"Reunite in one place or another – in the sacristies or chapels even – these tribes of yours as yet ignorant; put them under the pastoral staff of some virtuous priest, well known, but credulous and easy to be deceived. Then infiltrate the poison into those chosen hearts; infiltrate it in little doses, and as if by chance. Afterwards, upon reflection, you will yourselves be astonished at your success."
~ Letters of the CarbonariDearest Sergeant Sheb,
I've heard disturbing tales describing your actions in Papal Tunisia. Some of your men have objected in horror to what they perceived as the order to execute innocent men in the doors of their own temples. Such reports have been of sufficient number and alarm to raise my concerns for their veracity. Let us put the inhumane misery of Inquisition and the Crusades of old far behind us, for even barbarians are feeling.
Are you a man of God or an instinctive beast, Sergeant? If a man, your reason should tell you that your usefulness, which will for the time impel me from conducting a further investigation in this matter, is not irreplaceable, and you would do well to remember in choosing the bestial path that those animals showing distemperament are best if removed from the flock. Therefore conduct yourself and your men by the valor and virtue of the Holy Spirit, not the folly and spite of the devil's angels. Save your wrath for men with guns and pursue Confession of your sins, lest Charybdis claim thee.
In the sincerity of your most humble servant,
C.C.C.G.G.January 3, 1846
The Egyptian campaigns have been managed by none other than the son of our heroic General Cesare Gironda, who now commands the Noble Guard. Though the General's son could stand to be more like his father.
The little snot's arrogance instills in his men a hatred of him unmatched in modern times. He was recalled to the small battalion in Gaeta and the Nile campaign was assumed by one General Genovera, a tireless bureaucrat.
Sergeant Sheb remains at his post in Giza despite locals coming to refer to him as "Al-Jzar" - the Butcher. His men are too loyal to him for this to change, and I need them where they are. I simply pray there are no further incidents. We must win over the hearts of the locals, not trample upon them.
January 8
Threatening letters composed in deceptively crude Latin were delivered to several liberal Cardinals over the last few days.
Hmm. I wonder where they came from. Surely not Cardinal Euchre. Too obvious, he would not so blatantly make himself a target following the rash attempt on Cardinal Cicero's life. Unless he expected he wouldn't be suspected for that, or else he suspected we'd suspect he expected us to not suspect him. You can never be sure of these things.
According to plan, the common people are gathering amongst themselves to debate the issues facing their nation. This precursor to republicanism is immensely favorable.
February 28
Cardinal Cicero is well enough recovered from his injuries to resume his Church duties. I'm relieved to see His Eminence up and about once again; his piety, if misplaced, is a rare and desirable commodity in this troubled land. I have seen him impassion the masses solely by the virtue of his honesty and forthrightness. He reminds me of old Gregory, in his younger years.
March 27
King Frederick of Prussia has announced the union of the states of North Germany into one single confederation with Prussia as the head and the bulwark. It seems there is finally another match for France on the continent. The Papal States are working to build relations with the new state as they may prove an important factor in dealing with Austria.
April 15
Cardinal Hunt maintains a secret correspondence with contacts in Bavaria. I'm unable to tie them to any conspiracies I'm yet aware of; it seems that whatever is brewing there is a new ale altogether. I would like to learn more but my spies have yet to burrow deeply into Germany, and the Cardinal is a master of privacy.
In Egypt, Muhammad's war horse is shoeless and sits in the sand while our men recuperate and reform our regiments. An envoy from France delighted the Generals with news of their joining our war effort with two battalions of cavalry. We have demobilized the peasantry and recalled thirty-thousand men back to Rome as the Egyptian army flees the French attack.
June 6
And so the war for the Holy Land is ended; Papal Zouaves have commandeered the city of Jerusalem and our armies return from the grainy depths of Egypt in victory.
This is a truly beautiful day. Let us raise the Keys of St. Peter over the Dome of the Rock in the triumph of our Lord.
July 13
Reports indicate the natives of Palestine would prefer us not to be there.
I hope we can change their minds before violence erupts.
July 18
And when I awoke this morning I thought it would be but another humdrum day! But a messenger of Turin comes to tell us the armies of Garibaldi have defeated and deposed Ferdinand II in Sicily, and his kingdom handed over to the Sardinian crown.
The newborn Kingdom has lain claim to all the lands currently held by the Holy See. In preparation, I've mobilized the militia.
This is an intolerable situation and will remain so until L'Aquila is ours.
August 22
His Holiness can no longer leave his bed without assistance. I know not why the Lord prolongs his trial. It is clear to all in Rome his time has come.
Spies indicate that Great Britain is spreading malignant deceit about us throughout Greece. I suppose this means they consider us rivals and should be taken as a positive sign. The prestige of our rapid expansion has garnered much respect over the past ten years and it seems even those crowns thinking themselves noblest will parlay on even ground.
September 29
Already the newborn Kingdom of "Italy" faces her trial: The newly unified North Germany launches an invasion of north Switzerland in support of a nationalist uprising there.
The toll of warfare is felt hard by our people, and it is not enough for a Christian of piety to spread the Good News. One must be prepared to heal the sick. I am no medicus and can do little to aid the ailing directly, but I can certainly divert our research funds toward improving our nation's medical research.
The nation ignoring the needs of the sick is in contempt of the law of Christ.
January 1, 1847
The College continues to reform, and by now there are more liberally minded electors than conservatives and reactionaries alike. The players are in place and the curtain readies for opening.
The Danish ambassador informs me that Scandinavian nationalists have seized control of the Danish government, what's left of it, anyway. The Swedish crown is likely to finish them off sooner or later.
March 16
The subversiveness of our approach leaves little to worry about in the way of discovery. By the time we are found out our influence wil be vast enough to deflect the blows of attention. No, what worries me is the outcome of our climax. Never is every possible consequence accounted for. History's revolutions have failed with incredulous regularity.
April 21
Deus lo vult.August 17
They threatened us long enough. We have declared war on the Kingdom of Italy. The fate of the Peninsula will be decided hence.
Our blockade of Piedmonte will do little to stem the flow of goods from France and Germany, but is a valuable indicator of our naval superiority. No Sardinian reinforcements will reach the Italian mainland.
Cardinal Canalan will be happy to learn our shipment of apple chips have arrived from America intact and on time.
October 17
Sicily itself lies undefended; it seems the Germans beat us to it.
October 21
The invasion of Piedmonte has begun. What little forces they're able to spare to their eastern border will not hold our armies back for long. An entire contingent of Sardinian soldiers remain trapped on their island due to our blockade.
December 27
After our total victory in the Battle of Parma, Italy's army is gone. They are soundly defeated and should capitulate any day now.
January 1, 1948
For too long the hairs of Medusa nested in the crags and crevices of Rome. Let our Kingdom of Statues come to life.
March 9
Damn you to Hell, Garibaldi! You may have had your way with the throne of Sicily, but you shall not avail Rome of her rightful claims!
Garibaldi's army is small. The Zouaves will send them fleeing to Austria where they will better serve a purpose.
May 2
Intuition is lame. Three cheers for conceptualization!
July 5
Our navy continually grows to a respectable size. Most of our vessels are outdated wooden ships and steam transports, but this is a start. Our ability to blockade France may discourage them from sudden moves on Tunisia. I don't trust the way they've fortified Algiers.
July 6
The Italian crown is willing to cede Pugulia in the name of peace. This is acceptable.
July 7
Well that is simply marvelous.
Pah, the Dutch autocrats must think us fools eager to throw away our lives and our ships over minced words. We responded to their slight on our majesty by thanking them for their time and ending our efforts to negotiate our claims. Let us be the better men.
September 7
A new political group emerging from Switzerland is sending waves through Europe. The anarcho-liberals, as they've come to be called, are calling for the minimalism of government involvement in the affairs of Swiss citizenry in regard to trade restrictions, taxation and social reforms. A group after my Order's own heart, if one misguided. Still, that such philosophy has emerged into light will stew the pot of public discourse even further, and that can only be good in the end.
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