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

Chapter 988 The Terrifying Aspects of Charles

The Houses of Parliament in London, UK.

The left and right wings were arguing so fiercely that it could no longer be called an "argument"; several people were already exchanging blows. If the guards hadn't forcibly separated them, the two sides would have already started fighting.

Labour leader John McDonald waved a document in his hand and yelled at the right wing, his face flushed red from the force of his shout.

“We should stand with Charles; he is right.”

"Do you know why the Germans won't accept our negotiations?"

"Because you are always thinking about war, about the interests of capitalists, and about your own wallets, this is the fundamental reason why Britain is so passive!"

"You must take responsibility for the mistakes you have made; this has nothing to do with anyone else!"

……

(The image above shows Ramsey MacDonald, one of the leading figures of the British left during World War I. He became Prime Minister of Britain in 1924. The left wing typically supports the working class and social reforms. MacDonald advocated for peace through negotiation and opposed unlimited war mobilization.)
Prime Minister Lloyd George slammed his gavel down on the platform, making a loud "bang bang" as he shouted angrily, "Quiet! Quiet!"

(The image above shows a gavel, used to maintain order and control the rhythm.)
It took a while for the parliament to quiet down, and the members of parliament focused their attention on the prime minister.

"The issue now is not how we should handle this," George emphasized to the left.
"The question is, how should we resolve this issue?"

“You always emphasize negotiation and oppose war, but we agree to negotiation, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

"However, the Germans did not agree to negotiations."

A chorus of boos erupted from the left wing.

McDonald demanded loudly, "Is it that the Germans are unwilling to negotiate?"

Then, waving his hand, he tossed the documents in his hand to the members on both sides, and turned his gaze to the podium:

"Let's hear the negotiating terms proposed by Britain."

"Germany must release all prisoners of war unconditionally, but we have no prisoners of war to exchange."

"Germany must pay Britain $130 billion and the United States $100 billion. France, on the other hand, is only demanding $20 billion in reparations!"

"France, that's Charles's France. They defeated the Germans and only asked for $20 billion, while we're asking for $130 billion!"

"Please tell me, Your Excellency Prime Minister, on what basis do you believe we can receive many times more reparations than France? Is it because capitalists have such a demand?"

The left-wing lawmakers burst into laughter, shouting all at once:

"This isn't negotiation, this is extortion! No one will agree to these negotiation terms!"

"You are deliberately sabotaging the negotiations. You do not want peace because you are not the ones being sent to the battlefield."

"If capitalists have such a demand for reparations, then let them pick up rifles and go to the battlefield!"

……

Prime Minister George's face turned ashen. He struck the gavel again, and after the shouts from the members of parliament subsided a little, he impatiently responded: "Have you forgotten the huge sum of $100 billion we borrowed from the United States? If we don't get a similar amount in reparations, how will we pay?"

Prime Minister George felt very innocent.

The right wing also does not want the war to continue and wants peace, because as representatives of capitalists, they are also on the verge of collapse.

Therefore, the accusation of "intentionally sabotaging negotiations" is not true.

however……

Left-wing lawmakers loudly refuted:

"This has nothing to do with us, nothing to do with the British civilians, that's your business."

"It has nothing to do with the Germans. You made a fortune from the war, and most of the loans you got from the Americans ended up in your pockets."

"Why should British civilians pay these bills? You don't even have the right to demand that Germans pay!"

The left believes that the right-wing members of Congress should conduct self-examinations and return the money they have embezzled, which would be enough to pay off the loans to the United States.

Alternatively, the right wing could resolve these issues themselves. Whoever started the war should now take responsibility for it, instead of shifting the blame onto civilians.

Demanding $130 billion in reparations during negotiations and using those reparations to pay loans is, in effect, indirectly shifting the risk onto ordinary citizens.

The Minister of Munitions sat quietly in his chair, saying nothing, as if everything that had happened had nothing to do with him.

Prime Minister George turned his angry gaze toward the Minister of Munitions.

The biggest hawk on the right wing is the Minister of Munitions, and this has been the case since the Dardanelles. Now, faced with this mess, he intends to stay out of it.

Perhaps unable to bear the Prime Minister's gaze, the Minister of Munitions slowly rose and calmly said, "Gentlemen, I think we should put this issue aside for now."

McDonald stood up and asked in return:

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't the reason we can't reach an agreement with the Germans right now because of this issue?"

"The war will end as long as you give up $130 billion. This is undoubtedly the most important issue right now!"

The Minister of Munitions calmly countered, "Is that what you think, Mr. McDonald?"

“Of course, what else is there?” McDonald retorted.

McDonald was fooled; the Secretary of Munitions had successfully piqued the curiosity of him and the left-wing members of Congress.

Not only that, right-wing lawmakers wanted to hear what the Minister of Munitions had to say.

Once others are willing to listen to the Minister of Munitions' explanation, all that's left is for the Minister of Munitions to "argue" his way out.

The Minister of Munitions, leaning on his cane, walked to the open space between the two seats and strolled leisurely, as if taking a walk on a calm beach after a meal.

"Let's consider what will happen after peace," said the Minister of War.
“We assume that we have already resolved the issue of reparations, and that Britain does not need to assume this loan.”

"But is this really our only problem?"

"Have you overlooked Charles's 'French spirit'?"

"His preaching of 'freedom,' 'equality,' and 'fraternity' has spread through the battlefield to every colonial army and even to the hearts of every soldier, and no matter how much we try to block it, it will be to no avail."

The left-wing lawmakers were speechless; this was indeed a bigger issue than reparations.

With colonies in place, the $100 billion loan can be transferred to the colonies.

But if the colonies are lost, will the British Empire still be the British Empire?

The Minister of War shrugged:

"Perhaps you will say that this is also a problem of the right wing."

“If we don’t get involved in this war, Charles will not be able to spread this idea to the colonial army.”

But is that really the case?

The left-wing lawmakers could not refute it.

The spread of ideas is ubiquitous; it cannot be stopped by rifles, bullets, or a defensive line.

If Charles were to use this rhetoric to liberate a few French colonies, it would immediately spread throughout the world, and then British colonies would follow suit.

That's what makes it so powerful, and that's what makes the Ciel so terrifying.

(End of this chapter)