I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 180: Able to Defeat the Enemy, But Unable to Defeat One’s Own People

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Able to Defeat the Enemy, But Unable to Defeat One’s Own People

(Below is Fajin Han, Chief of the German General Staff)

Germany Berlin Wilhelm Street, which has developed into a concentrated government office area over decades, houses the German Army General Staff in an office building in the middle section.

With hands behind his back, Fajin Han, Chief of the German General Staff, walked up to the window sill where outside, a fine drizzle was gently falling as a troop of soldiers with rifles marched toward the frontline while singing military songs amid cheer from the crowd.

These were evidently new recruits, faces still youthful with their eyes shining bright, carrying a naive but fervent longing for what they perceive as the glory of war.

Do these soldiers have any idea what they will be facing? Fajin Han wondered to himself.

No, they don’t, otherwise their faces would be filled with fear!

But now it seems only this path remains, the Western Front needs more troops, more! It’s still far from enough!

"General!" Colonel Moritz stepped forward to report: "General Kluck has sent a telegram wanting to know if it’s true that we are developing tanks!"

"Developing tanks?" Fajin Han was puzzled: "Where did he get this information from?"

"I’m not sure, General!" Moritz hesitated before replying: "It’s possible that some department leaked the news..."

Then Moritz suddenly realized his mistake and straightened up: "I will go investigate immediately!"

"No, Moritz!" Fajin Han stopped the self-assumed clever move of his staff, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness: "We do not have any tank development plan at all, it’s merely a figment of frontline soldiers’ imagination. They were terrified by the enemy tanks and hence hoped we could have our own tanks."

Fajin Han slowly walked back to his position, struggling like an old man close to his end, easing into the chair and painfully rubbing his aching forehead.

He had been in office for just over a month, yet the events at the frontline made him feel like the German Army was heading for complete collapse and defeat:

The destruction of three Big Bertha cannons in Antwerp was considered trivial, yet the airship got destroyed there as well.

The airship, produced at the cost of a battleship by the German Army with enormous manpower and resources, was shot down effortlessly by a plane carrying a few Congreve Rockets, only a fraction of its size.

Not long ago, Fajin Han had high hopes for the airship, even had a plan to bomb London with it.

But all those hopes turned to dust with a single blast and a blinding flash of fire.

Then came the Battle of Ypres, where France deployed planes equipped with machine guns, ultimately dominating the skies with their aircraft while the German planes stood defenseless.

Following was the Battle of Lafox where the "Mark I" tank suddenly appeared on the battlefield, effortlessly breaking through the German defense lines, encircling an elite unit along with eight artillery battalions and forcing them to surrender.

In that moment, Fajin Han felt as though the sky was falling: "God, we still dream of occupying Paris, completely unaware that the French could easily obliterate us, like squashing an ant!"

Of course, he kept such thoughts to himself, as the Chief of the General Staff, he had to bury this fear deep inside.

Fajin Han was not a coward, yet he was still shaken by the successive new equipment the French kept introducing, easily gaining full advantage in the air and on the ground.

How should we fight this battle?

"Tanks?" Fajin Han shook his head: "No, it would be too late by the time we develop our tanks. We need something to stop the French in the short term, and we need it immediately!"

Moritz nodded, understanding what Fajin Han meant: the 13mm T-type anti-tank rifle, which had already been produced, capable of piercing a 25mm vertical steel plate at a distance of 200 meters, should be able to stop the tanks.

But then a piece of intelligence changed Fajin Han’s thoughts.

An aide handed over a telegram: "General, according to intelligence, Shire’s ’Mark I’ seems to have a flaw in its progress, requiring track replacement every thirty kilometers!"

"This, is this true?" Fajin Han stared at the aide in shock, his trembling hands eagerly taking the telegram.

"It should be true!" the aide replied: "Confirmed by a French faction."

Fajin Han repeatedly scanned the telegram, his face lighting up with joy.

These days he had been puzzled why the French, clearly capable of breaking through the German defense, had done nothing.

He had assumed the French were preparing more tanks for a thunderous strike to cause a complete German collapse at the front.

But now it seemed it was because of the tank’s own issue.

After pondering for a while, Fajin Han found it increasingly logical: if the tank needed major repairs after traveling thirty kilometers, the French Army wouldn’t dare to go deep into the interior after breaching the defense lines.

Otherwise, they would risk going deep and end up being surrounded by the German Army.

Fajin Han let out a long breath, feeling as if a sword hanging above his head had suddenly vanished, the battle situation no longer seemed as urgent as before.

Hesitating for a moment, Fajin Han turned his head and ordered the aide: "Get in touch with the 7th Transport Department!"

"Yes, General!" Moritz replied.

The full name of the 7th Transport Department is the "Seventh United Front Transportation Division," responsible for managing and developing military vehicles.

...

Early the next morning, Gallieni got up promptly at eight o’clock.

The aides would usually prepare at least ten minutes earlier to save Gallieni’s valuable time, ensuring they were aware of the situation to report to him upon his arrival.

As soon as Gallieni sat down on the chair, Shire handed over the prepared documents: "These need your signature, General!"

Gallieni made a sound of acknowledgment, signing the documents swiftly while saying: "I received news that Schneider and the Francis Tractor Factory have applied to the government for the ’Wartime Procurement Ordinance,’ still the ’Saint Chammon’ and ’CA-1,’ but in improved versions. Your ’Mark I,’ still plans not to participate, correct?"

"Yes, General!" Shire replied crisply.

Gallieni glanced at Shire: "Or do you have new tanks?"

"Yes!" Shire did not shy away.

"Not planning to participate with the new tanks either?" Gallieni asked again.

"No!" Shire’s eyes held a hint of helplessness: "The new tanks also have the same issues as before!"

Disappointment flashed across Gallieni’s eyes, but he eventually nodded without saying anything further.

Gallieni always hoped Shire could defeat his rivals in the ’Wartime Procurement Ordinance,’ thereby reducing unnecessary casualties and failures on the battlefield.

But ironically, while Shire’s tanks achieved victories and gained recognition on the battlefield, he continued to fail in military bids.

Even the hope of winning was diminishing.

Last time, the Right Wing and Schneider were competitors, with ’CA-1’ and ’Saint Chammon’ as enemies.

Now they had become allies, occupying most seats in the parliament, gaining support from Xia Fei and the Automotive Technology Services Department along with the Right Wing forces...

Gallieni sighed lightly:

Shire’s tanks could easily defeat the enemy, striking fear into the Germans, prompting them to madly reinforce the frontline and build fortifications day and night, but could not defeat his own compatriots, and had no chance at all!

(Above is the German 13mm T-type anti-tank rifle, with significant recoil. Rumor has it that after firing three shots, the shooter needs hospitalization: one shot to the right shoulder, one to the left shoulder, and another to the right shoulder, then switch shooters)