Perhaps due to the unique "telepathy" between politicians, as soon as Prime Minister Palmerston and Cavour met, they had already determined that each other was the same type of politician.
In order to prevent Prime Minister Palmerston from noticing his true intentions, Cavour decided to adopt the tactic of "squeezing out toothpaste".
In other words, as long as Palmerston didn't take the initiative to ask about the topic, Cavour would never say anything more.
Palmerston, who was standing opposite Cavour, also showed an indifferent attitude. He just nodded slightly and said to Cavour in an indifferent tone, "Mr. Cavour, it is a pleasure to meet you.
!”
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I am also deeply honored for this meeting!" Cavour deliberately pretended to be very excited, stretched out his hand and said to Palmerston.
After a pause for two seconds, Palmerston also stretched out his hand and held it tightly with Cavour.
When Palmerston and Cavour's hands parted, it meant that the conversation was officially on track.
"Dear Lord Palmerston, I think you should hear from His Majesty the Prince about the great events we are about to undertake!"
Cavour did not directly tell Palmerston the content of the conversation between Prince Albert and him that day. Instead, he asked Palmerston in a pretentious tone, and his purpose was naturally to use this method.
Test whether the royal family and the cabinet have reached an agreement on the issue of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
If both parties reach an agreement, Prince Albert will certainly explain the full content of the conversation to the cabinet.
On the contrary, if the royal family and the cabinet do not reach an agreement, then Prince Albert will inevitably delete the content of the conversation to a certain extent (such as protecting Sardinia from harm), so as to achieve the purpose of safeguarding the royal family.
After all, the British royal family must hide behind the cabinet and parliament to exercise its power. Rushing to the forefront will only cause a backlash from all forces in Britain.
However, since Prince Albert invited him to meet with Palmerston, it is enough to prove that there is a high probability of reaching an agreement between the royal family and the cabinet.
"I did hear something about the Kingdom of Sardinia from His Majesty Prince Albert!" Palmerston also responded to Cavour with vague words.
"Then the British cabinet has already discussed how to deal with the Kingdom of Sardinia!" Cavour said to Prime Minister Palmerston with a smile.
"Of course!" Prime Minister Palmerston nodded, and then said a plan that shocked Cavour. He sighed and said to Cavour, "Mr. Cavour, I regret to tell you!
After several days of heated discussions between Minister Russell and I, we finally reached an agreement that the Italian peninsula should maintain its current balance!
Recklessly destroying the balance of the Italian peninsula may cause the situation to get out of hand!"
After hearing Palmerston's answer, Cavour's originally fiery heart suddenly became cold because of Palmerston's words, and his whole person seemed to be in sub-zero weather.
If this wasn't Windsor Castle, Cavour would have screamed loudly.
After so many days of hard work, I wanted to wipe it all out just because of one word from Palmerston.
At this moment, Cavour couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sadness in his heart. He didn't understand why Palmerston made such a choice.
Obviously Palmerston was not a peace-loving politician, and it would be more in the interests of the Kingdom of Britain to instigate the Kingdom of Sardinia to break away from the control of the French Empire.
Although Cavour was in a terrible mood now, he still had to suppress the disappointment in his heart and ask Palmerston the reason.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, I really can't imagine that as one of the great leaders of the British Kingdom, you should be aware of the current situation in the Mediterranean!
I didn't expect that your vision would be so narrow-minded!" Cavour said excitedly to Prime Minister Palmerston, deliberately using provocation.
Prime Minister Palmerston was very happy when he heard Cavour comment that he was "the greatest helmsman", but when he heard the second half of Cavour's words, he felt an inexplicable feeling in his heart.
Uncomfortable feeling.
Although Palmerston also understood the clumsy provocation method used by Cavour, he still felt offended.
So Palmerston responded to Cavour in a condescending tone, "Mr. Cavour, you mean to say that I am not worthy of being Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Britain!"
"Your Excellency Palmerston, I think that a politician who ignores the harm to the interests of the British Kingdom is indeed unqualified to be the leader of the British Kingdom!" Cavour said tit for tat without flinching.
Cavour knew that the more you retreated from a confrontation with a guy like Palmerston, the less Palmerston would look down on you.
In the final analysis, Palmerston is not a leader dominated by his own temper. He is essentially a profit-seeking politician.
Seeing that Palmerston did not respond to Cavour, Cavour then "angrily scolded" Palmerston, "I really can't imagine a great man who led the independence of the Kingdom of Belgium and at the same time repelled the Russian Empire's attempt to encroach on the Balkans."
A politician has turned into an appeaser in just a few years to maintain stability!"
For Palmerston, leading the independence of the Kingdom of Belgium from the Netherlands and the split of the Russian Empire were indeed the two most glorious political achievements of Palmerston's ruling career.
Although the two "political achievements" seem to be somewhat of a failure today, the former (Belgium) is almost close to France, and the latter (Russian Empire) is unable to effectively contain France due to the civil war after the division.
empire.
But for the time, these two victories could be said to have elevated Palmerston to the position of Britain's greatest statesman after Wellington.
Even after excluding his military achievements, the Duke of Wellington's political achievements were far inferior to those of Palmerston.
Of course, at that time, Palmerston was obsessed with killing Russia, but he forgot that his ally, the French Empire, was also an ambitious country.
When the Russian Empire completely fell into civil war and the surrounding countries all wanted a piece of Russia's land, Palmerston realized that the Russian Empire had been severely weakened by him.
When Palmerston wanted to remedy the situation, those countries that had already benefited from the Russian Empire naturally vowed to defend their own interests from harm.
At the same time, public opinion in Britain has not reversed because he promoted the Russian threat theory day and night, and it was difficult for Palmerston to directly deny his handling of the Russian Empire.
However, in terms of results, Palmerston undoubtedly achieved his strategic goals.
Therefore, when Cavour praised Palmerston's two political achievements, Palmerston felt joy again in his heart.
"Mr. Cavour, the cabinet believes that the help given by the Kingdom of Britain to the Kingdom of Sardinia is equivalent to the contribution of the Kingdom of Sardinia to the Kingdom of Britain. Obviously, it does not want to wait!
Although I also hope in my heart that Italy can break away from the Austrian Empire, I cannot persuade my colleagues to agree to support Sardinia!" Palmerston replied to Cavour.
“The Kingdom of Sardinia only needs a security guarantee from the Kingdom of Britain, just like the guarantee that the Kingdom of Britain provided to the Kingdom of Belgium!
At the same time, I guarantee that the Kingdom of Sardinia will never take the initiative to provoke the Austrian Empire!" Cavour once again reiterated the request that Prince Albert made at that time.
"Then I would like to ask Mr. Cavour, how can you break the situation on the Italian Peninsula without using Sardinian force!" Palmerston asked Cavour.
Cavour pondered for a moment and decided to reveal some plans to Palmerston.
If the plan is not disclosed to the Kingdom of Britain, Palmerston may refuse to support it.
"I have contacted Mazzini and Garibaldi. One of them will go to Sicily to overthrow the rule of the Kingdom of Naples, and the other will go to Lombardy and Venice to launch an uprising to delay the mobilization of the Austrian Empire!
At the same time, Kossuth in Hungary also promised me that he will help us at a certain time!" Cavour told Palmerston all the results of the recent period.
After hearing this, Palmerston's eyes showed a bit of fear.
Unexpectedly, Cavour was so well prepared.
"Mr. Cavour, you are truly a born conspirator!" Palmerston said with great enthusiasm.
“Everything is for the unification of Italy!” Cavour sighed, “I only hope that Britain can give Sardinia a negligible amount of assistance when Sardinia is in its most difficult time!
If we can succeed this time, then we will never forget your country’s help!”
"If the Austrian Empire insists on attacking your country, then the British Kingdom may not be able to do anything!" Palmerston said to Cavour tactfully.
He did not want to see a conflict between the Kingdom of Britain and the Austrian Empire.
For the support of the Kingdom of Sardinia, verbal support is enough, and military support is something that is unthinkable.
Unless a great power is willing to take the risk with the British Kingdom.
"If the Austrian Empire really insists on invading regardless of the opposition of other countries, then the Kingdom of Sardinia is willing to fight to the last soldier!" Cavour said firmly to Palmerston, "I only hope that in our
When fighting the Austrian invaders, the British Kingdom should not forget that there was once a group of Italians who fought hard for the country in their hearts!!"
"I will!" Palmerston responded solemnly.
Afterwards, Cavour and Palmerston shook hands again and left.
After a while, Prince Albert appeared in the room where Palmerston and Cavour were staying.
"What do you think of our Mr. Cavour's plan?"
"If Cavour had not sought assistance from other forces, then I think he would have had a big fall this time!" Palmerston said firmly, "However, it will not do us any harm to give them appropriate support.
?”
"Tell me, will the French Empire assist them?" Prince Albert asked again.
"I don't think so!" Palmerston said after pondering for a moment, "The purpose of the French Empire is the same as that of the Austrian Empire. There is no need for them to support the unification of the Kingdom of Sardinia!"