Chapter 514: Chantilly Conference

This is a warm winter. In previous years, the sycamore trees shed their leaves in October, but this year they reluctantly shed their leaves until mid-November.

In the Nonette Valley, about 60 kilometers north of Paris, an ancient medieval castle stands on a steep cliff surrounding the water: Chateau de Chantilly.

During the war, this castle built in the forest was closed to the outside world.

Because no one has the leisure to visit here, citizens who are in a state of shortage of materials would rather exchange their tickets for bread, which can at least fill their stomachs.

However, the originally desolate castle looked completely different today.

The lawns covered with weeds were full of heavily armed soldiers, some setting up sentries, some blocking roads, and others lining up to search and patrol at the edge of the forest.

On the gravel road, cars kept coming and going, carrying high-ranking officials with military ranks, including British officers wearing big-brimmed hats and French officers wearing tube hats.

(The picture above shows the Château de Chantilly in Paris. The city of Chantilly was often used as a meeting place for allied forces during World War I.)

(The picture above shows the interior of the Chateau Chantilly)

Although the castle conference room was not large, dozens of lieutenant generals and major generals were seated there.

Gallieni, Pétain, Haig, and Lieutenant General Ives, who had just been transferred to garrison the Antwerp defense line, were among them.

They talked quietly and occasionally laughed happily.

Gallieni sat in the French column. As Minister of War, he was invited to the first row. He looked around and then behind him, but he didn't find Ciel.

Pétain, who was sitting next to Gallieni, seemed to see through Gallieni's thoughts. He leaned closer and whispered: "Mr. Minister, do you see the mustached Lieutenant General in the second row of the British army?"

Gallieni glanced quickly to the other side and said "Hmm": "What do you mean?"

"His name is Ives." Petain explained: "He is the commander of the Antwerp defense line."

Petain stopped, but Gallieni understood that with Ives as the commander, Charles was not needed.

"Go to hell." Gallieni couldn't help but cursed: "These bastards, they excluded Charles again."

"They were worried that Charles would be embarrassed if he was present," Pétain said.

Charles had mentioned this issue before when discussing cooperation with Pétain. After Nivelle became commander-in-chief, the battle plan formulated would definitely focus on the British.

This was the price they paid for supporting Nivel with supplies to become commander-in-chief.

In other words, Nivelle sacrificed the interests of France for his own interests.

Gallieni said "hmm" and his face became very ugly. He didn't understand why the coalition forces were still keen on fighting for power at such a critical moment of life and death.

At this time, Nivele appeared at the door. He walked in with a high head, wearing a brand new lieutenant general uniform. His face was expressionless, but he could not hide the pride in his eyes.

"Generals." Nivele glanced at the entire venue and waited quietly for the venue to quiet down.

He started with a French humor:

"I believe that if the Germans knew that we were having a meeting here, they would be frightened to the point of having trouble sleeping and eating."

"After all, we gathered here will decide their life or death!"

The generals laughed, except Gallieni and Pétain.

It's not that they don't have a sense of humor, it's that they don't think this can "determine the life or death of Germany."

Gallieni believed that it would be meaningless without Charles, not only because Charles had achieved a series of victories, but also because Charles had armored forces, mechanized forces, and aviation forces in his hands.

Don't they need the cooperation of these troops?

Especially the aviation force!

Petain sensitively predicted that this was likely to be another attack. He couldn't figure out why he had to rush the soldiers towards the enemy's guns and muzzles when defense could kill more enemies!

victory?

land?

Or something else?

If all the soldiers are gone, what's the point? !

The assistant slowly put down a large rolled-up map on the wall facing the east. Nivele stepped forward confidently, took the baton handed by the assistant and gently pulled it open: "First of all, I want to thank one person. , Major General Pétain.”

Nivell waved his left hand towards Pétain.

Petain reluctantly stood up, bowed slightly towards the back and sides and nodded.

There was a round of applause in the conference room.

Nivele introduced to everyone:

"It is well known that General Pétain successfully held off the German attack at Verdun."

"This was a glorious battle. The Germans had twice as many people as we did, and their artillery was more than ten times that of our army."

"But the heroic French army, led by General Pétain, blocked the enemy's attack and did not allow them to move forward!"

"Thank you to General Pétain, thank you to the officers and soldiers fighting on the front line, and thank you to all the citizens who have sacrificed their blood and sweat for this battle!"

Applause erupted in the conference room again, louder than before.

However, Petain's expression was somewhat unnatural.

The generals also looked at him with strange eyes, and some of them whispered to each other:

"They completely ignored Shire's contribution."

"Verdun is still using a lot of landmines and directional mines invented by Charles, but they haven't mentioned it at all."

"Did Petain really defend Verdun? I don't think so!"

…

Gallieni understood Nivelle's intention.

He was showing favor to Petain, his "former superior", and trying to draw Petain into their camp.

At this time, the French army seemed to have a "three-legged" situation: the offensive faction, the defensive faction, and the Charles faction.

The offensive faction is the mainstream and the tradition. It is not only the French army, but also the British army.

The Charles faction is a rising star, representing new forces and new theories, relying on its record of never losing a battle.

The defensive faction represented by Pétain is alone and isolated, with less popularity than the offensive faction and fewer victories than Charles. There is a danger and trend of being marginalized.

But when the offensive faction and the Charles faction were fighting, Pétain became the target of the two factions.

Pétain seemed to notice this, and his face was uncertain, as if he was considering which side he should stand on.

Nivelle took out a few telegrams from his briefcase and waved them at everyone:

"Before the meeting begins, please allow me to say a few words off topic."

"Intelligence shows that the Germans have assembled more than 2,000 artillery pieces of various types in Verdun, and at least tens of thousands of shells are fired every day."

"I think General Pétain should be the one who feels this most deeply."

Pétain nodded: "Indeed, sometimes I think that the Germans may have concentrated the country's artillery shells and poured them on our trenches."

Nivelle pointed his finger in the void and said:

"That's what I want to say."

"Think about it, generals! If the Germans concentrate their forces to attack Verdun, other places must be extremely weak."

"This may be a great opportunity for us!"