From Corsica to the Fourth Rome

On August 15, 1770, Lawrence and his team traveled south from Paris to Marseille, where they planned to rest for two days before sailing to Ajaccio.

"Marseille, when I was still at sea, I often came here with the ship. This is a good place to have fun, and it is also a place full of silver."

The convoy was still in the suburbs of Marseille, and Grosso leaned half of his body out of the carriage window, looking at the buildings and coastline in the distance and said:

"But it's the first time I've come to Marseille in a spring-loaded carriage like this."

Lawrence, who was in the same carriage, also put his head out of the window and followed Grosso's line of sight to the densely packed buildings and the blue ocean in the distance. It seemed that he could already hear the sound of waves hitting the rocks here.

In the eighteenth century, Marseille was the third largest city in France, after Paris and Lyon. It was also the largest gateway to France's foreign trade and an important port for the French Mediterranean fleet.

Toulon, the home port of the Mediterranean Fleet, is more than 60 kilometers southeast of Marseille.

Moreover, as early as the 13th century, the French discovered the great role of free trade zones in expanding re-export trade, so they opened a free trade zone in Marseille at that time; this was even better than the world's first trade zone established by the Republic of Genoa in 1547. Freeport still has a lot of morning.

Due to preferential tariffs and no need to be subject to customs supervision, Marseille soon became an important port in the Mediterranean and even Europe.

Here you can almost find merchant ships traveling to and from most of the world, whether it is North Africa, the Americas, or Arabia and Persia. Even trading ships from the more distant East India and Guangzhou, China are not uncommon here.

After all, the French established a trading post in Guangzhou in 1721. Before that, they also imported large quantities of porcelain, tea and silk from the East. Louis XIV even had a set of porcelain customized from China decorated with the coat of arms of the Bourbon royal family.

In addition to being a bustling port, Marseille itself is also a developed industrial and innovative city.

Tens of thousands of craftsmen and workers worked hard here, and those quick-thinking factory owners and inventors greedily searched for any innovation that could bring profits.

Before Watt improved the steam engine, an inventor in Marseille had created a steam-driven vehicle that could run for fifteen minutes once water was added. Unfortunately, this steam car was too slow and had no practical value. It was banned by the Marseille city government after it lost control and collapsed a wall.

“Really a great place.”

Lawrence glanced at the dark buildings radiating along the coast in the distance, nodded and said.

This is much more prosperous than Toulon, which Lawrence has been to before, and it is even more prosperous than Ajaccio, the largest port city in Corsica.

Grosso laughed obscenely, as if recalling some romantic past, he rubbed his hands and said:

"Hehehe, it must be a good place. Let me tell you, the prostitutes in Marseille are the best. Not only do they charge low prices, they can also let you stay at her place all night. If you are interested."

Lawrence glanced at Rousseau, who was sitting opposite Grosso with a frown on his face, and said helplessly:

"I'm not interested in women, but we should have to deal with this city frequently in the future."

"I think so, Monsignor Bonaparte."

In order to relieve the embarrassment, Rousseau quickly answered:

"Corsica itself has limited resources and a sparse population. If such an island wants to become rich and powerful, it must rely on external help, and Marseille is the best window for Corsica to develop."

During the years of formulating the Corsican Constitution, Rousseau also obtained a large amount of information about Corsica from Pauli. Therefore, although he has not yet set foot on the land of Corsica, he is probably better than many who have lived in Corsica. It takes a lifetime for people to understand this island.

"Yes, that's right."

Lawrence nodded approvingly, saying that he had just extracted ten million livres of liquidity for the Corsican government.

As far as the national finance is concerned, it is a complete waste to let a sum of money sit on the books in vain. Only by spending it can this money be converted into total national wealth.

And Marseille, a rich and prosperous port city, is naturally an excellent platform for spending and making money.

"That's it. You should have told me earlier."

Grosso scratched his head, not caring about the strange look Rousseau, a cultural man, looked at him, and whistled:

"I'm quite familiar with many businessmen here. Although I'm not a giant businessman, I have a lot of ways. Maybe I can use them when doing trade in Corsica."

"Well, let's talk about trade and construction in detail back in Corsica. We're going to Marseille soon."

Lawrence leaned against the window, looking at the blue water and sky in the distance, nodded and said.

The long queue of motorcades drove slowly on the bumpy official roads. The road conditions here are much worse than those around Paris. However, Marseille is also a financially wealthy city, so the gravel roads here are better than the muddy and narrow country roads. A lot.

After half an hour's journey, the convoy slowly approached the city limit of Marseille.

At this moment, the movement of the motorcade suddenly stopped, and then a guard rode up to the outside of Lawrence's carriage and reported inside:

"Your Excellency Bonaparte, there is a group of people blocking the middle of the road ahead. They claim to be the group of Josip Alaus, the mayor of Marseille, and they are here to welcome you."

"Mr. Marseille Mayor? I understand. I'll go see him soon."

Lawrence nodded and said with no surprise, then stuck his head out of the window and took a look.

About forty officials in bright uniforms were seen waiting on both sides of the road carrying fluttering flags. Everyone stood solemnly, staring straight ahead, not daring to tilt even a little.

In the middle of the road is a small group of cavalry in neat formation. However, judging from the flashy armor on their bodies and the beautiful riding clothes of the horses under their crotches, this is definitely not a cavalry group that can charge on the battlefield. It might be more appropriate to call them an honor guard. suitable.

The man who was divided into two teams by the cavalry was a man who was nearly forty years old. He did not wear a wig, but had a big three-cornered hat with gold tassels on his head. He wore long cavalry boots and a hat on his chest. There are two medals, one gold and one silver, but they don't look like medals issued by the military.

He held the reins in his hands and led a gray-maned horse behind him instead of riding on the horse. This was also a detail to show respect.

It seems that he is the mayor Joseph who was greeted by Lawrence as reported by the guard just now.

As Lawrence's motorcade came into view and slowly approached, Mayor Joseph's face immediately showed an eager and attentive smile.

After reporting to Lawrence, the guard returned to the front of the team and said to Mayor Joseph:

"Mr. Alderman, His Excellency Bonaparte agrees to see you, but you have to wait for a while."

"Okay, okay, of course no problem." Mayor Yosip rubbed his hands excitedly and replied repeatedly.

After the guard returned to Lawrence's motorcade, a deputy-looking man behind Mayor Joseph said displeasedly:

"Mr. Alderman, that Monsignor Bonaparte is such a big arrogant person. You even had to wait a while to see him. His carriage is obviously there. I saw it."

"You idiot!"

Mayor Joseph turned his head slightly, glared at the deputy fiercely, and reprimanded without moving his lips:

"I didn't ask to see His Excellency Bonaparte, it was His Excellency Bonaparte who agreed to meet me!"

"Isn't he the governor of Corsica? As for you treating him like this? You are the person in power in this area."

The deputy said timidly and carefully:

"And you led the team to wait here early in the morning. There is even still morning dew on our flags."

Mayor Joseph sighed and said angrily:

"Is it just the Governor of Corsica? I think you still lived a hundred years ago. I order you to shut up now. When you go back, you should inquire carefully about what happened in Paris recently."

"Yes Yes Yes"

The deputy quickly nodded in agreement, stared at the only four-horse carriage in the opponent's convoy for a while, then quickly took a few steps back, lowered his head and did not dare to say anything more.

On the other side, Lawrence simply arranged his clothes in the carriage and said casually:

"This mayor of Marseille is the most attentive person on this trip."

"Really, other mayors, lords, etc. waited until we entered the city before coming out to greet us." Grosso yawned and said:

"I think he wants to throw a banquet for you directly on the road."

"This is also to please His Excellency Bonaparte."

Rousseau also glanced at Mayor Joseph waiting in front from a distance, and then said:

"Judging from his name and clothing, this alderman is definitely not from a noble family. In the land of France, a person's efforts can only get him to the position of local governor. If he wants to go up, he is not a person. I can get it myself, so..."

Lawrence also nodded in approval. Middle-class civilians were actually prevalent in the French political system in this era.

Except for those positions such as ministers that require prominent family backgrounds, most of the remaining vacancies are filled by the middle class, who are also the backbone of the bureaucracy.

After all, most middle-class bureaucrats have been selected and eliminated, and are much more skilled and capable than the unmotivated, lazy, and inactive descendants of the aristocracy.

Even in a sense, those court nobles in the high court and local government are actually middle-class bureaucrats, because they do not have noble titles, except for top court nobles like Justice Maupu.

However, for civilians who are not of noble origin, the French political system can only allow them to reach the highest level of local governor, and in fact there are only a handful of civilians among local governors.

Marseille, a prosperous city, originally had a dedicated governor for governance, but a rebellion occurred here that was suppressed by Louis XV himself. Since then, Marseille has only had an alderman and not a governor.

In other words, Mayor Yosip has almost no possibility of further advancement in politics, unless he can gain the favor of some top politicians.

"That is to say, that guy has something to ask of you." Grosso said suddenly. He didn't know much about politics, but he could also see that Mayor Yosip wanted to please Lawrence.

"Well, the mayor of Marseille should be able to help Corsica a lot."

Lawrence pondered and analyzed:

"If we can make him one of our own, not only for the development of Corsica, we will have an extremely important base in the south of France. If we want to stabilize our power in France, we can't just stay in the center. We must have our power at the local level.”

For Lawrence, he could conclude that the Revolution was bound to happen, and that the Revolution would inevitably be an armed revolution that would affect all of France.

And by that time, let alone controlling the revolution, simply preserving oneself in the revolution will be a problem for Lawrence at present.

Because the current power of Lawrence in France is actually a castle in the air. His power comes from the king and the Duke of Choiseul, rather than from the support and support of the subordinates and the bottom.

If this situation does not change, then if the royal family and the aristocracy are destroyed in the Great Revolution as historically, Lawrence will only lose all his power and be regarded as an accessory of the royal power and the aristocracy. Clear.

Even if Lawrence takes the initiative to join the third class to resist the royal family and the nobility, then he is equivalent to voluntarily giving up the powers given by the royal family. After losing these powers, Lawrence will not be too prominent among the ranks of revolutionaries. existence, it is difficult to take any advantages and benefits in that great revolution.

"No. We can't just focus on Paris and Versailles. We must establish a political foundation in various places in France, especially in the southern region near Corsica."

Lawrence's expression was extremely serious, and he gradually lowered his voice, thinking in his mind:

"At the very least, we must keep the guns and money bags of the Southern Region in our own hands. From this point of view, starting from Marseille is a good choice."

After making up his mind, Lawrence squinted his eyes and glanced at Mayor Joseph who was eagerly waiting not far outside the window, and nodded to himself.

"You want to take advantage of this alderman?" Grosso said with a smile.

"I'm not trying to take advantage of anyone."

Lawrence casually found a small mirror, rummaged through his scarf twice in front of the mirror, shrugged and said:

"I will only work with people in a friendly manner and give each other what they need. Since the city councilor wants to move forward politically, I will try my best to give him this opportunity."

"What about you? What do you want?" Grosso said with a look of disbelief, crossing his legs and pouting.

Lawrence opened the compartment door, took a deep breath of fresh air outside, and said with a comfortable expression:

"I just want Marseille."