Chapter 167 Military News

This is indeed a problem. 44 divisions with millions of troops have to learn how to use grenades in a short period of time.

Although grenades are very simple to use, in principle you just need to light the fuse and throw it out.

However, if there is no strict set of usage regulations on the battlefield, and millions of grenades are used by millions of people at once, more accidents will undoubtedly occur.

Charles proposed a plan that he thought was feasible: "We can turn the soldiers in the tank unit into instructors. As long as we send them to the battlefield to train the troops, we can quickly teach them how to use them!"

The troops led by Colonel Brownie had more than a thousand people. They had received grenade throwing training and even had actual combat experience. They were dispersed to the front lines to train a group of troops respectively.

But this plan was quickly rejected by Gallieni.

"How long have they been training?" Gallieni asked slowly.

"Two weeks, General!" Charles stepped forward and answered.

Gallieni asked again, "Have they been doing grenade training for the past two weeks?"

Charles was stunned.

He understood what Gallieni was going to say: These two weeks were mainly about infantry-tank coordination, Lieutenant. They spent no more than two days on grenade training. Do you plan to let the soldiers who have trained for two days be instructors? And then let them teach the front-line soldiers how to use them?

"Do you know what the consequences of this might be?" Gallieni stuffed the rest of the bread into his mouth and took some time to swallow it. He even picked his teeth with his little finger without caring about his image and continued, "Not only will we fail to achieve our goal, but we may also lose our only tank unit. I don't think they can all come back after being sent to the front line!"

This is the truth, no one is sure where the shells and bullets from the front will hit.

Charles thought to himself that the only option was to bring the troops back for training.

But Charles didn't say it, because it was simply impossible. There could not be any gaps in the defense line, otherwise the enemy would pour in like a tide.

Suddenly, Charles had an idea: "Why don't we publish a military newspaper?"

"Military newspaper?" Gallieni's eyes lit up.

"Yes!" said Charles. "A newspaper for soldiers at the front. We can publish the rules for using grenades in the military newspaper, and even take photos of the correct throwing posture and publish them in a series!"

Gallieni thought for a while, nodded slightly and said, "It's an interesting idea. In the future, we may have a lot of similar knowledge that needs to be popularized, or we may need to convey certain tactical ideas to the entire army. These things are basically impossible to do in a short period of time. But if there is a military newspaper..."

But Gallieni thought of another question. He looked up at Charles and said, "Do you think the soldiers at the front will be willing to spend money to buy these newspapers?"

Charles was speechless.

Some soldiers might be willing to buy it because the knowledge published in the military newspaper might save their lives.

However, the soldiers on the front line would think: Isn't this what the government should do? We sacrifice our blood and lives for the government on the front line, and the government asks us to buy a newspaper? The government wants to use newspapers to exploit the money we earn by risking our lives like a capitalist?

But if the military waves its hand: free.

The problem arises again. If one million copies are issued every day, the cost of one copy is two centimes, which is 10,000 francs.

Ten thousand francs a day!

"Well, this won't work!" Charles rejected the plan with a frustrated look on his face.

This was not true, Charles knew that this was the only effective and quick way to solve the problem, and he also knew that Gallieni would not give up easily.

Sure enough, Gallieni was fooled.

Gallieni thought for a moment and said, "No, maybe it will work!"

"We may not be able to recover our costs!" Charles objected. "No one would be willing to do this!"

In fact, Charles is willing to do this. It is not a matter of money, but the right to speak, which is more important than money, and it is the right to speak with the military.

Even the slightest tendency could cause a huge response from the military.

This is power, and this is the influence over the military that the right wing has always dreamed of!

But not everyone can run a military newspaper, and without a military background, it would be impossible to get involved.

"If..." Gallieni said thoughtfully, "If we are not only facing the army, but also the public!"

"For the public?" Charles pretended to be confused: "The public doesn't want to see how to throw a grenade!"

Gallieni turned his gaze towards Charles, with a strange look in his eyes: "But what if there is the latest news about Charles? Our military newspaper will definitely get the latest news about Charles, right? And it is quite accurate! I believe the public will be very interested in this!"

Charles was stunned, he had not thought of this, he just thought: military newspapers can also publish information about life in military camps, battlefield conditions, etc. There are many military families among the public who would like to learn about the situation on the front line from military newspapers.

Who would have thought that Gallieni was planning to use Charles as a gimmick.

However, this coincided with Kobdo's idea, to use Charles' popularity and prestige to support a newspaper.

At the same time, this is a military newspaper with a military background, so it won't push Charles to the forefront. Perfect!

"I guess so!" Charles remained calm: "If we don't consider the issue of leaks..."

"Colonel Fernan will tell you which are leaks and which are not!" Gallieni interrupted Charles.

"What do you mean?" Charles pretended to be surprised: "General, you are not..."

"Perhaps only you can do this, Lieutenant!" Gallieni spread his hands and said, "Others don't have the experience and resources in this area. Who else can do this except you?"

"But in terms of funding..."

Gallieni interrupted Charles and said, "I will apply to the parliament. There is a need to publish a military newspaper. However, the funds may not be enough for publication. I need to find a capitalist to cooperate with..."

Charles asked cautiously, "The capitalist you are talking about is not Charles, right?"

"That's right, Lieutenant!" Gallieni straightened up with a smile on his face. "I guess he will be willing to cooperate with us, don't you?"

"I'll think about it!" Charles answered reluctantly.

In fact, he was laughing in his heart. This old fox thought he had a good plan and could do everything by paying a part of the money. He didn't expect that Charles had the same idea: paying a part of the money but getting most of the control, why not do it?

Charles would not feel at ease if he did not pay, because that meant that Charles would not have any shares or control and would simply be working for the military newspaper.

"By the way, General!" Charles added a question: "If we need assistance from people outside the military, will that be a problem?"

Gallieni replied impatiently: "Then send him a call-up order!"

Ciel said "Ugh", it's a simple and direct solution!

(End of this chapter)