I Became a Tycoon During World War I - Chapter 86

Chapter 86: The Order of the Crown

"Fire!"

"Fire!"

The orders were relayed one after another, and the cannons of the Wavre Fortress roared to life.

The Wavre Fortress, a pentagonal stronghold, was armed with two 150mm cannons, four 120mm cannons, two 200mm mortars, and four 77mm Krupp quick-firing guns.

The design intended these weapons to create overlapping long, medium, and short-range firepower, capable of covering any enemies attacking the fortress. However, this theoretical strategy had yet to be fully realized.

At present, only the 150mm and 120mm cannons were being used, firing in two groups at two separate targets.

The first volley failed to hit their marks—some shells fell short, while others overshot their targets.

Still, the explosions near their positions unnerved the German troops, who quickly realized they had been lured into a trap. Their decision to haul the heavy "Big Bertha" howitzers into the range of enemy artillery had been a grave mistake.

Horses panicked amidst the thunderous shelling, rearing up and whinnying wildly. Handlers rushed to calm them, trying to keep the chaos under control.

But everyone knew this state of control couldn’t last long.

Unlike warhorses, which were rigorously trained to withstand battlefield noise, the pack horses used to haul supplies were not accustomed to such chaos. They might obey for now, but the next explosion could undo everything.

Moreover, the combination of the horses and the massive artillery made an enormous, exposed target that seemed impossible to escape from enemy bombardment.

Every eye turned toward General von Beseler.

The logical course of action was to cut the ropes, abandon "Big Bertha," and retreat, saving hundreds of pack horses.

But General von Beseler was unwilling to concede defeat. He shouted a decisive order:

"Turn around and maintain formation!"

"Bring up the Third Artillery Regiment to suppress enemy fire!"

Von Beseler gambled on using the Third Artillery Regiment to draw Wavre Fortress’s fire away from "Big Bertha."

However, he seemed to have overlooked one critical fact: Wavre Fortress was a fortified structure, its core design built to withstand direct hits from 150mm howitzers. It had been reinforced twice since then, making it virtually impervious to most artillery fire—except "Big Bertha."

As a result, Wavre Fortress ignored the so-called "fire suppression" of the Third Artillery Regiment and focused solely on "Big Bertha."

"Boom! Boom!"

The second volley of shells landed closer but still missed.

In a hot-air balloon overhead, King Albert I, observing the battlefield through binoculars, muttered in mild frustration, "Damn it, they can’t even hit the target when it’s right under their noses!"

"Be patient, Your Majesty," Charles responded calmly. "The target entered our range two kilometers ago. At their current pace, it will take them at least half an hour to escape. We have time."

Albert I nodded, knowing that "Big Bertha" was doomed, though he could hardly contain his eagerness to see it destroyed.

Finally, one of the third volley’s shells exploded among the densely packed horses, instantly obliterating over a dozen. Others, injured by shrapnel or the blast wave, collapsed to the ground, shrieking in agony.

Even worse, the remaining horses, overwhelmed by terror, bucked and bolted wildly, breaking the formation despite the handlers’ desperate efforts.

The massive "Big Bertha" swayed with the chaotic movements of the horses before toppling over with a resounding crash. Its tremendous weight gouged a deep crater into the muddy ground.

Albert I triumphantly waved a flag toward the forces below and shouted, "We’ve destroyed one of their cannons!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

With one howitzer eliminated, Wavre Fortress could now concentrate all six of its cannons on the remaining "Big Bertha."

At last, General von Beseler recognized the inevitable and roared, "Cut the ropes and retreat!"

But it was too late. Shells continued to rain down with increasing accuracy, guided by the fortress’s spotters. Soon, one shell scored a direct hit on "Big Bertha." When the smoke cleared, the mighty cannon’s structure remained largely intact, its barrel undamaged, but its lower components were shattered and scattered across the ground.

Albert I exclaimed again, "Victory! We’ve taken out two cannons!"

The crowd erupted into celebration, tossing their hats into the air in jubilation.

For them, this was not just a victory—it was survival. Ordinary citizens often had simple desires: to live in peace, free from war.

The cannon fire continued, each shell bursting with terrifying force, sending German gunners and horses flying into the air. The German troops finally broke into a full retreat, abandoning the remnants of their artillery and the corpses of their pack animals as they fled in disarray.

Albert I, now uninterested in watching the battle any further, wished to join his people in celebrating their hard-won triumph.

The balloon descended slowly, and even before it landed, the crowd surged forward, cheering.

As Charles stepped out of the basket, he found himself surrounded by the throng. Everywhere he turned, he was met with joyous, admiring faces and countless grateful eyes. People pushed forward, eager to thank him or shake his hand.

"You’re our hero, Charles!"

"Once again, you’ve defeated the Germans!"

"You saved us—thank you!"

...

Albert I had clearly prepared for this moment. He pulled a small box from his pocket, holding it aloft for all to see. "I hereby announce, in recognition of the lieutenant’s outstanding performance in the defense of Antwerp, I, Albert I, King of Belgium, award him the Order of the Crown!"

(Note: The Order of the Crown is one of Belgium’s three major national knighthood honors and is among the highest honors stipulated by the Belgian Constitution. It is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation and society. The order was established in 1897.)

The crowd erupted in cheers once more, with many offering their congratulations to Charles.

Albert I personally took the medal from the box and carefully pinned it to Charles’s chest. Grasping Charles’s hand with emotion, he declared, "You will always be our friend, Lieutenant. We will never forget what you’ve done for Belgium!"

"Thank you," Charles replied.

Looking back, he thought he had only given a few suggestions and spoken a few words.

Suddenly, a distant explosion echoed across the field. The crowd fell silent, all turning to look in the direction of the sound.

They recognized it instantly—it was the sound of "Big Bertha" firing.

Albert I’s face was filled with confusion. "Impossible! We destroyed all of ‘Big Bertha’!"

At that moment, a guard rushed forward, saluted, and reported anxiously, "Your Majesty, a third ‘Big Bertha’ has appeared. It is bombarding Wavre Fortress from beyond its range!"

Everyone was stunned.

A third "Big Bertha" meant that victory had not arrived. Instead, it had instantly turned into defeat!

Charles’s trap could not be repeated, and the Germans would never fall for it a second time.

Table of content - Next Chapter >>>