Seeing Victor Emmanuel II, who was so shocked that he couldn’t speak for a long time, Cavour again opened his mouth and asked Cavour in a slightly serious tone.

"Prime Minister Cavour, what do you think we should do now?"

Hearing Victor Emmanuel II’s inquiry, Cavour, who came back to his senses, furrowed his brows and responded to Victor Emmanuel II determinedly, "Your Majesty, we absolutely cannot restrict the liberal system and the press within Sardinia!

If we do so, the kingdom’s alliance with the liberals will cease to exist, and the unification of the Apennine Peninsula by the Sardinian Kingdom will become exceedingly difficult!"

To Cavour, Sardinia could only unite Italy by aligning with the liberals and nationalists within Italy, making them recognize the laws promulgated by Sardinia.

Otherwise, even if the Sardinian Kingdom conquered Lombardy and Venice, it would meet the same fate as the Austrian Empire.

Not to mention that Sardinia is not the only country capable of unifying the Apennines.

The Sardinian Kingdom’s strength compared to other kingdoms and duchies lies in its agreement with the Italian liberals, who, rather than being obstacles like in other countries, could become an aid to the Sardinian Kingdom.

After abandoning this significant advantage, there would be no substantial difference between the Sardinian Kingdom and the Kingdom of Naples or the Pope State.

"But!" Victor Emmanuel II responded worriedly to Cavour, "If we refuse the French Empire’s Foreign Ministry, won’t they take action against us?"

Victor Emmanuel II worried that the French Empire might sever ties with the Sardinian Kingdom, leaving only the option to cling tightly to Jerome Bonaparte for Sardinia to unify Italy.

If Jerome Bonaparte is angered, the unification of Italy will become indefinitely delayed.

"Your Majesty, I know!" Cavour responded dejectedly, then revealed a determined look, "However, even so, we cannot give up limiting the liberals and nationalists domestically."

Although Cavour repeatedly emphasized not abandoning the liberals, Victor Emmanuel II did not share this view.

Compared to an alliance with the liberals, Victor Emmanuel II clearly focused more on holding on to France.

"Prime Minister Cavour, I’m asking you what we should do now!" Victor Emmanuel II questioned Cavour with a hint of anger, "not hearing you repeatedly say we can’t abandon the alliance with those damn regicides!

I know the liberal alliance is important, but so is the French Empire.

If we lose the protection of the French Empire, the Austrian Empire might attack us without any scruples.

By then, what shall we do? Who can we rely on?"

Victor Emmanuel II stated a harsh reality to Cavour, which is that the Sardinian Kingdom’s alliances with the liberal alliance and the French Empire have now become conflicting choices!

In such a situation, Cavour’s choice will be detrimental no matter what’s made.

"Your Majesty, I think we must make Emperor Jerome Bonaparte realize that allying with us to jointly resist the Austrian Empire maximizes the interests of the French Empire!" Cavour solemnly replied to Victor Emmanuel II, choosing a third path between suppressing the liberals and antagonizing the French Empire, "Only then will he abandon the suppression of liberalism, while also not alienating France over this issue!!"

"What are you going to do?" Victor Emmanuel II then asked, before thinking of something, widened his eyes, and responded to Cavour, "You’re not thinking of meeting the French Empire’s previous demands, are you!"

"Your Majesty, I fear this is the only way to satisfy the French Empire." Cavour sighed, then straightened his chest, saying to Victor Emmanuel II.

"Is it ceding Savoy, Nice, or is it ceding Sardinia, or choosing a Bonaparte member for my daughter’s marriage!" Victor Emmanuel II said to Cavour with a slightly despondent tone.

"Your Majesty, Emperor Jerome Bonaparte already has a wife, and his son is only about 4 years old at the moment!

Not yet of marriageable age!" Cavour reminded Victor Emmanuel II.

"So, it must be the path of ceding territory!" Victor Emmanuel II felt an inexplicable sadness in his heart.

Unexpectedly, he would one day come to the point of selling land for honor.

"Your Majesty, I also do not wish to hand over the land of the Sardinian Kingdom to the French!

For now, we can only choose this method!" After revealing a bitter smile, Cavour said to Victor Emmanuel II. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Do you realize that by doing this, you may be assassinated by some extreme nationalists, and your life will be in danger!" Victor Emmanuel solemnly said to Cavour.

"Your Majesty, I know!" Cavour said calmly to Victor Emmanuel II, "I was prepared for death even before becoming Prime Minister!"

"Which territory are you planning to cede?" Victor Emmanuel II asked Cavour.

"Your Majesty, I intend to cede all three pieces of land to France!" Cavour replied to Victor Emmanuel II.

"What!" Victor Emmanuel II raised his voice, then pointed at Cavour with a slightly trembling hand, "You intend to hand over Savoy, Nice, and Sardinia to France all at once!"

"Your Majesty, not all at once!" Cavour calmly responded, "We can first hand over one of these three territories to France, and the remaining two after France helps us defeat the Austrian Empire!

If the exchange of three territories could win us the entire Apennine Peninsula, I don’t think anyone would be willing to refuse!"

"This..." After pondering for a moment, Victor Emmanuel II turned to Cavour and asked, "How can you guarantee that Jerome Bonaparte, after receiving the land, will indeed assist Sardinia?"

"I cannot guarantee it!" Cavour spread his hands and candidly replied to Victor Emmanuel II, "If France is unwilling to oppose the Austrian Empire, then the land we hand over to France will be lost forever!

However, I will try my utmost to have Emperor Jerome Bonaparte enter into an agreement with us!

To ensure that the French Empire will not go back on its word."

"Will Jerome Bonaparte choose to sign an agreement with us?" Victor Emmanuel II inquired of Cavour once again.

"This, I also cannot guarantee!" Cavour shook his head once more in response to Victor Emmanuel II.

At this moment, Victor Emmanuel II’s emotions finally erupted, and he pointed at Cavour, rebuking him, "Prime Minister Cavour, you couldn’t guarantee anything just now. How can I believe that you can ensure the French Empire will assist Sardinia in unifying Italy!"

"Your Majesty, we both understand well! Whether Sardinia can unify depends not on our military or domestic politics.

The crucial point is whether a country is willing to support our unification!" Cavour earnestly spoke to Victor Emmanuel II, "Across Europe, the only powers capable of helping us fend off the Austrian Empire’s attack and expelling the Austrian Empire from Lombardy and Venice are Britain and France, and the Kingdom of Britain is a maritime power, inherently distanced from the European Continent!

Therefore, the only one we can rely on is the French Empire!"

The vacillating mediation of Britain during 1848—1849 left a deep impression on Cavour.

It also confirmed to Cavour that Britain could only add the final touch, not send aid in times of need.

Though Cavour discussed many matters with the Kingdom of Britain, he never hoped that the Kingdom of Britain would assist them in unification.

The only one who can help them is the French Empire.

"Cavour, act as you see fit!" Victor Emmanuel II responded with a complex expression to Cavour.

"Your Majesty!" A smile appeared on the corner of Cavour’s mouth, and he hurriedly implored Victor Emmanuel II to allow him to personally go to Paris to meet Jerome Bonaparte.

Because Cavour believed that it would only be effective for him to discuss this matter directly with Jerome Bonaparte, so he had to go to Paris.

Victor Emmanuel II sighed and said to Cavour, "Alright! Cavour! Do you need anything else?"

Cavour informed Victor Emmanuel II that he hoped Victor Emmanuel II could provide him with some of the collections from the Turin Royal Palace, preferably those that were more high-grade.

Cavour needed those collections to bribe those who could influence the Emperor’s will.

A hint of reluctance flashed in Victor Emmanuel II’s eyes, for the collections of the Turin Royal Palace were already very scarce.

If this continued, the Turin Royal Palace might become utterly destitute.

"Alright! Just as you said!"

Despite the myriad of reluctances in Victor Emmanuel II’s heart, he still chose to send someone to lead Cavour into the collections room.

In Victor Emmanuel II’s collection room, Cavour indeed found some finely crafted collections.

Under the witness of the attendant, Cavour accepted the collections one by one.

After Cavour departed, Victor Emmanuel II asked the attendant for the number and kinds of collections Cavour had taken from the collection room.

The attendant truthfully reported the kinds and numbers to Victor Emmanuel II.

"Damn Cavour! Damn Frenchman!" Victor Emmanuel II muttered a complaint.