While the Italian government was eagerly discussing how to complete its great unification project, Pius IX in Rome was not feeling joyful at all.

Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire promised to protect the security of the Papal States and provide defense, the problem is, where are your Austrian soldiers? You can't just shout across the Adriatic Sea towards Italy!

The Adriatic Sea may not be wide, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire's navy is not weak either, but the Austro-Hungarian navy cannot land and engage in a battle of attrition with the Italian army.

Since the Battle of Lissa, the Italian Kingdom's navy had become a laughing stock, and its budget was drastically reduced. Historically, until 1877, did the Italian Kingdom reinvest in developing its navy, so this period marks one of the weakest moments for the Italian navy.

The Papal States are conveniently surrounded by the territory of the Italian Kingdom. Theoretically, the Papal States could send their only troops eastward. As long as they regain the original eastern coastal area of the Papal States, provide a landing spot for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and then they can expect the "Royal Army" to arrive joyfully.

But thinking about the strength of the Papal States' army, Pius IX believed this to be a fanciful plan.

After the last war, the eastern territory of the Papal States was annexed by the Italian Kingdom, accounting for two-thirds of the Papal States' area.

Not to mention confronting the entire Italian Kingdom, the Italian Kingdom could just unite the annexed forces from the east and beat the Papal States into complete defeat.

The main army of the Papal States, also known as the Zouave Corps, is mostly composed of young unmarried Catholics, commanded in French by a Swiss colonel. In 1868, the Zouave Corps comprised 4,592 people, over 1,900 of whom were Dutch, over 1,300 French, while others came from neighboring countries (including Austrians) and even Catholic communities from South America and North America. Strangely, at one point, there was even a Qing Country person who joined.

Such an army is even more complex in its internal circumstances than the Austro-Hungarian Empire's army, imagining the complexities of command operations is enough.

In addition, there is a Paladin Guard established by Pope Pius IX for patrolling the city of Rome. They are merely volunteers, without military pay, and only receive an allowance for the maintenance of uniforms and ceremonial equipment, and the numbers are extremely limited.

Before this, there were French troops jointly defending the Papal States. France had deployed about 4,000 troops in the Papal States, which constituted the main military force maintaining the Papal States' existence.

After the French troops withdrew, it triggered a chain reaction. Some of the Papal States' own soldiers resigned as well. The French left, they couldn't possibly face the Italian Kingdom's army on their own, after all, their origins are quite mixed, having their own homelands, there isn't a necessity to accompany the Papal States to the grave. Previously, they were just helping out alongside the French Army.

The more Pius IX thought about it, the more anxious he became, and so he hurriedly asked someone to invite the Austro-Hungarian Empire's special envoy, Freud.

...

Soon, Freud at the embassy was brought before Pius IX by a bishop.

"Your Excellency Freud! After yesterday's statement, I have felt uneasy, something doesn't seem right. Your country verbally guarantees the independence of the Papal States, but you aren't merely offering verbal support, right? To know the Italian Kingdom sharpens its knives, the military strength of the Papal States cannot withstand the Italian Kingdom alone."

Freud gave a knowing smile, long expecting Pius IX to query about this issue, yesterday when he faced Pius IX, the nearly desperate Pius IX clutched at him like a last straw.

He had just proposed some demands and Pius IX immediately agreed, but now Pius IX has come around to realize there's no army, what does Austria have to support the Papal States.

"Your Excellency Pope, you actually needn't worry about this," Freud said unhurriedly.

"I...it's not that I worry too much, but Rome is a holy place for all believers, your country's people are also children of God, the Italian Kingdom's ambition is known to all, I am exerting all my efforts for all those who aspire towards God."

As Pope, although the Papal States have declined now, theoretically, he is still the most noble figure in Europe in worldly status (if only Russia's Great Shepherd didn't exist), so naturally, he shouldn't appear submissive to other countries. In other words, if the Pope requests Austro-Hungarian intervention, that's not called a request, it's the duty of a Catholic country like Austro-Hungary, he ought to stand firm receiving what is rightfully his.

"Your Excellency Pope, actually, you want to discuss the army, right? Regarding this, what I can say is that the Italian Kingdom's conspiracy will not succeed, we Austro-Hungary have already prepared plans long ago, for what happens next, you only need to act in accordance with our Austro-Hungarian arrangements," Freud said.

"Plans..." Pius IX grasped onto the keyword, but these plans merely indicated that the Italian Kingdom's conspiracy won't succeed, the Italian Kingdom's conspiracy referred to annexing the Papal States, but how to operate wasn't clear.

"Your Excellency Freud, how does Austro-Hungary plan to solve the Italian Kingdom's conspiracy? If it's merely threatening Italy from Venice and Lombardy, that won't suffice, even if you have some achievements there, the Papal States might already cease to exist."

Pius IX immediately thought of Venice and Lombardy because Austro-Hungarian interference with Italy could only come from the east, Austro-Hungary, if victorious, could perhaps compel Italy to return the Papal States, achieving the goal that Italy cannot annex the Papal States.

But in between this, the Papal States would have effectively perished once, his own safety couldn't be guaranteed, his status along with influence in Italy and Europe, the Italian Kingdom had two ways to handle it, one was confinement which was a slightly better outcome, another was total extermination, after all, countries now hold little fear towards religion, any event could occur in warfare, afterward, the Italian Kingdom would find a scapegoat to quell international opinion, anyway dead men cannot speak up, the dead here referred to himself, Pius IX did not wish to gamble on what choice the Italian Kingdom might make.

"How could it be so! Your Majesty, for we Austro-Hungary sought you immediately after the French withdrawal to discuss the security of the Papal States, you should already know, we Austro-Hungary had foreseen the trends of the Franco-Prussian War, it naturally shows if we contact you at first instance, there is our own way to maintain Papal States' existence, I guarantee you, the Italian Kingdom cannot attack Rome, not even once."

Hearing Freud say this, Pius IX thought it truly did seem so, how did Austro-Hungary receive news that the French would leave, meaning every stir in Rome is constantly under Austro-Hungarian surveillance.

Plus Freud dared to say so, he definitely had his confidence, what could it be? Pius IX began to ponder.

Suddenly, Pius IX had an epiphany, since Austro-Hungary is so concerned about the Papal States and places spies here, then Italian Kingdom should also have Austro-Hungary spies within.

Italy hadn't been unified for long, before, there was the Kingdom of Two Sicilies and the Kingdom of Naples among others, would Austro-Hungary plan to incite those who opposed being annexed by Italy to rise and restore their countries as Austro-Hungary declares war on Italy, thus disintegrating the Italian Kingdom.

The more Pius IX thought, the likelier it seemed, Austro-Hungary had cultivated allies in Italy over many years, though Sardinia withdrew Austro-Hungary allies from the forefront, their amassed power over years should not be underestimated.

Believing he understood Austro-Hungary's intention, Pius IX finally felt assured, this plan was lethal in its execution, the Italian Kingdom truly had no effective countermeasure unless through military suppression, yet Italy must first conquer Austro-Hungarian forces, there wouldn't be sufficient troops to contend with all opposing forces against unification, under-manned Italian Kingdom, Papal States' army could handle it to some extent, temporarily safe.

Actually, Pius IX was overthinking it, if Austro-Hungary had that ability to incite Italians those people, Italy would hardly unify, and Pius IX's imagined Austro-Hungary spies were factually just Ernst, this disruptor.

This time Austro-Hungary's interference with the Italian Kingdom bore no sophisticated tactics, purely resolving through brute force.