General Joffre, whose full name is Joseph Jacques Césaire.

He was born in 1852. When the Battle of Verdun was about to break out, he was already 64 years old. Since 1914, he has served as the commander of the French Supreme Command.

Regarding the Verdun Fortress, due to the development of the weapons industry and the constant emergence of new weapons and combat methods, he felt that the Verdun-style fortress defense was outdated. He believed that such a fortress would be incompetent under the German army's large-caliber artillery and

In the face of large-tonnage bombs, collapse is only a matter of time.

Based on this idea, he planned to mobilize a large number of artillery and artillery to join the field troops for counterattacks prepared on other fronts. This cannot but be said that the veteran Xiafei was foresighted about the changes in the way of war, but he could not

Needless to say, the true direction of development at this time is still in the fog.

Before the outbreak of the Battle of Verdun, under his order, not only were nearly 4,000 artillery pieces dismantled in the Verdun Fortress, including 2,000 large-caliber artillery pieces, they were also dismantled from their turrets, and a large number of machine guns were also removed from their turrets.

There are only a few guard units left in the machine gun nests, all forts and fortifications.

Unfortunately, however, people who look too far ahead tend to be lofty and arrogant, and views that are divorced from reality are often not so correct.

While France emphasized offensive doctrine, it placed too much trust in the role of fortresses in defensive methods. Of course, based on the equipment and tactical means at the time, it could only do this.

Therefore, when the crisis situation of the German offensive at the Verdun Fortress was resolved, Joffre's current actions attracted quite severe criticism. Soon after, he was awarded a marshal's scepter, and then returned to his hometown.

But we cannot fail to mention that France’s shocking defeat during World War II was foreshadowed by the victory in the Verdun fortification area during World War I. The French were too superstitious about the fortification area.

, while ignoring the power of new tactical means.

Today, the chief intelligence officer of the Army Department, Colonel Calanthe, came to see Joffre with a large stack of information.

Based on the intelligence obtained from various channels, he wanted to explain to his commander-in-chief that the German attack on Verdun may be imminent. Therefore, he requested to mobilize a considerable number of large-caliber artillery and a considerable number of artillery to the Verdun area.

garrison troops.

One of the documents in his hand was that Tang Yunyang and Mike Lang captured the combat staff of a division of the German Flanders Third Army on the front line. Although he did not understand the combat plan of the entire Verdun area, the direction of their division's attack

And the goal is very clear.

Now, this information is already in the briefcase in the hands of Colonel Carence. Of course, please don't ask how the colonel's men took out this information from the captured German officer.

"A US-Chinese pilot, with the help of another Chinese, captured this German officer. Is there any problem here?"

Although Colonel Carence has some doubts in his mind, and even has some concerns about the authenticity and reliability of this information. But for the time being, the situation shown in this information is beneficial to the point he wants to expound.

When Colonel Caranthe came to the door of General Joffre's office at the agreed time, he faintly heard a roaring sound coming from the room.

"I really can't believe that the government actually believed what he said... What a hell! A soldier jumped over the top and sent his protest against the execution of my order to the government... This is deliberately disrupting the discipline of the army! This is..."

Joffre's rant came from the fact that Colonel Emile de Lyon, a Congressman from Nancy and an outstanding military analyst, submitted a report to Army General Galerieni, emphasizing the need for more troops, artillery, and military exchanges at Verdun.

Includes lots of other supplies.

This was something Xiafei couldn't bear, and in anger, he threw the phone under the table.

Colonel Calanthe knew that General Joffre was a soldier of outstanding quality, impressive appearance, calm and composed, with a strong character and a firm will. But something like this today would definitely make him feel that he had been betrayed and betrayed by his subordinates.

, this is unacceptable in the eyes of Xiafei, who emphasizes military honor and loyalty.

Listening to Joffre's roaring voice, Calanthe couldn't help but ask himself whether he should report this information to General Joffre, or later...

In the end, his loyalty to military honor made him decide to report these matters to General Joffre anyway. After all, it would be related to France's national security.

"General..."

As Colonel Calanthe entered the room, he gave him a military salute, which calmed Joffre down. Most of the officers under him were very young, and their age difference with him was quite large.

Subconsciously, he treated them as his own sons, and in reality he did the same. Therefore, although the anger in his heart made his body still shake slightly, he still restrained his anger and calmed down.

Returned the gift.

"Please sit down, Colonel Caranthe, please sit down! Please forgive me, I am not in a very happy mood today."

While he sat Calanthe on the sofa, he gestured to the adjutant to bring some wine, and asked him not to be embarrassed by his outburst.

"Young man, let's have a drink first, then please relax and let's have a good talk!"

While Xiafei was strong-willed and determined, he was also a very humane general who cared deeply for his subordinates. Therefore, when officers praised him, they often called him "old man" or "daddy"!

"Sir, based on the intelligence we intercepted and some reliable sources, we believe that the German army is likely to launch an attack on the Verdun fortification area in the near future, and the scale of this attack may be large! Please see,

This is a piece of information we got from an officer of the German Third Army of Flanders..."

Xiafei took the most direct and detailed information among all the information and read it carefully. His expression gave Colonel Caranthe a glimmer of hope. While Xiafei was reading the information, he kept talking.

I expressed my own point of view...

"If it can be concluded based on this information that the German army is about to attack, General Joffre, I must say that our military strength in the Verdun area is really very weak. If it can be increased..."

Xiafei's attention was completely attracted by the source of this information.

"Well, an American Chinese pilot obtained this information with the help of another Chinese, and the Chinese shot two German soldiers in front of him... Well, interesting! The Germans also use Chinese

Spy?"

At this time, France did not have as deep-rooted racism as in the United States, although their level of discrimination against people of color was slightly better.

Of course, that's all.

Therefore, Xiafei became suspicious of the most important source of intelligence in front of him.

Colonel Calanthe found somewhat sadly that his eloquent arguments, like a langoustine, did not attract General Joffre's attention at all.

While drinking wine, after listening to Colonel Caranthe's report, General Joffre just nodded his huge head kindly, in the same tone as he treated other young officers, and patted the exhausted intelligence officer Caranthe kindly.

Colonel's shoulders.

"You just like cannons, that's great! Don't worry about my child, I believe we will always solve the problem! Oh, just leave this information with me, I will read it in detail. In addition, we need to find out about this matter

, I think you have to bring the Chinese guy here and see what he will tell us?"

Colonel Caranthe hesitated: "General, what do you think..."
Chapter completed!