From Corsica to the Fourth Rome

On April 16, 1770, Ajaccio was covered with dark clouds and a continuous drizzle fell.

Although farmers in the countryside can't help but smile at the expected spring rain, for the poor in the western part of Ajaccio, this rain is depressing.

Most of the citizens living in the slums do not have fixed jobs and can only do odd jobs in the streets of Ajaccio to make ends meet. This non-stop spring rain has undoubtedly reduced their income for a day.

The idle poor people sat idle under the iron sheds, listening to the sound of rain hitting the iron sheets in boredom.

"Huh? What do you think that is?"

A poor man who was dozing against the wall accidentally glanced at the opposite street corner, sat up quickly, woke up his companion and said.

I saw a girl holding a black umbrella slowly walking out from the opposite street corner.

Although her whole body was wrapped in a simple black robe, judging from her long white fingers and her beautiful face looming under the hood, she even surpassed most of the little Habsburg princesses in terms of charm.

"Tsk, where did this noble lady come from?"

"Oh, it would be great if I could replace that old lady in my house."

"Damn, I can see it all"

"Shhhhhhh! Please keep your voices down, didn't you see the person behind her?!"

Listening to the discussion among his companions getting louder and louder, the poor man quickly signaled them to shush, pointed at the people guarding the girl and shouted in a low voice.

The girl was followed closely by six patrols who were waiting in full formation. Although they did not carry muskets due to the weather, the rainwater only made the swords around their waists even more cold.

Everyone knows that the current patrols can be said to be the personal guards of Governor Bonaparte, and the girl can be escorted here by the patrols, and her identity can be easily revealed:

"Hey, that must be Miss Anna."

"Yes, I saw her parents a few days ago. This girl has really changed completely in the past two years."

"My food and drink have become better. I used to be so thin that my bones could be seen, and my skin was all yellow."

"It's just that what Miss Anna is doing back in the slums, her parents don't live here long ago."

Anna ignored the comments of people on the street, but skillfully searched the neighborhood, and soon stopped in front of an unattractive and shaky-looking shed.

Boom boom.

After reaching out and knocking twice on the rusty iron door, Anna waited patiently.

After a while, a faint movement was heard from inside the shed, and then a young but strong female voice came from inside:

"who?!"

"It's me, Anna, Anna Celestia." Anna responded softly.

The iron sheets were slightly opened a small crack, and the girl inside cautiously looked at Anna outside the room, and only opened the door completely after confirming that it was her.

Inside the door was a girl about the same age as Anna, wearing a rag shirt.

Moreover, her face was yellow and her cheeks were sunken. She looked very weak and severely malnourished. Her thighs were not even as thick as a normal male's forearm.

"It's you, Anna, come in quickly." The girl inside the door seemed to not want to be exposed to the eyes of the neighbors. She stretched out her hand and grabbed Anna's arm to pull her in.

"No, Sister Xiadia."

Anna stood there, excited and said with heartfelt joy:

"Governor Bonaparte wishes to see you."

"So, you are Miss Xia Diya, right?"

In the study room of the Governor's Mansion, Lawrence looked at the withered girl brought in by Anna in surprise. He quickly waved for her to sit down and asked Anna to stay in the study room. After all, she was familiar with Xia Diya.

Xia Diya nodded expressionlessly, then shook her head and said in a hoarse voice:

"I am Xia Diya, but I am not a young lady. I am Xia Diya from the slums."

"oh?"

Lawrence looked at the girl in front of him in even more surprise. Although he rarely used his power to overwhelm others, he was still surprised to see Xia Diya looking completely indifferent when facing the supreme commander of Corsica. .

"Sister Xia Diya!"

Anna, who was sitting next to Xia Diya, quickly poked her with her elbow, fearing that her attitude would arouse Lawrence's dissatisfaction.

"Okay, I'll just call you Xia Diya."

Lawrence, who came from a later generation, did not pay much attention to the rules and regulations of aristocratic etiquette, so he said nonchalantly:

"Although this is the first time I have met you, I am very satisfied with the work you have done for me in the past two years."

As early as two years ago, in order to fight against Silla, Lawrence at the time assigned Anna to contact the children's party she once belonged to, and Lawrence paid for it to regularly obtain information from this party.

After Ciro's death, Lawrence did not relax his support for this party. Instead, he increased the amount of funding for them as the size of the party expanded.

Not long ago, when Lawrence inquired about William Pitt's identity, the information from the party saved Lawrence a lot of trouble, including the address of the tavern where William Pitt's entourage lived, which was provided by the party.

And just recently, Lawrence released the news to the outside world that the Kingdom of Corsica was about to be established, and it was also through this party that it was spread to the outside world.

But it was only today that Lawrence learned that the leader of such a large-scale intelligence organization was actually the thin and eclectic girl in front of him.

"Just use money to do things."

Xia Diya shook her head slightly and said very briefly, not taking Lawrence's affirmation to heart.

Lawrence sat on the chair and waited for a moment. Seeing that Xia Diya had no intention of speaking actively, he smiled to himself and said:

"Okay, okay, tell me about that party of yours, that."

"Bread party." Xia Diya interrupted Lawrence and said:

"That's its name."

"Bread Club? I must say it's a peculiar name." Lawrence said curiously.

“It was founded with the hope that everyone in attendance would have all-you-can-eat bread.”

Xia Diya looked at Lawrence, lowered her head and was silent for a moment and said:

"With your funding, this original intention has been basically realized. In this sense, I have to thank you."

Lawrence frowned and looked at Xia Diya's thin arms, which were as thin as firewood. Obviously, what Xia Diya said about having a full stomach did not include herself.

Anna saw Lawrence's doubts, so she walked up behind Lawrence and leaned over and said softly:

"Sir, only a small part of the money you gave to the Bread Club will be kept for herself. I have also advised her, but"

"Yeah."

Lawrence nodded while looking at the girl in front of him with interest. Regardless of whether Xia Diya acted out of morality or profit, she was much wiser than those idiots who were blind to money. It is even similar to Lawrence himself distributing money among patrols and troops.

This also made Lawrence feel that he made the right choice in choosing to meet her.

After all, Lawrence still has an important position that is still vacant - the head of the Corsican State Secret Police.