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

Chapter 37 Almost Caused a Mutiny
Major Browne has been feeling a bit depressed these days. He and his Third Battalion have been staying on the north bank of the Marne River since defeating the Germans and have been unable to move.

Of the twelve tanks, five were destroyed in the battle, most of them by their own artillery fire. But that was not important. What was important was that they won.

Six of the remaining seven tanks were out of order, and only one tank could be moved, but it was uncertain how long it would remain in operation.

When Major General Gard led his troops to pursue the Germans, he gave Major Browne an order: "Repair them and catch up as fast as possible!"

Major Browne couldn't help but curse in his heart: This idiot!

We are soldiers, not engineers. You want us to repair them?

In addition, the maximum speed of this thing is only 15 kilometers per hour, the maximum speed!
If running at top speed, it may break down every half an hour. Normally it can only move at about 8 kilometers per hour and needs maintenance every hour.

You have to know that the average walking speed is 3 to 6 kilometers per hour. You want us to keep up with them by driving something like this?

But Major Browne could only respond "yes" and try his best to complete the order.

The actual situation was worse than Major Browne had imagined. Browne went to the tractor factory several times hoping someone would help with the repairs, but the answer he got was always:
"Major, I think you should wait for the new tanks, we are producing them at full capacity!"

"Those tanks are probably no longer usable. They are full of bullet holes, and their engines have been damaged or burned. Repairing them may be more difficult than rebuilding a new one!"

……

Major Browne admitted that they had a point, but when would the new tanks be available?
The answer I got was:

"We are waiting for funding from the government. Once the funds are in place, we will start production immediately!"

Major Browne immediately realized that he would have to wait. The government had a complicated procedure for allocating funds, and it would be impossible to get the tanks immediately even though it was wartime.

Sure enough, after waiting for three days, there was still no clue.

On the other side, Major General Gad kept sending signalmen back to urge:

"Where are our tanks? Haven't they been repaired yet? They're nothing but tractors!"

"Where are you? Follow us with your tanks!"

"God, the tanks could have easily broken through the defense line, but we suffered thousands of casualties!"

……

These are not exaggerations.

The German army had strong military qualities. Even though they had lost the war, they quickly reorganized and fought and retreated at the same time. They were divided into several teams and retreated in a very rhythmic manner while covering each other.

On the contrary, the pursuing French army was like a group of children chasing kites. They scrambled to chase the enemy but fell into the traps set by the German army again and again, suffering heavy casualties.

But what could Major Browne do?

He can't just assemble a bunch of tanks and carry them to the front line, can he?

"It would be great if Matthew was here!" Someone said, "That guy is not only good at driving a tank, he is also an expert at repairing tanks!"

"I wonder how Matthew is doing?"

"He had an amputation and lost his right leg. I went to see him yesterday! He is being well taken care of and is recovering well!" Yves replied.

Matthew was his comrade in the same crew, and Yves took some time to visit the field hospital.

"That's a strange story!" Major Browne was quite surprised by Yves's words: "As far as I know, field hospitals are not places that take care of people!"

As a French officer, Major Browne certainly knew what a field hospital was like. Few people who were carried into that place could come out alive, even if they were only slightly injured. "Our field hospital is different, Major!" Yves leaned against a rock with his machine gun in his arms to rest. He said lazily, "Our field hospital has Master Charles!"

"What do you mean?" Major Brownie looked at Yves in confusion, and the others also cast puzzled glances at Yves.

"Haven't you heard?" Yves, who had half-closed his eyes, opened them. He looked at the people around him with surprise, "Master Charles used his own money to replenish the field hospital with supplies and manpower. This has undoubtedly made our Fifth Field Hospital the field hospital with the best conditions and the highest survival rate. This has spread throughout the army. I thought you knew..."

Major Browne and the soldiers were all stunned. After a while, some of them nodded slightly with emotion, while others made the sign of the cross on their chests:
"A noble man, he is a true hero!"

"May God bless him! If all the capitalists in France were like him, the country would be saved!"

"I feel much more relieved after hearing this. At least I know that if I get hurt I will be well taken care of instead of being left alone to die!"

……

For a soldier, the saddest thing is not to die at the hands of the enemy on the battlefield, but to be abandoned by his own people in a field hospital, and then to watch his life fade away bit by bit in despair but be unable to do anything.

Major Browne complained in a low voice: "If he cares so much, he should give us tanks as soon as possible! This can reduce the casualties of the troops!"

"Major!" Yves said angrily, "Didn't you hear that Francis deprived Master Charles of his management rights over the tractor factory?"

"What?" Major Brownie stood up in surprise: "They didn't tell me this..."

"Of course they won't tell him!" Yves explained, "They found out that they could make money by converting tractors into tanks, and of course they didn't want to give up this opportunity to make a fortune. So Master Charles was thrown aside. I heard that they gave him the useless motorcycle factory in exchange, but of course Master Charles didn't want that!"

The soldiers were instantly filled with indignation:

"These capitalists are a disgrace to France. They are beasts who only care about money!"

"And yet we are fighting for these beasts and working for them!"

"How could they treat Master Charles like this!"

……

Several others even stood up and started to leave, carrying their rifles.

Brownie quickly stopped them and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Let's go kill those guys and help Master Charles take back the tractor factory. All of this should belong to Master Charles!"

When the soldiers heard this, they responded:
"I am coming too!"

"Count me in!"

……

"No, no! Listen to me!" Major Brownie tried to calm the soldiers down: "We don't know anything. Let me talk to Charles first. Maybe this isn't the case!"

The soldiers thought it made sense and said one after another:
"Okay, Major! Please send our regards to Master Charles on our behalf!"

"If someone bullies him, let him tell us, we won't let those guys go!"

"Yes, we are not to be trifled with!"

……

Major Brownie was secretly shocked: God, that guy Charles, just a little rumor about him almost caused a mutiny!
(End of this chapter)