A misty drizzle was falling. The dirty road bamboo training is a little better, but this does not change the health situation in the city, in fact, because of the strike of the cleaners, the whole city has not been seriously cleaned for more than half a month, the roadside garbage has become a mountain, and dog poop can be seen everywhere on the street, even in this situation where even the cleaners can't guarantee a full meal, the rich people still take care of the pets they raise, but being rich does not necessarily mean that there is public morality, The shit that can be seen everywhere on the street is the best proof of this.

This is Rome, the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, as an ancient European city with a long history. Rome has always prided itself as the capital of civilization, but now. If those who boast of Roman civilization come to the city, they will immediately change their previous minds, indeed, the current Rome is not only dirty, but also chaotic, and the hungry people have been tolerating for a long time, and now, they have decided not to tolerate it anymore, but to take "effective measures" to save themselves, their loved ones, and at the same time the nation, the country.

Italy was a full member of the Central Powers. The reason why the Central Powers were once called the "Three Emperors Alliance" was because the alliance was made by the Emperor of Germany, the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, and the King of Italy, and the newspapers of the Central Powers were proud of it, believing that this military alliance based on the monarchy was unbreakable and that the friendship between them was indestructible.

However, the facts after the war in Europe once again educated those naïve journalists, who finally realized the essence of international politics, that is, "there are no eternal friends, only eternal interests" for the Italian royal government, this is the basic point that determines its foreign policy, so under the temptation of interests, Italy did not immediately respond to the call of Germany and Austria-Hungary to declare war on the Entente at the beginning of the European war, but unexpectedly announced the "Three Emperors and Phoenix Alliance"

His Majesty the King of Italy was thus given a new nickname, "Badass", a new nickname given to the King of Italy by His Majesty the Emperor of Germany on the third day after the outbreak of war, and on that day. The German Emperor received a telegram from the King of Italy, in which the King informed the German Emperor that the Kingdom of Italy would maintain "prudent neutrality" in this European war

Although it is a "bad guy", this bad guy is very useful after all, Italy not only has sufficient labor resources, but also has a strong navy and army, and more importantly. Italy's geography is crucial. No matter which side of the war co-opted Italy. will directly determine the strategic situation on the Western Front in Europe, and it is in this context that there is great dissatisfaction with both sides of the Italian rat. However, both the Allied and Entente blocs were trying to pull the Italian government into their own chariot, and Italy was also pursuing the maximization of its national interests in this bargaining.

Italy demanded more territory, in addition to the occupation of Trentino, Tyrol, Trieste, Eastria, and Dalmatia. There was also a demand for control of Albania, and in the face of the greedy Italians, the British and French governments readily made a commitment, and with the signing of the Treaty of London. Italy not only declared its membership in the Entente, but also did not hesitate to declare war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. This war. Germany and France fought for almost five years, for the Italians, the duration of the war may be less, but the Italians suffered no less than the Germans and the French, in the snowy Alps, the difficult tug-of-war almost exhausted the Italian treasury, but also exhausted the Italians confidence in victory, a camino defeat in the Battle of Caporetto made this even more difficult, the country fell into unprecedented despair, if it were not for the sudden explosion of the revolution in Palin, perhaps the first to fall was the Italians, And not the Germans.

In any case, Italy persevered until the end of the war in Europe, so Italy was the victorious power, and Italian Prime Minister Orlando went to Paris as a victor to attend the international peace conference that decided the distribution of the fruits of victory.

However, in view of Italy's poor performance in the war, Britain, France, and the United States do not attach much importance to this small partner in southern Europe, in the so-called "Big Four Conference", the Italian prime minister is only a dispensable small role, and it is actually Britain and France that really dominate the Paris Peace Conference, and even the United States can only be a foil, in this context, Italy's voice and suggestions are very insignificant, although the Paris Peace Conference has been officially held for several months, but Italy's requirements have still not been met, As a result, many Italians were anxious that Britain and France would not deliver on their promises and that Italy would not be able to achieve a truly "great and destined revival".

The war brought a lot of devastation and economic depression to Italy, and since the end of the war, a large number of soldiers have been discharged, so there are many more unemployed veterans on the streets, and many of them are disabled, but they are not adequately guaranteed, and even food has become a problem.

Now, in this squalid and chaotic Roman street, an Italian man in an old military uniform is walking briskly in the drizzle, holding a worn umbrella in his right hand. In his left hand, he carried an equally worn leather bag, which was deflated. It was as if nothing was pretended, and besides, the Italian man had only one ear, which was the right ear, and the left ear was missing. All that remains is a black hole in the ear. This was caused by a shell, but it was not enough for him to retire early, therefore. He was also a soldier of the Italian Army who had just retired from the army a few months earlier.

The Italian retired soldier named Alcasino, a former lieutenant, according to the relevant regulations, he should continue to stay in the army after the end of the war, after all, he is a professional officer, and the disability of the ear is not enough to affect the combat effectiveness, but due to the extreme financial constraints, the Italian government had to reduce the size of the army, therefore, a large number of disabled officers had to be ordered to retire, although they received a retirement pension, but in this era of rapid depreciation of paper money, Those retirement benefits soon disappeared under the high prices.

Thankfully, Alcácino2 has a mild disability that doesn't prevent him from going to a maid, and he's only getting a job now. And this job was offered to him by a tea merchant from China, and now. Alcacino was on his way to meet his employer.

It's a long stretch of road, and if it had been left behind, Alcacino would have been accessible by tram, but now. In order to save money for a meal, he had to walk to the meeting place, and he also wanted to walk as fast as possible, so that his employer would not get angry and fire him.

Finally, Lieutenant Alcacino arrived at the meeting place. It is a café due to economic depression. There were very few people who could afford to drink coffee outside, so the café business was sluggish and there were only a few customers. And most of them are retired officers in old military uniforms, all drunk, and there is only one civilian in the café, and it is the face of the East, so. Alcasino easily found a seat and sat down.

"Thanks, a strong cup of coffee, the stronger the better. Other than that. Serve some Italian pastries. ”

Alcacino said a few words to the guy who stepped forward, and took some change from the compartment of his purse, ready to give it to the guy, but was stopped by the man with the eastern face.

"Alcásino. I should have asked you. ”

The Oriental smiled and took the change from Alcasino, shoved it back into Alcasino's hand, and then ordered the man to serve the down-of-the-t lieutenant the best espresso of coffee.

"Thank you, dear boss

Alcácino immediately took the kiln money back. Then his eyes fell on the cup of steaming black tea in front of his employer.

"Have you done what I told you to do?

The Oriental man rested the newspaper in his hand on the table dagger, took off the black top hat on his head, and pressed the newspaper. He looked at Alcasino, who was sitting across from him, who was not very proficient in Italian, but at least he could understand it.

"It's all done, and I have brought your message to you as you commanded. And the meeting place arranged by the other party was in Milan, and Alcasino nodded.

"Meet in Milan? That Mr. Mussolini is not in Rome? The Orientals were surprised.

"It is so, yesterday he was in Rome, but this morning he has gone to Milan, and after receiving your message, Monsieur Mussolini has agreed to meet you in Milan and to have a secret meeting."

"Why did you go to Milan? Is there some kind of emergency over there? "Yes. The workers of Milan staged a joint strike with the workers of Genoa, demanded higher wages, and demanded that the Italian government stop sending troops to interfere in the Russian Revolution and refuse to load and unload military supplies for the ships. Moreover, it was heard that the workers of Milan and Genoa were preparing political parties and were planning to organize the Red Guards in preparation for a Red Revolution like in Russia. When Mr. Mussolini learned of the imminent uprising in Milan, he decided to lead his "fighting fascists." Travel to Milan to assist the government in quelling the riots. I don't think it's safe to go to Milan at this time, so. I would recommend the owner to better stay longer in Rome

Speaking of this, Alcacino looked at the Easterner and tried to make a look of concern for the other party's safety, but his suggestion was not taken by the other party.

"Alcásino, thank you for your concern, I will leave for Milan now, to meet with that Monsieur Mussolini, and I hope you will come with me to Milan, I need a loyal and familiar with the Italian social situation, you are the most suitable, I learned Italian in a Chinese foreign language school, not very proficient

The Orientals stood up, and at this time. The guy had already brought a cup of piping hot coffee.

Alcacino took the coffee, held it in his hand, and stood up.

"Sir, if I go with you to Milan, will you promise me one thing?

"Oh? What's the matter? ”

"I hope that after you have finished your trip to Italy, you will also take me with you when you return to China, if possible, I also want to bring my family with me, I have heard that China is in great need of talent now, I used to be the captain of the guard at the Italian Legation in China, and I can speak a little Chinese, if I go to China, I think, I may be able to find a job, even if I can't find a job in China, maybe I can also find a job in the Russian Far East Army, you know, now the Russian civil war has started again. The tsarist government was in dire need of professional soldiers, and I was in a bad financial situation and could not afford to buy a ticket to the Far East

"What's going on? I may be in Europe for a long time and will not return to China for a while, but if you insist on going to the Far East, I can give you a ferry ticket after the Italian business is over. However, you can also choose to stay in Italy and serve me. ”

"Really? You are such a generous and kind employer. I'm here to help. ”

Alcacino was delighted, and immediately sat down, took out a tin flask from his purse, carefully poured the cup of hot coffee into it, and then stood up again with the flask.

"Sir, I'll book a train ticket for you, and we'll go to Milan in a hurry. If you don't mind, I take the liberty of asking, are you really a tea merchant? ”

Alcasino asked, but the Oriental smiled faintly.

"Of course. I am a real tea merchant, and this time I have come to Europe to inspect the markets and to make friends with political activists with great political vision and prospects, and Mr. Mussolini was the first Italian patriot I met. ”

The Oriental smiled. Gave Alcacino some money. He was sent to the train station to buy a ticket, and after the lieutenant had left, the Oriental picked up the newspaper and read it for a few more minutes, before he got up, walked out of the café, went to the nearest telegraph office, and took a telegram to the trading posts in Cairo, Egypt:

"I'm a gentleman, I'm going to Milan to meet you. In addition, the situation in Italy is chaotic, and there seem to be signs of a revolution, and in any case, I will act as planned. ”

That's right, this Oriental is an intelligence agent of the CIA, codenamed "Xiao" and has been in Europe for several months, and is one of the operatives who carried out the "puppet trick".