Chapter 404: Delaying Tactics

When Charles walked into the city defense headquarters, he felt that the atmosphere in the headquarters was a bit depressing.

The staff members whispered, Lieutenant Colonel Fernand said something to Gallieni, who stared at the map on the table and frowned, with a trace of anger in his eyes.

When they saw Xia Er coming in, their eyes instantly turned to helplessness and sympathy. Several staff members shook their heads and sighed, as if they were feeling unfair for Xia Er.

"What's wrong?" Charles asked doubtfully.

Gallieni replied: "Joffre plans to transfer you and your troops to Army Group East."

"What?" Charles was stunned and almost laughed out loud. Is this guy really planning to follow the plan discussed by the public?

Come on, that is a plan that is already known to everyone and can be thought of by the public. Would the Germans not think of it?

The result is really, I can’t say they are similar, I can only say they are exactly the same.

Gallieni pointed at the map and said:

"He thought we should be ready to work with Italy to attack the Germans."

"Once the Italian army moves north and threatens the German army's rear, we should attack with all our strength to defeat them. This can cooperate with the Italian army to form a pincer attack on the German army."

"And the attack requires tanks, and now only your unit in the entire army has tanks."

Charles thought of the fact that he had purchased "Saint-Salmon" and industrial property not long ago, and that the "Saint-Salmon" of the 1st Special Artillery Division was almost completely wiped out in the Battle of Cambrai.

Therefore, it is true that only Charles's troops have tanks, except for the "Upper Silesia" captured from the German army.

"I can sell him the tank." Charles replied: "As long as he wants, he can rebuild the tank force at any time, whether it is a 'Saint Shamon' or a 'Char A1'."

Gallieni shook his head: "We all know this is an excuse, Brigadier General. We should consider things other than tanks and combat plans."

"Unplanned thing?" Charles didn't understand what Gallieni was referring to.

Gallieni nodded: "Once you and your troops are under the command of Joffre, you may be sent to perform dangerous missions. Do you understand what I mean?"

Ciel instantly understood that he was using a knife to kill people under false pretenses!

It is not difficult to imagine that with just one order from Xiafei, Ciel could be put into a dilemma.

If you want to execute it, you will have to take the troops and risk your life.

Failure to do so would mean disobeying military orders, and what awaited Charles would be ruin and a military court.

Not even victory on the battlefield, nor defeat.

The victory was the result of Xiafei's command.

If he fails, Ciel will be in danger of his own life. Even if he is alive, his reputation will be damaged and he may even be punished.

Lieutenant Colonel Fernand suggested: "We can arrange other tasks for Charles and then refuse on this basis."

Gallieni shook his head: "No mission is more important than Italy right now, Lieutenant Colonel. The war in that direction will almost determine whether the war ends."

Charles was speechless, even Galieni had this idea.

But no wonder, who would have thought that Italy, with its millions of troops, could not even penetrate the Austria-Hungary border?

"Then." Lieutenant Colonel Fernand added, "We can give the Brigadier General a holiday. After all, he was the one who brought Italy into the Allies. I always think that one day's holiday is too little..."

Gallieni interrupted Lieutenant Colonel Fernand: "It's useless, Lieutenant Colonel, the war has begun. At the critical moment, even if he is on vacation, the brigadier general should return to the army to join the war."

Others are also thinking of ways, and they have a lot of suggestions:

"We can consider sending the brigadier general to Gallipoli. The war there is equally important. I heard that they can no longer hold on."

"Or directly let the brigadier general enter Italy to coordinate with him."

"Yes, this is better than taking orders from Xiafei."

…

However, these excuses are all weak.

Gallieni looked at Charles with questioning eyes and a hint of anxiety.

Charles replied calmly: "I think this plan is feasible. I can go to Army Group East."

"What?" Gallieni thought he heard wrongly.

The others looked at Ciel in shock. Everyone was thinking about how to drag him out of the fire pit, but he jumped into the fire pit himself!

Ciel shrugged noncommittally: "It's just that I don't think it's the right time yet."

Gallieni asked: "What's not the right time?"

Charles pointed at the map seriously and said:

"The Italian army has just launched an offensive on the border, and its frontline is at least a hundred kilometers away from threatening the German supply line."

"If we send reinforcements of tank troops to Army Group Eastern at this time."

"First, our strategic intentions are exposed too early. Second, the supplies required by the tank troops will put a heavy burden on logistics. Third, the tank troops are unable to conduct normal training and can only wait on the front line."

Gallieni agreed.

Tank troops are different from ordinary troops. Ordinary troops only need food and bullets.

Tank troops have to be maintained with gasoline, spare parts, etc., and they also need to be equipped with logistics troops. Training on the front line can easily expose them.

"So." Charles concluded: "I think we should not be in a hurry. The tank troops can be trained in the rear first. When Italy breaks through the Austro-Hungarian border and marches towards Germany, it will not be too late for us to rush to Army Group East."

Lieutenant Colonel Fernan and other staff members nodded:

"Indeed."

"It should be like this."

…

But his voice was very small and he had no confidence.

They thought that Charles was doing this "delaying tactic" out of helplessness, a way to delay going to the Eastern Army Group to obey Joffre as much as possible, a way out of helplessness.

Gallieni thought so too, and he was even confused by Charles.

Does this make sense? It's just a delay of a few days, or even longer.

But what is coming will come in the end, and Charles will have to face it one day. The key is to find a way to solve this problem fundamentally!

However, Gallieni saw confidence in Charles' eyes, and he didn't seem to take this problem to heart.

What's going on?

Does Charles have a way to deal with Joffre?

Or, is Charles sure that Italy can't win this battle?

Impossible!

...

In the end, Gallieni, who didn't think of a better way, could only reluctantly convey Charles' words to Joffre: "We obey orders, General, Charles will rush to the Eastern Army Group to report to you after the Italian army breaks through the enemy's defense line."

Joffre was instantly delighted.

This time, Charles can't escape, he is under his command, and he can do whatever he wants with just one word!

Xia Fei turned his eyes to the map complacently, and he had already started to think:

"Don't let Charles fall into trouble too early, let him and the Germans lose together."

"It's better to save some tanks."

"No, no, this is too obvious, we should make this battle more tragic, so as not to arouse others' suspicion. As long as Charles is eliminated, his factories, tanks, and even assets will be trapped!"