Chapter 154: Ciel has no secrets
The next day, the Paris newspapers were full of news about Charles:
"The Council has decided to let Ciel take command. Can he create another miracle?"
"If Ciel succeeds in retaking Lafox, it will not only prove his own ability, but also mean that his tank has defeated the opponent!"
"Even France's tactical theory may be rewritten because of this!"
…
And it's not just France. The media in Britain, the United States, Russia, and even Germany have shifted their focus to this defense line that is only twenty kilometers long.
They sent reporters to the La Fox area, and some war correspondents went directly to the front line in order to grab headlines.
The previously unknown area of La Fox instantly became a hot spot. It seemed that this was the only place where the war was taking place along the more than 300-kilometer-long defense line!
…
On the west side of the La Fox Line, about ten kilometers away from the front line, the small town of Fervois was packed with reporters from all over the world.
In addition, there were volunteers from private organizations and the first batch of donated supplies, which made the small town, which originally had only a few hundred people, extremely lively.
Some of them were holding umbrellas, some were wearing raincoats, and some were even running back and forth in the drizzling rain, looking very busy.
Everyone was waiting for Charles's troops and his tanks, but they never showed up.
The reporters naturally turned their cameras to Joffre, who had not yet left:
"General, do you think Charles can successfully recapture Lafox?"
"We heard that the Germans have strengthened the artillery at La Fox. Now the enemy has several times more artillery and shells than before. Do you think this is fair to Shire?"
"Are you staying here hoping to put pressure on Ciel?"
…
Xiafei could pretend not to hear the other questions, but the last sentence touched Xiafei's sore spot.
Gallieni repeatedly urged Joffre and his command to evacuate the La Faux area, as this could pose a threat to Charles's command:
Charles commanded remotely via telephone and radio from the city defense headquarters in Paris, while there was a supreme command at the front formed by the Commander-in-Chief of France.
During the war, if Joffre gave orders to Charles's attacking forces, what would the front-line troops do?
Or, if communications were lost, would Joffre have naturally assumed command of these troops?
This will invisibly put tremendous pressure on Charles and the troops under his command, putting them in a state where power may be seized at any time. The troops are worried that they will be used as cannon fodder and sent to the battlefield to become victims of internal strife.
Everyone knew this, but Joffre had another story.
Joffre straightened his chest in front of the reporters and answered calmly:
"I think a qualified commander should at least be able to command in person on the battlefield."
"Because the battlefield situation often changes faster than anyone can imagine, there will always be some unexpected emergencies."
“It’s always too late to handle these issues via telephone and radio commands!”
"My command and I are here to ensure that such danger does not happen!"
…
Other reporters echoed the voice, but the reporter from the Little Daily asked an ungracious question:
"But General, as far as I know, you always keep a punctual schedule, even when there is a war."
"So, how do you handle these emergencies while you sleep?"
Joffre was stunned and replied hastily: "I will arrange a temporary commander, sir. I am sure he can handle those emergencies properly!"
The reporter asked again: "Can Charles also use this command mode? I mean, Charles also arranges temporary commanders to deal with emergencies on the front line like you, and Charles does strategic command and planning in Paris..."
Deputy Commander Kanais interrupted him at the right time: "Today's interview time is over, gentlemen, the commander-in-chief still has a lot of things to deal with. If you have any questions, you can wait until next time!"
Having said that, Kanais protected Xiafei and left the scene in embarrassment amid the questioning of reporters.
Just as the reporters dispersed with disappointment on their faces, someone in the crowd at the other end shouted, "Charles' troops are leaving! They're leaving!"
Reporters who sensed the hot topic swarmed over:
"What's going on? How do you know that Ciel's troops have set out?"
"Who told you that?"
"Is the intelligence confirmed?"
…
The person who spoke was a volunteer, who replied, "The train to the Shire usually leaves at five in the morning, but today it has not left until now!"
The reporters looked at the time and it was already past eight o'clock. This was indeed unusual, as it seemed to indicate that what were being transported up were tanks and troops.
Then someone started to worry: "Does this tell the Germans they are coming?"
The military reporter looked around and explained with a smile: "It seems there is no need to hide!"
The reporters suddenly realized, some nodded in agreement, while others shook their heads slightly with a worried look on their faces.
At this time, La Faux was crowded and in chaos, with several German spies or bribed spies mixed in, so the whereabouts of Charles' troops could not be hidden.
The reporter from the Small Daily chuckled: "Tell me, is this something someone did on purpose?"
The reporters looked at each other, then something strange appeared on their faces. The military reporter even made a gesture to keep quiet, and everyone exchanged glances tacitly.
Under normal circumstances, the town of Fairview, as a bridgehead for attacking Lafors, should be under martial law.
In addition, all roads from the train station to the town of Fervois must be closed and guarded by troops, and police or troops must be sent to check for possible spies nearby.
But now there is nothing and everyone can come and go freely. Is this normal?
…
In the 16th arrondissement of Paris, Steed owns an exclusive estate in this wealthy area. He even owns a vineyard dedicated to making red wine.
Steed sat at the dining table in his golden pajamas, eating his food carelessly while taking the check handed to him by the butler.
"This is the money sent by the military to purchase grenades, sir!" the butler explained.
Steed raised his eyebrows and shook the check proudly. Although the denomination was not large, it was a kind of hope in Steed's eyes.
"Saint-Etienne is about to be glorious again, Lucas!" Steed had a smile on his face, as if he had already seen that scene.
The phone rang, and Lucas, the butler, hurried to the ring. After a while, he returned and reported: "It was from the Little Journal. They said that Charles' whereabouts were deliberately released. Charles' operations in La Fox are no secrets at all!"
Steed said "hmm", which was within his expectations.
After all, the opponents were Joffre, Schneider, the Automotive Technical Service Department, and the right-wing aristocrats, which included most of the powerful politicians.
But Steed believed that Charles could still win, although Steed didn't know how he would win.
(End of this chapter)
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