Garibaldi's greatness was beyond question.
The famous literary giant from France, Victor Hugo, had once said, "I do not wish to wound anyone with my words, but I must speak the truth. Of all the generals who fought for France, Garibaldi alone was invincible in every battle."
After the Franco-Prussian War, Prussian General Voelker had also admitted, "If all of France's armies had been commanded by Garibaldi, then the captured military flags of the 1870 war would likely have numbered far more than one."
Yet such a general, one who drew involuntary admiration and praise even from his enemies, had for various reasons failed to enter the upper ranks of the Italian government and instead lived in seclusion on the small island of Caprera.
The good news was that Garibaldi's immense prestige among the people of Italy, along with his contributions to Italian Unification, allowed him to live leisurely in Italy without having to fear arrest by the government.
Naturally, Carlo wished to meet a figure revered by countless people.
A presumptuous visit would only annoy him, and Carlo was still young, so there was no need to rush.
But that did not mean Carlo had no way to contact Garibaldi now.
In truth, Garibaldi's retired life had been quite colorful. He had even published a novel titled "The Thousand," telling the story of how he had led merely a thousand soldiers to breach the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Thanks to Garibaldi's reputation, the book's first printing alone had earned him as much as 21,000 lira in royalties—roughly 840 pounds sterling.
Since Garibaldi had such an interest, Carlo naturally did not mind inviting him to serialize some stories in the 24 Hours Sun Newspaper of Italy.
If they were accounts of Garibaldi's battles during his military years, most people in Italy would surely enjoy them.
Carlo's 24 Hours Sun Newspaper of Italy could also expand rapidly by drawing on Garibaldi's prestige, while Carlo himself could use the opportunity to become acquainted with Garibaldi.
Still, all of that depended on whether Garibaldi himself was willing. If Garibaldi did not wish to publish articles in the Italy Sun, Carlo would have no way to force the matter.
In Italy, Garibaldi's prestige even surpassed that of the royal family. The people of Italy would not tolerate any slander against him.
In 1879, a journalist named Giovanni wrote two stories launching personal attacks on Garibaldi. Not long afterward, the journalist was assassinated.
Had Garibaldi not personally organized a fundraiser and donated relief money to Giovanni's widow, Giovanni's family would likely have continued living under the condemnation of the people of Italy.
This also proved Garibaldi's greatness from another angle. To Italy and the people of Italy, Garibaldi had no flaws whatsoever.
To leave a good impression on Garibaldi, Carlo revised the letter he intended to send him several times and even asked Loren to check whether there was anything improper in it.
Several days later, on a small island called Caprera off the northeastern coast of Sardinia, Garibaldi's peaceful life was disrupted.
After Garibaldi declared that he would receive no visitors, the island had seemed to become his own domain, with outsiders rarely coming and going.
Moreover, many soldiers were stationed on the island specifically to "protect" Garibaldi, further shutting out all outside visitors.
At that moment, Garibaldi, who ought to have been living a leisurely life of fishing, instead frowned deeply as he stared at a letter bearing the royal crest on the table.
"What happened, Father?" Garibaldi's second son, Giotto, looked at his frowning father and asked in surprise.
Ever since they had retired to Caprera Island, this was the first time Giotto had seen his father frown—and it was over a letter.
Had he not trusted his father Garibaldi's character, Giotto might even have wondered whether one of his father's mistresses had come knocking, belly swollen, demanding property.
"It's nothing, Giotto. Just a letter—a letter from the royal family." Garibaldi looked at the letter on the table, pondering as he answered his son's question almost absentmindedly.
"A letter from the royal family?" Giotto's surprise intensified, and he could not help blurting out, "The royal family wrote to you? Did something happen again?"
"It has not come to that, Giotto." Garibaldi smiled and shook his head. With a self-mocking laugh, he said, "Even if something had happened, they would never come looking for me—unless Vittorio's crown was once again in danger of falling from his head."
"Then what is it?" The curiosity in Giotto's eyes had yet to fade as his gaze shifted to the envelope on the table.
"It is a letter from Prince Carlo." Garibaldi still wore a faint smile as he said, "Come to think of it, I met that little fellow before. Has his health improved?"
"So it's him!" Giotto nodded, somewhat delighted. "Of all those people in the royal family, Prince Carlo is the only one I like. It's a pity His Highness is not the Kingdom's heir."
"You may say such things here with me, but once you leave, you had better keep your mouth shut." Garibaldi glanced at his overjoyed son and warned him, "
If you do not wish to spend your entire life in seclusion with me on Caprera, you had best show those people in the royal family a little more respect."
"I understand, Father. Did Prince Carlo write because he needs something?" Giotto remained full of curiosity about Carlo's letter and asked one question after another.
Garibaldi nodded and said with a laugh that was neither tears nor laughter, "This should be the first time someone from the royal family has praised me to such an extent!
Little Carlo hopes that I can publish articles in his Sun Newspaper, preferably stories about the Redshirts."
Giotto's jubilant words had drawn Garibaldi and Carlo closer together, and Garibaldi's form of address for Carlo changed from "His Highness" to "little Carlo."
At that moment, Carlo still did not know that the Garibaldi he had been thinking of day and night had actually met the original owner of this body long ago, and that Garibaldi had a very good impression of Carlo.
But it made sense when he thought about it. Carlo's original self had been sickly since childhood; his father had been occupied with state affairs, his mother had died early, and his personality had naturally become timid, submissive, and kind to others.
Having seen so much aristocratic arrogance, tyranny, extravagance, and debauchery, it was hardly strange that Garibaldi had formed a favorable impression of little Carlo.
"Is the Italy Sun really Prince Carlo's?" Giotto's excitement became even more obvious, and he said impatiently, "Didn't you say before, Father, that you wanted to write down your stories so more Italians could read them? Isn't this the perfect opportunity?"
Watching his son practically leap for joy, Garibaldi shook his head helplessly and said, "I can write these stories, but whether more Italians will get to see them is not for me to decide.
If my stories were to negatively affect Prince Carlo's Italy Sun, that would be more loss than gain.
Still, Prince Carlo's invitation is difficult to refuse. How about this? I will first write a few stories that are not so tiresome, then see how those old fellows in Florence react."
Although everyone said that Mazzini had created the idea of Italian Unification, no one could deny that Garibaldi's pure and profound love for Italy had also influenced vast numbers of Italians.
Although Garibaldi had made outstanding contributions to Italian Unification, he had once been too close to republicanism. Stories adapted from true events might be welcomed by the people of Italy, but not necessarily by the government and royal family of Italy.
For that very reason, Garibaldi did not wish to affect anyone else because of himself—especially Carlo, toward whom he held a certain degree of goodwill.
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