Chapter 542: The Voice of the People
The rapid German retreat was closely related to Erwin's assessment.
Erwin had witnessed firsthand at the frontline the terrifying combat effectiveness of the French First Armored Division, as well as how effortlessly they employed armored bridging vehicles to breach the anti-tank ditches.
He returned swiftly to the Riverbend command headquarters, ignoring the mud and gunpowder smoke still clinging to him. Pointing at the battle map, he explained to Lieutenant General Nicholas: "The second defensive line also relies on anti-tank ditches. The French can easily break through again—we have no means to stop them."
"We still have tanks," Nicholas replied. "Not many, but perhaps they can be effective."
His idea was to use tanks to destroy the French armored bridging vehicles. Although the "Upper Silesia" tanks might not be able to compete head-to-head against the "Char A1" tanks, they could easily handle the unarmed bridging vehicles.
"That won't work," Erwin shook his head decisively. "Their armored bridging vehicles have tank protection. Additionally, our tanks might not even be able to see their targets."
Nicholas paused, then realized immediately: "The rocket artillery?"
Erwin nodded gravely. "We have no idea how many rockets they possess or whether our tanks can survive such intense bombardments. Recklessly sending tanks out could result in their total annihilation."
The suppression of their artillery had compromised their entire defense plan, rendering even their intended tank counterattack useless.
Lieutenant General Nicholas remained unwilling to accept defeat so readily: "But we still have the Namur Fortress and Namur city. Surely, we can hold out for three days there."
"General," Erwin pointed to the map emphatically, "if the French break through the second defensive line, they'll easily bypass both Namur Fortress and Namur city, cutting us off completely from outside support. Even if reinforcements arrive in three days, what difference will it make?"
Nicholas fell silent, stunned.
Holding the city for three days wasn't the problem. The real issue was that any reinforcements sent to relieve them would inevitably be annihilated by Charles's armored and mechanized divisions. There was no unit available capable of defeating Charles's forces outside the city.
Observing Nicholas's hesitation, Erwin added: "I've just received intelligence that Belgium has mobilized an elite force of around 50,000 to 60,000 troops toward Mons."
Lieutenant General Nicholas understood immediately what this meant.
If they didn't withdraw immediately, they'd be encircled and end up like the hundreds of thousands of German soldiers captured at Ghent.
"Make your decision, General," Erwin urged urgently. "Not only must we retreat, we must do so immediately. Given the marching speed of Charles's armored and mechanized units, they will swiftly outflank and cut off our escape routes. By then, retreat would become impossible!"
Nicholas stared silently at the map for a long moment, finally nodding in resignation as he ordered: "Retreat!"
…
This perhaps was one of the inherent advantages of armored and mechanized units—enemies constantly feared being outflanked and encircled from behind.
If Charles had commanded less mobile infantry, the Germans might have chosen to stay and fight urban combat, dragging both sides into a bloody stalemate with no clear outcome.
In fact, Charles had not wanted the battle to conclude so quickly. It had taken only two days, surprising even him.
Soon, the French Parliament would certainly raise their voices again, asking: "Since Charles has already concluded his battle at Namur, shouldn't he and his troops be redeployed to the Somme?"
When the moment came, how would Charles respond?
…
Namur Castle, one of Europe's largest fortresses, sat atop a hill over a hundred meters above sea level, encircled by a river acting as a natural moat.
This ancient structure from the era of cold weapons had minimal strategic value in modern warfare. Its brick-and-stone walls couldn't withstand modern artillery and were essentially deathtraps under heavy bombardment.
Nevertheless, Charles chose this place as his headquarters.
Though militarily vulnerable, it offered good infrastructure and ideal conditions for maintaining secrecy.
Charles had just bathed, changing into a fresh, dry uniform before enjoying a comfortable dinner. Now, standing by the window holding a glass of red wine, he watched boats moving gently along the Meuse River under the drizzle.
It was difficult for him to believe that just hours earlier, he'd been engaged in brutal combat.
As usual, Charles had refrained from entering Namur city with great fanfare to accept the cheers of the Belgian people.
That would be dangerously reckless; being shot by surviving German troops was hardly worth a moment of applause.
Albert I, however, acted differently. He was among the first to enter Namur, taking over governance duties alongside the French soldiers.
Simultaneously, Belgium's First Special Reconnaissance Regiment entered Namur city to maintain order, quickly establishing defensive positions in the east against potential German counterattacks.
They handled their tasks admirably: Albert I managed public sentiment and internal affairs, while Brigadier General Eden coordinated defense arrangements. Charles had little reason to worry about Namur after its capture.
Ironically, the less Charles needed to worry about Namur, the harder it became for him to find a justification to avoid Parliament's demands.
"General," Tignani emerged from the communication room, smiling cheerfully. "Have you heard how the public has reacted to our victory?"
Charles shook his head lightly, his eyes fixed absently on the rainy river scene.
He had little interest in such things. At first, victories excited him, but after so many triumphs, he had grown indifferent, even numb.
What Charles didn't realize was his privileged position; Field Marshals Haig and Nivelle, who struggled painfully on the Somme front, dreamed of achieving just one such victory to salvage their reputations.
"Paris is in an uproar," Tignani said, pouring himself a glass of wine and strolling leisurely toward the window.
Alcohol was forbidden during active combat, but now was the luxury of victory.
"The loudest voice isn't simply praising you," Tignani explained, leaning gracefully by the window, holding the wine glass with a faint smile. "The public has recognized two points clearly: First, Nivelle did indeed order an attack on Namur; second, you effortlessly conquered a fortress city that Nivelle and Haig couldn't breach despite losing hundreds of thousands of men."
"Oh?" Charles perked up slightly, finding this intriguing—precisely the "double blow" he'd earlier mentioned.
The first point Charles had already presented before Parliament, yet Parliament, considering overall political interests, had chosen to keep it confidential from the broader public.
The second point—the dramatic contrast between Charles's swift two-day victory at Namur and the stalemate at the Somme—stood as undeniable proof of his superiority.
"And then?" Charles asked.
"The public wants you as Commander-in-Chief," Tignani raised his glass in a toast to Charles. "They believe that if you lead the French Army, the war will end sooner, and fewer people will die."
Tignani paused briefly before adding, "And not just civilians—even the ordinary soldiers within the army feel this way."
Soldiers liked commanders like Charles because he represented a chance to survive the war.
Looking expectantly at Charles, Tignani continued, "Why don't you simply accept their proposal? It makes perfect sense to me."
Charles smiled softly and replied: "Becoming Commander-in-Chief would bring me no advantage whatsoever."
It would only turn him into a conspicuous target—a scapegoat for Parliament.
And the decision didn't depend on either the public or the soldiers.
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