"What was the plan you mentioned last time to have a chance to save Corsica?" Paulie crossed his hands, lowered his chin, and asked Lawrence very seriously.
Lawrence did not speak rashly, but sorted out his thoughts a little.
This meeting with Paulie is extremely important. Only Lawrence's proposal can attract Paulie and the two of them can completely stand on the same front.
For Lawrence at this stage, Paulie's protection is indispensable to him.
Just now, Paulie was able to turn a blind eye to Lawrence's arrogant execution, partly because Lawrence might have a plan that could save Corsica's survival.
"What do you think, Lord Governor?" Lawrence asked cautiously.
Paulie took a sip of warm black tea to moisten his throat and said with a little helplessness:
"I began to worry about this situation a few years ago, so I sent a large number of diplomatic envoys to the courts of various countries, hoping to be recognized as an independent country. The Spanish, the Neapolitans, even the Venetians and Austrians, I all asked them for help
Pass."
"It's just..." Pauli said with a wry smile: "The Corsican envoys were either turned away or made unacceptable demands."
Lawrence nodded while listening. Paulie's approach was indeed understandable. With such a disparity in strength, diplomacy was indeed the best way.
It's just that a small and poor island country like Corsica has no bargaining chips in front of these European powers.
After confirming that the general direction of his and Pauli's plans were basically the same, Lawrence said:
"Judging from the current situation, diplomacy is indeed the best way. It's just that the target you chose, Governor-General, is biased. Even if these big countries agree to protect Corsica, they will inevitably put forward corresponding conditions. At that time, it will be nothing more than a sheep entering.
A tiger's mouth becomes a sheep's mouth and a wolf's mouth."
"Oh? Then who should we ask for help? It can't be the British, right?" Paulie frowned and thought for a while, but still didn't understand who he should seek asylum from.
Lawrence pretended to smile mysteriously and said, "You should be quite familiar with this country, Governor."
"Huh? What is it?" Paulie was even more puzzled.
"Genoese."
"What?!" Paulie almost cried out, looked at Lawrence in disbelief, and said hurriedly:
"Oh my God! Lawrence, if you said these things during our first meeting, I would definitely throw you into prison as a Genoese spy!"
"Governor Pauli, think about it, why do we regard the French as our imaginary enemy?" Lawrence began to analyze.
Pauli was stunned and said: "Of course it's because the Genoese will sell Corsica to the French."
"Then just stop them from reaching an agreement. After all, resisting the Genoese is much easier than resisting the French."
Paulie leaned back in his chair, sighed, and said:
"That's true, but what to do? Are you planning to sneak into Versailles and blow up Genoa's negotiating team?"
Lawrence smiled, stood up, took down a map of Corsica from the study, spread it on the table, and explained to Paulie:
"Of course, we want the Genoese to give up negotiations with the French. Governor, you see, nearly 90% of the island's territory is currently in the hands of the Corsicans, and the Genoese army can only retreat to the fortresses on the northern coast.
.”
"You mean... taking the initiative to show weakness and deliberately pushing back the front line?" Pauly touched his chin and understood what Lawrence meant.
The important reason why Genoa wants to abandon Corsica is that they have almost no hope of regaining the entire island. Instead of continuing to garrison the island at a high cost, it is better to take the initiative to sell Corsica to the French and make up for some financial revenue.
.
What Lawrence meant was to give in proactively and deliberately allow the Genoese army to regain some territory, in order to make them believe that they still had a chance to capture the entire island of Corsica.
"Well...there is indeed a chance, but it is too risky. The Genoese may have completely lost interest in Corsica."
Paulie thought about it for a moment and shook his head, feeling uneasy about this plan.
Lawrence also anticipated Paulie's reaction, and then said:
"Of course, but this is just the first step of the plan. There is another important reason why Genoa will abandon Corsica, and that is that Corsica is too poor and of little value to them."
Although Paulie was a little unhappy after hearing this, he had to admit that it was indeed the truth.
Although Ajaccio is also a famous seaport city in the Mediterranean, it still seems too backward compared to the surrounding world-class port cities such as Toulon, Pisa, and Venice.
"That's true, but if Corsica was richer, it wouldn't end up in such an isolated and helpless situation." Pauli smiled bitterly and spread his hands helplessly.
But Lawrence pointed at the map on the table and said with a smile:
"Then, if this poor island country suddenly discovers a silver or gold mine, the situation will be very different."
"Gold mine and silver mine?" Paulie frowned and looked at the map on the table.
Corsica is a typical mountainous island. The center of the island is a series of majestic and continuous mountains. Only the edge areas and relatively gentle places are suitable for large-scale settlements.
Relying on these mountains, Corsica's mining industry is also relatively developed and is a major pillar of the national finance.
And in such terrain, it would be reasonable to discover a gold and silver vein.
But Pauli also knew very well that he had never seen even a trace of gold and silver ore in Corsica for so many years.
Thinking about it this way, Lawrence's meaning is very obvious.
"Are you going to release false news to the outside world?"
Paulie didn't raise his head, still staring at the map on the table, and asked Lawrence.
"Yes, after the Genoese receive the news, and before they realize that it is false news, they will definitely not discuss the sale of Corsica with the French. At the same time, we will take the initiative to shrink the front and help them regain Corsica.
This way, in a short period of time, we will not have to face the threat from the French."
The preparations were almost done, and Lawrence directly revealed all his plans.
What makes Lawrence confident about this plan is that in his memory of his previous life, there is indeed a silver mine on Corsica, and it is a rich ore with extremely high content. As long as it can be explored before the Genoese expose the lie,
With this vein, Corsica can remain safe for a long time.
"In this way, there is a good chance. But... this is just a way to delay after all." Paulie nodded, confirming Lawrence's plan.
Although in Pauli's eyes, this was just a delaying measure, there was not much time left until an agreement to sell Corsica was reached, so he had to adopt this plan first and make plans later.
"You can leave now. I still need to discuss this plan with the military and various congressmen. I will also invite you to participate in the discussion."
Paulie sighed, folded the map on the table and put it away, indicating that Lawrence was ready to leave.
Lawrence stood up and walked to the door, looking back at Paulie who was worried. He was obviously worried about where Corsica would go after the lie was exposed.
"Don't worry, Governor Pauly, maybe we can actually find a silver mine." Lawrence comforted casually.
After hearing this, Paulie suddenly raised his head, stared directly at Lawrence, and whispered: "Are you confident?"
In Pauly's eyes, although this young man sometimes acted too boldly, every step seemed to be within his expectations.
"It's just a premonition." Lawrence smiled.
"is that so..."
Paulie said with some disappointment, and then waved his hand to indicate that Lawrence could leave.
After walking out of the Governor's Palace, Lawrence couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief. After reaching a consensus with Pauli, he had a real political backer in Corsica.
Although this also has drawbacks, other political factions may regard Lawrence as a crony of Pauli and target him from all sides. However, at the current stage, holding on to Pauli's thigh is undoubtedly the greatest benefit to Lawrence.
"Oh no, I made an appointment with Anna."
Lawrence suddenly remembered the agreement he had made with the poor girl, and glanced at the clock tower in the Governor's Palace. It was already past two o'clock in the afternoon, so he hurried to the agreed street without stopping.