"My fellow soldiers, starting from today is the first day that I will actually take over the Fourth Battalion."
Facing everyone's expectant eyes, Lawrence said loudly:
"According to the promise, when you decide to follow me, we will treat each other as brothers. I know that you were once regarded as rats in the sewer and as parasites in the army by other troops, but from today on, all of this will
Gone forever.
Follow me! When you retire from the army, the wealth you have accumulated will be enough to live in Florence for the rest of your life; follow me! When you walk through the streets of Ajaccio, the Corsican people will come with flowers and liqueur.
Treat you war heroes. As long as I, Laurence Bonaparte, am still in this world, infinite glory and wealth will be in your hands."
"I will share everything we have with you with infinite generosity, and all this will only require you to give one thing in return."
Lawrence raised his arms and shouted, deliberately pausing for a few seconds. All the soldiers couldn't help but stand on tiptoes, looking at Lawrence nervously and expectantly, waiting for him to say the reward he requested.
"Loyalty! Apart from this, I have nothing else to ask for."
There was silence for a moment. Lawrence closed his eyes, clenched his fist with his right hand and hammered his heart, waiting for the soldiers' response.
Soon, someone took the lead and imitated Lawrence, hammering his right hand on his heart and shouting:
"loyalty!"
This shout from the leader instantly ignited the passion of all the soldiers. Everyone straightened their bodies, exhausted the last trace of oxygen in their lungs and shouted:
"loyalty!"
"loyalty!"
"loyalty!"
...
The sound waves got louder and louder, and the birds in the woods were so frightened that they flew up again and again.
Lieutenant Seth also raised his arms and shouted in the crowd. After staying in the 4th Battalion for such a long time, this was the first time he felt that he had become a real soldier again.
Although Major Cui Farley, who was standing behind Lawrence, did not join the enthusiastic soldiers, he couldn't help but look at Lawrence with a little more admiration.
He could now finally understand what he saw that day and why Lawrence's patrol team was so cohesive.
Lawrence stretched out his hands and pressed them down to signal everyone to quiet down, and then said:
"I have heard the vows made by each of you. Let God witness that only death can break the vows between brothers."
There was a burst of cheers from below in response. Lawrence waved his hand again to signal everyone to be quiet. He took a few steps forward, got closer to the soldiers, and said seriously:
"Just today, the Fourth Battalion received an order for a special operation. We will fight deep into the Genoese rear. We will not have any reinforcements or supplies, nor will we have any replacements or replacements for the wounded.
.”
The soldiers couldn't help but froze, their original fanatical expressions fading slightly. In the face of the real danger of death, even the glory and wealth that Lawrence had just promised faded a bit.
Major Cui Farley worriedly whispered in Lawrence's ear:
"To say this now will inevitably shake morale."
Lawrence shook his head firmly and responded in a low voice:
"They have to be mentally prepared."
Then, Lawrence looked at the somewhat flinching soldiers and announced loudly:
"This is undoubtedly a near-death operation. Therefore, I declare that after I die in the battle, Major Trifali will take over the command; after Major Trifali dies in the battle, Lieutenant Seth will take over the command; when Lieutenant Seth dies in the battle, the surviving Lieutenant Seth will take over the command.
The person with the highest rank takes command!”
The soldiers couldn't help but look up at Lawrence and couldn't help but wonder: "Is this officer ready to die on the battlefield?!"
Lawrence seemed to see through the soldiers' thoughts and said passionately:
"For the freedom and independence of Corsica, and for your glory and wealth, I am ready to wake up."
Having said this, even the most timid soldier felt blood boiling in his chest. Even his commander had already realized that he would stay on the battlefield forever, so what reason did he have to escape?
"I look forward to seeing the bloody spirit of the Corsican people on the battlefield. Now, all disband!" Lawrence ordered.
But the fanatical soldiers still stood there, looking at Lawrence with enthusiasm and admiration. It was not until Lawrence and Trifali called Lieutenant Seth to leave that the soldiers dispersed in twos and threes.
The three Lawrence men came to the edge of the camp. Lieutenant Seth was the first to speak excitedly:
"Sir, I can't remember the last time the Fourth Battalion had such morale."
Major Cui Fali also nodded in agreement, and couldn't help but praise: "Great speech, Major Bonaparte."
Lawrence smiled wryly and shook his head. He just understood that the human heart is the greatest wealth.
After being exiled in history, my unborn nephew could still be supported by soldiers from Toulon all the way back to Paris to be re-crowned. This is the result of what people want.
Now that he has established prestige among the soldiers, Lawrence must start to bring the 4th Battalion back on track.
"By the way, Major Cui Farley, come and take over the second company temporarily." Lawrence ordered.
Ever since the fat man who was a gambler was shot that day, the commander of the second company has been vacant. Lawrence was not familiar with these soldiers, so he had to let the experienced Major Cui Farley take charge first.
Later, Lawrence also handed over the responsibility of various chores and discipline in the camp to the two company commanders. He was inexperienced and did not intend to do everything himself.
Just as Lawrence was explaining matters to the two company commanders, a rustling sound came from the woods.
The three of them looked in the direction of the sound and saw about twenty servicemen pushing a flatbed truck towards the camp.
Lawrence nodded. This should be the batch of supplies approved by General Nathan, so he took the initiative to confirm the handover with the leading officer.
Lieutenant Seth's eyes widened, he walked around these flatbed trucks, picked up a brand new military jacket, and couldn't help but said in surprise:
"Oh my God, sir, is this for the Fourth Battalion?!"
"Is there any problem?" Lawrence asked.
"Of course not, of course." Lieutenant Seth seemed to have remembered something and said with a bitter look on his face:
"The fourth battalion has not received supplies for a long time. As you can see, sir, everyone's clothes have been washed and turned white but have not been replaced. The blankets are all in tatters and are still covered with rags. Previous commanders also had
I applied to the headquarters, but..."
Lawrence nodded to express his understanding. Nathan definitely didn't want to waste resources on this group of wastes in his eyes.
"I said, all this is in the past, I will make the 4th Infantry Battalion a hero of the Corsican people, and no one will discriminate against us anymore."
Lawrence patted Lieutenant Seth on the shoulder and said earnestly:
"Now, Lieutenant, distribute these things to every soldier, and store the excess temporarily. As for the muskets and ammunition, they need to be specially stored and sent under strict supervision."
"Understood!" Lieutenant Seth saluted excitedly, and then found a few soldiers to move the supplies into the camp and start distributing them.
After a while, even Lawrence and Trifali, who were standing at the edge of the camp, could hear bursts of cheers coming from inside.
"It's really strange." Major Cui Fali listened to the cheers from the camp and said with a smile: "Obviously I just gave them what they deserved."
Lawrence looked at the camp, smiled and joked:
"This is not easy. If I could give everyone what they deserve, I could be the emperor."
