Pope Augustus

Augustus led Karl back to his room and brought him to the map.

"Karl, look at this map."

"What's wrong with this map? Is there a problem? By the way, is that Duke really reliable? He's a mercenary, you know." Karl worried.

Why is it so hard to talk to him…

"You don't need to worry about Duke. Although he's a mercenary, he's a true soldier who values honor. You look at this map and think carefully. Duke will be here soon. When he arrives, let him look at it too, and then I'll ask for your thoughts."

Can crows be white? Karl was suspicious, but he still obediently looked at the map. If one paid attention, they would notice that Karl's gaze always involuntarily fell on the Hungary region where Austria and the Ottoman Empire were fighting.

After settling his subordinates, Duke also arrived and, at Augustus's instruction, joined the group looking at the map.

After a few minutes, Duke quickly grew impatient: "Augustus, what do you want us to look at?"

"If the Papal States were to expand, where do you think the primary target should be?"

"Tuscany," Karl said.

"Are you stupid? The Grand Duke of Tuscany is from the Medici Family, and the Pope is also from the Medici Family. You want the Pope to attack Tuscany?" Duke retorted.

"You're the one who's stupid. Precisely because the Pope is also from the Medici Family, his claim to rule Tuscany is legitimate. Whether it's attacking or ruling, the resistance would be minimal.

Based on its geographical location, Tuscany is surrounded on three sides by the Papal States, with only one side facing the sea. The Venice Navy's strength also surpasses Tuscany's. Once war begins, it can be completely blockaded, and there are multiple invasion routes to choose from.

The Papal States haven't fought a war in over half a century, so other countries aren't highly guarded against them. However, once the Papal States takes the initiative, it will inevitably arouse the vigilance of all surrounding countries, which is unavoidable.

Therefore, for the first battle, if it's just to annex a small country, it's not worth making a move. This would greatly increase the difficulty of all subsequent actions, making it a net loss; annexing multiple countries at once is very difficult to achieve; challenging a powerful entity like Spain not only requires complex diplomatic arrangements but is also very likely to fail, and the war would certainly be protracted.

In comparison, I believe Tuscany is the most suitable target: its size is moderate, the risks are controllable, and the benefits are huge and quick to materialize. The wealth of Tuscany goes without saying; annexing Tuscany would not only greatly help in strengthening national power but also has irreplaceable strategic significance.

Controlling Tuscany would provide more directions for expansion, eliminate a threat in one direction, and give the Papal States a certain strategic depth, allowing it to better respond to various contingencies."

Karl's analysis was logical and well-reasoned, leaving Duke momentarily speechless and even Augustus somewhat tempted. Of course, Augustus wanted to annex Tuscany, but he really didn't want to use military means against the same family.

Infighting within the same family was commonplace for Europeans, but he was unwilling to bear this stigma unless absolutely necessary. The Pope's identity was different from others; he had to cherish his reputation, as even a small flaw could become a target for hostile forces to attack, thereby shaking the foundation of the state.

Tuscany naturally had conditions for drawing them in. Augustus still hoped to first see the attitude of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. If he could be drawn in, that would be best. Making too many enemies too early and being isolated and helpless was not a good thing.

"What you said is good, but even if we conquer all of Tuscany, how can we ensure that other countries will sit idly by while we annex Tuscany? Spain has always coveted the Spain region, France has never given up its ambitions for Northern Italy, and the Holy Roman Empire does not want a powerful Papal States to emerge in Northern Italy." Augustus asked seriously.

"This problem exists no matter where we choose as a target; it needs to be resolved through diplomatic means. I cannot give a definitive answer; it's best to leave professional matters to professionals." Karl deflected the responsibility, shifting the blame.

Nonsense, if I could find reliable professionals, why would I ask you? Romeo? His expertise might have gone seriously astray. Augustus cursed inwardly, but what he said was actually correct; this problem was unavoidable, and having an opinion was good.

"Duke, what's your opinion?"

"I think we can first take Naples and Sicily to the south, then unify the Italy region to the north, then open a passage to the Balkan Peninsula to the east, then defeat the Ottoman Empire, restore Constantinople, and we can also…" Duke spoke each word with conviction.

"No, wait a minute, brother, are you serious?" Augustus looked at him with an incredulous expression.

"Of course!" Duke replied as if it were obvious.

No way, is he really stupid or just pretending? Even if he primarily studies tactics and training, he shouldn't be completely ignorant of strategy, right?

"This… isn't it a bit too aggressive?" Augustus asked cautiously.

"No problem! As long as everyone is united, no enemy is unconquerable!" Duke answered with great confidence.

If it weren't for Karl's precedent of deflecting responsibility, he would really want to ask Duke how exactly he envisioned everyone being united. Considering he might be embarrassed, he decided not to ask.

"What do you think about Venice?" After probing, Augustus also revealed his own thoughts.

"Good!" Duke agreed without hesitation.

"It's good, yes, the benefits are greater than Tuscany, but the difficulty is also much higher.

Venice's naval power is superior to ours, and it has numerous islands. Once its mainland territories are lost, there are still many places to retreat to. Furthermore, with its naval advantage, we cannot occupy it entirely. Venice can drag the war on indefinitely, and the longer it goes, the more variables there will be. Venice could even promise land to other countries to seek support, and by then, we might gain nothing.

Also, the problem you just raised would be even more pronounced if we choose Venice. The number of countries coveting Venetian territory is no less than those coveting Tuscan territory, and there are even more with vested interests, and none of them are easy to deal with. Any action against Venice would inevitably shake the entire European continent. Therefore, even if we successfully take all of Venice, the possibility of completely annexing it is almost zero."

"If we're always so timid, what can we ever accomplish?" Duke challenged aggressively.

"You… forget it. I'm too lazy to argue with you."

Augustus nodded. Karl's words certainly made sense, but the word 'give up' had never been in his dictionary.

"Is there a possibility of diverting the main force of the Venice Navy before the war? As long as the Venice Navy cannot return in a short time, militarily, it will be much easier. Diplomatically, no matter how difficult, it can always be resolved; it's just a matter of how much we concede."

"That's a good idea, how do we do it?" Karl asked eagerly, clearly interested.

"That… I haven't thought it through yet." Augustus scratched his head in embarrassment, "You can help me think about it. If possible, I still want to choose Venice. There's no rush for now, and don't spread this outside. I have more important things I want to entrust to you."