Chapter 588: Divide and Conquer
On the road from Brussels to Gembloux, Lieutenant General Avis led the British Expeditionary Force's 3rd Cavalry Division through the snowy mist.
Dawn was breaking, and the pale light in the east illuminated the snow-covered landscape, casting the world into a bleak and frigid gloom.
Shivering uncontrollably, Lieutenant General Avis pulled his cloak tighter around himself. After hours of night marching, he felt cold and hungry, as though he might fall off his horse at any moment.
But the thought of soon reaching Gembloux to bring the French Sixth Army under his command reignited his spirits. Avis urged his horse onward.
It was a formidable force of 200,000 soldiers, he thought, with a special artillery division reportedly equipped with over 200 tanks and an unknown number of armored vehicles.
More importantly, it was Charles’ army.
Of course, nominally it was Charles’ army. But that would soon change.
Avis recalled Clemenceau’s description of the Sixth Army’s current state:
“Charles is vying for command with Brigadier General Gamelin. The Sixth Army is in chaos, with even signs of another potential mutiny.”
“Officially, the Antwerp defensive line is under your command, General. We believe it’s essential for you to travel to Gembloux.”
“If you can resolve this crisis, we’d be willing to keep the Sixth Army at the Antwerp defensive line to collaborate with your forces!”
…
This was a decision that Briand had carefully weighed.
"Divide and conquer" was a strategy often employed by Western powers to manage and rule their territories. If the target were embroiled in internal strife and consuming itself with infighting, governing them became much easier.
Briand confidently assured Clemenceau:
“If the British can successfully regain command, we can weaken Charles’ strength while simultaneously elevating a strong rival against him.”
“If they fail, this maneuver will still intensify the conflict between the British and Charles, allowing us an exit strategy.”
“Either way, it’s to our advantage, and we’ll also gain favor with the British.”
Clemenceau nodded in agreement, immediately proceeding with Briand’s plan.
…
From start to finish, Lieutenant General Avis never realized he was a pawn in the French Parliament’s scheme to pit the wolves against the tigers. He assumed the French Parliament was merely desperate, forced to seek British assistance under Charles’ relentless pressure.
He felt a sense of smug satisfaction.
The Sixth Army was disorganized and lacked combat readiness. As the commander of the defensive line, Avis held the authority. Moreover, Britain controlled vital supplies. Why wouldn’t this succeed?
Avis believed that control over resources was key; supplies were France’s lifeblood. Without British aid, the French army had no other choice but defeat by the Germans.
Thus, the Sixth Army was just the starting point, not the endgame.
This would secure tangible benefits while also restoring the prestige the British Army had lost—what could be better?
“General,” a messenger rode up to him from the front. “We’re five miles from Gembloux.”
Avis brightened, giving a commanding shout: “Order the troops—speed up the march!”
“Speed up the march!”
“Speed up the march!”
…
The orders traveled down the line, invigorating the cavalry column like a surge of adrenaline.
Avis rode up a small hill by the roadside, raising his binoculars to survey the snow-covered town of Gembloux in the distance. He murmured to himself, “I’m here, Charles. Are you ready for the challenge?”
…
In the town of Gembloux, the British 3rd Cavalry Division advanced along the main road toward their destination: the French military camp and defensive line east of town.
To showcase his leadership, Lieutenant General Avis and his guards rode at the forefront.
However, the closer they got, the more unsettled Avis felt.
On either side of the road were trenches and fortifications manned by soldiers. Judging by their uniforms, they were Belgian, but they didn’t look like civilian militias.
The fortifications were meticulously constructed: barbed wire, machine-gun bunkers, and even the town’s buildings had been converted into pillboxes, with firing slits cut into the walls.
Their equipment was comprehensive: Maxim heavy machine guns, mortars, and Saint-Étienne light machine guns…
Seeing the Saint-Étienne machine guns, Avis immediately realized this was a force loyal to Charles.
Sure enough, as the troops passed a three-story Gothic-style building, Avis saw King Albert I of Belgium standing on the upper floor, smiling and waving at him.
“Long time no see, Lieutenant General Avis!” King Albert I looked down from his vantage point and said, “What do you think of my troops? The First Special Reconnaissance Corps—Belgium’s finest. Do you think they measure up to your cavalry division?”
Avis did not reply. He bent slightly at the waist on his horse and raised his left hand in a respectful salute. “Your Majesty, forgive me; urgent matters prevent me from paying you a proper visit.”
Avis had no intention of getting entangled with King Albert I and wanted to reach the camp as quickly as possible to seize control of the situation.
“Of course,” King Albert I smiled and nodded. As Avis passed below him, the king called out with a smile, “Remember this, General: we will be your staunchest supporters.”
Hearing this, Avis felt a chill down his spine. With so many machine guns and mortars pointed at his back, a single volley would annihilate his cavalry division.
That bastard! Avis cursed silently. Doesn’t he know we’re helping Belgium resist the German invasion? How dare he do this!
But Avis didn’t stop; he pressed on, leading his troops forward.
The sounds of gunfire and artillery grew louder as they neared the front lines. In the distance, the French military camp came into view. Yet instead of chaos, Avis saw the French soldiers in full gear, standing in neat formations in front of the camp. Their bayonets were fixed, and their rifles and machine guns were aimed squarely at the British troops.
Avis was puzzled. Where was the chaos? Where was the infighting?
Brigadier General Gamelin came out to meet Avis, accompanied by a group of officers. The French soldiers looked hostile, their expressions fierce, as if ready to unleash violence at any moment.
Seeing Avis and the British cavalry, Gamelin sighed in relief and approached them like a savior.
Suddenly, the rumble of engines interrupted the scene. Another force arrived at the camp almost simultaneously.
Gamelin turned to see Charles’ mechanized division, led by Major General Tigani, who stood atop an armored reconnaissance vehicle.
Gamelin’s heart sank instantly. He recognized Tigani as the commander of Charles’ mechanized division.
Without saying a word, Tigani gestured coldly, and his troops swiftly surrounded the British cavalry division. Amid the roar of engines and the clatter of treads, armored vehicles and tanks pointed their guns directly at the British cavalry, their barrels practically resting on the riders’ heads. The oppressive presence made the cavalry soldiers freeze in place, their horses snorting nervously and pawing the snow-covered ground.
Suddenly, a shrill whistle pierced the air as a squadron of fighter planes flew low overhead, shaking loose snow from the rooftops.
The startled horses panicked, and the cavalry scrambled to regain control.