Chapter 563: Taking over the show

The winter rain fell silently into the Somme River.

There were more than a dozen landing craft parked on the river bank, and the soldiers were carrying supplies in the rain. After the battle, they were converted into transport boats.

On the shore, the trenches were like a belt, extending to the other side of the sky, and finally disappeared in the rain and the pale sky.

Charles's headquarters had moved into the trenches built by the German army.

The logs supported the spacious underground tunnel, which was flat and clean. The bedding and the ground were kept dry. They even dug a stove for heating.

Charles looked at Christine who followed him in.

Christine looked ashamed.

After seeing the German trenches, I never wanted to go back to the French trenches. The latter was simply a doghouse.

"Do you know why the Germans have such strong combat effectiveness?" Charles looked around and couldn't help sighing: "They regard fighting as life, and we regard life as fighting."

"Yes, General." Christine responded.

He understood the difference between the two.

The German army can conserve their energy in such an environment, and once the war comes, they can exert their full combat effectiveness.

As for the French army, the bad weather and harsh environment consumed most of their physical strength, and the supplies were often wasted due to moisture.

The orderly added a few pieces of firewood to the stove, and the flames that had not been extinguished soon jumped up happily, with crackling sounds, adding light and warmth to the tunnel.

Charles took off his raincoat and military jacket and sat in front of the stove to dry.

In the rain, raincoats often do not work, and the clothes inside will inevitably get wet and dirty.

This is also the reason why many soldiers simply do not wear it. Raincoats are more often a burden, which will hinder their movements and make them one step slower than the enemy.

In a cup of tea, the signalman has set up the radio station and started to receive messages.

Soon a telegram was handed to Charles: "General, most of the 6th Army has returned to the team, with more than 200,000 people, and the troops in other directions have also been controlled."

Charles said "hmm" while holding the hot coffee.

This is one of the benefits of the victory of the Somme River.

Before this, all the mutinous soldiers, including the 6th Army, were worried about whether Charles could "avoid meaningless attacks as much as possible."

This negotiation condition is actually an unquantifiable empty talk.

What is a "meaningless attack"?

What is the standard?

From 100,000 sacrifices a day to 90,000 or 80,000 a day?

For this reason, the mutinous soldiers were still unwilling to compromise easily. They hoped that Charles could give them a definite answer or a guarantee.

However, Charles commanded the nearly collapsed 130,000-man 6th Army and easily defeated the 200,000-man German 2nd Army. The cost was only more than 1,000 people, but more than 10,000 Germans were killed and wounded, and the defense line was pushed forward by 5 kilometers.

This is the best answer to the soldiers.

This is the "meaningful attack" they want.

This is the battle they want.

If they can fight such a battle, they can live with honor, dignity and pride, and they don't have to be driven to the enemy's gun like sheep and die meaninglessly in the no-man's land and rot and stink. Why do they mutiny?

As a result, the morale of the French army on the Western Front rose sharply, and the soldiers returned to the team and obeyed the officers' command.

Christine took the telegram and looked at it carefully, then frowned: "General, it seems wrong!"

"What's wrong?" Charles put the coffee cup aside and spread out the wet military uniform in his hand facing the fire.

Christine handed over the telegram, and Charles turned his head and took it with one hand. He glanced at it in the flickering firelight, which seemed to be the statistical data of each division in the army group.

"The data did not include the First Special Artillery Division." Christine said: "The reason is that the First Special Artillery Division is in the best situation. Most of them returned to the team shortly after you came."

This is related to Christine's military management. In addition, he is a combat hero. He often rushes to the front line during combat and is quite loved by soldiers.

However, Charles still didn't understand: "What's the problem?"

"General." Christine explained: "The 6th Army has only 213,000 people in total, and the statistics are 205,000, not including the 13,000 of the 1st Special Artillery Division."

Charles was stunned, and after thinking for a while, he understood: "You mean, there are a few thousand more people?"

Christian nodded: "Yes, General, about 5,000 more."

But after thinking about it, he felt that it was wrong, and Christine corrected: "It should be 6,000 more people, and our casualties of more than 1,000 people were not counted."

This made Charles confused. There are only fewer people fighting, and I have never heard of more and more people fighting.

Is the statistics wrong?

It's unlikely. This is reported by each unit level by level.

Are there militias mixed in?

It's also unlikely. The Belgians may have this enthusiasm, but the French will avoid it when they see the conscription order.

That's...

Christian laughed: "General, they want to be a member of the 6th Army!"

Being reminded by him, Charles said "Oh" and understood.

Soldiers from other units "defected" to the 6th Army for Charles.

Because only Charles could launch such a "meaningful attack" and give them dignity, honor and victory.

"What should we do?" Christine asked, and then answered her own question: "From the perspective of appeasing morale, I think we should pretend not to know."

"No." Charles shook his head: "They must be driven back to their original troops. There are more than 6,000 people a day, and this is not allowed. If we allow it, the soldiers of the entire defense line may sneak to the Somme River to join the 6th Army!"

Christine's face changed slightly.

This is no different from a mutiny. The Germans can easily break through the defense line and attack Paris.

Charles is thinking more than this.

If soldiers from other troops are allowed to join the 6th Army, it will be a military dictatorship.

The soldiers have nothing to do with the parliament and the commander-in-chief. They only listen to Charles' orders. Charles will face the parliament directly and turn against everyone else!

It's not the time yet, Charles thought.

At this time, the signalman sent another telegram: "General, the parliament decided to let Foch be the commander-in-chief."

"Well." Charles showed a satisfied smile at the corner of his mouth.

This is what he hoped for. The group of cunning guys in the parliament finally fell for it, and the British.

"And more." The signalman reported again: "In order to reward you for your contribution to France and also to give you some rest, the parliament decided to give you a week's vacation."

Charles was stunned. Vacation? At this time?

Christine was also puzzled.

Shouldn't Charles be allowed to stay at the front line to stabilize the newly restored morale?

Charles figured it out the next second.

They hope to let Foch, the newly appointed commander-in-chief, take control of the overall situation.

If Charles continues to stay at the front line, he may be the main commander!