Chapter 550: He Once Again Concealed the Truth
Nivelle's actions were not as simple as they appeared on the surface; he had given them considerable thought.
Well-versed in political maneuvering, Nivelle understood that both the parliament and the British had a vested interest in suppressing Charles. Therefore, by belittling Charles, not only could he elevate himself by stepping on Charles, but he could also win back the support of the parliament and the British.
After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Both the parliament and the British would recognize the mutual benefit in this.
Especially the British. Nivelle believed that securing their support was the key.
As a result, he left the fiercely contested front line at the Somme and rushed to Dunkirk to meet Kitchener. The next day, he hurried to Paris to attend a meeting and garner support for himself.
Charles, however, was indifferent to these petty schemes.
He knew that the military was different from other systems, especially during wartime. The needs of soldiers were direct and practical. What they wanted was a commander who could lead them to victory, and everything else was just talk.
Nivelle’s approach might solve the issue of his support among the high-ranking officials, but it couldn’t address the issue of recognition from mid- and low-ranking officers and soldiers. The troops had a strong aversion to commanders who rose to power through connections, especially those who relied on foreign influence.
Therefore, Nivelle was doomed to failure due to a lack of popular support.
For someone destined to fail, Charles felt there was no need to pay attention to his attacks; it would be a waste of time.
However, a distressing telegram from Christine made Charles take notice.
...
That day, King Albert I arrived at Namur Fortress with Brigadier General Eden to report to Charles.
"It's a pity you didn't personally lead the troops into Namur, Major General," said King Albert I, his face full of excitement. "You missed the scene. You can't imagine how popular you are. The whole town came out. They stood in line in the rain, shouting your name. Many waited for hours just to catch a glimpse of you."
Brigadier General Eden agreed, "It wasn’t just the people of Namur. The soldiers of the First Special Reconnaissance Army felt the same. They were eager to receive your personal guidance."
"If possible, could you make an appearance and say a few words?" King Albert I asked eagerly. "It would boost the morale of both the military and civilians, and they would go wild."
"Let’s see," Charles replied without giving a definitive answer. "If I have time, I’ll do it."
He always believed that "one must forge oneself to be strong." What truly boosts the morale of the military and civilians is securing one victory after another, not simply meeting with them and delivering encouraging words.
"Of course, Major General," King Albert I nodded quickly.
Charles was the star of Belgium, and every decision he made was right.
At that moment, a telegram was handed to Charles. It was from Major General Christine.
Charles glanced at the telegram, and his face immediately changed. He didn’t even show it to Tigani but folded it up and put it in his pocket.
"What's wrong?" King Albert I thought there had been a change in the situation in Namur.
"It’s nothing," Charles answered. "I need to return to Paris. There’s something I must handle with the parliament."
King Albert I relaxed. "Oh, it’s about the parliament. Those bastards are always trying to make trouble for you."
...
At the Bourbon Palace in Paris, the two opposing factions were locked in a heated debate, with neither side willing to yield.
Nivelle stood at the podium, leading the opposition:
"Gentlemen, if you look at all of Charles’s commands, none of them have ever been in charge of more than two divisions."
"This might be his limit. Once it’s a large-scale operation, such as five divisions with 100,000 men or more, it’s beyond his capability."
"The nature of the two types of warfare is completely different, and the tactics are also different!"
The audience hissed in disapproval.
Gallieni, who opposed him, retorted, "But the results he has achieved are dozens of times greater than yours!"
Armand mocked, "I think you must have forgotten that Charles once encircled Ghent and captured over 100,000 Germans!"
Steed protested loudly, "We’re all looking forward to the kind of victory Charles has achieved, Your Excellency!"
Even Wells, who rarely spoke in parliament, angrily shouted, "So far, you don’t have a single achievement worth boasting about, except for causing 40,000 casualties in one day!"
Several moderate factions firmly sided with Charles, many of whom represented the workers.
...
The opposition members were well aware that the gap in military achievements between Charles and Nivelle was too vast to compare.
However, out of a need to weaken and balance Charles’s power, they had no choice but to support Nivelle’s rhetoric.
"Charles’s success is partly due to his equipment."
"If General Nivelle had the same equipment, who’s to say he wouldn’t achieve the same results?"
"And the invention of new equipment is dangerous. The Germans will soon learn from us and use it against us!"
...
Amid curses and protests, Nivelle brought forth the commander of Antwerp, Major General Avis.
Major General Avis stood at the podium, displaying a worried expression.
"I have received no news or requests. I didn’t even know that Charles’s troops had been reassigned from Antwerp."
"This approach is extremely dangerous. I thought Antwerp was secured by Charles’s forces, so I was at ease. But that’s not the case."
"If the Germans suddenly attack Antwerp, the consequences would be unimaginable."
...
Gallieni immediately countered, "You seem to have forgotten the Belgian forces. They are the main defenders of Antwerp, and Charles has already made arrangements!"
Nivelle responded with an air of objectivity, "Minister, the key point is that the commander is not Charles, but Major General Avis. As we all know, an army only has fighting power when it is under unified command; otherwise, it will inevitably fall into chaos!"
Someone in the audience immediately objected, "But the fact is, he achieved victory. A remarkable victory. Can you do the same?"
...
Just as the arguments were becoming increasingly heated, Charles opened the door and walked in.
The room instantly fell silent, and the arguments ceased.
The members of parliament were surprised by his unexpected arrival. They had not invited Charles, and the atmosphere was awkward.
Nivelle hesitated for a moment, then raised his head high, but everyone could tell he was putting on a brave front.
Charles ignored the strange looks from the members and walked straight up to Nivelle. In a tone that left no room for argument, he said, "You should return to the front, Your Excellency. Your army is mutinying. You need to persuade your soldiers, not the members of parliament. Otherwise, the entire Western Front could collapse, and France would be in danger!"
The room was stunned.
All eyes turned to Nivelle.
Nivelle’s expression grew tense, his gaze filled with anger, but there was no surprise or panic.
The members of parliament quickly realized that Nivelle had already known about the mutiny. Once again, he had concealed the truth from them and from the public!