Rome.
Umberto summoned the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Justice, arranging for the two of them to go to Naplesto handle the incident and provide an explanation to citizens nationwide as well as to the victims.
“Regarding this incident, the ringleaders must be sentenced to death.
All family assets will be confiscated, involved family members will be imprisoned, and their political rights will be stripped.
Those who are guilty will be convicted, while those who are innocent will be exiled to Libya as punishment.” “The Camorra has wreaked havoc locally for many years.
Except for those already killed, all those captured will be imprisoned; those found guilty will be convicted, while those found innocent will be exiled to Libya for three years.
In addition, as members of a criminal organization, Camorra members must implicate their families.
Their family members will not enjoy the right to land distribution or compulsory education.” “On this basis, enact laws to crack down on criminal organizations and restore local public security.” “Your Highness, is the punishment too severe?
After all, the nobility are connected through countless relationships and even have transnational ties.
Furthermore, European countries generally treat nobles rather leniently.” Minister of Justice Federico Moretti was worried that this might provoke interference from other countries.
“As for how other countries handle such matters, I cannot say, but in Italy, this will be the standard from now on.
Nobles are human beings, not gods, and they possess no special privileges.” Umberto refused to compromise.
“Just carry it out as ordered; at worst, we will have a confrontation with the nobility.” After seeing the two men off, Umberto arranged for a public speech.
He wanted the major landowners to see the Crown Prince’s influence and determination.
The Prime Minister’s Office quickly gathered a large number of citizens and hurried reporters.
Umberto walked up to the podium.
“People of Rome!” “Before I speak, please observe three minutes of silence for the people murdered in Naples.” …
Everyone lowered their heads and silently observed the moment of silence.
The entire venue became solemn.
Three minutes later, Umberto continued his speech.
“I am heartbroken.” “I never expected that the enemies of reform would adopt such frantic and cruel methods to stop us.” “They want to make me afraid, make me retreat, and make me abandon twenty million peasants and the five million veterans who sacrificed in the Great War!” “But I want to say that they are wrong.” “For the future of Italy and the people of Italy, this reform will be carried through to the end.” “Perhaps they will launch armed resistance, split the military, and divide the people, but none of this can frighten me.” “If such a day truly comes, then please follow my footsteps and suppress every rebel.” “The strength of the people is invincible!” “Long live Italy!
Long live the King of Italy!
Long live the people of Italy!” Filled with passion, Umberto shouted the slogans forcefully.
Among the audience were some peasants who had rushed over from the countryside around Rome.
Seeing the Crown Prince speak so passionately, they began shouting along one after another.
Driven by them, waves of cries of “Long live” erupted across the square.
…
As the impact of this speech spread, peasants from various regions gathered in urban areas to voice their support for the Crown Prince and the Cabinet, creating enormous momentum.
Meanwhile, retired soldiers actively reported to the Carabinieri, expressing their willingness to join any battle to suppress the anti-reform movement.
In just three days, one million people had gathered.
Their slogan was: “Weapons or land.” …
A group of major northern landowners returned after previously leaving, expressing at the royal palace their willingness to support the reform.
There was no other choice; they were afraid.
The Crown Prince’s influence far surpassed that of Mussolini, and the armed veterans and peasants were extremely intimidating; they would devour anyone who stood in the way of their land.
Of course, the real reason they were afraid was that the Provisional 1st Brigade had wiped out the Camorra in half a day, proving that the Crown Prince would genuinely kill people and genuinely strip them of everything.
Although the Caracciolo family was still on trial, news that they would be stripped of all their property had already spread.
The various families did not want to end up with nothing, so compromise became their only option.
Following the compromise of the major northern landowners, other small and medium-sized landowners in the north successively expressed their willingness to support the government’s reforms.
No one dared to stand in the way of a group of desperate men hungering for land.
Sicily.
Capodimonte and the others wore ugly expressions because Caracciolo’s arrest might lead to him implicating them.
Although there was little substantive evidence, if the charge of incitement were established, their lives would not be easy.
“Stop resisting, let’s compromise.” Capodimonte no longer wanted to fight back; if the struggle continued, the continuation of their families might be completely cut off.
What a joke, being exiled to Libya meant going there to reclaim wasteland and becoming pariahs.
As long as they retained wealth, they would still remain above ordinary people.
Vittorio Saraceno was unwilling to accept it, but reality was far too cruel.
“I want to struggle one more time.” “I withdraw!” The head of the Florio family refused to continue fooling around with these madmen; doing so would ruin a family that had survived for a century.
The Prince of Palagonia raised his hand in agreement.
“I withdraw.” Immediately afterward came the second, the third…
Those who raised their hands accounted for the overwhelming majority, and the unity of the people in the meeting had completely collapsed.
“I withdraw!” Don Vito Ferro certainly did not dare court disaster.
When the reform began, he would transform his operations and enter legitimate businesses; he could not afford to provoke that terrifying Crown Prince.
Salvatore Cucia shook his head.
“I also withdraw.
I have thousands of people under my command and thousands of responsibilities; I don’t dare act recklessly.” Once the government got hold of something that could be used against them, thousands of people might be sent to Libya, where even survival could become a problem.
After all, it was a colony filled everywhere with resistance fighters.
With the two major factions admitting defeat, the other mafia organizations no longer had the confidence to resist and chose to compromise as well.
“Since everyone has the same opinion, let’s reply to Rome.” Capodimonte appeared somewhat powerless.
“The Crown Prince promised that we could operate some industries in Sicily, guaranteeing everyone’s interests.
Therefore, let’s discuss how to divide them.” Capodimonte did not dare demand control over the entire industrial sector; doing so would only result in the Crown Prince breaking them apart and suppressing them.
As for profits, each family taking a small share would be enough to preserve their wealth.
With their existing capital advantage, making money would not be difficult.
…
Rome.
Minister of Agriculture Ettore Rossi successively received phone calls and telegrams from representatives of southern landowners, all bringing good news, making his entire body feel much more relaxed.
As expected, only a strong leader could lead the nation toward rejuvenation.
Ettore Rossi arrived at the Prime Minister’s Office to tell Umberto the good news.
“They are all like this: stubborn yet afraid of death, greedy yet weak.” Umberto’s expression remained calm, while his tone carried mockery, because he genuinely could not feel happy.
This compromise had been exchanged for thousands of lives.
“Rossi, build a memorial square and a monument at the place where those victims fell.
The oath-taking ceremony for land reform will be held there, and I will personally attend.” Ettore Rossi nodded.
“Understood, Your Highness.” “Hurry up and promulgate the land reform plan, to be implemented next January.
We must distribute the land into the hands of the peasants in the shortest possible time.
The land surveys can begin in advance; if manpower is insufficient, mobilize all available civil servants.
Personnel from the experimental zone will be given priority for your use.” “As for the other preparations, carry them out continuously according to what we discussed previously.” What Umberto was referring to were agricultural tools and machinery, seeds, chemical fertilizers, and other necessary supplies.
“Alright, Your Highness.” Ettore Rossi had been supervising these matters continuously, so there should not be any major problems.
“However, the Church has not yet replied.
Should we enforce the policy compulsorily?” “The Church.” Umberto got a headache whenever he heard those words.
As an atheist, he personally felt nothing toward the Church, but unfortunately, Catholicism’s influence was too great, and Vatican City was located right in Rome.
If handled carelessly, the Pope could incite opposition throughout the entire country.
“I will discuss it with His Majesty and see how we should handle it.”