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

Chapter 925 The boat will naturally go straight when it reaches the bridge

In the cold spring of March, the British and American Allied Forces were still enduring the baptism of war on the Lorraine Line.

Amid the rumbling of cannons, the earth was ruthlessly torn apart, and the mixture of mud and blood formed a gray oil painting.

However, the American soldiers were used to it. Although fatigue was written on their faces, they gathered in the trenches, talking and laughing. Some of them even gathered together to play poker in the smoke, with the stakes being cigarettes.

"Colonel." Williams approached Patton, who was observing the enemy through a telescope, and asked:
"There are rumors about the Shire everywhere now."

"Some say he will choose a truce, some say he will negotiate privately with the Germans, and some say he will join us in the final assault on the Germans."

"Which one is true?"

Patton put away the telescope and retracted his neck. After thinking for a while, he shook his head slightly: "I don't know, Lieutenant Colonel. No one can guess what Charles is thinking."

As he spoke, Patton bent over and walked along the trench towards his command post. He didn't want to waste time on such meaningless speculation.

If he could choose one, Patton would hope it would be the latter, because that would mean ending this damn war in the near future.

Williams followed from behind: "But Shire has accepted our $2 million loan forgiveness."

Barton stopped abruptly and looked back at Williams in shock: “What did you say?”

"You don't know yet?" Williams' eyes flashed with surprise. He pulled out a folded newspaper from his pocket and handed it over: "Today's news seems to be that the Minister of Finance let the cat out of the bag."

Patton took the newspaper and opened it, and saw that the incident was indeed on the front page.

When the Minister of Finance was interviewed by reporters, he answered confidently: "I believe Shire will join us. After all, it is a reduction of 2 million US dollars in loans..."

At this time, the Finance Minister's face changed, and he quickly stopped talking and corrected himself: "I mean, there will be reductions, or there is a possibility, everything is in the plan, this is not a finalized plan."

Patton frowned.

He knew that the Finance Minister had disclosed it on purpose.

This includes the previous news that "Germany and Charles are negotiating secretly and they have at least reached some kind of tacit understanding."

This would give people the feeling that "Char is cheating and making a fortune from the war."

What are British and American politicians doing?
They don't want to stop the war, they want to destroy the Shire!
These guys, Patton sighed.

They need Charles to help them win the war, but they don't want Charles to gain any benefits from it. They are creating the illusion that Charles is taking money to do things and deceiving citizens and allies.

But do you really think Charles is that easy to deal with?

……

Behind the lines, Freeman's American Expeditionary Force headquarters.

Pershing also realized this after seeing the news, and he immediately opened the door of Secretary of War Baker's office with the newspaper.

Baker had been staying at the front line for more than two months. At this time, his main job as the Secretary of War was not his own war or logistics, but coordinating the relationship between the British and American armies.

The so-called "coordination" was actually to pressure Pershing to cooperate with the British Expeditionary Force in combat, including the use of "military deterrence" against those disobedient British colonial troops.

"Minister." Pershing raised the newspaper, breathing heavily, "Can you tell me what's going on?"

Baker took the newspaper and glanced at it pretentiously. "What's going on? It's just that the Minister of Finance let it slip. I think the White House will give Charles a satisfactory answer."

"Answer?" Pershing asked in return: "Will the answer be useful?"

The impact has already been caused. Even if the US government has repeatedly stated that there is no behind-the-scenes deal between it and Shire, it is still "there is no silver here". Baker put down the coffee in his hand, crossed his fingers and placed them on the table, looking at Pershing with interest: "So, what else can we do?"

This seemed to confirm Pershing's idea. Pershing stared at Baker for a while: "The Secretary of the Treasury did this on purpose, didn't he? Was all this planned?"

Baker smiled noncommittally: "Brigadier General, do I need to remind you? You are an American general. You should consider the issue from the American perspective instead of bringing in personal feelings..."

"I am." Pershing interrupted Baker and said angrily:
"You think I'm worried about Ciel?"

"No, Your Excellency. I'm worried about us. I'm worried about America!"

"You don't understand Ciel. No one can play tactics with him, whether militarily or politically."

Baker chuckled disdainfully: "Really? Then let's wait and see!"

He didn't think Charles had any chance of turning things around, and that was irrefutable evidence.

Seeing that he could not persuade Baker, Pershing could only nod helplessly. Before leaving, he warned again: "If I were you, I would choose to cooperate with Charles in full and sincere cooperation. It may not be too late now, Mr. Minister!"

Baker spread his hands and raised his eyebrows indifferently: "I will seriously consider your suggestion, Brigadier General."

……

At the Mace headquarters not far from the Fremen, questions flooded toward Charles like a tide.

Clemenceau relayed the protest of opposition deputies:

"Did the Shire cease fire because it reached a tacit agreement with the Germans?"

"He must have received favors from the Germans!"

"He also accepted benefits from the Americans and the British. They asked Charles to join the war, but Charles told everyone that 'a ceasefire is in the best interests of France'!"

……

Tijani and his staff were busy running around with telephones and telegrams, while Charles continued to plan his "super line of defense" leisurely.

After more than two months of hard work, the surface fortifications of the "super defense line" have taken shape.

This is not exactly the same as the "Maginot Line" in history.

The surface fortifications of the "Maginot Line" are mostly turrets, machine gun bunkers, observation towers and other firepower, which are heavily dependent on underground passages and ammunition depots.

Charles' "super defense line" combines the surface and underground. Even if the enemy occupies the surface fortifications, they cannot safely cross this line of defense to attack in depth.

Because the troops hidden in the underground fortifications could counterattack from the secret passages at any time to retake the surface fortifications, thus cutting off the enemy's logistics and transportation.

Tijani, who was busy and confused, looked at Charles's calm appearance and was furious: "Lieutenant General, don't you need to say something?"

"Do I need to say anything?" Charles asked back.

Tijani raised the phone records in his hand:
"These calls came from journalists, members of parliament, and diplomats from the Netherlands, Greece and other countries."

"They have just joined the League of Nations, and now they find themselves deceived by you."

"Don't you need an explanation?"

Without even looking up, Charles added a section of the communication trench to the design: "Wait a little longer, Major General, the boat will straighten itself out when it reaches the bridgehead!"

(End of this chapter)