Chapter 810 Beware of Your Allies
Pan Xing stood up and shook Charles' hand excitedly:
"You are absolutely right, Admiral."
"Yes, that's what the American military should be like. Thank you very much, great advice."
"In fact, it was you who gave me the direction. I almost saw such a force standing in front of me!"
This is not only a matter of national conditions, but also a political requirement of the United States.
Fewer casualties will make soldiers and citizens feel safer, which will then lead to more support for commanders and even the president.
This was the basis for the success of the presidential campaign and the foundation for Pershing's recognition and even promotion.
Suddenly, Pershing came to his senses. He looked at Charles with surprise and joy: "You mean you agree to this deal, right?"
"Of course." Charles nodded: "After all, we are allies. As you said, the victory of the US army means reducing the pressure on the French army!"
Pershing was so moved that his voice choked up: "Thank you very much, Lieutenant General. We will not let you down."
Charles reminded Pershing cryptically: "General, it may not just be the Germans you need to be wary of."
"What?" Pershing was stunned.
"I mean," Ciel added, "and your allies."
Pershing suddenly realized and nodded slightly, understanding.
Hubbard looked confused and had no idea what the two were talking about.
…
On the way back to Dunkirk, Hubbard finally couldn't help but ask, "General, what did Charles mean by that last sentence? Why should we be wary of our allies?"
Pershing seemed to be still immersed in the excitement of forming an armored force, and replied nonchalantly: "Think about it, James. Who are our allies here?"
"Britain, France, and other colonial troops..."
Pershing interrupted Hubbard: "Of course the 'ally' Charles is talking about is not France."
"That is, Britain?" Hubbard still didn't understand: "But why should we be wary of Britain?"
"You must not understand what the British have done before this," Pershing said.
Hubbard was a little embarrassed: "I am more concerned with logistics than combat, General."
"The British tried to control the French army," Pershing explained. "They even tried to infiltrate the French government and parliament with supplies. This is how they treat their allies."
"Really?" Hubbard felt nothing. This seemed normal between countries and had nothing to do with the United States.
Pershing seemed to see what Hubbard was thinking:
“If you think this has nothing to do with America, you’re very wrong.”
"Britain will do the same to the United States as it did to France."
"Have you forgotten Kitchener's arrangement for us? He didn't discuss it with us and directly assigned a group of instructors to us."
Hubbard responded with an “Oh”: “The chief instructor is still a lieutenant general. Kitchener is trying to control us.”
"Yes."
"But," Hubbard asked, "I don't understand why we easily formed a cooperative relationship with the Shire, but our relationship with the UK is in trouble."
The United States originally had a better relationship with the United Kingdom, and its loans and materials were mainly targeted at the United Kingdom. The United States also always supported the United Kingdom internationally.
However, after arriving at the battlefield, they found that this was not the case.
"What else?" Pershing said with a hint of sarcasm. "The arrogance of the world's number one superpower. The British are worried that we will take away their number one position in the world, so they will definitely target us everywhere, using their self-righteous combat experience."
Pershing tightened his coat and sat in the corner of his seat to rest for a while, but he still couldn't help complaining after closing his eyes: "These disgusting guys don't realize that they are about to be eliminated by this era. In front of Charles, they are nothing!"
Hubbard finally understood everything after hearing this.
This is a conflict of national interests, and it cannot be resolved by allies, fellow ethnic groups, or loans.
…
Dunkirk, Kitchener frowned at the telegram in the headquarters.
He could understand why Pershing went to the Nancy front, as seeing the real battlefield conditions could help prepare for the training of the US military.
But then Pershing actually went to see Charles and talked for more than an hour.
What did they all say?
Did Pershing really intend to let Charles train his troops?
Kitchener recalled Pershing's words as he left: "Charles is the man who keeps getting victories on the battlefield."
Kitchener felt more and more that this was likely to happen.
No, that can't be done.
If it happened, everyone would know that Britain had been betrayed by its closest ally.
What do the colonial troops who have just been suppressed think about this?
The United States recognized the tactics of the Charles rather than the British, so was it necessary for the colonial army to fight with the British? They would think it was a mistake!
"Is Pershing back?" Kitchener asked his staff.
"We are still on the way, Your Excellency Marshal." The staff officer looked at his watch: "It seems that we are almost there now."
As he was speaking, Pershing walked in through the gate with Hubbard.
Kitchener immediately smiled and greeted him: "Commodore, how did you gain from your trip to Nancy?"
Pershing shook hands politely and said, "I saw the bravery of the British soldiers, Marshal. They did not retreat under the enemy's machine guns and artillery."
What he actually meant to say was "They didn't come back, they were all dead bodies."
How could Kitchener not hear Pershing's sarcasm? He smiled awkwardly and asked Pershing to sit on the sofa.
"I have an idea, Brigadier General," Kitchener said, "This may help improve your army's combat effectiveness more quickly."
"Oh, really?" Pershing pretended to listen attentively, but in fact he didn't believe that Kitchener had any good ideas at all.
"Let American soldiers join the British Expeditionary Force." Kitchener said: "You know, there is no language barrier between the British and American armies. The British Expeditionary Force will teach your soldiers how to fight in practice."
This is an advantage that the French army does not have, language.
Kitchener was actually reminding Pershing that coordinated language among troops was important.
If the grassroots soldiers cannot even understand what each other is saying, there will inevitably be problems in cooperation. The same is true if the French are appointed as instructors.
Pershing was stunned.
This is true, but it is far from enough.
"And then?" Pershing asked, without giving me face: "Can I avoid the meaningless death of my soldiers at the hands of the Germans?"
Kitchener's face darkened: "Death in war is inevitable, Brigadier General, I don't agree with you..."
"Great." Pan Xing stood up:
"We finally agree on this. I don't agree with you either."
"I came here to tell you something. I will set up the training base of the American Expeditionary Force in Bizangxi."
"You can hear the gunfire from the front line. The Germans are just across the Meuse River. It allows the soldiers to feel the pressure of the battlefield."
"You have no objection to this, Your Excellency the Marshal?"
Kitchener's face turned livid.
Pershing played a trick. He only said that the training base would be set up in Bizensi, but did not mention cooperating with the French army.
So Kitchener had no reason to refuse.
(End of this chapter)
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