Chapter 791: Charles' Conspiracy
The rain was getting heavier, washing over the corpses on the battlefield again and again, as if washing away their misfortune.
British soldiers have given up collecting the bodies because there are too many of them and they are overwhelmed.
In particular, many bodies were just a few dozen meters in front of the enemy's defense line. Going up to collect the bodies without reaching a ceasefire agreement would be tantamount to committing suicide.
The British soldiers sitting in the trenches fell into oppressive silence, and the wounded hid under raincoats and bandaged their wounds, but that would be of no use, as the rain would soon wet everything dry, including the bandages.
Captain Charles took the cigarette out of his pocket and found that it had turned into a ball of tobacco paste.
He balled it up in frustration and threw it to the ground.
Brian came up to him and handed the captain a cigarette: "Take mine, I still have some."
"Thank you, Brian." Captain Charles nodded, took it, and looked at Brian with gratitude.
Captain Charles needed this very much. He wanted to have a bite even if he was going to die in the next second.
He carefully lit the cigarette under his raincoat, took a long, deep breath, and then exhaled a puff of thick smoke with satisfaction.
"Have you heard, Captain?" Brian looked around and whispered, "Charles has issued a warning to us."
Captain Charles smiled bitterly: "Do we need warning? Everyone knows we are doomed!"
"No, Captain," Brian said. "Charles thinks the Germans will attack, and he thinks we should organize a defense."
"Defense?" Captain Charles was stunned.
"Yes, defense." Brian nodded: "If what Ciel said is true, we are not prepared at all."
As he spoke, Brian looked back and forth across the trench.
Because it had been raining and the British army was mainly focused on attacking, the fortifications were built very sloppily, and some areas were even flooded and people could not enter.
These places actually became gaps in the defense line, which could be easily broken through by the enemy.
Brian's words attracted the attention of others. More and more people gathered and asked:
"Are you serious? Ciel really said that?"
"What did General Haig say?"
"Does he agree with Ciel's statement?"
…
Brian answered one by one:
"Of course it's true. Michael told me. He's the communications soldier at the headquarters."
"As for Haig, if he agrees with what Charles said, do we still need to prepare for the attack here?"
"You know Haig's tactics. He believes in a fast-paced attack that can break the enemy."
The soldiers fell silent again.
After a while, someone else said:
"Why didn't he believe Ciel's warning?"
"Yes, Charles has much more combat experience than him. Charles has never made a mistake in his assessment of the battlefield."
"Charles has maintained an undefeated record, while Haig has hardly ever won a battle. However, he is arrogant and does not take Charles seriously."
…
Captain Charles sighed:
"You know why."
"Because we are British, we are the strongest army in the world."
"And my generals, they think they should lead all the wars. They won't allow Charles to tell us what to do. This will be considered as interference and overstepping of authority!"
The soldiers were completely speechless.
There was only the sound of wind and rain in the trench, and the "bang bang" sound of raindrops hitting the steel helmets, like dense bullets falling from the sky, constantly hitting the soldiers' fragile souls.
…
Metz, Haig's headquarters.
Haig was furious when he received Charles' warning. He slammed the telegram on the table and said, "This arrogant guy, what makes him think that the Germans will launch a counterattack? What is the basis? Or is it just subjective conjecture, a guess?"
Chief of Staff Kigel echoed: "Of course the Germans will not choose to attack. They have built such a solid defense line. They can stay comfortably in the trenches. Why would they come out to fight us?"
He had wanted to say "The Germans can win by staying in the trenches," but that didn't seem right.
"Of course." Haig nodded affirmatively: "If the Germans launch an attack as he said, that is exactly what I want to see. Then they will lose the cover of the trenches, and we will have the advantage in manpower."
No one would be so stupid, least of all the Germans.
Kiger thought for a while and reminded: "General, this may be Charles' conspiracy."
"Conspiracy?" Haig was stunned.
"Yes." Kiger analyzed: "Charles' statement is probably to cater to the soldiers' psychology."
Haig suddenly understood.
The troops suffered heavy losses in the attack, which would make the soldiers more inclined to defense rather than offense.
After all, defense is much simpler and safer than offense.
The attack required soldiers to jump out of the trenches and charge towards the enemy's shells and bullets, with large numbers falling on the way forward.
To defend, you only need to build fortifications in the trenches, use shovels or put up barbed wire.
At this time, an influential general like Charles issued a warning to the British Expeditionary Force to lean towards defense, which might cause the entire army to lose its morale and confidence in attacking.
"This bastard." Haig's face turned pale with anger. "He has extremely sinister intentions. He hopes that I will never be able to break through the German defense line."
Then he did not hesitate any longer and gave the order in a cold voice: "Block the news, and do not let Charles' warning reach the army."
"Yes, General."
"Besides." Heg pointed his finger in the air: "I don't want to hear any sound about defense, understand?"
"Understood." Kiger responded.
…
Haig was right about one thing: this was indeed a conspiracy by the Charles.
But he didn't guess Charles's purpose correctly.
Tijani also did not understand why the British army was warned.
"That's the British's business, why should we issue a warning?" Tijani asked. "Besides, you know the British are arrogant and stubborn. They won't believe your warning, especially Haig."
"I know." Charles replied calmly.
Tijanic asked, "You knew that? But you still warned them?"
"That's because I know." Charles nodded slightly: "That's why I want to warn them."
Tijani looked confused, what kind of logic was this?
Even though he knew Haig didn't believe it and wouldn't pay attention, he still issued a warning.
Charles explained, in a calm tone:
"We all knew there were serious problems within the British Expeditionary Force."
"The colonial army and even the British army itself doubted Haig's military ability."
"If he makes another serious mistake at this time..."
Tijani suddenly realized something, and he waved his finger beside his mouth in contemplation:
"You gave him the right answer, but he refused to believe it."
"In the end, the German army launched an attack just as you said, and inflicted heavy losses on the British army."
"Then all the British officers and men will put the blame on Haig..."
Tijani looked at Charles in disbelief, and exclaimed from the bottom of his heart: "You are a monster, General, this is far beyond the scope of art!"
(End of this chapter)
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