Chapter 478 I Don't Need to Worry About Anything

Verdun front.

The rumbling of artillery echoed between the cliffs of the Marne Valley and the hills and mountains. The rolling smoke was like an open hand, constantly covering the horrible battlefield.

The mountain was blown apart, and stones and mud rolled down.

The land was lifted into the sky, and the flying dust mixed with the thick smoke, and it took a long time to dissipate.

The forest was ignited by artillery fire, burning piece by piece, and the red flames made half of the sky as dazzling as blood. The fire spread everywhere, greedily devouring everything nearby.

This place is like a purgatory on earth, with death, corpses and blood everywhere, and life seems insignificant.

…

In the Souville Fortress, Major General Lacoste, the commander of the 2nd Army, who was nearly 60 years old, sat at his desk with a frustrated look on his face, staring at the map in front of him.

From time to time, the sound of enemy artillery bombardment came from outside the fortress. Puffs of thick smoke squeezed in from the firing holes like an omnipresent monster, and soon disappeared, leaving only the suffocating smell of gunpowder and dust.

"We are finished, Klein." Major General Lacoste sighed softly and turned his eyes to the Germans: "The commander-in-chief's order to us is still to attack. He wants to fill all of us in front of the enemy's gun muzzle."

"General!" Staff Colonel Klein was horrified and hurried to stop him in a low voice: "This is the headquarters!"

As a commander, you can't say such discouraging words at any time. It will affect morale and accelerate the collapse of the troops.

Sure enough, the eyes of the surrounding signalmen and staff became a little strange. If the commander thinks so, should he be prepared to escape from all this?

Major General Lacoste smiled softly: "What's the difference? The result is the same!"

Klein was speechless.

Rushing to the muzzle of the enemy's gun and dying does not require morale. In fact, the higher the morale, the faster you will be eliminated by the enemy.

At this time, a voice came from the signalman: "General, I heard that they are going to send Charles to command Verdun. The parliament is discussing this matter."

The officers and soldiers in the headquarters were instantly delighted.

With Charles here, there will be no more such almost suicidal attacks. He will lead everyone to victory, just like he did on the battlefield before.

Major General Lacoste shook his head slightly.

That was just a trick to boost morale. How could Joffre let Charles interfere in the command of Verdun?

What's more, if they continue to fight like this, the 2nd Army will be wiped out in just two days. What will Charles do when he comes?

At this time, two people rushed in from outside the door. Their faces were blackened by the smoke of the shells, and their uniforms were also covered with dust. The thick layer almost made them two "earth" people, and even their ranks could not be seen clearly.

The short officer patted the dust on his body, coughed lightly and asked: "Where is the major general? Where is Major General Lacoste?"

No one answered.

The staff thought that this officer must be crazy, asking Major General Lacoste in such a tone.

"You should salute, soldier." Klein frowned: "Didn't they teach you how to face your superiors?"

The short officer didn't respond, but the tall major who followed him didn't agree.

He stood in front of Klein, saluted Klein with a standard military salute, and said with his chest puffed out: "You should salute your superiors, Colonel. They must have taught you how to face your superiors!"

Klein snorted, looked at the major angrily, and his hand was already on the revolver at his waist.

These two people must be crazy. They were scared like this by the enemy's artillery fire. Such people are very dangerous.

Klein winked at both sides, and the guards understood and stepped forward fiercely to control them.

But when they approached, someone suddenly screamed:

"He is... He is Charles, God, he is Charles!"

"Yes, I recognize him too, he is indeed Charles!"

...

Everyone was stunned, including Colonel Klein and Major General Lacoste, all staring at the short officer in a daze.

The small officer flicked his coat collar, brushing off a mist of dust, revealing the two stars that were covered, and said in a puzzled voice: "What? Joffre hasn't notified you yet? You are under my command!"

Major General Lacoste hurried forward to salute: "Sorry, Brigadier General, I... I haven't received any notification yet. I will check with the commander-in-chief immediately."

The headquarters then cheered, and officers and soldiers rushed forward to shake hands with Charles:

"Unbelievable, it's really you!"

"Welcome, Brigadier General."

Someone rushed out of the fortress and shouted to the soldiers lying in the trenches outside: "Charles is here, Charles is here to command us!"

...

Joffre did not notify the front-line troops, he thought Charles could not rush to the front so quickly.

It was only one o'clock in the afternoon, and it was only more than three hours since Joffre nodded to agree to this plan.

The meeting of the House of Representatives was still going on, and the members were still discussing the battle of Verdun. According to convention, it would take at least a few days or even a week.

Joffre secretly rejoiced in the headquarters. He originally thought that his position as commander-in-chief would most likely be lost, but Charles's actions saved him from a desperate situation.

"One day?" Joffre leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs leisurely, with a scornful smile on his fat face: "He actually wanted to change the situation in one day, and he used my troops."

Joffre was thinking in his mind that he could hold up the logistics tomorrow, and then gradually tighten it. When Charles came up, he might not even have enough bullets. Let's see how he can "change the situation".

A staff officer came up with a telegram and reported: "General, the 2nd Army called and said Charles has arrived at the front. Will Charles take over the command?"

Joffre pulled his feet back suddenly, and his fat body almost fell off the chair. He struggled to hold the edge of the table and looked at the staff officer in shock: "What did you say? Charles is already at the front?"

"Yes." The staff officer nodded: "He has arrived at Fort Souville."

The staff officer suddenly realized that Joffre had no idea about Fort Souville, and hurriedly added: "The 2nd Army organized a line of defense, and Major General Lacoste set up his headquarters there!"

Joffre calmed down and said, "Hmm", with some helplessness in his eyes: "I agree that Charles will take over the command of the 2nd Army, and the 30th Army!"

What was announced in the House of Representatives must be kept.

He cursed in his heart, damn bastard, you can't order the supply to be interrupted now!

It was too obvious to do so. Everyone knew that he was targeting Charles and disregarded national security, victory in the battle, and the lives of soldiers on the front line. This would only lead to another whirlpool of public opinion.

But if he didn't do this, he would just sit back and watch the supplies being sent to the front line!

After thinking for a while, Xiafei gritted his teeth and decided to do nothing.

Anyway, it's only one day, I don't need to worry about anything, he thought.