Chapter 531 We Don’t Need to Follow Their Ideas
At Antwerp Airport, Tijani read the newspaper and cried out again and again:
“No, that’s not true!”
"How could they do this?"
"Fuck these bastards!"
…
Finally, he threw the newspaper away and looked at Charles angrily: "I was deceived by them. There was no victory at all. Everything was a lie. What the Germans said was true!"
Then his eyes turned puzzled. "You have always known this? How did you know? You have not left Antwerp since the battle began."
"I don't need to see it with my own eyes on the Somme to know the outcome." Charles took a few sips of water from the cup. His old problem came back again. After drinking a few more cups of coffee, he would fall into a shallow sleep, as if he was both asleep and awake.
As he put down the cup, Charles continued to explain: "I just need to know Haig's tactical thinking. What kind of victory do you expect a man who despises machine guns and tanks to achieve on the battlefield?"
"All right!" Tijani agreed. "His victories and tactical ideas are only suitable for dealing with colonial guerrillas and African natives."
Tijani knew Haig. He knew that Haig had served in India and participated in the Boer War in South Africa.
Charles was right. Using the experience and tactics accumulated on this intense battlefield to deal with the Germans was simply asking for trouble. A severe lesson was inevitable.
Tijani sighed, with a gloating tone in his voice: "I wonder how they will end!"
Although Tijani is a rich second-generation and cynical, he has compassion somewhere in his heart. He hates those who do not take human life seriously on the battlefield, hates them for using their lives to pave the way for their promotion, and hates them for using their blood to win medals for themselves.
"They will find a way." Charles raised his eyebrows: "You don't have to worry about them."
Tijani sneered disdainfully. He didn't worry about these bastards, nor did he believe that they could escape this disaster.
But Charles knew it was true, nothing had happened to them in history.
The reason is simple. As long as this battle is promoted as a "victory", sacrifice is acceptable, because the battle itself is so difficult, and it will be the same for others, or even worse.
As a result, not only will they not be punished, but they will also be promoted and honored.
Charles didn't want to see this result.
After entering the battlefield, Charles understood one thing: if you don't kill the enemy, the enemy will kill you.
Nivelle, Haig, and Kitchener were all on Charles' blacklist because they hoped to use the power in their hands to kill Charles.
Therefore, as long as they hold power, the Shire will never be safe!
"Major General." At this time, the signalman came forward and handed over a telegram: "It's from Paris. The parliament hopes you can take time to go back. They said they need to discuss something with you."
Charles smiled softly, took the telegram and raised it to Tijanyi: "Look, their method has come."
Tijani was stunned for a moment, then he understood that they wanted Charles to go to the Somme River to command.
As long as the Charles wins, their scandals will be covered up by the halo of victory.
"You won't do that, will you?" Tijani looked at Charles, his face full of opposition, but soon hesitated.
Only Charles can prevent these unnecessary sacrifices, and although he will be exploited by these shameless bastards, he can save thousands of lives.
Charles did not answer. He calmly ordered the signalman, "Call back. I need three days to complete the work at hand."
Glancing at the calendar on the desk, he added, "I'll be there on time on the morning of the sixth."
"Yes, Major General."
Tijani still kept his eyes fixed on Charles, wanting to know what choice Charles would make.
Charles replied helplessly:
"We don't have to follow their lead, General."
"For example, now you should secretly send troops to Mons and prepare for battle!"
Tijani said "Oh" and suddenly realized: "Good idea, Major General."
…
Three days later, the Palais Bourbon was as busy as usual.
The House of Representatives was never quiet during this period. They were discussing Nivelle's concealment of the war situation:
"Nivelle should be held responsible for this. It is unimaginable that as the commander-in-chief, he has been falsifying his military achievements."
"No, this is related to the morale of the army and the confidence of the people. Many things in wartime are not suitable for the public to know!"
"It's not the same thing, they're doing it for themselves, I mean there's also the British."
"I don't think so. War sometimes requires a price. After all, our army is in a much better situation than the British army. This shows that the commander-in-chief is working."
"Perhaps it's not the commander-in-chief who's at work, but the fact that our army has a smaller base of troops, so it looks like there are fewer casualties. Five divisions with more than 80,000 soldiers suffered more than 20,000 casualties. Can this be called 'much better'?"
…
There is a reason to justify anything, and military theory has no standards and cannot be quantified, so no one can be sure whether this approach is right or wrong.
Therefore, the parliamentarians who supported Nivelle were still able to argue with others, even though there was solid evidence that Nivelle had "falsely reported his military achievements."
At this time, Charles pushed the door and walked in. The conference room instantly became quiet and everyone looked at him.
Charles was already familiar with the situation. He strode to the front of the stage, politely took off his general's cap, held it in front of his abdomen with his forearm, and bowed slightly: "Sorry, gentlemen! I'm late. I was surrounded by reporters as soon as I got off the plane. They made me want to surrender!"
The congressmen burst into laughter.
Charles, who was invincible on the battlefield, actually surrendered to his own journalists? They must be spies hired by the Germans!
Gallieni, the Minister of War, was now sitting behind the podium, representing the government audience.
He was very satisfied with Charles's calm performance. This guy had grown up unknowingly, and he was a little strange, and there was still a ruthlessness in his bones that he didn't have before.
Perhaps it was the battlefield, the business world, and the political arena that honed his edge.
"Your Excellency Major General." A member of the parliament stood up and brought up the topic directly:
"The reason why you came from Antwerp to attend the meeting today is because of something very important."
"You have heard about the Somme, haven't you?"
“Although some irregular and unsatisfactory situations have occurred, we all agree that now is not the time to pursue responsibility.”
"What is important now is to solve the problem, that is, how to change the dilemma of the Battle of the Somme..."
Ciel interrupted the councillor: "I know what you want to say, but I'm sorry, I may not be able to do it."
There was a sudden commotion in the meeting hall, and even Gallieni was surprised.
Some people guessed that Charles would refuse. After all, this would mean cleaning up the mess for the "opponent", and no one would be willing to do that.
But I didn't expect that Charles would refuse so straightforwardly and firmly.
"No, you can't do this." Immediately, a congressman began to blackmail: "That concerns the lives of many soldiers. You are ignoring their deaths!"
"I didn't order them to charge, gentlemen." Charles replied coldly: "You should use this question to question the generals who gave the order."
The MP was speechless.
After all, if you don't want to sacrifice, you can just order the soldiers to stay where they are.
"Besides," Charles replied, "I can't because my battle has already begun."
He held his head high and said in a low but serious voice: "My army is attacking Namur. I must command the battle in that direction with all my strength!"
Everyone was shocked, and some people were so frightened that their walking sticks even fell under their chairs.
(End of this chapter)
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