I Became a Tycoon During World War I - Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Who Can Hold Out Until the End

After a quiet night, Ypres was greeted by another cold and dreary morning.

The sun barely showed its face before being tightly enveloped by gray clouds, as if the clouds were determined to strangle the sunlight and plunge the world back into darkness.

Silver threads drifted from the sky, neither rain nor mist, yet they still froze the Belgian soldiers huddled in trenches and shelters to the bone.

The soldiers’ uniforms were thoroughly soaked, but they dared not start a fire to dry them for fear of revealing their position and inviting enemy artillery. They could only endure.

Some soldiers had turned pale from the cold, others coughed uncontrollably, and still others were burning with fever.

Unable to contain their complaints, they muttered:
“When will reinforcements arrive? Weren’t they supposed to reach us last night?”
“Many of us can barely hold our rifles anymore!”
“Hang on a bit longer. It shouldn’t be long now—they say Charles is commanding the reinforcements!”

...

In the lifeless cold of the trenches, Charles always seemed to bring a sliver of hope and warmth. To the Belgians, he was nearly synonymous with victory.

However, in the command post, King Albert I’s face was pale, and even his noble composure couldn’t hide the disappointment in his eyes.

“A flash flood? The reinforcements were blocked by a flash flood?” King Albert I asked in disbelief.

“Yes,” General Charles replied helplessly. “You know how it has rained heavily these past two days. Floodwaters destroyed the bridges, and the rivers have risen, forcing the reinforcements to take a much longer route.”

“How long will it take?” King Albert I asked.

“Seven to eight hours,” General Charles said, handing over a telegram. “General Gallieni says he’s not entirely certain, but fortunately, the artillery regiments have arrived—four in total. They’re stationed about five kilometers behind our defensive line.”

“Five kilometers behind?” King Albert I’s expression showed a trace of doubt.

Although he wasn’t well-versed in military strategy, he knew that the French typically positioned their artillery just one kilometer behind the defensive line. They believed this was the best way to provide effective fire cover for infantry, maximizing the rapid-firing capability of their 75mm cannons to breach enemy lines.

(Note: The French military, emphasizing offense, deployed their artillery to cover advancing infantry. The idea was to bombard enemy lines, protect infantry attacks, and advance together.)

But King Albert I held little hope for the artillery. This wasn’t just because the logistical conditions in Ypres were dreadful, but because he knew the enemy’s artillery far outclassed the French field guns in range.

The German 105mm howitzers had a range of 12 kilometers, while the French 75mm cannons only had 8 kilometers. That four-kilometer gap allowed the Germans to destroy the French artillery from a safe distance, as they had done in Antwerp.

General Charles seemed to sense King Albert I’s concerns. He added, “Your Majesty, this is Charles’ plan. General Gallieni asks you to trust Charles and the French army. Also, if you must open the floodgates, please consult him first.”

Hearing this, King Albert I’s expression softened slightly. “Then, let us wait for the reinforcements.”

“What about the soldiers?” General Charles asked. “Should we tell them the truth?”

“No,” King Albert I said with a resigned shake of his head. “Tell them the reinforcements have arrived and are currently with the artillery regiments. Say they need time to acclimate and prepare for the battlefield.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” General Charles replied, though reluctantly. This lie would be easily exposed unless the French artillery adhered to a unified story and stayed silent.

...

Before long, German General Cross received accurate intelligence about the Belgian forces.

“Only a single British infantry division and four French artillery regiments have arrived?” General Cross asked, somewhat surprised.

“Yes, General,” a staff officer replied. “The French reinforcements were delayed by a flash flood, so only four artillery regiments made it through. Reports suggest they didn’t bring many shells and have positioned themselves five kilometers behind the defensive line.”

General Cross was overjoyed. He had thought capturing Ypres was an unattainable goal, but now it seemed Providence had handed him a perfect opportunity.

The enemy reinforcements hadn’t fully arrived, while the German side had unexpectedly been reinforced by a Bavarian division with 36,000 troops.

(Note: Among these 36,000 troops was a failed art student, assigned to the 1st Battalion of the Bavarian 16th Infantry Regiment.)

Though most of these soldiers were inexperienced students and young recruits, their high morale and fearless resolve made them ideal for frontal assaults to exhaust the enemy’s already scarce ammunition.

“Prepare for battle!” General Cross, unable to hide his elation, ordered. “Tell the soldiers: under no circumstances should they retreat. Advance, advance! Understand? Victory lies in advancing!”

General Cross was wary of another failed offensive being thwarted by enemy aircraft, as had happened previously.

If Ypres fell, the Germans would take a crucial step toward controlling the key British-French port of Dunkirk. This would severely hinder Britain’s ability to supply and reinforce the French front, both in speed and quantity.

What General Cross didn’t realize was that everything he knew was precisely what Charles wanted him to know—information deliberately leaked through the Belgian forces.

“We must ensure no one knows the truth,” Charles said during a private discussion with General Gallieni in the lounge. “If the Germans suspect this is a trap, they’ll change their tactics and avoid massed assaults. That would undermine the effectiveness of our artillery.”

General Gallieni nodded in agreement. “So, not even King Albert I can be told.”

“Of course,” Charles confirmed with a resolute nod.

“But what if this demoralizes the Belgian army and causes them to collapse?” Gallieni hesitated for a moment, a hint of concern in his eyes. “They’re already on the brink of collapse, and their only hope lies in the reinforcements. Yet we’ve told them the reinforcements were blocked by a flash flood.”

“Then it’s a matter of who can hold out the longest,” Charles replied calmly. “There’s no such thing as a guaranteed victory. Until the very end, no one knows the outcome.”

Gallieni chuckled. This was not the kind of statement one would expect from a seventeen-year-old.

But it was true. At least, it was far more reliable than Joffre’s constant assurances of victory.

After a moment of reflection, Gallieni offered a reminder: “Our previous attacks revealed that our aircraft are equipped with machine guns. The Germans might be prepared for this. Our planes aren’t invincible.”

“I know,” Charles replied with confidence. “That’s why I’ve made preparations.”

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