When Louis XIV planned and built the Invalides in 1649, he decided to restore the Rue de la Cinereine to connect the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district in the west end of Paris with the marshland selected as the new construction site.

The "aristocratic suburbs" of the Palace of Seychelles began to develop irresistibly.

The Matignon House on Varenne Street in the 7th arrondissement of Paris has a simple and elegant appearance. It was built in 1719 and was originally the official residence of a nobleman. It is not much different from other ancient buildings in this "noble traffic police". In this solemn place

Inside the mysterious building, there is a non-public garden considered to be the largest in Paris, and this building is now the French Prime Minister's Office.

To the outside world, the days in the French Prime Minister's Office symbolize power, honor, ambition, and passion. But for those who live there, the days in the French Prime Minister's Office are a repetitive and exhausting day.

They have to rush around with their bodies and deal with emergencies urgently...and this can be said to be the common denominator of any state power agency.

For France, a country that is at war, as the prime minister of this country in wartime, Aristide Briand, the son of a hotel owner, has been doing his job conscientiously.

Perhaps, before the war, he was one of the few people in Europe who supported workers' violent movements and opposed the militarism and nationalism that were constantly growing in various countries. He was awarded the title "Charming Briand" for his gentle style of dealing with social affairs.

"This nickname, but now, since France has been involved in this war, he has unequivocally supported France in carrying this war to the end.

Nearly two years after the war broke out, facing Briand's efforts, no Frenchman would doubt the determination of this ascetic who had not yet married a wife to win the war. But even so, among the high-level officials in Paris,

As we all know, there have always been serious differences between the Prime Minister's Office and the War Department, or to be precise, the Army Command that now replaces the War Department and has a lot of power. The root of this disagreement stems from Briand's relationship with the Army.

Joffre's prejudice.

Briand's prejudice against Joffre originated from the Battle of the Marne when the war broke out. During the Battle of the Marne, facing the possibility that Paris might fall at any time, the Paris Garrison Command asked Joffre, who was commanding the battle, to send reinforcements to Paris.

This "legitimate" request was rejected by Joffre. His reason was simple: "The capital can be exiled anywhere in France, as long as France has not failed!" Later, in order to win the Battle of the Marne, he even used the name of the French Commander-in-Chief to win the Battle of the Marne.

Once again, the troops guarding Paris were transferred. From then on, Briand's mind was full of prejudices against Joffre, the "great soldier" who "saved France". In the nearly two years after the war broke out, the Prime Minister

The fundamental differences between the government and the army headquarters, especially some of Xiafei's "principled mistakes" or "failures", made Brian lose his patience with him long ago. He was just waiting for the opportunity. Waiting

A chance for that slow-witted Joffre to retire "with honor".

"I myself have had this wrong impression before!"

Looking at Prime Minister Briand and General Gallini, the Army Minister, he said with some regret.

"It is believed that the German army must have suffered heavier losses than the French army. However, all battle reports indicate the fact that the French army on the defensive suffered huge losses. They were forced to defend various positions. Regardless of whether they were good or bad, whether they were good or not.

Important and indiscriminate, they were forced to continuously counterattack under ruthless artillery fire, fighting for every inch of ground. Obviously, they fought this defensive battle at the expense of sacrifice."

Just yesterday evening, General Gallini, the Army Minister who was forced to be "semi-idle" because a large amount of the power of the Army Department was "usurped" by the Army Headquarters, had a meeting with the Army Headquarters Chief of Staff Casterno.

After a long night of deep talk, he clearly realized that France was now in an extremely embarrassing situation. Therefore, today's trip to visit Prime Minister Briand was made. In many matters, the Ministry of War and the

The Prime Minister's Office is unanimous.

"Now, in front of Verdun, the French army held an unusual position bravely and tenaciously, and they suffered greater losses than in ordinary defensive battles. Now, the losses we suffered at Verdun were far greater.

As for the German army, as we are talking, hundreds of thousands of French and German troops are fighting each other around the Verdun Fortress. More and more reinforcements and ammunition are pouring into the battlefield from all over France and Germany.

Many trains full of wounded people receded from here quickly like an ebbing tide. This has become a test of strength and military honor between Germany and France. Blood spurted out and heads fell. Now this war is related to our peace.

Germany's reputation and future victory also include the personal careers, official positions and reputations of the generals of the two countries. It can be said that Verdun is like champagne at a banquet. The wine has been filled and must be toasted. France,

The two German armies continued to fight with full fury, tearing each other's opponents to pieces. The power of the German artillery caused heavy losses to the larger French army day after day, and this kind of loss would cause France to lose blood quickly.

Shed all the blood!”

When General Galeni was making his report, Prime Minister Briand, a military layman, knew more about Verdun than the reports of the generals, but also through the official literati who had learned about Verdun in addition to the fighting.

France had a clear advantage in the propaganda war and communiqué war launched to publicize the war. Day after day, they continued to announce the huge losses suffered by the German army in each attack. Because the German army was obviously storming trenches and forts, so

Most people in the world easily believe that the casualties of the German army must be much greater than that of the French army. Of course, the same is true for Bellini.

At this time, General Gallini's report made him full of doubts about the propaganda releases and press bulletins issued by Joffre's headquarters.

“…France is now on the path to de facto disadvantage!”

Finally, Gallini's voice fell. When his voice fell, Briand fell into silence. Isn't this the opportunity he was waiting for? Taking advantage of Xiafei's mistakes, he ordered him to retire "honorably"

, at most, in order to take care of his face, he would be given the false title of "Senior Military Advisor".

Although he knew that this wish would soon be realized, there was no sense of joy in his heart, and he was even filled with sadness. France would shed its blood in this necessary war. In any case, as a

Even the Prime Minister of France cannot be happy.

"So, what can we do now?"

"Now, for France, either we have to continue this unprepared battle and follow Joffre's wishes. Put a steady stream of materials and manpower into this meat grinder and use our flesh and blood to make

This meat grinder collapses, or we have to give up there. However, this is extremely realistic! Now, after ten days of development, just as Joffre originally expected, France must not lose Verdun!"

Gallini's answer made Brian feel a surge of disgust. The reason was very simple. Initially, France had the opportunity not to accept Germany's challenge, but Joffre took the initiative to accept Germany's challenge, and even

Through public opinion, "the significance of the never-conquered fortress of Verdun to France" was emphasized. The French quickly accepted that significance - "When Verdun fell, France also failed!".

If Joffre refused to accept the German challenge at the beginning, the German army would certainly break into Verdun. But it would not be just a lone army advancing forward, it would just be a worthless protrusion. But now? What has changed there?

It has become a meat grinder, dragging France into the abyss little by little.

"Last night, in my conversation with General Casterno, Chief of Staff of the Army Command, he mentioned that the only solution now is..."

"What is it?"

Briand asked with some excitement. Now as Prime Minister, he must ensure the future of France and prevent France from shedding its own blood in this war.

"The battlefield disadvantage on the frontline requires us to invest more power, and more power means more sacrifices. If France wants to avoid its own sacrifice, it must invest in other forces!"

"Other powers?"

Brian was stunned for a moment and became very surprised. Do we want to use the British Expeditionary Force?

"It is unlikely to drag Britain into Verdun, which is not their war zone!"

Briand, who knew the British very well, immediately replied that after Britain joined the war, Britain and France demarcated a war zone. Although the war zone was on French territory, the two sides did not interfere with each other and wanted to make those cunning people

How is it possible that the British sent their own troops to die at Verdun?

"Prime Minister, we have other forces we can use!"

"Other powers?"

As he muttered, Brian suddenly remembered the army that came to France with his support. However, after they arrived in France, Brian, who had strongly supported China in sending troops, turned a blind eye to them. This was for political reasons.

, For Briand, China's dispatch of troops is a political victory, and for the Army Command, the Chinese Army can certainly relieve the pressure on their troops, but the concessions made by France during the negotiations are the Army Command's

It was unacceptable. In order to avoid more conflicts with the Army Headquarters, Briand naturally pretended to turn a blind eye to him. He even pretended to be deaf and mute and turned a blind eye to the discrimination he suffered.

"Yes, Prime Minister, the 180,000 Chinese Expeditionary Force near Orleans is another force we can use. And I have asked the Chinese Embassy in France. They said that as long as France, as an ally, needs it, they can send it

More troops, one million, two million, three million, even more!"

When Gallini emphasized that China could send more troops, Briand had no doubts. According to the estimates of advisers to the Prime Minister's Office, if France provided weapons and funds to China, China could send at least 20 million troops. Of course, France

You don't need that many troops.

"Can the Chinese ** team shoulder this responsibility?",

Although it was Brian who originally advocated that China send troops, but this would really involve the Chinese going to the battlefield, Brian still had some doubts and even lacked confidence. There have always been people in Congress attacking the government's generosity. They

I believe that the government is too generous to the Chinese. France has really paid too much for those heavy smoke soldiers. It is for this reason that France will suspend the third batch of Chinese expeditionary force while reducing the second batch of Chinese expeditionary force.

The armed forces of the army.

"According to the calculations of Chief of Staff Casterno of the Army Command, if the Chinese Expeditionary Force can show the same quality as it did in the Jiao'ao Battle, its five soldiers will be at least equivalent to one French soldier. Perhaps it will not be able to bear the burden of the entire front.

Responsibility, but putting it into the meat grinder as flesh and blood can always speed up the damage of the meat grinder..."

At this time, when General Galleni was talking about the Chinese Expeditionary Force with Brian, there was no trace of pity or sympathy at all. In his opinion, the Chinese were just cannon fodder, or even just flesh and blood waiting for "enema" in the slaughterhouse.

, Different from the previous cherishing, pity, and caution towards French flesh and blood, this time, they became extremely generous.

"...However, this suggestion was rejected by Marshal Xiafei!"

"Then why did Joffre refuse?"

Briand was stunned. Didn't Xiafei see the benefits? Isn't the reason why France is willing to arm the squadron precisely to reduce its own casualties and make up for its lack of manpower?

"Same as your previous worries!"

General Galleni's answer made Brian dumbfounded. He immediately fell into silence, and then began to think about a ratio in his mind - "five to one". Eighteen thousand people, at least can make

France avoided 36,000 casualties... This ratio may be shockingly low, but at least... it is appropriate, acceptable, and in line with France's interests.

"Okay. Go to the army headquarters in person and tell Xiafei that the Chinese Expeditionary Force must be sent to Verdun. This is not only a political need, but also a need for France. Tell him that everyone in France must be sent to Verdun.

Every drop of blood is extremely precious. Maybe he is the savior of France..."

When he mentioned the savior, Brian's face showed a slight look of ridicule, and then he emphasized again.

"If he persists in his own way, then he will become a sinner of France. Every Frenchman who has lost a son will remember him as the savior of France!"

Finally, Brian made his decision, and then he looked at General Galleni and said.

"My Excellency, Minister, it seems that in the past period of time, some of our actions towards this expeditionary force have been extremely inappropriate. Therefore, I hope you can communicate with... What's his last name? It's the Expeditionary Force Liaison Office

Director."

When sending the Chinese Expeditionary Force to the battlefield, Brian finally thought of the discrimination that he had always turned a blind eye to, but when he mentioned the Chinese general, he forgot his name.

"Wu-Han, Your Excellency Prime Minister!"

"Well, please make arrangements. I hope to have an interview with him today."
To be continued...