Seeing that Albert was not in the trap, Cavour couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but Prince Albert's response was also expected by Cavour.

After all, the most taboo thing in the field of diplomacy is to follow the other side's train of thought, so that you will unwittingly fall into the rhythm of the opponent.

Since Albert did not want to stir the topic apart, Cavour decided to "help" Prince Albert to look directly at the bayonet hidden under the Anglo-French friendship.

Cavour clasped his hands together and whispered to Prince Albert with a serious expression, "However, I privately thought that this canal was in the hands of the French Empire, and it was not a matter of celebration for the Kingdom of Britain!"

Prince Albert frowned involuntarily after hearing Cavour's response.

Albert's expression showed that he was disgusted by Cavour's behavior of putting all the questions on the table.

Because this would force Albert to face these complex issues, he felt like he was being cornered.

"Mr. Cavour, it doesn't seem to matter much to you who owns the Suez Canal!" There was a hint of alienation in Prince Albert's tone, and he pointed at Cavour and said bluntly, "What's more, you and the kingdom behind you don't have the right to decide where the Suez Canal belongs!"

It is not too late for the Kingdom of Sardinia to discuss with me when it will have the right to take ownership of the Suez Canal!"

Although Prince Albert's voice was not loud, every word and sentence showed the superiority of the Kingdom of Britain.

This made Victor Umberto, who was quietly listening to the speech and dialogue, feel a pressure of impending mountain rain.

Victor Umberto understood that the superiority exuded by Prince Albert was not the superiority of blood, and that the royal family of Savoy, which has a history of nearly 1,000 years, is not inferior to the royal family of Hanover

However, for monarchs, it is not the longevity and glory of the family history that determines the difference between their status, but how many bayonets you have in your hands at the moment, and how much territory you have.

Although the Kingdom of Sardinia has always been at the top of the ranks of the medium-sized countries, it is at best a mere sight to behold for the rulers of the Kingdom of Britain, which has a small half of the world.

If it weren't for the aggressiveness that France showed in the Mediterranean (Napoleon III:??? The Kingdom of Sardinia probably had a lower status in Prince Albert's heart than the countries of the Arab region.

At present, Cavour's ignorance of stirring up Anglo-French relations is itself an act of arrogance in Prince Albert's mind.

Cavour, of course, understood the thoughts in Prince Albert's mind at this moment, and he replied without humility or arrogance, "Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Sardinia is indeed not qualified to decide the ownership of the Suez Canal!

However, the Kingdom of Sardinia has the ability to decide where rights belong in the Western Mediterranean!

Whether the ownership of rights in the Mediterranean will affect the ownership of the Suez Canal, I think no one knows better than Your Majesty!"

Prince Albert had a solemn look on his face after hearing Cavour's response.

Indeed, Cavour was right, the Kingdom of Sardinia was in a position that qualified them to participate in the struggle for hegemony in the Mediterranean, which did not give them the ability to rival Britain and France, but when the Kingdom of Sardinia joined one of them, then the power in the Mediterranean gradually tended to favor the side of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

If either France or Britain were to crush their rivals in the Mediterranean, the role of the Kingdom of Sardinia would once again be nil.

However, this probability is basically zero.

It is impossible for the French Empire to give up its hegemony on land for the sake of hegemony in the Mediterranean, and it is impossible for Britain to give up its hegemony in all its territory for the sake of hegemony in the Mediterranean.

Thinking of this, Prince Albert's attitude was also eased a lot, he

Nodding his head, he said lightly to Cavour, "Mr. Cavour, I admit that the Kingdom of Sardinia can indeed influence the situation in a region under certain circumstances.

However, as far as I know, the Kingdom of Sardinia has been following the actions of the French Empire before. In the eyes of other nations, you have become vassals of the French Empire."

"Your Majesty, Sardinia has never been a vassal state of the French Empire!" Cavour said to Prince Albert in a tough tone.

From Cavour's body, Prince Albert seemed to see another Palmerston.

"The Kingdom of Sardinia was willing to follow in the footsteps of the French Empire because we believed that the French Empire would be able to carry on the glory of its predecessors (the Napoleonic Empire) and help the Italian nation to escape the enslavement of the Austrians!" Cavour said loudly to Prince Albert, "The Emperor Napoleon has bound the Italian people together and forged a brilliant crown for the Italian nation, so that the divided Italian state has become a whole again, and every Italian nation, including me, will never forget the contribution of the Emperor Napoleon."

It is precisely because we believe that the Emperor of the French Empire, Jérôme Bonaparte, was an emperor who shared the same ideals as his uncle, the Emperor Napoleon, that we are willing to believe in him as much as we did in the first place!

I believe that he will be able to help the distressed Italian nation as his uncle did, and make it one again!"

"Mr. Cavour, what a wonderful speech you just made!" Prince Albert complimented Cavour.

Then he changed his words and teased, "However, you shouldn't tell me such a wonderful speech!"

but to the Emperor of Paris, who, after hearing your impassioned speech, will surely make up his mind to help the Kingdom of Sardinia unify Italy, and then bring the crown with his own hands to the head of the monarch for whom you have served!"

In the face of Albert's sarcasm, Cavour did not care, and replied to Prince Albert in a frank tone, "Your Majesty, the reason why I tell you about the relationship between the Kingdom of Sardinia and the French Empire is that I hope that the Kingdom of Britain will believe that our Italian nation is a grateful nation, and that the Kingdom of Sardinia will never forget his friends!!

Any country that helps us will be rewarded a thousand times more by the Kingdom of Sardinia!"

"So, your Kingdom of Sardinia wants to abandon the French Empire and turn to us!" Prince Albert asked Cavourd about it bluntly

Cavour was silent for a long time, and then said euphemistically to Prince Albert, "At present, the situation in the Apennine Peninsula is still under the control of the Austrian Empire and the French Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia is only a small country in the Apennine Peninsula, and it does not dare to offend any country!"

"So Mr. Cavour, what do you just say?" Albert asked rhetorically, "If you want the Kingdom of Britain to believe that the Kingdom of Sardinia is a grateful country, you have to come up with some practical benefits!"

I can't take a blank check and convince my people and cabinet that the Kingdom of Britain has offended the French Empire and the Austrian Empire for the sake of Sardinia, which is a bad deal!"

From a rational point of view, Prince Albert is not wrong in what he said, no monarch would offend a large country for the sake of a small country.

The existence of some medium-sized countries in Europe today is entirely based on the principle of the balance of major powers on the European continent.

The role of these countries is to act as a buffer zone for the great powers, so that the two powers can be more rational before starting a war.

How can a great power declare war on another country for the sake of a buffer zone!

What's more, the Kingdom of Sardinia did not want to completely surrender to the Kingdom of Britain, they wanted to move between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Britain.

After listening to Prince Albert's questioning, Cavour said to Prince Albert, "Your Majesty, I understand that your country does not want to get too involved in the Italian question!

But today's Italian peninsula is not just about Italy

The interests of several kingdoms in the region are also related to the interests of your country!

If Italy remains divided, then the French Empire will easily gain hegemony in the Mediterranean!

Whether the Kingdom of Britain recognizes it or not, France is now the uncrowned king of the Mediterranean.

None of the countries, including our Kingdom of Sardinia, dared to rebel against the French Empire!

We can only prostrate at the feet of the French Empire and become a vassal state in your mouth!

Moreover, once the Suez Canal is connected, the French Empire can completely expand its sphere of influence from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean!

French warships will cross the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean!"

Cavour's every word hit Albert's heart like a bullet, and Prince Albert's face involuntarily showed a sad look.

Once the Suez Canal is opened, the French warships will go straight into the Indian Ocean, and India, which symbolizes the shining pearl of Britain, will be directly exposed to the French warships, which is absolutely unacceptable to the Kingdom of Britain.

Of course, the Kingdom of Britain did not know that the depth of the Suez Canal after its excavation was destined to be unable to satisfy the counterparts of warships.

However, this did not prevent Britain from having the greatest ill will towards the French Empire.

"Mr. Cavour, I personally sympathize with the division of the Italian peninsula!

But how can you guarantee that the Kingdom of Sardinia will not continue to rely on the French Empire after the end of the division of Italy?"

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