CHAPTER 555: ORIGINAL TEXT: CHAPTER 555 SHIRE BEGINS THE COUNTERATTACK

Haig was startled awake by the sound of artillery. He turned over, got out of bed, and quickly ran to the observation window, picking up his binoculars.

The Southern Shore French Army positions were lit up with flashes of fire, as if engulfed in a sea of flames, while the British Army positions were hardly touched.

It was clear that the Germans were concentrating their artillery fire on the Southern Shore of the River Somme, attacking the French defensive lines.

A satisfied smile appeared on Haig’s face. The situation was developing just as he had hoped; soon he would hear cries for help from Shire and the council.

After a moment of consideration, Haig ordered his staff, "Inform the French Ministry of War that the German Army has suddenly launched an attack, concentrated on the Southern Shore French defensive lines at the River Somme!"

"Yes, General!"

Haig smiled subtly, eager to deliver this "good news" to Paris.

...

At the Palais Bourbon in Paris, there were more than a hundred annex buildings besides the main council hall, including accommodations for visiting council members.

Thus, even though the council was under martial law and nearly isolated from the outside world, the members could still enjoy their single rooms and fine dining in elegance.

Gallieni also stayed there. To better keep an eye on the council members and prevent them from wandering, he deliberately chose a room on the first floor.

Unlike the council members, he, being responsible for the martial law, kept in constant contact with the outside world, relaying information to the council in real time.

At 5:10 AM, Gallieni was not yet out of bed but already awake.

Last night, he had a long argument with the council members; he believed that electing a supreme commander to lead the overall situation was the urgent priority.

The mutiny crisis was not limited to the River Somme alone.

Though the River Somme was the source, it had spread to other areas and was continuing to expand.

Shire could only stabilize the situation at the River Somme, as he had limited reach in other directions.

If the German Army launched a full-scale counterattack, it would still be devastating to the French Army.

However, the council was "slow" by nature; after several days, they had only come up with initial candidates: Petain, Fuxu, and Shire.

Shire had merely been nominated by Steed, Wells, and a few others.

But Gallieni knew that Shire would never be chosen.

Not because Shire wasn’t excellent, but because he was too excellent—so much so that the council saw him as a potential "dictator" who might not need the council at all.

Whoever it was, they needed to be chosen quickly, Gallieni thought.

Given the current situation, even choosing idiots like Xia Fei or Nivelle would be better than having no supreme commander.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

Before Gallieni could respond, Major Fernan’s anxious voice came through: "General, the Germans have launched an attack on the River Somme! They are targeting the French defensive lines exclusively!"

Gallieni’s face changed instantly. He sat up in bed as if pricked by a needle.

Targeting the French defensive lines exclusively?

The Germans must have found out something!

Who leaked the information?

Gallieni quickly dressed in his uniform and ordered, "Wake everyone up immediately! Convene an emergency meeting!"

"Yes, General." Major Fernan replied.

...

In the council hall at the Palais Bourbon, the council members arrived in twos and threes and took their seats, utterly composed.

They had no concept of an "emergency meeting"; typically, any topic could drag on for days, and getting up at five was already quite an effort.

If not for Major Fernan spreading out the guards to urge each member, it would have taken at least another hour for them to assemble.

They needed time to wash, have breakfast, chatter, and possibly try on several outfits...

"Gentlemen." Gallieni couldn’t wait any longer. Before everyone was seated, he loudly announced, "We have just received news that the Germans have launched an attack on the River Somme!"

The room was instantly abuzz, with council members turning pale. Those still looking for their seats froze, staring blankly at Gallieni.

"It’s obvious," Gallieni added, "the Germans have learned something. They are attacking only the Southern Shore, which is the French defensive line."

The council members became even more restless, discussing in agitation:

"Someone must have leaked the information. The Germans know the French Army is in chaos with large-scale mutinies."

"It all depends on Shire now. I hope he can hold off the Germans’ attack."

"We should send reinforcements; we can’t pin all our hopes on Shire!"

...

But soon enough, someone opposed this idea:

"Send reinforcements? Don’t you know the mutiny is spreading like a plague?"

"If we send reinforcements to the front, they might get ’infected’ and mutiny too!"

"We can only station them at the rear to at least provide some protection for Paris!"

...

Saying it was to provide protection for Paris was an excuse, the real purpose was to buy the council members time to retreat.

Everyone knew that if the main forces of the three army groups at the front were annihilated, the Reserve Army Group under Gallieni, with the weakest combat power, would stand no chance, and the fall of France would be near.

At this juncture, as martial law confined everyone there, Vice Admiral Avis couldn’t hold back any longer.

As a British Army commander, Vice Admiral Avis originally had little say in the council.

But in these extraordinary times, those controlling supplies naturally possessed a certain "privilege," or at least he believed he did.

"Gentlemen!" Vice Admiral Avis energetically walked to the podium. Despite his efforts to conceal it, his tone exhibited a hint of satisfaction: "I believe the time has come for unity. We will not stand idly by and watch our allies fall into danger. I also believe that only deeper cooperation between us can resolve the current crisis!"

The room immediately erupted in applause, with council members nodding in agreement:

"That’s the kind of steadfast ally we need."

"Only Britain can save France now."

"He’s right. We can no longer defend our lines separately like before, or else the Germans will defeat us one by one!"

...

Steed, Wells, and a number of centrist council members remained expressionless.

They knew Vice Admiral Avis’s words sounded pleasant, but the underlying message was: Kneel, and we will protect you!

The so-called "deeper cooperation" meant allowing the British to infiltrate all French command structures and take full control of the war effort’s direction.

Gallieni also understood this but was powerless to do anything about it.

Compared to the Germans reaching Paris and forcing France to surrender, Avis’s proposal seemed easier to accept.

As Gallieni felt conflicted, Major Fernan hurried in: "General, Shire has launched a counterattack!"

"What? Counterattack?" Gallieni was taken aback.

The council members also looked at Major Fernan in disbelief.

It was still dark, the German artillery preparation wasn’t even over, meaning their offensive hadn’t officially begun, yet Shire had already started the counterattack?

Using those soldiers who were recently in mutiny, with morale not fully restored... to counterattack?!