Chapter 492 The Real Commander

The rumbling of artillery fire on the Verdun front.

Although it was a hot afternoon, the smoke and dust from the artillery fire covered half of the sky, making it impossible to see any sunlight in Verdun, and the fortress was like night.

Inside the fortress, an enlarged map was hung on the north wall of the headquarters. Pétain was smoking his pipe in the dim light, his eyes occasionally moving on the map, as if he was deploying troops in his mind.

(The above picture shows Henri Philippe Pétain, who was 60 years old at the time and was promoted to major general not long ago. He was called the "doctor of the army" because he opposed the blind offensive supremacy of the French army and advocated defensive strategic thinking.)

Pétain set up his headquarters at Fort Saint-Michel, the closest to Verdun, just like Charles did.

The reason was that Pétain believed that the Battle of Verdun was not only a defensive issue, but also a logistical issue:

There was only one secondary road that could reinforce Verdun, which was often blocked by German artillery fire, and it was difficult to transport supplies, troops, equipment, etc.

If you want to change the situation of the war, you must change this situation.

However, these are not what Pétain is worried about.

Pétain stared at the Fortress of Souville, where Charles first used the "reverse oblique tactics". Pétain had been there several times and was familiar with the combat links.

I can't use the same tactics, I must not.

Otherwise, this battle will not be fought by me, but by Charles.

Even if it is modified and used, it will be fine, even if it is just a little!

But sadly, Pétain found that he couldn't change it at all, and he seemed to have no choice but to fight like this.

Because only it can turn the German artillery, which has an absolute advantage, into scrap metal, only it can use absolutely weak forces to stop the enemy's attack, and only it can reduce the pressure on logistics!

Pétain sighed softly, grabbed the pipe and knocked it lightly against the corner of the wall, stepped on the fallen ashes with his feet, and then put the pipe back into the box for storage.

"Perhaps we should divide the troops into several parts." Pétain turned to Major General Lacoste and said, "Let each unit rotate to defend the front line, so as to ensure their organization and morale."

"Uh." Major General Lacoste hesitated: "I don't think this is necessary, General. With the reverse slope tactics, the casualties of the troops are only one or two hundred a day, and it would be even less if the Germans did not attack."

Before this, the casualties per day were thousands or even tens of thousands.

Now it has suddenly dropped to one or two hundred people, which is heaven for the front-line soldiers, so the troops have maintained high morale.

Major General Lacoste saw that Pétain looked different, and added: "Of course, it is still feasible to rotate them down for rest. I have no objection, General."

Pétain said "um", pointed to the map and said: "We should widen the road immediately, so as to ensure the supplies of Verdun. This is very important and it is related to the victory or defeat of Verdun."

"Yes, General." Major General Lacoste stepped forward to respond.

However, Pétain saw disapproval in his eyes.

Sure enough, Major General Lacoste hesitated and said: "General, I think the most urgent thing should be directional mines, which may be more important than widening the road."

The troops can have no bullets or shells, and even no reinforcements. They only need to continue to transport the directional mines invented by Charles. It can block all enemies that rush up.

And directional mines do not depend on the road. It depends on how many orders the government places and how fast Charles delivers them.

Pétain said "hmm" expressionlessly. Does this guy want me to ask Charles for help?

This is impossible!

His tactical concept is completely different from mine. We should be enemies.

"General." At this time, a signalman came forward to report: "Major Jules wants to see you. He said he brought Charles's suggestions and a more complete reverse slope tactics."

This instantly attracted everyone's attention, including Major General Lacoste, all staring at the signalman, with excitement and joy in their eyes.

God, a more complete reverse slope tactic!

Does this mean that the previous reverse slope tactic is only a part?

A part can defeat the Germans, what will happen if it is complete? !

Pétain frowned. What did Charles want to do?

But he couldn't refuse.

Because refusal means ignoring national security and the lives of soldiers, and will also be accused of jealousy, paranoia, and arrogance.

"Well." Pétain nodded helplessly and ordered in a muffled voice: "Let him in."

Major Jules carried a briefcase on his back. After coming in, he saluted Pétain and Lacoste respectively, and then took out the documents from the briefcase and handed them over: "The brigadier general gave me a schematic diagram. He told me to make sure to explain the reverse slope tactics clearly."

Major General Lacoste's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Major, we really need this."

The staff officers surrounded him without waiting for orders. They thought this was a good opportunity for them to learn and improve.

"Of course." Pétain nodded. Although he was a little unconvinced on his face, he also wanted to know what the complete reverse slope tactics were like.

Just now, he thought that the reverse slope tactics could not be changed or improved, but he didn't expect that the improved version would come immediately.

Major Jules opened the document and pointed to the diagram and said, "The reverse slope tactic should not be just one trench, gentlemen, it is multiple trenches with layers of defense."

There was a sound of sudden realization around.

"We don't necessarily need directional mines." Major Jules continued: "When the enemy attacks, we can abandon the first trench, or the second or third trench. Since the trenches we have built are all high and low, the enemy You can't always hide yourself in the trenches."

Major General Lacoste agreed: "It makes sense. The enemy always becomes our target at high altitudes."

Major Jules nodded:

"But we must pay attention to the distance between trenches. Grenades can be thrown at thirty meters, but it can easily be turned into hand-to-hand combat by the enemy rushing into the trenches."

"So it's better to widen the trench spacing going down."

"Then calibrate the coordinates of the trenches ahead with the 75-gun Zhuyuan..."

The staff members exclaimed:

"It's great. The 75-gun cannon will blast all the enemies that come up to the sky."

"The shell will cut the charging enemy in two from the trench."

"In this way, we have an advantage in the local area on the anti-slope, both in terms of strength and artillery fire, even though our total strength is much smaller than theirs."

…

Major General Lacoste was a little worried. He asked nervously: "Major, does this mean that we cannot obtain more directional mines?"

"No." Major Jules replied firmly:

"The Brigadier will do his best to ensure the supply of Verdun directional mines."

"Not only that, but a new type of mine will be provided to Verdun in the future, also invented by the brigadier general."

"You are the first batch of users, for Verdun, for France!"

There was cheering all around, followed by Major Jules shouting:

"For Verdun!"

"For France!"

…

Pétain felt a sense of powerlessness. He suddenly felt that the one who really commanded this army and the battle of Verdun was not him, but Charles!