Make France Great Again-Chapter 123: Annihilating Garibaldi

"Bishop Antonelli!"

General Renio’s gaze fixed intently on Antonelli, his deep blue eyes like gemstones seemed capable of discerning all the filth and corruption deep within Antonelli’s heart. The aura he exuded was like that of a ferocious beast, causing this sycophant by the Pope’s side to retreat several steps in fear.

Normally living in comfort in Rome and receiving the respect of monarchs during visits, Antonelli had never seen such a display, and with a trembling voice, he said to General Renio, "Gen... General, am I not correct in what I said?"

General Renio continued to stare intently at Antonelli and slowly spoke, "Mr. Antonelli, don’t you think a simple word of thanks is far too cheap?"

"I..." Antonelli opened his mouth but couldn’t speak, understanding the underlying message in General Renio’s words.

What a greedy fellow!

Antonelli was somewhat annoyed, realizing that they truly needed French soldiers right now to restore Rome, and their only hope lay with the French Republic.

[PS: During the four-nation talks involving France, Spain, Naples, and Austria regarding the Papal States issue, the Austrian diplomat, following the orders of the newly appointed Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister, Prince Schwarzenberg, refused to offer assistance to the Papal States and assigned the task of restoring the Pope to France in order to hold them back. Spain and Naples, due to their own insufficient power, could only sway along with the Austrian Empire’s political line. Pope Pius IX could only rely on the French Republic.]

"A cheap thank you is certainly not enough to express His Holiness’s gratitude towards President Napoleon!" Antonelli put on a flattering smile, slightly bowing his body: "His Holiness told me that once he returns to Rome, he will continue to spread God’s gospel in Rome!"

Then, he cautiously added, "Personally, I believe President Monsieur should not be content with merely being President. I am convinced that with God’s blessing, President Monsieur will ascend even higher..."

With the promise obtained from Pope Pius IX, General Renio let a smile slip across his tense expression, his previously unsettling gaze transforming into one reminiscent of a gentle elderly man.

Antonelli breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that General Renio was fundamentally agreeable to the proposed "reward" scheme.

In this setting, Antonelli mustered up the courage to say, "His Majesty earnestly hopes that the House of Bonaparte can return to their original position, and we faithfully wish for Bonaparte to safeguard France for generations to come!"

The House of Bonaparte, once having deep-seated enmity with the Papal States, had astonishingly become the "Alliance Army" of the Papal States today.

This undoubtedly indicated that the Papal States could cooperate with any country as long as their power in the Central Italy region was not threatened.

Compared to the diplomatically flexible Papal States, the Austrian Empire, with its conservatism-based diplomacy, resembled a "religious" country imbued with dense religious atmosphere. Its ruler, Joseph Franz, was a more conservative figure than Pope Pius IX.

At least Pope Pius IX was compelled by the necessity to uphold his power, whereas Joseph Franz was consistently conservative in nature.

"I believe President Monsieur will certainly be pleased!" General Renio nodded with satisfaction and added, "When the President is pleased, we are all pleased!"

"Yes! Yes!" Antonelli nodded and bowed to General Renio.

At that moment, Edgar Ney rushed in, serving as General Renio’s adjutant, and reported, "Commander, we’ve received news that Garibaldi and his group will attempt a breakout towards St. John’s Gate by this evening!"

Before General Renio could respond, Bishop Antonelli standing next to him blurted out, "We absolutely cannot let them succeed in breaking out!"

Having some understanding of the Roman Republic’s situation, Bishop Antonelli was well aware of Garibaldi’s "remarkable achievements."

If such a person were to escape, the Papal States would find themselves in endless turmoil.

In all honesty, Antonelli hoped to establish a force exclusively loyal to the Pope, with the French Army merely assisting the Papal States in restoration.

Antonelli’s words caught the attention of both General Renio and Edgar Ney.

After nearly a month of coordination, Edgar Ney and General Renio had reached a "skill" where a mere glance could convey their intentions. General Renio gestured with his eyes for Edgar Ney to leave.

Edgar Ney saluted General Renio and left without paying any attention to Antonelli.

"Honorable Commander!" Antonelli looked at General Renio anxiously, his words becoming increasingly respectful.

"Rest assured, Bishop Antonelli, my soldiers and I will ensure Garibaldi stays here!"

With that, General Renio stomped his heel twice to emphasize, "Here (referring to the inner city of Rome) will be his final resting place!"

"But what if..." Antonelli spoke reluctantly.

"Worry not, Your Excellency the Bishop, I will personally oversee this battle!" General Renio assured Antonelli once more, "Why not join me on the battlefield to witness with your own eyes how the French soldiers will slay Garibaldi!"

Antonelli was somewhat tempted.

However, General Renio’s ensuing words dissuaded Antonelli from the idea: "The only concern is that bullets do not recognize faces on the battlefield, and should you, Your Excellency, unfortunately perish..."

General Renio shook his head and sighed, as if Antonelli’s fate was already destined to die on the battlefield.

The courage Antonelli mustered instantly shrank away.

Right now, Rome is full of rebels who hate the loyal dogs of Bonaparte and hate even more those dogs like Antonelli who follow the Pope.

The notorious Antonelli dared not place his own safety in the hope of the French Army.

"I’ll pass!" Antonelli squeezed out a smile on his face and said modestly, "I will wait for the news of the general’s victory in Civitavecchia!"

With that, Antonelli turned and left.

Watching Antonelli leave, General Renio’s face showed a disdainful expression.

After saying goodbye to Antonelli, General Renio spurred his horse to the battlefield and met Edgar Ney at the French front line.

By this time, it was already 6:00 PM, and the setting sun was freely spreading its every ray of light, just like the Roman Republic which was about to come to an end.

The French Army, clearing the outer ring of Rome’s inner city, was gradually moving towards Eastern Rome, attempting to swallow all of Garibaldi’s forces in Rome.

"Commander!" Edgar Ney, who was ordering the soldiers to charge with his command saber, looked at General Renio on horseback and hurriedly ran to him and said anxiously, "Commander, the situation is urgent, Garibaldi’s sharpshooters are secretly sniping at us, you should dismount!"

"Major Edgar!" Mounted on his horse, General Renio seemed not to hear Edgar Ney’s dissuasion. In his view, if he dismounted, it would mean that he feared Garibaldi’s sharpshooter troops, which would invisibly give a blow to the French Army: "Call Brigadier General Nie’er over!"

"Yes!" Seeing that General Renio was adamant about not dismounting, Edgar Ney had no choice but to order several cavalrymen to surround General Renio to protect him while he acted as a messenger to summon Brigadier General Nie’er near Quilina Palace.

"Binoculars!" General Renio, on horseback, stretched out his hand to the cavalrymen beside him.

The cavalryman handed his binoculars to General Renio, who, holding them, saw the gathered troops around several abandoned villas in the distance.

This nearly thousand-man troop charged forth under the heavy artillery fire towards their abandoned position, trying to reclaim what they had lost.

The French commander guarding the position was equally fearless of death, and both sides fought in the ruins that had already been destroyed.

"Not bad!" General Renio nodded in satisfaction, as the French soldiers were proving with their actions that they were always a brave and battle-hardened unit.

Not long after, Brigadier General Nie’er and Edgar Ney came to General Renio, each saluting him.

"Brigadier General Nie’er, quickly retract your troops and compress the encirclement to the vicinity of Lalange Church to St. John’s Gate!" General Renio ordered Brigadier General Nie’er.

Brigadier General Nie’er showed a surprised expression, unable to understand why General Renio was indulging Garibaldi’s wish when he had heard from Edgar Ney that Garibaldi was about to break out from St. John’s Gate.

However, as a subordinate of General Renio, he only needed to obey orders.

As Brigadier General Nie’er left, the French Army at the distant villas, having received reinforcements, also achieved victory.

General Renio looked at Edgar Ney and asked, "Major Edgar, where did you get the intelligence that Garibaldi would break out from St. John’s Gate?"

"This..." Edgar Ney hesitated for a moment and then said to General Renio, "General, come with me!"

General Renio, mounted on his horse, and Edgar Ney arrived at a palace that hadn’t yet been reduced to ruins, where they met a young monk.

Edgar Ney introduced this overly young monk to General Renio.

General Renio hastily and respectfully addressed the monk as "Your Highness."

This was Lucien Louis Napoleon, the nephew of Jerome Bonaparte.

"General, this is what I learned from my father! I hope it will be of help to you!" Lucien Louis Napoleon said to General Renio.

"Is Prince Cono in the house?" General Renio inquired cautiously.

"My father has lost interest in politics, so..." Lucien Louis Napoleon showed an apologetic expression.

"Then we won’t disturb Prince Cono!"

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