Napoleon bathed Corsica in blood

However, all of this comes at the cost of destroying the National Guard.

Napoleon was filled with turbulent emotions; did he really want to do this?

Without the National Guard, the Corsican Restoration Organization would lose its backbone...

His gaze swept over the huge headline on the Ajaccio Life Newspaper on the table—"Corsican Parliament Passes Bill to Ban National Guard by a Large Scale"—and his brows furrowed immediately.

Yes, it wasn't that they wanted to wipe out the National Guard; rather, it was those idiots in Parliament who passed the bill, and at least half of the members who voted in favor were members of the Restoration Organization.

In other words, the Restoration Organization destroyed its own pillar!

Napoleon took a deep breath. Paoli had fallen, or perhaps he had never been noble to begin with, Restoration Organization was utterly corrupt; they had lost any chance of achieving Corsica independence.

If I continue to dedicate myself to the Restoration Organization, I will never have a chance to rise above others!

The thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly froze.

Why am I thinking about getting ahead right now?

He gripped the deck railing tightly, examining his own heart with such honesty for the first time.

Did he truly just want to see the Corsican Republic established?

He hesitated for a few seconds, then shook his head slightly, as if he had always only wanted to use Corsica's independence to secure a prestigious position in the Corsica government.

Come to think of it, I went to Brienne, east of Paris, when I was young, and lived like a true France, living a better life than most Corsica. Now, perhaps the only way for other Corsica to truly achieve freedom and a comfortable life is to let them live like me.

Napoleon suddenly felt a sense of relief and turned back to his cabin.

The acting commander of the Corsican Legion seemed to have a good Qidian. He nodded to himself, thinking that he could help his hometown develop better once he climbed to a higher position.

Outside Asco, a city in northern Corsica.

"Lieutenant Colonel, I really cannot allow you to enter the city." A well-dressed middle-aged man with a silver cane tucked under his arm looked apologetically at Cesari - Colonna Paoli. "You know, the Parliament has already banned your troops..."

"You're also a member of the Restoration Organization!" Cesari grabbed the arm of the Asco Municipal Commissioner and pointed to the temporary Camp in the distance. "The fighters need supplies; we only have less than a week's worth of food left."

"I came to visit you precisely because I am a member of the Restoration Organization," the middle-aged man said. "However, I also have the City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce, which cannot violate the law. Please forgive me."

The Corsican Parliament is elected by the Corsicans themselves, so Corsica have absolutely no questioning of its Parliament —this is the result of years of Liberals indoctrination, leading the people to believe that "Parliament represents me." Therefore, how could I oppose myself?

As a result, even the once highly popular National Guard is now finding it difficult to even enter towns. The warm welcome and hospitality previously shown by the Corsica people has completely disappeared.

In fact, after the Corsican Parliament's decree to ban the National Guard took effect, more than a quarter of the Guard had already deserted and returned home, and the number of deserters continued to rise.

After all, the members of the Restoration Organization from higher levels also voted in favor, and the fact that the Restoration Organization now had no one in charge made the soldiers even more frustrated.

"Then at least provide us with some Wine and bread," Cesari said helplessly. "For God's sake."

"This..."

The Municipal Commissioner was hesitating whether to use his own money to buy some supplies for the Guard when a cavalryman rushed up and said to Cesari, "Regiment Commander, French Army have been spotted five miles to the north! There are about two thousand of them."

Cesari's face immediately turned pale, and he hurriedly asked, "Have you communicated with them?"

The Corsica garrison hasn't clashed with the National Guard for a long time, mainly because they can't win, so it's possible it's just a routine troop movement by the French Army.

The cavalryman said in a deep voice, "They refuse to make contact, sir."

The officers, including the Second Regiment Commander, immediately gathered around, anxiously saying, "Regiment Commander, it seems these guys are coming for us."

"We only have 1,300 soldiers now; a direct confrontation would likely result in losses..."

"Regiment Commander, let's go into Mount Roau instead."

Corsica's terrain is basically a huge mountain range, covering more than 80% of its area, with only some plains suitable for habitation near the Mediterranean Sea on the island's edge.

In the past, when faced with encirclement and suppression by the French Army, the National Guard would not hesitate to go into the mountains, relying on their familiarity with the terrain and the numerous villages in the mountains that provided supplies, to outmaneuver the France.

If the conflict drags on for too long, the French Army will eventually withdraw on its own due to the enormous military expenditures, and then the French will come out.

They were currently located north of the Mount Roau Pass, less than a day's journey south into the mountains, but Cesari hesitated.

They recently passed through several villages and towns, and without exception, they encountered resistance— Earl Buttafuoco immediately sent people around the island to spread the word after the Parliament decree was passed, in order to ensure that the National Guard was turned into a pariah.

Cesari glanced at the distant city of Asco. If the Guard entered the mountains and the villages refused to provide food, his thousand-plus men would likely starve to death. Moreover, he had more important matters to attend to...

He dismissed the Municipal Commissioner of Asco and immediately convened a war council, telling his officers, "We have fought the French Army many times; they are not to be feared."

"We must repel them here, then continue south to Ajaccio and get those foolish councilors to rescind the decree. That's the only way for the legion to survive!"

The officers exchanged glances and had no choice but to nod and accept the order.

They did indeed win more battles than they lost against the French Army stationed in Corsica, but they hadn't anticipated that this time their commander would be the terrifying "Corsican Monster."

Even if they doubled their strength, let alone with just that few men, they would be no different from sheep challenging a lion in a head-on fight.

Napoleon smiled as he saw the National Guard Camp in the Telescope.

The Intelligence Bureau's information was very accurate; the Guard were indeed near Asco. It was precisely because he received this intelligence that he landed at the nearest Calvi Port, and then Forced March for two and a half days, successfully catching up with them.

A staff officer hurried over, saluted, and said, "Commander, our Rangers have spotted the enemy setting up defensive lines; they seem to be preparing for battle."

Napoleon's heart skipped a beat; it seemed his mission to eliminate the enemy would soon be complete.

He gestured for his attendant to bring a map, pointed to a high point on the west side, and ordered, "Send the Artillery here immediately..."

As he was speaking, he suddenly raised his hand to interrupt the rest of his sentence: "Wait, perhaps this is an opportunity."