"Are you coveting the territory of southern Italy?" Duke Choiseul asked with a frown.

"It doesn't matter what I want to do. After all, I am a humble minister who will only carry out the will of His Majesty the King."

Lawrence smiled, shook his head, and said humbly:

"And His Majesty the King will be happy to see us expand our influence in southern Italy, right?"

Duke Choiseul smiled meaningfully, narrowed his eyes and said:

"Indeed, France will also benefit from this. But...Governor Bonaparte, I'm afraid you will be the biggest winner then, right? Corsica also belongs to the Italian heritage. If the king needs a capable and loyal person,

And ministers who are familiar with Italian customs and culture govern our forces in Italy...your name will definitely appear on the king's shortlist."

Lawrence shrugged, looked away and said:

"I didn't think so far ahead. We don't even know what happened in the Kingdom of Naples yet."

"Oh come on, dear Laurence, don't play this game with me."

Duke Choiseul laughed and cursed and said that he obviously did not believe that a shrewd man like Lawrence had not thought so far ahead. Maybe Lawrence was already planning how to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Naples at this moment.

"However...Governor Bonaparte, in view of our close cooperation..."

Duke Choiseul stopped smiling a little and said kindly:

"As long as your name appears on the king's final selection list, I will definitely make you the representative of France's power in Italy."

Lawrence first glanced at the Duke of Choiseul calmly, understanding that the Duke was repaying him for his service in dealing with the Duke of Richelieu.

However, Lawrence did not rush to accept, but asked cautiously first:

"Thank you for your kindness, but the Spaniards shouldn't be happy to see us strengthening our presence in southern Italy? They are France's allies."

"Don't worry about it, Governor Bonaparte, allies do not mean complete agreement of interests. There are conflicts of interest even within a country, let alone between two countries, and the Spaniards at most have some issues with us.

A painless protest."

Duke Choiseul waved his hand nonchalantly and said:

"In the final analysis, allies are meant to be used and betrayed. Today's friends may become tomorrow's enemies."

Lawrence smiled and listened, then nodded happily and accepted:

"Then I have no reason to refuse your kindness, Your Excellency Duke. I hope our cooperation will always be so close."

"Hahaha, I believe it will." Duke Choiseul pinched his beard and said with a smile:

"I really want to drink a glass of champagne that symbolizes friendship at this time."

"Why not? Dinner time will be here soon." Lawrence invited with a smile:

"There is also a lot of fine champagne in this mansion. We can have a few glasses at the dining table together."

"Oh, of course, then I won't refuse." Duke Choiseul said in a good mood:

"Just think of tonight as a celebration banquet for a great victory against the Duke of Richelieu."

...

The evening banquet lasted until late at night.

Although Duke Richelieu has not yet completely fallen, Lawrence's calculation has given him a fatal blow, which allowed Duke Choiseul to use his power as he pleased for a long time.

Although the Duke of Richelieu also made his counterattack and persuaded King Louis to temporarily transfer Lawrence and the Duke of Choiseul from Paris, this was still regarded as a comprehensive victory.

The Duke of Choiseul also had a high opinion of Lawrence, a young man, for this reason. Unexpectedly, he had solved half of his major problems in just a few months after arriving in Paris.

The overjoyed Duke Choiseul drank half a barrel of champagne by himself. In the end, Duke Choiseul, who was completely drunk, even put his arm around Lawrence's shoulders and said that this is what his biological son should have.

How nice.

Lawrence could only smile awkwardly at this, and quickly sent people to find Duke Choiseul's entourage and asked them to take the drunk and unconscious Duke back.

At the same time, Lawrence could only pray that Duke Choiseul's drunken words would not spread. After all, the French like to use the person's origin when slandering someone.

If the drunken words of Duke Choiseul spread, I am afraid that some evildoers would spread rumors the next day that Lawrence was the illegitimate son of Duke Choiseul.

However, Lawrence, who had been drinking and talking with the Duke of Choiseul all night, could also see that the Duke had more than 90% trust in him at this time.

"It's always a good thing to be trusted."

After seeing off Duke Choiseul, Lawrence, whose cheeks were slightly red under the influence of alcohol, covered his forehead and muttered softly:

"Trust... can be used as the cornerstone of cooperation... or as capital for betrayal."

...

The next day, July 5

After being hungover, Lawrence got up early and wrote a letter to Prince Louis telling him that he was leaving Paris for a while.

Since arriving in Paris, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's performance has been quite satisfactory. He spends two or three hours every day reading and studying various reports of the National Silver Company of Corsica.

Although the crown prince still spent most of his time making locks. After all, the number and level of locksmiths in Paris were much higher than those in Versailles. But Lawrence was very pleased that Prince Louis could study finance for a while every day.

At least Lawrence was able to work with King Louis, and he had indeed brought the crown prince into contact with the emerging bourgeois operating methods.

After blowing the ink on the letter paper dry, Lawrence called the old housekeeper and gave instructions:

"Send this letter to the Palace of Tuilleries, prepare the palace's carriage, and inform Justice Maupp of the Palace of Justice in advance. I would like to meet with him in the afternoon."

Since the Duke of Choiseul had reminded himself to complete the treaty as soon as possible, Lawrence also decided to conclude the negotiations with Justice Maupe without further delay in the next few days.

This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Since the last time Louis XV ordered to retain all the achievements of the Duke of Choiseul in the negotiations, there is no more content to be negotiated between Lawrence and Justice Maupe.

It's not much and it doesn't matter anymore.

After all, the core terms of the treaty had even been agreed upon by Lawrence and the Duke of Choiseul at their first meeting in Toulon.

But despite this, the process still needs to be followed, and Lawrence does not want to give up even the smallest details of the interests to the French.

Just by talking at the negotiation table, he might be able to affect the core interests of a certain group in Corsica, so Lawrence still attached great importance to the entire negotiation.

...

At about one o'clock in the afternoon, Lawrence drove to the gate of the Palace of Justice on the Île de la Cité.

Because someone had been notified in advance, there was already a bureaucrat wearing a purple silk robe and long leather boots in front of the gate waiting for Lawrence's arrival.

"Your Majesty Bonaparte, what an honor to meet you!"

When the purple-robed bureaucrat who had been waiting for a long time saw Lawrence stepping out of the carriage, he immediately trotted over and said with a flattering smile:

"Your arrival really adds a touch of brilliance to the entire Palace of Justice and the Paris High Court."

Lawrence glanced at the bureaucrat indifferently.

The purple robe on his body represents that he is an assistant judge of the Paris High Court. Although his status is much lower than that of the trial judge, he can be regarded as the middle and upper class of the High Court.

Moreover, the position of assistant judge can also be hereditary, which shows that the purple-robed bureaucrat in front of him is also a bureaucratic aristocrat.

Although the High Court held great power and was a loyal ally of the Duke of Choiseul, Lawrence did not have a good impression of this group of people and the bureaucratic nobles.

As later historians concluded:

"Although the Paris High Court is actually nothing more than a small, selfish, arrogant, corrupt and illegal oligarchy, it still regards itself, and is also regarded by the public, as the guardian of France's constitutional freedoms."

The High Court can be said to be synonymous with conservatism and decadence. If it were not for their firm resistance to fiscal reforms, France's finances might have survived for decades longer than in history.

And if his political stance did not allow it, Lawrence would even somewhat support Justice Maupp in suppressing the High Court.

"Are you...?" Lawrence asked with a frown.

"Ah, sorry I haven't introduced myself yet, my name is Jackie Hadera de Roel."

The purple-robed bureaucrat still said flatteringly:

"I am an associate judge of the Paris High Court. Just call me Assistant Judge Jackie. I heard that you were coming to the Palais de Justice, and I came to receive you."

"Okay, Judge Jackie, please excuse me." Lawrence nodded and said expressionlessly.

"Oh! Where are you, Monsignor Bonaparte?"

Judge Jackie said cheerfully, seeming pleased to hear Lawrence omit the word "assistant" from the title.

Lawrence looked at the diligent and flattering appearance of the purple-robed bureaucrat in front of him, and could basically guess why he was so enthusiastic.

He already has a close relationship with the Duke of Choiseul, and he also has considerable political energy in Paris by virtue of his close relationship with the royal family.

In addition, the story of Duke Richelieu has spread throughout Paris. For people with higher status like Judge Jackie, they will not think that Duke Richelieu was simply killed by Falco like ordinary citizens.

The count had been tricked, and they knew very well that this was a trap set by Lawrence for the Duke of Richelieu.

When Judge Jackie and others heard that Lawrence had sent an earl to the dungeon and a powerful duke to house arrest without any blood, they couldn't help but feel a little more fearful and admirable towards this young man who had just arrived.

With the support of these multiple factors, Judge Jackie completely regarded Lawrence as someone who needed to be fawned over.

After all, the task of receiving Lawrence could normally be handled by a small official, rather than requiring an associate judge from the upper echelon of the court to receive him personally.

"Come in with me, Monsignor Bonaparte."

Judge Jackie bowed comically and respectfully, then led Lawrence through the door and added:

"I heard that you are going to meet with the Marquis de Maupe, but he is out for something. According to the arrangement, he should be back at two o'clock in the afternoon."
To be continued...