I was a tycoon in World War I: Starting to save France - Chapter 603

c595 I heard that many people in your army can speak German?

The first ray of sunshine in the new year illuminated the world, and the tinkling of the bells told people that it was 1916.

However, the sunshine could not disperse the dark clouds of war that covered the world, the crisp bird calls could not stop the flames of war, and the sad cries could not save the lives of loved ones.

On the first day of the new year, people were thinking: how many lives will leave their beloved relatives and their beloved hometowns this year, and rush to the unknown battlefield to die!

…

Namur City Government, the First Special Reconnaissance Army Headquarters

Albert I was busy with a pile of supply lists. In just a few days, all kinds of emergency information about supplies flew to his desk like snowflakes:

“Flour reserves have reached the red line, and the remaining amount may only be enough to support three days.”

“Ammunition has reached the danger line, and many soldiers have less than a base number of ammunition.”

“There is a serious shortage of artillery shells. At least one-third of the artillery has no shells available!”

…

At the end of his busy schedule, Albert I simply threw his pen and stood up angrily and paced in front of his desk.

This can’t be done.

The 6th Army must not be short of supplies. That’s Charles’s army. If they get into trouble, Belgium will be in danger!

Damn the British, they actually found all kinds of excuses to reduce the French army’s supplies at this critical moment, and the German army seemed to know this. They consciously launched a feint attack on the 6th Army’s defense line to consume its ammunition.

“Where is the French ammunition?” Albert I asked.

“Still in Paris, Your Majesty.” Eden, who had been promoted to major general, stepped forward and answered: “This seems to be a deliberate obstruction by the parliament. The additional ammunition from the Saint-Etienne Arsenal is stuck there for review.”

The parliament said that arms are important strategic materials during wartime, and the purchase and sale must comply with relevant government regulations, even if the buyer is Charles.

“These bastards!” Albert I couldn’t help but curse: “Selfish guys, they can’t see the danger of war, ignore the lives of frontline soldiers, and don’t take the interests of Belgium into consideration.”

After thinking about it, Albert I issued a series of orders:

“Call on the Belgian people to tighten their belts and ensure the rations of the 6th Army at all costs!”

“For ammunition, contact FN immediately and ask them if they have any solutions.”

“For example, replace the 6th Army’s ‘Lebel’ rifles with our rifles and ammunition. Of course, this requires Charles’ consent!”

At this time, the signalman stepped forward to report: “Your Majesty, General Charles is here!”

Albert I was stunned, turned around and walked quickly to greet him.

In the past, he always smiled when he saw Charles: “General, my friend, I’m glad to see you!”.

But now, with a heavy face, he walked up to Charles and shook his hand, saying with difficulty:

“Don’t worry, General, I will take care of the supply problem!”

“You don’t need to bow to the British.”

“I understand that if you bow to the British, it means that Belgium bows to the British!”

It is obvious that the life and death of Belgium is determined by Charles and his troops. If Britain controls Charles, it is equivalent to controlling Belgium.

But what surprised Albert I was that Charles replied: “I’m not here for this, Your Majesty.”

“Not for this?” Albert I was stunned. What could be more important than this now?

Charles made a “please” gesture towards the conference room.

Albert I understood and walked into the room side by side with Charles.

The orderly obediently brought a cup of hot coffee to each of them and lit the fire, then left and closed the door.

“The supply situation is not as bad as you think, Your Majesty.” Charles unconsciously stirred the coffee spoon in his hand. He did not intend to drink it because he had just had breakfast.

Albert I did not understand: “But what I saw was not so…”

“That is what I want others to see.” Charles interrupted Albert I.

Albert I said “Oh”, and his tense expression relaxed immediately, and soon he smiled again: “So, this is your calculation?”

“I guess so!” Charles nodded.

“How did you do it?” Albert I asked curiously: “I mean, how did you ‘save’ ammunition and supplies under the influence of the British, Parliament, and the Germans?”

“It started from the day I left Gembloux.” Charles answered slowly: “This is one of the reasons why I adopted ‘elastic defense’.”

Another function of “elastic defense” is to save ammunition.

The original text is in the six # 9 @book/bar!

This tactic can greatly reduce the number of troops on the front line. With fewer troops, the ammunition consumed will naturally be less, but the ammunition consumption reported is still the usual amount.

The ammunition consumed by Charles in the middle was stored under the eyes of the parliament and the British.

“But…” Albert I asked doubtfully: “Why do you do this? To survive this crisis?”

“No, Your Majesty.” Charles replied in a calm voice: “Relying on reserves cannot survive such a danger. I did this to let the Germans attack Antwerp.”

Albert I jumped up in shock: “Antwerp? Will the Germans attack Antwerp?”

Charles nodded and answered briefly: “My troops lost their combat effectiveness due to lack of supplies. Antwerp stores a large amount of supplies but only British and Belgian troops are stationed there. At the same time, it threatens the safety of more than 100,000 German troops. Of course, they will attack Antwerp.”

Albert I turned his eyes to the map hanging on the wall and found the location of Antwerp as he approached.

As Charles said, Antwerp has become an important node again without knowing it.

“We can’t lose Antwerp.” Albert I stared at the map, his face gradually pale: “It is the foundation of this line of defense and the supply base. Once Antwerp is lost, the entire line of defense is in danger of collapse!”

“It won’t be lost, Your Majesty.” Charles put down the spoon, stood up and walked to the stove, stretched out his almost frozen hand, and a warmth instantly spread from his fingertips to his whole body.

Albert I suddenly realized.

Charles hid the supplies not to overcome the so-called difficulties in front of him, but to counterattack the German army.

Then Albert I thought again, if Charles started to “save” ammunition when he left Gembloux on Christmas Day, does that mean he had thought of the current situation since that day?

Albert I turned his head and looked at Charles in astonishment.

God, all this was a trap set by him, and everyone was following his ideas, the British, the Parliament, and the Germans!

At this time, Charles asked for no reason: “I heard that many people in your army can speak German?”

“Of course.” Albert I replied, and then asked in confusion: “Why do you ask this?”