novelraw Chapter 78: Meeting Garibaldi
Chapter 78: Meeting Garibaldi
Chapter 78: Meeting Garibaldi
Empire Rise: Spain
While Carlo and Emanuele II were enjoying royal leisure life, the Spanish officials who had come to Italy truly began their busy work at this moment.
Diplomatic visits were not for sightseeing, but for practically dealing with the problems currently faced by the Spanish Government.
What is the biggest problem currently faced by the Spanish Government? First, there is no money, and second, there is not enough foreign capital intervention.
The country’s various developments are not that simple; it’s not like throwing money at them can achieve effective growth.
For example, in the industrial aspect, industrial growth requires all kinds of factories to spring up everywhere in Spain, which is fundamentally impossible to achieve solely with domestic capital in Spain.
Although there is substantial royal family investment in steel and other industries, it still ultimately requires civilian capital in Spain, as well as some help from foreign capital, to achieve comprehensive growth and expansion.
Therefore, besides negotiating a low-interest loan with the Italian Government, Prime Minister Primó also issued another order to the diplomatic visit delegation: to attract Italian capital to Spain for investment as much as possible, including bidding for the construction of Spanish railways and so on.
Both kings very tacitly chose not to pay attention to the negotiations between the two governments, letting the government officials handle the consultations themselves.
After all, the royal family’s interests do not represent the country’s interests. Although the two royal families are one family, this does not mean that Spain and Italy are one family.
Although World War I was called a war among family members of the European royal family, it was actually conflicts erupted between countries due to differing interests.
The royal family had little right to speak and no qualification to call a halt to this war. Whether it was Carlo or Emanuele II who intervened in the negotiations between the two governments, it would cause unnecessary trouble; it was better to sit and wait for the two governments to negotiate a result themselves.
Anyway, as long as it did not affect the interests of the two royal families, it did not matter which country’s side the negotiated result favored.
Carlo spent a few relatively relaxed and pleasant days with Emanuele II, then decided to meet the famous Italian figure Garibaldi under Giuseppe’s lead.
Carlo personally admired Garibaldi very much. If Garibaldi had any selfish motives, Emanuele II becoming King of Italy would not have been so easy.
As one of the meritorious officials of the Unification of Italy, Garibaldi still needed relief from the Italian Government for his later years, which already proved Garibaldi’s impartiality and selflessness.
Of course, the situation in this world had long been different.
Because Garibaldi had already serialized his articles in the Sun Newspaper founded by Carlo, the royalties he earned were enough for his family’s living expenses.
In the stories he wrote himself, Garibaldi did not mention any words supporting republicanism or opposing monarchy, which also made Emanuele II, as King of Italy, very reassured and relaxed the restrictions on Garibaldi.
However, due to his age, Garibaldi still chose to live in seclusion on Caprera Island, enjoying his leisurely later years.
Besides wanting to see this renowned Italian figure with his own eyes, Carlo’s purpose in going to Caprera Island to meet Garibaldi was also to poach a few more talents from Garibaldi’s side.
Garibaldi had three children in total, two of whom were sons. Besides his second son Giuseppe, Garibaldi’s eldest son Menotti was also a capable assistant to Garibaldi during his military days.
Regarding talent, Carlo’s consistent attitude had always been that there was never too much.
Including the talents from the Red Army previously commanded by Garibaldi, if he could pull a group to go to Spain to serve him, it would of course be the best thing.
Harboring his own purpose, under Giuseppe’s lead and under the protection of a guard regiment, Carlo bid farewell to his father Emanuele II and headed to Caprera Island.
“Giuseppe, how long has it been since you came back?” Carlo looked at the island whose outline had already appeared before him and asked Giuseppe beside him.
“About two and a half years, Your Majesty.” Giuseppe thought carefully for a moment and surprisingly found that he could not even remember when he last came back.
“I permit you to stay a few more days on Caprera Island to properly accompany Mr. Garibaldi.” Carlo was somewhat emotional; after returning to Spain this time, he might not come to Italy again for the next few years.
“No need, Your Majesty.” Giuseppe shook his head and said: “My duty is to protect Your Majesty; Your Majesty’s safety is the most important.
Moreover, Father probably won’t keep me either. If you leave me alone on Caprera Island, I reckon I’d have to sleep on the beach.”
Garibaldi’s eldest son’s destiny was quite bumpy, and his two sons had followed him through many experiences since childhood.
Including the previous Thousand-Man Expedition and the Unification of Italy movement, Giuseppe had been Garibaldi’s capable assistant and had matured far too much.
Moreover, Giuseppe also knew his duties as regimental commander of the royal guard regiment; if he really stayed alone on Caprera Island, the first to be unhappy would probably be Garibaldi himself.
In Garibaldi’s very simple residence, Carlo finally met this world-renowned Italian figure.
Under Carlo’s special instructions, this visit to Garibaldi was not notified in advance.
This also allowed Carlo to see Garibaldi wearing a simple long robe, leaning on a cane with his right hand, looking like an ordinary old Italian farmer.
Beside Garibaldi was his wife, or rather Giuseppe’s mother. Because the two had not yet held a marriage ceremony, they were just living together as a couple.
“Father.” Giuseppe spoke first.
Carlo’s identity was noble, so it was certainly impossible for Carlo to greet first. Giuseppe could only softly remind his father, interrupting Garibaldi’s thoughts.
Hearing someone call him from behind, Garibaldi turned his head and immediately saw Carlo and Giuseppe beside him.
“Giuseppe? This is? Your Majesty Carlo?” Garibaldi was stunned for a moment, then immediately came to his senses, propped himself on his cane and stepped forward, his expression somewhat excited and also somewhat surprised: “Your Majesty Carlo, when did you arrive?”
“Mr. Garibaldi, meeting you is my honor.” Carlo smiled, stepped forward and shook Garibaldi’s hand, greeting him.
“Little Carlo, oh no, Your Majesty Carlo, meeting you is my honor.” Garibaldi was somewhat surprised; this young king who had grown up actually remained as courteous as when he was a child.
“Have you seen me before?” Carlo was not angry at the other party’s unintentional childhood nickname for him; instead, he was somewhat curious if he had met Garibaldi before.
“Yes, Your Majesty. When I met His Majesty Emanuele, Your Majesty was equally approachable at that time.” Garibaldi said somewhat emotionally.