She changed Europe

Page 90

"Whether you are 'wise' or not is never up to you to decide. It's about your people's approval of you. As for other things, you're just making trouble for yourself." VV casually lifted his black cloak, bit his black glove with his mouth, and then exposed his right hand under the glove to Garibaldi.

“This is…” Garibaldi stared in astonishment at the petite woman’s right hand, on the back of which was a noticeable scar.

“You’re not the only one who was as naive as you used to be. This is the result of what happened to me after I talked to certain people in an attempt to save my ‘family.’” VV said calmly, without a trace of complaint about the horrific wound, but rather with a sense of感慨 and 让付 (gǎnkǎi - a feeling of relief and acceptance).

“You don’t seem sad?” Garibaldi didn’t understand why she could still laugh.

“Isn’t it a worthwhile trade to buy a lifelong lesson with a permanent wound?” VV said, putting her gloves back on.

"You're crazy!"

"No! It's not that I'm crazy, it's that this era is crazy! So I hope you abandon your morality and saintly mentality of salvation, and that if you want to do what you want, you have to use any means necessary."

"Of course I will always be watching you, whether you become a great man who unifies Italy or eventually become..." The silver-haired woman didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning she wanted to express had clearly reached Garibaldi's heart.

At this moment, a silver-haired youth walked quickly to Garibaldi's side: "Lord Garibaldi, the king has fled, and our army has taken control of the entire city."

"Excellent! Next stop, Rome."

Perspective Shift

Ah, Rome! Her glory once brought light to the West, an eternal kingdom that dispelled darkness, but her glory will not last forever like a maiden's. When Theodosius the Great shared her with his sons like a toy, people foresaw the end of her days and nights, and now everyone utters the words, "The end of Rome has come."

In the fifth century AD, a nomadic people from the East shattered everything in old Europe with their bows and iron cavalry. From Germania to West Asia, the Germanic and Slavic peoples, two groups that had been on the periphery of history, moved to the center of the European historical stage.

Romans, Visigoths, Greeks, Lombards, Franks, Germans… none could resist the allure of the Eternal City. They successively controlled her, then possessed her, and ultimately lost her. For millennia, this most dazzling jewel in the crown of European empires, like a cold and alluring noblewoman, has attracted countless heroes, adventurers, and monarchs, extending "invitations" to her, only to cruelly abandon them time and again.

Because Rome belongs only to God, only to the Almighty Lord and His servants who are His representatives on earth, this axiom has lasted for nearly a thousand years and has been the consensus of all European countries since Pepin's Donation.

Today, Rome once again welcomes a new group of guests, including soldiers in white uniforms with black caps, and people in green and gray uniforms...

PS1: Ra!

Chapter 335 The Fall of St. Stephen's Crown and Rudolf's Arrival in Rome (Seeking Votes)

"The Grand Duke of Parma, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Grand Duke of Modena, the heir to the Habsburg throne... Since the Napoleonic Wars, we have never seen a German emperor so united with the princes of Northern Italy, setting aside all grudges and working together. This is the Crusade of the new era!" A woman dressed in a black nun's habit stood atop the church spire, looking down at the army stretching from the old city gates of the old town all the way to the Arc de Triomphe and the location of Trajan's monument.

"This is all thanks to your active mediation, sir, and your guidance is the greatest honor for us servants." A young nun offered her praise to the woman in the black nun's habit with a respectful expression. Looking at the exceptionally dashing man, her cheeks even flushed slightly.

"Lia, your little mouth is still as sweet as honey. If only killing that heretical princess could be as easy as assembling an army today." Suppressing the Italian Revolution was an urgent matter, but for her at this moment, it was only a small part of her established plan.

"By the way! My lord, that man has killed all our spies who were monitoring the Thirteen Courts, and led his Thirteen Courts out of our control." The nun reported softly to the blonde woman, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry.

The Thirteen Courts, which had once followed the Jesuits blindly, were secretly colluding with the puppet Holy See. They not only assisted the Pope in his escape but also secretly funded the rebels, attempting to completely eradicate them from the power circle of the Roman Catholic Church. Such betrayal would infuriate anyone. Thinking of these things, the angry nun wanted to kill the rebellious bishop with her own hands.

"Don't worry, Lia. We Jesuits still control the Vatican, and our people are all over Europe. That man's scheme is nothing but a waste of his time. And now that nearly 100,000 allied troops are gathered in Rome, what kind of trouble can that woman named Garibaldi stir up?"

If the previous 50,000-strong army of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was annihilated in Sicily due to the rulers' own command problems and the army's lack of combat experience, then this army was completely different. The 30,000 troops of the Empire and the 20,000 troops of the Duchy of Tuscany were elite soldiers who had just fought against the French army in northern Italy. In terms of equipment and tactical skills, they were incomparable to the poorly equipped and poorly trained Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

In contrast, the only truly capable force in the so-called Republican Guard was the 20,000 soldiers that Garibaldi had brought with him during this period. Given such a huge numerical disparity, any normal person could clearly judge the outcome of the battle.

"By the way, Lia, let's take a good look at our chosen Prince Rudolf. Following the path we've paved for him, how bright his future will be?" The woman lightly snapped her fingers, signaling the girl to pull herself out of her thoughts and focus her gaze on the very front of the army.

Crown Prince Rudolf, dressed in military attire, wore a red cloak, a crown woven from laurel branches, and a set of antique armor custom-made by magical artisans. He then walked through the main road of Rome like a monarch from the Roman era.

Wherever he and his mount went, flowers filled the air and crowds cheered enthusiastically. This extraordinary procession, resembling a triumphal procession, had been banned by the previous papacy for a thousand years because it would remind people of the "Dark Ages" dominated by pagans, but now it had been revived by the Jesuit-led papacy. Although the Pope was not in Rome, this did not hinder the operation of the various institutions of the papacy, because these institutions were designed from the beginning to function even in the Pope's absence.

Rudolf raised his right hand and waved to the excited crowd. For the young man, this was a completely new experience. The feeling of being surrounded and loved by the people, and the supreme glory of being a king, began to sprout in his heart for the first time. After all, as a boy of only thirteen, he still had his own youthful spirit.

On either side of him were two blonde beauties following closely. The lady on the right, riding a white horse, had long blonde hair and a pair of light blue eyes. Her eyes shone with elegance and maturity, which complemented her fair and smooth skin. Her beautiful features attracted the attention of many men.

On the left is a blonde girl with a ponytail. Unlike the girl on the right, her outfit looks more energetic and spirited. Of course, her features are strikingly similar to the former. Both of them are undeniably beautiful.

These two ladies were no ordinary people either. They were two Imperial Magicians sent by Emperor Joseph to protect Rudolf. They were the twin daughters of Grand Duke Karl Ludwig, the brother of Emperor Joseph and Emperor Maximilian of Mexico: Lana Ludwig Joseph Maria (the older sister with long hair) and Liana Ludwig Joseph Maria (the younger sister with a ponytail).

The two are slightly older than Gisela and Rudolph but younger than Princess Sophie, so they can be considered Rudolph and Gisela's cousins. As rare twin magic users, their existence further confirms the excellence of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty's bloodline.

As a female member of the Habsburg family, she also had beautiful golden hair and sapphire-like eyes. However, as an orthopedic enthusiast, Rudolf still couldn't get interested in his two older sisters because they were inferior to his second sister in both beauty and personality. However, for the sake of his own life, there were some things he dared not say directly.

"Your Highness, after the army passes through Rome today, it will encamp south of the city. We will rest in the villas originally belonging to the Medici family, provided by the Papacy. Two days later, we will head south to intercept and annihilate the rebels attacking Rome." As a staunch supporter of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and King Luigi, Imperial Marshal Güle naturally would not acknowledge the existence of the Italian Republic, instead referring to them collectively as rebels, and even calling them rioters when he was in a bad mood.

"No problem, Grandpa Julai. I will follow your instructions regarding all military matters." This was Rudolf's first time leading an army into battle, so he had never forgotten his second sister's teachings: "A good monarch on the battlefield only needs to learn to lead from the front, while a truly great emperor always decides the outcome from behind the scenes." Unfortunately, Rudolf only understood the concept of being behind the scenes, but he still did not understand the way a great emperor uses people.

Güle's old age and mediocrity will eventually bring unimaginable bitter consequences to the Austrians, but at this point, nothing has even begun.

PS1: Tomorrow's Friday again, yay!

Chapter 336 The Fall of St. Stephen's Crown: Capter 52 Political Wisdom (Vote Requested)

While the old minister and the crown prince were interacting, the two sisters, Lana and Liana, who were traveling together, were also having their own private discussion.

"Sis! Is this expedition really going to be a success?" The speaker was Liana, the younger sister with the golden ponytail.

"Liana, Father and Uncle have instructed us to protect Prince Rudolf. As for the outcome, that will be decided by our Grandpa Julai. All we need to do is learn to obey," the long-haired girl murmured softly, looking at her younger sister with a doting expression.

“Ugh, I don’t like this kind of childcare task.” Liana pouted with some dissatisfaction. Previously, the two sisters had lived in Salzburg and, like their father, rarely participated in politics. Although they were magic users of the Austrian Empire, they were still on the fringes of imperial power and did not want to get involved and cause trouble for themselves.

Previously, during the Italian Wars, they had only been stationed domestically to defend against attacks from other foreign enemies and had not been sent to the battlefield. The fact that they were called upon to protect Rudolf this time is enough to show the good intentions of Joseph or the Empress Dowager's faction.

But these things were too far removed from the two sisters' lives, and they were not interested in the power struggles and intrigues at the Viennese court.

"By the way! Sister! I heard that our brilliant cousin is doing quite well in Hungary. Her name is Gisela Louise Marie, right?" Compared to the Crown Prince in front of her, Liana was clearly more interested in her cousin, whom she had never actually met.

“Sending her to Budapest to argue with those Magyars every day is such a waste of time. We could have had a much easier time if we had just left Italy to Gisela. I really don’t know what His Majesty and the others were thinking.” Lana sighed helplessly and gripped her reins with her right hand, heading forward.

“I think little Gisela needs to know about the situation here,” Lana suggested to her younger sister, seemingly remembering something.

The two sisters were not fools. They disliked politics but were not completely ignorant of it. Naturally, they needed to make more plans for being forced to take sides and be used as pawns. Revealing this to Gisela would allow them to gain a relatively neutral position in the future struggle for the throne.

“Then let’s send her a letter, in the most traditional way.” Liana smiled at her sister and then whistled. Soon, a hawk landed on her gauntlet.

“Alexander, take this to Budapest. Remember to find a girl with fox ears. And of course, don't attack her with your beak or claws; she's not your prey!” Liana emphasized as she wrapped a piece of paper and placed it in the box on the leg of the eagle named Alexander.

"Go, Alexander! Soar through the skies and bring us friendship!" The girl tossed the eagle into the sky, and it quickly flew into the distance.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Anzio, a small city with a population of less than 20,000, located about 60 kilometers south of Rome, was not expected to become the focus of attention for the entire European continent. Before that, it had no history of Rome, no prosperity of Milan, and no beauty of Naples; it was as quiet and ordinary as the thousands of settlements on the Apennine Peninsula.

Everything finally changed when the two armies arrived.

July 22, 1871, was the birth day of an important Catholic saint. Instead of laying down arms and going to church for worship, the imperial-led coalition forces clashed with the Italian Republican Guard led by Garibaldi on this barren land.

Then, as if they had planned it all along, both sides deployed their respective formations.

First, the allied forces in the north, under the command of Marshal Güle, assembled their troops and deployed a large number of magical armored vehicles at the forefront. Next came the main force of the Austrian Empire, while the relatively weaker Italian princes' armies were deployed to the rear flanks. The objective was to protect the artillery and provide cover for the artillery deployed on the flanks to create crossfire against the central area, with the main focus being to further strengthen the central army's breakthrough capability.

By strengthening the central route and delivering a heavy blow to completely crush the opponent, Marshal Güle, as a representative of the old Austrian nobility, naturally held his opponent, who was of humble birth, in contempt. Therefore, his tactics did not seek flexibility, but instead launched a frontal attack on Garibaldi's army in the most traditional way.

This was because it was the only way to fight that best suited his chivalrous spirit, and he also firmly believed that the Empire's army, in terms of both equipment and training, was more than capable of easily crushing its opponents.

In contrast, Garibaldi's Republican Guard did not adopt its usual offensive posture. Instead, it deployed its elite troops and magical armor on the flanks, while the central army was filled with weaker militia. To cover up the militia's lack of equipment and training, she concentrated all her artillery in the center.

A defensive posture had been established, but unfortunately, the wider battle lines brought about by advancements in military technology meant that scouts on both sides were unable to fully grasp the opponent's tactical intentions and relay them to their respective military commanders. Thus, the battle between the two armies began with these probing attacks.

Five hundred soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Brigade, 23rd Division of the Imperial Wehrmacht, under the command of their commander, took their positions in the attack zone, armed with modified Škoda 1869 rifles, ready to launch the first attack on the enemy. It is worth noting that their rifles were specially modified for the troops by the Škoda factory based on data from previous campaigns in northern Italy. This weapon added a convenient iron sight and replaced their paper-packed ammunition with more convenient and stable brass cartridges.

These improvements in detail may not be huge, but they represent Gisela's hard work, as she, as the princess of the empire, still does not want her country's army to be defeated.

At this time, they were at the forefront of the attacking force.

Hans and Peter, who were like father and son, happened to be among the more than 500 soldiers of the Third Battalion. They had been promoted to sergeants for their outstanding contributions in the battles of Aubila, Magenta, and Milan. Compared to ordinary soldiers, their uniforms not only had a rank insignia, but they had also been personally awarded medals by Princess Gisela and issued pistols.

Although the noble princess did not know them, young Peter had taken a liking to the beautiful girl from the first time he saw her. Of course, he knew that the noble princess was from a different world than him, but turning this slight admiration into loyalty to that person was perhaps the greatest hope in the hearts of soldiers like them who were fighting against France and the Kingdom of Sardinia in northern Italy alongside Prince Gisela.

PS1: ra! Yue—Yi Yilin Qi Ba Shi Qi Si Lu

Chapter 337 The Fall of Saint Stephen's Crown: Capter 53 The Final Battle Against Anzio (ra!)

"Uncle Hans, what do you think our chances of surviving this first wave of attack are?" The young man named Peter looked nervously at the enemy in the distance, took a deep breath, and said to the middle-aged man walking in front of him.

"Peter, never think about whether you'll survive on the battlefield, because when you're clinging to life, merciless bullets and death will come after you," Hanstan said calmly, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"But I really don't want to die..." The young man felt incredibly regretful at the thought of never seeing that beautiful lady again after he died.

"Want one, kid?" Recently, due to his promotion, Hans's daily cigarette ration had increased from half a pack to two packs. Marshal Julai also provided an extra pack for the troops on their first offensive. Now, the old chain smoker suddenly had three packs in his hand. That's a quantity comparable to some officers.

"No, Uncle Hans, you know I don't smoke." Peter waved his hand and returned the cigarette the man offered.

"Hans, I know you're rolling in money. Since that brat doesn't appreciate it, just give him the cigarette!" A tall, thin man next to Hans reached out to take the cigarette from Hans's hand, but Hans slapped it away.

"Tsk, don't be so stingy, I was just joking," the tall, thin man said with a grin.

"Hmph! Howard, you have two packs too." This tall, thin man joined the army in the same batch as Hans. Apart from those who were discharged or killed in battle, only the two of them remained from their cohort. In terms of their relationship, they were like brothers, since they were both willing to entrust their backs to each other on the battlefield.

"Sigh!" Peter looked at his two seniors, who both seemed quite indifferent, with some distress. He couldn't understand why they could still joke around so freely when they were about to launch an attack.

"Attention!" The officer's new command rang out, and all the soldiers picked up their weapons and stared ahead.

"Prepare!" Peter gripped his weapon tightly, chanting the name of the noble lady over and over again, praying for her protection and victory over the enemy.

"Attack!" A powerful voice echoed across the Imperial army's airspace, followed by hundreds of soldiers charging fearlessly towards the enemy. The vast plains offered little in the way of fortifications; aside from the slightly undulating terrain, there was virtually no cover. Thus, the Austrian soldiers in their white uniforms appeared like a cluster of white spots, slowly growing larger in the face of the Italian army.

Fortunately, the soldiers of the Third Battalion were not alone; a company of magical armor followed closely behind them.

Peter ran as fast as he could, because he knew that only by running fast could he keep up with the bullets and shells, and only then would he have a better chance of surviving.

At that moment, the Italians' large-caliber artillery fired shells at them. The first shell exploded a hundred meters behind them. This was clearly a lucky crossfire; none of their troops were injured. But their luck soon ran out. Shells rained down on them with a piercing whistle as they tore through the air.

Explosions, dismembered limbs, blood, and screams filled the plain in an instant, but Peter knew he couldn't turn back yet. He took a deep breath and followed the group, lowering his body to reduce his exposure to the enemy and to allow him to lie down and hide at any time.

800 meters, 600 meters, 400 meters, 200 meters… The veteran soldiers of the Third Battalion withstood the casualties and quickly rushed to a position less than 100 meters from the enemy's center. At this moment, gunfire erupted from the enemy opposite them.

The "cracking" of bullets seemed terrifying, but the accuracy of the enemy's guns and the sound of their gunfire were very uneven, as if they were untrained amateurs firing randomly.

No one can be careless when facing the enemy on the battlefield. Even if you know that the enemy is a rabble, the bullets fired by their weapons can still kill you.

Seemingly realizing the skill level of his opponent, Peter straightened up, aimed his gun at the enemy, locked onto his target with the sights, and gently pulled the trigger. With a burst of muzzle flash, a bullet carrying Peter's killing intent flew towards the Italian soldier not far away, easily piercing his chest and entering his lung.

He took two small steps forward, ejected the spent cartridge, took a new cartridge from his waist, loaded it into the chamber, and then pulled the bolt down hard. He then raised the chamber again and aimed the gun at the next enemy.

"Bang bang bang!" New shots rang out from the Italians. Hans, carrying Peter who was aiming, fell to the side of the grass, while several of their comrades behind them were hit by bullets and fell into pools of blood.

"Kid, are you crazy?! Standing still and shooting at others, do you really think you can avoid being shot just because you're a good shot?!" Hans glared angrily at Peter beside him and shouted in a reproachful tone.

"To survive, you have to kill more enemies." Peter feared death, yet he was more obsessed with killing enemies than others. His mind had already become somewhat morbid and twisted because of the battlefield. However, in such a chaotic and turbulent era filled with war, no one could criticize his ideas.

"Once our magic-armored troops advance, I estimate that there will be at least several thousand enemy soldiers in front of us." In fact, it wasn't just the Third Battalion that was attacking. Julai had committed three brigades to this several-kilometer-long front. Although it was called a probing attack, it was in fact a powerful assault by elite troops.

The Italian infantry line facing them was weak and ineffective, and the deployment of the Allied magical armor severely shook their morale. Fortunately, the large number of artillery pieces left by Garibaldi in the center could make up for the lack of infantry to some extent, while Garibaldi continued to try to find the initiative in the war while on the defensive.

At the same time that the two armies were testing each other, an unexpected event led the war to another irreversible point.

PS1: Anzio's Anchovy is very cute, don't bully her.

PS2: The Italians' sense of independence and spirit of sacrifice in the book deserve to be praised. It's a pity that they are in a position of opposition to the protagonist, so the ending may have been predetermined. However, I think that even so, Garibaldi still has many admirable qualities that are worth learning from.

PS1: It's the weekend!

Chapter 338 The Fall of Saint Stephen's Crown: Capter 54 The Death of the King (Seeking Votes)

At this time in the Italian military camp

A handsome young man with silver hair walked steadily into a group of soldiers who were preparing their weapons in the camp.

"Who's in charge here?" the man asked arrogantly, his voice icy.

Because the man in front of them was dressed in the clothes of an ordinary soldier, and as rank-and-file soldiers like themselves, they had no reason to pay attention to this self-important guy.

"A thousand Venetian gold coins can buy a person's head." Venetian gold coins are the most classic currency in medieval Europe. Because these coins were minted during the time when the name of the "Queen of the Adriatic" resounded throughout the Mediterranean, their very existence symbolized wealth, and the gold content of their coins was far higher than the average level of other European countries at the time.

The man threw a bag of money into the arms of the soldier closest to him in front of everyone.

After weighing the bag in his hand, the soldier opened it, and the gleaming gold coins inside instantly drew the attention of him and his companion.

"This is a deposit of one hundred gold coins. Considering the price of antiques and the value of gold coins themselves, one hundred coins are quite valuable, aren't they?" the man said calmly.

A soldier took the gold coins from the money bag, examined them for a long time, and then gently bit them with his teeth to confirm their authenticity.

"The objective is simple: you must kill someone now, and then display his head in front of the entire army. How you do it is up to you."

"Kill whom?" a soldier asked with a serious expression.

“Your former king, Francesco II.” The man’s goal was clear.

Although the Italian Republican Guard was nominally under Garibaldi's complete command, its composition was actually extremely complex, including many opportunistic schemers and good-for-nothing hooligans who were nothing more than hot-blooded zealots. At this time, with the nation newly established and facing external enemies, it was impossible to expect the new republican government to strengthen personnel management and military discipline.

Faced with the radical revolutionary masses, the rational Garibaldi had kept the captured former King Francesco II of Sicily under house arrest, with him traveling with the troops. After all, if he were left directly in Palermo and handed over to the angry citizens, his fate could only be that of another Charles I or Louis XVI. These were things she did not want to see, because ensuring the king's existence was her channel for negotiations with the various European monarchies.

Normally, no one would dare to commit regicide, but times have changed. Every Italian yearns for the Republic and is able to receive money to do many things they want to do but dare not. This is a great thing for them. As for being punished for it, it can only be said that their anger towards the king is much greater.

So while Garibaldi was busy directing the battle, the soldiers, having received their bribes, ganged up and killed the guards outside Francesco II's tent, then stormed in. They roughly dragged the poor king out of the tent, tied him to a stake, and gagged him with a cloth.

These men then laughed loudly as they took turns stabbing the king with bayonets. At first, the king struggled desperately, begging for mercy and hoping his conscience would change and spare him. However, he quickly realized this was impossible. As crimson blood flowed from the bloody holes created by the bayonets, the king, clad in blood-stained robes, met a humiliating and tragic end.

His head was then cut off by these men, and then hung on a wooden stake with a rope, where it was displayed high in front of the entire army.

This barbaric and horrific act, which was only known in the Middle Ages, was once again displayed before people. However, this time, when people looked at the head of this despicable king, they felt no fear but excitement, and even cheers.