Chapter 342: Charles is here
The sun rose through the clouds, illuminating the blood and corpses on the Ypres line, casting a shocking red color on the land.
At that time, the soldiers of the French 43rd Division were enjoying breakfast - mashed potatoes just delivered from the rear by the kitchen staff.
It arrived more than an hour later than usual and was already cold as ice.
Such was the logistics troops' fear of poison gas that they did not even dare to go beyond the "red line", even though the soldiers repeatedly emphasized that the poison gas was visible.
The soldiers scooped the lumpy mashed potatoes into their mouths and complained:
"They avoid us like the plague."
"Yes, I left the food and hurried back."
"I just tapped Jamie on the shoulder and he ran away screaming. He must have thought the gas was contagious!"
…
The soldiers laughed, somewhat bitterly.
If the kitchen staff is so scared, what should the soldiers on the front line who are waiting for the enemy's "poison gas" do?
Suddenly, the battlefield fell into an eerie silence. The sporadic gunshots disappeared, leaving only the oncoming sea breeze and the sound of waves hitting the rocks not far away.
Captain Raphael raised his hand to signal the soldiers to be quiet. The trench suddenly became quiet and fear appeared on everyone's face. They knew what this meant.
The captain hesitated for a moment, put down the lunch box in his hand, took out the telescope hanging around his waist, climbed up the step of the trench, carefully stuck his head out and looked out.
(The picture above shows trench treads, which are used by soldiers to shoot. In the middle and late stages of World War I, trench warfare developed. As soldiers stayed in trenches for a long time, trenches were dug deeper and deeper, and facilities became more and more complete.)
The captain observed for a while and found nothing, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
However, just as he put away the telescope and was about to retract his head, he suddenly discovered a thick, not very noticeable fog slowly rising on the opposite side.
The captain quickly picked up the telescope again and looked towards the target. The yellow-green color became more and more, and soon the entire defense line appeared like a wall.
"Poison gas!" the captain turned around and shouted with certainty.
The trenches became chaotic in an instant, and the soldiers were like ants on a hot pan. Some returned to the tunnels to grab their luggage, some placed their rifles on the trenches, the food was spilled on the ground, and more people looked at their superiors in panic, waiting for orders.
They were waiting for the order to retreat. The officers and soldiers had reached a consensus before this: they should retreat when the poison gas came. Staying here would only mean death, which was meaningless!
The captain observed for a while. The wind speed was faster today, which meant that the poison gas was more deadly and might reach the position in ten minutes. It was too late for him to report to his superiors and wait for his order.
Thinking about it, the captain made a prompt decision: "Retreat, immediately!"
As he said this, he led his troops to retreat to the rear along the communication trench.
However, the communication trench was already crowded with people at this time, and troops were everywhere scrambling to retreat. Fear made them shout and shove loudly, which resulted in the communication trench being blocked and no one could move.
"Climb up!" The captain raised his head towards the top of the trench.
The soldiers understood and cooperated with each other to use their shoulders to push their comrades onto the trench, and then pulled up the people below. Regardless of the danger of being exposed to the enemy's sight, they stumbled and ran wildly.
…
In the direction of the German army, Major General Jonas was standing on a high place looking at the French defense line with a telescope. When groups of French deserters jumped into his sight, he finally let go of his worries.
"There is no anti-gas equipment." Major General Jonas said to himself, "Otherwise they wouldn't have to flee, and they would have fled in such a panic."
Major General Jonas felt a little disappointed. He seemed to have overestimated Charles.
What Major General Jonas didn't know was that this was exactly what Charles wanted him to see!
…
Charles kept the gas masks a strict secret, especially from the 43rd Division.
"Everyone's gas mask should be placed in a backpack. No one is allowed to take it out and try it on without permission!" Charles ordered: "And don't tell anyone about it!"
This meant that the officers and soldiers of the 43rd Division knew nothing about gas masks, which was one of the reasons why they panicked and collapsed after seeing the poison gas.
Even Captain Claude and his men, who were fighting with the 105th Infantry Regiment, were not informed until the early morning of that day and were not issued a set each.
Captain Claude was so shocked by the strange thing in his hand that his jaw dropped. He asked doubtfully, "Is this really useful? Have you tried it?"
Tijani replied: "Someone will always try, Captain."
Captain Claude suddenly realized: "Are we the ones who want to give it a try?"
"You guessed it right!" Tijani nodded with a smile, then raised his head towards Charles: "Including the Colonel!"
Captain Claude suddenly thought of something and without asking any more questions, he took the gas masks back and distributed them to the soldiers.
The soldiers had the same question and looked at the gas masks in their hands:
"Are you sure it works, Captain?"
"If it doesn't work, we'll just wait here to die!"
"Isn't it something that capitalists use to cheat people out of money?"
…
No wonder the soldiers had doubts.
This is not the first or second time that French capitalists have deceived the people for money. The military and civilians dislike them more than they trust them.
What's more, the Germans used poison gas just yesterday, but France can produce gas masks today. There is a problem no matter how you look at it.
However, Captain Claude answered easily:
"You are right. We cannot trust capitalists. But it is special because it is made in the Shire."
"Also, you may not know this, but Ciel is here too!"
The soldiers exclaimed:
"Charles is here too?"
"This is impossible!"
"I heard he was in Paris; that's what the papers said, to-day's papers!"
…
Captain Claude just smiled and said nothing.
Then, Charles walked out of the tunnel and stood in front of everyone. He smiled and waved to the soldiers: "Hello, gentlemen!"
The soldiers were all stunned.
They had met Charles once before, on Christmas Day, and although it was at night, they still remembered what he looked like clearly.
The colonel in front of them is Charles. He is at the front line, facing the poison gas with them. So what are they worried about?
At this time, many soldiers of the 105th Infantry Regiment had just learned that Charles was in the trench.
"He's really here, I always thought he was in Paris!"
"I was worried about the gas mask before, but now it seems that's completely unnecessary."
"Yes, Ciel is with us, it will definitely work!"
…
So, when the 43rd Infantry Division retreated like a tide, none of the soldiers of the 105th Infantry Regiment, including Captain Claude, moved. They all hid quietly in the trenches.
At the same time, they also made use of the tunnels vacated by the 43rd Infantry Division. They hid in the tunnels in groups of two or three and sealed the tunnel entrances with prepared sandbags and wet cloth.
(End of this chapter)
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