Expedition to Europe

"To be honest, you have done me a disservice. I can almost imagine what tomorrow's newspapers will describe me as. A coward, a wimp, or even a long-eared donkey." In the conference room, Bastien complained to Qin Zhiyuan in a voice that only two people could hear.

Qin Zhiyuan smiled at Bastien, no longer as tough and insistent as he was at the camp gate just now.

"Well, okay, okay, I volunteered. Damn it, why are you the major shareholder..." Bastien chattered on and on, hating his short-sightedness at the time.

The conference room was packed with nearly a hundred people. Many people had no seats and stood at the outermost periphery. They were soldier representatives and officers, and they were talking to Foch, the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the French army.

"...Since arriving in Fer-en-Tadnois, the food has been decreasing every day. On the day of the attack, our company even only got two pieces of bread and a shrunken apple per person. As far as I know, the worst company didn't even have a piece of bread." A soldier representative complained, pointing the finger at the chaotic logistics.

"Mr. Bastien, what did you eat that day?" Foch asked Bastien.

"...Sir, it was just a piece of bread and some mashed potatoes. It was raining all those days, and the supplies sent were all ammunition. I made a report and asked for food to be sent as soon as possible, but all the military sent were shells. I sent someone to get those apples, because there was no corresponding budget, I paid for it myself." More than ten days have passed, and Bastien still thought about it carefully before giving an answer.

Perhaps it was because of Bastien's generosity that his troops have remained relatively intact and did not participate in the mutiny. This also won Bastien extra points. It can be foreseen that Bastien's rank may be promoted again in the next few days. After all, as Nivelle is unlucky, some people will also be unlucky.

"I can prove that General Bastien's menu is no different from that of ordinary soldiers. What the soldiers eat is what Bastien eats." Meghall testified.

"Yes, it's not Mr. Bastien's fault, we don't mean to blame him." The soldier who just spoke expressed his attitude.

"Very good, General Bastien, you will get the reward you deserve." Foch praised generously, and then turned to face the soldier representatives: "Soldiers, you have maintained good restraint in this "collective indiscipline" incident, and I am proud of you. As the commander-in-chief of the French army, it is my responsibility to ensure adequate supplies for the troops. Please believe me, similar incidents will never happen in the future. In fact, there is a supply convoy on the way here, and the situation will soon be well improved."

"Collective indiscipline" is the tone set by the French government for this mutiny. Of course, in fact, it is much more serious than this. According to the description of an officer, this mutiny shows that the French army is now "a force with extreme skepticism and no faith."

With very few exceptions, the essence of this mutiny is not a revolutionary impulse. The soldiers do not want to overthrow the government or end the war. They just express their protest in their own way, protesting against the intolerable living conditions, protesting against the military commander's disregard for the lives of ordinary soldiers, and refusing to die without purpose.

"That's great!"

"It should have been done a long time ago."

"If that's the case, we can still keep fighting."

"As long as the superiors keep their words."

Hearing Foch's promise, the soldier representatives talked about it.

"So, what other problems are there?" Foch was ready to solve them all at once.

"Vacation, we need more vacation. Since the war began, we have been fighting on the front line. It has been almost three years. Our vacation days are no more than four months. I have forgotten what my children look like."

"I hope we can have a complete camp waiting for us when we rest, instead of doing it ourselves. Because if we build the camp ourselves, when the camp is almost built, we have to return to the front line again."

Qin Zhiyuan also encountered this problem. Their camp in the Bois de Boulogne was just built. The construction period lasted for a whole winter. The soldiers of the First Division returned to Paris from Corsica and had not been used for half a month before they went to the front again. Foch's appointment as the commander-in-chief of the French army is still very beneficial. At least Qin Zhiyuan no longer has to worry about someone plotting against his camp.

This problem is easy to solve. In fact, a large-scale camp is being built near Paris to welcome the arrival of American troops. As long as a batch of more is built, Foch has the right to approve it.

"Transportation issues, we need to improve the treatment of soldiers. We often fight for half a year or seven months before we can get a month's vacation, but even in this case, we still have to queue up to buy tickets and waste time on meaningless things. It would be great if there was a special train for soldiers."

When this question was raised, Qin Zhiyuan instantly thought of the "soldier ticket window", which was indeed necessary. Foch's promise was more thorough. He promised to open a shuttle bus from Paris to the front line, and to coordinate with the railway department to reserve tickets. All tickets reserved for soldiers are free, as a welfare that truly benefits every soldier.

"We must stop the meaningless attacks. Since the war began, my company has changed people four or five times. Each time, nearly half of the soldiers joined, and then they had to be replenished again soon, but the front line has not made any progress. Our front line was here a year ago, and it is still here a year later. The only extra ones are sacrifices and deaths."

This question is the most difficult to answer. What kind of attack is meaningful and what kind of attack is meaningless? Let alone Foch, even if all the military experts in the world are gathered together, it is estimated that they cannot explain it thoroughly.

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However, Foch still has a way. Foch promised not to launch an attack rashly. Foch also reiterated that life itself must be respected, all acts of wasting life will stop, and the basic rights of soldiers will be guaranteed.

When all the questions were answered satisfactorily, no one in the conference room spoke. It seemed that everyone was waiting for Foch to say something.

"Soldiers, the war has been going on for three years. We have made arduous efforts for the peace and freedom of the world. Now is not the time to give up or retreat. If we compromise, all our efforts will be meaningless. Please rest assured that the country has never forgotten the sacrifice of the soldiers, and the people behind you have not forgotten it either. Please hold on a little longer. From now on, I, a veteran, will share honor and disgrace with you. If the war breaks out again, I will fight shoulder to shoulder with you on the front line..." Because there was no prior preparation, Foch's words did not sound gorgeous, but the emotions contained in them were moving.

When Foch shouted the traditional slogan of the French army, "Light Cavalry, Charge!", cheers and whistles resounded throughout the camp.

A perfect solution, but just a beginning.