Chapter 489 Military Achievements Do Not Necessarily Have to Be Achieved on the Battlefield

"But what are we going to do, Your Majesty Marshal?" Haig looked at Kitchener with a confused look on his face: "I mean, Charles's troops penetrated into Antwerp and successfully captured hundreds of thousands of Germans, which enabled us to escape from the changes in the war zone. Became the rear.”

Haig and his troops once enjoyed such "peace", but this life seems to be coming to an end.

Then Haig spread his hands: "We can't just walk to Antwerp and ask Charles to give up the defense line to us, right?"

"No, of course not," Kitchener replied.

Just as he was talking, the car lights outside the window flashed, and a car slowed down and stopped outside the gate for inspection by the guard.

"He came at the right time," Kitchener said.

"Who?" Haig stood up and looked at the car downstairs in confusion.

"Someone who can put our troops on the field and show strength," Kitchener replied.

…

Nivel got out of the car and walked up the stairs. He paused at the door for a while, carefully adjusted his military uniform and moved his shoulders to relax himself. Then he put on a smile and then pushed the door open.

(The picture above shows Nivelle, who is of mixed British and French descent. His mother is British. He has very good eloquence and fluent English. He maintains a good relationship with the British. During World War I, he relied on the British to successfully surpass a number of military giants and serve as French military commander. Commander-in-Chief of the Army)

"Your Excellency, Marshal, Your Excellency, General, I have long admired your name!" Nivele saluted the two of them one after another, and then enthusiastically stepped forward to shake hands with them.

Kitchener motioned for Nivelle to sit down on the sofa in front of them, and introduced to Haig: "Major General Nivelle, commander of the 3rd Army."

Haig bowed politely and shook hands with Nivelle. When he sat back, he glanced at Kitchener with a puzzled look on his face. He didn't understand Kitchener's intention of bringing an ordinary major general in front of him.

Kitchener did not explain. He raised the wine glass towards Nivelle and gave Nivelle the right to speak.

Nivele sat up straighter and tried to stay calm:

"You must have heard about Joffre, General."

"He has been removed from active duty and lawmakers are debating whether to revoke his military status."

Haig nodded: "Yes, poor Xiafei, now he has really become poor Xiafei."

Nivele laughed cooperatively.

These words were meant to make fun of Xiafei. Whenever Xiafei did something, he would always slap himself on the head and laugh at himself: "Poor Xiafei."

Nivele went on to say:

"Xiafei stepped down, leaving a vacancy in the position of commander-in-chief."

"Although Galieni has been proposed, it is well known that Galieni has health problems."

"Congressmen feared he would be overwhelmed and therefore preferred him to serve as Army secretary and commander of the less-stressed Reserve Army Group."

Haig blurted out: "What about Ciel? Have you never considered Ciel?"

"Of course, General." Nivel replied: "But the members generally think that Charles is too young. He is still a brigadier general and only 18 years old. This is difficult to convince the public. More importantly..."

Nivele paused, a little embarrassed to speak.

Kitchener, who had been silent, took up the topic: "Age and military rank are not issues. As long as they have the ability, anyone can be the commander-in-chief. After all, even Joffre can do it."

Several people laughed knowingly, which has become a laughing stock in the military community.

Kitchener crossed his legs leisurely and continued: "The point is that they are worried that Charles has too much power in the military."

"Great power?" Haig looked at Kitchener in confusion, and then turned his gaze to Nivel: "As far as I know, Charles only has a force of 20,000 people."

He only has 20,000 people, but he is worried that he has too much power?

"Indeed, General." Nivel nodded: "But the point is his reputation."

Haig suddenly realized that what the council was worried about was not how many troops Ciel brought, but Ciel's influence.

Since the outbreak of the war, Charles has been victorious and invincible. In addition, he is a "conscientious capitalist", so he has gained the military and popular support of countless people at the bottom of society.

Charles didn't have many soldiers and his military rank was not high, but he seemed to be the spiritual leader of the French army and people.

If Charles is allowed to become the commander-in-chief of the French army and control the army, it is likely that there will be nothing wrong with the parliament, and a military dictator will emerge.

Haig chuckled: "The French, they always put infighting first."

Then Haig thought that Britain seemed to be similar, and he had no right to laugh at France.

Nivele pretended not to hear, or it could be said that as he sat here, he naturally pretended to be an Englishman.

"There are also problems of this kind among others who can serve as commander-in-chief of the French army." Nievelle continued his analysis:

"Foch was dismissed not long ago due to Joffre's influence."

"The Parliament didn't quite believe him and thought he was somewhat responsible for the miscarriage of justice at Verdun."

"As for Pétain, it was because he insisted on a defensive theory, which the MPs considered inappropriate."

Haig nodded in agreement.

The Charles raided Antwerp in one day and recovered the Douaumont fortress and defense line in another day. This was not something that defense theory could achieve.

Now that the situation is excellent, it is time to attack. If Pétain is appointed commander-in-chief, it will inevitably turn to defense.

Then Haig suddenly realized something. He looked at Nivele in surprise: "You are not planning to fight for the commander-in-chief, are you?"

"Yes, General." Nivele nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"You're crazy." Haig's eyes widened: "You are just a major general, and there are many lieutenant generals waiting in front, and there are several commanders of army groups, they are all candidates for the commander-in-chief, and you are just..."

Haig recalled and remembered: "A corps commander."

Nivelle looked a little embarrassed, he didn't know how to answer.

Kitchener took over the topic: "This has nothing to do with rank and military position. If necessary, he will be a lieutenant general tomorrow."

Haig immediately realized that Kitchener was also involved, to be exact, Britain.

Then Haig said "Oh", Britain planned to achieve its interests on the battlefield by supporting Nivelle to become the commander-in-chief of France.

This is a very good deal, Haig thought, but...

"Have you ever won remarkable military exploits?" Haig asked Nivelle.

"No, General." Nivelle shook his head, which embarrassed him a little.

Haig looked disappointed, they should have chosen someone, at least to win a few battles.

But Kitchener responded: "Military merit does not necessarily have to be achieved on the battlefield."

"What?" Haig did not understand.

"Supplies." Kitchener said: "France has entered a stage of shortage of supplies, and Major General Nivelle can get supplies from us."

Speaking of this, Kitchener raised his head to Nivelle again: "At the same time, as a commander-in-chief, Major General Nivelle can coordinate the cooperation between the British and French armies very well. What do you think?"