Chapter 581 Natural Laws
On the Jean Bloux front, one hour before the Christmas Eve offensive.
In the trench where the 1st Special Artillery Division was stationed, Major General Christian sat on a snow-covered artillery box and let the medical soldier bandage his head wound.
He just stuck his head out to look at the terrain, and the enemy apparently discovered the light of the telescope reflected in the setting sun, and fired a burst of bullets at Christine's hiding place with a machine gun.
One of the bullets grazed his forehead, leaving a deep bloody mark visible to the bone.
"General." The medic said with lingering fear: "If it was half an inch off, it would have passed through your right eye."
Christine didn't care. There are no ifs on the battlefield.
If you are not dead, you are not dead. If you are alive, you will continue to suffer in this world.
"Do you believe in the laws of nature?" Christine asked without any context.
The medic was stunned, and answered while busying himself: "I guess so, General, but it has nothing to do with the laws of nature."
Christine said to herself:
"You'd better believe it. Just like the hot summer and cold winter, it's not something we can decide or control."
“If the necessary respect for these laws is not given, it would be asking too much to violate or circumvent them.”
"Then you will definitely be punished according to the law!"
The medic completed the finishing work timidly, but in fact he didn't understand anything.
Christian didn't explain much. His face was grim and his eyes were murderous. He put on his general's cap, stood up, and walked back along the communication trench. The blood from the wound dripped down his forehead like sweat, but he was unaware of it.
After turning two corners, Christine came to a relatively open trench where officers at the first special artillery division level and above had gathered.
(Note: Hiding trenches are usually located behind high ground or hills, which are in the blind spot of artillery fire and are relatively safe)
There are two brigade commanders, four regiment commanders, and more than a dozen staff officers.
Almost all of them were new, and Christine had only learned their names a few days ago.
Christine asked a few questions indirectly, and most of the people she met were relatives of capitalists or congressmen, or their confidants.
The point is that they are proud of it and always pretend to be casual to show off to others.
"Gentlemen!" Major General Christian stood in front of the officers and said, "I believe you already know what kind of attack will be tonight."
The officers replied lazily:
"Yes, General."
“It was an easy mission.”
"We don't need to capture the enemy's defense line, which means we can order our soldiers to retreat at any time!"
…
Major General Christine's eyes were cold. He stared at the officers and said calmly:
“But there’s a problem now.”
"As you know, not long ago, the First Artillery Division experienced a mutiny."
"The soldiers are very resistant to the attack..."
A brigadier general interrupted Christine: "What do you want to say, General? This is one of the reasons why the superiors assigned a 'simple task'. Is it possible that such a simple task cannot be completed?"
Major General Christian remembered him; he was Clemenceau's nephew, Xavier.
Such an important unit as the 1st Special Artillery Division certainly needs a heavyweight officer to "monitor" and "control" it.
Xavier was that character.
"Yes." Another brigade commander seconded, "Besides, we are already wasting time punishing those undisciplined guys. I think there is no problem."
The speaker was a relative of the Gurney Food Manufacturing Group named Godruwa. During this period of material shortage, his status was rapidly improved.
Christine said "hmm" expressionlessly:
"Not unacceptable, gentlemen."
"But we should consider one thing: the soldiers mutinied because the officers were always hiding in the trenches blowing whistles."
"That's why they compare themselves to 'sheep' and the officers to 'sheep herders'."
The officers laughed and seemed proud of their identity as "sheep herders".
Major General Christine continued:
"If we continue to do this, it's obviously not a solution."
"This will give us an endless supply of 'undisciplined guys' to punish."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
The officers were silent for a moment and then nodded.
Christine continued:
"Since this is a simple mission, I mean, we just need to go around the battlefield and come back anytime."
"In addition, we have tanks, which will block enemy bullets and protect our safety."
"Then why not let them see? The 'sheep herder' also has the courage to go to the battlefield. He is not like what they imagine, hiding in the trenches to save his life!"
Major General Christian glanced at the officers and added, "At least I will do that!"
After saying that, he wiped the increasing amount of blood on his forehead and waved his hand towards the officers: "I have already done this, you can do whatever you want!"
Having said this, he smiled contemptuously at the officers, turned around and walked towards the front line, leaving everyone behind looking at each other in bewilderment.
After a while, Xavier stood up and tried to follow him, but was stopped by Godroy.
"Are you really going to the battlefield?" Godroy asked, fear in his eyes.
"He's right," Xavier replied. "If we were hiding in the trenches and driving the soldiers out to the battlefield, what do you think they would think of us? Don't you feel that?"
Since they joined the unit, they have felt hostility and contempt in the eyes of the soldiers, and Xavier hopes that will change.
Xavier went on to say: "This could be our chance. Think about it. It's a low-intensity battle. We just need to go up and make a turn and come back. We can retreat at any time."
"Yes," someone else echoed, "this is not the Somme."
"It's not Verdun either." Someone added: "Verdun does not allow retreat, there are supervisory teams with machine guns in the rear!"
"Major General Christian has already gone up." Someone looked ashamed and asked, "If we don't go up, what will we be regarded as?"
These words instantly broke everyone's defense.
All the people above and below them went to the battlefield, but these officers who were sent in did not. Yet they expected to command them and control this army. Is that possible?
"Come on!" Xavier patted Godroy's shoulder and comforted him, "It's okay. We have a tank, the 'Charter A1'."
Godruwa could only nod in agreement, but he was still so nervous that he had difficulty breathing and his face turned pale.
The officers followed Xavier to the front line. They found Christine at the front of the trench and reported: "We will attack with the soldiers, General."
"Very good!" Major General Christine turned his head and gave them an approving look: "Then, find your troops, we will attack soon!"
The officers should be ordered to disperse.
Major General Christian turned his gaze to the opposite side again, muttering: "War is cruel, gentlemen!"
(End of this chapter)
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