Chapter 491: Mines
Charles offered Pétain more than just these strategies.
Charles reasoned: now that directional mines had emerged, shouldn't regular mines follow as well?
Wasn't Pétain an expert in defensive warfare?
And how could one fight a defensive battle without mines?
Reverse-slope tactics combined with ordinary mines and directional mines practically charted the course for the Battle of Verdun. No matter how Pétain handled it, he would inevitably be overshadowed by Charles's presence. Everyone would be certain he was fighting according to Charles's strategies.
Thinking about this, Charles took out his notebook and sketched a modern, flat, round landmine, clearly marking the internal structure. As he drew, he explained, "Its structure is quite simple. When the target steps onto the pressure plate, the fuse activates, causing a spring-loaded firing pin to strike the detonator cap, triggering an explosion."
Steed, standing beside Charles, didn't react immediately. Only after hearing Charles's explanation did he understand: "This is...a landmine?"
He stared blankly at the diagram Charles had drawn.
Mines already existed in this era, but they were bulky, inconvenient to carry, structurally complicated, and hard to detonate reliably. Due to these drawbacks, mines had received little attention. During the Russo-Japanese War a decade ago, they briefly appeared but quickly faded from use, and in the European theater, mines were rare.
But the mine design Charles now proposed addressed all these flaws at once, emerging as a fully mature final form.
Charles thought this was not complicated, so why not jump directly to the finished design?
Steed took a long moment to comprehend before asking incredulously, "So everything is contained within the mine itself? It detonates using a built-in fuse?"
Having spent years in military manufacturing, Steed realized this would greatly simplify deployment, making mines easier to handle and moisture-resistant—a significant advancement for modern mines.
Dominique stepped closer, inspecting the mine's size and frowning slightly, "General, a mine this size might not reliably kill an enemy. After all, it's buried underground; much of the shrapnel and explosive force will be absorbed by the soil…"
"I don't intend to kill the target," Charles interrupted Dominique calmly.
"What?" Dominique stared in confusion. "Isn't killing the enemy the purpose of war?"
Charles responded quietly, "No, Dominique. The purpose of war has never been simply to kill enemies, but rather to achieve victory."
Dominique paused, suddenly understanding. A trace of sadness appeared in his expression as he realized humanity could indeed resort to any means necessary for victory.
Steed, however, was still puzzled, "I fail to see the difference between killing the enemy and achieving victory, General."
Steed was, after all, a businessman—one who traded in arms but still fundamentally viewed warfare simplistically, believing that killing enemies inevitably led to victory.
Dominique explained patiently, "Father, on the battlefield, severely injuring an enemy soldier—say, blowing off his leg—can be far more effective than killing him."
"More effective?" Steed was skeptical, looking between Dominique and Charles.
Charles nodded to Dominique, encouraging him to continue.
Dominique sighed softly and elaborated, "If you blow off an enemy soldier's leg, he can no longer fight effectively, posing no further threat. But the enemy now needs several soldiers to carry him back for medical care. Afterward, they need doctors, medicine, supplies, nursing care. Even if he survives, he will continue to consume resources without contributing significantly, thereby draining Germany's already-strained supplies."
Steed stared in stunned silence, then suddenly laughed in realization, "Precisely! Exactly right, Dominique! That's the perfect strategy—why waste explosives killing the enemy when you can tie up their resources with far less?"
He grabbed the drawing as if it were a precious treasure, confidently declaring to Charles, "I'll have these mines produced in no time, General. Just a few days is all we'll need!"
He then glanced approvingly at Dominique. Steed was used to Charles's genius, finding his remarkable ideas unsurprising. But today, Steed realized Dominique also had genuine talent—if only he'd abandon his occasional excessive compassion.
Charles continued, "Additionally, we should produce larger mines specifically for tanks."
"Of course, General," Steed agreed immediately. "Anti-tank mines will indeed be crucial."
But his expression quickly turned uncertain, "However, how do we ensure they only detonate under tanks? Enemy infantry could trigger them too."
"Pressure, Mr. Steed," Charles explained simply. "A soldier's weight tops out around two hundred pounds, but tanks are far heavier."
Steed's eyes widened in sudden understanding and excitement, "Yes, with pressure-sensitive triggers, only heavy vehicles like tanks would detonate them! Genius—absolutely genius!"
Dominique stared at Charles, astonished. Though the idea was simple, the speed and ease with which Charles articulated it was remarkable—as if he'd known this all along.
But Charles wasn't finished.
Under their astonished gaze, he drew yet another mine variant, narrating calmly, "We can also produce a smaller, two-part mine. When triggered, an initial charge in the mine casing propels the explosive body about a meter into the air before an internal delayed fuse detonates it..."
He paused, sliding the notebook toward them, "And of course, besides explosives, this airborne charge should also contain steel pellets, much like our directional mines."
Steed and Dominique froze, utterly stunned. Such a mine existed?
It jumped into the air before detonating? And it contained steel pellets?
Instinctively, both glanced downward, involuntarily imagining such a terrifying scenario, leaving them momentarily speechless.
Then Steed's excitement surged again, envisioning countless orders, wealth rolling in, and the revitalization of the Saint-Étienne Arms Factory. He once again felt fully justified in his decision years ago to closely follow Charles. Had Charles become his competitor, Saint-Étienne would've long since been crushed into oblivion.
Dominique swallowed hard, hesitantly speaking, "General, isn't this a bit too cruel?"
Charles's voice grew cold, "That is war, Dominique. There's a saying: 'Mercy to your enemies is cruelty to yourself.' Do you agree?"
Dominique was quiet a moment before nodding softly.
War was, after all, a place of kill or be killed. Showing mercy when an enemy could be killed meant risking one's own life. If forced to choose, one had to kill.
Dominique sighed heavily, acknowledging, "You're right, General. I apologize. I'm not a soldier—I've never faced an enemy in battle or been forced into such life-or-death situations. I have no right to judge."
These developments, Dominique realized, were merely Charles's efforts to protect himself and his soldiers' lives. What choice would he make in such circumstances?
Let the enemy kill him?
No—there was only one realistic choice.
(End of Chapter 491)
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