Chapter 83 Bottom Line (Part 2)

Italy, Milan.

A team of white knights entered the city of Milan, and the local mayor Gabriel Casati warmly received them.

Gabriel Casati didn't know what these emperor's envoys came for, but this did not prevent him from being satisfied with the current empire's policies.

Gabriel thought Franz II was a genius, because even after his death, the policies did not need to be changed at all.

In fact, this was just an appearance. The real reason was that Emperor Ferdinand lacked the ability and will to exercise his monarchical power normally, and the ministers under him shirked and argued with each other, resulting in the delay in the adoption of new national policies.

Gabriel Casati's idea was simple. He thought that a good policy was one that could make everyone make money. He couldn't understand why some people always liked to compare with Hungarians, why some people always wanted to squeeze into Vienna, and why some people missed Napoleon.

Gabriel Casati was an industrial and commercial aristocrat. He still remembered that during the Napoleonic era, the French took away all the money and food and took away a whole generation of young people.

Although the Napoleonic Wars were highly praised by later generations, in the eyes of people at that time, Napoleon took away everything from them.

Before the Napoleonic Wars, northern Italy was one of the richest regions in the whole of Europe. After the Napoleonic Wars, northern Italy was once in famine and riots.

This situation did not improve until the last few years of Franz II's reign. At that time, there were consecutive good years, and Marshal Radetzky took office. The old general repeatedly struck hard at the rebels, making the rebels no longer dare to cross the border easily.

After that, Austria joined the German Customs Union, which opened up new markets for Italy and provided more sufficient funds for the army.

At the banquet, Gabriel raised his glass and said.

"To the great Emperor Ferdinand I, may your Majesty be healthy and live a hundred years."

In fact, Gabriel had no other meaning, but it was extremely harsh to the ears of the Austrian investigation team.

Ferdinand I's physical condition had nothing to do with health, and no one wanted him to live a hundred years.

Gabriel saw that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, so he decided to talk about business first.

"Gentlemen, what can I do for you?"

"We have been ordered to investigate the attack on Captain Anton von Radetzky. We need to know the location of the Delmanda Monastery and the identity of the attackers."

Gabriel naturally knew the location of the Delmanda Monastery and the identities of the attackers, but he thought that all this should be over.

"Oh, gentlemen, you may not know that Marshal Radetzky has no intention of pursuing this matter."

"Oh no, Mr. Mayor, this is the imperial order of His Majesty the Emperor. Captain Anton von Radetzky is an imperial officer, he serves the Empire, he is a subject of His Majesty the Emperor, and we have an obligation to protect his rights."

"But it is said that Captain Anton started it first."

"But we heard that Captain Anton was just performing his official duties to stop the other party from spreading treasonous remarks."

Gabriel felt a little difficult. Father Leonardo, as the abbot of the Delmanda Monastery, is a respectable man in Milan, and those "attackers" are also respectable people.

The Vienna investigation team brought the emperor's order, and he couldn't get away with it.

"Excuse me, gentlemen. People always feel uncomfortable in their stomachs when they get older."

Gabriel got up and left. After a while, Gabriel came back with a group of dancers.

"Gentlemen, I'm really sorry to be away just now. As compensation, I will let you experience the Italian style."

Even the Vienna investigation team couldn't refuse the mayor's kindness, but Gabriel felt that the investigation team seemed to be missing one person.

Delmanda Monastery.

"Damn Austrians, I will let all the believers gather here tomorrow, and I'll see what they can do to me. Go back and tell Gabriel that I won't leave, and it's those Austrians who should leave."

Then Father Leonardo slammed the door, and Gabriel's servant could only leave in disappointment, and a figure followed him.

The Vienna investigation team came to Milan to investigate the attack on Captain Anton, and it soon spread in the city.

The taverns and coffee shops in the city were discussing this matter. Everyone speculated about the fate of Father Leonardo. Obviously, most people still sympathized with the local priest.

This was also the effect Gabriel wanted. He felt that the Austrians had no courage and could only bluff. Even the emperor could not go against the will of the people. Even if the charges were true, he could only choose to forgive. After all, it was God's business to punish the wicked.

After the investigation team obtained the identities of the five attackers, they asked the gendarmes to post notices in the city and offer a reward for collecting the crimes of these five people.

This move immediately made the five attackers flustered, and even Gabriel didn't know what to do.

The five attackers could only choose to hide in the monastery in the end. After all, if the army broke into the monastery to arrest people, it would greatly affect the reputation of the Habsburgs.

Father Leonardo had gathered the believers together long ago. He knew very well that these peasants knew nothing. Whatever he said, these peasants would do it. The imperial government could not do anything to him.

However, Franz had anticipated this and had made arrangements in advance. There was no morality to speak of for such a guy who liked to use the ignorant masses as a shield.

Before that, a member of the investigation team visited the cafe where the incident occurred and asked about what happened that day.

The cafe owner did not know the other party's identity, so he boasted about Father Leonardo's deeds and revealed the fact that Father Leonardo was actually the owner of this cafe.

At first, the member of the investigation team pretended to be unbelieving, but soon got confirmation from the clerk and customers.

The gendarmerie arrested the owner and clerk of the cafe that day, and on the other hand, the five attackers could be said to have a bad record, and the recorded crimes were simply outrageous.

The investigation team felt that the time was ripe, so they came to the Delmanda Monastery with evidence.

The crimes of Father Leonardo and those attackers were announced one by one. Father Leonardo had more than 50,000 florins in deposits in three banks, and he also ran a cafe and a brothel, had six lovers, and more than a dozen illegitimate children.

What the investigation team did not expect was that the believers in Father Leonardo's parish also began to report Father Leonardo's evil deeds.

Including stealing other people's privacy when listening to their confessions, taking the opportunity to blackmail; forcing nuns to be his lovers, etc.

Father Leonardo wanted to escape, but was caught by angry parishioners, who sent him to the Duomo Square in the center of Milan.

In Duomo Square, the evil deeds of the five attackers were revealed one by one. The investigation team announced the treason of the five attackers and sentenced them to hanging. They also awarded medals and pensions to Captain Anton von Radetzky and the two soldiers who were beaten.

The personal property of the five attackers will be used as compensation for the victims.

Finally, Marshal Radetzky announced the emperor's decree.

"Evil people should not be condoned, and good people should not be wronged."

For some reason, someone shed excited tears at this time.

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