Chapter 477: Will Xiafei be able to sleep tonight?
Gallieni's guess was correct.
If all they wanted was to get Joffre to step down as commander-in-chief, that could have been done now. Charles only had to remain silent, and the parliament would then begin voting.
Although there is still a small minority who support Joffre, it is obvious that those who are against Joffre will be the majority, the overwhelming majority.
However.
But Charles didn't want to end it.
Because Joffre was dismissed, he might, as in history, serve as a government military adviser at the suggestion of Gallieni and be promoted to marshal.
Then, Joffre would angrily seek to settle the score with Gallieni, and what was going to happen would happen again.
Charles wanted to smash Joffre to pieces. He wanted to uncover Joffre's hypocritical mask, tear off his emperor's new clothes, and expose his ugliness and incompetence nakedly in front of all French citizens, making him unable to even be a vase or a symbol, and of course, it would be impossible for him to become a "military adviser" and "marshal".
At that time, he would have no power to question Gallieni, and he might not even be able to see Gallieni.
Kanais, who was standing on the podium, glanced at Charles and uttered an almost imperceptible "humph". This guy really thinks he is God!
The troops in Verdun are in retreat, and the command is in Joffre's hands, as is the logistics supply. If you can "achieve better results" in this way, then we will have no face to fight you anymore!
However, Kanais still acted magnanimous:
"No problem, Commodore."
"I will report this matter immediately to General Joffre."
"But before that, I want to know how long it will take you to achieve the 'better results' you mentioned?"
Kanais was worried that Charles would delay the process. After all, Charles' military genius was known to all. With time, maybe he could really do it?
Charles slowly stretched out a finger.
"One month?" Kanais was overjoyed and agreed without thinking: "No problem, I will report to the commander-in-chief now..."
"No, General," Charles stopped him. "Not a month, but a day."
Everyone was shocked, and everyone looked at Charles in shock.
Just one day?
Did you hear that right?
Like interspersed with Antwerp?
But now, Charles is using the troops from Verdun, how is that possible?
Everyone thought Charles must be crazy!
Gallieni smiled softly. What he was thinking was: If Charles could really change the situation of the war in one day, Joffre, the commander-in-chief who had been defeated time and time again, would be completely tied to the pillar of shame.
After all, Joffre sacrificed so many people and tried his best but still failed to keep his footing, while Charles was able to do it in just one day. This huge contrast will make people clearly realize the gap between Joffre and Charles!
Kanais's face changed. This was simply an insult to Joffre and all his staff. What did this guy think of war?
But Kanais gritted his teeth and said nothing. He looked at Charles with a cold gaze and nodded: "As you wish, Brigadier General. But if it fails..."
"I will fully support Joffre to continue to serve as commander-in-chief." Charles replied. This was what Joffre wanted most.
…
The order came down quickly, and Joffre simply appointed Charles as the commander of the Verdun theater of operations, and handed over the command of the 2nd Army and the 30th Army stationed in Verdun to Charles.
Joffre also generously said: "The time starts from the time Charles arrives at Verdun to take over the defense. If Charles asks for an extension, or arrives at Verdun a few days later, I will not have any objection!"
There was a hint of sarcasm in his words.
Major Jules immediately found Charles after the meeting and reminded him:
"General, you must not think that these two armies have a lot of troops."
"As a garrison garrison, they were already seriously understaffed, and a large number of artillery troops were withdrawn. It would be great if the two armies had 50,000 men."
"They have been fleeing in large numbers under the German attack these days and their morale is low. We may not even be able to organize 10,000 people..."
Major Jules said these words with some anxiety.
He thought Charles overestimated himself and had no idea about the situation in Verdun.
The surrounding councillors all advised Charles:
"You should not accept such an offer, Commodore."
"It was a trap set by Joffre, there is no doubt about it."
"We could have driven him out of office, but now we have to wait for the end of Verdun!"
…
The parliamentarians did not understand Charles's actions. In their eyes, this action could even be said to have saved Joffre.
Charles ignored them. He stared at Major Jules and asked, "Major, are you willing to serve as my deputy and go to Verdun to fight?"
Major Jules was flattered and quickly stepped forward to answer: "Of course, General, it's my honor!"
"Very good!" Charles nodded, stood up and walked out the door.
"General." Major Jules chased up from behind: "Where are you going?"
"The airport." Charles replied without turning his head: "I need to get to Verdun as soon as possible."
"But General," Major Jules said in surprise, "I think you'd better go to Verdun tomorrow."
"Why?" asked Charles.
"The Germans' main attack will be at night," Major Jules replied. "If we rush over now, we may not be ready to withstand the full-scale attack of the Germans, and we only have one day..."
Charles did not stop, and took Major Jules to the waiting car at the door, saying: "Have you considered that if we wait until tomorrow, Joffre may make things more difficult for us?"
Major Jules was speechless and just stared at Charles blankly.
"Our biggest rival is not the Germans, Major." As the car started, Charles raised his head towards the smug Kanais at the door of the House of Representatives: "Our biggest rival is them."
Major Jules understood, and he nodded slowly:
"Joffre has not had time to prepare yet. He did not expect you to fly to Verdun so soon."
"Besides, he will go to bed on time at night, so we can almost ignore Joffre's obstruction for the whole day!"
Charles hummed, "You can say that, but I'm not sure if Xiafei can sleep tonight."
Major Jules laughed. "Yes, he knows you are in Verdun, and he will probably think about how to set up obstacles for you overnight."
Then Major Jules' smile froze, and he shook his head helplessly. Isn't this a kind of irony?
No matter how fierce the German attack was or how urgent the military situation was, Joffre would go to bed on time. But Charles's trip to Verdun to solve the problem would scare him so much that he dared not sleep!
Jules cursed in his heart, what a bastard system that would elect such a person as commander-in-chief.
But suddenly, Major Jules was not so nervous anymore.
He felt that Charles could indeed change the situation of the battle within one day and deliver a perfect answer!
(End of this chapter)
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