From Corsica to the Fourth Rome

"Heaven. Earth. Uh."

Bishop Aiko Baier looked at Lawrence blankly and became at a loss for a moment. He had no idea what Lawrence meant by suddenly asking such a difficult question.

However, as an experienced old bishop, Aiko Baier quickly calmed down, looked at the purple robes on his body, and said to Lawrence in a deep voice:

"Heavenly Father has given us life, and we are all his people. How can a child not give priority to serving his father?"

"That means you think the God in heaven is more important."

Lawrence played with the quill in his hand and said casually as if he didn't care:

"Perhaps I should send you to God so that you can serve our Heavenly Father yourself?"

As soon as he said these words, Bishop Aiko Baier's face turned pale in an instant.

For this tough-minded Governor Bonaparte, who knows whether he will really do such an deviant behavior.

Although he keeps shouting to serve God, Bishop Aiko Baier is not ready to give up his glory and wealth in the world. On the contrary, he is still thinking about how to go further and win more things every day. Power and wealth.

"Just kidding, you don't have to be so nervous."

Looking at the pale face of Bishop Aiko Baier, Lawrence chuckled and waved his hand and said:

"But I do think that affairs on earth are not lighter than those in heaven, right?"

Bishop Aiko Baier rubbed his chest and finally calmed down his accelerated heartbeat. He looked at Lawrence as if he had been reborn after a disaster, and said breathlessly:

"Oh my God, what do you mean?"

Lawrence looked at Bishop Aikobel silently, pushed the summary to him again, and said in a deep voice:

"Given the current financial situation in Corsica, I need a land tax for all monastery lands."

"How is this possible?!"

Bishop Alcobar repeatedly exclaimed:

"You have broken thousands of years of rules. If the Lord knows that the Corsican people are not even willing to offer this little offering to him, he will definitely punish Corsica!"

Lawrence narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Bishop Aikobail. He did not directly point out whose table the crops produced in those fields ended up on. Instead, he sighed with pretense of sadness and said:

"Well, I have known for a long time that Bishop you are a devout believer, a steadfast servant of God, and a disciple who serves our Lord wholeheartedly."

Bishop Aiko Baier listened to Lawrence's series of praises for himself. Although he didn't understand what the governor wanted to do, he still nodded with satisfaction.

However, the second half of Lawrence's words made Bishop Icobel freeze in place for a moment:

"I don't think I should bother you with serving God with that worldly thing."

"That mundane thing? What are you talking about?"

Bishop Aikbal asked with a frown.

"Oh my gosh, I almost forgot."

Lawrence clapped his hands, showed a guilty expression, and said repeatedly:

"You should also know that King Louis of France will become King of Corsica, right?"

"I do know that, even if it's just hearsay."

Bishop Aikbal said, his pupils suddenly shrank, as if he realized something.

During this period, Lawrence also sent people through unofficial channels to release the news that the Kingdom of Corsica was about to be established. At the same time, he also secretly guided public opinion among the people so that the people would be mentally prepared in advance.

Only in this way will Lawrence not trigger a strong public backlash when he officially announces the establishment of the Kingdom of Corsica.

If Pauli had adopted this approach when negotiating with William Pitt, and used his prestige to guide a large amount of public opinion, he might still be able to win the support of the majority of the people.

So it is not surprising that Bishop Aikobail knew about this, although he has always had doubts about the authenticity of the news.

"The French side wants to appoint you to crown King Louis."

Lawrence looked at Bishop Alcobar, sighed with regret and said:

"But since you are devoted to the Holy Spirit, I don't think you should be disturbed by such secular matters. Let the French have their own cardinal."

"Wait. What did you say?!"

Bishop Aiko Baier's eyes became glazed over, and he did not react to Lawrence's words for a moment.

When he recovered, Bishop Aikobel immediately stood up regardless of etiquette, grabbed Lawrence's right hand, and said excitedly:

"You mean to crown the King of France? My God, it must be in the Palace of Versailles. The magnificent Palace of Versailles. Dukes and counts from all over the Island of France will attend, and their ladies will also be dressed up in gorgeous clothes. Oh yes. There is also the royal band, who will keep playing music, and I will anoint King Louis with holy oil and finally put the crown on his big head.”

Bishop Aikbal was talking incoherently, already immersed in fantasy.

At this ceremony, he could meet the top celebrities in France, and even sit at the same dining table with the cardinals. As long as he could get a little promotion from any of them, he could leave this damn place forever. of Corsica.

"Even further, what if King Louis admires me very much? What if he says something nice to me in the church?"

Bishop Aiko Baier thought, looked down at the purple robe on his body, and began to imagine how it would look like when it turned red.

"Ahem."

Lawrence coughed twice mercilessly to interrupt Bishop Aikobel's unrealistic fantasy, and said deliberately and emphatically:

"You are right. That ceremony will definitely be a disgusting extravagance and waste. It is all unnecessary luxury arrangements, not to mention staying with a group of uncultured nobles. As a It is normal for a celibate Christian to dislike such occasions."

Bishop Aikbal was stunned, then quickly put a smile on his face, licked his lips and said:

"Wait, Governor Bonaparte, I mean"

"Oh, you don't need to say anything."

Lawrence put on an expression of "I can understand you", stood up and held Bishop Aiko Baier's hand and said:

"You don't have to worry that I won't be able to explain it to the French representative. Don't worry, I will help you refuse this job. No need to thank me."

"Oh no, that's not what I meant, I meant...!"

Bishop Aycobal held Lawrence's hand tightly, his eyes wandering around helplessly, thinking quickly about how to get Lawrence to agree to go to France to crown Louis XV.

At this moment, Bishop Icobel glanced at the summary of tax reform on the desk, and immediately understood what Lawrence meant.

"Hahaha, Governor Bonaparte"

Bishop Aiko Baier gently let go of Lawrence's hand, sat back in his seat, the corners of his mouth almost turned to his cheeks, and said with a smile:

"Actually, I feel that as God's servants, we cannot be indifferent to the sufferings of the world. After all, my Lord is loving, so how can we, as my Lord's servants, be indifferent?"

"Yes, that makes sense." Lawrence couldn't stop nodding his head as he watched Bishop Aiko Baier's performance.

"About that tax on the monastery you just mentioned."

Bishop Aikbal took the initiative to take the summary, read it over in a pretentious manner, nodded vigorously and said:

"Taxation is about gathering money to create welfare for everyone. This is a typical good deed. How can we believers not participate in such good deeds? Haha. Are you right?"

Lawrence leaned on the back of the chair and crossed his legs, looked at Bishop Aikobel with great satisfaction, and asked aloud:

"Is this your personal opinion? Or is it the opinion of the Corsican Church as a whole?"

Bishop Aikbal turned his head and immediately replied sternly:

"Oh! What you said are insights from the Bible. Every believer will think so."

"What if some believers don't think so?" Lawrence's face turned cold, not satisfied with his answer.

"That"

Faced with Lawrence's questioning, Bishop Aiko Baier could only grit his teeth and said:

"Then this believer must not have a firm belief. I will definitely excommunicate him. I can't stand such a person to mix into our ranks."

"Okay, Bishop Icobel."

Lawrence smiled and reached out to retrieve the summary from him, nodded and said:

"Since you are so passionate about benefiting the public, I have to trouble you to crown King Louis."

"Oh, of course, of course, I'd love to."

Bishop Alcobar could not restrain his excitement and replied repeatedly.

"Guards! Send Bishop Aikober back to his residence."

Lawrence loudly called the guards outside the door, and at the same time gave a final warning to Bishop Aikobel:

"Oh, by the way, there are still a few months until the coronation ceremony, so you have to prepare well."

"Yes, I understand."

Bishop Aiko Baier nodded deeply and said, understanding that Lawrence was saying that he could replace himself at any time during the period before the ceremony.

On the way back to his residence, Bishop Aikobel had already begun to think about how to write letters to the abbots of various monasteries, asking them to cooperate with Lawrence's tax collection work.

For Lawrence, before the coronation ceremony of Louis XV was completed, the church power in Corsica had completely swung to his side.