I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France

Chapter 572: An Unusual Vacation

Shire originally wanted to visit the newspaper office in Kobudo, as well as the motorcycle factory, the artillery factory, and the newly built tank artillery laboratory. He also planned to meet with Wells and Steed if time allowed.

Wells, in particular, was noteworthy. It was said that the navy had modified 12 destroyers and, after several weeks of training, was ready to hunt German submarines. Shire felt it necessary to discuss the specific details with him.

Only now did Shire truly understand what it meant to be "dealing with numerous affairs," with so many matters pressing down that it was hard to breathe.

Sometimes, he even wondered how these projects operated when he wasn’t overseeing them on the battlefield.

Perhaps he was overthinking it; they could run smoothly even without his supervision.

However, in the end, Shire’s plans fell through.

...

On the fifth day of the holiday, the rain stopped, the weather became increasingly cold, and upon waking up, a thin layer of white frost was faintly visible on the roof.

After getting up, Shire had breakfast with Dejoka. He planned to visit the artillery factory with Dejoka today. Although the British-made 6-inch, 26-hundredweight artillery did not have the range of the German 105MM artillery, combined with guerrilla tactics using rockets and air superiority, it was sufficient.

The important thing was that Shire’s intention in producing this artillery was to cultivate the artillery industry and talent within his own system. Once enough experience and resources were accumulated, he could challenge Schneider.

Camille brought out a plate of frozen grapes and placed it on the dining table. She turned and asked Shire, "Christmas is approaching. Can you take a few more days off?"

(The image above is of frozen grapes. This variety can remain on the vine for a long time without falling off after ripening and is especially high in sugar when harvested and eaten in winter.)

Dejoka looked expectantly and added, "Yes, I checked the calendar. You only need three more days off to spend Christmas Eve at home!"

"No, Mom." Shire shook his head gently. "That’s not possible."

"Why?" Camille was puzzled and slightly dissatisfied. "You’ve done so much for France, and those guys in the parliament won’t even let you spend Christmas at home?"

"It’s not about them; it’s about the troops," Shire answered.

Dejoka seemed to understand something. "You’re talking about last year’s Christmas truce?"

"Yes." Shire nodded.

Camille didn’t understand. "What does that have to do with Shire? Wasn’t it Shire who resolved that issue last year?"

Dejoka shook his head and sighed. "Similar situations might arise again this year, Camille, which means the front line will be very tense."

Camille finally understood and silently ate her food.

It wasn’t just "tense." High-ranking officials in Britain and France, to prevent similar "truce" incidents, would initiate bombardments or even organize attacks every Christmas. They believed only by doing so could they maintain hostility and not "lay down their arms" to gather, drink, and sing together.

After a while, Camille complained again, "At the very least, let Shire rest at home properly during these few days of the holiday."

The words were directed at Dejoka.

Dejoka looked innocent; it wasn’t his fault. It was Shire who wanted to be busy.

Shire pretended not to hear and continued eating.

In retrospect, many things operated less efficiently and quickly without the involvement of someone from the future like him.

At that moment, a signalman hurried past the window, and soon, an urgent knock on the door was heard.

Shire felt uneasy, sensing that something had happened.

Sure enough, the telegram was from Fuxu.

Shire and Fuxu pretended to be at odds, so Fuxu typically wouldn’t send a direct telegram unless it was an emergency.

The message was brief, with just a few words: "The 6th Army has been dispatched to Jangbulu, Belgium."

Belgium?

Jangbulu?

Shire was puzzled. As the army commander, how could he not know that the troops had been redeployed? He had always thought the army was at the River Somme.

Moreover, Kristen hadn’t reported this, which meant the army might have been taken over and kept secret from the outside, even to the extent of "secreting" it from him, the army’s commander.

Were they planning to remove him as the commander?

Unlikely. To dismantle the bridge after crossing it right after quelling a mutiny would likely cause fear and backlash among the soldiers.

So, the intention behind this... was to maintain control!

Shire realized that this seven-day holiday might not be a coincidence, but a deliberate move by the parliament and possibly even the British.

"I must return, Mom." Shire said, and without even packing his things, he grabbed his military coat and rushed out, hopping into Lauren’s car.

"Wait, Shire..." Camille hurriedly packed a few apple turnovers and frozen grapes and ran out, but the car had already driven away.

Dejoka followed closely. He stood beside Camille, watching Shire leave, then turned back to comfort Camille, "The front line needs him, Camille."

Camille shook her head, her voice slightly choked, "He didn’t even finish his holiday."

...

This situation arose because Fuxu underestimated the parliament.

Despite serving as the president of the Military Academy for 25 years and only returning to the army as a general a year before the war broke out, Fuxu had little understanding of the parliament.

He thought that the parliament’s agreement to dispatch the 6th Army to Belgium and lumping Shire’s two forces together would be perfect. Shire had enough control to keep them in check.

But he didn’t anticipate that while the parliament might not excel in external warfare, they were experts at internal political maneuvers and controlling the military.

Before Fuxu took office, Clemenceau had conspired with the Prime Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

(The image above is of Briand, who served as Prime Minister 11 times. During most of World War I, he was the Prime Minister and even won the Nobel Peace Prize. He used military force to suppress workers’ strikes harshly, earning him the title of "dictator" from radical socialists.)

"The 6th Army is dispatched to Belgium?" Briand leaned back on the sofa, gently tugging at his beard.

Sitting opposite, Clemenceau saw Briand’s action and knew he wasn’t entirely satisfied with this decision.

"We are in a dilemma, Mr. Prime Minister," Clemenceau explained. "We all know Shire’s military genius. If we keep the 6th Army at the River Somme or elsewhere, Shire’s influence will rapidly expand within the Central Army Group and the Eastern Army Group."

He then added, "It would be much better to place him in Belgium, where at least the British can act as a counterbalance!"

"Have you considered," Briand thoughtfully said, elegantly lifting his coffee cup, "that for Shire, controlling just the 6th Army might be enough?"

That’s Shire, who could defeat the Germans with just 20,000 troops, and now you’ve given him another 200,000?!

"Of course, Mr. Prime Minister," Clemenceau replied. "That’s why we need to make some arrangements while Shire is on holiday."