Just as Qin Zhiyuan was returning to mainland France with the First Brigade, on April 6, in the Compiègne Forest near Paris, senior officials from the French and military and political circles gathered in the train compartment of President Raymond Poincaré to discuss the upcoming spring offensive.

“…… I am sure that the war will be over in 48 hours, and that we will drive the Germans out of French territory, invade Germany, recover Alsace and Lorraine, and restore the glory of the invincible army. After a long speech, Nivelle finished his elaboration and returned to his seat triumphantly.

"I still want to remind you that since the Germans replaced Falkingham, the Germans have changed their combat methods and guiding philosophy, and they will not choose to fight us hard, but have retreated to the solid Hindenburg defense line and defended the danger. I insist that this war will not achieve its strategic objectives, and that the assumption of an offensive has lost its legitimacy. Leotei, who was sitting on Poincaré's right, disagreed.

The relationship between Leotey and Nivelle has always been bad, and in Nivelle's eyes, Leotair is a man who does not live up to his name; In Leotey's eyes, Nivelle was an arrogant man.

"Maybe we can wait, the Americans have declared war, tomorrow is the day it takes effect, we can wait for the Americans to come, and by the way, let our exhausted troops get more rest." The new Prime Minister, Paul Panlew, has expectations for the Americans, which is also the common perception among Europeans at this time.

The entry of the Americans into the war was an absolutely significant advantage, although before that, the United States had only a few tens of thousands of national reserves, not even a full-fledged army, but the United States had unrivaled industrial capacity and a stronger mobilization capacity than Britain and France. So for Britain and France, it was more important for the United States to enter the war than for Russia to end the monarchy.

The end of the imperial system in Russia is also good for Britain and France, but this good news does not seem to be obvious now, at least not as much as the morale of the military boosted by the United States' participation in the war.

"This is our war, and if it's going to end, it's up to us to end it ourselves, not to look forward to the cowboys." Nivelle looked down on the Americans.

The relationship between France and the United States is actually very good, and the role of the French in the founding of the United States cannot be erased, and even the Statue of Liberty, the symbol of the United States, was given by France. Niveler's ideas were very marketable in this era, and the "European supremacy" of "white supremacy" was another kind of racial discrimination, which was against all non-European whites.

However, Nivelle was clearly not in the right place, and when Nivelle said this, everyone looked at Nivelle differently, including his chief of staff and commander of the mobile force, Alfred.

Prime Minister Pan Lok Wei was particularly helpless, and before that, Pan Lok Wei approached Poincaré and asked to resign as prime minister, but Poincaré did not agree. What are you kidding, is France going to change two prime ministers within a month?

"This kind of thinking of yours is simply ridiculous, if you can not sacrifice the lives of young people in France, then why are you so stubborn? This is a war that belongs to the whole world and should not be borne by France alone. Leotey denounced Nivelle's indifference.

Leoté's dislike for Nivelle could not be greater, and if it weren't for the support of the likes of Clemenceau and Foch, Leotey would have resigned and returned to Morocco, just as he had done in another time and space.

"It's not stubbornness, it's not ridiculous! This is my way of restoring the glory that belongs to France, and as Minister of War, what you have just said is clearly not in keeping with your identity. Louie, you let me down too! Nivelle knew what Leothai thought of him, and he didn't intend to shy away from the question, and he didn't give anything polite to Leotay.

"Damn it, Robert, you're going to mess it all up." Leothai's last warning was not only against Niviler, but also against Poincaré and Panroe.

"If I mess up, I'll be responsible in my own way, but until then, I'm the commander-in-chief of France, and we have to unify our minds to be able to unite against the enemy." Nivelle insisted.

I don't know which of Nivelle's words moved Poincaré, the already emaciated president chose the new Nivelle: "How sure are you, Robert? ”

"Absolutely, one thousand!" Confident and confident, Nivelle got up again and came to the wall chart: "We will launch an attack at Shermandedam, first using artillery, making adequate fire preparations, blowing up everything on the German positions, forcing the Germans to reinforce, and when the Germans are no longer able to sustain, our mobile troops will appear in time to gather the Germans within ten kilometers of Shermandham." ”

Nivelle held his baton and slammed it on the point of Shermandedam on the map, as if the German Crown Prince were standing there.

The defense of the Shermandedam area was the regiment of which the German crown prince Wilhelm was the commander-in-chief of the army group, which now had 21 divisions and another 27 divisions in reserve. Wilhelm, the German crown prince, was Niveller's old rival at the Battle of Verdun, and Wilhelm and his generals were familiar with Niveller's tactics and, crucially, the Germans occupied the commanding heights of the battlefield.

"You can't have a thousand, you can't even have a percent!" Leotey devalues Niveller's tactics worthlessly, and his ten fingers are put into the shape of a spire, like the famous "Merkel diamond", showing great self-confidence: "Your experience comes from the last days of Verdun, and although it seems plausible, you should note that this is Sherman Dedamme, not Verdun." The Germans held positions far more fortified than Verdun's ruined castle, and your artillery and infantry tactics won't necessarily work. ”

Neville's mistake is to be a blunt, not to mention that the Sherman-Dedam area is much larger than Verdun, and Nivelle's achievements in Verdun also have a certain element of luck. In the later period of Verdun, when Nivelle began to attack, the German army was retreating, and those positions were basically abandoned by the Germans themselves.

"I think I have more say in this matter than you, from the first day of the war I was in France and you were in Morocco. Even during the time you returned home, you only stayed in Paris all the time, and I was on the front line every day. Nivelle took a different approach, sounding a bit accusing the Leotaeans of being superficial.

"You should be glad I'm in Morocco, and if I'm also in France, do you feel like you can sit in this position right now?" Leothai was also accusing Niveler of being a dead man.

"Enough!" Poincaré was so annoyed by the argument that he was disgusted with the endless bickering: "Robert, please go back and prepare for the attack, as you said, you have 48 hours." Leotah, at this critical juncture, it is important to put aside prejudices and we must stick together. Ferdinand, I appoint you Chief of the General Staff of the War Department, and take office immediately! "Poincaré appeased Nivile and Leotey while announcing an appointment.

Chief of the General Staff, this is a sign that Foch has been reactivated, and at the same time a warning to Nivelle, if you don't do well, well, someone is watching you behind you!

This is the master of balance!

(To be continued.) )