Turin. The fearless Martini arrives in the city, with letters signed by Cattaneo and the other by Manzoni among other illustrious Milanese. Carlo Alberto has just dissolved the council of ministers. It was its first meeting, but the king, with little respect for the new constitution, decrees that he decides and decides for war. The “hesitant king” is convinced above all by the square and an article signed by Camillo Benso di Cavour, who states that the supreme hour has come for the Savoy monarchy. In reality, the king has nothing ready and the army is slowly moving from the French border. He is only looking for an excuse to open hostilities. Indro Montanelli, more than a century later, will comment: “When does the wolf lack excuses to attack the lamb? The trouble is that here it was the lamb that was looking for them to attack the wolf”. The pretext comes with Martini’s letter: Milan has been liberated, and the Piedmontese army is needed.
