Lyon's face was full of sorrow, and Lebrun, hundreds of kilometers away in Paris, was also worried, but one of them was worried about how to end the Belgian campaign and attack France, and the other was worried about how to withdraw from the Franco-Belgian border and defend their homeland.

"Gentlemen, I don't think we need to argue about whether we should continue to hold on to the rest of Belgium's lands." The elderly Maxim Weygand patted the table.

He had just received an appointment from the French Congress five days earlier to replace the removed Gammerin as Chief of the General Staff of the French Ministry of Defense, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces.

"It is impossible for us to hold Belgium any longer, and with the current situation of the Allied forces in the north, it is impossible to even retreat to the border to block the Belgian battle cluster of the Germans, let alone concentrate on launching a counterattack against the two elite German army groups, as Chancellor Herbert Pierrot (the Belgian Prime Minister) said." Wei Gang said and glanced at Herbert Pierrot, who was sitting in the lower seat, and said.

"You can't just give up Belgium!" Pierrot was furious, "Belgium has shed all its blood to fight against Germany, and the originally rich land is now full of ruins, if you withdraw your troops like this, what difference will it make for us and betrayal?" ”

"Bloodshed?" Listening to Pierrot's words, Lebrun couldn't help but mock, "After the seventeen-day battle, France sacrificed nearly 100,000 people, and the British Empire also paid nearly 70,000 lives on the land of your country, while you yourself only sacrificed more than 6,000 people...... Oh, I really don't know who spilled the blood! ”

"This ......" Pierrot sweated on his forehead, although the Belgian army fought very bravely and put pressure on the German flank many times, but if the number of dead alone, then Belgium could not catch up with Britain and France.

After all, the main force of the Allied forces is Britain and France, although they fought in Belgium, but the Belgian army itself only played an auxiliary role such as defending the flanks because of weapons and equipment, and most of the German troops against them were light infantry, while Britain and France, on the other hand, they were well armed and equipped, and they were the absolute main force in various battlefields, defending important places everywhere, and were the main targets of the German elite mechanized troops.

"We are grateful to the Allies for fighting for us, but can I ask you to hold on a little longer? There is hope for Belgium. Pierrot changed his tone, almost pleading.

He knew very well that if the Allies really gave up on themselves and watched Germany occupy the entire territory of Belgium, then with the national strength of Belgium, it would really be difficult to break free from Germany and gain independence again—independence in the true sense of the word.

But if Belgium can keep a little place, even if it is a city or even a town, then Belgium will not die, because no matter what becomes of Belgium in the future, there will always be a part of the people who remember that there was a great country called Belgium in this world, and this part of the people, this small piece of land, is the hope of revival.

Even if that hope is slim.

"Mr. Pierrot, I understand your feelings." Churchill, who had been silent, stood up, "But I'm sorry, there's really nothing we can do, but it's too dangerous for the Allied forces to remain in Belgium." ”

As he spoke, he walked to the side of the huge map in the conference room, pointed to the two red arrows representing the two major armor clusters of the German army, and continued: "You see, the German 1st Panzer Group and the 2nd Panzer Group, led by Guderian and Rommel respectively, are advancing at high speed from south to north, according to the direction of their attack, it seems that the Belgian battle group that came to support them is attacking our front or flank, but according to the deduction of the Allied command, they will most likely turn here in Charleville Meziers, Attack the heart of France and take Paris straight to the side of Lübeck to cut off the retreat of the Allied forces and block us in the small strip from Boulogne to Dunkirk – I think you know very well that either of these two outcomes would be devastating to the Allies. ”

After filling in Churchill's words, Pierrot looked at the two red arrows on the map, sighed after a long time, stood up and nodded: "Alas...... I'm a little tired, so I'll leave the meeting first. ”

With that, he turned around and walked out with his secretary.

"Monsieur Pierrot, I'll send you." Churchill motioned for the others to continue the meeting, and he quickly followed Piero.

The two walked wordlessly to the gate of the Elysée Palace before Churchill said goodbye.

"Mr. Piero, we are grateful to you and your country for your efforts to resist this unjust war waged by Germany." Churchill's fat face was full of regret, "I and Mr. Lebrun hope that you will continue to fight, and if you intend to continue, then any of the Allied countries will welcome you to form a Belgian overseas government." ”

This regret from Churchill's heart, Belgium, which was about to withdraw from the war, made him feel a chill on his lips and teeth.

"Thank you, Mr. Churchill, but I don't plan to go into exile anymore, I want to accompany my country through the last moments......," Pierrot replied with a wry smile, "I hope you will continue to work hard in the coming days to carry this war against the invaders to the end, and make the German fascists pay the price they deserve." ”

"We will!" Churchill nodded firmly.

"Then ...... Bye! Pierrot held out his hand.

"Goodbye!" Churchill shook Biero's hand vigorously.

If nothing else, this will be the last time the two will see each other.

In the early morning of the next day, February 14, 1940, all Allied forces began to withdraw from Belgium in an orderly manner, and the Belgian army began to systematically abandon some secondary positions and move into the nearest main position to cover the retreating Allied forces.

Eight hours later, all Allied forces had retreated to France, while King Leopold III of Belgium and Belgian Prime Minister Herbert Bietro declared defeat in Belgium, all of them gave up resistance and surrendered to the Germans, and Leopold III himself fled to England with his family escorted by the Royal Navy.

In the face of the surrendered Belgium and its Prime Minister Pierrot, Lyon showed extraordinary generosity and respect, not only asking him and his family to visit Berlin, but also ordering all German troops not to embarrass the Belgians and to treat them as they deserve.

Because the Belgian soldiers not only fought to the last city, but also faced the frenzied attack of the German army countless times stronger than them at the last moment, they still held their positions for 8 hours, and did not surrender to the Germans until the Allies withdrew from their positions.

This spirit deserves the respect of all.