I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 156: Revised - 156 You Are Free Now

Chapter 156: Revised: Chapter 156 You Are Free Now

"Rat-a-tat-tat!"

...

An "Aphro" fighter descended with a howl from the rain curtain, its machine gun bullets tracing twin lines of water toward the road, where they converged and drew the blood of a few German soldiers before it quickly climbed back up.

It seemed to miss the timing, this strafing only caused minor ripples in the German Army ranks.

The German artillerymen shouted as they jumped off their vehicles, raising rifles towards the sky and pulling the triggers, attempting to cover the retreat of the convoy with these sporadic bullets. However, it barely affected the aircraft.

Trying to hit a fast-moving target in three-dimensional space with a rifle is very difficult, even if hit, the damage would be minimal, unless by chance it strikes the pilot or the engine.

Soon, another airplane dived down, seemingly learning from the previous experience, adjusting its angle in mid-air and diving along the road’s trajectory.

"Rat-a-tat-tat!"

...

The bullets created a blood-red scene, chaos broke loose with horses neighing and people screaming, especially in the foremost carriage where the horses were shot and ran aimlessly, causing it to lose balance and topple, blocking the road with cannon.

This stopped the convoy that could still move, Colonel Miller, hoping to escape this "deadly" place, looked back helplessly at another diving airplane, his face showing resignation, seemingly accepting his fate.

...

Khalil received the news that the artillery was attacked by enemy aircraft.

Wolf seemed to believe Khalil’s predictions at this moment, every enemy move seemed to align with Khalil’s anticipated direction.

Wolf gulped hard and suggested, "Colonel, request to retreat from the General, if the General realizes this, I believe..."

Khalil shook his head powerlessly, "It’s no use, Wolf, it’s too late!"

"What?" Wolf looked at Khalil in surprise, "No, we still have time!"

Khalil stood up and presented the map on the table to Wolf, his voice filled with deep despair, "We are infantry, Wolf, all deployed on the front line, about thirteen kilometers away from the rear, retreating while fighting, how long do you think it would take to break out of the encirclement?"

Retreating a regiment is not like leaving for a trip, they need to organize and cover each other alternately during the retreat.

Even with a unit covering the rear, thirteen kilometers would take more than two hours to reach, and that is with light gear.

By then they will face enemy tanks, border sidecars, and those machine guns, what can they do even if their numbers are several times larger?

Breaking through? Don’t dream of it!

When the artillery was blocked on the road by the enemy aircraft, Khalil knew it was impossible.

It will be a meaningless massacre!

Wolf was still unwilling to give up, "We could attack the enemy from both sides, if General Waldock sends reinforcements from the other side..."

"Wolf!" Khalil interrupted, pointing to the defensive line on the map, reminding him, "All our forces are on the front line, there’s no force behind us, not a single one!"

Wolf was stunned.

Khalil was right, during the "Dash to the Sea," both sides had committed all their forces to defend the front line stretching over three hundred kilometers, even untrained recruits were sent to the front.

At this time, the area within ten kilometers behind the line is full of warehouses, hospitals, wounded, and supply convoys...even if General Waldock agrees to the two-sided attack plan, he has no troops to deploy!

So, what can they do?

...

Alrony Town is a small town in France with over five hundred households, its surrounding flat terrain had never been considered strategic.

But today is different, its position is right behind the Lafox region, occupying here would complete the encirclement of the Lafox region.

It was in the afternoon, it was raining and planes were roaring overhead, and from the Western Front came the sounds of artillery and gunshots, residents were forced to stay indoors or hide in basements.

Some bold ones couldn’t help coming out to get some fresh air, they opened their windows and greeted each other across the road:

"Is everything alright, Mr. Samuel?"

"Very well, Mr. Lannuci!" Samuel responded politely.

But that wasn’t the truth, Samuel sighed in his heart and fell into silence.

Last night, several Germans barged into his house, they somehow learned that he was the mayor of this small town.

"If you are the mayor, things become easier!" A German Lieutenant smiled elegantly at Samuel with a friendly face, "You know, the soldiers on the front line are fighting to protect the town, they are lacking supplies, I hope you can take responsibility for some of the supplies!"

Samuel’s mind filled again with the image of the German Lieutenant, who looked harmless, as if talking to his own citizens, but his right hand was on his gun case, ready to pull out his pistol and shoot Samuel at any moment.

Samuel couldn’t help but curse, "These bastards, occupy our land yet want us to provide them food!"

But what could he do?

Samuel didn’t know how to tell the town’s residents, they would see him as a German traitor, even burn down his house!

As he was in distress, he spotted several border sidecars appearing in the rain curtain at the other end of the road, faint sounds of engines could be heard.

Samuel’s heart tightened, thinking it was the Germans coming to press him for food.

"Damn Germans! They should be hanged, these shameful invaders!" Samuel cursed while thinking about what excuse to use.

The sidecars came closer, the red on their military caps and pants becoming more distinct, Samuel rubbed his eyes hard, still not daring to believe it.

French Army?

The sidecars sped up, and the French soldiers on them waved and greeted him skillfully in French:

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Good to see you, you’re free now!"

"This place belongs to France again!"

...

Samuel slowly opened the door and walked outside, although it was still raining.

Then he saw the French soldiers, a lot of French soldiers, riding sidecars in squads passing by, even a steel monster-like vehicle, its tracks making "clatter-clatter" noises, with French soldiers sitting and waving at him.

Samuel silly asked, "Hey, are you the French Army?"

The soldiers burst into laughter:

"Can’t recognize us?"

"Who else do you think we are?"

"We are Shire’s Army, have you heard of him? Shire!"

...

Samuel finally realized, he shouted excitedly, "Yes, I know him, Shire, he saved France!"

"Yes, that’s him!" The soldiers responded loudly.

Samuel ran, knocking on doors as he ran, "It’s our people, our army, Shire brought them here! We are free, we are free!"

The residents were awakened, men, women, old and young, they came out of their houses, cheering to welcome the soldiers, some even held umbrellas for the soaking wet soldiers, though it was entirely unnecessary.