I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1221 Citizens and the Defense of the Motherland

Joseph nodded: "We'll do as you say. I'll have the General Staff coordinate it."

To be honest, he underestimated the fervor of the French public. In reality, the two military academies could only accommodate around eight thousand people, and most of the recruits would have to camp out in the wild.

He then instructed, "Bring another batch of tents from the garrison warehouse. Also, bring field food trucks; don't let anyone go hungry."

"As for training, how many instructors do you think we need? I'll have General Berthier bring back a group of officers who have served for a long time from the front lines..."

To Joseph's surprise, all the problems with recruiting new soldiers were quickly resolved on their own.

It wasn't Baron Gottsheim who came up with the good idea, but rather the people of Paris who did it.

The outskirts of Paris.

Along the wide King's Road, the song "Glory and Victory" resounded—"The warriors stand in neat ranks. Determination and faith are written on their faces, glory and victory are our beliefs..."

Gilles Gaizka was able to sing along just hours before, but now he was so tired that he couldn't feel his legs anymore and was just relying on instinct to keep moving forward step by step.

Although his family's circumstances have improved a lot compared to before, he still couldn't bear to take the train to Paris.

People kept walking quickly past him, and some were even slower than him.

In short, countless people are converging on this seemingly endless road, heading towards Paris. And the vast majority of them are young men.

From their conversation, Gazka could tell that they were all going to sign up for the army.

Many small towns do not have recruitment offices, so people have to travel to big cities like Paris to enlist.

Gaizka looked up at the setting sun and tried to quicken his pace, but his legs simply couldn't muster any more strength.

He sighed, "Looks like we won't be making it to Paris today..."

He heard from Viscount Corbert in the village that France was surrounded by hundreds of thousands of enemy troops, and those villains could march on Paris at any moment.

Most of the young people in the village, unless their families relied on farming, went to Paris at Viscount Corbert's call to prepare to fight for their country.

Gaizka pondered the word "motherland," feeling both its unfamiliarity and its familiarity.

That's the most popular word in the village right now. Almost everyone keeps repeating it. It means that he's part of France, and that France will be with him like a mother.

Along with this, there is usually the phrase "defend the motherland" or "fight for the motherland".

Viscount Colbert said that now everyone is a citizen of France and must fight for the motherland, because it is the glorious responsibility of every citizen.

Whether nobles, monks, or peasants, everyone was a citizen and went to the battlefield together.

When Gaizka thought about how he shared the same identity as Viscount Colbert and Father Marman, he suddenly felt a surge of strength in his legs.

Just as the sun was about to dip below the horizon, a carriage stopped beside him.

The woman sitting to the left of the driver waved to Gaizka: "Hey! Young man, are you going to apply for a job? Can't walk anymore?"

Gaizka nodded shyly to her: "Yes, madam, I have been gone for three days..."

"Come on up, I'll take you to Paris," the woman gestured to the carriage.

Someone opened the car door.

"Really... is it really possible?"

“Yes. Madame Mipaed helps people who can’t walk to Paris every day on this road,” said a thin young man on the bus. “I got on this bus this afternoon.”

“Thank you so much.” As Gaizka got into the carriage, he heard Mrs. Mipaid say to the driver, “Mr. Eric, hurry up. We might be able to make another trip before dark.”

"Madam, please have pity on old Toby. Look, he's foaming at the mouth..."

There were six people in the carriage, making it extremely crowded.

But for Gaizka, this was already heavenly.

Soon, he took out the black bread from his package and started eating it, while singing "Glory and Victory" along with the people on the street.

The curly-haired young man sitting opposite him suddenly asked, "Can you sing 'Ode to the Expedition'?"

Four people shook their heads, but the young man who opened the car door for Gaizka immediately began to sing: "This song of victory knocks on our door, freedom leads us on our march..."

"This is the most popular song in Paris, I'll teach you."

Yes, Joseph specifically copied the historical "Ode to the Expedition" for this large-scale mobilization.

This stirring piece, known as the "Second Marseillaise," quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys of Paris, becoming a battle song for everyone against the anti-French coalition.

The curly-haired youth shouted: "Tremble, enemies of France! His Majesty the King will lead us to victory over all..."

"Our motherland is calling us; it's either victory or destruction. The French are ready to go through fire and water for her..."

"Quickly cast aside cowardice and sorrow, let us take up our muskets, and our motherland will win the war..."

By the time the carriage entered the city of Paris, Gaizka had completely mastered the song.

Just as Stanley, the curly-haired youth, had predicted, people could be heard singing "The March" everywhere in Paris. There were also lines of people on the streets, holding wooden "muskets," training earnestly.

The car stopped.

Mrs. Mipace jumped down from the front and pointed to the road to the east, saying to the young men in the carriage, "Just follow this road, and you'll reach the nearest conscription office."

"But be prepared. There are so many applicants that you might have to spend the night on the grass outside the recruitment center. May the Virgin Mary bless you!"

After thanking Mrs. Mipaed, Gaizka and his party soon arrived at the conscription office.

“Mrs. Mipride must be mistaken,” Stanley said, pointing to the recruitment sign. “There aren’t many people here.”

Yes, at this time there were only two or three hundred people lined up in front of the conscription office, and the line was getting shorter as more people completed their registration.

"Young men, are you here to apply for jobs?" A well-dressed elderly man gestured to the six men.

"Yes, sir."

The old man gestured towards the recruitment office:
"That's all the people we can register today. Look, it's getting dark. Why don't you come to my place tonight? My wife made vegetable and chicken soup and mashed potatoes. You can eat as much as you want."

Gaizka and the others exchanged surprised glances, then cautiously said:
"Sir, we may not be able to afford the accommodation fee."

The old man immediately feigned anger and said:

"What are you saying? You are going to fight for your country, how can I take your money!"
"Hurry up. Everyone else already has a place to stay. Remember to pray tonight, maybe you'll be able to complete the registration tomorrow..."

Yes, tens of thousands of recruits in front of the two recruitment offices in Paris were taken home by enthusiastic Parisian citizens.

Every Frenchman was doing everything in his power to contribute to the Great Patriotic War.

(End of this chapter)