Chapter 576 An Unusual Holiday
Charles originally wanted to visit the newspaper office in Kobdo, as well as the motorcycle factory, artillery factory, and the newly built tank gun laboratory. He also wanted to meet with Wells and Steed when he had time.
Among them, Wells was particularly noted. It was said that the navy had converted 12 destroyers and, after several weeks of training, was ready to hunt German submarines. Charles thought it necessary to discuss the specific details with him.
Only then did Charles truly understand what it meant to be "busy with a myriad of affairs" and that all these various matters could make a person feel overwhelmed.
Sometimes he even wondered how these projects worked when he was on the battlefield and left them alone.
Maybe it's because I care too much and they work just fine when I don't care.
But in the end, Charles' plans failed to come to fruition.
…
This was the fifth day of the holiday. The rain had stopped and the weather was getting colder. When I got up, I could vaguely see a layer of white frost on the roof.
After getting up, Charles had breakfast with Deyoka. He planned to go to the artillery factory with Deyoka today. Although the British 6-inch 26-cwt artillery had a shorter range than the German 105MM artillery, it was enough to combine with the guerrilla tactics of rocket launchers and air superiority.
What’s important is that Charles’ intention in producing this artillery is to cultivate the artillery industry and talents within its own system. After accumulating to a certain level, it can compete with Schneider.
Camille brought out a plate of iced grapes and placed it on the dining table. He turned around and asked Charles, "Christmas is coming soon. Can you ask them to give you a few more days off?"
(The picture above shows ice grapes. After ripening, this variety can remain on the tree for a long time without being threshed. It is picked and eaten in winter. It has a particularly high sugar content.)
Djokovic looked expectantly and continued, "Yes, I looked at the calendar. You only need to take three more days off to spend Christmas Eve at home!"
"No, mother." Charles shook his head gently: "This is impossible."
"Why?" Camille was puzzled, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone: "You have done so much for France, but those guys in the parliament won't let you spend Christmas at home?"
"It's not about them, it's the troops," Ciel replied.
Djokovic seemed to understand something: "You mean, the Christmas truce last year?"
"Yeah." Charles nodded.
Camille didn't understand: "What does this have to do with the Shire? It was the Shire who solved this problem last year."
Djokovic shook his head and sighed: "Maybe there will be a similar situation this year, Camille, so the front line will be very tense."
Camille finally understood and lowered his head to eat in silence.
In fact, it was not just "tension". In order to prevent similar "truce" incidents from happening again, the British and French high-level officials would launch artillery bombardments and even organize attacks every Christmas. They believed that only in this way could they maintain the hostility between the enemy and us instead of "laying down their butcher knives" and gathering together to drink and sing.
After a while, Camille complained again: "Then at least let Charles have a good rest at home during the holidays."
The words were directed at Djokovic.
Djokovic looked innocent. It was none of his business. It was Charles who was busy with this and that.
Charles pretended not to hear because he was eating.
If you think about it carefully, many things can still function without the participation of him, a man from the future, but the speed and efficiency will be much lower.
At this moment, a signalman hurried past the window, and soon there was an anxious knock on the door.
Charles felt something was wrong, as if something had happened.
Sure enough, the telegram was from Foch.
Charles and Foch pretended not to get along, and Foch generally would not send a telegram directly unless it was an emergency.
The message was simple, with only a few words: "The 6th Army has been transferred to Gembloux, Belgium."
Belgium?
Jean Bleu?
Charles was puzzled that as the commander of the army group, he didn't even know that the troops had been transferred. He always thought that the army group was on the Somme River.
In addition, Christian did not report it, which means that the army group may have been taken over and kept secret from the outside world, and even he, the commander of the army group, was kept "secret".
Are they going to remove him as the army group commander?
It is unlikely. If we destroy the bridge right after the mutiny is quelled, it will probably cause panic and backlash among the soldiers.
The purpose of doing this... is to control!
Charles realized that this seven-day holiday might not be accidental, but was intentional by Parliament and even the British people.
"I have to go back, Mom." Charles said, without even having time to pack his things. He just turned around, picked up his military coat, and hurried out to get into Laurent's car.
"Wait, Charles..." Camille quickly packed some apple crisps and ice grapes and chased after the car, but found that the car had gone far away.
Djoka followed and walked to Camille and watched Charles leave. Then he turned back to comfort Camille: "The frontline troops need him, Camille."
Camille shook her head, her voice choking a little: "He didn't even finish his vacation."
…
In fact, Foch underestimated his enemy and underestimated the parliament.
After all, Foch served as president of the Military Academy for 25 years and only returned to the army as commander-in-chief a year before the outbreak of the war. He did not have a deep understanding of parliament.
He thought that if Parliament agreed to transfer the 6th Army to Belgium, everything would be fine if Charles' two forces were brought together, and Charles had enough control to keep them in his hands.
Unexpectedly, the parliament is not good at fighting foreign wars, but their expertise is domestic intrigue and control of the army.
Before Foch took office, Clemenceau conspired with the Prime Minister in the Prime Minister's office.
(The picture above shows Briand, who served as prime minister 11 times, most of the time during World War I. He won the Nobel Peace Prize, used the army to severely suppress workers' strikes, and was called a "dictator" by social radicals.)
"The 6th Army is being transferred to Belgium?" Briand leaned back on the sofa and tugged at his beard.
Clemenceau, who was sitting opposite, saw Briand's action and knew that he was not very satisfied with this decision.
"We are in a dilemma, Mr. Prime Minister," Clemenceau explained. "We all know Charles' military genius. If we continue to let the 6th Army stay on the Somme or somewhere else, Charles' influence will quickly expand in the Central Army Group and the Eastern Army Group."
He then added: "It would be much better if he was placed in Belgium, at least there he would have the British to check and balance him!"
"Have you ever considered this?" Briand elegantly picked up the coffee cup and said thoughtfully, "For Charles, it is enough for him to control the Sixth Army?"
That's Charles. He only needs 20,000 troops to defeat the Germans, and you gave him another 200,000?!
"Of course, Prime Minister," Clemenceau replied. "That's why we have to make some arrangements while Charles is on vacation."
(End of this chapter)
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