Chapter 400: Charles's Birthday
"Cannons?" Tigani chuckled, "What a joke; it's clearly a tank..."
Before Tigani could finish speaking, he realized Charles's intent, and his smile froze.
If it's not suited as a tank, why not use it as a cannon?
Charles continued, "Cannons can follow behind the troops, General, with a range of 8 kilometers. That means it can advance from 8 kilometers behind the attack line."
Tigani nodded slowly, "In that case, its poor mobility won’t be such a big problem."
Only when the "Saint-Chamond" charged like a tank would it get stuck in a small crater. If it advances 8 kilometers behind, there is plenty of time to avoid such obstacles.
Charles nodded and added, "We can also remove its machine guns."
Tigani exclaimed, "With four fewer machine guns and four fewer gunners, not only does it reduce weight, but it also frees up considerable space!"
"Exactly, General," Charles said. "Don't just focus on its flaws; think about what advantages it offers as a replacement for cannons!"
Prompted by Charles, Tigani truly began to compare the "Saint-Chamond" to traditional cannons.
When placed side by side, the differences were stark. Tigani stared at Charles in awe and said uncertainly, "The 'Saint-Chamond' has its own propulsion and doesn't require constant setting up and breaking down, which means it has higher mobility for short-term repositioning."
Charles nodded. The "Saint-Chamond" could fire and move quickly, providing safety for artillery crews.
"It has armor, so even if shells explode nearby, it’s hard to harm the crew."
Charles agreed.
Artillery at the time lacked precision, especially long-range cannons beyond visual range. Direct hits were rare, and injuries were mainly caused by shrapnel or shockwaves. The armor of the "Saint-Chamond" could withstand most of these dangers.
"It can carry more shells, providing sustained and stable firepower for allied troops."
This was determined by the internal space and carrying capacity of the "Saint-Chamond."
Finally, Charles concluded, "We have been at a disadvantage with artillery, General. The Germans' 105mm cannons have an overwhelming numerical superiority, and we can't change that in the short term. So..."
"So we really need this armored cannon," Tigani suddenly realized. "Though its range and power are far inferior to the Germans' 105mm cannon, it could defeat them. With its armor and speed advantage, as long as it isn't directly hit by enemy fire, it could approach the Germans' 105mm cannons."
Charles was surprised at how quickly Tigani grasped the "Saint-Chamond's" advantages. He had assumed that Tigani, a wealthy playboy, wouldn't be serious about improving his professional skills. Now it seemed Tigani was genuinely committed to his "art of war."
Looking at the thoughtful Tigani, Charles asked, "Now, are you still planning to trade the 'Charles A1' for the 'Saint-Chamond'?"
Tigani gave an embarrassed smile and replied, "You were right, I won’t trade it."
Although Tigani was unsure whether it would work, the new tactic was worth trying. Tigani never rejected innovation.
However, Tigani added, "Brigadier General, should we also procure more 'Charles A1'?"
Charles looked at Tigani incredulously.
Who would have thought this guy resembled a British First Lord of the Admiralty? Could he be the Navy Minister's long-lost illegitimate son?
...
On June 12th, it was Charles's birthday.
As an active-duty brigadier general, he wasn’t supposed to have a birthday celebration, much less take a day off.
After all, every soldier in the unit had a birthday. If everyone took the day off, the army would fall into chaos.
However, Gallieni specifically approved a leave of absence for Charles that afternoon.
"This isn’t about your birthday, Brigadier General," Gallieni explained. "It’s because you convinced Italy to join the Allies. That was a remarkable achievement. They even awarded you a medal, which you can collect at headquarters when you pass by."
"Yes, General," Charles replied.
He was slightly surprised. Why would this old man pay attention to his birthday? Although it could be looked up in the records, Gallieni had thousands of subordinates. He must have long become indifferent to the concept of "birthdays."
The medal was a "Croix de Guerre," established only two months prior. At this point, only ten people had received it, and Charles was fortunate to be one of them.
Browning was the 11th recipient of the medal. As the commander of the First Tank Brigade, he was awarded for his unit's outstanding performance at Cambrai.
Charles casually put the medal in his pocket and boarded the car back to Davaus. In his eyes, the value of a medal was far less than a day off.
...
By the time Charles arrived home, the sky had just turned dark. The small town was beginning to light up with scattered lamps. The noise was gradually fading, with only the occasional bark heard in the distance.
Having received a call in advance, Camille had prepared a table full of dishes, baked a cake, and set out candles. Djoka had also returned early.
But the highlight wasn’t the food.
Two new guests sat at the table: a middle-aged woman and what appeared to be her daughter.
Charles cast a questioning glance at Djoka, who shrugged and gave a sly glance at Camille, who was bringing food out of the kitchen.
Charles immediately understood—it was Camille’s idea.
"This is Elisa," Camille introduced with a beaming smile, placing a plate of roasted snails on the table. "She’s Aunt Lina’s daughter. You must have met before."
Snails were a dish Charles usually avoided, so Camille rarely made them. She must have prepared them today for the special guest.
"Hello, Charles." Elisa stood gracefully and extended her hand. "You may not remember me, but we were classmates in middle school."
"Really?" Charles genuinely didn’t remember.
The young woman seemed completely unfazed by his military uniform, which bore the rank insignia of brigadier general—two stars.
She couldn’t possibly recognize that, Charles thought.
"Of course," Elisa said with a bright laugh. "We were about 14 years old then. You were always being punished by Mr. Louis."
Mr. Louis had been Charles’s math teacher, who often punished students who failed to complete their homework.
Camille widened her eyes at Charles. "Why have I never heard you mention this?"
Charles, feeling defeated, said, "Mother, that was my last secret!"
The table erupted in laughter.
Charles, slightly embarrassed, glanced at Elisa.
He thought of Lucia. Many in Paris already considered her his "girlfriend," but clearly, this news hadn’t reached the small town of Davaus yet.