I Became a Tycoon During World War I - Chapter 92

Chapter 92: The Zeppelin

Equipping the rockets was not difficult. It only required securing the selected rockets to the vertical struts between the wings, a process that was completed in just over half an hour.

The real challenge lay in ignition.

“How are we supposed to ignite them?” Major Fischer raised the question again, perhaps due to his usual role in managing airport operations. He instinctively considered whether any part of the process might cause a bottleneck during execution.

Eric glanced at the wires on the rockets and said, “If we use wires to ignite them, we can’t predict when they’ll launch. That makes it impossible to align the aircraft’s nose with the target on time.”

The pilots all agreed.

Aerial combat differed greatly from ground combat. On the ground, timing was less critical; as long as the rocket reached enemy lines, it could still prove effective.

In aerial combat, however, operations were performed at high speeds. The window of time for the aircraft to dive and aim at the target might last only a few seconds. If the rocket failed to fire due to a delay in the fuse during that time, the mission would be deemed a failure.

For Charles, however, this was hardly a problem.

“Use an electric detonator!” Charles turned to Major Fischer and asked, “Do we have any?”

(Note: Electric detonators, also called electric caps, were invented in 1876.)

Major Fischer froze for a moment before nodding excitedly. “We don’t have any, but the engineers should. I’ve seen them using wires to blow up bridges! I’ll contact them immediately.”

Thus, the issue was perfectly resolved. Major Fischer even brought in a group of engineers to assist. Initially, the engineers were reluctant, citing their own tasks.

But Fischer countered, “Do you know who’s commanding the flight squadron right now? It’s Charles. You must have heard of him.”

Hearing this, the engineers promptly sent reinforcements. Uncertain of the situation, they even dispatched an entire company—200 men strong!

...

In the operations office at the fortress headquarters, the wall clock struck twice. It was 2 p.m.

On the map, small flags of various colors represented different units. Several attack routes were sketched in pencil, and stacks of documents containing freshly recorded plans lay nearby.

General Gillis, exuding confidence, gazed at the materials and said, “We will succeed. We know the terrain, and the Germans do not. They won’t expect our army to bypass their forces through the backroads and launch a two-pronged attack!”

General Winter hesitated before asking, “Should we let Charles review the operational plan? After all, last time, he immediately pointed out the flaws in our defensive line.”

Winter doubted himself—or rather, he doubted both himself and General Gillis. King Albert I, who had no military knowledge or experience, was not part of the discussion.

Winter knew relying on Charles wasn’t ideal.

But this was war, and a single misstep could cost countless lives, especially since this might be their last opportunity.

“No!” General Gillis refused without a second thought. “We don’t need advice from someone who’s preparing to flee, Winter!”

King Albert I said nothing, but he never believed Charles would run away.

Albert had contemplated visiting the airfield to see what Charles was doing but ultimately suppressed the urge.

What if Charles was truly preparing to flee?

Although Charles had made significant contributions to Belgium and had earned the Kingdom’s Crown Medal, that did not give him the right to sacrifice Belgian pilots’ lives for his own safety.

It was a matter of principle.

If Albert I discovered such an act, he would have to intervene, leaving Charles with no chance to escape.

So, he stayed away.

Not visiting meant not knowing. And if he didn’t know, everything Charles did would remain within procedure, and Albert wouldn’t have to intervene.

Perhaps allowing Charles to escape would be a good thing, Albert thought. After all, Charles was still a child. The war had already forced him to endure far too much, and he had done more than enough. He could leave with a clear conscience.

Moreover, they would need him for future battles. Staying here only to be captured by the Germans served no purpose.

As General Gillis prepared to rehearse his surprise attack plan once more, a messenger burst into the room, reporting urgently, “General, a Zeppelin! The Germans’ Zeppelin!”

Everyone’s expressions changed instantly. They dropped what they were holding and rushed out of the office.

On the eastern side of the fortress, beneath a pale white sky, a German Zeppelin floated slowly toward Antwerp. Its hull resembled a massive cloud, drifting lightly and moving so slowly that its motion was almost imperceptible. Yet it was clearly approaching Antwerp.

King Albert I lowered his binoculars and asked his aide, “How long until it reaches our airspace?”

“I’m not sure, Your Majesty,” the aide replied. “Approximately two hours.”

Two hours—around 4 p.m.

General Gillis studied the Zeppelin’s trajectory, then shifted his gaze to the fortress of Wavre along its path. He concluded, “Its target is Fort Wavre. The Germans intend to bombard it with the Zeppelin and heavy artillery simultaneously!”

Albert I shook his head. “No, its target is the water supply system behind Fort Wavre.”

General Gillis immediately accepted this assessment.

The water supply system was far more vulnerable than the fortress. Completely exposed on the surface, it could be disabled even without a direct hit.

General Gillis’s expression darkened further, and he immediately ordered the messenger, “Organize firepower to intercept it. Do not let it get close!”

“Yes, General!” the messenger replied before leaving.

Albert I smiled bitterly and shook his head. Everyone knew this was futile.

The Zeppelin flew at an altitude of over a thousand meters. The only cannons in Antwerp capable of reaching it were housed in the fortresses. Rifle bullets might reach it, but they would only puncture the outer shell, leaving tiny, insignificant holes.

General Winter couldn’t help but exclaim, “What a terrifying beast. They’ve actually built something like this!”

“Yes,” Albert I sighed. “The Germans call it the ‘Invincible Cannon.’ Some refer to it as the ‘Unsinkable Warship.’ They believe it’s an unbeatable weapon, and in truth, it is. The only thing that can stop it is the ever-changing weather.”

Due to their light weight and large size, Zeppelins were often blown off course by sea winds, disappearing over the ocean and never being found again.

But now...

Albert I glanced at the sky. Though the weather was poor, there were no signs of an impending storm.

“Only God can save us now,” Albert I said, his tone filled with helplessness and sorrow.

Table of content - Next Chapter >>>