Chapter 338 That’s Charles

For the neighbors' pleading, Charles could only half-perfunctorily tell them that he would try his best.

Even so, the neighbors still thanked Charles profusely, as if as long as Charles agreed, they would be able to defeat the Germans and rescue their son from the defense line.

Only Charles knew that there were many uncertainties on the battlefield, and no one could guarantee victory, even if they were fully prepared.

…

The military situation was urgent, and Charles only stayed at home for half an hour before returning to the city defense headquarters.

After a little preparation, the 105th Infantry Regiment took a train to the Ypres front. At this time, it was only two hours before the German army launched the gas war.

Since the police training base is located in the 12th district of Paris, it is far away from the city center but still in Paris, so the movements of the 105th Infantry Regiment are no secrets at all, and people know that the 105th Infantry Regiment has rushed to the front line at the first time.

However, Charles played a trick. He did not follow the troops, but still went in and out of the city defense headquarters under the attention of fans, and even spent some time to say a few words to comfort the public.

As expected, people were sure that Charles would not go to the front this time, but would command at the city defense headquarters as usual.

The French people had different reactions to this battle. Some were optimistic, but more people were pessimistic:

"Look, Charles' troops are on the battlefield, they are going to teach the Germans a lesson!"

"But what if it is Charles' troops? Are they immune to poison gas?"

"Yes, it seems unwise to send Charles' troops. It seems the same whether they are elite troops in the face of poison gas."

...

At the same time, people understood that Charles did not go to the battlefield in person. After all, poison gas is too dangerous, and there is no suitable way to deal with it yet.

However, what everyone did not know was that Charles flew secretly to Ypres that night to meet with the 105th Infantry Regiment.

In this regard, even Gallieni said: "You don't have to go in person, Colonel, people can understand that the parliament did not even dare to make this suggestion!"

This is the fact. If the parliament suggested that Charles go to the battlefield in person at this time, it would almost be telling the world to kill Charles with the help of the enemy.

But Charles thought he had to go.

Charles asked back:

"General, if I don't go, what will the soldiers of the 105th Infantry Regiment think?"

"They will hold the gas mask and say that Charles invented this thing, but he himself has no confidence in it. Otherwise, why doesn't he dare to be with us?"

"They will think that the gas mask is just a psychological comfort, coaxing them to go to the battlefield and let them fight the enemy in the poison gas!"

This is indeed not asking Charles to go to the battlefield, but it will only make them doubt the gas mask.

Once they doubt the gas mask, the 105th Infantry Regiment will collapse and flee at the slightest sign of trouble, just like all front-line troops.

This is the tradition of European troops. They think that their existence is meaningless or powerless to change the situation of the war, so they will choose to flee. This is natural and not a shame.

Gallieni is not unaware of this. He knows that the front-line troops know that Charles is fighting with them on the front line, which can boost morale and quickly stabilize the defense line to avoid being broken through by the German army.

But this is poison gas!

But after thinking for a while, Gallieni nodded: "This seems to be good for you. The French people know that you are with them when they are in the most dangerous and need you the most. They will remember this."

"Yes, General." Charles replied.

This is actually one of the reasons why Charles asked to go to the battlefield in person.

In times of crisis, sincerity is most evident. When the entire Allied Powers are in panic, the French military and civilians feel that a disaster is imminent and even think of surrendering. If Charles can go against the current and withstand the danger by himself, his position in the hearts of the people will be irreplaceable. This will become Charles' greatest military and political capital, and even Foch cannot defend it.

Otherwise, his life is his own, and Charles will not risk his life to fight against poison gas, even with a gas mask.

…

At more than ten o'clock in the evening, the Ypres Airport, which should have been calm, was in chaos at this time. Many seriously poisoned soldiers and civilians were waiting here to be urgently sent to Paris for treatment.

Since the Germans launched the gas war, tens of thousands of wounded were produced in just one hour, which caused the Ypres medical system to collapse instantly.

More importantly, almost everyone, including doctors, was helpless against the symptoms of poisoning. They could only try to send the wounded to Paris in the hope that they would have a solution.

However, Ypres was too far from Paris. It might take more than ten hours or even longer to take a train for more than 400 kilometers, which was not much different from waiting to die.

Therefore, some qualified or senior officers could only find ways to hire planes.

At this time, a two-seater "Avro" slowly landed at the airport under the guidance of the indicator light.

People cast curious eyes at the plane. Shouldn't it be the "Benowa" that landed at this time?

(The picture above shows the earliest civil transport plane "Benowa", which started operating on January 1, 1914. It can only carry two people, the pilot and a passenger. The ticket price is expensive, costing $5 per time, and the first ticket was sold at a sky-high price of $400)

Before the plane stopped, several cars came to greet it. The cars were filled with French soldiers with live ammunition, and there were also police blowing whistles to keep people within the cordon.

Someone shouted, "They must be sending some wealthy capitalist to flee from here."

The crowd suddenly became chaotic. They shouted and rushed towards the police and soldiers who were blocking them, but the crowd stopped soon.

They found that the police and soldiers actually pulled out the pistols from their waists.

"Don't come over!" The leading guard held a revolver in his hand. He carefully pointed the muzzle of the gun at the ground and warned loudly: "We will shoot, I promise!"

People were stunned. This situation only occurred when workers marched for the realization of the eight-hour work system. At that time, the government sent troops to suppress it.

Then, someone whispered: "Is it a military secret?"

The angry people suddenly understood that if it was because of military secrets, it was normal for the soldiers to behave like this. What they did just now almost threatened national security.

Then, people turned their eyes to the plane, guessing who it was going to take away.

Soon, they found that they were wrong. It was not going to take anyone away, but to bring someone in.

In the dim light, a slightly thin figure jumped out of the cabin and stepped into the car surrounded by guards.

Someone exclaimed: "God, that's Charles, it's Charles! I know him!"

Everyone was stunned. Charles? He came to Ypres? At this time?

After a long time, someone said: "No, that's not Charles, you must have made a mistake!"

Others understood and responded in unison:

"Yes, you must have made a mistake, Charles can't be here."

"Charles is in Paris."

"We didn't see anything!"

...