"Mr. Garibaldi, I personally express deep sympathy for the division of the Italian Peninsula!

However, how do you guarantee that the Sardinian Kingdom will not choose to rely on the French Empire after ending the division in the Italian Region?"

To Albert’s skepticism, Garibaldi had already prepared a silent script in his mind.

"Your Majesty, on behalf of the Italian Nation situated on the Apennine Peninsula, I express my gratitude to you! You, apart from His Majesty Napoleon, are the first monarch to sympathize with the plight of the Italian Nation, and also the first willing to listen to the voice of the Italian Nation..." Garibaldi praised Prince Albert with an exceptionally respectful tone, "To be honest, there are still many monarchs and politicians who selectively ignore the interests of the Italian Nation, and some even claim that Italy is just a geographical term (Metternich: That’s right, it’s me!).

Those who maintain such an arrogant attitude are destined not to receive any welcome from the Italian Nation!

And you can deeply understand the Italian situation and grasp the vital interests of the Italian Nation..."

Facing Garibaldi’s praise, Albert also showed a smile. No one can refuse the commendation of an outstanding politician.

However, compared to praise, Albert wanted to know how Garibaldi would solve the concerns he raised.

After a bunch of praise, Garibaldi went straight to the point, "Your Majesty, you just asked me how to guarantee that the Sardinian Kingdom will not rely on the French Empire after unifying Italy!

I want to tell you that if God truly favors the long-suffering Italian Nation, allowing us the fortune to eliminate the divisive forces hindering unification (here referring to the kingdoms, duchies entrenched in Italy, and Austria’s Lombardy and Venice)"

At this point, Garibaldi paused, then changed the subject to Prince Albert, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, this is just a wild dream of mine!

If the Italian Region could really unify under the Sardinian Kingdom, then I might be too excited to sleep for days and nights!"

Prince Albert smiled slightly, nodded, and responded to Garibaldi, "Mr. Garibaldi, it is evident that you are a true lover of the Italian Nation and the Sardinian Kingdom.

Please continue your hypothesis, I am keen to know how you will make the Italian Nation no longer succumb to the French Empire!"

"Your Majesty, no supreme politician or monarch can repeatedly defy the will of the nation, and that is my absolute confidence that a united Italy will no longer submit to the French Empire!" Garibaldi said with extraordinary confidence.

"Are you not just wanting to unify the Italian Nation?" Prince Albert asked with a puzzled expression.

"Your Majesty, for the entire Italian Nation, unification is merely a phase task!" Garibaldi said impassionedly to Prince Albert, "I believe the Italian Nation not only wants unification but also wants to stand among the nations of Europe just like the British Nation and the French Nation.

To become participants rather than bystanders in European affairs!"

Victor Umberto, sitting beside Garibaldi, couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy upon hearing Garibaldi’s bold words.

After all, the rise of the Kingdom of Italy would to some extent affect the Kingdom of Britain’s interests in the Mediterranean.

The Kingdom of Britain certainly wouldn’t want an additional rival out of thin air!

Thinking of this, Victor Umberto subconsciously glanced at Albert sitting opposite him.

At this moment, a trace of astonishment appeared on Prince Albert’s face. He too hadn’t expected Garibaldi to reveal such naked ambition.

However, in Prince Albert’s view, such ambition was too far-fetched.

Like a child saying he wants to become a general when he grows up.

Only to realize upon growing up that only the general’s son can become a general.

Thus, Prince Albert half-jokingly said to Garibaldi, "Your Excellency Garibaldi, your words just now made me a bit worried that the Sardinian Kingdom might make a move against the Kingdom of Britain after unification!"

Garibaldi naturally understood Prince Albert’s joke, but he still responded to Prince Albert with an exceptionally earnest attitude, "Your Majesty, there is no substantial conflict of interest between a unified Italy and the Kingdom of Britain!

"A unified Italy would inevitably involve the division of power in the Mediterranean, isn’t that a conflict?" Prince Albert retorted.

"It depends on whether Your Majesty wants a Mediterranean dominated by two powers or a Mediterranean with multiple powers standing side by side!" Garibaldi answered Prince Albert.

"Oh??" Albert’s lips curled into a smile of interest, "What do you mean by that?"

"We all know that what Britain wants is not just dominance in the Mediterranean Region, but global dominance!

If Britain fiercely competes with the French Empire in the Mediterranean Region, it will inevitably affect your country’s global rights.

Introducing a nation properly can serve as a balance against the French Empire!"

"Why must I choose to support Sardinia?" Prince Albert continued to question.

"Your Majesty, because only Sardinia has the opportunity to unify Italy in the entire Mediterranean!

And only a unified Italy has the ability to balance the French Empire!" Mr. Garibaldi argued reasonably in response to Prince Albert, "The Austrian Empire’s focus will be limited to the dominance of the German Region; they neither want nor dare to clash with the French Empire on Mediterranean dominance.

Greece and Ossman need not be mentioned; they are absolutely not brave enough to defy the French Empire!"

"Then what reason do I have to believe that Italy would defy the French Empire on Mediterranean issues?" Prince Albert sharply questioned Mr. Garibaldi.

Historically, the Kingdom of Italy, even before its unification, had started to diverge from France in interests.

During the Prussian War against France, the Kingdom of Italy offered no help to the French Empire, while only Garibaldi actively organized a volunteer army to assist France against Prussia.

Once the Kingdom of Italy truly achieved unification, it ignored the interests conflict with Austria-Hungary and joined the opposition against France.

However, aside from Jerome Bonaparte, no one knows the true trajectory of history; everyone is moving forward under a shadow cast over the narrative.

Albert’s unwillingness to believe Italy would resist the French Empire is understandable.

"Your Majesty, Rome is still under French Empire’s control!" Mr. Garibaldi replied to Prince Albert, "The Emperor in Paris always prides himself as a faithful protector of Catholicism, and he is utterly bound to Pope Pius IX.

Even if the Sardinian Kingdom truly unifies the Italian Region, as long as the Pope in Rome remains unwilling to yield, the French Empire’s army cannot depart from Rome.

The newly born Kingdom of Italy would certainly not choose Turin as its capital because Turin’s geographic location is too north, unable to radiate throughout the country.

Meanwhile, Rome, with its long history and bearing thousands of years of cultural etiquette, would be most fitting as the new capital of all Italy.

The Kingdom of Italy and the French Empire are bound to have an unavoidable conflict over Rome, compounded by our Savoy and Nice being taken forcibly by the French Empire!"

Saying this, a painful look flashed in Mr. Garibaldi’s eyes.

He originally thought using Savoy and Nice would be enough to drive the French Empire to serve his purposes, yet Jerome Bonaparte, disregarding the propriety, used the flimsiest excuse to coerce the Sardinian Kingdom into giving up Savoy and Nice.

Mr. Garibaldi attempted to use the French Empire’s opposition against the Austrian Empire to aid the Sardinian Kingdom’s plan to unify the Italian Peninsula, only for it to be entirely shattered by a sudden assassination.

With Savoy and Nice ceded, coupled with the destruction of the Sardinian Kingdom’s constitution (the French Empire forced the Sardinian Kingdom to arrest the "extremists" within Sardinia), the Savoy Royal Family suffered widespread distrust from nationalists within Sardinia.

To protect the Savoy Royal Family’s status among the Sardinian People, Mr. Garibaldi had to take all the blame upon himself, not only resigning from his post as Kingdom Prime Minister but also quitting an important position he held in a bank.

If Victor Emmanuel II hadn’t persistently urged him to stay, Mr. Garibaldi might have chosen never to involve himself in any political affairs again.

Mr. Garibaldi and Jerome Bonaparte could utterly be said to have a "deep-seated enmity!"

"Therefore, the new Kingdom of Italy will certainly choose to antagonize the French Empire!" Mr. Garibaldi continued explaining to Prince Albert, "If the Kingdom of Britain is willing to show goodwill towards them, then I believe the Kingdom of Italy would gladly join Britain’s camp!"

Prince Albert listened carefully to Mr. Garibaldi’s words and had to admit that Mr. Garibaldi’s statements were indeed somewhat reasonable.

Sardinia’s unification of Italy would inevitably lead to conflicts with the French Empire and the Austrian Empire over territorial disputes.

At that point, the Kingdom of Britain would be Italy’s most friendly nation.

However, Mr. Garibaldi’s blueprint is cleverly crafted, yet he deliberately omitted the most crucial premise.

"Mr. Garibaldi, how do you intend to achieve Sardinia’s unification of Italy?" Albert pointed to the core issue, "If you’re looking for the Kingdom of Britain’s security guarantee, then I presume the Cabinet might agree.

But if you plan to drag Britain into a war, then I think you’ll be disappointed!

The Kingdom of Britain would absolutely not help the Sardinian Kingdom in any war!!"