CHAPTER 338: AFTER THE MODIFICATION: CHAPTER 338 SHIRE IS HERE

The sun rose from behind the clouds, illuminating the Ypres front line, painting the ground with a shockingly vivid red, blood and corpses scattered.

At this time, the soldiers of the 43rd French Army Division were enjoying breakfast—mashed potatoes, freshly delivered from the rear by the mess squad.

It was delivered more than an hour late compared to usual, already cold as ice.

This was the logistics team’s fear of poison gas; they dared not take a single step across the "thunder pool," even if the soldiers repeatedly emphasized that the gas was visible.

The soldiers complained as they spooned the clumped mashed potatoes into their mouths:

"They’re avoiding us like the plague."

"Yes, they dropped off the food and quickly turned back."

"I just patted Jamie’s shoulder and he screamed and ran off; he must think the gas is contagious!"

...

The soldiers burst into laughter, tinged with bitterness.

If even the mess squad was this scared, what should the soldiers waiting for the enemy’s "gas" on the front line do?

Suddenly, the battlefield fell into an eerie silence. Sporadic gunfire disappeared, leaving only the incoming sea wind and the sound of waves crashing against the rocks not far away.

Captain Raphael raised his hand to signal the soldiers to be silent. The trench suddenly quieted down, and fear appeared on everyone’s faces, knowing what this implied.

The captain hesitated for a moment, put down his lunch box, took out the binoculars hanging from his waist, and carefully climbed the trench steps to look out.

(The above image shows trench steps used for soldiers to shoot. In the latter part of WWI, as trench warfare developed, trenches became deeper and facilities more improved due to soldiers staying in them for long periods.)

The captain observed for a while but saw nothing and let out a sigh of relief.

However, just as he was about to put away his binoculars and pull back his head, he suddenly noticed a faint, dense fog slowly rising from the opposite side.

The captain quickly grabbed the binoculars and looked at the target - yellow-green, increasingly widespread, soon covering the entire front line like a wall.

"Gas!" The captain turned around and yelled decisively.

The trench turned chaotic instantly. Soldiers were like ants on a hot pan, some rushing to grab their belongings, others mounting rifles on the trench, food spilled everywhere, and most anxiously looking towards their officers for orders.

They were waiting for the retreat order. The consensus among officers and soldiers before this was: if gas comes, they should retreat; staying here would mean death, which is pointless!

The captain observed for a while longer, today’s wind speed was faster, meaning the gas was more lethal, and it might reach the positions in ten minutes. There was no time to report to superiors and wait for their orders.

Thinking this, the captain made a quick decision: "Retreat, now!"

He led the troops to retreat along the communication trench.

However, the communication trench was already crowded with units rushing to retreat, fear causing loud shouts and pushing, ending up blocking the trench, making it impossible for anyone to move.

"Climb up!" The captain pointed to the top of the trench.

The soldiers understood, cooperating by using shoulders to lift comrades up the trench, then pulling the ones below up, disregarding the danger of being exposed to the enemy’s view; they ran madly.

...

On the German side, Major General Jonas was standing at a high point with binoculars watching the French front line. When he saw fleeing French soldiers entering his view, he was completely relieved.

"No gas protection equipment." Major General Jonas murmured, "Otherwise, they wouldn’t need to flee, especially so panicked."

Major General Jonas felt somewhat disappointed, seeming to have overestimated Shire.

What Major General Jonas didn’t know was, this was exactly what Shire wanted him to see!

...

Shire kept gas masks strictly confidential, especially from the 43rd Division.

"Everyone’s gas mask should be packed in their backpack. No one is allowed to take it out and try it on without orders!" Shire ordered, "Nor should anyone speak of it!"

This left the 43rd Division’s officers and soldiers completely unaware of the gas masks, one reason for their panic and chaotic retreat upon seeing the gas.

Even Captain Claude, cooperating with the 105th Infantry Regiment, and his subordinates were only informed and issued with a set early this morning.

Captain Claude looked at the strange item in his hand, jaw-dropping: "This, sure it works? Have you tried it?"

Tijani replied, "Someone’s gotta try it, captain."

Captain Claude realized, "We’re probably those ’someone who tries,’ aren’t we?"

"You guessed right!" Tijani smiled and nodded, then pointed towards Shire: "Including the colonel!"

Captain Claude suddenly thought of something, stopped asking, immediately carried back the gas masks and distributed them to the soldiers.

The soldiers also had similar doubts, examining the gas masks in their hands:

"Are you sure it works, captain?"

"If not, we’re just waiting to die here!"

"Could it be some capitalist trick for money?"

...

No wonder the soldiers had doubts.

French capitalists had deceived people for money more than once or twice; military and civilians had more hatred than trust for them.

Moreover, Germans used gas yesterday, could France produce gas masks by today? Seemed questionable.

However, Captain Claude responded casually:

"You’re right, we can’t trust capitalists. But this is somewhat different because it’s Shire’s production."

"Also, you might not know, Shire is here too!"

The soldiers exclaimed:

"Shire is here too?"

"Impossible!"

"I heard he was in Paris, the newspaper said so, today’s newspaper!"

...

Captain Claude just smiled, saying nothing.

Then, Shire walked out of the trench, standing before everyone. He waved at the soldiers with a smile: "Hello, gentlemen!"

The soldiers were all stunned.

They had seen Shire once on Christmas; although it was at night, they still clearly remembered Shire’s appearance.

The colonel before them was Shire, right on the front line, facing the gas with them—what was there to worry about?

Many soldiers of the 105th Infantry Regiment also just learned that Shire was right in the trenches with them.

"He’s really here, I always thought he was in Paris!"

"I was worried about gas mask issues before this, seems totally unnecessary now."

"Yes, Shire’s with us, it surely works!"

...

So, while the 43rd Infantry Division retreated like a tide, not a single soldier from the 105th Infantry Regiment, including Captain Claude’s soldiers, moved. Instead, they quietly stayed in the trenches.

At the same time, they utilized the trench vacated by the 43rd Infantry Division, hiding in groups of two or three, sealing the entrance with prepared sandbags and wet cloths.