Chapter 88: Causing the Tiger to Leave the Mountain
The next morning, Dongcheng District.
"Hey! Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte, long time no see."
Lawrence was walking on the way to the Governor's Palace when he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind. When he turned around, he realized that it was Major Trefarley.
"Good morning, Major. It's been a long time indeed."
Lawrence turned around and saluted each other with Cui Farley, saying hello somewhat unexpectedly.
However, Major Trifali's attire made Lawrence very strange. He was not wearing casual clothes, but was neatly dressed in a full military uniform, and even wore the medal he received two years ago on his chest.
Moreover, judging from the walking direction of Major Trifari, it seemed that he was also heading towards the Governor's Palace.
"Have you also been summoned by the Governor?"
Lawrence asked with a strange frown.
After his bad breakup with Paulie last night, Lawrence thought he would be squeezed out of the Governor's Mansion for a while.
Unexpectedly, Lawrence received an order from Paulie to summon him early this morning, and emphasized that he would go immediately.
"That's right, so are you, Lieutenant Colonel...?"
Major Cui Farley scratched his chin and felt something was wrong.
What happened that would make Pauly call their partners together again.
Just as the two were chatting for a few words, another man in military uniform was seen running towards the two of them excitedly from a distance, and at the same time he shouted excitedly:
"Hi! Sir! Two sirs!"
Lawrence and Trifali took a closer look and found that this man turned out to be the former company commander of the 4th Battalion and Lawrence's former subordinate, Lieutenant Seth.
Lawrence took a moment to look at Lieutenant Seth. Like Major Trifali, he was wearing a full military uniform, and he also wore the Combat Hero Medal he received two years ago on his chest.
"Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte, I really didn't expect to see you here."
Lieutenant Seth had not seen Lawrence since he left the Northern Army. At this moment, he actually ran into Lawrence and Trifali at the same time on the road, which made Lieutenant Seth couldn't help but get excited.
Lawrence nodded to Seth. Although he had no reason to visit the former soldiers of the 4th Battalion in the army after returning to Ajaccio, his correspondence with them had never been interrupted.
"How have you been lately? Where are the brothers in the Fourth Battalion?"
Lawrence asked Lieutenant Seth casually.
"That's great. Although our organization has been disbanded, no matter where the soldiers of the Fourth Battalion go, someone will whisper behind them: 'Look, those are the soldiers who returned from Yangjiao Bay in triumph.'"
Seth gestured with joy and said excitedly:
"Not to mention the gold coins you sent us last time. When our soldiers opened the package, God, it's a shame that you didn't see the other soldiers' jaws dropped."
Lawrence kept smiling and listened, patiently waiting for Lieutenant Seth to finish his embellished story, and then asked:
"By the way, why did you come back to Ajaccio?"
Hearing this question, Lieutenant Seth's face showed some hesitation. He looked around carefully and made sure there were no other pedestrians before whispering:
"We were urgently transferred back to Ajaccio from the Northern Army. We just arrived last night. Several hundred people were transferred secretly. It was said that a special dispatch battalion was formed."
Lawrence frowned and asked repeatedly:
"Emergency transfer? Wait, are you going to the Governor's Mansion too?"
"That's right, I received an order from General Pauli, and the two officers also...?" Lieutenant Seth replied in confusion.
Lawrence and Cui Farley frowned and looked at each other.
It is certainly not a coincidence that three officers and non-commissioned officers from the original 4th Battalion were summoned at the same time.
"Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte, General Paoli must have summoned the three of us specially. What does he want to do?"
Major Cui Farley looked at Lawrence with a confused look on his face and asked.
Lawrence took a deep breath and vaguely guessed that Paulie's behavior would be related to him, so without saying anything, he directly motioned for the two of them to follow him to the Governor's Mansion.
...
"Ah, three Corsican warriors, welcome, please take a seat."
Pauli still met the three people in the study. After seeing the three people entering, Pauli just made a welcoming gesture and asked them to sit down in a calm tone.
There was no expression on his face, especially when facing Lawrence, as if the quarrel last night never happened at all.
"First, I need you to finish reading this."
Paulie said, pushing a stack of documents on the desk in front of the three of them.
Lawrence glanced at it and saw that this was the report of the Southern Army of the National Defense Force that Pauli showed him last night, so he picked it up and flipped through it without looking at it in detail.
However, when Major Trifali and Lieutenant Seth read the report, they both couldn't help showing expressions of shock and panic.
Major Cui Farley couldn't help but ask:
"General, the Kingdom of Sardinia will launch an attack on Corsica?!"
Although Lieutenant Seth did not speak, his wide mouth already expressed his shock.
Paulie nodded, without looking at Lawrence, and said directly:
"There are about three thousand troops attacking directly north from Sardinia. The main force of the Kingdom of Sardinia is still in Piedmont, with an unknown number, and is preparing to cross the sea to land in Corsica."
The study room was suddenly surrounded by an atmosphere of silence.
Major Trifalli and Lieutenant Seth both knew that the attack of the Kingdom of Sardinia was not something that the Corsican Defense Force could resist head-on.
In the worst case scenario, they may even have to consider withdrawing from the city and entering the mountains and forests to start guerrilla resistance.
Although Lawrence knew that Pauli had found British support, he did not point it out in front of the two of them.
After all, this matter is still a confidential matter, and Lawrence also wants to see what kind of trick Paulie played in gathering the three people together.
Seeing that the three people opposite him didn't speak, Pauli said to himself:
"Now, the top priority is to resist the attack from Sardinia. I have transferred troops from the northern army to reinforce the south. Lieutenant Seth should know."
Lieutenant Seth was stunned for a moment, then nodded quickly.
He was already a little nervous when facing Supreme Commander Pauli, but he was even more stunned when he heard the news of Sardinia's invasion. He was inevitably a little distracted.
"This is the battle that will determine the life and death of Corsica, three warriors."
Paulie suddenly raised his voice and said loudly:
"You accomplished the impossible mission in Bastia two years ago. Now, I hope that your courage and wisdom can bring victory to Corsica again. I hereby appoint Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte as the commander of this mission.
The commander of the special battalion, Major Cui Fali and Lieutenant Seth, served as his adjutants and went to the southern theater to support operations."
Paulie's passionate voice echoed in the study, immediately affecting Major Trifali and Lieutenant Seth.
"yes!"
The two men immediately stood up excitedly and saluted loudly in response.
Lawrence's movements were half a beat slower. He did not speak after standing up, but only saluted to express his acceptance of the appointment.
...
After a series of handover procedures, the three of them left the Governor's Mansion together and immediately set off for the army station, preparing to march south immediately.
"Oh my god, General Pauli actually trusts me so much!" Lieutenant Seth said excitedly as he walked on the road.
Although Major Cui Fali was not so excited, he was also infected by Pauli's words and said:
"This is indeed a difficult and dangerous task, but it is also a great honor and recognition for us."
Lawrence walked in front of them and said nothing.
When Paulie announced that he would be appointed as the commander of the special battalion to reinforce the southern region, Lawrence understood the old fox's intention.
This is because he wants to transfer himself away from Ajaccio at the critical time of signing the contract to avoid any mishaps.
In addition, even if Lawrence's special battalion is included in the garrison in the southern region, the number is only about a thousand. Facing an attack by an enemy with better equipment and superior numbers, it can be said that there is no chance of victory.
As long as Lawrence suffered a defeat in the south, Pauley could take advantage of the situation to suppress Lawrence's reputation in the military and hold Lawrence accountable for his command in accordance with military law.
"It's just that... there are opportunities hidden behind any risk. If I can triumph from the south, Pasquale Paoli, how ugly will your face be..."
Lawrence looked ahead with cold eyes, knowing that it was time to show the trump card in his hand.
