"I haven't seen such a grand event for so many years."
An old man with pale face and white hair was tremblingly crowded among the mountains of people on both sides of the street, murmuring dreamily, looking at the long line of victorious warriors in the middle of the road.
An onlooker glanced at the old man, waved enthusiastically to the soldiers, and said excitedly:
"This is the first time I have seen such a scene. I dare say that all the people in Ajaccio ran out of their houses. Look, from Dongcheng District to Xicheng District, every street is blocked. Oh my god, I
I didn’t know there were so many people in Ajaccio.”
The old man kept nodding his head and muttered:
"But it happened once a long time ago."
"Hmm? When?"
"Almost twenty years ago, when General Paoli liberated Ajaccio, the scene was far from what it is now."
...
When the prisoners of the Sardinian Army walked in front of the people, every citizen cursed loudly. The most unpleasant words that they would never use in ordinary times were shouted out by the citizens at this moment.
These prisoners wore blood-stained and tattered uniforms, were smelly, and had their hands tied behind their backs. They walked past them with their heads bowed and despite the insults of the people.
And when the Corsican soldiers held their heads high and walked majestically in front of the people, they were greeted by deafening cheers and flowers constantly thrown from the crowd.
Even the shop owners on both sides of the street closed their stores early, moved the goods they sold directly to the street, and generously stuffed all kinds of food and wine glasses into the hands of passing soldiers.
Even farmers who have been in Corsica all their lives have heard of the existence of the Kingdom of Sardinia and know that it is a far richer and more powerful country than Corsica.
But now, citizens of Ajaccio, look before your eyes.
Look at the disgraced prisoners who can't hold their heads up like the slaves of ancient Rome. Ask them where they come from and who they were defeated by.
The Corsicans, who were discriminated against because of their poverty and backwardness, and were derided as mountain savages, can now feel proud in front of foreigners.
As the leader of the entire team, Lawrence naturally became the center of attention.
Countless freshly picked flowers with lingering fragrance flew towards Lawrence, and even the road in front of him was paved with flower petals in advance by cheering citizens.
Even the war horse under Lawrence's crotch was so lively and cute in the eyes of the citizens at this moment. From time to time, people squeezed out from both sides of the street and enthusiastically stuffed fresh carrots into the horse's mouth.
Lawrence loosened the reins and allowed the horse to walk freely at a slow pace. At the same time, he smiled and waved to the people on both sides of the street and even on the surrounding rooftops.
"Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte, I can't handle this kind of situation."
Major Cui Farley rode his horse to catch up to Lawrence and said in a somewhat dumbfounded voice.
Lawrence turned his head and glanced at Major Trifali, who, like Lieutenant Seth, kept laughing and dusting the petals off his body.
The two of them also wore beautifully woven garlands on their heads, which were given to them shyly by a few young girls who had just squeezed out of the crowd.
Lawrence hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said to the two of them:
"Enjoy this moment."
The reason why Lawrence deliberately led the troops in a grand parade around the city was not for vanity and publicity, but for the sake of Major Trifali and Lieutenant Seth.
Only by bringing the two of them into the sun and exposing them to the public's attention will Pauli be more wary when he wants to take action against them.
Lawrence had just lowered his head and pondered for a moment when he heard a sudden commotion in front of him.
The citizens in front didn't know what they saw, and seemed to be even more excited, and the cheers became more and more deafening.
Lawrence was stunned for a moment, and then realized what was making these citizens even more excited.
"Calculating the time, it's really time to show up."
Lawrence sighed slightly, shook the reins and spurred the horse forward at a faster pace.
At the corner ahead, a group of cuirassiers slowly walked out in neat formation. Their armor glowed dazzlingly silver under the sunlight, and the chestnut-haired war horses under their crotches were even more powerful.
And their leader, Pasquale Paoli, also personally drove a pure white horse, smiling and greeting the citizens on both sides more skillfully than Lawrence.
The two teams were still dozens of meters apart, but Lawrence could already see the costume on Paulie:
On such a special day, Paulie was indeed wearing his unique general uniform, and he also rarely wore a saber and pistol on his waist.
Even the white horse under his crotch was covered in a leather outfit according to the standards of a war horse.
Such attire undoubtedly sends a signal: He, Pauli, is not only a soldier, but also Lawrence's direct superior. He, Pauli, also has a share of today's glory.
"Here comes someone to warm up."
Lawrence said to himself expressionlessly.
The expressions of Major Trifari and Lieutenant Seth behind him were much more complicated.
After learning the inside story that Lawrence told them, this was the first time the two of them saw the general who once made them devote their blood.
"General Pauli, I'm back."
Lawrence got off his horse, held the reins and walked towards Pauli, saying with a smile.
Paulie did not dismount, but nodded to Lawrence on horseback, maintained a seemingly enthusiastic smile, and said loudly on purpose:
"Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte and the Corsican warriors send you our most sincere greetings on your triumph."
In stark contrast to the cheers of the citizens, it was Lawrence and the soldiers behind him.
The soldiers looked at Pauli without any trouble. This hypocritical rhetoric could not erase the pain they suffered on the battlefield. On the contrary, many soldiers also saw that Pauli was dressed up deliberately, but it was just
Want to share the honor they bought with their blood.
At this moment, in the eyes of the soldiers, Lawrence, who was bathed in artillery fire with them, was undoubtedly more worthy of following.
"I'm just fulfilling my duty." Lawrence bowed to Paulie without being humble or condescending.
Paulie nodded to Lawrence, but did not speak. Instead, he ordered the cavalry to turn their horses and deliberately walked in front of Lawrence and his party, continuing the unfinished parade.
Lieutenant Seth frowned and whispered beside Lawrence:
"Sir, they are obviously trying to steal our limelight. We are obviously the ones..."
Before the lieutenant finished speaking, Lawrence shook his head and made a hissing gesture. After a pause, he pointed covertly at the soldiers behind him and said in a deep voice:
"You know it, and they know it too."
After saying that, Lawrence took the reins and followed the team, leaving Lieutenant Seth in place for a long time, as if he didn't understand.
...
The parade lasted until the evening, and when Lawrence and his party returned to the Governor's Palace with Paulie, everything that happened during the day was still being discussed heatedly in the streets.
If you walk into any tavern in Ajaccio, you will see someone taking a swig of beer while exaggeratingly telling the story of the afternoon to his companions who missed the parade in the tone of a bard.
Paulie and Lawrence, the old and the young, have begun to be discussed on equal footing.
Many people have begun to sincerely hope, and even pray, that when their beloved Governor Paoli leaves his post due to old age in the future, this outstanding young man can continue to lead Corsica.
Of course, no one can say exactly when this future will happen.