Chapter 1766: Farsightedness

"The Longyan are a bunch of demons; they support Protestantism and have actually occupied Saxony!"

"They even seduced Saxony into becoming a servant of demons; this is the greatest betrayal against the Lord!"

"The heroic Holy Cross Army was cruelly murdered by demons while protecting the believers of Saxony. The Lord will surely embrace the departed Warriors, and the fighters of the French Empire shall live forever in the Hall of Heroes."

After the news broke, countless newspapers printed this story, and it soon spread to every corner of the French Empire.

It even reached the large island that the French Empire suspended upon the sea.

This island, located in the Mediterranean Sea, is Corsica.

Although this island belongs to the French Empire, a large portion of the people on the island do not identify as being part of the French Empire.

Corsica should be independent.

They have different views on this matter.

"Bonaparte, the mainland says they want to resist the Longyan, and that the Longyan are demons. What do you think of this?"

The young man called Bonaparte turned his head, slightly raised his chin to look at his few close friends, and smiled: "This is merely an exaggerated claim deliberately made by Louis XV to divert attention from the issues."

"In my view, the Longyan occupation of Saxony is simply to help Prussia. In the struggles between these countries, the simplest factor is nothing but interests."

His friend listened to Bonaparte's characteristically sharp insight and said: "According to you, those Holy Cross Army soldiers who died in Saxony are also just sacrifices for the Pope to contend for power in Europe."

Bonaparte nodded: "Sals, you can understand it that way, but you are also a believer in Catholicism. Slandering the Pope like this is not something a believer like you should do."

Sals chuckled: "Aren't you the same, Bonaparte?"

The two looked at each other and both laughed.

It was only because there was no third Catholic believer present when they said these words.

Otherwise, if these words reached the ears of other Catholic believers, both of them would be considered heinous heretics, destined to be sent to the stake.

"However, this move by Louis XV will certainly prolong the life of the French Empire."

"But it is only a prolongation; the fundamental contradictions still cannot be solved. Perhaps we in Corsica should take this opportunity to become independent."

Bonaparte's eyes gazed into the distance, profound and wise; he focused his attention on the other end of the sky, appearing to be in deep thought.

*Snap*, his train of thought was suddenly interrupted. Sals patted him on the shoulder and said: "Stop thinking about it. For an idea like yours, you must first look at those soldiers on Corsica."

"I really don't understand how those people on the mainland think. They are at war, yet they leave so many soldiers on such a safe island."

Bonaparte did not speak; regarding this question, both of them knew it clearly.

As long as the mainland withdraws these soldiers, a war will absolutely break out on Corsica.

A war for the independence of Corsica.

"Let's go, my father is still waiting for us to return. He said he has important matters to tell us," Bonaparte said.

"Oh, so the great Count Carlo is calling for us; then we should hurry."

Sals trotted all the way in the lead.

Bonaparte did not take Sals's joke to heart.

The two families were among the few Nobles on Corsica, their relationship was extremely good, and Sals was his childhood playmate.

The two soon arrived home.

Just as they walked through the door, Bonaparte and Sals felt something was very wrong; the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive, but not heavy.

Something must have happened.

Count Carlo looked at Bonaparte and Sals with a serious face.

"You two, come over quickly."

The two walked over and saw a person wearing white clerical robes standing beside Count Carlo and Sals's father.

"This is Father Hal," Count Carlo introduced to them.

Bonaparte and Sals said in unison: "Father Hal."

Father Hal nodded slightly without saying much.

"Next, the Father will help you receive the Lord's grace, and you will receive the Lord's blessing."

The two were stunned and very confused. Although both of their families believed in Catholicism and often held mass, those were merely various rituals.

In their memory, being invited to the house by a priest to pray like this only happened when someone in the family was tainted by evil spirits.

But neither of them felt any discomfort.

Father Hal opened his mouth, and a solemn voice rang out: "Lord..."

Before Bonaparte and Sashaer could react, the ceremony had already begun.

Father Hal chanted the Bible, and everyone prayed.

The normal ceremony took about two hours and finally ended.

The priest looked slightly tired; he said to Count Carlo: "Respected sir, the Lord will bestow grace upon these two children."

Count Carlo and Sals's father looked grateful.

"Thank you, Father, thank you so much!"

The priest waved his hand and turned to leave Count Carlo's mansion.

Bonaparte and Sals were full of confusion; they did not know why their fathers had invited a priest at this time to bestow blessings upon them.

Count Carlo saw the confused look in their eyes and said sternly: "You will soon know what this is all about."

"War is very likely to descend, and Sals's father and I must consider your future."

The two were stunned.

Sals shrugged: "This is Corsica; there is no place safer than here."

"The current wars are all on the European continent; what does that have to do with us? Even if the French Empire is destroyed, can't we just be independent?"

"Ignorant!"

Count Carlo said fiercely: "If the French Empire perishes, can our Corsica survive? Don't look at the fact that we are in the Mediterranean Sea, far from the continent; will those who destroy the French Empire consider such things?"

"Moreover, you should have sensed it too; right now, the various factions within the French Empire are in Bitter Remonstrance, even if the flames of war from foreign powers cannot reach us here."

"But the flames of war from the French civil strife will certainly sweep across our Corsica."

"No matter which path is taken, war is likely to come; you must make sufficient preparations."

"Bonaparte, Sals, we have all discussed it: we will send you to the Military Academy in France. Take advantage of the fact that the situation is still considered stable to master more knowledge."

As soon as Sals heard he was going to the French mainland, he was somewhat unhappy; he felt some hostility toward those French people on the continent.

"I don't want to go. If I'm going to study, why not go to Longyan?"

"Right, Bonaparte?"

Bonaparte shook his head: "I am going to the French mainland; you can go to Longyan."

"However, I believe we are not necessarily suited to use Longyan's set of military theories right now. They are progressing too fast, while we lack the most basic foundational theoretical knowledge. The set you learn from Longyan might be useless."

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