novelraw Chapter 702: Is This Shire’s True Strength?
Chapter 702: Is This Shire’s True Strength?
That night, Briand and the others talked late into the night, all of them eager to know Shire’s final outcome.
More precisely, they wanted to know the outcome of Shire’s defeat.
At the same time, they also knew that new developments rarely occur at night. So, after presenting various strong arguments to assert that Shire couldn’t possibly win, they ended their conversation at around three in the morning.
"Tomorrow," Briand told the others, "let’s wait for some good news about Shire!"
Clemenceau and Major Durra smiled and nodded, understanding his intentions.
Briand didn’t go home; his office had a rest room, and for someone living an ascetic life, it didn’t matter where he slept.
Moreover, he hoped to receive the "good news" as soon as possible.
He had also informed Clemenceau and Major Durra that he was staying at the City Hall for this reason—they could notify him immediately with any new intelligence.
Content, Briand went to sleep with a smile on his face.
Knowing that Shire was stuck in a dead-end was more effective than any sleeping pill.
It was unclear how much time had passed when Briand was awakened by urgent knocking at the door.
The sky was just beginning to lighten as he got up in his pajamas to answer the door, groggy-eyed, not expecting to see Clemenceau and Major Durra.
"Is there news?" Briand’s eyes lit up.
"Yes, Prime Minister," Major Durra replied. "Petain has launched a counterattack with the 3rd Army Group."
"What? He..." Briand was stunned. "He actually launched a counterattack?"
Soon, Briand’s expression turned to anger. "Who gave him the authority? Launching a counterattack at this time—did he not consider Verdun’s safety?"
Major Durra and Clemenceau exchanged glances.
Just a few hours ago, Briand had mentioned that the military needed a certain degree of freedom during wartime, meaning Petain didn’t require authorization for a counterattack.
Briand understood this too, but he still stormed off angrily towards the phone, calling the City Defense Headquarters.
"I need to speak with General Gallieni."
"Wake him up. I need some answers right now."
After a while, Gallieni’s voice came through. "What can I do for you, Prime Minister?"
Briand asked, "Did you order the 3rd Army Group to counterattack? You know, Verdun is vital to us. I don’t think we should risk Verdun’s safety for some sudden event..."
Gallieni interrupted Briand, "I don’t understand what you’re saying, Prime Minister. The 3rd Army Group has started a counterattack? I have been resting all night and know nothing of this!"
In an instant, Briand’s stomach was tied in knots.
Indeed, Gallieni had just been awakened; it couldn’t have been him who gave the orders.
"Then that’s all, Minister. I apologize!"
Briand slammed the receiver back onto the cradle and muttered to himself:
"Who could it be? Could it be Fuxu?"
"No, impossible."
Although Fuxu was the Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, his and Petain’s military theories were entirely different, and Fuxu had promised not to interfere in Petain’s command at Verdun.
Petain’s own decision?
Unlikely. He was a staunch defender, not one to suddenly launch an attack!
Major Durra stepped forward with his own guess, "Could it be Shire?"
Briand jerked his head toward Major Durra, "Are you saying Shire can command Petain?"
Major Durra shrugged:
"It’s my guess, Prime Minister."
"Shire is the only one who could rival Fuxu."
"Petain might not want Shire to be trapped and unable to escape the Germans."
The analysis had some validity, but Briand was still skeptical.
The reason was simple: Shire was the most respected and powerful figure in the military. Petain should want Shire to fall, as this was the only way he and Fuxu would have any reason to compete.
"Perhaps we don’t need to worry about this," Major Durra said, looking at the map:
"We know that the Germans’ defense in Verdun is just as impenetrable."
"Even if Petain launched a counterattack, what could he achieve? His most likely outcome is losing troops and gaining nothing."
"So, nothing will change!"
Briand and Clemenceau nodded slightly, this statement providing a bit of reassurance.
However, just as they were lighting cigars, trying to relax, the secretary knocked and entered: "Prime Minister, Shire’s armored forces have reached Truk, 5 kilometers from the Verdun Defense Line."
The three were instantly petrified; Clemenceau’s cigar was still only half-lit.
After a while, Briand looked incredulously at the secretary: "Truk? Only 5 kilometers from the Verdun Defense Line? Is this true?"
"It’s true," the secretary nodded. "I confirmed it with General Gallieni."
"But Gallieni..." Briand’s anger flared. He hadn’t mentioned anything about this during their call.
Then Briand understood: he had asked about Petain, not Shire.
So, Gallieni had indeed spoken the truth—he had not given orders to Petain.
Petain had launched the counterattack because Shire’s forces were already advancing on Verdun.
Everyone understood now.
It wasn’t politics or theoretical differences, but Shire’s overwhelming power that had destroyed all discordant elements.
"How did he do it?" Briand glanced at the map and then looked at Major Durra.
He remembered Major Durra’s speculation: lengthy and fragile supply lines, insufficient forces, unable to move a step, no allied support, isolated and fighting alone.
But now, within a few hours, everything had been overturned.
Major Durra looked embarrassed: "I’m sorry, I—I don’t know, Prime Minister."
This could only be called a miracle. Major Durra even suspected that the Germans were cooperating with Shire. Otherwise, how was it possible?
Twenty thousand against six hundred thousand—how could they win, and so quickly!
Was this Shire’s true capability?
Clemenceau smoked his cigar silently; after exhaling a puff of smoke, he said in a muffled voice, "Gentlemen, it’s not over yet. We all know that now is when Shire’s supply lines are longest, and he is at his most exhausted and vulnerable."
Major Durra shook his head helplessly: "Though that may be true, the Germans are just as at risk. As long as Shire advances a few more kilometers, even if he’s at his limit, he can easily break the German lines at Verdun."
Having come from the battlefield, he knew how severe it was to be surrounded.
Supply lines, ammunition depots, artillery units, even command centers would all be overturned.
Then, the soldiers would lose morale and flee in all directions!
"I believe the Germans are prepared," Clemenceau insisted, "If we can see Shire threading his way through Verdun along the Meuse River, then the Germans can see it too!"