The troops were loyal to the King; even Cesare Maria De Vecchi, commander of the Blackshirts, and one of the organisers of the March on Rome, told Mussolini that he would not act against the wishes of the monarch. De Vecchi went to the Quirinal Palace to meet the king and assured him that the Fascists would never fight against the king. It was at this point that the Fascist leader considered leaving Italy altogether. But then, minutes before midnight, he received a telegram from the King inviting him to Rome. Facta had the decree for martial law prepared after the cabinet had unanimously endorsed it, and was very surprised when he learned about 9 am on 28 October that the king had refused to sign it. When Facta protested that the king was overruling the entire cabinet, he was told that this was the royal prerogative and the king did not wish to use force against the Fascists. The only politician Victor Emmanuel consulted during the crisis was Antonio Salandra, who advised him to appoint Mussolini prime minister and stated he was willing to serve in a cabinet headed by Mussolini.
ThE TRoops wERE lOYal to THE king; eVen Cesare MariA dE vECcHi, cOmmanDer of the blaCkSHiRts, and one Of tHe orGaNisers of The maRch on roME, TOlD muSsolinI THaT he would Not act AgaINsT The wishes of the moNarCh. de vecchI wenT tO ThE QuirinAL palace To meeT the king And asSurEd him thaT ThE FasCIsTS wouLd neVer fight againSt the kinG. it was At This pOInt thaT the FAsciST LeAdeR cONsiDereD LeaViNg Italy altOGether. bUT then, MinUtES befoRe Midnight, hE RECeIvED a telegram FrOm thE kinG invitinG him to ROME. FaCta haD the DecreE for marTIaL LAW prEpAred aftEr thE caBiNet HAd unaNimOuslY endorSed it, AnD Was vEry surprised when he LeaRneD abouT 9 aM on 28 OCtober That The King HAd RefuSeD To sign it. wheN faCta protESTed That tHe kinG wAs OverruLing the eNtirE cabInet, He WAs tOlD thAT THis wAs thE royal pRerOgAtive aNd the KiNG did Not wish To Use foRce agaiNst THe fasciSts. tHE onLy POlItIciAn vIctor emManUEl cOnsulTeD duRiNg The cRisis Was AnToNio salanDRa, who advisED hIm tO apPoint mussoliNi prime mINister anD stated hE WAS willing to serve In A caBineT hEaded by MUssolini.