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

Chapter 95 I was deceived by Charles again

In the city of Antwerp, hundreds of thousands of people witnessed the entire battle.

They thought that Antwerp was doomed this time. Many people even sobbed while holding their children, or trembled while thinking about where to hide their children, or wondered whether surrendering could save their lives.

however……

Before they could think of an answer, the monster approaching them in the sky turned into a fireball and disintegrated with a series of explosions.

The change came too suddenly. Many people didn't understand what was happening yet. They just stared blankly at the monster that scared them out of their wits as it collapsed in front of them. No one in the crowd said anything except for screams.

After a while, someone asked:
"Did one of our people do this?"

Someone immediately answered:

"Of course. Didn't you see what our planes shot out?"

"Yes, it came with smoke, and I saw it explode! I don't know what it was though!"

"When did we get such a powerful weapon?"

……

The crowd was silent, looking at each other, none of them knew what kind of weapon it was.

Suddenly someone suggested a possibility:
"Charles is in the city. He invented the tank and the sidecar. Could this weapon also be..."

This awakened people, and they discussed enthusiastically:

"That's right, it must be so!"

"Who else but him could have invented such a weapon?"

"God, he saved us again!"

……

People clapped their hands and celebrated. Many people cried with joy. They hugged their children tightly and said to them again and again:

"We are saved! We are saved!"

"It was Ciel who saved us!"

"When you grow up, you must become like Ciel. He is a hero and a role model for everyone!"

……

I don't know who started it, but people waved their fists and shouted rhythmically:

"Ciel!"

……

Albert I was overlooking the city from the observation tower. He nodded with satisfaction as he listened to the cheers from below. He turned his head and looked at General Guise with the joy of a victor in his eyes: "It seems that the Belgian people also believe in Charles. They believe in him just like me, General!"

General Giss made two awkward "uh-uh" sounds, not knowing how to answer. He knew that any rebuttal would be powerless and would become shameless slander, at least for now.

In contrast to the high morale of the Belgian military and civilians, the German soldiers were overwhelmed by this sudden "disaster".

The airship was flying over the German positions from the east and was shot down right over the heads of the Germans. The soldiers saw every detail, even the several "shells" fired by the plane.

Flames scattered from the sky like rain. Some burned out in the air and disappeared completely into the air before they hit the ground. Some fell down with a "clang". Some even fell into the soldiers' trenches, and the soldiers dodged.

The German soldiers didn't even think of going forward to rescue.

They knew it was futile, as the upper part of the airship had been blown to pieces, but some of the lower part was still intact.

But all that could be seen was flames. Even the aluminum keels were on fire. They were emitting sparks and smoke, burning like a volcano. The battlefield almost turned into purgatory.

After a long while, some German soldiers started to talk in fear: "Am I seeing things? Is that a shell? Was it a shell that blew it up?"

"Yes, what else can we have besides artillery?"

"How did they get the gun onto the plane?"

"This...you should ask Charles!"

……

Then everyone knew that this was Charles' masterpiece. The name "Charles" was deeply engraved in their hearts like red-hot chrome, and the memory was profound, lingering like a nightmare.

Besler watched all this silently, and gradually collapsed on the stone beside him, as if his own strength was no longer enough to support his body.

Suddenly, he remembered that he still had "Big Belsa". As long as he had "Big Belsa", there was still hope of victory!

Thinking of this, Besler stood up and looked in the direction of "Big Belsa". The next second he shouted: "Protect 'Big Belsa', planes, enemy planes..."

Bessler was quick to react. He was able to remain rational at this time and thought of a possibility: if the enemy's planes were equipped with cannons to blow up the airship, could they also blow up the "Big Bertha"?
So when he saw two biplanes flying towards Big Bertha, he immediately realized that the battle was not over.

It may even be that "Big Belsa" is the real target that Charles wants to destroy!
Damn it, I was fooled by Charles again!

Besler was very annoyed. Blowing up the airship would only divert everyone's attention, including mine!

However, not everyone reacted this quickly. The others all stared blankly at the sky, and some looked at Bessler, not knowing what he meant by his shout.

Protection? How?

Why did the planes bomb "Big Bertha"?
Isn't it used to blow up airships?

……

Several of the German pilots reacted in time.

Just as the two biplanes dived towards the "Big Belsa" in two directions and pointed their noses at the target, suddenly a "Dove" came across and hit one of the biplanes.

The more fragile "Dove" was smashed to pieces in an instant. Although the biplane was strong, half of its wing was still broken. After losing balance, it rolled and dived towards the ground and disintegrated with a burst of cracking sounds, and soon a fire broke out.

Bessler shouted in surprise: "There's one more, there's one more!"

But in fact, he was not the one in command. The battlefield was completely dependent on the self-awareness and initiative of the German pilots. At that time, no ground unit could command the planes flying in the air, especially in this critical moment that was fleeting.

Another German "Pigeon" followed the only remaining biplane.

It was driven by Eric, who knew he was in danger, but he couldn't avoid it.

This was a temptation. With Eric's flying skills, he could easily get rid of the enemy, but he couldn't do that.

Because once he dodged, he might lose his only chance to blow up the target.

Thinking of this, Eric could only grit his teeth and choose to ignore the "pigeon" pursuit and maintain his flight trajectory.

There is no chance of success if this continues.

The speed of the Avro biplane was indeed faster than that of the Dove, but that was without the addition of rockets. Adding rockets not only increased the weight but also affected the aerodynamic layout, allowing the Dove to easily catch up and destroy it.

Eric didn't even get a chance to launch his rocket!

He complained: "This is why the little guy wants me to trust the Belgians. He has considered everything! But can I trust the Belgians..."

Before he finished speaking, Eric felt a shadow passing over his head, followed by a crisp sound behind him... A Belgian pilot sacrificed himself and knocked down the enemy, which gave Eric the opportunity to launch.

Eric didn't look back. He kept his eyes on the target, getting closer and closer, then slammed the detonator switch!
"Whoosh whoosh..."

"Whizzing!"

……

Rockets flew towards the target one after another.

(The above picture shows a "Dove" monoplane, which is cheap and simple in structure. Its biggest feature is that the wings and fuselage are covered with linen over a large area. Sunlight can even penetrate the linen, making it translucent and difficult for infantry on the ground to detect it. It was widely used for reconnaissance during World War I.)
(End of this chapter)