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

Chapter 984 What is that fool Charles thinking?

This is the effect that Ciel wanted to achieve.

The accounts for reparations can be done however they want. If Charles says that a million soldiers died, each should receive $1000, or that tanks were lost, how much ammunition was used, and how much economic loss was incurred, Germany can still verify them one by one.

The Shire could easily call in $200 billion and leave Britain and the US starving.

But Charles did the opposite, asking for a very reasonable $20 billion, while Britain and the United States had no idea of ​​this and still maintained their high standards of "$130 billion" and "$100 billion".

The UK's standards can't be lowered; it already owes £100 billion in loans alone.

As a long-established capitalist country, and with its Minister of Munitions responsible for negotiations being extremely short-sighted, it was impossible for the victorious nation to have suffered losses, nor was it possible for it to have gained nothing at all.

In his mind, if he didn't get a few billion more, wouldn't this war have been fought for nothing?

But this is exactly what Ciel has fallen into.

Germans would think:
France only asked for 20 billion, how dare you ask for 100 billion or 130 billion?
Did I give you face?

It's not like we can't beat them. At worst, we'll both be severely injured. Who's afraid of who?

Both Britain and the United States are required to pay reparations.

Otherwise, the British economy would collapse because it couldn't repay its loans, and the American political system would crumble because of such a large amount of bad debt.

Thus, they will enter an unsolvable vicious cycle, potentially prolonging the war.

As a result, Britain and the United States not only failed to receive the compensation they hoped for, but may have actually suffered even greater losses.

France, on the other hand, has no need to worry about reparations. The Germans would be more than willing to pay the money, and would be extremely grateful, fearing that Charles might refuse.

On the other hand, Charles controlled the Ruhr industrial region and sold German-made ammunition to Germany, allowing those Germans, filled with hatred, to fight against Britain and the United States!
Why not profit from the war while also using the Germans to weaken Britain and the United States?
In just a few years, it will be self-evident who the world's number one superpower is!
Sitting opposite Charles, Etzberger was also pondering this question.

Why does Ciel ask for so little?
Is it really because of "conscientious capitalists"?
Others might believe it, but he, who had been involved in politics for many years, didn't believe a word of it.

There must be a reason for this, something that benefits Charles, Etzberger thought.

Considering that Charles previously agreed to release prisoners and allowed the Ruhr industrial region to continue supplying arms to Germany, his current conservative stance on reparations...

Etzberger became increasingly convinced that his guess was correct: Charles had already turned his attention to Britain, and he needed a Germany that could maintain its fighting capacity to hold off the Allied forces.

Etzberger was overjoyed.

This is Germany's chance, a chance to rise again.

Germany, which originally had nothing and was on the verge of unconditional surrender by the Allied Powers, may now have a chance to turn its fortunes around because of Char's strategy.

“Thank you very much, Lieutenant General.” Etzberger stood up and firmly grasped Charles’s hand, his words carrying a double meaning:
“It’s not just me. I believe in Prime Minister Albert, Field Marshal Hindenburg, and General Ludendorff.”

"And all German soldiers and civilians will be grateful for your kindness."

"You saved us all, you saved Germany, Lieutenant General!"

Charles smiled and nodded: "It's my duty, sir. As I said, this will be a pleasant negotiation."

Etzberger chuckled. He had thought that negotiating with Charles would be the most difficult part, but he hadn't expected it to turn out this way.

……

After leaving the Ponticay fortress, Etzberger immediately contacted Fischer.

“Don’t agree to any of the British or Americans’ conditions,” Etzberger stated firmly. “Not even a single dollar!” Fischer wondered, “Was the negotiation with Charles successful? Or unsuccessful?”

This could be the result, whether it's very successful or not.

The success meant that the Franco-German armistice meant that Germany still had the ability to fight against the Allied forces of Britain and the United States.

Failure means that agreeing to the conditions of Britain and the United States will be futile, and the German provisional government will collapse anyway. Germany should just give up and go all out.

Etzberger replied excitedly, "Not just success, Fischer, France is only asking for $20 billion in reparations, $20 billion!"

Etzberger couldn't say much more about the rest, but he emphasized again: "In short, don't agree to anything. We don't need to agree to anything, understand?"

Fisher's mouth remained open for a long time.

$20 million?
Shire only needs $20 billion?
Fisher had considered that Charles might ask for less, perhaps like the United States, demanding $100 billion.

Even if it's less, it can't be less than the United States, right?

The United States, having just entered the war, suffered far fewer losses than Britain and France, yet it was still able to demand 100 billion.

In the spirit of France, Charles reduced the reparations, demanding 100 billion, which was already a tremendous favor to Germany.

But he only wants 20 billion?
Things seem to be a little different, Fisher thought, this is a good thing!

With renewed confidence, Fisher returned to the negotiating table and shook his head at General Winter and Pershing, saying, "I'm very sorry, gentlemen, but I think we should end these negotiations."

General Winter thought Germany had made a decision, and he smiled slightly: "I believe you will make a wise choice."

“Of course.” Fisher nodded, politely stood up, shook hands with the two, and turned to leave.

"What do you mean?" General Winter stood up and gestured for the guards to stop Fisher.

Fisher turned around and looked at General Winter with feigned confusion: "I have already said, General, the negotiations are over."

"You mean..." General Winter's face darkened, "You don't want to talk to us anymore?"

Pershing looked serious; this was not good news for the United States.

“Yes,” Fisher nodded.

"Can you afford the cost of war?" General Winter gritted his teeth. "You will regret today's rashness and recklessness, Your Excellency."

“No, I won’t.” Fisher’s tone was firm, and he glanced at the two of them with disdain. “Because I’ve discovered you’re liars. Do you know how much compensation Charles is demanding?”

"What do you mean?" General Winter asked, realizing that the problem likely lay with Sharna.

Fischer said sarcastically, "I heard Charles is your friend, General? Now it seems that's not the case!"

Fischer was unwilling to let go of any opportunity to divide the Entente Powers.

After Fisher left, General Winter and Pershing looked at each other, neither of them knowing what had happened.

Just as General Winter was about to make a phone call to Charles to find out the details, the newly appointed British Expeditionary Force Commander, Lieutenant General Plummer, pushed open the door and entered, holding a telegram in his hand.

“I think you need to know this, Lieutenant General,” he said. “Charles is only asking for $20 billion in reparations!”

"What?" General Winter and Pershing exclaimed in unison.

Only $20 billion?
That fool Ciel, what is he thinking!
(End of this chapter)