I Became a Tycoon During World War I - Chapter 61

Chapter 60 doesn't exist

Chapter 61: It’s All a Trap

In the Chamber of Deputies at the Palais Bourbon, General Gallieni stood silently at the rostrum, awaiting the questions from the deputies.

The parliamentary interpellation system was established in 1869. The French Constitution stipulated: “Any deputy is entitled to pose a question to a minister or an officeholder. The latter is entitled to respond as he sees fit—whether to answer or not.”

This was considered a means for parliament to oversee the government’s work.

In practice, however, those being questioned rarely had the luxury of “not answering.” Refusing to respond could jeopardize their position, much like how a job applicant has the right to remain silent during an interview, but the employer also has the right not to hire them.

Gallieni might be an exception. As a powerful general who turned the tide during the war, he could easily ignore any questions from the deputies. No one would dare, nor could they, remove him from his post. In fact, just the mention of his retirement would terrify the deputies.

Yet, Gallieni chose to face the interpellation.

He explained his reasoning as follows:
“Those disgusting journalists have turned hearsay into news!”

“They believe a 17-year-old child could single-handedly alter the course of war. Is war a game? A child’s toy?”

“This is an insult—to the soldiers, to the army, and to the martyrs!”

“I will not allow such things to happen. Absolutely not!”

Armand and Grevy sat quietly, refraining from questions or comments.

They didn’t want it to be obvious that they were behind all of this.

The first to speak were the deputies who couldn’t contain their curiosity. Both left-wing and right-wing members, having read the newspapers, couldn’t resist asking some frivolous questions, knowing full well they wouldn’t receive concrete answers.

“General Gallieni, is what the newspapers claim true? Did the German First Army expose their flank because of Charles?”

“Shouldn’t you be asking Charles himself?” Gallieni replied dismissively.

“It’s undeniable that Francis bought food supplies and machine gun factories, isn’t it?”

“Of course. And yet, some people still manage to link that to the Germans’ maneuvering. Your imagination is truly boundless!”

“And Charles really did invent the tank!”

“What does that prove? That we owe him something? No, we paid him!”

...

Gallieni’s responses were airtight. While the events in question were factual, there was no evidence to suggest that Charles had deliberately lured the Germans to Davaus.

Gallieni’s stance was clear: if you don’t believe me, go ask Charles. If even the person in question denies it, then it never happened!

Armand could no longer hold back. He stood up, raising his right hand slightly to indicate he wished to speak. Taking a step forward, he addressed Gallieni with measured calm:

“General, I am concerned with only one thing: should we not allow someone as talented as Charles to join the army? His participation could save many lives and even rescue France from peril!”

This was Armand’s brilliance. He positioned himself on the moral high ground, steering the discussion toward saving lives and safeguarding France.

If Gallieni denied the proposal, it would mean ignoring the lives of frontline soldiers and France’s safety.

If he agreed, Charles should join the army.

What Armand didn’t know was that Gallieni also wanted Charles in the military. He merely sought to prevent Charles from being deployed as an ordinary soldier on the front lines. By appearing to reject Charles outright, Gallieni was actually bargaining.

“Oh, really?” Gallieni met Armand’s gaze. “We need a 17-year-old child to save us? Perhaps you should replace all the frontline soldiers with teenagers. We can stay in the rear, sipping coffee and reading newspapers, waiting for their triumphs. What do you think, sir?”

The deputies burst into laughter at Gallieni’s sarcasm. Armand’s face betrayed a hint of embarrassment as he realized Gallieni would not be easy to handle.

Armand responded:
“No, General!”

“We are discussing a special case. I am not advocating for other underage individuals to join the army.”

“Charles is unique. We all know he possesses extraordinary military talent, whether in inventing equipment or otherwise.”

“I believe many, like myself, do not wish to see his talents go to waste. And the nation urgently needs people like him!”

This immediately won the support of many deputies. Even if the rumors circulating in the public were unreliable, Charles’s invention of equipment that defeated the Germans was an established fact, and it had happened more than once. That alone indicated it was no coincidence.

“Your ideas are quite innovative, sir!” Gallieni retorted without hesitation. “You propose turning a capitalist, who is supposed to be inventing tanks and sidecar motorcycles in the rear, into a rifle-toting soldier on the battlefield—all in the name of ‘not wasting talent’? Indeed, you don’t want to waste talent. You just want to bury him!”

The chamber once again erupted in laughter.

Armand was at a loss for words. Charles had indeed invented tanks and sidecars in factories, not on the battlefield.

“I feel obliged to remind you,” Gallieni added, “that only in a factory can one access tractors and motorcycles, and have the time, space, and resources to modify them into tanks and sidecars. In the military, there are only three things to think about: eating, sleeping, and waiting to die!”

“No, no, we could create a similar environment for Charles...”

“Regrettably, the military doesn’t have such an environment. I would be happy to let you experience it firsthand!”

“We could have Charles serve as a staff officer at headquarters!”

“Perhaps you’re unaware, sir, that headquarters on the battlefield often receive enemy artillery as their ‘correspondence’!”

“Then don’t send him to the battlefield!”

“So your proposal is to station an entire army group in the rear just to protect Charles?”

...

The deputies’ laughter grew even louder. Armand, though eloquent, was clearly outmatched by Gallieni due to his lack of understanding of military operations.

At this point, Grevy stood up. Instead of facing Gallieni at the rostrum, he turned to address the deputies:

“Why don’t we appoint Charles as an adviser to General Gallieni himself?”

“General Gallieni is the commander of Paris’s defenses. Charles would be very safe by his side!”

“This way, Charles could contribute his ideas to the military while continuing his work at the Davaus factory!”

This proposal quickly gained the deputies’ support:

“An excellent idea!”

“Indeed, Paris is safe!”

“This way, Charles can keep inventing!”

...

Gallieni remained outwardly composed, though he was inwardly delighted. These fools had finally fallen into his trap!

Armand gave Grevy a strange look. This wasn’t part of their plan. Their goal had been to send Charles to a dangerous place.

But Grevy subtly shook his head at Armand.

Suddenly, Armand grasped Grevy’s intent. If the goal of “sending Charles to a dangerous place” couldn’t be achieved, then the next best option was to get him into the military first.

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