Make France Great Again

After the Allied Forces marched forward for about another 10 minutes, they finally reached the vicinity of the Bourganak River.

Gazing at the ever-flowing small river before them, the thirsty and eager soldiers from England, Sardinia, and Turkey had long thrown the so-called military discipline out the window. The excited soldiers jumped into the river, letting the cool water permeate their bodies, even penetrating their unbearably heated souls.

The soldiers of the French Empire standing on the shore looked enviously at the soldiers of other countries in the water, then turned their gaze towards Marshal Saint Arno on horseback.

"Relay my orders, all units are strictly prohibited from entering the water to frolic! Those who disobey the orders will have their salaries for that month deducted," Marshal Saint Arno meticulously instructed Troche and the dispatch riders beside him.

The dispatch riders who received the orders immediately dispatched a team to deliver Marshal Saint Arno's orders to each division.

After that, Saint Arno passed on his request for his logistics units to another team of dispatch riders beside him. He instructed that from now on, the logistics units must go upstream to fetch water, and they must ensure that the water provided to the French Empire Army is boiled.

The dispatch riders who heard the request also left Marshal Saint Arno's side, leaving Saint Arno alone.

Just as Saint Arno was about to dismount, a sharp pain shot through Marshal Saint Arno's abdomen, forcing him to lean over the horse's back, his legs involuntarily clamping tightly around the horse's belly.

"Marshal Saint Arno, are you...are you okay?" Commander Lagren's concerned voice reached Marshal Saint Arno's ears.

"I...I'm fine," Marshal Saint Arno responded with difficulty to Commander Lagren, then inadvertently fell heavily from the horse's back.

The sudden turn of events startled everyone present. Commander Lagren quickly dismounted, handed the reins to the Duke of Cambridge, and rushed to Marshal Saint Arno's side to support him, shouting loudly: "Doctor, call a doctor quickly!"

The surrounding cavalry quickly sprang into action upon hearing Commander Lagren's orders. Before long, doctors from both the British and French armies arrived one after another, along with the commanders of the First, Second, and Third Divisions. Upon hearing the news of Marshal Saint Arno's critical illness, they hurriedly handed over their work to their chiefs of staff and rushed over.

The military doctors from England and France carefully examined Marshal Saint Arno's body, then stood up and remained silent.

"Marshal, what exactly is wrong with him? Say something!" demanded General Pellissier, the slightly impatient commander of the Guard Division, loudly questioning Marshal Saint Arno.

"Please forgive my lack of medical skill," the French military doctor first apologized to the generals present, then truthfully reported: "I did not find any external injuries on the Marshal's body; there is a high probability that the issue is internal!"

"I don't care whether it's internal or external, you must save the Marshal!" insisted General Canrobert, the First Division commander, reasoning with emotion and logic: "Marshal Saint Arno is not only the commander of the French Empire but also of the entire Allied Forces, his safety concerns every member of the Allied Forces!"

"Canrobert is right!" Commander Lagren also nodded in agreement with the words of Marshal Saint Arno. Having a French Allied commander who is considerate of Britain is no easy feat.

Ever since the troops of the Kingdom of Britain arrived at Varna, Marshal Saint Arno had been accommodating the Kingdom of Britain. If a new commander were to be appointed, it's uncertain whether the next commander could accommodate the British troops like Marshal Saint Arno has.

Furthermore, Commander Lagren had already spent a significant amount of time integrating with Marshal Saint Arno, and through constant integration, they had reached a mutual understanding. Lagren did not want to waste time integrating with the next French commander.

Of course, if Marshal Saint Arno himself was already gravely ill, there was nothing Lagren could do.

Thinking of this, Commander Lagren turned his gaze to the British doctor Thomas: "Thomas, be honest with me, what's the situation with Marshal Saint Arno?"

"Commander, I'm not very sure either!" Dr. Thomas shook his head while speaking to Commander Lagren, then added: "However, I still suggest that you prepare for the worst! I have seen cases similar to Marshal Saint Arno's, where the patient began experiencing unexplained pain!"

"And then! What method did they use to overcome it?" Brigadier General Troche eagerly inquired of Dr. Thomas.

While recalling the situation of patients he had seen on the British Peninsula, Thomas spoke to the commanders and generals present: "Initially, the patient's pain wasn't too severe, so he relieved it by drinking alcohol every day.

After a few months, the patient's condition worsened, and he began to moan incessantly. To relieve his pain, I had specially prepared 'opium' for the patient. After administering a dose of 'opium,' the patient stopped moaning. However, the effect of 'opium' is limited; once the hallucinogenic effect wears off, the patient begins to moan again. Having experienced the pain-relieving effect of 'opium,' the patient desires it even more once the pain returns.

As time progresses, the efficacy of 'opium' diminishes, and the required dosage increases.

By that stage, the patient's body becomes emaciated; the pain prevents them from eating any food, and every moment is spent yearning for 'opium' for relief.

Finally, the patient dies in pain."

After Dr. Thomas finished recounting the patient's story, he was met with angry stares from three Major Generals and a Brigadier General, among whom Brigadier General Troche had the most intense reaction of all: "You're talking nonsense! You quack, do you believe I'll shoot you dead right here?"

With that, Brigadier General Troche drew the revolver from his waist and pointed it at Dr. Thomas.

"Calm down!" Quickly, Canrobert snatched the revolver from Brigadier General Troche and said to him.

"But he..." Brigadier General Troche pointed at Dr. Thomas.

"Brigadier General Troche, this is merely an incident I've encountered! If you're unwilling to believe it, I have no other means!" Dr. Thomas showed no signs of fear on his face.

"Dr. Thomas, please forgive Brigadier General Troche's rudeness! Are you implying that we can only rely on 'Opium' to sustain the Marshal's life?" Canrobert sincerely inquired of Dr. Thomas.

Dr. Thomas shook his head and responded to Canrobert, "I'm not sure what stage the Marshal is truly in; perhaps the Marshal is only in the initial stage!"

"Thank you!" Canrobert expressed gratitude to Dr. Thomas and then suggested to Commander Largren, "Commander Largren, it seems we might have to stay here for a while!"

"Alas!" Commander Largren sighed, "There seems no other way!"

Due to Marshal Saint Arno's health issues, the Anglo-French-Saudi-Turkish Four-Nation Alliance Army had no choice but to set up camp along the riverbank.

Under the orders of the four-nation commanders, encampments were scattered across the north bank of the Bourganak River, and the commanders of England, France, Sardinia, and Turkey gathered in a tent that resembled a Mongolian tent.

After a moment of silence among the four-nation commanders in the tent, Commander of the British Expeditionary Army Largren spoke, "Just now, an unfortunate incident occurred: our ally, Commander of the French Empire Marshal Saint Arno, suddenly fell from his horse and is still unconscious. Everyone, let us first pray for the health of Saint Arno."

With that, Commander Largren closed his eyes and prayed to God for Marshal Saint Arno's speedy recovery.

Everyone else also prayed to God (Omar, though forcibly converted, remained an Eastern Orthodox at heart).

After the prayers, Commander Largren reopened the discussion, asking Canrobert who would now be in charge of their French Army.

"After a discussion among us three division commanders, two brigade commanders, and chiefs of staff, it has been decided that General Pelissey, commander of the Guard Division, will temporarily act as commander of the French Imperial Expeditionary Army!" Canrobert's response surprised everyone present.

In their view, Major General Canrobert, who commanded the First Division, seemed the most likely candidate to succeed Marshal Saint Arno.

Because although the First Division lacked the prestigious name of the Guard Division, it indeed possessed the actual authority of the Guard Army.

If not for the First Division's military coup in Paris back in the day, the French Empire would not have ascended onto the historical stage.

Moreover, Canrobert himself was Jerome Bonaparte's trusted officer, having accompanied Jerome Bonaparte on his journey to the throne, and it seemed only logical that he would succeed Marshal Saint Arno.

However, it was unexpected that Canrobert actually gave up the position to succeed Saint Arno and instead supported Pelissey.

"General Pelissey... no, Commander Pelissey!" Reacting quickly, Commander Largren hurriedly corrected himself.

"Commander Pelissey!" Minister La Malamor and Omar Pasha likewise concurred.

Thus, General Pelissey, commander of the Guard Division, simultaneously managed this position while temporarily taking over Marshal Saint Arno's role to become the acting French Commander.

Subsequently, the four commanders held discussions targeting the challenges faced by the allied forces.

It was ultimately decided that the main forces would temporarily remain at the Bourganak River, while a light cavalry team would be dispatched to conduct reconnaissance on the south bank of the Bourganak River.

The cavalry team sent out included a battalion of Bashbozuk Cavalry and a regiment of Britain's Light Cavalry Corps.