Chapter 478 I Don’t Need to Worry About Anything

Verdun front.

The rumbling sound of artillery echoed between the Marne Valley and the cliffs of the hills and mountains. The billowing smoke was like a big open hand, constantly covering the horrific battlefield.

The mountain was blown apart, and rocks and mud rolled down.

The land was blown into the sky, and the flying dust mixed with the thick smoke and did not dissipate for a long time.

The forest was set on fire by the artillery fire, burning piece by piece. The red flames made half the sky as dazzling as blood. The fire spread everywhere, greedily devouring everything nearby.

This place is like a hell on earth, with death, corpses and blood everywhere, and life seems insignificant.

…

Inside the Fortress of Souville, Major General Lacoste, the nearly sixty-year-old commander of the 2nd Army, sat at his desk with a frustrated look on his face, staring at the map in front of him.

From time to time, the sound of enemy artillery bombardment could be heard outside the fortress. Puffs of thick smoke squeezed in from the firing holes like an omnipresent monster, and soon disappeared, leaving only the suffocating smell of gunpowder and dust.

"We are doomed, Klein." Major General Lacoste sighed softly and turned his gaze towards the Germans: "The commander-in-chief's order to us is still to attack. He wants to put all of us in front of the enemy's guns."

"General!" Colonel Klein, the staff officer, was horrified and hurriedly stepped forward to stop him in a low voice: "This is the headquarters!"

As a commander, you must never say such discouraging words at any time, as they will affect morale and accelerate the collapse of the troops.

Sure enough, the signalmen and staff officers around him looked a little strange. If the commander thought this way, should he prepare to escape from it all?

Major General Lacoste smiled softly: "What's the difference? The result is the same!"

Klein was speechless.

Rushing to the enemy's guns and cannons to die does not require morale. In fact, the higher the morale, the faster you will be destroyed by the enemy.

At this time, a voice came from the signalman: "General, I heard that they are going to send Charles to command Verdun. The parliament is discussing this matter."

The officers and soldiers in the command center were instantly delighted.

With Charles here, there will be no more such almost suicidal attacks. He will lead everyone to victory, just like he did on the battlefield before.

Major General Lacoste shook his head slightly.

It was just a trick to boost morale. How could Joffre allow Charles to interfere in the command of Verdun?

What's more, if they continue to fight like this, the 2nd Army will be wiped out in just two days. What will Charles do then?

At this time, two people rushed in from outside the door. Their faces were blackened by the smoke from the artillery shells, and their military uniforms were covered with dust. The thick layer of dust made them look like two "countrymen" and even their military ranks could not be seen clearly.

The short officer dusted himself off, coughed lightly and asked, "Where's the major general? Where's Major General Lacoste?"

No one answered.

The staff thought that this officer must be crazy for questioning Major General Lacoste in such a tone.

"You should salute, soldier." Klein frowned. "Didn't they teach you how to face your superiors?"

The smaller officer didn't respond, but the taller major who came with him disagreed.

He stood in front of Klein, saluted him with a standard military salute, and said with his chest puffed out, "You should salute your superiors, Colonel. They must have taught you how to face your superiors!"

Klein snorted and looked at the major angrily, his hand already on the revolver at his waist.

These two men must be crazy. They were frightened by the enemy's fire. Such people are very dangerous.

Klein winked at both sides, and the guards understood and stepped forward fiercely to control them.

But when they got closer, someone suddenly screamed:

"He's... He's Ciel, God, he's Ciel!"

"Yes, I recognize him too, he is indeed Charles!"

…

Everyone was stunned, including Colonel Klein and Major General Lacoste, who all stared blankly at the short officer.

The short officer flicked his coat collar, brushing off a mist of dust, revealing the two obscured stars, and said in a puzzled voice: "What? Joffre hasn't informed you yet? You are under my command!"

Major General Lacoste hurried forward and saluted: "I'm sorry, Brigadier General, I... I haven't received the notice yet. I will check with the commander-in-chief immediately."

There was a cheer in the headquarters, and officers and soldiers rushed forward to shake hands with Charles:

"I can't believe it, it's really you!"

"Welcome, Commodore."

Others rushed out of the fortress and shouted to the soldiers lying in the trenches outside: "Charles is coming! Charles is here to command us!"

…

Joffre did not notify the front-line troops, as he thought it was impossible for Charles to reach the front so quickly.

It was only one o'clock in the afternoon, and it had been just over three hours since Joffre nodded his approval of the plan.

The meeting of the House of Representatives was still going on, and the members were still discussing the Battle of Verdun, with each member talking at once. According to convention, it would take at least a few days or even a week.

Joffre was secretly thankful in the headquarters. He had originally thought that he would most likely lose his position as commander-in-chief, but Charles's actions saved him from the desperate situation.

"One day?" Joffre leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs and smiled disdainfully on his fat face. "He actually wants to change the situation in one day, and he uses my troops."

Joffre was thinking in his mind that he could slow down the logistics tomorrow and then gradually tighten the situation. By the time Charles came up, there might not even be enough bullets. Let's see how he would "change the situation".

A staff officer came up hurriedly with a telegram and reported: "General, the 2nd Army called and said Charles has arrived at the front. Should Charles take over the command?"

Joffre pulled his feet back suddenly, and his fat body almost fell off the chair. He held on to the edge of the table with great effort, and looked at the staff officer in shock: "What did you say? Charles is already at the front line?"

"Yes." The staff officer nodded: "He has already arrived at Fort Souville."

The staff officer suddenly realized that Joffre had no idea about Fort Souville, and hurriedly added: "The 2nd Army will organize a line of defense, and Major General Lacoste will set up his headquarters there!"

Xiafei calmed down and said "hmm", with some helplessness in his eyes: "I agree that Charles will take over the command of the 2nd Army and the 30th Army!"

What is announced in the House of Representatives cannot be ignored.

He cursed in his heart, damn bastard, you can't give the order to cut off the supply now!

Doing so would be too obvious. Everyone would know that he was targeting Charles and disregarding national security, victory in the battle, and the lives of soldiers on the front line. This would only lead him into another whirlpool of public opinion.

But if we don’t do this, we can only watch as supplies are continuously delivered to the front line!

After thinking for a while, Xiafei gritted his teeth and decided to do nothing.

It's only one day anyway, I don't have to worry about anything, he thought.

(End of this chapter)