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

Chapter 1020 Charles defeated the British Mediterranean Fleet in less than a day.
General Scheer was on his way from Weimar to Wilhelmshaven, a journey of about 500 kilometers that would take most of the day.

General Scher looked up from a pile of documents and gazed through the car window at the farmers working on both sides of the road, mostly elderly people, women, and children. He couldn't help but sigh.

General Scheer was unsure whether his decision was correct.

Since being forced to retire a few months ago, he has chosen to settle in Weimar and begin writing his memoir, "The German High Seas Fleet in World War I".

The memoir had even begun.

But then Etzberger suddenly arrived and persuaded him to return to the game.

"I cannot return to service." General Scher's stance was resolute:

"We all know that Germany has been defeated. The only thing left to do is surrender to whom: France, Britain, or the United States."

"I am very fortunate to have been dismissed at this critical moment, which saved me from the humiliation of surrendering!"

"So, I'd have to be crazy to accept your invitation."

But Etzberger was very confident: "Admiral, I know you have always had a wish to lead the German Navy to break through the blockade of the British Royal Navy."

During his tenure, Admiral Scheer repeatedly advised Wilhelm II to launch a bold attack on the British fleet and break through the British encirclement with a decisive victory, especially after learning about torpedo planes from Scheer.

However, Wilhelm II considered the plan to be more of a suicidal scheme and therefore rejected it.

Admiral Scheer laughed: "Do you think we still have the ability to defeat the British Royal Fleet?"

Etzberger nodded confidently: "Of course."

“You’ve underestimated the British Royal Navy, Eck.” Admiral Scher rose and poured Etzberger a glass of red wine, then filled his own glass as well.
“Even at our peak, we only had a 30% chance of defeating the British fleet, which is why my attack plan was called a ‘suicide plan’.”

"The German Navy is now fragmented, and insubordination and mutiny are commonplace."

"No one could defeat the British fleet under these circumstances, not even God!"

A few months earlier, a "secret committee of Wilhelmshaven and the North Sea Fleet" had emerged in the German fleet. Under the impetus of this committee, the navy gradually slipped out of control and eventually launched an uprising to overthrow Wilhelm II.

Etzberger replied crisply: "'The Committee' will fully cooperate with you, Your Excellency."

Scheer was not surprised by this; it was all the work of the provisional government.

“Even with their cooperation, it’s useless.” General Scher sat back down in front of Etzberger, holding his wine, and shook his head helplessly: “The lost morale and military spirit can never be recovered.”

Morale and military spirit are invisible, yet they truly exist.

Once broken, it is very difficult to restore it to its previous state.

Soldiers will feel frustrated, become hesitant, and even desert during battle...

“I know,” Etzberger said, “but what if we add Charles?”

"What did you say?" Admiral Scheer looked at Etzberger in confusion: "Scheer will help us?"

“No,” Etzberger replied, “it is we who are helping Charles.”

Seeing that General Scher still did not understand, Etzberger explained:
"To make a long story short, we and Charles are now in a community of shared interests, General."

“Charles gave us very ‘lenient’ terms of surrender, but the British and Americans did not.”

"Moreover, Britain is trying to force France to stand with them and demand compensation from us."

As he spoke, Etzberger handed General Scher a document, which was a record of Britain's demand for France to accept $150 billion in reparations.

Etzberger added: "This is saving Germany, General. Helping Charles is helping ourselves."

"If we lose this battle, we will be forced to accept huge reparations of 150 billion euros from France, 130 billion euros from Britain, and 100 billion US dollars from the United States."

"But if we win, we just need to accept Charles's conditions, and he only wants 20 billion!"

Etzberger rose and looked out the window at the estate Scher had bought for his secluded life, and sighed with emotion:

"Think about it, if we have to pay a huge sum of $380 billion, your secluded life here might be affected."

"Extremely high prices and extreme scarcity of supplies. A single loaf of bread might even cost 50 marks!"

Do you think you can remain unscathed?

General Scher was dumbfounded. He had been out of touch with worldly affairs for some time and never expected the war situation to become so abstract, with Germany and France becoming "allies"!
……

Admiral Scheer had no choice but to agree to return to service and rebuild the High Seas Fleet.

But he had no confidence at all.

He spent almost every moment in the car reading fleet-related documents, even though it made him dizzy.

The entire fleet command was overthrown, and the officers in key positions, including the captains of the main battleships, were not people he knew.

General Scher couldn't help but wonder:
Would going back be of any use?
Will I be treated like a pretty face?

On the surface, he is the commander, but in reality, he is making his old subordinates submit.
Most importantly, even if the High Seas Fleet could reunite, even if it allied with the French Navy, it would likely still be no match for the Royal Navy.

The final result was still a $380 billion settlement.

Just as General Scher was pondering how to deal with these issues, the car was stopped at a checkpoint.

General Scher rolled down the car window and impatiently urged, "This is Scher, I'm carrying out an urgent military order..."

“I know, General.” The sentry stood at attention and saluted. “The Prime Minister and Chairman Etzberger wish to speak with you.”

General Scherr frowned. The phone had been intercepted halfway through his call. Had he been forced to rush to the scene again?
These bastards, they're treating me like an idiot and making fun of me!
With a hint of displeasure, General Scheer got out of the car and followed the sentry to the sentry post.

The call came from here, so it was clear that instructions had been given beforehand to answer the call immediately once the target was intercepted.

"I am Scheer." General Scheer's tone was unfriendly: "What do you want?"

"Admiral, you won't believe it!" came Etzberger's excited voice from the other end of the phone: "We've won! The British fleet has been defeated! Yes, the once invincible Royal Fleet has been defeated!"

General Scher was completely baffled.

They won before they even reached Port William?
They defeated the British fleet?
Are you still dreaming?

Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Abbott's voice came from the other end of the phone:
"It's true, General."

"Charles defeated the British fleet in the Mediterranean."

"The British fleet has surrendered; all of its more than one hundred warships have surrendered!"

General Scher was stunned. He looked back at the sky; the sun had not yet set.

In other words, Charles defeated the British Mediterranean Fleet in less than a day?

(End of this chapter)