Chapter 807 Inexplicable Pressure
Before Pershing came to see Charles, he took his chief of staff to the Nancy front.
He wanted to see a real battlefield because before this he had only seen it in documents or heard others describe it.
After walking around, Pershing didn't feel much, because the battlefield was similar to what he imagined, and he was mentally prepared.
But Chief of Staff Hubbard was so frightened that his face turned pale and his hands shook when he drank water.
It just so happened that the British army organized another offensive, hoping to push the defense line toward the German army and compress the German offensive surface.
As a result, large groups of soldiers were driven into the no-man's land like cattle, and then knocked to the ground in rows by cold bullets and artillery shells.
Everywhere there was a mixture of blood and mud. Corpses were piled up on the battlefield like a hill, left to be gnawed by moles, or swollen beyond recognition by rain, emitting a disgusting stench.
Hubbard finally couldn't hold it in anymore and squatted in the trench and vomited all over the place.
Pershing calmly put away the telescope and glanced at him with pity: "That's enough, let's stop here today, we should go find Charles."
…
The car was driving on the road to Bizangxi.
Hubbard, sitting next to Pershing in the back seat of the car, couldn't calm down.
He looked nervously at both sides of the road.
Keep an eye on buildings, bushes, forests, any possible hiding place.
Occasionally, when I see a soldier carrying a gun, I get startled and my right hand immediately reaches for my holster.
"Relax, James," Pershing said. "This is the west bank of the Meuse River, controlled by Charles's troops. It's safe here."
"I, I know, General," Hubbard replied, "but I can't help it."
Pershing nodded in understanding. "It's terrible, isn't it? I mean the battlefield."
"Yes, yes." Hubbard swallowed hard.
"I, I didn't expect the battlefield to be like this."
"This is simply a massacre. How could they, how could they send soldiers out to face the enemy's bullets and shells like this?"
"I mean, what's the point? They're lives, and no one cares if they get hurt..."
Pershing interrupted Hubbard: "Because there's no need to pay attention, James."
"Why not?" Hubbard didn't understand.
"Because rescuing a wounded person would put more people at risk." Pershing's voice was cold: "And what would happen if he was rescued? Is there any medicine to treat him? Even if he was cured, could he still fight?"
Hubbard was silent.
Even if we rescue them, it will only consume supplies.
So, no one would do such a stupid thing.
In their eyes, letting the wounded fend for themselves in the no-man's land is the best option.
Pershing sighed softly: "This is the real battlefield, James, don't be misled by the usual propaganda, otherwise, you know the consequences."
Hubbard nodded and said, "Yes, General. I will adjust my mindset."
Without facing these, he would never have become Chief of Staff of the American Expeditionary Force.
Pershing shook his head:
"I think you misunderstood."
"The consequences I'm talking about aren't about you."
"In fact, you are mainly responsible for logistics and training, so it's no big deal if you are not adapted to the battlefield environment."
Hubbard understood immediately: "You mean our army?"
"Yes." Pershing looked worried:
"You know, those young boys in the country are worse than you."
"They joined the army with unrealistic dreams, imagining that they could raise their rifles and pull the trigger to beat the Germans into fleeing in panic."
"Then, they can stand on the enemy's position, light a cigarette, and proudly declare that they have become heroes like Ciel."
“Reality will hit them hard.”
Hubbard agreed: “They will be so horrified by the carnage of this terrible war of attrition that they will not be able to move a foot.”
Hubbard was not laughing, but felt it personally, and his legs were still weak.
This is also what Pershing was worried about.
The British and French armies fought in one colonial war after another, and France and Germany still had memories of the Franco-Prussian War from decades ago.
They have reached today's situation step by step. The soldiers have adapted to such a battlefield and are even mentally prepared to die.
But not American soldiers.
They are spoiled and grow up in a peaceful society, blindly yearning for the romance and beauty of the battlefield.
One day when they really go to the battlefield, the huge contrast will instantly break down their psychological defenses.
"What should we do?" Hubbard asked.
Pershing looked out the car window. It was drizzling outside, and the scene was hazy like an impenetrable fog.
"I don't know, James," Pershing replied.
The responsibility was too great, as it concerned the lives of millions of people, so he did not dare to make a decision lightly.
"Perhaps." Pershing added, his face solemn: "Char knows the answer."
If anyone knew the answer, it was Ciel.
…
Bizossi training base.
As soon as Pershing entered the base, he was dazzled by the sight of three-wheeled vehicles, armored vehicles, and artillery mounted on trucks.
(Note: The old 75MM truck-mounted gun and the new 105MM truck-mounted gun are still military secrets and are not easily shown to the public)
Pershing turned around and looked at Hubbard, and both of them felt that they had come to the right place.
Pershing was particularly interested in armored vehicles, and as he came upstairs he told Hubbard, "We should produce a lot of these."
"Yes," Hubbard agreed. "Ordinary cars are too dangerous on the battlefield. Soldiers are like naked soldiers facing the enemy's rifles."
Led by the guard, the two walked into Charles' office.
Pershing rushed forward to shake hands with Tijani and said, "It's an honor to meet you, Lieutenant General Charles. It's no exaggeration to say that I have admired you for a long time!"
Tijani was a little surprised at first, but after the translation was finished, he realized that Pershing had recognized the wrong person.
Ciel smiled while sitting at his desk and said to Tijani, "I look like your little follower."
Charles just turned 19, and he does not look as mature and stable as Tijani.
The translator was a little embarrassed and explained to Pershing: "Brigadier General, this is General Charles, and the one in front of you is Tijani."
Pershing looked at Charles who was slowly getting up and didn't react for a long time.
This young general who looked like a guard was actually the world-famous Charles.
"Sorry." Pershing held Charles' hand: "I didn't think Charles was so young..."
"It's okay, General." Charles led the two of them to sit on the sofa.
"Would you like some coffee?" asked Charles.
"Oh, yes," Pershing replied. "Thank you very much."
Pershing felt a little nervous.
This was very strange. He was so arrogant in front of Marshal Kitchener, but he felt inexplicable pressure when facing this "kid".
No, I can't do this, Pershing shook his shoulders and tried to relax himself.
But he was disappointed to find that he failed.
(End of this chapter)
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