Chapter 204 I didn't expect this result
Gallieni stood on the podium of the House of Representatives and delivered a stern speech:
"Gentlemen, I don't know how to describe this matter."
“Your industrial property is protected by property law, but the troops trained in the military are not.”
"Charle trained this army, he used it to achieve victory on the battlefield, but he was excluded."
"This will have a very bad impact on the army. Everyone will wonder if they have worked hard for the army and will eventually be excluded like the Shire?"
There were members of parliament below who immediately started to make a noise:
"But this is the army. The army belongs to the country, not to anyone!"
"If Ciel trains them, they will be commanded by Ciel. Over time, Ciel will control the army."
"We can't let this happen. Trainers and command troops should be separated!"
…
What the congressmen said makes sense, and this is even a routine operation of the military.
For example, when mid- to senior-level officers are promoted, they often do not stay in their original units but are transferred to other units to face new environments and new subordinates.
The purpose of doing this is to prevent commanders from serving in a unit for too long and developing their own power.
But Gallieni was prepared. He knew what the congressmen would say, so he answered calmly:
"That's not the point, gentlemen!"
"The key is that he is the only one who can use the troops trained by Charles. He can achieve victory with these troops, but in the hands of others, they will be a complete failure!"
"Now is a time of war. I think we should concentrate all our forces against the enemy instead of wasting them like consumables!"
Wells and others immediately stood up and echoed:
"Galieni is right. Look what is happening on the battlefield. Joffre is losing the war. He is using Charles' troops!"
"Those troops should be in Ciel's hands until one of us learns his tactics!"
"If Xiafei wants to call on those troops, he should at least learn how to use them. I suggest that he take Xiaer as his teacher!"
There was laughter from the parliamentarians in the meeting room. The parliamentarians who supported Joffre looked embarrassed. They could not deny the failure on the battlefield, but Charles always won.
Grevy then stood up and asked Gallieni, who was on the platform:
"General, please allow me to express my doubts. Is this a good time to discuss this matter?"
"There are more than 40,000 troops trapped in Cape Town. I think we should discuss how to rescue them!"
Gallieni said to himself, here it comes.
This was a question he could not avoid and which was difficult to answer. Grevy placed himself on the moral high ground, while Gallieni and Charles threatened the parliament with the lives of more than 40,000 people!
…
On the train to Cape Town, Charles was discussing the battle plan with Brownie and Estiny.
"Our target is Rhodes!" Charles pointed at the map and said, "The terrain here is flat and suitable for tanks to break through. The Germans have deployed two artillery battalions there, but they are 77MM field guns!"
Ciel turned his gaze to Brownie and said, "You know how to deal with it!"
"Yes, of course!" Brownie nodded confidently.
Estiny had a strange expression on his face: "Sir, we are only breaking through from one wing? This means we have to go the whole way!"
"Yes!" Charles nodded.
"But the Mark I tank needs to change tracks after every 30 kilometers." Estiny reminded: "The whole journey is at least 25 kilometers, which is almost the upper limit. The Mark I may not be able to walk back!"
Thirty kilometers is the result of the test on flat ground. The situation on the battlefield will be much more severe. In addition, there will be combat, so it is almost impossible to complete the entire 25 kilometers.
Charles replied: "We are not bringing it back, they are left to the Germans, our purpose is to save lives!"
…
"Of course Charles will put rescue first," Gallieni replied, "The problem is that under the current circumstances, he cannot implement the rescue plan!"
Grevi continued to ask: "Can I know the reason? Unless this is also a military secret!"
"No, of course not." Gallieni smiled softly. "The situation is very critical. Charles believes that in order to rescue the trapped troops, we must obtain absolute command, even including the commander-in-chief. Can you do it?"
There was an uproar in the conference room. This meant that Joffre would have to obey Charles's orders, which was basically impossible.
In fact, Gallieni was talking nonsense. He knew that every minute of meaningless discussion here was a minute more of Charles' preparation time.
The others were frightened by Gallieni, but Grevi remained sober. He asked expressionlessly:
"But what does this have to do with today's topic?"
"If the facts are as you say, General, we should discuss the issue of command now."
"But that's not the case. We are discussing Ciel's conditions now!"
Armand took advantage of the situation and started to make a scene:
"Yes, there is only one truth, and Ciel took advantage of it."
"He used the lives of more than 40,000 French soldiers as bargaining chips, and he hoped to gain control of the army."
"Do you know what it means to be able to control the army? That is the foundation of being a dictator!"
The whole audience was in uproar, and even Wells could not refute it. The words of the right wing hit the crux of the issue, and they were indeed compromising with Charles.
…
After explaining the battle plan, Charles got off the train at the town of Morik on the way, where Major Laurent's car was waiting for him.
Laurent also brought two cars, one with guards and the other with the radio station's communications team, as he was worried that there would be emergencies on the front line that needed to be dealt with along the way.
As the car approached Paris, Charles received a telegram that the troops had arrived in Rhodes.
Charles nodded and ordered: "Call back: Tell the general that the troops have arrived safely!"
…
In the House of Representatives, Gallieni looked a little embarrassed as he was caught in a dilemma under the pressure of the congressmen.
Wells and other congressmen originally thought that this was not a difficult task, but they did not expect that it would rise to the level of "dictator". They all kept silent and dared not speak.
The conference room was suddenly filled with the arrogant shouting and booing of the right wing.
At this time, a signalman walked quickly into the conference room, walked up to Gallieni and whispered something in his ear.
Gallieni instantly breathed a sigh of relief. He straightened his chest and glanced coldly at Grevi and Armand, his tone full of sarcasm:
"Gentlemen, Charles's troops have arrived in Rhodes, and he will launch a rescue operation immediately!"
"I'm very sorry! We did this because we found some people in the parliament who would provide intelligence directly to the Germans."
"As for Ciel, his rescue operation has already begun from the moment I stood here."
"Now, does anyone still doubt his intentions?"
The whole place fell silent instantly.
Wells, who had been extremely anxious, also breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged glances with several congressmen around him.
Grevi was stunned. He thought this was a good opportunity to bring down Charles, but he didn't expect this to be the result!
(End of this chapter)
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