Chapter 465 Xia Fei is doomed
In Lagden, a fierce argument was taking place in the conference room of the French General Headquarters.
"We cannot allow Romania to join the Allies, Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief." Gallieni stared at Joffre. "I think it is better for us to keep it neutral."
"Really?" Joffre expressed his doubt. "How is it beneficial? To continue selling oil to the Germans? Or food, coal, or even weapons and ammunition?"
(The picture above shows a Romanian soldier carrying a Mannlicher rifle on his shoulder. The Mannlicher rifle was produced in Austria and was the same rifle used by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so it could provide arms to the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the war)
"That's true," said Gallieni.
“But it’s much better than if all of Romania was under German control.”
"Have you ever considered what it would be like if the Germans took control of all of Romania?"
"Think of all the oil, food, and arsenals that Austria-Hungary could use directly. I mean everything!"
Joffre laughed, and with a look of disdain on his face, he retorted:
"So, have you considered what would happen if our plan succeeded?"
"The war is over, General."
"That was a siege by more than three million troops from more than a dozen countries. You should have prayed for the Germans instead of thinking that they would occupy Romania!"
(Note: Joffre included the forces of Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, and the colonial forces)
Gallieni insisted on his idea: "Look at the map, Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the so-called siege is actually going on, but there is no breakthrough in other directions except the Shire, and some places are even in disarray, and you are hoping that Romania's participation will change things!"
Gallieni was also awakened by Charles.
On the surface, Joffre's encirclement plan seemed to be very powerful. With more than three million people from more than a dozen countries working together, there would be almost no force on earth that could compete with it.
However, most of the troops were stuck in a stalemate with the enemy in front of the trenches. Not only the main forces of Britain and France, but also the millions of Italian troops made no progress, and the Russian army was in even greater disarray.
Once Romania's 500,000 troops join in, can other countries defeat the German army by launching a simultaneous counterattack?
Is it too idealistic?
But Joffre obviously would not admit this.
"Your idea is ridiculous." Joffre tapped the table with his finger, his eyes full of contempt. "We have already discussed this in the last meeting, and you did not object at that time. There is a difference between a simultaneous counterattack and fighting separately. The former will obviously put more pressure on the Germans, not to mention the participation of Romania."
Then Xiafei suddenly thought of something. He leaned back in his chair and said, "Oh!" "I understand. You don't want me to win."
"What?" Gallieni did not understand what Joffre meant.
"Am I right?" Joffre looked at Gallieni with a half-smile. "It is Charles you wish to see victorious, and that is why you are trying to persuade him now."
Gallieni was stunned. He did not expect Joffre to have such an idea.
"Everything makes sense now." Xiafei said with a look of sudden enlightenment: "I have always wondered why someone would not want an oil country to join us. Now the truth is out..."
Gallieni looked at Joffre angrily, his voice becoming hoarse: "No, Commander-in-Chief, you are insulting my character."
"No, General." Xiafei shook his head calmly: "This has nothing to do with personality, it's about interests, I understand!"
Then, without waiting for Gallieni to protest, Joffre added emphatically:
"But, General Gallieni, do not forget that you are a French Lieutenant General, and people privately call you the 'Savior of Paris'!"
"Then, should you consider the interests of France before considering the interests of yourself or a small group?"
"What's more, I think we should consider the common interests of the Allies first. That's what a soldier should do!"
"This is our duty, and it is also an explanation to the French citizens and to all those who sacrificed their lives!"
Gallieni was so angry that he trembled all over: "No, Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief! This is slander, it is groundless slander, I refuse to accept it..."
"Then please explain a question, General." Joffre spread his hands: "How can we refuse the membership of such an important country?"
Then Joffre added: "If you like, I can discuss it at the meeting. Or, publish it in the newspaper after the war and see whether the French people support you or me!"
Gallieni was stunned.
It seemed intuitively correct to admit Romania to the Entente, even to Gallieni.
It is common sense that joining is better than not joining.
Therefore, whether it is discussed at the meeting or published in the newspapers in the future for the people to judge, Joffre is right, not Gallieni.
Gallieni realized that he could not convince Joffre because Joffre had already determined that Gallieni was sabotaging the battle plan that could end the war just for Charles.
Gallieni gritted his teeth and said nothing more, "Goodbye, Commander-in-Chief!"
As Gallieni walked out of the conference room door, he heard Joffre's contemptuous laughter behind him.
Gallieni returned to the car pale and returned to Paris.
He didn't say anything along the way, but just gritted his teeth and stared at the void in front of him, his eyes empty and lifeless.
At this moment, he had a hurdle in his heart that he couldn't get over.
Why is this happening?
It was obvious that Joffre formulated this unrealistic encirclement plan for personal gain, and Gallieni merely pointed out the mistakes in it, but was falsely accused of sabotaging the plan for personal gain.
What’s even more hateful is that he can’t even explain it!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. It felt like a stone was pressing on his chest, and something seemed to be blocking his heart and he couldn't breathe.
Suddenly, he felt a pain in his abdomen and his eyes went dark. Gallieni slowly fell down on the back seat of the car...
(The above picture shows the Paris Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, which was founded in 1613 and was originally developed from a munitions factory converted into an almshouse at the behest of King Louis XIV of France.)
…
Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, 13th arrondissement of Paris.
Gallieni slowly opened his eyes and saw Charles peeling an apple with a fruit knife by the bed with an expressionless face.
"Hey, Brigadier General." Gallieni looked around in confusion and struggled to get up: "Where am I? In Antwerp?"
"Don't move, General," Charles hurriedly stopped Gallieni and replied: "This is Paris, and you are in the hospital."
Gallieni reminisced, gradually remembering what had happened before.
He smiled self-deprecatingly and shook his head slightly: "I failed to convince Xiafei."
"Hmm." Charles cut the apple into small pieces and put them on a plate. He forked a piece and handed it to Gallieni. "Don't worry about it. Leave it to me!"
"Leave it to you?" Gallieni looked at Charles in confusion.
This is not something he can get involved in, what can he do?
However, when Gallieni saw the coldness in Charles' eyes, he knew that this was not the case.
The little fellow had put aside his scruples and was ready to deal with Joffre.
Joffre is doomed. No one can defeat him, not even Joffre!
(End of this chapter)
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