Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Battle General Mobilization

If the danger is no longer imminent, the danger is always serious.Marcel told Dr. Sarrazan and his friends everything he knew about Mr. Schultz's plot and his weapons of destruction.The next day, he also joined the defense committee and was busy discussing a resistance plan and preparing to take action. In all these matters, Marcel had the help of Octave, and he felt that the latter had undergone a great change in his mental outlook, which was of great benefit to his work. What measures have been taken?No one knows the details.It's just that those general principles were disclosed step by step to the press, and then communicated to the public.It is not difficult to see Marcel's actual working ability.

No matter what kind of defense is to be carried out, people in the whole city are talking here. The most important thing is to find out the strength of the enemy, and then adopt methods to resist the enemy's strength.There is no doubt that Mr. Schulz's cannon is powerful.However, we already know the number, caliber, range and power of these cannons, which is much stronger than facing the unknown what kind of weapons the enemy will use. Regardless of whether the enemy is coming from land or sea, the most important thing is to prevent the enemy from encircling the city. It was this problem which the Defense Committee was actively studying, and the notice board said that the problem had been solved that day, and no one in the townspeople believed it.They came forward one after another voluntarily, willing to do any job, because every job will contribute to the work of defense.

In this situation, some people of different ages and status have become ordinary workers.The work went on swiftly and cheerfully, and the city had already stocked up enough food to last two years.A large amount of coal and iron were also brought in: iron was the raw material for making weapons; coal could provide the heat and power indispensable for war. Coal and iron piled up in various squares, and at the same time, all the big markets were converted into storerooms, and flour, bacon, cheese, canned food, and dried vegetables were piled up like mountains.In all the parks that make the City of France a green area, herds of cattle and sheep are bred.

Finally, when the mobilization order was issued requiring all men to take up arms, the people responded positively, which once again proved the excellent quality of these militias.They wore simple woolen jackets, canvas trousers, short boots, well-made boiled leather hats, and Waddell's long guns on their backs. They practiced on the boulevard. Masses of labor were employed in moving earth, digging trenches, building fortifications and bunkers on all favorable terrain.Cannon-casting has begun, and is picking up pace.There is a very favorable condition in casting cannons, that is, a large number of smokeless furnaces in the city can be used, and they can be turned into ironmaking furnaces with a little modification.

In this intense and busy work, Marcel worked tirelessly.He can use his talents and solve problems everywhere.As soon as a theoretical or practical problem arises, he can solve it immediately. When necessary, he rolled up his sleeves and solved the problem with ease.Therefore, everyone obeyed his command wholeheartedly, and his orders were always carried out on time without compromise. Octave was beside him, doing his best.True, at first he wanted to wear an officer's uniform with gold armbands, but then he gave up the idea because he realized that in the beginning he was nothing but an ordinary soldier.

So he went to his assigned team and behaved like a model soldier.Someone complained for him, and he replied: "Human talents are different. I may not have the ability to command!... But at least I have to learn to obey!" A sudden message - false in fact - sped up the defense work.Mr. Schulz is said to be trying to negotiate with some shipping companies for the delivery of his cannon.Since then, various rumors have spread.Now it was said that Schultz's fleet was heading for Francetown, and now it was said that the Sacramento railroad had been sabotaged by some "Lancers" who seemed to have fallen from the sky.

These contradictory rumors are the whims of some tabloid writers who want to whet their readers' appetites.In fact, there was no movement at all from Stalstad. Although this absolute silence allowed Marcel time to perfect his defenses, he was always a little uneasy about it when he rarely had a moment of leisure. "The bandit may have changed his strategy and played tricks on me!" he wondered sometimes. But his plan, whether to stop the enemy ships or to prevent the siege, was fully met, so that Marcel, although disturbed at times, worked redoubled his efforts. His only pleasure, his only rest, after a busy day, was the time he spent hurriedly every night in Madame Sarazan's drawing room.

As soon as he came back, Dr. Sarazan ordered him to come to his house for dinner every day, unless he couldn't come to another appointment, but, strangely enough, Marcel never had another appointment, which caused him to give up the doctor's offer. his privilege.He was so persistent not because he liked to watch the endless chess game between the doctor and Colonel Hendon.So, one must be thinking, there must be something else going on.Every night, Marcel, Mrs. Sarazan and Miss Jeanne always sat around the big table. Marcel watched with great interest as the two brave women were preparing the necessary items for the future field hospital. As you gossip, when you notice this, you know what attracted Marcel, although he himself certainly didn't realize it.

"Aren't these new steel bolts better than the ones in the drawings you showed us?" asked Jeanne, who was concerned about everything defensive. "Of course, madam," replied Marcel. "Ah! I am very happy! But how much research and effort is required for the smallest improvement in industry!... You tell me that the soldiers dug another five hundred meters of trenches yesterday? That's a lot! ,yes?" "No, that's not enough! At this rate we won't finish the wall by the end of the month." "I wish it had been finished sooner, and bad luck to those damn Schulz's men! Men are very happy to be able to work in the afternoon and have a use for them, unlike us women, who are useless and always feel that time is really slow , the battle has not yet begun."

"It's no use!" said Marcel, uncharacteristically, with some enthusiasm. "It's no use! Then tell me, for whom are those brave men who leave everything to go to war? They work so hard for the sake of it." Who? Isn't it for the peace and happiness of their mothers, wives, sweethearts? Where does their enthusiasm come from? Isn't it because of you? And who do you want to sacrifice for you? Not yet ..." At this point, Marcel was a little flustered, and he stopped talking.Jeanna didn't ask any more questions.Seeing this, the kind Mrs. Sarazan had no choice but to end the discussion, and said to the young Marcel that professionalism must explain why so many people showed so much enthusiasm.

When Marcel was called by an urgent task, he must go back to formulate a plan or budget as soon as possible, so he ended this warm conversation with regret and walked away, he had made an unshakable determination to defend The city of France and every one of its inhabitants.He didn't quite expect what was about to happen, but this was the inevitable and unavoidable result of the basic laws of the Steel City, which went against common sense and concentrated all power in one person.