I Became a Tycoon During World War I - Chapter 201

Chapter 201: The Noble Legion

The city defense headquarters finally received intelligence from Joffre's headquarters.

Previously, Joffre had cut off communication with Paris, citing military secrets, and Gallieni could only rely on reconnaissance planes to understand the general situation on the front lines.

Now, suddenly, intelligence flooded into the city defense headquarters like a tidal wave.

At first, Gallieni was a little puzzled. Even if the front line had suffered setbacks, Joffre was unlikely to do this, as it would almost be an acknowledgment of failure to Charles.

Soon, Gallieni understood. Holding a telegram in his hand, he said, “It’s General Carnes, the Deputy Commander of France. He believes only we can salvage this situation.”

“It’s impossible to salvage!” Charles shook his head as he looked at the telegram. “The Germans have sealed off the defense line, and they have made sufficient preparations. Any troops sent to rescue them will be trapped inside!”

This was determined by the nature of trench warfare at this time. The Germans had constructed trench defenses at several key positions and even used the newly developed A7V tanks, which were essentially mobile fortresses.

Any attack would collapse before them. Even if more troops were sent, the outcome would be the same.

Gallieni remained silent, his face heavy as he flipped through the telegrams. He believed Charles was right—the Germans had put a lot of effort into this battle, and rash rescues would likely lead to even greater losses.

...

Major General Tigani, commander of the Second Special Artillery Division, deeply understood this. He was the officer facing the German A7V tanks.

When Major General Tigani received the order to break through, he looked helplessly around. There was almost no chance for his forces to break through:

On both sides were German-occupied high ground, stretching for several kilometers. Every high point was manned by an unspecified number of German troops, who had constructed fortifications and set up machine guns. Anyone who approached the high ground or tried to pass between the hills would be ruthlessly mowed down by gunfire.

In front of them, the only exit was one kilometer wide but had already been sealed off by German artillery. 105mm shells rained down in waves, and anyone trying to break through would be shredded to pieces.

Behind them were the German tanks, hiding in the blind spots of the high ground. The French 75mm guns could not target them. Once the French forces broke out, they would be ruthlessly struck by the tanks.

Major General Tigani tried to break out using tanks, but every attempt failed. The exit was blocked by seven “Saint-Chamond” tanks and five CA-1 tank wrecks, which had been helpless in the face of German tanks.

Major General Tigani could only report over the radio again and again to Joffre: “We cannot break through. Everywhere are enemy lines and positions, waiting for us to step into their trap! We have no way out!”

...

“Ding-ling-ling!”

The phone on Gallieni’s desk rang. To get through directly to Gallieni was no easy feat.

Sure enough, when Gallieni picked up the phone, he was surprised.

“Deputy Clemenceau? What can I do for you?”

“Let Charles rescue Cape Town? But...”

“Is that so? Your son is a colonel in the First Special Artillery Division?”

“Alright, I’ll do my best!”

Just after hanging up, the phone rang again:

“Deputy Thérémie? Do you also have a relative in the Special Artillery Division?”

“He’s in the Second Special Artillery Division?”

“Alright, I’ll see what I can do!”

Another call came in, and Gallieni simply had Colonel Fernand take the calls, responding with “I’m looking into it,” every time.

Gallieni raised an eyebrow at Charles. “You know what this is about.”

Charles nodded. “Yes, I know!”

The capitalists and deputies were extremely short-sighted. Unfamiliar with military affairs, they believed Joffre’s current offensive would certainly succeed, so they moved their sons, nephews, and others from safe rear positions to the Special Artillery Division to earn battle credit.

But no one expected...

These officers should never have been rescued. It would be best for them to die there.

However, a sudden thought crossed Charles’s mind. If he rescued them, perhaps these deputies would owe him a favor. Even better, if they believed that only by sending their children and nephews to Charles’s troops could they earn battle credit, this could mean his influence would expand further.

But, this was just a thought. Charles shook his head. How could anyone save them in this situation?

Suddenly, Colonel Fernand looked at Gallieni in surprise, nodded to him, and whispered, “It’s Wells!”

Gallieni’s eyes flickered with surprise. He stood up and took the phone:

“Mr. Wells!”

“Your son is in the Second Special Artillery Division? Major General Tigani?”

“God, I understand now. I’ll do my best!”

...

Charles was curious. Who was Wells? What kind of influence did he have that made Gallieni so cautious?

Suddenly, Charles remembered. Could it be the Wells from the Brest shipyard?

As the magnate of the shipyard, he didn’t send his son to the navy but instead placed him in the army, only to be surrounded?

Gallieni put down the phone and fell silent for a moment before turning to Charles and saying, “Come with me, Major!”

He then walked toward the lounge.

Inside the lounge, there was an extra chair. Gallieni nodded for Charles to sit, then said with a serious tone:

“As a soldier, I won’t go out of my way to rescue an army just because a group of capitalists or noble children ask for it. In my eyes, they are all the same.”

“But...”

“They are different when it comes to you!”

Charles replied weakly, “I understand, General, but the situation now...”

“Another thing!” Gallieni added: “Joffre intends to order the First Flying Squadron to suppress the artillery of the Second Special Artillery Division. You know why.”

Charles’s eyes widened. “No, he can’t do that!”

“He certainly can!” Gallieni responded. “Using the First Flying Squadron to cover the breakthrough of over 20,000 men from the Second Special Artillery Division is worth it, even if the entire flying squadron has to be sacrificed. Besides, this special artillery division has many relatives of capitalists, and Major General Tigani is Wells’s son! Do you think they’ll object?”

Charles fell silent.

This was indeed true. The First Flying Squadron meant little to the capitalists, but the Second Special Artillery Division was different.

“You’re the only one who can save them, Charles!” Gallieni stared at Charles, nodding slowly. “If you can’t do it, no one can.”

Then Gallieni added, “Whether it’s for the thousands of French soldiers, the First Flying Squadron, or for yourself...”

Charles was silent for a while before calmly saying, “I can try, but I hope something like this won’t happen again.”

“What do you mean?” Gallieni’s eyes brightened.

“Don’t take my troops away!” Charles explained. “Joffre doesn’t know how to use them, and it’s a waste. This request isn’t unreasonable!”

Gallieni thought for a moment and then nodded firmly. “I guarantee, nothing like this will happen again!”

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