify Italy with a single state, but to form a relatively loose Italian confederation as Prince Metternich did with Germany! ”

"The Italian Confederation?" Franz. Joseph muttered quietly, "Is this really an effective way to combat Italian nationalism?" ”

Jérôme. Bonaparte frankly shook his head at Franz. Joseph replied, "Honestly, this situation does not prevent Italian nationalism, but it only makes it more rampant!" ”

】

Franz. Joseph's brow furrowed even deeper after hearing this, and he was directed at Jérôme. Bonaparte asked again, "Then why do I have to assemble this thing!" ”

"Because the establishment of the Italian Confederation can help you to disguise yourself as an Italian and thus to put down the hatred of part of the nationalists!" Jérôme. Bonaparte vs. Franz. Joseph explained, "Just like the current German Confederation!" ”

Franz. Joseph fell into deep thought, and he felt that Jérôme. There seems to be a little truth in Bonaparte's words, "If we were to take the lead in forming the Italian Confederation in the Austrian Empire, then to whom should the chairman of the Confederation be handed over!" ”

"I don't think this chair should be held by the Austrian Empire, but by the Papal States!" Jérôme. Bonaparte opened his mouth to Franz. "And this confederation can be formed without the Kingdom of Sardinia!" said Bonaparte!

In this way, the nationalisms that were originally associated with the Kingdom of Sardinia would have been alienated from them by the exclusion of the Kingdom of Sardinia from the Italian Confederation!

This will help you to effectively control the vassal states of the Apennine Peninsula! ”

Jérôme. As soon as Bonaparte's voice fell, Franz. Joseph then went on to Jérôme. Bonaparte replied, "There is some truth to what you say!"

I don't want to discuss these issues right now, though! ”

Since Franz. Joseph was reluctant to continue the discussion, Jérôme. Bonaparte had to shrug his shoulders to Franz. Joseph said, "Then let's put an end to these topics for now!" ”

After that, Jérôme. Bonaparte got up and suggested Franz. Joseph went with him to the room of Augusta and Sissi.

Franz. Joseph also got up and followed Jérôme. Bonaparte left the room together.

When Jérôme. Bonaparte and Franz. When Joseph and Sisi arrived at the room of Augusta and Sissi, they saw Empress Augusta and Sisi chatting and laughing.

Jérôme. Bonaparte and Franz. Joseph's arrival brought the conversation between Empress Augusta and Empress Elizabeth to an abrupt end.

"What's wrong?" Jérôme. Bonaparte asked curiously.

"Nothing!" Augusta shook his head at Jérôme. Bonaparte replied, and then turned to ask, "How did you end up so soon!" ”

"Of course, because we reached a consensus relatively quickly!" Jérôme. Bonaparte said lightly to Empress Augusta.

"That's right! The two of us didn't generate much analysis, so the conversation ended relatively quickly! "Franz. Joseph said the same.

"And what are you going to do now?" Empress Augusta then asked Jérôme. Bonaparte and Franz. Joseph.

Originally Franz. Joseph was ready to tell Augusta that he would leave tomorrow, but Jérôme, who was standing aside. Bonaparte was the first to take a stroll, "of course, to take advantage of the leisure time to take a little walk around Milan and its neighborhoods!" I'm right, Franz! ”

Franz nodded his head, and his plan to return immediately was also put on hold for the time being.

……

Over the next few days, in Franz. Joseph and Yin Lisabeth were accompanied by Jérôme. Bonaparte and Augusta traveled together in Milan and the neighborhood.

Same as Franz. At the invitation of Joseph, Jérôme. Bonaparte and Augusta also watched performances by the various arms of the Austrian Empire.

To be sure, the infantry of the Austrian Empire was somewhat inferior to the infantry of the French Empire in overall quality, and their artillery was not much different from that of the French Empire.

It's just that the artillery of the Austrian Empire is still using front-loading bronze cannons, and the French side has gradually developed rear-loading steel cannons.

As soon as the French rear-loading steel cannon came out, combined with the French Chasebo machine gun and Mauser rear-loading gun, it was enough to turn into a harvester on the battlefield and harvest all the lives on the battlefield.

Therefore, after the end of the exercise, Lieutenant General Albrecht, who was in charge of commanding this army, was deliberately assigned to the command of Franz. Joseph called Jérôme. Bonaparte's face.

"Jérôme, what do you think of our army?" Franz. Joseph asked Jérôme with a hint of pride on his face. Bonaparte said.

"Not bad!" Jérôme. Bonaparte in order to give Franz. Joseph saved some face and did not talk to Franz. Joseph named the shortcomings of the army.

"How does it compare to your French army?" Franz. Joseph asked again.

"Franz, your country's army is indeed a little worse than our country's army!" Jérôme. Bonaparte tactfully addressed Franz. Joseph replied, and then gave Franz a new answer. Joseph encouraged, "However, I believe that if you can continue to work hard, you will be able to catch up!" ”

Jérôme. Bonaparte, though already very majestic, felt very uncomfortable in the heart of the proud Albrecht.

Albrecht then asked Jérôme in a tough tone. Bonaparte said, "Your Majesty, how is our country's army inferior to your country's army?" ”

"General Albrecht!" Franz. Joseph frowned and reprimanded, then went on to him, "You shouldn't speak to an emperor in such a tone!" ”

Seeing this, Albrecht hurried to Jérôme. Bonaparte apologized, "Your Majesty, I beg your pardon for the offensive remarks I have just made! ”

"Nothing!" Jérôme. Bonaparte shook his head and said to Albrecht, "General Albrecht, didn't you just ask me what the difference between our two armies is!" I tell us that the difference between the two armies lies in the subjective initiative between the soldiers, in the number of troops, and in the quality of the individual soldiers......"

Jérôme. Bonaparte enumerated Albrecht, "I am talking about problems that can only be solved by a rich finance!"

However, your country's finances are completely unaffordable! ”

At this time, Albrecht stopped talking for a moment, the French Empire's annual investment in the army is indeed much higher than that of the Austrian Empire, and the more the army invests, the stronger the combat effectiveness, this is a universal theorem.

Seeing Albrecht and Franz. Joseph did not speak anymore to Jérôme. A sneaky smile appeared at the corner of Bonaparte's mouth.

……

Time flies, Jérôme. Bonaparte and Augusta soon had time to leave.

The night before the two left Milan, a report by Franz. The party organized by Joseph himself was held at the Doge's Palace.

During the banquet, Jérôme. Bonaparte came to the side of the old Prince Metternich, looked at the old Prince Metternich with a slight confusion in his eyes, and said, "Mr. Prince Metternich, I hope we can see you again the next time we meet!" ”

The old Prince of Metternich reluctantly replied with a hint of sadness, "Your Majesty, definitely! ”