Chapter 109 Demand determines the market

In the operations office, Gallieni quickly signed the supply list and asked Charles: "How is it, have you decided?"

"What to decide?" Charles was a little confused. He remembered that Gallieni didn't ask him to do anything.

Gallieni signed a few more documents and then simply threw them away and walked to the lounge with a straight face.

Ciel followed him wisely.

As soon as he closed the door, Gallieni started to curse:

"Lieutenant, do you think you are really required to free those pilots?"

"Do you think I really arrested those pilots because of you?"

"You think I don't know those pilots are innocent?"

Charles looked confused. He still didn't understand what Gallieni wanted to say.

…

In the officers' mess downstairs, after Charles was called away, Carter rolled his eyes and walked over to Eric with a plate filled with food and sat down next to him.

"Eric!" Carter whispered, "Is it true that you saved Ciel?"

"Of course!" Eric replied proudly: "You never know how dangerous it was at that time. The enemy guards were following my plane. As long as I slowed down a little, they would climb up..."

Immediately, someone else came up and asked, "Did the guard fire?"

"Uh...of course I fired!" Eric's voice was a little stiff: "I also heard the sound of the machine gun, 'tat-tat-tat', and the bullets flew past my head!"

Then Eric clenched his fist: "But of course I can't put Charles in danger, he is the savior of France!"

Others excitedly agreed:

"Yes!"

"You did the right thing!"

"Charles also saved Antwerp. It's unimaginable that the Belgians would give him to the Germans!"

…

Most people regard this as a Belgian problem. After all, this is indeed an internal conflict in Belgium, but it makes Charles the victim. So Belgium naturally becomes the party of "repaying kindness with hatred" and "repaying kindness with hatred".

"They even fired!" Eric said more and more exaggeratedly: "The shells exploded in front of the plane, and there was smoke everywhere..."

Carter quickly brought the topic back: "Wait, Eric, I just want to know... you saved Charles, can we rely on his relationship... to accept more military missions, I mean Long-term and stable!”

This suggestion immediately attracted the attention of the pilots, and even the pilots who were still busy eating gathered around:

"What a great idea. That gives us something to do!"

"Ciel can definitely do it, as long as he tells the general!"

“Maybe there will be a few big orders!”

…

After all, it was about the pilot's survival, and they all looked at Eric with expectant eyes.

Eric was embarrassed. He was the only one who knew that the so-called "rescued Charles" was just bragging. It was his duty to fly Charles back and he did not encounter any danger.

The fact is that Charles saved him. Charles agreed to buy his aircraft factory, which almost gave him a chance to be reborn.

Now he is asked to ask Charles for conditions?

"This..." Eric said in embarrassment: "As you know, Charles does not have the final say in military matters alone, he is just a lieutenant..."

"But his lieutenant is different from others!" Carter objected: "He is the savior of France!"

Others echoed.

Eric refused: "Then he should be fair and impartial. I mean, this will make things difficult for Ciel..."

"It's just a sentence!" Carter still refused to give up: "This is legal and in line with the procedures. We will definitely do it well!"

Other pilots also expressed their determination:

"Yes, we will do our best and not embarrass Lieutenant Charles!"

"If it doesn't work well, we'll leave on our own!"

"If anyone is lazy, we will beat him up and expel him!"

…

Gallieni's lounge.

Gallieni, who was sitting on the chair, looked at Charles with a look of hatred: "Pilots, flying clubs, plus the aircraft cannon you invented in Antwerp...didn't you think of anything?"

Charles suddenly understood: "What do you mean, general, to integrate these pilots into the army?"

Gallieni nodded slightly and said thoughtfully:

"Before this, we did not have many requirements for pilots. They only used aircraft to conduct reconnaissance and transport emergency documents. An army only needed a few."

"But now, as long as rockets are tied to the aircraft, you can destroy the enemy's airships, balloons, and even bomb the enemy's artillery!"

"Any idea what this means?"

Charles understood: "The military's demand for pilots has increased dramatically!"

"Yes!" Gallieni said: "In addition, we also considered that the enemy may also use the same method to destroy our balloons!"

The Germans are not fools. They also have Congreve rockets. Soon they will realize that the ones strapped to the planes are not artillery but rockets, and they will immediately follow suit.

Charles continued: "This will eliminate the balloons on both sides of the enemy and us, and all reconnaissance missions will be handed over to aircraft, which will further increase the demand for pilots!"

Gallieni smiled slightly, and the little guy finally came to his senses.

"We currently have 44 divisions, Lieutenant." Gallieni said: "Each division is equipped with a divisional artillery regiment. Each artillery regiment needs to eliminate the balloon and replace it with an aircraft. You count us How many pilots are needed?”

Based on the calculation of 3 aircraft per artillery regiment, 132 pilots are needed just to cooperate with the artillery.

In addition, professional pilots who can shoot balloons and bomb enemy artillery are needed, which means at least more than 300 people!

This is still a conservative estimate. Considering the war losses and the urgency of the battlefield, 500 people are not excessive. In the future, if fighters are fighting each other, thousands of pilots will not be enough...

"This may not be an easy task, General!" Charles said embarrassedly: "You know, those pilots are used to a free life, and now it is a war time. Everyone knows that the battlefield is dangerous, and they may not be willing to join the army!"

"I know, Lieutenant!" Gallieni looked up at Charles: "That's why I handed this matter to you. We can give pilots certain preferential treatment, such as... enlisting as a second lieutenant. After all, they are technical arms, different from ordinary infantry!"

Charles still shook his head. The rank may not be very attractive to pilots.

Gallieni continued to increase the price: "A monthly allowance of 60 francs!"

Charles' frown relaxed a little, this is a good idea!

"In addition!" Gallieni reminded: "We also need an airport, and we plan to order 100 aircraft from your aircraft factory..."

Charles was stunned, the aircraft factory hasn't been purchased yet, but the order has come?