From Corsica to the Fourth Rome

"crown?!"

Count Malbeuf stood up in surprise and even accidentally knocked a small round table next to him to the ground.

"Sorry, I was rude."

Count Malbeuf quickly took out a hand towel to wipe the tea spilled on himself, bowed his head and apologized to Lawrence, then sat back in his seat, deliberately pretending to be crazy and said with a silly smile:

"Haha, I didn't know you were a jeweler. Do you want to make a crown for King Louis?"

Lawrence looked at Count Malbeuf, not believing that he did not understand the meaning of his words, so he said directly:

"This crown was not made by me, but by God. This crown is three hundred and sixty miles long and one hundred and forty miles wide. Its name is Corsica."

When Lawrence's calm words came to an end, Count Malbeuf held his forehead and stayed there for a long time. Then he picked up the letter on the table and did not open it, but looked at it for a while.

He originally thought that Lawrence was just a temporary traveler, but Count Malbeuf would never have imagined that this young man, who was only twenty years old, had already reached the position of controlling the destiny of a country.

"Corsica, it seems that a lot of things have happened. Are you sure?"

Count Malbeuf put the envelope gently back on the table, looked at Lawrence and whispered.

Lawrence shook his head calmly and replied:

"I just hope that the letter will be sent in your name. If it goes well, you will certainly make a lot of money as an introducer. Even if King Louis is not interested in this, he will not blame you for worrying about state affairs."

Count Malbeuf nodded and admitted that Lawrence was right. He was just a messenger and did not need to be responsible for this matter. He had no reason to refuse this request, either emotionally or rationally.

Moreover, Count Malbeuf himself knew that if an agreement was finally reached on this matter, Lawrence might even become the actual leader of Corsica by then.

Using such a small effort to exchange a favor for such a young man with unlimited potential is a good deal no matter how you look at it.

"I understand. I will write an explanation immediately and submit the letter directly to the palace in my name."

Count Malbeuf put the envelope into his pocket with a solemn expression, stared at Lawrence and said in a deep voice.

On March 22, 1770, Lawrence stayed at the Count of Malbeuf's estate for the tenth day.

In order to get the news about Ajaccio as soon as possible, Lawrence did not let Count Malbeuf take him to Versailles, but directly sent the letter to the Palace of Versailles together with the Count's explanation.

Although this was somewhat illegal, Lawrence believed that Louis XV would not care about such details in the face of such a major matter.

In the early morning, as usual, Lawrence got up and went directly to the dining table to prepare for breakfast with Count Malbeuf.

However, what surprised Lawrence was that when he came to the dining table, there were still half-eaten white bread and warm cream stew on Count Malbeuf's seat, but there was no sign of him.

For a traditional aristocrat like him, it would be very rude to leave in the middle of the meal, unless there is something really important.

Just when Lawrence was a little confused, the manor housekeeper hurriedly walked into the dining room, bowed to Lawrence and said:

"Dear sir, my master has gone to greet a guest. He asked you to change into formal clothes as soon as possible after breakfast."

"A guest?"

Lawrence's eyes lit up, and he calculated the time. It was almost time for the special envoy sent by Louis XV to arrive, and the one who made Count Malbeuf so anxiously go to greet him was probably the king's envoy.

"Do you know who the guest is?" Lawrence asked casually.

The manor housekeeper nodded. When these people of high status visit others, they will send servants to inform the master in advance, and then said:

"It is Monsieur Etienne François, who is, of course, best known as the Duke of Choiseul."

"The Duke of Choiseul?!"

Lawrence couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, frowned and looked at the manor housekeeper, and confirmed the identity of the visitor with him again.

If this special envoy is really that big shot, this makes Lawrence feel a little tricky.

After receiving a positive answer, Lawrence frowned even more tightly and murmured softly:

"Should I say this is a good thing or a bad thing?"

The Duke of Choiseul was a powerful figure during the Louis XV period. He had outstanding military exploits in the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War, and made considerable reforms to the French military system. .

In the current year of 1770, his position should be France's Minister of War, but the Foreign Minister at this time was also his cousin, so he still controlled France's foreign policy.

In addition, many historical books have recorded that the Duke of Choiseul was able to influence, even control, and intimidate Louis XV's behavior to a certain extent.

Although he was dismissed from his post by the intolerable Louis XV in the autumn of 1770, at the moment, he is definitely one of the top figures in French politics.

Lawrence couldn't help but sigh as soon as he sat down at the dining table. He suddenly lost his appetite and got up directly and went back to his room to start changing into formal clothes.

The arrival of the Duke of Choiseul also gave Lawrence mixed feelings. On the one hand, it meant that King Louis, or the Duke himself, attached great importance to the content mentioned in Lawrence's letter.

But on the other hand, in front of such a powerful figure, Lawrence may not be able to gain any advantage in the subsequent negotiations.

About half an hour later, a dressed-up Lawrence stood at the door of the main building of the manor, adjusting his uncomfortable scarf while waiting for the arrival of Duke Choiseul.

And after a while, I saw a four-horse carriage slowly approaching on the only dirt road in front of the manor.

This carriage is seven or eight meters long and five or six meters wide. It can accommodate about ten people, but it obviously only has two rows of seats inside.

The wheels are all inlaid with brass outer rings, and even the handrails outside the carriage are engraved with intricate patterns.

Not to mention the four horses pulling the cart in advance. Their coats are all pure black, with almost no stray hairs visible. Moreover, the manes of these horses have been carefully taken care of and tied into a unified knot like a rope. style.

Following this carriage, there were four or five carriages of ordinary specifications, which seemed to be carried by the Duke's personal servants.

Looking from a distance, Lawrence could see Count Malbeuf riding a horse and following around the carriage. He was not sitting in the carriage. He didn't know whether it was because he was not of sufficient status or because he voluntarily followed behind on horseback.

The carriage stopped smoothly at the entrance of the manor. The coachman wearing white gloves quickly jumped out of the car, opened the carriage door, and then helped a middle-aged man slowly step out of the carriage.

The Duke's eyes were quite sharp. He had been looking around since he got off the car, but he obviously had no interest in such a countryside. He soon walked towards the main building with Count Malbeuf who dismounted.

Lawrence stood quietly, watching the two people walking towards him.

"Allow me to introduce you."

Count Malbeuf and Duke Choiseul walked to Lawrence, coughed twice and said:

"This is Laurence Bonaparte from Corsica, the owner of that letter."

Lawrence looked at Duke Choiseul, bowed slightly, and said calmly:

"It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty."

Duke Choiseul nodded, and then stared at Lawrence for a full minute, as seriously as an artist appreciating his work, and then slowly said:

"I have heard of you, young man."