Novel Full Chapter 1315 - 1220: Citizens and Defending the Motherland
Chapter 1315: Chapter 1220: Citizens and Defending the Motherland
Joseph nodded: “Let’s do as you say. I will have the General Staff coordinate it.”
To be honest, he really underestimated the fervor of the French people. Actually, the capacity of these two military academies is just about eight thousand people, and most of the recruits will have to camp outdoors.
He further instructed: “Transfer another batch of tents from the garrison warehouse. Also, bring in field kitchens; we can’t let people go hungry.
“As for training, how many more instructors do you think we need? I’ll ask General Bertier to bring back a batch of officers with longer service from the frontlines…”
What Joseph did not expect was that all the issues with recruiting new soldiers were quickly resolved by themselves.
It wasn’t that Baron Gottsheim thought of a good solution; it was the accomplishment of the Parisians.
In the outskirts of Paris.
On the spacious King’s Avenue, the song “Glory and Victory” resounded — “The warriors’ ranks are orderly. Determination and belief are written on their faces, glory and victory are our faith…”
Jill Gezka, who could sing along a few hours ago, now felt so exhausted that he could barely feel his legs, relying only on instinct to keep moving forward step by step.
Though his family’s condition has improved much compared to before, he still couldn’t bear to take a carriage to Paris.
People kept passing him by quickly, and some even slower than he was.
In short, on this endless road, countless people were converging in the direction of Paris, and the vast majority of them were young men.
Gezka could tell from people’s conversations that they were all heading to enlist in the army.
Many small towns did not have recruiting stations, so people had no choice but to go to big cities like Paris to enlist.
Gezka looked up at the low-setting sun, wanting to quicken his pace, but his legs and feet couldn’t muster up any more strength.
He sighed: “Looks like I won’t make it to Paris today…”
He had heard from Viscount Colbert in the village that France was surrounded by hundreds of thousands of enemy troops, and those villains could attack Paris at any time.
Most of the young people in the village, as long as their families didn’t depend on them for farming, went to Paris under Viscount Colbert’s call, ready to fight for their country.
Gezka savored the word “country,” both unfamiliar and endearing.
In the village, this word was now the most popular, with almost everyone constantly talking about it. It meant he was a part of France, and France would be like a mother standing with him.
The word is often accompanied by “defend the country” or “fight for the country.”
Viscount Colbert said that now everyone is a citizen of France and must fight for the country because that is the glorious duty of every citizen.
Whether noble, cleric, or peasant, everyone is a citizen, all heading to the battlefield together.
Thinking of having the same identity as Viscount Colbert and Father Malmon, Gezka felt a renewed strength in his legs.
Just as the sun was about to touch the horizon, a carriage stopped beside him.
A lady sitting next to the coachman waved to Gezka: “Hey! Young man, are you heading to enlist? Can’t walk anymore?”
Gezka nodded shyly to her: “Yes, madam, I’ve been walking for three days straight…”
“Come on up, I’ll take you to Paris.” The lady motioned to the carriage.
Someone opened the door of the carriage.
“Really, is it okay?”
“Yes. Madam Mipide helps people who can’t walk to Paris on this road every day.” A frail young man on the carriage said, “I got on at noon.”
“I really thank you very much.”
Gezka got on the carriage and heard Madam Mipide tell the coachman: “Mr. Eric, speed up a bit. Maybe we can make another trip before dark.”
“Madam, please have pity on old Toby. See, it’s foaming at the mouth…”
The carriage was extremely crowded with 6 people inside.
However, to Gezka, it was already a heavenly enjoyment.
Soon, he took out the black bread in his package and chewed on it, singing “Glory and Victory” along with the people on the road.
The curly-haired young man sitting across from him suddenly asked: “Do you guys know how to sing ’March to War’?”
Four people shook their heads, but the young man who opened the door for Gezka immediately started singing: “This song of victory opens the doors for us, freedom leads our departure…”
“It’s the most popular song in Paris, I’ll teach you all.”
Well, Joseph specifically copied the historical “March to War” for this large-scale mobilization.
This anthem, known as the “Second La Marseillaise,” quickly spread across the streets and alleys of Paris, becoming everyone’s war song against the Anti-French Alliance.
The curly-haired young man shouted loudly: “Tremble, enemies of France, His Majesty the King leads us to conquer all…
“The country calls us, either victory or death, the French go through fire and water for her…
“Quickly cast away cowardice and sorrow, we raise our guns, so the country can win…”
By the time the carriage entered the city of Paris, Gezka had completely learned this song.
Indeed, as Stanley, the curly-haired young man, had said, everywhere in Paris one could hear people singing “March to War.” There were still people lining the roads, holding wooden “caplock guns,” seriously undergoing training.
The carriage stopped.
Madam Mipide jumped down from the front and pointed to the road to the east, saying to the young men in the carriage: “Follow this road straight, and you’ll reach the nearest recruitment office.
“But be mentally prepared. There are so many people enlisting, you might have to spend the night on the lawn outside the recruitment office.”
Gezka and his companions thanked Madam Mipide and soon arrived in front of the recruitment office.
“Madam Mipide must have remembered wrong.” Stanley pointed at the recruitment office’s sign, “There aren’t that many people here.”
Yes, at this time, only two or three hundred people were lining up in front of the recruitment office, and the line was still shortening as registrations were completed.
“Young men, are you here to enlist?” An elderly gentleman in neat attire gestured to the six of them.
“Yes, sir.”
The elder gestured toward the recruitment office: “Only this many registrations can be done today, as you can see, it’s getting dark. You may spend the night at my house, my wife prepared vegetable chicken soup and mashed potatoes, eat as much as you like.”
Gezka and his companions exchanged startled looks, then cautiously said: “Sir, we might not be able to pay for lodging.”
The elder immediately pretended to be angry: “What are you saying? You’re going to the front for the country, how can I charge you!
“Come on. Everyone else already has a place to stay. And remember to pray tonight; maybe you’ll finish registering tomorrow…”
Yes, the tens of thousands of recruits in front of the two recruitment offices in Paris were all taken in by the enthusiastic Parisians.
Every single French person was doing everything they could without holding back for the cause of the national defense war.