novelraw Chapter 612: Intensifying Conflicts
Chapter 612: Intensifying Conflicts
The Battle of Hasselt stirred global commotion, with international media extensively reporting this victory on their front pages.
The Times of England:
"It was, after all, just one day, only one day."
"Although Germany surrendered on the fifth day after the battle, it only took Shire’s First Armored Army a day to set out and capture Hasselt for a decisive victory."
"Shire has once again created his own legend, defeating his opponent in just one day."
"What’s more astonishing is that he achieved such a brilliant victory at the cost of only a little over a thousand men, and even with the Belgian Army included, the casualties were just over eight thousand."
"On the other hand, our engagement at the River Somme continues, and our army can match Shire’s feats in just one day, in terms of casualty figures."
...
Stars and Stripes from the United States:
"Many doubt Shire’s tactics, believing his victory in the Battle of Antwerp was a fluke, an unrepeatable random event, thinking that if the Germans were prepared, such a rapid end to the battle wouldn’t happen."
"Some even question the significance of the tank, considering it nothing more than a ’luxurious toy.’"
"However, Shire has proved these views to be utterly wrong with facts."
"Under the prepared circumstances of the Germans, Shire advanced to Hasselt using the same tactics and the same unit, once again creating an incredible miracle."
...
Tsarist Russia’s St. Petersburg News also dedicated an entire page to report the battle, emphasizing:
"The Allies are achieving victories on the Western Front, significant victories."
"First, the encirclement at Antwerp, followed by the breakthrough at Hasselt, each time encircling hundreds of thousands of the German Army."
"We have reason to believe that as long as Shire’s troops are present, there will be a third, fourth similar victory."
"Once the Germans collapse on the Western Front, they will be unable to maintain their offense on the Eastern Front. Our victory is near!"
...
Russia needed such propaganda to inspire its people to continue the fight rather than succumb to turmoil and uprising.
(Note: The St. Petersburg News, referred to as the News, was an official newspaper of Tsarist Russia ordered to be published by the Tsar in 1702, ceasing publication in 1917 due to the collapse of Tsarist Russia.)
French and Belgian media reported every detail of the battle, analyzing the units involved one by one. Even small skirmishes and casualties became hot topics.
...
In the city of Hasselt, Shire’s command post was set up in an abandoned brewery on the outskirts of the city.
The brewery had been vacant for some time, covered in cobwebs and dusty brewing equipment.
In wartime, especially in times of material shortages, neither Germany nor the Allies could sustain the luxury industry of brewing.
People first sought to fill their stomachs, and only then did they consider having a drink. The sharp decline in market demand caused breweries to close one after another.
Limburg Brewery was one of them.
Shire’s command post was in the spacious plant, which he thought was more appropriate for wartime than the manager’s office. At least the departments wouldn’t be isolated by small offices, causing communication difficulties.
Shire sat at his desk leisurely reading the newspaper. The battle had reached a stage where there was little left for him to command, just waiting for the Belgian Army to receive the prisoners and equipment. What he read daily were reports of increasing supplies and equipment.
At this moment, Tijani came up to Shire with a telegram: "Good news, Vice Admiral, the parliament has nominated you as the commander-in-chief."
The staff in the command post couldn’t help but turn their heads and exclaimed, followed by expressions of joy:
"It’s about time."
"No one is more suited for the role of commander-in-chief than the Vice Admiral."
"Yes, the Vice Admiral should command all the armies. With him, this war will soon end, and we will achieve final victory!"
...
Shire remained calm, his gaze fixed on the newspaper in his hand, his breakfast still composed of mashed potatoes and stinking Limburg cheese.
If there was any difference, it was that the piece of Limburg cheese was larger than usual, more than twice the previous size.
Shire had asked for the reason, and the staff replied: "Hasselt is the capital of Limburg Province, Vice Admiral, there is a lot of Limburg cheese here."
He pushed the cheese a bit farther away and ate the watery mashed potatoes with a spoon, casually asking, "Why do you say it’s ’good news’?"
Tijani pulled up a chair and sat in front of Shire: "I don’t think parliament will so easily make you the commander-in-chief, General. This is something they have always avoided."
Shire nodded approvingly; Tijani’s political understanding had improved, at least better than the surrounding staff.
"You’re right." Shire put down the newspaper and wiped his mouth with a napkin, ending his meal that was just for sustenance: "They want to escalate the conflict between me and others."
"Escalate the conflict?" Tijani was stunned, then suddenly understood: "Fuxu, Petain, and the army group commanders who hope to become the commander-in-chief."
"And the British." Shire added.
"Yes, and the British." Tijani nodded in agreement.
The British hoped to control the French Army through the commander-in-chief, but Shire obviously wouldn’t be controlled by the British.
Thus, everyone would target Shire, and the British might even deploy intelligence personnel to frame and slander him.
Meanwhile, the old guys in parliament didn’t need to do anything. They just "nominated" in parliament, without necessarily passing it, to let Shire be surrounded by others’ attacks.
"So." Tijani stared at Shire: "What are you going to do?"
Tijani’s voice carried some anxiety. He had absolute faith in Shire’s military genius, but with so many political opponents, especially those hiding in the shadows, it wouldn’t be easy for Shire to handle.
Shire smiled lightly: "We’ll deal with problems as they come."
The situation wasn’t as bad as Tijani thought.
Shire believed that not many in the military would be fooled.
For instance, Fuxu and Petain, would they treat Shire as an enemy just because of a parliament’s bluff?
These two old fellows knew the parliament’s tricks well. They believed it was impossible for the parliament to make Shire, a capitalist who embodied military, political, and economic power, the commander-in-chief.
If they did believe it, they wouldn’t be worthy rivals for Shire.
So at most, a few fools would target Shire due to these deceptions.
Parliament’s actions wouldn’t have much impact.
Secondly, and more importantly, Shire was controlling resources through the "Echo Detector."
No matter who made the loans or bought materials from the United States, if they offended Shire, they would likely be sunk by German submarines.
So even British capitalists had no way to deal with Shire, and might even end up being controlled by Shire instead.
With this foundation, what major waves could they possibly make?