Chapter 489 Military Merit Does Not Have to Be Gained on the Battlefield
"But what should we do, Marshal?" Haig looked at Kitchener in confusion. "I mean, Charles's troops penetrated into Antwerp and successfully captured hundreds of thousands of Germans. This has enabled us to leave the war zone and move to the rear."
Haig and his troops had once enjoyed this "peace", but this kind of life seemed to be coming to an end.
Then Haig spread his hands and said, "We can't just walk to Antwerp and ask Charles to give up the defense line to us, right?"
"No, of course not," Kitchener replied.
As he was speaking, there was a flash of car lights outside the window, and a car slowly slowed down and stopped outside the gate to be inspected by the guards.
“He came at the perfect time,” Kitchener said.
"Who?" Haig stood up and looked at the car downstairs in confusion.
"Someone who can get our troops on the field and show their strength," Kitchener replied.
…
After getting off the car, Nivelle walked up the stairs. He stopped at the door for a while, carefully adjusted his military uniform, stretched his shoulders to relax himself, then put on a smile and pushed the door open.
(The picture above shows Nivelle, a French-British hybrid whose mother is British. He has good eloquence and fluent English, and maintains a good relationship with the British. During World War I, he relied on the British to surpass a number of military giants and successfully became the commander-in-chief of the French army)
"Your Excellency Marshal, Your Excellency General, I have long heard of your great names!" Nivelle saluted the two men in succession, then walked forward enthusiastically and shook hands with them.
Kitchener motioned Nivelle to sit down on the sofa in front of them and introduced him to Haig: "Major General Nivelle, commander of the 3rd Army."
Haig bowed politely and shook hands with Nivelle. When he sat back, he glanced at Kitchener with a puzzled look. He didn't understand what Kitchener's intention was in bringing an ordinary major general to him.
Kitchener didn't explain. He raised his glass towards Nivea and gave the right to speak to Nivea.
Nivelle sat up straighter and tried to remain calm:
"You have heard of Joffre, General."
"He has been removed from his post and lawmakers are discussing whether to revoke his military status."
Haig nodded: "Yes, poor Joffre, now he really is poor Joffre."
Nivea laughed cooperatively.
This was a mockery of Joffre, who would always slap himself on the head and laugh at himself whenever he did something: "Poor Joffre."
Nivelle went on to say:
"When Joffre resigned, the position of commander-in-chief became vacant."
"Although Gallieni was proposed as the candidate, Gallieni has known health problems."
"Members of parliament are worried that he will be overwhelmed, so they prefer to have him serve as Army Minister and concurrently as the commander of the less stressful reserve army group."
Haig blurted out: "What about Charles? Have you ever considered Charles?"
"Of course, General," Nivelle replied, "but the parliamentarians generally think that Charles is too young. He is still a brigadier general and only eighteen years old. This is difficult to convince the public. More importantly..."
Nivelle paused, feeling somewhat embarrassed to speak.
Kitchener, who had been silent, took over the topic: "Age and rank are not a problem. As long as you have the ability, anyone can be the commander-in-chief. After all, Joffre can do it."
Several people laughed knowingly. This has become a laughing stock in the military.
Kitchener crossed his legs leisurely and continued, "The point is that they are worried that Charles has too much power in the army."
"Great power?" Haig looked at Kitchener in confusion, then turned his gaze to Nivelle: "As far as I know, Charles only has an army of 20,000 people."
He only has 20,000 people under his command, but you are worried that he has too much power?
"Indeed, General." Nivelle nodded, "But the point is his reputation."
Haig suddenly realized that what the parliament was worried about was not how many soldiers Charles brought with him, but his influence.
Since the outbreak of the war, Charles has been invincible, and as a "conscientious capitalist", he has won the hearts of countless soldiers and civilians from the bottom of society.
Although Charles had few soldiers and a low rank, he became the spiritual leader of the French military and civilians.
If Charles were allowed to become the commander-in-chief of the French army and control the army, it is likely that the parliament would have no role to play and a military dictator would emerge.
Haig chuckled: "The French always put internal strife first."
Then Haig thought that the situation in Britain seemed to be similar, and he had no right to laugh at France.
Nivelle pretended not to hear, or it could be said that as he sat there, he naturally put himself in the shoes of an Englishman.
"Other candidates who could serve as the French commander-in-chief also have problems of one kind or another," Nivelle continued.
"Foch was recently dismissed under the influence of Joffre."
“The parliament didn’t trust him very much and thought he was more or less responsible for the miscalculation at Verdun.”
"As for Pétain, it was because he adhered to the theory of defence, which the deputies considered unsuitable for the time being."
Haig nodded in agreement.
Charles raided Antwerp in one day and recaptured Douaumont Fort and the defense line in another day. This was not something that could be achieved by defensive theory.
The situation is very good now and it is time to attack. If Pétain is appointed commander-in-chief, the country will inevitably turn to defense.
Then Haig suddenly realized something. He looked at Nivelle in surprise and said, "Are you planning to win over the commander-in-chief?"
"Yes, General." Nivelle nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"You are crazy." Haig's eyes widened. "You are just a major general. There are many lieutenant generals waiting ahead, as well as several commanders of army groups. They are all candidates for the commander-in-chief, and you are just a..."
Haig recalled: "A corps commander."
Nivelle looked a little embarrassed and he didn't know how to answer.
Kitchener took over the topic: "It has nothing to do with rank and military position. If necessary, he would be a lieutenant general tomorrow."
Haig immediately realized that Kitchener was also involved, or to be more precise, Britain.
Then Haig said "Oh", Britain planned to achieve its interests on the battlefield by supporting Nivelle to become the commander-in-chief of France.
It was a good deal, Haig thought, but...
"Have you ever achieved any remarkable military exploits?" Haig asked Nivelle.
"No, General." Nivelle shook his head, feeling a little embarrassed.
Haig looked disappointed, they should have chosen someone who had at least won a few battles.
But Kitchener responded: "Military merit does not necessarily have to be achieved on the battlefield."
"What?" Haig didn't understand.
"Supplies," Kitchener said. "France is in a period of shortage of supplies. Major General Nivelle can get supplies from us."
Kitchener nodded at Nivelle again and said, "At the same time, as a commander-in-chief, Major General Nivelle can coordinate the British and French armies very well. What do you think?"
(End of this chapter)
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