Cai E and others knew the progress of the war. The kind-hearted Cai E had no intention of exposing his fault. Instead, he turned to discuss with Zhang Xiaohuai and said, "Runnong, what do you mean by supporting the country?"

Zhang Xiaohuai said: "Let's discuss it with Commander Fu first." Commander Fu refers to Feng Guozhang, who volunteered before departure and was appointed as the chief of general staff of the expeditionary force. When it comes to the experience of commanding large corps in combat, Feng Guozhang has great experience in domestic affairs.

He is one of the few generals. After taking office, Feng Guozhang did not interfere much with the command. He was mainly responsible for logistics and supply matters. Ordinarily, he should not be responsible for these matters. The chief of staff's task is to assist in formulating combat plans. It can be seen that Feng Guozhang

Although he took the initiative to come out, he clearly wanted to avoid suspicion.

"General Neville, the Chinese Expeditionary Force headquarters needs to hold a meeting to study it before giving you a reply. According to the agreement, the expeditionary force has independent command authority. When it comes to the execution of combat missions, we promise to cooperate with your army's requirements. However, our army

When you first arrive, many things need to be coordinated before decisions are made. You don’t want to see an army that goes to the battlefield and drags down friendly forces, right?” Cai E said it implicitly, and also meant to delay. In fact, when he was at home, the expedition

The army's strategy has been roughly decided. After arriving in France, they must rest for a month and a half before considering going into battle. Now that the French army's request is in advance, they cannot simply agree to it. In a foreign country, any decision affects the expeditionary force.

For their survival, the three of them were naturally more cautious. Considering that they would rely on the French in many places in the future, they had to be more careful in their wording.

Neville was not satisfied with this answer. The French Commander-in-Chief Joffre meant that within half a month to twenty days, the Chinese troops would be able to go into battle. We don’t expect them to perform well in the Battle of the Somme, but at least they can increase the number of troops.

The following is the thickness of the Verdun and Champagne defense lines. As for the twenty-one divisions, the initial attack troops invested by the German army on the Verdun line were only thirty divisions. In addition to the dozen or so reinforcements that the French army had already reinforced

division, should be able to stabilize the Verdun line of defense.

Of course, the so-called Verdun Line of Defense does not actually exist. The French just insist on calling it that out of dignity.

"The Entente is about to launch a powerful counterattack against the German army. There is currently a certain shortage of troops. I hope your army will complete its rest and reorganization as soon as possible. So, you send one of your people to follow me to Paris to meet with the commander-in-chief, General Joffre, and listen to

What he meant." Neville saw that he couldn't say anything, so he had to invite people to Paris and let the politicians lobby. The mission of soldiers is to go to the battlefield.

At this time, Neville's mood was very complicated. Before he came, he had great doubts about the quality of the Chinese army. After seeing the scene, he actually had some expectations. Especially when he saw the light weapons and equipment of the Chinese soldiers,

It is not worse than the French army at all, it is even better than the French army, and it is no less than the German army. It can be seen that the Chinese dictator is still very willing to spend a lot of money on his army. Furthermore,

The Chinese people's reasons are indeed very good. After a long journey, rest is necessary. At this time, some Chinese soldiers have completed the entire team. Neville subconsciously took out his pocket watch and checked the time. In less than half an hour, a team

Under the leadership of the advance team and the French liaison officer, the Chinese soldiers walked out of the dock and rushed to the outskirts, singing songs and marching in neat steps. The Chinese soldiers did not even expect the French army to provide transportation. It was as simple as that.

They were on the road, and they actually had one person in front dragging the light infantry artillery piece, and one person in the back pushing it. This made the French soldiers think that something was going to happen, so they had to give it to a donkey.

The team was completed by the 28th Regiment of the 7th Division under Li Yifeng, and the leader was Yang Zui. This guy was caught up in a good time. Every time the National Defense Force expanded, he was promoted. This has something to do with his meritorious service, which means meritorious service.

An important criterion for measuring promotion.

"Forward! Forward! Forward!..." The singing voice was loud and clear. The long journey did not seem to make these young soldiers lose their spirit. Their singing voices were still loud. One group wore steel helmets (made in China) and carried various

The army with weapons and a five-color flag appeared in front of the French, and their faces naturally attracted everyone's attention.

After a short negotiation, Cai E and Zhang Xiaohuai went to Paris together to meet with the French commander-in-chief Xia Fei. Feng Guozhang, who then disembarked, was responsible for the settlement of the troops.

After a brief reorganization, Chinese troops continued to line up neatly, holding flags and marching neatly out of the dock. Walking towards the military camp in the suburbs, there were many French people on both sides of the road. They learned that this

When the troops from the East came to help France fight the war, they all greeted them warmly. Some enthusiastic French girls blew kisses.

"Come on, that girl is smiling at me." Zhang Jingyao walked beside Yang Zui and spoke proudly in a low voice. Yang Zui glanced at him and said disdainfully: "Come on, who knows who you are." Zhang Jingyao didn't either.

Discouraged, he whispered with a smile: "I must have a taste of the Ocean Horse when I go back."

The 7th Division's military camp was located in an old military camp on the outskirts of Marseille. Soldiers from the advance team were standing guard at the door of the barracks. When Yang Zui and the others arrived, they saw some French women surrounding the door of the military camp, seemingly waiting for something.

Zhang Jingyao was very curious, so he stopped the soldier at the door and asked, "Brother, what are these French women here for?"

The soldier told him: "Oh, they are all from Marseille. You can go to them for laundry and sewing. There are also ladies from foreign kilns. Hey, sir, by the way, these foreign women don't charge money. They only want food. Canned food.

Biscuits, medicine, whatever."

Zhang Jingyao's eyes suddenly lit up. After drifting on the sea for more than a month, the sows he saw all had their eyelids plugged. No, as soon as he settled down, Zhang Jingyao approached Yang Zui to ask for leave, on the grounds that he wanted to go to the city for a visit.

Yang Zui didn't know that he was a frivolous person, but even the National Defense Forces were not allowed to do this. Zhang Jingyao was already a battalion commander, and he fought hard enough. Playing with French women was nothing. "That's right, but let's talk it over first."

, go out once a week at most. Remember not to catch bayberry sores when you are looking for a woman."

Zhang Jingyao's good mood was dampened for a moment, and then he came out happily, found the logistics office, bought ten cans of luncheon meat with his personal allowance, put them in a cloth bag, and left the military camp happily.

As soon as he left the camp, Zhang Jingyao was surrounded by several French women, gesticulating and trying to communicate. Zhang Jingyao couldn't understand these bird songs, but the body language was the same. When a woman lifted her skirt to reveal her white thighs,

Things were simple. Zhang Jingyao took out a can of luncheon meat, and the woman raised three fingers. Zhang Jingyao nodded to sign the deal. The other women walked away disappointed, and the French woman came up and dragged Zhang Jingyao away with a smile.

This French woman is not very old, she looks to be in her early twenties. Foreign women all look similar, with a somewhat big butt and a really attractive twist when walking. Yang Ma took Zhang Jingyao's hand and entered the military camp.

In a farm yard not far away, two three- and four-year-old children were playing. When they saw them coming in, they stopped and stared at Zhang Jingyao. The children's eyes were very strange, which made Zhang Jingyao feel a little embarrassed, so he thought about it and took it from his pocket.

A handful of White Rabbit toffee came out. This stuff is produced by a food factory affiliated with Eurasia Group. It tastes very good, but it’s a bit expensive. Zhang Jingyao is an army officer and can buy some at special prices every month, so he bought some.

I took it out with me, but I didn't expect it to come in handy.

The two children, a man and a woman, hesitated for a moment, but Yangma seemed to let them take it, so they carefully took one. Zhang Jingyao squatted down patiently and helped them open the wrapping paper. When the toffee entered his mouth,

The eyes of the two children were cold. They subconsciously reached out and took all the remaining toffees from Zhang Jingyao's hand, and ran out of the yard holding hands.

Dayang Ma didn't know what he was muttering, and Zhang Jingyao couldn't understand it anyway, but he saw the tears flashing in the woman's eyes and the sadness on her face. Zhang Jingyao was moved by the woman's expression, and impulsively took out the contents of the bag.

He poured out all the cans and gestured: "I'll give it all to you, for the children to eat."

When Xia Xiang came out of the French army's liaison office in Paris, he had a gloomy look on his face. Waiting outside was Feng Hua, the captain of the aviation brigade. The reason they went out together was that Feng Hua's aviation brigade had vehicles. The two

We were all officers in the advance team. We spent a lot of time together along the way and became good friends. We would drink a few drinks together when nothing happened.

"How is it? The French are prevaricating again?" Feng Hua was also very unhappy. The French were so stupid that they did not see a single promised tank, and the aviation brigade did not even have enough gasoline. Feng Hua was so confused.

A total of sixteen Xiaolongs were brought with them, and their mission was to provide aerial reconnaissance for the expeditionary force. The French also had aircraft, but Feng Hua couldn't believe it after flying them once.

"Still not. The French don't have enough for themselves, so how can they give it to us? Next door to Mala, the French promised to give two armored brigades. I think there is no hope. Go back and buy some wine. The brigade was already there yesterday.

arrive."

The two were about to leave when a judge stood up, wearing a cylindrical hat and long riding boots.

"Please wait a moment, ladies and gentlemen!" the French translator called out. The two of them stopped and turned around. Colonel Francois, the head of the liaison office, came over and said, "Twenty-four of the tanks you want will be available tomorrow."

Xia Xiang was stunned. Before he could speak, Francois said again: "Your commander asked you to wait a moment and return to Marseille together." After hearing this, the two of them realized that the commander of the expeditionary force had already arrived.

Paris.

In fact, the French did not intend to give tanks to the Chinese Expeditionary Force at the beginning, at least not until the end of the Battle of the Somme. What changed this decision was Neville's words.
Chapter completed!