Chapter Fifteen: The Judicial Purification Committee

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Cargo ships began entering and leaving the port. The massive hulls pushed aside the dark waters, stirring up waves.

“There’s even coffee—weren’t local supplies supposed to be tight?” Martin mused, holding a cup. Although living in Damascus, he had only rarely tasted this kind of coffee.

“There’s always someone more privileged than you,” Coman replied, holding a glass of juice. Whether it was freshly squeezed or an industrial blend didn’t matter; having it at all was enough.

Not far off on the pale sandy beach, a couple strolled hand in hand, seemingly untouched by the ravages of war—a stark contrast to the backdrop of the world war raging at that moment.

“Local girls are truly passionate and uninhibited,” Alan remarked, following Coman’s gaze toward the couple, though his tone was disparaging. Although the Marlon faction also adhered to Christianity, in the Middle East, it was impossible not to be influenced by the dominant local faith, making Middle Eastern Christians far more conservative than their French counterparts.

Coman finally finished his juice and, savoring the aftertaste, said, “When it comes to family cohesion, the atmosphere here is indeed much stronger than back home. It’s something we ought to learn from.”

“In what way?” Martin, finally shaking off his petty bourgeois mindset, asked. The coffee’s taste was nothing special; it was simply rare in the Middle East.

“For example, the ability to marry four wives,” Coman explained, seeing the essence behind the phenomenon. An honest scoundrel never lies; he was that shallow. “Strong family bonds form the social cohesion that great societies depend upon.”

After all, a nation is ultimately made up of families. If a man doesn’t even have a family, how can he be patriotic? Coman refused to believe otherwise.

France’s paltry three percent marriage rate in the twenty-first century was perhaps still dominant in some Third World countries like sub-Saharan Africa, but it was no match for nations of equal standing.

Without families, how could men be expected to enlist and fight?

From a criminal perspective, which is easier: for a criminal to run alone or to flee dragging a family along? Certainly alone. Coman had some authority to speak on this.

So when war—a dimension higher than crime—comes, who remains to resist: men with families or those without attachments? The answer was obvious.

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“Rebuilding social consensus and solidifying it should still be possible,” Coman said, withdrawing his gaze from the empty cup. “Waiter, another round—one for each of us. Let others think I can’t afford it.”

The waiters weaved through the crowd carrying trays laden with seafood and bread. Several diners relished their meals, unaware that most of the seafood was yesterday’s leftovers, simply reheated and sprinkled with seasoning. Locals never frequented these cafés; they preferred old establishments tucked away in alleys, where they could enjoy a genuine bowl of fish soup.

Stepping out of the café, Coman encountered a couple holding a child. He promptly made way, receiving grateful looks from them.

“Take care, stay safe,” Coman said, moved by this glimpse of normalcy. At that moment, he wasn’t wearing a mask; his smile was radiant, like sunshine.

“Tsk tsk… It’s like you’ve completely relaxed since returning home. Did you swap out your heart or something?” Martin remarked, arms crossed in fascination.

“I don’t believe men are innocent, nor women. Adults are never innocent—but children truly have no choice,” Coman answered indifferently.

By now, in the German-occupied northern zones, French women suspected of fraternizing with German soldiers were being purged. He opposed vigilante justice but wasn’t about to play the saint while the world war still raged.

At the Paris City Hall, Charles de Gaulle was reviewing the Outline of French National Affairs.

This document should have appeared in 1945, authored by a Jewish émigré from Imperial Russia living in France. Setting aside any conspiracies about this Jew, the outline had already predicted that independent nations might no longer be decisive powers. It asserted that France must find its path between the Anglo-American empire and the Soviet empire. Every era has its visionary thinkers; the original author could be counted among them.

The Soviet Union, by defeating Trotsky, had forged the Slavic-Soviet Empire, an “imperial socialism.” Meanwhile, Britain formed the Commonwealth, an “imperial internationalist” structure.

But since Coman was present, there was no need to let a Jew plan France’s future. His predictions were undoubtedly more accurate. Coman outright dismissed the Commonwealth as meaningless; the so-called Anglo-American empire was really just America.

If France wished to protect its civilization, it must emphasize its Latin heritage and Catholic values.

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As de Gaulle flipped through the documents, an aide entered and announced, “Major General Duval, commander of the French Youth Division, has arrived and is waiting outside City Hall.”

“Send him in,” de Gaulle interrupted his reading and instructed. Though Paris had just been liberated and he was extremely busy, he still made time to receive a colonial division commander.

Upon meeting, de Gaulle studied the Youth Division’s commander. Major General Duval was unremarkable, showing no apparent talents at first glance, but he came highly recommended by General Delagon.

“Delagon believes you are the right person for this. Do you think you can handle the task and the role of the Youth Division?” de Gaulle asked, withdrawing his scrutinizing gaze.

“I understand. I’m already fifty-eight. Once this purge is complete, I plan to retire. As for the officers and soldiers of the Youth Division, they have no local vested interests and are mostly near-adult youths. During the purge, they won’t be swayed by other factors. When the cleansing ends and the unit disbands, our historical mission will be fulfilled.”

De Gaulle felt a rare surge of respect. French collaborators with Germany had to be purged, both from a national standpoint and a practical one. From the national perspective, the people needed closure. Practically, post-liberation France still had plenty of room for de Gaulle’s supporters, but that space was currently occupied.

De Gaulle’s supporters included those of Free France exiled in London and refugees who fled to him after the homeland fell. These individuals supported de Gaulle at crucial moments and now deserved recognition and reward.

Syrian officers were of course part of this group. At this moment, these returnees from abroad had to find their place within the process of rebuilding France.

“We have already agreed to establish a High Court to try the French collaborators. As for ordinary collaborators,” de Gaulle considered for a moment, “we will set up a Judicial Purification Committee, which the Youth Division will oversee.”