Chapter 61: Coman is Returning Home

Britain’s state of mind in the post-war era was perhaps no less bewildered than that of the Qing Empire after the Opium War—perhaps even more so. The transformation from a global empire into a nation struggling within the confines of the British Isles and feeling utterly lost was something Comman, lacking supreme authority, could not truly empathize with.

Though both were colonial empires, Britain and France differed fundamentally. Ever since the British Industrial Revolution, France had been Britain's defeated rival. During the agricultural age, the prime territories had belonged to Spain and Portugal, as France began its colonization later than the Iberian dual monarchy.

As for colonies rich in industrial resources, France had never managed to snatch them from the British.

By the present day, while French colonies were second only to Britain's—and would eventually surpass Britain to become the largest colonial empire once British India gained independence—it was undeniable that these territories were mostly scraps and leftovers.

Even in Africa, the best lands were anglophone. However, once the wave of colonial independence began, the advantage of the French approach became apparent.

The independence forces in French colonies possessed far less cultural depth than those in British colonies. After all, who made the conditions in the British colonies so favorable?

Favorable conditions inevitably led to higher levels of civilization and fiercer resistance. Britain had no choice but to adopt a policy of indirect rule. While this saved administrative costs when Britain was the foremost power in the world, once the sun set on the empire, it backfired and consumed British dominance.

While the British spent their leisure time excavating civilization ruins all over the world, the French excelled at the exact opposite: destroying colonial civilizations.

Moreover, French colonies were relatively close, separated only by the Mediterranean Sea, which required far less power projection. At such short distances, the presence or absence of a powerful navy ceased to matter.

On this particular day in the POW camp, Comman shared a light drink with two NKVD officers charged with the heavy responsibility of keeping an eye on him. After a buzz set in, they stopped drinking and chatted idly about life after the war.

"I believe your post-war First Five-Year Plan will be a tremendous success." Comman remembered that the Soviet Union was the first European country to abolish the rationing system, moving faster than both Britain and France, and especially faster than Britain.

Right from the start of the post-war period, Britain entered a state of utter madness. By the time Britain completely abolished rationing, the Korean War had already ended.

"I hope your sincere wishes come true." Sokolova accepted Comman's well-wishes entirely, and pushed further, "Trade mutual assistance between our two countries will allow us to complete reconstruction work all the sooner."

Comman saw the two officers out of his quarters. The embers in the stove had long since extinguished. After letting the air clear for a while to ensure that the misfortune of carbon monoxide poisoning would not befall him, he finally settled down to rest.

Though he had constantly guarded against falling into the honey trap of the Soviet woman, Comman’s attitude toward the two of them during his inspection of the POW camp—especially toward Sokolova—remained exceptionally pleasant. This was mainly because she spoke French; after all, one couldn't just stay silent.

Regarding the heavy labor forced upon German POWs, Comman expressed complete indifference. The three-year-old child laborers of the British Industrial Revolution had endured far greater labor intensity than these German prisoners.

"Considering Germany's devastation of the Soviet Union, you have been remarkably merciful." Comman even played the role of a political commissar, easing the Soviets' minds.

"Sub-lieutenant Comman claims to speak four languages. It would be even better if Russian were added to the list," Sokolova probed playfully, having previously heard Comman boast about his extensive learning spanning East and West and his mastery of four languages.

"I have no environment to use Russian. Knowing a few phrases like *zhelayushchikh net* or whatever will do," Comman quipped smoothly. This reply made the female Soviet officer blush, and she couldn't help but glare at him.

Was this supposed vigilance against Soviet honey traps just double standards? He was cautious himself, yet he went around flirting with others?

On January 12th, the Soviet Red Army concentrated 22,000 artillery pieces to unleash hours of saturated bombardment against German defense lines, destroying fortifications and communications. Rokossovsky's First Belarusian Front broke through from the Magnuszew bridgehead, while Konev's First Ukrainian Front attacked from the Sandomierz bridgehead.

Having endured four years of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet Red Army proved itself undeniably the premier military force of the current era, completely unstoppable by the German army. Ten days after the offensive began, the Soviet vanguard units were a mere seventy kilometers away from the German capital of Berlin.

In the winter of 1941, German vanguard troops had claimed they could see the red stars atop the Kremlin towers. Four years later, the positions of the two countries were completely reversed.

Behind the advancing Soviet troops, there remained the German army group trapped in the Courland Peninsula. The ties between this German force and the homeland had been completely severed, leaving them deep within the heavy encirclement of the Soviet Red Army.

At the Tashkent POW camp, a Soviet guard was excitedly shouting something to a group of prisoners. The assembled captives were dressed in rags, their faces filled with bewilderment, their gazes hollow.

"Looks like there's good news." Seeing the commotion, Comman’s instinct to chase the latest news brought him closer as he asked Sokolova what had happened.

"The glorious Soviet Red Army liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp on January 27th. That comrade is informing the prisoners of this news," Sokolova replied, brimming with pride.

Comman nodded upon hearing this, pondered for a moment, and said, "Comrade Sokolova, and Comrade Pavlov, thank you for your hospitality during this period. You have allowed me to see what I wanted to see and learn many methods that can be put to use in France. I truly do not know how to thank you."

Pavlov, standing two steps away, walked over upon hearing this and asked inquisitively, "Sub-lieutenant Comman, what do you mean by this?"

"I am leaving. After returning to Moscow, I will head back to my country," Comman answered decisively. "If we are fortunate enough to meet again in the future, I will certainly repay the kindness you both have shown during this time."

"So soon?" Pavlov looked surprised. Exchanging a glance with Sokolova, he explained, "It's faster than we expected, which is why we're surprised. We thought you wouldn't return home until after the war."

Comman looked deeply at the two of them with an ambiguous smile and said, "The Soviet Red Army on the Eastern Front is already closing in on the German capital of Berlin. Within a month at most, the Allied forces on the Western Front will launch a full-scale offensive. Otherwise, the credit for destroying Germany will be entirely seized by the Soviet Union, something Britain and the United States cannot accept. At this final moment of a large-scale offensive, as a French soldier, this will also be my personal final battle, so I cannot remain in the Soviet Union any longer."

The war was drawing to a close. The post-war period would be the critical juncture determining France's future destiny.

Sokolova's red lips parted slightly as she murmured, "Though I don't accept all of Sub-lieutenant Comman's thinking, this quality of honesty..."

Before Sokolova could finish her compliment, she froze in place, which vividly demonstrated just how thorough Comman's persona as a reactionary who never hid his true thoughts truly was.

Spending two days and two nights returning to Moscow, Comman reported to the embassy, contacted his homeland, and prepared for his journey back. As for the two NKVD officers who had accompanied him for the past month, it went without saying that they were busy writing their reports.