From Corsica to the Fourth Rome

Speaker Rousseau, who was following Lawrence closely, also showed a sincere smile from the bottom of his heart, nodding frequently to the citizens on both sides who greeted him, somewhat immersed in the sea of ​​people crowding him.

For a legislator like Rousseau, it was a supreme honor to see his works supported by the general public.

Not to mention that during these years of exile, Rousseau had almost no friends with whom he could talk. The only one who could always be by his side was Mrs. Vasseur, who knew nothing about politics or academics.

And today, standing in the parliament auditorium, watching the strange faces casting kind smiles and admiring glances at him, and watching them cheering for supporting him, Rousseau suddenly felt a little nervous in the corners of his eyes. It was hot, and I felt a warmth that I had never experienced in other European countries.

Rousseau, who was always in exile, had not felt this feeling of being understood and supported for many years.

Although he had only been in Corsica for a few months, subconsciously, this Enlightenment teacher had already regarded this land of enthusiasm as his second home.

Compared with the pleased smile on Rousseau's face, the expressions on the faces of the four Ajaccio MPs seemed much duller.

They all knew that they came here just like puppets to go through the motions with Governor Bonaparte.

Millers' face was full of decadence and frustration. Even if his constituents occasionally waved to him in the crowd, the Dongcheng District councilor who usually showed a warm and sunny image just nodded expressionlessly and followed him like a zombie. Behind Lawrence's footsteps.

His decades of efforts to sharpen his head and squeeze upward will all come to nothing after today's charter is passed. Even if he has been mentally prepared in advance, he will actually step into this parliament that he has been to countless times. After the auditorium, Millers still felt that his legs were weak and he felt dizzy.

After basically greeting the people on both sides, Lawrence also saw many familiar faces in the front row of the auditorium.

"Old Sean, Ya'an, I haven't seen you for a while." Lawrence smiled and shook hands with the short old man in front of him, then patted the shoulder of the sturdy young man behind him, and cordially greeted the two patrollers. The old head of the team greeted.

Although Ya'an did not speak, he lowered his head respectfully, while Old Sean leaned down with some fear and said repeatedly:

"How dare you ask the Governor to care about you."

"We don't have to be so glib between us, old Sean, you weren't like this the first day you met me." Lawrence chuckled twice and said.

Old Sean rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, as if he remembered how tense he and Lawrence were when they first met.

"Is everything okay with the patrol?" Lawrence asked casually.

"Oh, that's great. The rules you set back then are still strictly enforced, and the security in Ajaccio is better than ever before." Old Sean puffed up his chest, boasting confidently and proudly achievements.

Lawrence smiled. He could also know from various reports from the Governor's Palace that Old Sean did manage the Ajaccio patrol well, so he patted Old Sean on the shoulder and joked:

"I think you can continue to work in the patrol team. You can put off the matter of going to Italy to enjoy your retirement."

"That won't work. I'm really old, Mr. Governor." Old Xiaon shrank up quickly, shaking his head like a rattle, pointing at Ya'an behind him and saying:

"Yan can completely take over my position in the patrol team. His reputation in the team is not low, and he handles many things beautifully."

Lawrence looked at the young and shy Ya'an and nodded slowly. There was no doubt about this young man's loyalty to him. He had guarded him in many bloody battles. Lawrence also had the idea to entrust him with a bigger mission. Responsibilities.

After the conversation ended, the surrounding citizens looked at Old Sean with envy and jealousy. After all, not everyone was qualified to say a few words to Governor Bonaparte here.

The long table on the left side of the first row of the auditorium were filled with Lawrence’s former members of the patrol team. Lawrence also personally went up to chat with them. For this troop that helped him reach his current high position, Lawrence would naturally not forget their memories. credit.

As for the people at the long table on the right side of the first row, they were all officers of the National Defense Force in military uniforms, including Major Serulier of the French Army.

It seemed that Anna, the private secretary, had not put any thought into the seating arrangement. After all, when Lawrence ascended to the position of governor, it was the patrols in Ajaccio and the National Defense Forces outside Ajaccio.

After similarly greeting the officers of the Wehrmacht, Lawrence turned to Rousseau and nodded, indicating that he could begin this historic parliamentary vote.

After receiving the instruction, Rousseau nodded his head, walked steadily to the front desk, and said in a loud voice:

"Gentlemen of the Congress, Your Excellency the Governor, please take a seat."

The five congressmen skillfully found their seats on the outside of the horseshoe-shaped long table and sat down. People who came to watch the voting also sat back in their seats, waiting with bated breath and anticipation for the results of the vote.

Lawrence sat in front of the speaker's table, at the front of the long horseshoe-shaped table, where Pasquale Paoli had previously occupied his seat in the Assembly.

The auditorium returned to silence again, and the stained glass on the rose window emitted a rainbow-like halo under the sunlight, adding a touch of sanctity and solemnity to this ancient building.

"Dear people of Corsica."

Rousseau was not proficient in Italian, but his calm and soothing tone still attracted the attention of everyone present:

"There is only one item on today's agenda - to discuss and vote on whether the Charter of the Kingdom of Corsica has been approved by the Parliament. Five members have reviewed the copy of the charter submitted to them in advance. If you have any objections, gentlemen, please It is brought up for discussion at this time.”

The people present couldn't help but sweat. Their eyes moved back and forth on the five congressmen in front, trying to guess the congressmen's attitude towards this charter through their expressions.

Although the citizens are almost 100% satisfied with this charter, whether this charter can become the legal cornerstone of the entire Kingdom of Corsica still depends on the opinions of the five members in front.

After Rousseau's echo gradually faded, silence once again enveloped the entire parliament. The five members at the table remained silent and said nothing, as if they had not heard Rousseau's words at all.

Miles turned his head slightly and glanced at the huge crowd of people behind him with his peripheral vision. Looking at the hundreds of expectant faces, this scene pierced Miles's heart like a needle.

Originally, Milles still had the last bit of luck and hope, and was ready to use his reputation among voters to speak out against the charter.

However, seeing the turbulent public opinion, he still kept his mouth shut.

He knew in his heart that at this moment, even the most loyal voters who supported him would definitely get angry and completely remove his name from the list if they saw that he had voted against this charter. It was crossed out hard on their mental voting lists.

Milles slumped back in his chair. At this point, whether under the iron fist of Governor Bonaparte or in front of the tide of public opinion, the adoption of this charter has become a certainty.

Lawrence glanced at Millers, who was extremely depressed, and just smiled flatly.

In front of the speaking table, Rousseau was counting the time silently in his mind like a precise clock. Two minutes later, there was still silence in the parliament auditorium. All five members looked down at the copy of the charter on the table, without the slightest intention to speak.

Although he had already learned the result in Lawrence's office study, Rousseau still excitedly confirmed it to the congressman:

“Didn’t gentlemen MPs have anything to say during the discussion stage?”

Of course, the speaker was still met with dead silence.

Carlo Bonaparte was Lawrence's closest relative. The three Ajaccio MPs had already fallen under Lawrence's sugar-coated bullets. Even the most ambitious Milles gave up after witnessing the turbulent public opinion. any thought of resistance to Governor Bonaparte.

After waiting for another half a minute, Rousseau raised the nanmu hammer in his hand and struck it hard on the table. Amidst a steady and majestic hammering sound, he announced loudly:

"That being the case, Parliament moves directly to a vote on the charter."

The citizens who were watching suddenly had their hearts in their throats. They thought that at such an important and historic moment, a fierce debate and quarrel would break out in the parliament, but they did not expect that it would enter the final vote so calmly. stage.

Many people who care about political affairs even seemed a little worried from the beginning. They naturally saw that this charter would weaken the power and status of the five existing members, and believed that the members would inevitably make a fuss about this clause during the discussion stage. article, and even cast a negative vote in the poll.

Before the citizens could think more, Speaker Rousseau solemnly asked again:

"Then, those MPs who oppose the adoption of the Charter of the Kingdom of Corsica please raise their hands."

Countless pairs of eyes instantly focused on the right hands of the congressmen. It can be said that if these five congressmen moved their arms even slightly, it would cause a burst of worry and tension among the people present.

However, just like before, until Rousseau's echo completely dissipated inside the auditorium, the congressmen still did not make any move, just sitting there like puppets that had not yet been connected to the line.

At the same time, the people watching the vote no longer cared about the majesty and rules of the parliament, and started talking quietly one after another, their tone full of surprise and surprise.

Speaker Rousseau did not stop the people from talking, because at this time he was more excited than almost any Corsican present. A constitution truly compiled by himself was about to be implemented in a country. This It is a great honor for any legislator.

“Then, those members who adopted the Charter of the Kingdom of Corsica, please raise your hands.”

Rousseau's voice was already trembling slightly, but fortunately the citizens who were immersed in joy did not notice this. They could hardly sit still on the benches, ready to jump up and cheer at this historic moment.

As soon as Rousseau finished speaking, all five arms stood up in unison, like towering flagpoles standing in front of everyone.

All five members voted in favor. Even the most reluctant Millers did not dare to raise his right hand high above his head.

Witnessing this scene, the people could no longer sit still. They cheered and jumped up, waving the agenda papers in their hands vigorously. The light yellow agenda papers flew like fireworks and scattered throughout the parliament auditorium.

If the previous Republic of Corsica was a country controlled by bureaucrats, landowners and clergy, then this newly born kingdom is a democratic country where the general public is truly the masters. How can this not allow the people to Get excited about it.

Speaker Rousseau, who was at the speaking table, suppressed his inner excitement, raised the speaker's hammer again and slammed it down hard, and announced loudly in a loud voice that was almost like a roar:

"The Parliament unanimously voted in favor, and no one objected and abstained! With this, I declare that the Charter of the Kingdom of Corsica has been officially approved by the Parliament and will come into effect from midnight today!"

Rousseau's announcement acted as a catalyst and once again set off a new wave of carnival among the people. People rushed out of their seats and hugged each other with tears of joy, celebrating the citizens' regaining political power.

The cheers like tidal waves continued wave after wave, with no intention of stopping for a long time.

At first, the people were just in small groups exchanging their inner joy. Soon, the voices of hundreds of citizens in the entire auditorium were united. They sang a song in unison to praise the traditional Corsican folk song, with high-spirited enthusiasm. The song could be heard throughout the Governor's Palace:

"Who are you? I'm Corsican."

"Where are you from? I come from a corner of the village."

"What's your hometown called? Corsica is my hometown."

"We are brothers! We are as close as brothers! What we are pursuing... is towards freedom!"

"Unite and unite, relatives and friends from hometown!"

"We are walking quickly on the road. Together with our children and grandchildren, we are marching forward for our hometown and toward freedom!"

The citizens finished singing, but found that Governor Bonaparte, who was sitting at the front of the table at some unknown time, also joined in the singing.

The citizens who were already immersed in joy suddenly became even more enthusiastic. They rushed to surround Lawrence in the center, and talked about their admiration and praise for this wise ruler.

These originally chirping hymns quickly became unified. People stood shoulder to shoulder, holding hands with Lawrence as the center, and chanted repeatedly from the heart:

"Glory to Bonaparte!"

"Glory to Bonaparte!"

"Glory to Bonaparte!"

The carnival in the Governor's Palace soon spread to the city of Ajaccio. Citizens in various districts also knew the news that the Parliament had voted to adopt the charter, and also knew that they had become the masters of the country again.

The wealthy citizens generously moved the wine and cakes out of the basements and placed them on the roadside streets for passers-by to enjoy; even two people who did not know each other were holding hands and clinking glasses to drink. This is The most common way of carnival among Corsicans.

When the freedmen working in the villages and towns heard the news from Ajaccio, they showed far more enthusiastic joy than the citizens.

These free people never imagined that just a few short months ago, they were still despised serfs with no human rights.

But now, not only do they own their own land, not only can they keep their own harvests, but they can now participate as voters in the election of local city hall officials. They are even eligible to become candidates themselves, as long as they win enough With their votes, it is completely legal and allowed for these former serfs to become city officials.

Even the most extreme xenophobe is now tempted to change his mind and feel that it is not inappropriate to become a subject of the Kingdom of Corsica.

As the Kingdom's charter was approved and the news of the official establishment of the Kingdom of Corsica spread throughout Corsica, Lawrence Bonaparte's name was once again praised and talked about by people across the island.

This Governor, oh no, he should be called the Prime Minister now, his status in the hearts of the people has once again been pushed to a new peak.

If you were to find a random Corsican at this time and ask him who should rule Corsica for at least fifty years, the answer would be without a doubt - Laurence Bonaparte.