Chapter 501: A Show of Strength (One more chapter, thanks to leader Roderich Edelstein)
Dunkirk, the First British Expeditionary Force lined up in the square.
Tall horses and fully armed cavalrymen riding on their horses with their heads held high and chests puffed out were lined up in several rows that stretched as far as the eye could see.
The infantrymen stood behind the cavalry, quietly waiting for the commander-in-chief's speech. The cold wind blew the fallen leaves into the air, and there was a sense of desolation as if the heroes would never return.
Haig walked up to the army commander, Lieutenant General Avis, and after they saluted each other, Haig stood in front of the army and shouted:
"Warriors, you are going to the front line."
"Do you know which unit you are cooperating with?"
"I know, it's those girls who like to hide behind the tanks!"
The soldiers burst into laughter, full of mockery and disdain.
When Haig's laughter died down, he continued:
"They did win, but we know it wasn't because they were strong, but because their opponents were vulnerable."
"Now, our chance has come."
"You are the most elite troops, the pride of the expeditionary force, and the warriors of the British Empire."
"Let those girls hiding behind the tanks witness your courage and determination!"
"Show them what real war is!"
The soldiers cheered, rifles raised high.
With Haig's order, the army was divided into several parts and marched along the highway towards the Antwerp defense line.
(Note: Haig's combat philosophy was to refuse to accept new equipment. He believed that "tanks and machine guns are superfluous, and victory on the battlefield depends on morale and courage." He was very stubborn and refused to change, which led to the heavy casualties in the Battle of the Somme.)
Lieutenant General Ives was Haig's favorite general and a staunch supporter of Haig's tactical theory. He always believed that as a soldier, he should ignore the enemy's bullets and charge towards the muzzles of guns and cannons like a knight.
If you are knocked down by the enemy, you should lie peacefully on the ground, look at the sunshine in the sky, and wait quietly for your life to fade away.
It took Lieutenant General Avis several days to reach the defense line, and then he took over the defense from the French 9th Army, and then he rushed from Brussels to Antwerp without stopping.
Lieutenant General Avis heard that Charles was a difficult commander to control and always did things on his own. Lieutenant General Avis felt that he should be given a warning, otherwise the French army would not be able to obey his command.
…
It was dawn at Antwerp Airport.
A group of British cavalry marched along the street with noisy hooves, led by a lieutenant general.
The guards at the airport gate looked at the troops with strange eyes. They looked at each other, as if to ask, is there still such an army now? Can they really fight in the battlefield?
The cavalry stopped at the airport gate, and a colonel rode up and shouted to the guards in French in an imperative tone: "Tell your commander that General Ives is here to inspect!"
But the guard didn't move.
The colonel shouted again, with anger and confusion in his eyes. Are they deaf?
"I'm sorry, Colonel." The guard flashed his uniform and replied in Dutch: "We are Belgians. We don't understand what you are saying."
The colonel then noticed that the two guards in front of the airport were wearing Belgian military uniforms.
"Fuck you," the colonel cursed. "Why are they using Belgians as guards here?"
The Belgian guard's mouth twitched, but he quickly pretended not to understand and stood at attention with a stern face and chest puffed out, holding the rifle in his hand.
Lieutenant General Avis was quite helpless in the face of this situation. If the other party was French guards, in principle they could have broken in directly.
But standing in their way were the Belgian guards, the masters of this land. If they forced their way into the Belgian guarded area, it would be untenable both legally and in public opinion.
"Does anyone speak Dutch?" Lieutenant General Ives turned around and asked helplessly.
A cavalry lieutenant stepped out: "I know a little, General."
Lieutenant General Ives nodded: "Ask about the situation and ask them to report it."
"Yes, General." The cavalry lieutenant stepped forward and communicated with the guard in awkward Dutch. The other party finally understood him, but still failed and was still not allowed to enter.
The cavalry lieutenant came back dejectedly and reported to Lieutenant General Avis: "General, they said they are only responsible for guarding and not for reporting, because the French also don't understand Dutch."
"Then how do we get in?" asked Lieutenant General Ives.
"They said..." the cavalry lieutenant said awkwardly, "You need the king's pass."
Lieutenant General Elvis looked at the lieutenant in disbelief. To enter the airport, one needed the king's pass?
The cavalry lieutenant understood Lieutenant General Ives's confusion and replied, "Yes, General, they said this is a military stronghold and not everyone can enter or leave."
It seems to make sense, Lieutenant General Ives thought. I heard that the French have deployed the most advanced fighter jets here, and they are worried about leaking secrets.
"Cowardly French people!" Lieutenant General Avis complained, turning back and ordering: "Art, go to the king's manor!"
"Yes, General." A major stepped out and rode his horse towards the king's manor with two guards.
Suddenly, a fighter plane flew over the cavalry's heads at a low altitude with a "boom", startling the horses so much that they stood up one after another, and Lieutenant General Elvis was even thrown off his horse.
He got up from the ground in a panic and looked through the gate into the airport, hoping to see a few French soldiers for them to report.
But he was disappointed. There were only a few figures vaguely visible in the direction of the hangar in the distance. The others might not have gotten up yet.
"Everyone listen up." Lieutenant General Ives gritted his teeth and ordered: "Dismount and rest where you are!"
The cavalrymen dismounted from their horses with a "swish" and then spread out on both sides of the street and tied up their horses to prevent them from being frightened again.
Soon, Major Art came back.
Lieutenant General Ives, who was eating dry bread with cold water, thought that the problem was solved, so he hurriedly handed the food to the orderly and stood up.
However, Major Art told him a piece of news that made him angry: "General, they said that His Majesty the King is at the airport. Last night, His Majesty the King and Colonel Eden were at the airport discussing the issue of mine laying with Charles."
Lieutenant General Ives' eyes darkened, and he glared at the guards at the door angrily: "These guys, they knew the king was in the airport, but they didn't say anything!"
The cavalry lieutenant acting as an interpreter hurried forward to question him, and the response he received was: "General, they said we didn't ask."
Lieutenant General Elvis almost vomited a mouthful of blood seven feet high. His chest heaved violently, and he kept telling himself in his heart: Pay attention to your manners, we are knights and gentlemen!
It took Lieutenant General Elvis a while to calm down, but his face was a little pale.
He raised his chin towards the cavalry lieutenant and said, "Tell them to inform His Majesty the King that we are right outside the door!"
This time, the guards finally moved!
(End of this chapter)
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