Investigation

To be fair, looking back at the history of Italian unification, aside from the unexpected factor of Garibaldi, the rest can be collectively described as pure luck, with no real strength involved.

The Austro-Prussian War allowed Italy to easily acquire the Venetian region and southern South Tyrol. This Franco-Prussian War, triggered by the Spanish throne vacancy, also presented Italians with an opportunity to reclaim Rome.

Currently, the Catholic Church, the so-called Papal States, occupies Rome. Supporting the Papal States is the dominant European power, France, which is why Italy, despite being unified, has been unable to reclaim the crucial region of Rome.

However, after the war broke out, the French troops stationed in Rome began to gradually withdraw.

Italy is waiting for the opportune moment when all French troops have withdrawn. The Papal States' army will be unable to halt Italy's unification, and Rome will soon become the official capital of the Kingdom of Italy.

Just as Vittorio Emanuele II anxiously awaited the complete withdrawal of French troops from Rome, the Spanish government also sent a request for a diplomatic visit to the Italian government.

Spain's delegation this time was exceptionally grand, led by Prime Minister Primo, accompanied by several government ministers and high-ranking generals from the Spanish military.

Considering the recent events surrounding the Spanish election, Vittorio Emanuele II seemed to have a slight understanding of the purpose of this Spanish diplomatic visit.

However, there was one thing Vittorio Emanuele II didn't quite understand: when the Spanish government investigated candidates from other countries, they did so discreetly.

Why, then, was it a diplomatic delegation visiting Italy? And the leader of the delegation was Spain's new Prime Minister, Primo, a man who held sway in both military and political affairs, arguably the most powerful person in Spain today.

Although he didn't fully grasp Primo's intentions, Spain was, after all, a major power along the Mediterranean coast, and Italy naturally would not refuse the Spanish government's initiative to visit.

Carlo, who was closely following news from Spain, naturally learned of the Spanish government's request for a diplomatic visit to Italy.

For this unprecedented event in history, Carlo couldn't help but have several speculations.

If Amadeo were the only candidate for the Spanish throne, they likely wouldn't have come to Italy.

After all, three of the four historical contenders had already withdrawn. If there were no other contenders, Amadeo should have already won.

Combining this with the Spanish government's diplomatic visit request, Carlo could basically conclude that he himself must be on the list of candidates for the Spanish throne, and had reached the finals to compete with his brother Amadeo.

This also meant that the choice for the Spanish throne would be decided during Primo's diplomatic visit. If Carlo wanted to become the King of Spain, he would have to seize every opportunity during this diplomatic visit and showcase his strengths to Primo.

The good news was that Amadeo became King of Spain in history not because he was particularly outstanding.

In fact, compared to the other three candidates, Amadeo was only barely qualified. It was precisely because the Regent of Portugal, Fernando, voluntarily withdrew and the French strongly opposed Prince Leopold becoming King of Spain that Amadeo reaped the benefits and ultimately won.

However, compared to Carlo, Amadeo did have advantages. Firstly, he was six years older, and at 25, he appeared more mature and steady, which was quite important for Spain.

But Carlo was not without his advantages either. Regarding Spain's two current power holders, Carlo was definitely more familiar with them than Amadeo.

Compared to Primo's pursuit of Spain, Amadeo's six-year age advantage was not much.

Moreover, for Primo, who held great power in both military and political affairs, he might not necessarily want a more mature and steady king competing for power.

Being younger, while representing immaturity and lack of steadiness, also represented being easier to control than an older person.

At least for Primo, who was currently focused on promoting reform in Spain, Amadeo might not have the advantage.

After silently calculating his and his brother Amadeo's respective advantages, Carlo began to strategize how to showcase his strengths during this diplomatic visit and get Primo to choose him.

The first thing to do was to recognize his own position.

In reality, whether Amadeo or Carlo became King of Spain, they would not be able to wield much real power in the early stages.

It would be good if they had the support of Primo and Serrano, as both held significant military and political power, which would be a considerable help to the king.

Without their support, the King of Spain would be a complete figurehead, with no reliable subordinates.

Under these circumstances, Carlo's initial plan after becoming King of Spain was never to seize power, but to help Primo and Serrano carry out reforms in Spain while stabilizing his own throne.

Although Spain was currently a second-rate European power, the gap between it and great powers like Britain, France, Prussia, Russia, and Austria had already widened significantly.

Even Italy, which had only recently unified, surpassed Spain in overall strength. If Spain did not reform and continued to stagnate, it could even become a third-rate European power.

Primo and Serrano both possessed immense prestige, and having them initiate reforms in Spain would be smoother than Carlo pushing for them himself, and the Spanish people would be more receptive.

More importantly, both Primo and Serrano were willing to see a monarch who supported reform appear in Spain.

Especially Primo, as the most powerful person in Spain, was a thorough reformer.

Although Primo was assassinated historically before Amadeo arrived in Spain, during his brief tenure as Prime Minister of Spain, he promoted the promulgation of several laws and was a representative figure of the Spanish reformists.

If Carlo could demonstrate his support for reform during Primo's visit to Italy, he would surely gain Primo's favor.

As long as either Primo or Serrano supported him, Carlo didn't believe he would lose to his brother Amadeo in this competition for the throne.

After all, Amadeo had not shown any particular talent during his three years as King of Spain, nor did he possess great ambition or aspirations.

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