NOVEL NEXT Chapter 473: Will Xia Fei Be Able to Sleep Tonight?
Gallieni guessed right.
If he just wanted to get General Joffre off the position of commander-in-chief, it could already be achieved, as long as Shire remained silent, the House of Representatives would start voting next.
Although there is still a small portion supporting General Joffre, it's evident that the opposition against him will be the majority, a vast majority.
However.
Shire was not willing to end it just there.
Because even if General Joffre was removed from his position, he might still become the government's military advisor under Gallieni's suggestion and be promoted to Marshal.
Then, General Joffre would angrily come to settle accounts with Gallieni, and what needs to happen will still happen.
Shire wanted to crush General Joffre completely, he wanted to tear off General Joffre's hypocritical mask, expose his emperor's new clothes, let his disgrace and incompetence be starkly revealed to all the citizens of France, making him unable to even be a flower vase or a symbol, naturally he could not then become the "military advisor" or "marshal".
By then, he would have no power to question Gallieni, and he might not even be able to see Gallieni's face.
Standing on the speaker's platform, Kanes glanced at Shire and let out a barely perceivable light "hmph", this guy really thinks he's God!
The troops at Verdun are retreating, and the command is in General Joffre's hands, as is the logistics and supplies. If under these circumstances you can achieve "better results", then we have no face to continue fighting with you!
However, Kanes still showed a magnanimous demeanor:
"No problem, Brigadier General."
"I will immediately report this matter to General Joffre."
"But before that, I want to know how long it will take you to achieve the 'better results' you mentioned?"
Kanes was worried Shire might delay time, as Shire's military genius is well recognized. If given enough time, who knows, he might really achieve it?
Shire leisurely extended one finger.
"A month?" Kanes thought with joy and agreed without hesitation: "No problem, I will now go report to the commander-in-chief…"
"No, General." Shire stopped him: "Not a month, but one day."
The audience was shocked, everyone's gaze turned to Shire in disbelief.
Just one day?
Didn't hear wrong, right?
Like the maneuver in Antwerp?
But now, Shire is using the troops at Verdun, how is it possible?
Everyone thought Shire must be insane!
Gallieni softly smiled, thinking: If Shire could really change the battle in one day, General Joffre, who had failed repeatedly, would be completely bound to the pillar of shame.
After all, General Joffre sacrificed so many people and couldn't stabilize the situation, while Shire would accomplish it in just one day. Such a stark contrast would let people clearly see the difference between General Joffre and Shire!
Kanes' face changed, this was simply an insult to General Joffre and all his staff, what does this guy think war is?
But Kanes bit his teeth, said nothing, looked coldly at Shire, and nodded: "As you wish, Brigadier General. But if it's not achieved..."
"I will fully support General Joffre to continue serving as commander-in-chief." Shire answered, which is what General Joffre most wished for.
...
The orders came quickly, General Joffre decisively appointed Shire as the commander of the Verdun war zone, handing the command of the 2nd Army and the 30th Army stationed at Verdun to Shire.
General Joffre also generously stated: "Time will start from when Shire arrives at Verdun for defense. If Shire requests an extension, or arrives at Verdun a few days later, I will not have any objection!"
His words carried a hint of ridicule.
After the meeting, Major Jules rushed to find Shire at the first opportunity to remind him:
"General, do not think these two armies have a lot of troops."
"Originally, as the garrison units, they were severely understrength, with many of their artillery units being diverted; having fifty thousand troops is already quite good."
"Moreover, they have been retreating massively under the German attacks with low morale these few days, we might not even be able to organize ten thousand troops..."
Major Jules said these words somewhat anxiously.
He believed Shire was overestimating himself, Shire simply didn't understand the situation in Verdun.
Around him, the members of parliament were persuading Shire in voices full of concern:
"You shouldn't accept these conditions, Brigadier General."
"That's clearly a trap set by General Joffre; there's no doubt about it."
"We could have originally thrown him off the position. Now we are waiting for the outcome in Verdun instead!"
...
The MPs didn't understand Shire's actions. In their eyes, this move could even be said to have saved General Joffre.
Shire ignored them, he stared at Major Jules and asked: "Major, are you willing to serve as my deputy and go to Verdun for combat?"
Major Jules was flattered and hurriedly responded: "Of course, General, it's my honor!"
"Good!" Shire nodded, stood up, and walked towards the door.
"General." Major Jules chased behind him: "Where are you going?"
"The airport." Shire answered without turning his head: "I need to get to Verdun as soon as possible."
"But General." Major Jules said in astonishment: "I think you should go to Verdun tomorrow."
"Why?" Shire asked.
"The Germans make their main attacks at night." Major Jules answered: "If we rush there now, we might face the Germans' full assault without preparation, and we only have one day..."
Shire didn't stop, taking Major Jules onto the car waiting at the door, and said: "Then have you considered if we wait till tomorrow, General Joffre might set more hurdles for us?"
Major Jules was speechless and just stared blankly at Shire.
"Our biggest opponents are not the Germans, Major." As the car started, Shire raised his head towards the House of Representatives' gate where Kanes stood with a smug face: "Our biggest opponents are them."
Major Jules understood, he nodded slowly:
"Now General Joffre hasn't prepared, he wouldn't expect you to fly to Verdun so quickly."
"Moreover, he will go to bed on time by night, so we can almost disregard General Joffre's interference for this day!"
Shire made an acknowledging sound: "You could say so, but I'm not sure if General Joffre could sleep well tonight."
Major Jules laughed: "Indeed, knowing you are at Verdun, he would likely think all night about how to set obstacles for you."
Then, Major Jules' smile froze, and he shook his head helplessly, which was also a kind of irony:
No matter how fierce the Germans' attack or how urgent the military situation, General Joffre goes to bed on time, but Shire going to Verdun to solve the problem might scare him so that he couldn't sleep!
Jules silently cursed the damned system in his heart, which actually elected such a person to be the commander-in-chief.
However, suddenly, Major Jules wasn't so worried anymore.
He felt that Shire could indeed change the battle situation within the day and present a perfect answer!