I Became a Tycoon During World War I - Chapter 186

Chapter 186: Tank Cannon

In the Ritz Hotel conference room, Steed had the mortars that had been produced moved onto the display stand.

It took some effort on Steed's part to make this happen.

The display stand was wooden and originally intended to hold small samples for visitors during meetings, but the mortar Steed brought, weighing 47 kilograms, required more space. The stand clearly couldn't support it.

Steed immediately called the hotel manager and asked him to replace the stand with a sturdier table, also having a sandbag placed to brace the base, which finally met his approval.

Charles had done some preparations before his arrival. This time, he changed into civilian clothes to avoid drawing attention like the last time.

However, when Charles put on the layers of clothing, he found them somewhat uncomfortable and even a bit unfamiliar.

When he entered the conference room, Steed immediately approached him with a smile, politely guiding Charles to the display stand with a tone of pride: "I hope it meets your satisfaction, Charles!"

Charles sized up the mortar for a while before asking, "How far can it shoot?"

"731 meters!" Steed replied with precise data. "Although the accuracy is not high, as you estimated, it can fire 25 shells per minute!"

Charles nodded with satisfaction. "This is exactly what I wanted, Mr. Steed."

Then Charles added, "I need a complete set of standard operating procedures, and at least 10 skilled gunners to operate it. These gunners will become instructors to train others!"

"Of course." Steed replied, his expression somewhat excited.

This was the standard procedure for new equipment entering the battlefield and the military, though the Saint-Étienne Arsenal had not developed any new equipment in a long time, so the procedures had almost been forgotten.

Now, however, it seemed to wave at Steed like a victorious soldier, and in the future, there would be more to come.

"Additionally," Charles turned his gaze toward Steed, "I should thank you for your help last time in the UK!"

"No, no, it was the least I could do." Steed responded. "It was my honor, Charles. If you need anything in the future, I’d be more than happy to help!"

This was his heartfelt sentiment. If he couldn’t do something as simple as this, then the alliance wouldn't mean anything.

Charles nodded, not bothering with further pleasantries with Steed.

As Charles sat down in his chair, Djoka pulled out a set of blueprints from his briefcase and handed them to Steed.

"This is the new equipment I need!" Charles said.

Steed eagerly took the blueprints, but after flipping through them, his smile gradually faded, replaced by a look of confusion.

"This is…" Steed looked up at Charles, his expression slightly awkward.

"You see, this is a cannon!" Charles said calmly.

"Yes, but…" Steed’s expression was strange, and he hesitated for a moment before he said seriously, "Charles, do you have doubts about the technology at Saint-Étienne?"

"No!" Charles shook his head and asked in return, "Why would you think that?"

"Look at this cannon!" Steed picked up the blueprint, his face full of confusion. "It looks like a small water pipe!"

"Yes," Charles didn’t deny it. "Its caliber is only 37mm."

"The length is only…" Steed looked at the blueprint. "Less than one meter. I even think it’s a gun!"

"This is exactly what I need." Charles’ voice wasn’t loud, but it was very firm. "Can your arsenal produce it?"

"Of course!" Steed laughed. "But what use could it have?"

Steed thought that this time Charles would present a large-caliber artillery piece, but to his surprise, it was still a small cannon, with a caliber even smaller than a 76mm mortar.

Was Charles planning to challenge Schneider’s 105mm howitzers with this small cannon?

It was ridiculous!

Steed even thought that this might be another test from Charles.

But Charles was serious.

"This is a cannon for infantry, Mr. Steed," Charles explained. "Its function is similar to a mortar, but more precisely, it’s auxiliary."

"What do you mean?" Steed asked, bewildered.

"A mortar is a high-angle weapon; it’s better suited for hitting hidden positions," Charles explained. "For example, trenches or behind rocks."

"Yes, I know!" Steed nodded.

"But some targets require direct-fire cannons!" Charles glanced at the blueprint in Steed’s hand. "For example, enemy bunkers or fortifications hidden in caves."

Steed suddenly understood. "A mortar cannot threaten such fortifications, but a direct-fire cannon can easily destroy them!"

Charles nodded, his gaze as calm as ever, without a ripple.

Steed turned his attention back to the blueprint in his hands, now intrigued. As he flipped through it, he said, "So, it’s still a mobile, portable artillery piece, am I correct?"

"Exactly, Mr. Steed," Charles answered firmly. "We can’t expect to compete with Schneider right away. They’ve had years of experience in artillery production and very mature technology. But…"

Steed nodded in agreement. "But the military still has needs that Schneider hasn’t noticed, and we can focus on developing artillery they don’t have, allowing us to get ahead of them in certain fields!"

"Yes, that’s my idea!" Charles replied.

Steed slowly nodded, looking at Charles with admiration, his tone not without some emotion: "Forgive my ignorance, Charles, you’re right—not only in artillery, but in the strategy to counter Schneider!"

Steed even felt somewhat ashamed. Though he was older, he didn’t have the composure that Charles had.

Perhaps it was because Saint-Étienne had been in decline for so long. After all the suppression, Steed finally saw hope and couldn’t wait to make a big splash.

But Steed knew that the one who would truly succeed was someone like Charles, who meticulously carved away at obstacles, piece by piece.

Charles didn’t speak, keeping some things to himself that he didn’t tell Steed.

Steed thought he was developing a direct-fire infantry cannon, and indeed, it was.

However, it was also a cannon that could be mounted on the Renault tank— a tank cannon!
Steed didn’t need to know this; it was a secret. It was better if the enemy only discovered it when the Renault tanks appeared on the battlefield.

"One more thing, Mr. Steed," Charles said. "The matter with the media."

Steed nodded. "I was just about to bring this up. Your Meritorious Report is obviously not in a position to clarify, so let the Petit Journal handle it!"

Djoka asked anxiously, "How do you plan to clarify it, Mr. Steed?"

Steed smiled lightly. "If we clarify, we’ll have lost. The price difference is obvious, and trying to cover it up will only make things worse!"

"So, what should we do?" Djoka leaned forward, more concerned about this matter than the artillery.

"It’s simple!" Steed replied. "We just need to explain where the extra money went, Mr. Djoka."

Seeing that Djoka didn’t understand, Steed explained, "For example, the field hospital that Charles has been funding."

Djoka responded with an "Oh," suddenly realizing.

It was indeed a great idea. Not only did it avoid the need for clarification, but it could also reverse the narrative and stir up a wave of patriotic sentiment!

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