Chapter Fourteen: Arrival in Marseille

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Korman’s impression of liberal arts students, according to an American congressman, was that if Chinese students came to study Shakespeare and The Federalist Papers here, then this was what they needed America for. They didn’t need to come to the United States to learn quantum computing or artificial intelligence.

Even the nouveau riche in America understood the true value of liberal arts students—how could Korman be unaware? To say that liberal arts majors were merely people who had risen above illiteracy might be an exaggeration.

But compared to science and engineering students, aside from paying tuition, liberal arts students had little else to offer.

“Does our country lack scholars and skilled technicians?” Admiral Delagon now realized that, in terms of manpower, France’s losses in this great war were not severe. The opening was quickly crushed by the Germans; two million soldiers were in prisoner-of-war camps, but being in camps did not mean death—it was damage that could be repaired.

“If we focus only on the homeland, then certainly there is no shortage, but if we include the overseas provinces, there is a significant gap,” Korman reminded Admiral Delagon. Algeria in North Africa was still under French control and, in the eyes of many French people, was a natural extension of France’s territory in the Mediterranean.

Currently, Algeria had a population of ten million, with over one million French settlers and a portion of the indigenous population already assimilated. Altogether, not even two million. The remaining eight million Arab and Berber Algerians—did France have enough talent reserves to bring them all up to the same level? Certainly not.

To fill the educational and training needs of these eight million people, France needed to cultivate enough talent to send to Algeria, which carried inevitable risks.

Korman was not pessimistic; he believed that even if they started cultivating enough devoted French citizens now, it would take years to bear fruit. Whether there would be enough people willing to go to North Africa was another question. That left one solution: seize talent from the defeated countries.

By capturing skilled scholars, teachers, and technicians, France could seamlessly integrate the talent from defeated nations, saving at least three to four years. The sooner this was done, the better.

“That’s exactly right,” Admiral Delagon smiled grimly. “Rather than begrudge ourselves, it’s better to make others suffer. This certainly saves a great deal of cost, but it requires large-scale plundering of talent from the defeated countries.”

“Germany and Italy together have a population of one hundred million. Missing a few professors or doctors is hardly a big deal,” Korman said with genuine respect for the Axis powers, confident that Germany and Italy could bear the loss.

When Korman strolled with his younger brother, he walked ahead; but when he walked with Admiral Delagon, they walked side by side.

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He stayed on Sardinia for two days, partly to understand the current war situation. He did not have the status to speak directly with General de Gaulle, making him more suited to act as an executor of decisions already made.

When Korman reappeared at the port to board a ship, Admiral Delagon was contacting Paris in his capacity as commander of the French First Army Group.

In Paris, the jubilance of liberation had gradually faded, replaced by a tense atmosphere. The war was not over, and France’s revenge had only just begun.

The greatest challenge now was rebuilding the French army. Though many French officers and soldiers remained in German POW camps, de Gaulle and the leaders of the National Liberation Committee knew that a nation’s dignity could not be restored by one or two speeches. The swift defeat of the French army during the campaign was a painful thorn in their hearts.

During their time in London, de Gaulle and his comrades painfully understood what it meant to be a guest under others’ roofs. Years of the Free French movement, seeking support everywhere, had been arduous, and they had no desire to relive those hardships.

Currently, the main forces of the French army came from two sources: the French First Army Group from Syria, and the French Second Army Group, composed of African troops.

As for the recently liberated Paris and the units evacuated to Britain from Dunkirk, their scale was incomparable to these two forces from beyond the French mainland.

If this state persisted until the war’s end, the claim that France had reconquered itself by its own strength would be untenable. Rebuilding the French army was urgent, and the immediate task was to bring the Communist-led guerrilla forces back under unified command. Fortunately, after communication with Moscow, Maurice Thorez, the First Secretary of the French Communist Party, had already set out for home.

After a military meeting, the weary de Gaulle returned home clutching a telegram from Sardinia. His wife Yvonne and their children were there, their joy at his arrival evident. Yvonne smiled as she approached. “The food is ready, though it’s not abundant.”

“Rationing will likely continue for some time,” de Gaulle said warmly, seeing his wife and children. He set down the outline of French national affairs and sat at the dinner table.

“Whose documents are these?” Yvonne asked curiously. Though de Gaulle worked tirelessly for the restoration of the nation, he rarely brought work home.

“General Delagon’s,” de Gaulle replied. Feeling it inappropriate, he moved the papers off the table, intending to read them after the meal.

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“That Delagon from Syria?” Yvonne recalled hearing about him from de Gaulle. “You mentioned their father-son relationship was unusual. He seems to care deeply for his son.”

“Yes, Korman even calls himself a super genius. Delagon hasn’t contradicted him.”

De Gaulle smiled at the thought, even chuckling aloud. “Today, the Sardinian Army Group headquarters asked whether it’s necessary to seize Italian shipyard workers. They said it could quickly restore the French Navy’s strength. I think that’s a good idea. Operation Crossbow was a sore spot for the navy, even having a significant negative impact on the Free French movement.”

No matter what, the devastating losses Operation Crossbow inflicted on the French Navy were a fact, severely putting the Free French movement in London at a disadvantage.

Speaking of the navy, Philippe de Gaulle, who had always dreamed of naval service, grew interested. “I wonder when the French Navy will be able to revive.”

The port of Marseille, France’s largest Mediterranean harbor, was birthplace of the “Marseillaise,” the revolutionary anthem that inspired generation after generation of French patriots.

Marseille’s location was outside the German-occupied zone. Compared to the war-torn north, this area showed almost no scars of conflict; the seaside still exuded an air of tranquility.

The ship Liberté docked in the harbor. A group of soldiers, clad in uniform and wearing black Lorraine cross masks, successfully disembarked.

After following Delagon away from the mainland for so many years, this was Korman’s first time stepping back onto French soil. He jumped twice in place, feeling the solid ground beneath his feet. Hidden behind his mask, he whispered, “Passersby, do not mourn for me. If I live, none of you will.”