Chapter 279 Pressure From Public Opinion

Back at the headquarters, Charles was surprised to find that Gallieni was not at his desk.

"Is the general still in the House of Representatives?" Charles asked Lieutenant Colonel Fernand.

"No, he's back." Lieutenant Colonel Fernand raised his head towards the lounge, his expression angry and worried: "They've 'tortured' the general for more than two hours, and the general's old injury seems to have relapsed."

Charles said "hmm" and said nothing. He made a cup of coffee and walked to the lounge and knocked on the door gently.

"Come in." Gallieni's weak voice came from the lounge.

Charles opened the door carefully, put the coffee on the table, and asked softly: "General, do you need to call a medic for you?"

Galieni frowned, his face was a little pale, he slowly sat up from the bed, shook his head and replied: "The cause of the disease is the shrapnel left in the wound, and the medic can't do anything!"

"You don't need to argue with them." Charles turned the topic to the parliament: "It's like your injury, the cause is internal, no matter how you stop it, it won't help."

Galieni's hand holding the coffee stopped in mid-air, and then put the coffee back: "You mean, they will eventually send you to the battlefield?"

"Yes." Charles replied: "It's not about whether it should be, but because my power is not enough."

Galieni pondered for a moment and nodded slightly.

He actually understood what was going on.

The right wing was afraid that Charles would lead France to a new industrial climax, and the right wing would be completely marginalized in France.

Although the left wing looks like a capitalist like Charles, many people have become competitors because of Charles' rapid rise, and they also hope to stop Charles.

And the most ideal and straightforward way is to send Charles to the battlefield and to a dangerous place.

Gallieni couldn't help but snort: "They sent you to the army with this idea in mind, and they kept saying that they were just going to "boost morale." "

Charles didn't say anything. The truth was much more complicated than Gallieni thought.

If it was before, even the parliament couldn't send Charles to the battlefield because the French people didn't allow it. If the parliament did so, the French people would be excited to march and demonstrate or launch a general strike.

Now, even the French people hope that Charles will save the mess of the Dardanelles:

"Only Charles can win this battle, and we should let Charles command this battle."

"This is a crucial battle. If we win, we can end this war!"

"Countless soldiers are dying on the front line, and only Charles can save them!"

...

People have all kinds of ideas.

Some of them did it for the dignity of France. They thought that if Britain could not do it but France did, they would be very proud.

Some of them did it purely because their relatives were fighting in the Dardanelles. They did not want their families to be in danger and hoped that Charles could bring them back before they died.

Others believed that winning the Battle of the Dardanelles would end the war, and they hoped that Charles would "save" France one last time.

…

From this perspective, the parliament did not violate the will of the people. On the contrary, they just "spoke out the voice of the French people."

Of course, the reason why public opinion has changed in this way is inseparable from the secret guidance of the right wing and capitalists. For example, some newspapers have reported related topics in an obscure way, including "Le Petit Journal."

Charles did not say these because Gallieni knew that these would not help. He was a pure soldier who only cared about the war and did not involve politics and public opinion.

"I'm an adult." Charles said calmly: "If they find that they can't convince you, they will question me soon."

Gallieni was stunned. This is indeed possible. The parliament has the right to question any government and military personnel as long as it does not involve military secrets.

Charles continued: "At that time, they will ask a question that I can't answer, 'Colonel, as a soldier, are you willing to go to the Dardanelles to fight for France'?"

Charles dragged a chair and sat in front of Gallieni with a confident smile on his face: "What should I do then?"

Unwilling, or willing.

The former will make Charles a disgrace to the soldiers, and he will become a coward, a coward, and a deserter from a hero of France overnight.

Then Charles will lose the support of the people, and everything he has created will be overturned. After that, he will no longer have the capital and opportunity to deal with his opponents, just like Boulanger was defeated.

The latter, there is nothing to say. If Charles himself is willing to go to the battlefield, what power does Gallieni have to stop him? What is the intention?

Thinking of this, Gallieni nodded slightly: "Then, you have to tell them that you are on the warship instead of landing..."

Charles didn't say anything, just stared at Gallieni quietly.

Galieni understood Charles' expression, and he asked in surprise: "You, are planning to land?"

"Do you think they will let me go?" Charles asked back: "On the warship instead of landing, then why did they send me?"

After a pause, Charles added:

"They can use the same method to force me to go to the battlefield."

"For example, send a few media to follow up on the warship."

"Reporters will chase me every day and ask: 'What do you think of the casualties on the battlefield?', 'Do you think you should go to the battlefield to command in person?', 'Or do you continue to plan to stay on the warship?'..."

"How should I answer then?"

Galieni understood that they would force Charles to the battlefield step by step through public pressure.

If Charles chose not to go, he would become a "deserter" and lose the support of the people and everything.

"It's not that I want to go to the battlefield." Charles concluded: "But instead of being forced to go to the battlefield by them, it is better to take the initiative to ask for it."

Galieni stared at Charles blankly, he knew Charles was right.

Being forced to go to the battlefield meant that there was no preparation, and there might be assassins in the army who wanted to assassinate Charles.

And taking the initiative to ask for the battle, at least you can ask for the use of your own trusted army.

Galieni was a little worried: "You have never been to the battlefield..."

"I am the commander, general." Charles comforted: "They will protect me."

Galieni sighed and agreed: "Okay, this day will come!"

After thinking for a while, Gallieni said: "I can transfer a 3,000-man force to reinforce the Dardanelles, and you will serve as the regiment staff."

"Yes, general!" Charles stood up and responded.

"What else do you want?" Gallieni asked.

Charles replied: "I want two weeks to prepare!"