"What was your plan last time to have a chance to save Corsica?" Paulie crossed his hands, dragged his chin, and asked Lawrence very seriously.

Lawrence didn't speak rashly, but sorted out his thoughts a little.

This meeting with Poly was extremely important, and only if Lawrence's proposal could attract Poly and get the two of them on the same page once and for all.

For Lawrence at this stage, Pauly's asylum is indispensable to him.

Just now, Paulie was able to turn a blind eye to Lawrence's transgression execution, which was more or less based on Lawrence's possible plan to save Corsica's survival.

"What do you think, Lord Governor?" Lawrence asked cautiously.

Poly took a sip of warm black tea, moistened his throat, and said a little helplessly:

"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 in the hope of being recognized as an independent state. The Spaniards, the Neapolitans, even the Venetians and Austrians, I turned to them for help. ”

"It's just—" Paulie said with a wry smile, "the Corsican envoys were either turned away or made unacceptable demands. ”

Lawrence nodded as he listened, and Paulie's approach was indeed understandable. With such a huge disparity in power, diplomacy is indeed the best way to go.

It's just that Corsica, a small and impoverished island country, has no bargaining chips at all in front of these European powers.

After confirming that he was basically in line with the general direction of Pauly's plan, Lawrence spoke:

"Given the current situation, diplomacy is indeed the best way forward. It's just that the Governor, you have chosen someone who is biased. Even if these powers agree to shelter Corsica, they will inevitably offer corresponding conditions. At that time, it will just change from a sheep into a tiger's mouth to a sheep's mouth. ”

"Oh? So who should I turn to for help? It can't be British, right? Paulie frowned and thought for a moment, still not understanding who to seek refuge in.

Lawrence pretended to smile mysteriously and said, "This country, the Governor, you should be quite familiar with. ”

"Huh? What is it? Poly was even more puzzled.

"Genoese."

"What?!" Poly almost cried out, looked at Lawrence in disbelief, and said hurriedly:

"Oh my God! Lawrence, if you say this at the first meeting, I will throw you in prison as a Genoese spy! ”

"Governor Paulie, think about why we regard the French as imaginary enemies." Lawrence began to analyze.

Pauli was stunned for a moment and said, "Of course, because the Genoese will sell Corsica to the French." ”

"Then it would be nice to stop them from reaching an agreement, after all, it is much easier to resist the Genoese than against the French."

Poly leaned back in his chair, sighed, and said:

"Although this is the case, but what should you do, is it possible that you are ready to infiltrate Versailles to blow up the Genoese negotiating team into the sky?"

Lawrence smiled, got up and took down a map of Corsica from his study, laid it on the table, and explained to Paulie:

"Of course, it was to get the Genoese to give up negotiations with the French on their own initiative. Governor, you see, nearly ninety percent of the island's territory is now in the hands of the Corsicans, and the Genoese army can only retreat to the fortresses on the northern coast. ”

"You mean... Take the initiative to show weakness and deliberately push the front back a little? Paulie touched his chin and understood what Lawrence meant.

The important reason why Genoa wanted to give up Corsica was that they had almost no hope of recovering the whole island, and instead of spending a high price to continue to garrison on the island, it was better to take the initiative to sell Corsica to the French, and also make up for some financial revenue.

Lawrence meant to back down and deliberately let the Genoese army regain some territory in order to convince them that there was still a chance to take all of Corsica.

"Hmm... There was a chance, but it was too risky, and the Genoese might have lost interest in Corsica altogether. ”

Poly thought about it for a moment and shook his head, not at ease with this plan.

Lawrence also anticipated Pauly's reaction, and then said:

"Of course, but this is just the first step in the plan. Another important reason why Genoa would abandon Corsica was that Corsica was too poor to be of much value to them. ”

Although Poly was a little displeased when he heard this, he had to admit that it was indeed true.

Although Ajaccio is also a famous port city in the Mediterranean, it is still too backward compared to the world-class port cities such as Toulon, Pisa and Venice.

"That's true, but Corsica wouldn't be so isolated if it had been richer." Poly smiled bitterly twice and spread his hands helplessly.

Lawrence, on the other hand, stretched out his finger and pointed to the map on the table, and said with a smile:

"Well, if this impoverished island nation suddenly discovers a silver or gold mine, the situation will be very different."

"Gold and silver mines?" Paulie frowned and looked at the map on the table.

Corsica is a typical mountain island, with majestic mountains in the center of the island, and only on the fringes is the more gentle terrain suitable for large-scale settlements.

Thanks to these mountains, Corsica also has a well-developed mining industry and is a major pillar of the country's finances.

And in such terrain, it is reasonable to find a vein of gold and silver.

However, Poly also knows very well that he has not seen a single piece of gold and silver ore in Corsica for so many years.

Thinking about it this way, Lawrence's meaning is also very obvious.

"You're going to spread fake news?"

Paulie didn't look up, still staring at the map on the table, and asked Lawrence.

"That's right, when the Genoese received the news, they would no longer discuss the sale of Corsica with the French until they realized it was false. At the same time, we will take the initiative to shrink our fronts and give them the confidence to regain Corsica, so that in a short time we will not have to face the threat of the French. ”

The foreshadowing has been almost done, and Lawrence directly laid out his plan.

What gave Lawrence confidence in this plan was that in his memories of his previous life, there was indeed a silver mine on the island of Corsica, and it was a very rich mine. As long as the vein can be explored before the Genoese debunk the lie, Corsica will be safe for a long time.

"In this way, there is a good chance. But... It's just a procrastination after all. Paulie nodded, affirming Lawrence's plan.

Although in Pauli's eyes, this is just a delaying tactic, there is not much time left before the agreement to sell Corsican is reached, and it has to be adopted first, and then the plan will be made later.

"You can leave first, I still need to discuss this plan with the military and various councilors, and I will invite you to participate in the discussion at that time."

Paulie sighed and folded the map on the table and put it away, indicating that Lawrence was ready to leave.

Lawrence got up and walked to the door, glancing back at a worried Paulie. He was clearly worried about what would happen to Corsica after the lie was exposed.

"Don't worry, Governor Poly, maybe we'll find a silver mine." Lawrence casually comforted.

Hearing this, Paulie raised his head suddenly, stared straight at Lawrence, and whispered, "Are you confident?" ”

In Paulie's eyes, the young man, though sometimes too bold, seemed to have expected every step.

"It's just a hunch." Lawrence smiled.

"Is that so..."

Paulie said with some disappointment, then waved for Lawrence to leave.

After walking out of the Governor's Palace, Lawrence couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. After reaching an agreement with Pauli, he also had a real political backer in Corsica.

Despite the downsides of this, other political factions may see Lawrence as a close confidant of Paulie and target him from all over the place. However, at this stage, holding Poly's thigh is undoubtedly the biggest benefit for Lawrence.

"Oh no, I made an appointment with Anna."

Lawrence suddenly remembered his agreement with the poor girl, glanced at the bell tower in the governor's palace, it was already past two o'clock in the afternoon, and hurried to the appointed street.