On March 7, 1770, outside a natural harbor in the south of Corsica.

Due to the weakness of the overall national strength, the strength of the Corsican navy is also quite weak, at most it can clear the surrounding pirates or smuggling ships, once it encounters the regular navy, it can only retreat to the home port of Ajaccio.

Thus, the vanguard of the Sardinian army, these 3,000 men, easily landed from Sardinia onto this natural harbor.

After the Sardinian landing, they cut down the logs outside the bay and set up an improvised camp that served as a bridgehead for follow-up operations.

At this time, on the morning of March 7, inside the camp of the Sardinian army.

The commander of the vanguard, Colonel Butland, sat in his tent and discussed with several adjutants the course of action.

In front of them was a very rudimentary map of southern Corsica, stolen from a nearby hunter.

Despite the rough lines of the map, the general location and information are largely correct.

"Hmm... According to my intelligence, a Corsican unit was sent to the south for reinforcements the other day. ”

Colonel Butland pointed to Bonifacio's location on the map and said to the crowd:

"Then they must be stationed in Bonifacio at this moment."

Several adjutants and staff officers nodded, and no one would have an opinion on something so obvious.

Of the few cities in the south, only Bonifacio has the most rugged terrain and is a natural giant fortress.

Colonel Butland went on to say:

"Then we must now prepare to lay siege to Bonifacio."

A staff officer raised his hand to indicate that he disagreed, then pointed to Ajaccio and asked:

"Can't we get around Bonifacio? Attack Ajaccio directly north. ”

The rest of the lieutenants and staff officers nodded approvingly, for in their eyes, the main force of the Corsican army was still in the north against the Genoese army, and their advance in the south would not be hindered in any way.

However, Colonel Butland sighed, looked away from the map, and said slowly:

"It's militarily feasible, but it's not politically feasible."

Looking at the puzzled expressions of the crowd, Colonel Butland added:

"The British warships remain in Ajaccio, and, it is said that the Corsicans are negotiating with the British, and the king's court is still discussing whether to attack Ajaccio at the risk of hostility with the British, and we should not act rashly until we have been ordered."

A few people nodded in understanding, and someone said casually:

"Damn the British, if they hadn't been in the way, we would have landed in Ajaccio."

The rest of the people nodded in agreement, and couldn't help but start complaining.

"Alright, alright."

Colonel Butland patted the table impatiently, pointed to the map, and said:

"Our goal is to take control of southern Corsica first, and if not to attack the city of Ajaccio, then to capture the silver mine. And the first thing at the moment is to take control of the fortress of Bonifacio. ”

"Yes." Everyone nodded in approval of Colonel Butland's plan.

At this moment, an officer suddenly broke into the tent, his pants still stained with mud and dew, as if he had just returned from outside.

Colonel Butland frowned and looked at the intruding officer, recognizing that this was the commander of a reconnaissance company under his command, so he asked in a deep voice:

"Did you find something?"

"Yes, Colonel."

The company commander breathed two sighs of relief, and said in a somewhat strange tone:

"I've received a report from my men that a Corsican army is approaching us."

"Corsican army? Aren't they cowering in Bonifacio and appearing near us? ”

General Butland's eyes widened and he asked in disbelief:

"How many of them are there, and what about the distance?"

The few people present understood very well that the main force of Corsica was still in the north, so the troops that appeared here could only be the southern corps stationed in Bonifacio.

The company commander took out a piece of paper, glanced at it twice, and reported:

"There are no more than a thousand people, and they are now at least two hours away from our camp."

"Not more than a thousand?"

The company commander's words suddenly made several people in the tent look at each other, and then burst into a burst of laughter:

"You can't have heard that we were coming and came to surrender on your own initiative, right?"

"You don't think a herd of bison is a Corsican army, how can they attack on their own initiative?"

General Butland nodded to the reconnaissance company commander, signaled that he could go out, and then said solemnly to his men:

"Well, anyway, don't take it lightly, inform the battalions to assemble immediately, leaving one battalion to garrison, and the rest of the troops to prepare for the march."

......

The terrain around Bonifacio is a gentle alluvial plain with few hills and hills.

Standing on the grass and looking into the distance, if the weather conditions are good, you can even see things from several kilometers away.

"Report! Colonel Silva, we can already see the enemy. ”

In the array of the Southern Legion, a soldier pointed to the small black dots that were constantly wriggling along the line of heaven and earth in the distance, and reported to Colonel Silva on horseback.

Colonel Silva squinted into the distance and said to Lawrence beside him:

"Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte, the Sardinian army is approaching us, and we must begin to set up our formation."

Lawrence glanced at him, and like several other officers, rolled over and jumped off his horse, following Colonel Silva's instructions.

"Ahem, I plan to divide the corps into two parts, the front army and the rear army."

Colonel Silva staggered off his horse and commanded the officers:

"The forward army consisted of the task force battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte, and was also commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte, and was responsible for direct combat against the enemy. As for the rest of the soldiers, they were divided into the rear army, which was under my command and was responsible for supporting the operation. Do you understand? ”

"You!"

Major Triphali stared straight at Colonel Silva and stepped forward resentfully, he didn't have to think about it to know that this so-called rear army was set up to retreat at any time and betray the task force to the enemy.

"Trevary!" Lawrence frowned and reached out to stop Major Tripfary, turned to Colonel Silva and nodded:

"I understand, our front army has gone to set up the formation first."

With that, Lawrence took Major Trefali and Lieutenant Seth on his horse and led his troops onward.

"Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte, you can't fail to see that bastard Silva is ready to slip away when we fall to the downwind."

On horseback, Major Trevary said anxiously to Lawrence:

"Damn it, you can see the shadow of the enemy, and you're still trying to calculate us."

"Yes, sir." Lieutenant Seth also said worriedly:

"With just our people, we can't last long under the firepower of the other party."

Lawrence rode briskly, looked back and smiled and beckoned to Colonel Silva, then turned his head to regain his grim expression, and said in a deep voice:

"Don't forget, it's not the numbers that make us victorious. Moreover, their rear army will join the battle when the time comes. ”

"Will join the fight? Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte, are you sure? ”

Major Trefali asked, despite his extreme trust in Lawrence, with some concern.

Lawrence tilted his head slightly, glanced at Silva with a cold look, remembered his appearance deeply, and then looked at Major Tripfary, nodded softly and said:

"If something happens to our dear Colonel Silva on the battlefield, then I will have to be ordered to take over the command of the Southern Corps."