Chapter 493 Cooperation with Pétain

Soon, the news of Charles's help in Verdun spread throughout the streets of France, and major newspapers also rushed to report on it, especially the "Little Journal":

"It's hard to imagine that Verdun is no longer Charles' defense area. Why did he still spare no effort to provide help to Verdun?"

"Even if the battle is won in the end, the credit belongs to Pétain. Doesn't he know this?"

"No, Ciel knows."

"But Charles doesn't care about fame and fortune. He cares more about the safety of the country and the lives of his soldiers."

"Thinking from this perspective, we can understand why Ciel did what he did. This is undoubtedly a noble quality..."

People were so excited that they cheered loudly, and people were discussing Ciel's selfless behavior in the streets:

"Not only did he possess military genius, he also possessed a great soul."

"I think this has something to do with his age and experience. He is only 18 years old and has hardly been contaminated by politics and capital, so he is different from other politicians and capitalists."

"France needs this kind of general who can abandon selfish interests and unite the army. He can lead us to fight against the outside world in unison!"

…

"Le Merit" has always maintained a low profile. After all, it is a newspaper directly controlled by Charles.

However, a few days later it continued to report on the role of the new mines in Verdun:

"The most common one is an anti-infantry mine. Its advantage is that it has a simple structure, low cost, and can be mass-produced in a short time. This anti-infantry mine combined with anti-slope fortifications can almost make it difficult for the enemy to move."

"Then there are anti-tank mines, which have destroyed several tanks in the passes between the highlands."

"The most powerful one is a jumping mine. It can bounce to a height of one meter and explode, causing large-scale damage to enemy infantry. The Germans changed their minds after hearing this!"

…

There is not a single word about Shire in the article, but Shire is everywhere.

Because everyone knows that these landmines were invented by Charles, especially the kind that can jump to a height of one meter and explode. No one has heard of this kind of landmine before.

People are interested in guessing:

"What does thunder rely on to jump up?"

"How can it be controlled to explode at a height of one meter?"

"This is amazing. Ciel's inventions can defeat everything. He always surprises us!"

…

Everything went as Ciel expected.

Ciel knew that under the pressure of war, people would naturally gravitate toward generals who could win the war, because this would bring them a sense of security and pride, and even save their lives.

However, Charles felt that he should still know Pétain, otherwise, the sixty-year-old Pétain would probably be driven crazy by this kind of public opinion and atmosphere, or he would simply put down his face and become Charles's enemy.

…

Charles was right.

That afternoon, when Charles rushed to the Fortress of Saint-Michel and met Pétain, Pétain did not give Charles a good look.

"Isn't this 'Mars de France'?" Pétain looked directly at Charles with sarcasm: "You are here to teach me how to fight, right? I listen!"

"No, General," Charles replied, "I'm here to cooperate with you."

"Cooperation?" Petain laughed: "We have been cooperating. Look, I am using your tactics and equipment now."

Bei Dang cursed in his mind, he must be laughing at me, I was like a puppet in his hands, but I couldn't refuse.

Now, he wants to "cooperate" with me? !

But Pei Dang secretly admired Charles.

He knew that the reason why he was "being treated as a puppet but could not refuse" was not because of anything else, but because the plan given by Ciel was always the optimal solution that could not be changed.

Or once changed, it must be at the expense of soldiers' lives or the failure of the campaign.

For example, anti-infantry mines, anti-tank mines, jumping mines... Can he refuse?

Charles did not take Petain's taunt to heart.

Pétain is not that kind of pedantic person, he just needs a step down. When he gets older, he sometimes has a temper like a child, but he is not willing to be defeated by an 18-year-old boy at his age.

"I know that our combat concepts are different, General." Charles said, "But this will not be an obstacle to our cooperation, because we have a common enemy."

Petain raised his eyebrows: "Common enemy? You mean the Germans? No, you can defeat them alone. You don't need me."

This was exactly what Pétain was thinking.

He watched Charles's new tactics and new equipment enter Verdun, and they were put into effect right under his nose, beating the Germans into disarray. Sometimes he could not help but lament that he could not keep up with the times.

Charles sighed in his heart, this was where he felt sorry for Petain.

Pétain's theory of defensive tactics was originally in keeping with the era, and was perfectly suited to the trench warfare of World War I.

But Charles raised the tactical level of both the enemy and ourselves, and as a result, Pétain was left behind and became out of date.

"No, General," Charles said sternly, "I don't mean the Germans."

Petain looked at Charles suspiciously, but he said nothing.

This guy must be waiting for me to ask, Petain thought, but I won’t ask!

In order to cover it up, he opened the document in front of him and pretended to review it. While signing his name, he pretended to reply calmly: "If it's not about the Germans, there's no need to talk about it. Brigadier, I'm very busy."

Charles ignored him and continued:

"You must not know who will succeed the Commander-in-Chief, am I right?"

"It's Nivel, General."

Pétain was stunned, and looked up at Charles in surprise: "No, he is just a corps commander, a major general, and has no achievements."

"I know." Charles nodded: "He used to be your subordinate. You are fighting here, but he is working in the rear, striving to become the commander-in-chief of France to command us to fight."

Charles got the news from the "Lady in White".

He was not surprised at all, this happened to him.

Pétain slowly closed the document, was stunned for a while, and then sighed softly.

He did not have any grudges against his former subordinates becoming the commander-in-chief, which was very common in the army.

But Pétain knew Nivelle, he knew that Nivelle was not a qualified commander, even worse than Joffre.

Charles said what Pétain was thinking:

"Joffre is just incompetent, he always leaves things to others."

"Nivelle is ignorant, he is ignorant and arrogant."

"It would be a disaster for such a person to be the commander-in-chief of France, am I right?"

"This is not something I can stop alone, General!"

Pétain looked at Charles in confusion: "You, it seems that you know Nivelle very well?"

Charles was confused: "I have my intelligence channels, General."

Charles was referring to the "Lady in White".

But this is not the case. In history, Nivelle always claimed that he could end the war and win in a few days, but he always suffered defeat in the long tug-of-war.

To be exact, it was a miserable defeat!