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

Chapter 713 Gallieni’s Intentions

Dunkirk, Kitchener had just come to his senses.

A few days ago, he thought Dunkirk was about to fall and faced a difficult choice: leave or stay?

If he left, he had boasted before his soldiers that he would stay here forever and die with Dunkirk, breaking this promise would mean losing face as the Marshal of the Army.

If he stayed, once Dunkirk fell, he would become a prisoner of the Germans, being the first Marshal captured by the German Army.

"Damn Shire," Kitchener fumed, "this is what Shire wanted to see, so he resisted the pressure and did not send reinforcements! He is the disgrace of the Allies, the destroyer of the coalition, I must bring him to the military court!"

At this moment, a staff officer excitedly reported, "Your Excellency, Shire has taken Mezieres!"

"Idiot!" Kitchener roared, "what’s the use of taking Mezieres? I need him to reinforce Dunkirk, nothing is more important than Dunkirk!"

He had no concept of Mezieres; he still thought it was some town next to the Liege Fortress.

The staff officer dared not retort, only responded, "Yes, Your Excellency," and remained silent.

After a while, a communications officer excitedly reported, "Your Excellency, the Germans are retreating, a full retreat! We have won!"

There were no cheers, only sounds of relief and blessings, all marveling at their narrow escape.

Kitchener was bewildered, "Retreat? Why are they retreating?"

The staff officer nervously stepped forward, "Because, because of Mezieres, Your Excellency, Shire has captured Mezieres."

Only then did Kitchener realize that this "Mezieres" might not be the "Mezieres" he had in mind.

When Kitchener’s gaze shifted to the map, the staff officer pointed to a spot, "Here, Your Excellency."

Kitchener was stunned, "Within French territory? But that’s impossible; they are across the Arden Mountains..."

"Shire’s army has crossed the Arden Mountains," the staff officer replied, "it’s the First Armored Army, clearly, Shire was well prepared."

Kitchener understood.

This was the reason for the Germans’ large-scale retreat.

Mezieres was a crucial transport hub in the German Army’s rear; Shire’s capture of it was akin to choking the German Army.

Thus, the safety of all German forces north of the Meuse River would be threatened!

Logically, Kitchener should have rejoiced like the others at avoiding disaster and thanked Shire for the reinforcements.

However, a General’s thinking often differs from others.

Kitchener’s face was solemn, his gaze fixed on Mezieres’s location, his teeth gritting.

This bastard, it was all his conspiracy, we were used by Shire.

Dunkirk was a bait, used by Shire to lure the main force of the German Army deep into enemy territory!

Shire could have captured Mezieres long ago, but didn’t do so to let the German Army and the British Expeditionary Force both suffer losses.

And Shire reaped the benefits.

Now, all the glory belongs to him; this battle not only regained large territories but also "saved" the British Expeditionary Force.

...

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency?"

The staff officer’s call brought Kitchener out of his rage, he looked at the staff officer, flames of anger still burning in his eyes.

The staff officer was startled and hurriedly lifted the phone receiver, "It’s, it’s General Gallieni’s call, he wants to know the situation in Dunkirk."

Kitchener snatched the receiver viciously, as if disarming the staff officer.

But he didn’t respond immediately, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself before putting the receiver to his mouth, "I am well, General, the crisis has been averted, the Germans are retreating."

Gallieni’s voice came through the receiver:

"Then I am relieved, Your Excellency."

"You fought bravely; without your courageous resistance, Shire wouldn’t have captured Mezieres so smoothly."

"I mean, if the German main force was at the River Somme, they would have surrounded or even counterattacked Mezieres immediately."

"Shire’s victory is thanks to you; on behalf of Shire, on behalf of France, I thank you!"

...

Gallieni was rubbing salt into Kitchener’s wounds.

Not once, but slowly pricking it open with a needle, very slowly, then sprinkling a little fine salt with great care.

Gallieni hadn’t finished; he continued, with a tone even tinged with pity and reminiscence:

"You lost quite a few soldiers in this battle, didn’t you?"

"I’m very sorry, Your Excellency, was it two hundred thousand? Or three hundred thousand? Maybe more?"

"Don’t worry, Your Excellency, everything will get better!"

"Shire will avenge you and your men, I believe in him."

"I think, you do too..."

Kitchener’s chest heaved violently, it felt like a stone pressed on him, making it hard to breathe, a surge of anger rose, making his face contort and his eyes fill with blood, making him look like a fearsome ghost that no one dared to look at directly.

Kitchener gritted his teeth to endure, but Gallieni had no intention of stopping.

Finally, Kitchener shouted, "Enough, I know what’s going on!"

Gallieni’s response came from the phone, "Really? What’s going on?"

The voice was calm and gentle, like an innocent little lamb calling.

Kitchener knew it was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but he was helpless.

As soon as he spoke ill of Shire, these words would appear in the newspapers the next day.

Then, everyone, including British citizens, would point fingers at Kitchener:

"It’s him, the ungrateful guy, Shire saved him, yet he spoke ill of Shire."

"Yes, if it weren’t for Shire, nearly a million British Expeditionary Force would have been captured, how could he be so shameless?"

"God, we made such a person Minister of the Army, he must be jealous of Shire, willing to do anything to bring him down."

...

Kitchener bit his tongue, taking a deep breath, and reluctantly replied:

"Yes, Minister, I understand what’s going on."

"It was a beautiful battle, Shire saved all of us, including myself."

"Please convey my highest respect to Shire!"

Gallieni shamelessly accepted, "Very good, I will, Your Excellency."

But Gallieni was still unwilling to let Kitchner off the hook, "Don’t you have anything to say about Shire’s military capability?"

Kitchener coughed a few times, nearly spitting out blood.

With great difficulty, he calmed down and weakly replied, "Yes, Minister, you are right, Shire is a military genius, that is indisputable."

Gallieni added, "And his tactics."

"Yes, and his tactics."

Only then was Gallieni satisfied:

"I am pleased we reached an understanding, Your Excellency."

"With your endorsement, I believe no one will question Shire’s command in the future."

"Especially the British Expeditionary Force, right?"

Only then did Kitchener understand Gallieni’s intention.

From now on, if any officer of the British Expeditionary Force dared to question Shire’s command, Kitchener would be a shield.