"Rely on me?"

Giuseppe Garibaldi revealed a look of confusion in his eyes upon hearing Cavour’s response.

Giuseppe Garibaldi, knowing his own limitations, was well aware that politics had never been his strong suit. His willingness to cooperate with Cavour was in the hope that Cavour’s political wisdom could help restore unity on the Italian Peninsula as soon as possible.

Compared to Mazzini, who was always passionate about the republican unification of the Italian Peninsula, Giuseppe Garibaldi’s moral standards were evidently more flexible. Though he himself was a genuine Republican, he did not mind relying on the Kingdom’s strength to unify Italy.

As long as Italy could be unified, Giuseppe Garibaldi did not mind cooperating with the Kingdom’s forces.

This was also why Cavour could quickly reach an agreement with Giuseppe Garibaldi.

To prevent his own recklessness from sabotaging the situation for unification, Giuseppe Garibaldi had always followed Cavour’s lead during their cooperation.

Now, Cavour said he needed to rely on him to persuade France not to interfere in the Italian Peninsula.

This left Giuseppe Garibaldi feeling both puzzled and an invisible pressure.

"That’s right!" Cavour nodded solemnly to Giuseppe Garibaldi, "You are still the most crucial link in the plan to unify Italy!

Your success or failure directly determines whether the subsequent plans can proceed smoothly!"

Giuseppe Garibaldi pondered for a moment, and shortly thereafter, he spoke resolutely to Cavour, "I am willing to give it my all!"

"I believe you!!" Cavour also nodded to Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Immediately afterward, Cavour detailed the steps to Giuseppe Garibaldi.

"General Garibaldi, we need you to leverage your solid military skills to conduct a successful landing campaign on Sicily Peninsula.

It would be best if you could completely defeat the garrison on Sicily Island and swiftly take control of the entire island!" Cavour said to Giuseppe Garibaldi.

"I can do it!" Giuseppe Garibaldi responded to Cavour, and then added, "However, I need to land on Sicily Island with my one thousand Red Shirt Army members, only then will I have the confidence to quickly defeat the garrison!"

Even before cooperating with Cavour, Giuseppe Garibaldi had already thoroughly assessed the military strength of the various Italian States, silently scoring them in his mind.

If his Red Shirt Army was a full score of one hundred, then the Sardinian army scored seventy in his mind, the army of the Central Italy barely passed, while the Kingdom of Naples’ army didn’t even qualify for a passing grade.

The Kingdom of Naples, located in the "poverty belt" of Southern Italy, had the most dismal finances among the Italian States.

Worse still, the barren land also gave rise to a lavish Bourbon king and a group of equally extravagant nobles.

This group perfectly inherited the extravagance passed down from France and even amplified it.

The people living on the land not only faced hostility from the land but were also ruled over by a large group of unproductive exploiters.

This forced the people living in the Naples region to abandon honest and simple ideas in order to survive, turning instead to cunning and roughness, for only in this way could they barely survive.

However, forming a capable army requires a group of innocent young men. Only simple people can follow the commands of officers, like a blank, immaculate sheet of paper, willing to be written on by the army.

A group of people already changed by their environment could not possibly still hold onto pure thoughts. When cunning and roughness enter the army, the whole army becomes cowardly and afraid of death.

Additionally, the Naples’ army was held in major positions by noble officers; many talented officers spent their entire lives being heavily suppressed by the noble officers, adding some resentment towards the Kingdom in their hearts.

Even if the Crown Prince of Naples, after hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s teachings, wanted to bring about changes, the most he could change was the areas within his reach, and his changes were only superficially adhered to by officials at all levels.

In comparison to the entire system, the Crown Prince’s changes made no significant impact whatsoever.

Especially on Sicily Island, the island’s army was like a volcano ready to erupt. Garibaldi believed that just a gentle push would cause the people on Sicily Island to willingly drive out the Bourbon Royal Family.

Giuseppe Garibaldi’s request for the command of one thousand Red Shirt Army soldiers from Cavour was also to prevent the few officers willing to continue their loyalty to the Bourbon Royal Family.

One thousand Red Shirt Army soldiers would be enough to control the situation on Sicily Island!

Upon hearing Giuseppe Garibaldi’s request, Cavour hesitated for a moment, then nodded to Garibaldi and said, "I will convey your request to His Majesty after returning to the Sardinian Kingdom!

I believe His Majesty would likely agree to your request!

However, these one thousand Red Shirt Army soldiers need to arrive on the Sicily Peninsula in batches using the ships of the Central Italian States!

They absolutely cannot have any connections to the Sardinian Kingdom!

Otherwise, the Austrian Empire will inevitably use this as an excuse to pressure the Kingdom of Sardinia!

As long as the Red Shirt Army does not flow out from the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Austrian Empire will not have enough reason to take action against the Kingdom of Sardinia!

As long as there is not enough evidence to prove that the Kingdom of Sardinia is funding you, the Kingdom of Britain will also help us mediate!"

"Hmm!"

Giuseppe Garibaldi nodded, showing his understanding of Cavour’s actions.

After all, Cavour is foremost a statesman of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and his primary goal is to ensure the safety of the Kingdom of Sardinia, then the unification of Italy.

"By the way, didn’t you just say that you need my help to gain the sympathy of the French Empire!

What does my army need to do after landing on Sicily Island?" Garibaldi asked Cavour again.

"As long as the Red Shirt Army expels Sicily Island, then I will join forces with the republican forces within France to portray you as a hero liberating Sicily Island!

We will also publish several photographs of the people on Sicily Island welcoming the Red Shirt Army!

At that time, the Parisians will definitely express sympathy for the Italians!

Belgium was able to achieve independence then because the Parisians hoped their King would intervene in Belgium.

King of Orleans Louis Philippe chose to aid the Belgian people’s independence to satisfy the Parisians’ demands.

We only need to guide the sympathy of the Parisians, and those Parisians will naturally stand on our side!

The Emperor of the French Empire will never defy the will of the Parisians and openly side with the King of the Italian States!

In this way, we can successfully restrain the Emperor of France within Paris.

As long as the French Empire doesn’t interfere in the affairs of the Italian Region, then we’ve won half the battle!" Cavour paused briefly, then said to Garibaldi, "Also, when you enter the capital of Silesia, you must immediately establish a framework for a government.

Announce to the outside world that the government you are forming is based on a referendum."

"Why?" Giuseppe Garibaldi looked puzzled once more; he did not think forming a democratically elected government was such an urgent matter.

Moreover, this plan was personally arranged by Cavour, and Garibaldi did not think he would have the opportunity to establish a republic.

"Because the French Empire was established through a referendum!

If the new government is also a democratically elected one, then the Parisians will be more inclined towards the government you establish!" Cavour explained to Giuseppe Garibaldi.

After listening to Cavour’s plan, Giuseppe Garibaldi felt even more admiration for Cavour in his heart.

If Cavour were replaced by him, he certainly couldn’t conceive such a brilliant diplomatic maneuver.

Utilizing the diplomatic strategies of several major powers to seek development for his country in tight circumstances, this is the mark of a truly outstanding statesman.

Subsequently, the voice of Cavour once again reached Giuseppe Garibaldi’s ears, "Mr. Garibaldi, you must follow the steps I have given you!"

"Lord Cavour, I assure you that the entire Red Shirt Army and I will obey your safety instructions!" Giuseppe Garibaldi immediately saluted Cavour, responding with a tone of respect.

Then, after discussing some details with Cavour, Giuseppe Garibaldi left Cavour’s room.

Only Victor Umberto and Cavour remained in the entire room.

"Prime Minister, can we really hold off the French Empire?" Victor Umberto asked Cavour again.

"If we only follow the steps I discussed with Giuseppe Garibaldi, we certainly cannot completely restrain Napoleon III!" Cavour said honestly to Victor Umberto.

"Then... what is your purpose in promising all of this?" Victor Umberto asked Cavour.

"If we can promise to hand over Sardinia to Napoleon III, then I think Napoleon III will probably not make a move against us!" Cavour told Victor Umberto.

"In that case, how do we face the Kingdom of Britain!" Victor Umberto’s expression changed; he couldn’t help but say to Cavour.

"Your Highness, international relations are based on mutual exploitation!

Britain wants to use us to limit the French Empire, so they choose to exploit us to provoke conflict on the Italian Peninsula!" Cavour replied calmly to Victor Umberto, "Imagine, if we really can’t seek the French Empire’s forgiveness, would the Kingdom of Britain really offend the French Empire for our sake!"