The more than ten people in the room were instantly overjoyed, not expecting such an unexpected windfall that day.
20,000 British Pounds, equivalent to 500,000 francs, was a substantial sum of support; no matter how it was divided, one could get a decent share.
The crowd imdiately surrounded Chalrs with fervor, showering him with exaggerated flattery, "You truly are the ssenger of freedom and fairness!"
"Your generosity brings hope to all Corsican people!"
"On behalf of the Corsican people, I express our deepest gratitude to you, may Jesus bless you…"
Chalrs smiled and exchanged pleasantries with them, then suddenly turned serious, "However, I have one stipulation regarding the use of this money. The recipient must sever all ties with that Paul guy!"
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in understanding. After all, Paul had embezzled 25,000 British Pounds, which would anger anyone. Moreover, they had just confird Paul's act of betrayal against the organization and were already planning to bring him down.
Girolamo was the first to make a statent: "Mr. Chalrs, rest assured, I will not rest until Paul is ousted from the Restoration organization!"
Chalrs nodded in satisfaction, "That's great, Mr. Girolamo. I've decided to allocate 1,500 British Pounds to support your campaign as a Corsican deputy!"
The intelligence agents and their plants worked in tandem, quickly igniting the enthusiasm of everyone present — 1,500 pounds was 37,000 francs. With such a substantial election fund, their rivals didn't stand a chance of winning. In reality, even half that amount would be more than enough for a provincial election campaign.
Bartoloo imdiately followed suit, expressing his desire to distance himself from Paul, followed by Eloi, Cesare...
Before long, over ten high-ranking mbers of the Restoration organization had received between 30,000 to 40,000 francs in support, all beaming with joy and satisfaction, heaping praise upon Chalrs.
However, they all overlooked one issue — 20,000 pounds could have supported many more deputies, but Chalrs had only distributed it among the 13 of them. Their funds were excessively abundant.
In fact, this was the strategy Joseph used to dissolve the Corsican Restoration party — to divide and dissolve, then sway political objectives.
With financial backing, within a short ti, these 13 people would beco a "dominant group" within the organization and gradually beco alienated from the others.
Chalrs could then use his influence over them to encourage them to break away and form another organization.
Soon, the two Restoration organizations competing for political resources would be engaged in fierce competition. Who would rember their original goals by then? It would beco a struggle solely for the sake of power.
After all, these deputies had only been involved in election politics for about 20 years. For Joseph, who had witnessed western elections of the future, without the spiritual leader Paul, it would be easy to fragnt them by copying a few dirty tricks from partisan struggles.
Keep in mind, the Corsican Restoration organization had its own ard force — the National Self-Defense Force, and also harbored a large number of assassins. Officials the French Governnt sent to Corsica were often assassinated. Civil unrest never ceased, with the most recent occurring at the end of last year, where nearly a thousand ard rebels battled with the military for over a month before it was barely contained.
If they used the military, as in the ti of Louis XV, not only would it be costly, but the results weren't particularly good — aside from forcing Paul into exile, there were no significant victories.
Historically, even Napoleon had suffered defeat in Corsica.
It was not until Napoleon proclaid himself Emperor and deployed a large number of troops to bloodily purge Corsica that the problem with the Restoration Faction was completely resolved. But because of this act, the Corsican people hated him to the bone; after his exile, they threw his statue into the sea and razed his ancestral ho.
Joseph certainly didn't want to use too much military force in Corsica. Even if he didn't care about the enormous military expenses and the damage inflicted upon Corsica, the re fact that military purges would cause the Corsicans to hate the Royal Family even more, was also a loss disproportionate to any gain.
The people, who were alienated from the governnt, simply couldn't be expected to earnestly engage in productive construction.
Therefore, Joseph chose a strategy of internal subversion.
By firstly eliminating Paul's Restoration organization, this cancerous growth, there would no longer be anyone to organize and incite the Corsican populace against the governnt.
At that ti, coupled with suitable policies to improve the livelihood of Corsicans, who would then bother to rebel? Living the enviable life of a French person, wouldn't making those Russians and Italians jealous be more appealing?
Without the support of the people, the National Self-Defense Force of Corsica naturally couldn't be maintained. Even if it ca to exterminating a small number of stubborn elents, it would still be much easier compared to historical situations.
At present, it seems that after several months of operations by the intelligence service, the Corsican strategy is beginning to show effectiveness, just waiting for the final roundup.
...
London.
Paul's villa had been completely renovated, and there were no signs that it had once been burned.
Outside the villa gate, Mr. Paul and Miss Isabella in the carriage shared a tender mont, reluctantly waving goodbye before he turned around, only to hear soone anxiously calling out in Italian, "Uncle, you've finally returned. I've been waiting for you here for hours."
Paul looked towards the voice and saw his nephew Cesari-Colonna Paoli, also the second in command of the Corsican National Self-Defense Force, standing at the doorway.
"Cesari, how did you get here?" he imdiately bead with joy, stepping forward to embrace his nephew tightly.
Cesari patted his back hastily, then quickly created so distance, his expression grave, "Uncle, the situation is sowhat bad."
"Oh? What happened?" Paul, sensing sothing amiss, hurriedly pulled him into the house and went straight to the study on the second floor.
Cesari locked the door, then urgently said, "At last week's routine eting, Bartoloo and Cesare and others accused you of embezzling large amounts of funding, as well as colluding with the French people to betray the Restoration organization, demanding the revocation of your leadership and expulsion from the organization!"
Paul's face changed at the news, but he soon smiled, "Such baseless accusations will not be believed by anyone."
"No, Uncle, they have produced evidence," Cesari recounted how Paul had acquired properties in the United States, and how the timing of the riots was leaked.
"They're framing !" Paul roared in anger, "That money was burned, and I never had any contact with the French!"
"I absolutely believe you," Cesari hurriedly said, "But within the organization, a public opinion unfavorable to you has ford.
"During last week's vote against you, there were 19 in favor of expelling you, and another 11 agreed to suspend your leadership of the organization. 5 abstained."
"Damn these bastards!" Paul fud, veins throbbing on his forehead. There were about 60 people with voting rights for major events within the Restoration organization. Subtracting those not in Corsica, there should be nearly 50 people attending the eting. Out of them, 30 were against him.
He was less than 2 votes away from the two-thirds threshold for passage!
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