From Corsica to the Fourth Rome

When Bonifacio's Southern Army marched overnight to Ajaccio, Ajaccio, the center of the storm, was not peaceful either.

"Ah, Major Trifali, and Lieutenant Seth, what can I do?"

The commander of the Ajaccio garrison, Lieutenant Colonel Ledo, was immersed in annotating the documents on the table. When he saw the two people suddenly coming to visit him, he stood up to greet them somewhat unexpectedly and said.

Major Trifali led Lieutenant Seth into the room with a calm face. He glanced at Lieutenant Colonel Ledo's desk and saw that it was covered with various documents and topographic maps, so he said a little apologetically:

"Sorry to disturb you so late. Are you busy at work?"

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo sighed, sorted the documents on the table, and said:

"It's true. General Pauli asked us to send troops to assist with security work in the city tomorrow. The order was issued very urgently and we didn't have much time to prepare."

Assisting with security in the city?

Major Trifali secretly glanced at Lieutenant Seth, and both of them understood why Lawrence asked them to take action at this time. It seemed that Pauli was indeed preparing to carry out some big action tomorrow.

"tomorrow?"

Major Cui Farley pretended not to know anything and asked in confusion:

"Isn't tomorrow a regular meeting of the parliament? Why are we suddenly asked to assist with security this time?"

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo glanced at Cui Farley warily, and after not seeing any clues from his expression, he said casually:

"You are quite close to those patrols, don't you know?"

"Patrol? What happened?"

Major Trifali frowned and asked. He has been improving firearms without leaving home these days, so he naturally doesn't know about the turmoil caused by Captain Halide in the city.

"After that Bonaparte left, a new captain came."

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo shook his head helplessly, shrugged and said:

"The citizens in the city are full of complaints. Tomorrow is another important day. Of course, General Pauli will be worried about what kind of trouble the citizens will cause."

"That's true." Major Cui Farley showed a genuine expression and said intentionally or unintentionally:

"But General Pauli also attaches great importance to this meeting. I don't know if there are any important bills."

"Who knows."

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo frowned, obviously not intending to continue talking about this topic with Major Trifali, so he said bluntly:

"By the way, why did you two come to me?"

Facing Lieutenant Colonel Ledo's question, Major Cui Farley just smiled without blushing and said:

"A few days ago, the special battalion that returned from Bonifacio was temporarily stationed here. We just heard rumors that General Paoli needs the special battalion to return to support the Northern Army."

"Is that so? I did hear that the war in the north is a bit tense."

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo nodded in understanding, and then said:

"Oh, I almost forgot, you two are still affiliated with the special battalion, so are you here to say goodbye?"

"That's right." Major Trifari and Lieutenant Seth nodded in unison.

"ok, I get it."

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo nodded indifferently, sat back on the chair, looked down at the documents, and said casually:

"You can set off after General Pauli's official transfer order is issued."

Although Lieutenant Colonel Ledo's words were equivalent to an order to expel the guest, Major Trifali still stood where he was, coughing twice and said:

"Ahem, the transfer order is expected to come out tomorrow, and we should be leaving in a hurry by then."

"Huh? What do you want to say?" Lieutenant Colonel Ledo raised his head and asked in confusion.

"Ahem, I'm wondering if, as the commander here, you should show up to say goodbye to the soldiers in the special battalion. After all, they are still soldiers under your command."

"Tsk"

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo glanced at the documents on the table with some displeasure, then frowned at Major Trifali and said:

"Why haven't I seen you with such thoughts before? Oh, forget it, I'll just show up. Don't take me too long."

After saying that, Lieutenant Colonel Ledo stood up impatiently, followed Major Trifali and Lieutenant Seth out of the room, and walked to the special camp stationed four miles away.

In the Mediterranean at the end of March, the weather was still a little cool, and with the strong evening breeze, even Lieutenant Colonel Ledo, who was in good health, couldn't help but shiver all the time.

Due to the limited area of ​​the Ajaccio station, the soldiers of these special battalions had to sleep on a flat land four miles away from the station.

The three of them walked silently through the trails in the mountains and forests under the still bright moonlight.

What makes Lieutenant Colonel Ledo a little strange is that along the way, Major Trifali and Lieutenant Seth have always been taciturn. Even if they throw out a few words from time to time, the two of them will talk to each other very perfunctorily after a few words. silence.

"This damn weather is so miserable."

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo, who was walking at the forefront, sneezed, rubbed his nose and said:

"How long have we been walking, why haven't we arrived yet?"

Major Trifali poked Lieutenant Seth silently, and the latter took out his pocket watch, looked at it in the moonlight for a while, and said:

"Been walking for more than half an hour."

"More than half an hour?" Lieutenant Colonel Ledo was stunned for a moment, turned to look at Lieutenant Seth and said with a frown:

"This journey only takes twenty minutes at most. What's going on?"

However, when Lieutenant Colonel Ledo turned his head, what he saw immediately sent a chill down his back.

Major Cui Farley was seen standing still, facing him, expressionlessly taking out his pistol and filling it with gunpowder and bullets.

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo thought Major Cui Farley had seen some wild beast, so he looked around cautiously, but he didn't see even a field mouse, let alone wild beasts.

"Trefali! Seth! What are you doing?!"

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo suddenly broke into a cold sweat and shouted loudly at the two of them.

However, both of them ignored him. Lieutenant Seth just whispered to Major Trifali and asked:

"You won't hear gunshots in the camp, right?"

Major Cui Farley continued his loading action while shaking his head and said:

"Probably not. The distance is far enough, and there are still woods in the middle."

"damn it!"

Lieutenant Colonel Ledo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cursed.

Although he had no idea why the major who had worked with him for several years would do this, he immediately turned around and ran back when he saw Major Cui Farley slowly pointing the muzzle of the pistol at him.

boom.

With a dull gunshot, Lieutenant Colonel Ledo, who had just ran two steps, immediately felt a sharp pain in his leg. Then he lost his center of gravity and fell to the ground, holding his thigh in pain and wailing softly.

"Major, your accuracy is really good." Lieutenant Seth turned his head and stared at Major Trifali's pistol and said.

"It's nothing, the gun is just modified."

Major Cui Farley hung the pistol back on his waist and stared blankly at Lieutenant Colonel Ledo who fell on the ground, his comrade and superior who had worked with him for nearly ten years.

"Lieutenant, do me a favor."

Major Cui Farley turned his back, not looking at Lieutenant Colonel Ledo's struggle, and said softly:

"Give him a good time."

Lieutenant Colonel Seth nodded heavily, drew out his saber, and slowly walked towards Lieutenant Colonel Ledo.

Soon, Lieutenant Colonel Ledo's painful wails could no longer be heard amidst the howling wind.

Major Cui Fali leaned against a huge rock on the roadside, staring blankly at the bright moon above his head, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Major, it's done."

Lieutenant Seth wiped the blood stains on the knife with a handkerchief, walked to Major Trifali and said:

"In this way, as the second-highest ranking officer in the Ajaccio garrison, you can temporarily take over the command after Lieutenant Colonel Ledo disappears."

"I know." Major Trifari nodded slightly, turned his head and glanced at Lieutenant Colonel Ledo, who was lying in a pool of blood with no trace of life left, and said slowly:

"He is an outstanding soldier. He was a farmer before joining the army. He dedicated half his life to the independence and freedom of Corsica. The first time I saw him was on the battlefield. He braved Genoese artillery fire to carry the wounded me on his back. We returned to the camp... and then we worked together at the Ajaccio station.”

Lieutenant Seth sheathed his sword, closed his eyes, sighed, and said:

"Do you regret it?"

"No"

Major Trifali shook his head firmly, looked at Lieutenant Seth and said:

"I know very well that in this change that is related to the survival of Corsica, the blood of innocent people will be spilled. But it is not important. You and I are not saints, and Monsieur Bonaparte is not a saint. We cannot care. To everyone, and if I stop moving forward just because of this, I won’t forgive myself.”

"You are right, even Jesus cannot take care of everyone." Lieutenant Seth nodded in approval.

The two then sat in silence for a while under the moonlight.

"Lieutenant."

Major Cui Farley walked away from the giant rock and said in a deep voice:

"Go to the special camp and find two soldiers who speak strictly and bury the body of Lieutenant Colonel Ledo. After all this is over, I will personally bury him with the courtesy of a Corsican hero."

"After this is over," Lieutenant Seth repeated with a nod.

"To be precise, after the end of tomorrow."

Major Cui Farley looked up at the night sky and murmured:

"Our mission has been completed, and the rest will be left to Monsieur Bonaparte."