Chapter 2824 Persuasion

"That's not enough." Laval replied with restrained anger, "Spike is still not sure about your identities, so he hasn't reported to the higher-ups for the time being. In addition, the person who instructed him to be an undercover agent by my side is a senior staff officer of the headquarters. General Vasa himself may not know, and I have to make it clear."

"The commander-in-chief's staff sent someone to be a spy by your side. Does it matter whether the commander-in-chief himself knows?"

John Andre smiled sarcastically, and then said something that deeply hurt Laval's nerves.

"If I were George Vassar, I'd pretend I didn't know about it. How can the Commander-in-Chief go off and do this kind of dirty work himself?"

"Your Excellency Laval, how could it be possible for the man who is firmly seated as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army to be just an upright warrior like you?"

"George Vassar's ability to lead troops and fight is far inferior to yours, but when it comes to politics and tricks, you are far inferior to others!"

"Nonsense! I don't believe George Vassar is that kind of man!"

"It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. The important thing is that the spies are by your side. When we uncover a spies, it means that there are more spies watching you secretly."

John Andre stood up, regretful.

"Your Excellency Laval, considering the situation around you... Patrick and I will not dare to visit you again in the future. It's not because we are timid, but because we don't want to cause trouble for you. We bid you farewell and wish you good luck!"

"Wait first!"

Laval raised his hand to prevent the two from leaving, and a look of depression rarely appeared on his resolute face.

"What you said before... I can consider it, but there is one condition."

John Andre and Patrick Ferguson exchanged glances tacitly, then turned back calmly, with a smile on their handsome faces.

And so it was done.

...

Laval agreed to a change of court, but on one condition: Earl Winthrop would not compel him to engage the Continental Army, and he would be allowed to publish a statement in the newspapers affirming it publicly.

Taking refuge in Fiji, but refusing to be an enemy of his former comrades-in-arms, Laval’s conditions fully demonstrated his inner entanglement, and Isaac Hook, who proved his sincerity to Fiji by massacring his fellow countrymen in his hometown, can be described as The contrast is stark.

In fact, Earl Winthrop sent someone to win Laval because he took a fancy to his appeal in the Continental Army and his ability to lead troops in battle, hoping that he would perform well in the battle to suppress the rebels. conditions, so what's the use of trying to pull this person over?

Laval also knew that the condition he offered was too much, especially in the dilemma of being deprived of military power, a polished commander was actually not qualified to negotiate conditions.

But he still has to stick to this bottom line. In addition to maintaining his knightly honor, he also has a deeper consideration, which is to minimize the negative impact on his family, relatives and friends caused by his defection to the enemy.

It is conceivable that once the news of Laval's defection to the enemy spreads, it will definitely cause a greater sensation than Hook's defection.

Laval also has many relatives and friends serving in the Continental Army, including his younger brother, cavalry lieutenant colonel Arnold Laval, a staunch revolutionary.

The elder brother defected, how could the younger brother not be implicated?

Laval couldn't let go of his relatives and friends including his younger brother, and he didn't want to involve them too much, so he came up with this idea-publicly issued a statement in the major newspapers of Feizhen, saying that the change of door was only a personal decision, which had nothing to do with relatives and friends, and vowed not to fight with the Continental Army. As an enemy, in this way, Arnold and others will not be troubled by him.

After listening to Laval's explanation, John Andre couldn't help crying and laughing. He could hardly help mocking the general in person for being too naive in politics and full of wishful thinking.

However, he restrained himself in the end, and admitted frankly that the matter was serious and he couldn't make up his mind, so he immediately sent a letter to Earl Winthrop, who was stationed far away in Leiden City to rest, asking His Excellency the Governor for instructions.

Within half an hour, Colonel Andrei received a reply.

Earl Winthrop's reply was also very interesting. On the one hand, he expressed that he could accept Laval's conditions. At the same time, he also added a condition, that is, Laval must cooperate with Andre and Ferguson to kidnap the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. George Vassar!

This time the ball was kicked back to Laval's side, which made him difficult.

Of course Laval doesn't like George Vassar, not to mention that he doesn't have any personal relationship. He also publicly criticized His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief as a "general who is often defeated". Care about the job.

However, personal grievances belong to personal grievances. As a soldier who values ​​honor, he does not want to use those indecent means to murder George Vasa!

Andre saw Laval's knot in his heart and smiled slightly, knowing that it was time to show his eloquence again.

Andre is nicknamed the "King of Swords", but everyone in Feizhen's social circle knows that his eloquence is sharper than swordsmanship.

"Your Excellency, we know that you don't want to do such a disgraceful thing, so we don't dare to ask you to do it yourself. You just need to write a letter to Vasa, invite him to your house for a dinner, and make one for me and Patrick." The chance of an ambush along the way is enough."

Patrick Ferguson's character is more calm and cautious than that of his partner, and he added a sentence without losing the opportunity to Andre's remarks.

"It would be even safer if Your Excellency General summoned your Iron Cavalry Guards and lent it to me and John."

Laval looked gloomy and said nothing.

Andre saw that he was very reluctant, so he smiled coldly, and the next words were not so nice.

"Sir, I admire your integrity, but George Vassar is not worthy of your treatment. Think about it, if Vassar was half as upright as you are, he would not have deprived you of command and kicked you Going to this small town to drink the northwest wind, and even instructing staff to buy your guards to spy on your every move, what qualifications does this kind of hypocrite, who is kind on the surface and sinister on the inside, have to lead the Continental Army?"

"Shut up! The Commander-in-Chief is not what you say he is!"

Laval snapped.

"Really?" Andre asked with a half-smile.

"Without evidence, it is slander!" Laval replied decisively.

"Well, let me say a well-founded thing. You can analyze it yourself. Is it my intention to slander you?"

The smile on Andre's face deepened.

"At the beginning of the Battle of Baden Wetlands, our army's Fourth Infantry Division was completely destroyed. It can be said that it suffered an unprecedented defeat."

"At that time, it was obviously General Laval who was in command at the front line, but the fruits of victory were stolen by that opportunist Charles Gates, who proclaimed himself the hero of the Great Victory in Baden. Did George Vassar know about this?"