Chapter 536: His Political Skills are as Brilliant as His Military Genius
Seeing Foch deep in thought, Charles added, "You are aware of the situation Nivelle faces right now, General. Whether he likes it or not, he'll soon lose his position as Supreme Commander."
Foch slowly nodded.
It wasn't only Nivelle's questionable collusion with the British that undermined his authority. He also lacked sufficient prestige and personal ability. Having just taken office amidst considerable controversy, if he had won decisive victories, he could have stabilized his position temporarily.
But now, he had suffered a catastrophic defeat, a humiliating fiasco accompanied by heavy casualties, and worse yet, a series of cover-ups had been exposed. If it weren't for the ongoing battles that required stability, he would have already been dismissed.
Charles continued, "I don't want the next Supreme Commander to be under British control again. I assume you don't want this either, do you?"
Charles believed this was the reason Foch couldn't reject his proposal.
Foch sighed helplessly and shook his head, responding, "But it's unavoidable, Major General. Perhaps you don't fully understand the predicament France faces right now. Do you think those politicians willingly let the British interfere, even allowing them to decide who becomes the Supreme Commander?"
"I know," Charles calmly replied.
Foch smiled faintly, his eyes full of disbelief. "You really understand?"
If you truly understood, you wouldn't have said something like "I don't want the next Supreme Commander to be controlled by the British," because it would inevitably happen.
"Yes, I do," Charles nodded firmly. "The British control the flow of essential supplies that directly affect the performance of our army. The moment we deviate from their wishes, they'll apply pressure by weakening us, thus indirectly assisting German advances."
This was straightforward.
If France appointed a commander who refused British control, the British would limit supplies, causing the French army to falter. Combined with passive British participation on the front, German forces would rapidly gain an advantage, inflicting devastating losses on France. Even someone like Charles wouldn't be able to prevent disaster in that scenario.
Foch looked puzzledly at Charles. He couldn't comprehend why Charles, fully aware of this harsh reality, still insisted on rejecting British dominance. Wasn't this a contradiction?
"Thus, what you propose simply isn't feasible," Foch stated firmly, gazing intently at Charles. "An independent Supreme Commander not controlled by the British cannot exist. Not even myself."
"Then, you should accept British control."
Foch's brows furrowed deeply, and he stood abruptly, anger and disappointment evident in his eyes. "Sorry, Major General, but I cannot accept such a role."
He turned to leave.
Just as he opened the door, Charles calmly spoke from behind, "I can ensure the British can't control you, General."
Foch froze, slowly closing the door again.
He seemed to understand Charles's intent. Charles was suggesting he temporarily feign compliance with British wishes to gain their support, secure the position of Supreme Commander, and then break free of their influence.
Foch saw no reason to refuse, even if it meant tolerating the shame of temporarily cooperating with the British. However, he still held doubts. He turned around and questioned, "Tell me your plan."
His opponent was Britain, the strongest power in the world, specifically Field Marshal Kitchener. They controlled the supply routes. How could Charles promise such independence?
Charles calmly sipped his water, hinting subtly, "I intend to enable the French Navy to effectively counter German submarines."
Foch's eyes suddenly brightened.
If the French Navy managed to play a significant role in anti-submarine warfare, control over critical supplies would no longer rest solely with Britain but jointly with France. Britain would then lose its strategic leverage over France.
But this involved the navy dealing with German submarines—something even the British struggled against. Could Charles realistically achieve this?
But immediately, Foch recalled Charles's performance at the Dardanelles: Charles had invented "depth charges," successfully destroying German submarines. He also developed landing crafts and amphibious assault ships, innovations that had stunned the entire world, clearly demonstrating his capabilities.
Foch slowly returned to his seat on the sofa, carefully studying Charles and asking pointedly:
"If you can achieve this, why don't you aim to become Supreme Commander yourself?"
"Don't tell me it's because you're too young and unable to gain respect."
"Your reputation is unmatched. Most French citizens and soldiers already consider you their ideal candidate."
This was undeniably true. Calls for Charles to replace Nivelle had circulated widely among both civilians and rank-and-file soldiers even before Nivelle's recent scandals.
With such immense popularity and a possible strategic hold through naval success, becoming Supreme Commander would be practically effortless for Charles.
"I can't," Charles replied truthfully. "You know exactly why: Parliament doesn't want any single military leader gaining too much power. They need someone to counterbalance me. If I were appointed Supreme Commander, they would cultivate forces like Pétain and other army group commanders against me."
Foch thought for a moment and acknowledged Charles's reasoning. Indeed, Parliament would inevitably do exactly that.
"So," Charles gazed steadily at Foch, "if you publicly become my 'enemy,' then Parliament's concerns will vanish."
Foch silently praised Charles, finally understanding the younger man's clever political strategy. He was slightly amazed that Charles had such skillful tactics at such a young age.
As long as Foch appeared openly opposed to Charles, Parliament, seeking to keep the military divided, would enthusiastically back him. Behind the scenes, the two could coordinate military affairs seamlessly, with any public opposition serving merely as theater for Parliament's benefit.
"I have one last question," said Foch, visibly relaxed now and leaning back comfortably in his chair. "Do you know why the British chose Nivelle instead of someone else?"
"Because he's easy to control," Charles answered without hesitation.
Nivelle had no significant battlefield achievements or reputation. His only backing came from the British. Precisely because he was otherwise powerless, Nivelle remained obedient to British interests—without them, he was nothing.
Foch, by contrast, possessed a reputation far exceeding Nivelle's. Practically every French offensive-oriented officer was his student or admirer. His standing dwarfed even that of Pétain and other senior commanders.
"Are you worried your reputation is too strong?" Charles asked thoughtfully.
Foch nodded. "Pétain is probably my strongest competitor. His reputation is strong but not threatening to Parliament."
Charles hadn't previously considered this angle.
On reflection, it made perfect sense. Pétain's rapid rise came only during the war, lacking deeper political roots and a robust following within the military, unlike Foch or other prominent generals.
After careful thought, Charles confidently replied, "Leave this to me, General. You don't need to worry about it."
"What will you do?" Foch asked curiously.
Charles smiled easily. "It's simple. Whoever closely cooperates with me immediately becomes suspect and thus less likely to become Supreme Commander."
Foch stared at Charles, utterly astonished.
The British, too, sought to limit Charles's influence and would therefore never support someone openly aligned with him.
Thus, if Charles publicly acted as though he closely collaborated with Pétain...
Heavens! This young man was extraordinary. His political skills matched perfectly his military genius!
(End of Chapter 536)
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