After a brief exchange of pleasantries with Jerome Bonaparte, Count Cavour quickly moved on to the main topic.

Count Cavour sincerely pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte to lend a helping hand to Sardinia, considering the years of friendship between the French Empire and the Sardinian Kingdom.

If Jerome Bonaparte could provide assistance to the Sardinian Kingdom, then all members of the Sardinian Kingdom would undoubtedly look up to France.

Faced with Count Cavour’s request, Jerome Bonaparte decisively shook his head in refusal.

After all, without sufficient interests to tempt France, Jerome Bonaparte was inclined to let the Austrian Empire continue its punitive actions against the Sardinian Kingdom.

Suppressing Sardinia’s ambition to unify Italy had always been Jerome Bonaparte’s established goal. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Thus, Jerome Bonaparte, with a slightly apologetic tone, said to Count Cavour, "Count Cavour, I truly apologize!

The Sardinian Kingdom and the Austrian Empire are both crucial allies of the French Empire. Regarding this conflict, the French Empire deeply regrets... We will adhere to the principle of neutrality and urge both parties to sit at the negotiation table and resolve their differences peacefully!"

Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s diplomatically styled remarks, Count Cavour couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

The French Empire’s attitude clearly indicated readiness to abandon the Sardinian Kingdom, with the so-called neutrality merely condoning the Austrian Empire’s ambitions.

Nevertheless, even though Count Cavour knew the French Empire favored the Austrian Empire, he still wanted to attempt to bring France back.

No one was more aware than Count Cavour that in all of Europe, only the French Empire could aid the Sardinian Kingdom.

The essence of the Kingdom of Britain was merely a group of merchants. As long as the Austrian Empire didn’t threaten their lifeline, those people wouldn’t risk their lives for the Sardinian Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, I can understand your country’s stance in this conflict!" Count Cavour tried his best to speak to Jerome Bonaparte in a calm tone.

"Count Cavour, as long as you understand!" Jerome Bonaparte responded with a smile to Count Cavour, and then casually spoke another line, "If the Sardinian Kingdom wasn’t facing the Austrian Empire, but rather another nation, then the French Empire would certainly not stand by idly.

However, the Austrian Empire... hmm! You should be well aware of the costs of conflict between two major countries. Currently, the domestic plans for a comprehensive war are not ready... Our domestic bankers have invested a significant sum in the Austrian Empire..."

"Your Majesty, I understand!" Count Cavour responded again to Jerome Bonaparte with consideration, "The Sardinian Kingdom will not make things difficult for the French Empire!"

"But rest assured!" Jerome Bonaparte went on to assure Count Cavour, "If the Austrian Empire initiates a war with the mindset of completely annexing the Sardinian Kingdom, then we will undoubtedly choose to restrain them!"

Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s response, Count Cavour’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "I fear the Austrian Empire might force Sardinia to cede territory after the war is over!!"

"Count Cavour!" Jerome Bonaparte hesitated for a moment, shrugging as he responded to Count Cavour, "It will depend on the size of the territory ceded by your country and the compensation plan from the Austrian Empire!

If these are all within a reasonable range, then we would have no reason to restrain them."

Count Cavour’s initial glimmer of hope was once again dashed; Jerome Bonaparte’s notion of restraint would only take effect after the Austrian Empire completely eliminated the Sardinian Kingdom.

Moreover, the extent of restraint was uncertain; it might just be a couple of verbal condemnations, as happened in 1849.

Essentially, as long as the Austrian Empire doesn’t completely border the French Empire, then France wouldn’t care about Sardinian Kingdom’s demise.

Count Cavour pondered this.

At this moment, Count Cavour was unaware that Jerome Bonaparte had already communicated in advance with the Austrian Empire, and the only demand Austria could make of the Sardinian Kingdom was war reparations; any territorial cession would be restrained by France.

After all, Jerome Bonaparte merely wished to weaken the Sardinian Kingdom to be slightly above other principalities and did not intend to completely eliminate it.

This confidant information was only disclosed to Augusta, Richard Metternich, and key personnel of the Austrian Empire.

Even his own Ministry of Foreign Affairs hadn’t been fully informed, so Count Cavour naturally had no knowledge.

Precisely because Count Cavour was unaware of Jerome Bonaparte’s true intentions, he firmly believed that Jerome Bonaparte was intent on selling out the Sardinian Kingdom to maintain favorable relations with the Austrian Empire.

To secure the future of the Sardinian Kingdom, Victor Emmanuel II gritted his teeth and spoke submissively to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, the Sardinian Kingdom understands the difficulty faced by the French Empire in making a decision regarding this issue!

However, we still earnestly request that the French Empire consider the Sardinian Kingdom’s past joint battles with the French Empire and extend a helping hand to us!

If the Sardinian Kingdom can evade disaster this time, we are willing to do our utmost to help the French Empire restore its "natural borders!"

After Cavour finished saying this, he felt as if something had been drained from his heart, leaving it particularly hollow.

He knew once Emperor Jerome Bonaparte agreed to this condition, Cavour’s name would definitely be pinned on the pillar of shame in Italy.

Sitting opposite him, Emperor Jerome Bonaparte also showed an expression of incredulity, thinking: God! What did Cavour just say? If I help them this time, they’ll help us restore the "natural borders," am I hallucinating?

Seeing that Emperor Jerome Bonaparte was silent for quite a while, Cavour’s heart grew heavier, and he began to doubt whether his conditions could attract Emperor Jerome Bonaparte.

It’s important to know that the conditions Cavour just proposed were originally intended to attract the French Empire into the Apennine Peninsula to battle the Austrian Empire.

Now, instead, they are used to plead with Emperor Jerome Bonaparte to rescue Sardinia.

After some time passed, Emperor Jerome Bonaparte instinctively swallowed, saying, "Count Cavour, could you repeat what you just said!"

Upon hearing Emperor Jerome Bonaparte’s response, the seeds of hope reignited in the despairing heart of Cavour, now it seems Emperor Jerome Bonaparte still cannot forget the "natural borders" Richelieu proposed for France.

"Your Majesty! If the French Empire is willing to help the Sardinian Kingdom, then the Sardinian Kingdom will also provide conveniences to the French Empire regarding the natural borders issue!" This time, Cavour chose not to directly promise Emperor Jerome Bonaparte but opted to hint to him.

He hoped to use this hinting method to drive the French Empire to charge for the Sardinian Kingdom and then, after the war ends, utilize flexible diplomacy to retain Savoy.

After all, verbal agreements hold no legal significance.

However, Cavour’s little schemes were completely ineffective in front of Emperor Jerome Bonaparte, who was all too familiar with Cavour’s tricks from this historical period.

Isn’t it trying to use hints to freeload from the French Empire and then turn against the agreement?

Both Cavour and Bismarck have used this method in "history," both managing to manipulate Jerome Bonaparte’s cousin Louis Bonaparte.

Of course, the final result was that Cavour still lost; he lost because of his own strength.

"Count Cavour!" Emperor Jerome Bonaparte asked Cavour with a smile, "What does the convenience you speak of entail? Are you planning to gift Savoy and Nice to France?"

Emperor Jerome Bonaparte’s straightforward remarks caused Cavour’s expression to freeze, and he had no choice but to nod and reply, "Your Majesty, as long as the people of Savoy and Nice consent to join France!

The Sardinian Kingdom has no reason to obstruct these regions’ people’s yearning for a better life!"

"I do think the Austrian Empire is indeed somewhat aggressive on this issue!" Emperor Jerome Bonaparte quickly shifted his attitude towards the Sardinian Kingdom.

Even though the Austrian Empire’s penalties directed at the Sardinian Kingdom and France’s lack of interference was part of the initial agreement.

If it’s possible to seize Savoy and Nice without harming the existing political power balance in the Italian region, then why not?

Of course, doing so might make the Austrian Empire unhappy, and also alert the Kingdom of Britain.

"Your Majesty, you are correct!" Cavour realized the Emperor’s scales were beginning to tilt towards the Sardinian Kingdom, "The Austrian Empire bullying the Sardinian Kingdom has already tarnished the image of a great nation.

Every country should say no to such behavior!"

"Well then!" Emperor Jerome Bonaparte feigned contemplation for a moment and then responded to Cavour, "We’ll return to Paris immediately and inquire with Richard Metternich personally."

"Your Majesty, your assistance to the Sardinian Kingdom! We will never forget it!" Cavour replied to Emperor Jerome Bonaparte with overwhelming joy.

Just when Cavour believed Emperor Jerome Bonaparte would, for the sake of Savoy and Nice, embark on a path of war with the Austrian Empire, Emperor Jerome Bonaparte’s next sentence made Cavour’s heart uneasy once again.

"However, I am not all-powerful! If the Austrian Empire insists on launching an attack on the Sardinian Kingdom, then I am equally powerless!

Of course, I can assure you that the French Empire will do its utmost to ensure the Savoy Royal Family’s governance over Sardinia!" Emperor Jerome Bonaparte shrugged and responded to Cavour.