Chapter 16 Investigation

It has to be admitted that throughout the history of Italy's unification, apart from the unexpected factor of Garibaldi, the rest can be collectively called luck, without any strength.

The Austro-Prussian War allowed Italy to easily obtain the Venice region and the southern part of South Tyrol. This time, the Franco-Prussian War caused by the Spanish throne also gave the Italians an opportunity to regain Rome.

At this time, the Catholic Church, also known as the Papal States, was entrenched in Rome. And the European hegemon France supported the Papal States. This is also the reason why Italy has been unified but has been unable to regain the core of Rome.

But after the outbreak of the war, the French troops stationed in Rome have gradually begun to withdraw.

Italy is waiting for the time when all French troops have withdrawn. The troops of the Roman Church will not be able to stop the pace of Italian unification, and Rome will soon become the official capital of the Kingdom of Italy.

Just as Vittorio Emanuele II was anxiously waiting for the French army to completely withdraw from Rome, the Spanish government also sent a request for a diplomatic visit to the Italian government.

The delegation sent by Spain this time is very luxurious, led by Prime Minister Primo, accompanied by several government ministers, and also includes several senior generals of the Spanish military.

Combined with the recent Spanish king election incident, Vittorio Emanuele II seems to have understood the purpose of Spain's diplomatic visit.

However, there is one thing that Vittorio Emanuele II does not understand, that is, when the Spanish government examines candidates from other countries, it only conducts investigations in secret.

Why did it become a diplomatic mission to visit Italy? And the leader of the delegation is the new Prime Minister of Spain, Primo, who is a figure who is in charge of both military and political affairs. It is absolutely not an exaggeration to call him the most powerful person in Spain today.

Although Primo's intentions are not quite understood, Spain is a big country on the Mediterranean coast after all, and Italy will naturally not refuse the Spanish government's initiative to visit.

Carlo, who always pays attention to the news in Spain, naturally also learned about the Spanish government's request for a diplomatic visit to Italy.

For this thing that has never happened in history, Carlo can't help but have more guesses in his heart.

If Amadeo's name was the only one on the list of candidates for the Spanish throne, they would most likely not come to Italy.

After all, three of the four major competitors in history have withdrawn. If there were no other competitors, Amadeo should have won.

Combined with the Spanish government's request for a diplomatic visit, Carlo can basically conclude that he should also be on the list of candidates for the Spanish throne and has reached the final round of competition with his brother Amadeo.

This also means that the candidate for the Spanish throne will be revealed with Primo's diplomatic visit. If Carlo wants to become the King of Spain, he must firmly grasp all opportunities in this diplomatic visit and show Primo his advantages.

The good news is that the reason why Amadeo became the King of Spain in history was not because of how good he was.

In fact, compared with the other three candidates, Amadeo can only be regarded as barely qualified. It was precisely because of the active withdrawal of Fernando, the Regent of Portugal, and the strong opposition of the French to Prince Leopold becoming the King of Spain that Amadeo benefited and finally won.

However, compared with Carlo, Amadeo also has advantages. First of all, he is six years older, and at the age of 25, he looks more mature and stable, which is still relatively important for Spain.

But Carlo is not without advantages. Carlo is definitely more familiar with the two current rulers in Spain than Amadeo.

Compared with Primo's pursuit of Spain, Amadeo's age advantage of only six years is actually nothing.

And for Primo, who holds the military and political power, he may not be willing to see a more mature and stable king competing for power.

Although being young means immaturity and stability, it also means that it will be easier to control than being older.

At least for Primo, who is now determined to promote reforms in Spain, Amadeo may not have an advantage.

After silently calculating the advantages of himself and his brother Amadeo in his heart, Carlo began to think about how to show his advantages in this diplomatic visit and let Primo choose him.

The first thing to do is to recognize your identity.

In fact, whether Amadeo or Carlo becomes the king of Spain, it is impossible for them to have too much real power in the early stage.

If there is the support of Primo and Serrano, it will be fine. These two people hold the military and political power in their hands, which is a great help to the king.

Without the support of the two, the king of Spain can be said to be a completely bare commander, without a single reliable subordinate.

In this case, Carlo's initial plan after becoming the king of Spain has never been to seize power, but to help Primo and Serrano reform Spain on the basis of stabilizing his throne.

Although Spain is still a second-rate country in Europe, it has opened up a huge gap with the powers such as Britain, France, Prussia, Russia and Austria.

Even Italy, which has just been unified for a short time, has surpassed Spain in terms of comprehensive strength. If Spain does not reform, and continues to consume like this, Spain will even become a third-rate country in Europe.

Primo and Serrano both have great reputations, so it will be smoother for them to take the initiative to reform Spain than for Carlo to promote reform himself, and the Spaniards will be more receptive.

More importantly, Primo and Serrano, both of them are willing to see a monarch who supports reform appear in Spain.

Especially Primo, as the most powerful person in Spain, he is a thorough reformer.

Although Primo was assassinated before Amadeo arrived in Spain in history, he promoted the promulgation of many decrees in the short time he became the Prime Minister of Spain, and he is also a representative of the Spanish reformists.

If Carlo can show his support for reform during Primo's visit to Italy, I believe he will get Primo's favor.

As long as either Primo or Serrano supports him, Carlo does not think that he will lose to his brother Amadeo in the competition for the throne candidate.

After all, Amadeo did not show his talent in the three years since he became the King of Spain, and he did not even have much ambition and ambition.

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