Upon hearing that Mr. Cavour was heading to Paris to seek Napoleon III’s assistance, Victor Umberto’s face showed signs of apprehension.

Currently, everything Mr. Cavour is doing is a blatant betrayal to the French Empire.

If Emperor Jerome Bonaparte of France knows they are colluding with the Kingdom of Britain, would he really forgive their actions!

Victor Umberto had no confidence in this.

Standing beside Victor Umberto, Giuseppe Garibaldi voiced the doubts lingering in Victor Umberto’s mind.

"Mr. Cavour, are you certain that the French Empire is really willing to abandon the Austrian Empire for the Sardinian Kingdom!"

Facing Giuseppe Garibaldi’s skepticism, Mr. Cavour only smiled faintly and then, with a calm demeanor, responded to Giuseppe Garibaldi.

"Honestly, I am also unsure whether Napoleon III would abandon the Austrian Empire!

But Napoleon III’s recent diplomatic activities do imply a deliberate distancing from the Austrian Empire!"

"Could you explain in detail?" Giuseppe Garibaldi asked Mr. Cavour with puzzlement.

"Lord Valerovsky has already been reassigned from his role as France’s full administrator in the Holy Land (Jerusalem) to France’s ambassador to Prussia!

Moreover, Mr. Valerovsky was frequently invited to various banquets after his report in Berlin a few days ago, and during the banquets, he often expressed some political opinions on the Kingdom of Prussia!" Mr. Cavour explained to Giuseppe Garibaldi, "I also heard that during the banquets, Mr. Valerovsky often expresses opinions on current affairs regarding the Kingdom of Prussia!"

Giuseppe Garibaldi, not proficient in politics, could not grasp the diplomatic undertones in Valerovsky’s actions; he appeared confused as he questioned Mr. Cavour, "That merely indicates Valerovsky’s personal inclination, what does it have to do with Napoleon III?"

"Before assuming the role of France’s ambassador to Prussia, Valerovsky had never shown any inclination towards Prussia! 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

On the contrary, he was always one of the few members of the Polish faction in the Tuileries Palace court!" Mr. Cavour explained again to Giuseppe Garibaldi.

This time, Giuseppe Garibaldi finally understood Mr. Cavour’s point.

The "love-hate" relationship between Poland and Prussia, causing Valerovsky as a member of the Polish faction, generally would not have much favor towards Prussia.

Sending Valerovsky, a member of the Polish faction, to Prussia to serve as France’s ambassador to Prussia, and to express some pro-Prussian remarks.

The force behind this can only be the emperor far away in Paris.

"What exactly does that emperor want to do!" Giuseppe Garibaldi muttered to himself.

Victor Umberto was also pondering, perplexed about distancing from the already well-established relations with the Austrian Empire and getting close to the previously suppressed Kingdom of Prussia, wondering what actual benefits it brings to the French Empire.

"Do you still recall the ’natural boundaries’ theory proclaimed by the French Cardinal Richelieu?" Mr. Cavour asked Giuseppe Garibaldi and Victor Umberto.

Giuseppe Garibaldi and Victor Umberto simultaneously fell into contemplation, after a while, Victor Umberto’s eyes lit up as he spoke to Mr. Cavour, "Mr. Prime Minister, you mean Napoleon III wants to gain some interests in the German region through the Kingdom of Prussia!"

"Exactly!" said Mr. Cavour, nodding to Victor Umberto, "The current situation in the German region has largely stabilized, and Napoleon III wants to gain substantial interests from it, which is now essentially impossible!

Unless a country can stir the situation in the German region like the Sardinian Kingdom did in the Italian Peninsula!

Only in this way can the French Empire seize the opportunity, grabbing part of the interests from the German region!"

"However, doing so might cause Southern Germany to feel alienated from the French Empire!" Victor Umberto asked Mr. Cavour, "If the situation in the German region is disrupted, the principalities in the Southern German region will also suffer!

Just for some interests, causing potential allies to be harmed.

Isn’t it too shortsighted for Napoleon III to act in this way!"

"Hmph! Napoleon III is inherently a shortsighted person!" Giuseppe Garibaldi snorted coldly, saying, "If Napoleon III were not such a person, how could he have forcibly annexed Savoy and Nice, ignoring the Italian nation’s simplistic emotions and yearning for France!"

Victor Umberto turned his gaze towards Mr. Cavour, hoping to hear his analysis of Napoleon III.

"Mr. Garibaldi, what you mentioned earlier is just one of the reasons!

I was initially puzzled by Napoleon III’s annexation of Savoy and Nice, from whatever angle, an obedient ally is more worthwhile than two unwanted territories.

Until some events recently happening in France gave me new conjectures about Napoleon III’s motives.

The reason Napoleon III initially chose to annex Savoy and Nice was likely related to public opinion in France; you should all be aware that the establishment of the French Empire was based on a nationwide referendum!

That is to say, the French Empire itself is essentially a humble Roman Republic." Cavour said to Giuseppe Garibaldi and Victor Umberto.

Upon hearing Cavour compare the French Empire to the "Roman Republic," a hint of disgust appeared on Giuseppe Garibaldi’s face.

Cavour did not miss the change on Giuseppe Garibaldi’s face, but continued speaking to himself, "That means Napoleon III, in order to stabilize the empire, must continuously maintain his support rate at home!

Nothing ensures the support of the masses more than a war!

As long as this war is not fought at France’s doorstep as before!

Therefore, Napoleon III launched the Crimean War, intending to gain the support of the French Empire by dismantling the Russian Empire and hosting the Paris Conference!

However, you also know that public support is not unchanging!

After the prestige brought by the Crimean War faded, Napoleon III had to find new methods to gain the favor of France.

It happened that during those years, the world economy was on the rise; this economic ascent made France’s conflicts less prominent, allowing the French Empire to pass smoothly for a few years.

After the economic crisis ignited by the United States, the French Empire once again fell into turmoil.

Thus, Napoleon III had to find a new "war" to continue earning public support.

Unfortunately, we happened to be at the muzzle of Napoleon III, who was desperately seeking a "scapegoat."

In order to maintain his rule domestically, Napoleon III took Savoy and Nice from us.

This kind of prestige allowed him to counteract the Legislative Corps and continue pursuing his policies.

Even so, protest parades still appeared in Paris under the economic crisis, and Napoleon III urgently suppressed the entire team and declared martial law throughout the city!

Imagine, if Napoleon III had not annexed Savoy and Nice, would he still have the prestige to suppress the Legislative Corps and command the troops in Paris to disperse the protesters?"

Cavour paused, glanced at the two deep in thought, and continued speaking to himself, "I think Napoleon III’s subsequent actions may not be easy!"

"You mean that Napoleon III’s actions towards the German region are also meant to stabilize his own throne!" Victor Umberto asked Cavour.

"Napoleon III has long tied the interests of France with those of the Bonaparte Clan!

He created the illusion that only the Bonaparte Clan could realize France’s interests, thus ensuring the enduring existence of himself and his throne!

Therefore, Napoleon III’s actions towards Germany cannot be easily characterized as merely for his throne; France itself is also ambitious towards Germany!"

Cavour broke down the seemingly complex issue and placed it before Victor Umberto, hoping that Victor Umberto could absorb some wisdom from it for future governance.

Giuseppe Garibaldi instinctively glanced at Victor Umberto, and from Cavour’s words, thought of Victor Emmanuel II.

This King of the Sardinian Kingdom combined his own interests with the unification of the Italian Peninsula, compelling him to choose submission to the Sardinian Kingdom for the sake of Italian unity.

"I see!" Victor Umberto muttered softly, then continued to ask Cavour, "So will Napoleon III act towards Germany just as he did towards Sardinia?"

"That I am not quite sure of!" Cavour replied to Victor Umberto, "The German region is different from Italy; their population is comparable to France’s!

I imagine the French Empire would not choose to act directly against the German region; instead, they might support the Kingdom of Prussia in its opposition to the Austrian Empire!

This is precisely our opportunity; we only need to ensure that the French Empire does not intervene when we confront the Austrian Empire, and then we would be undefeatable!

I will contact a group of parliamentarians in Paris inclined towards Italy and use them to appeal to Napoleon III!

However, I estimate this is far from sufficient to sway Napoleon III!

We must guide public opinion in the Paris Region to truly ensure that Napoleon III does not dare to act rashly!

Only by letting the Parisians see the unwavering resistance of the Italian people can we arouse their sympathy for the Italians!"

Then, Cavour turned his gaze towards Giuseppe Garibaldi and earnestly said to him, "General Garibaldi, whether the French Empire refrains from interfering in the Sardinian Kingdom’s affairs depends on you!"