I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 197: After modification - 97 Noble Legion

Chapter 197: After modification: Chapter 97 Noble Legion

The City Defense Headquarters finally received intelligence from Xia Fei’s headquarters.

Previously, Xia Fei had cut off contact with Paris under the pretext of military secrecy. Gallieni could only get a rough idea of the front line’s situation through reconnaissance planes.

Now, suddenly, information came flooding into the City Defense Headquarters like a tide.

At first, Gallieni found it strange. Even if there was a setback at the front, it was unlikely for Xia Fei to do this since it was almost an admission of defeat to Shire.

Not long after, Gallieni understood. Holding a telegram, he said, "It’s General Kanes, the deputy commander of France. He believes only we can turn the tide in this defeat."

"Impossible to reverse!" Shire shook his head as he read the telegram, "The Germans have sealed off the defensive line and made ample preparations. Any army sent to rescue will be trapped inside!"

This was determined by the advantage of trench warfare of the time. The Germans had built trench defenses at several key positions and even deployed the newly developed A7V tanks. They were truly fortresses of firepower.

All attacks would collapse in front of them, no matter how many troops were sent.

Gallieni said nothing, flipping through the telegrams with a heavy heart. He felt Shire was right. The Germans had put considerable thought into this battle, and a rash rescue would likely result in greater losses.

...

Major General Tijani of the Second Specialized Artillery Division had a deep understanding of this. He was the commander facing the German A7V tanks.

When Major General Tijani received the order to break through, he looked around helplessly. His division had almost no chance of breaking through:

On both sides were highlands guarded by the German Army, stretching for several kilometers. Every high point had an unknown number of German soldiers building fortifications and setting up machine guns. Anyone approaching or attempting to pass through the highlands would be mercilessly gunned down.

The exit ahead was only one kilometer wide, already blocked by German artillery fire. 105MM shells rained down on the ground in succession. Anyone trying to rush through would be flayed alive.

To the rear were the German tanks, hiding in the dead corners of the highlands, out of reach of the French 75MM artillery. Once the French Army rushed out, they would immediately be struck mercilessly by the tanks.

Major General Tijani had tried several times to break through using tanks, but each attempt failed. Seven "Saint Chammon" and five CA-1 tank wrecks blocked the exit. They were no match for the German tanks.

Major General Tijani could only repeatedly report to Xia Fei via radio, "We cannot break through. The enemy’s defensive lines and positions are everywhere. They are waiting for us to step into this encirclement! We have no way out!"

...

"Ring, ring, ring!"

The phone on Gallieni’s desk rang. Not just anyone could get through to him directly.

Sure enough, Gallieni’s face showed surprise as he picked up the phone:

"Congressman Claymont? What can I do for you?"

"You want Shire to rescue Cape Town? But..."

"Is that so? Your son is a colonel in the First Specialized Artillery Division?"

"Alright, I will try my best!"

No sooner had he hung up the phone than it rang again:

"Congressman Jeremy? You also have a relative in the Specialized Artillery Division?"

"He’s in the Second Specialized Artillery Division?"

"Alright, I’m working on it!"

After another call came one after another, Gallieni simply had Major Fernan answer the phone and uniformly reply, "We’re working on it," "We’re working on it!"

Gallieni raised an eyebrow at Shire, "You know what’s going on!"

Shire nodded, "Yes, I know!"

The capitalists and congressmen were extremely shortsighted. Not understanding military matters, they believed Xia Fei’s offensive would undoubtedly succeed, so they transferred their sons, nephews, and relatives from safe rear positions to the Specialized Artillery Divisions to gain credit.

Unexpectedly...

Such officers didn’t deserve to be rescued. Letting them die there would be best.

However, Shire’s heart skipped a beat. If rescuing them meant that these congressmen owed him a favor and even believed that only by placing their sons and nephews in Shire’s division could they gain credit, wouldn’t that mean his influence would further expand?

Nevertheless, this was just a thought. Shire shook his head. How could he rescue them in this situation?!

Suddenly, Major Fernan looked at Gallieni in shock and nodded, whispering while covering the microphone, "It’s Wells!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Gallieni’s eyes as he rose to take the call:

"Mr. Wells!"

"Your son is in the Second Specialized Artillery Division? Major General Tijani?"

"God, I understand, I will do my best!"

...

Shire found it somewhat strange. Who was Wells? Who had such influence to make Gallieni so cautious!

Suddenly, Shire thought, could it be Wells from the Brest Shipyard?

As the shipyard tycoon, he didn’t place his son in the navy but rather stirred up trouble in the army and got surrounded?

Gallieni put down the phone and was silent for a while, then said to Shire, "Come with me, Major!"

With that, he turned and headed to the rest room.

There was an extra chair in the rest room. Gallieni nodded and motioned for Shire to sit down, speaking earnestly:

"As a soldier, I will not ask you to rescue these troops for the sake of a group of capitalists or aristocrats. To me, they are all the same."

"However..."

"They are different to you!"

Shire answered weakly, "I know, General, but in this situation..."

"Additionally!" Gallieni added, "Xia Fei intends to order the First Flight Battalion to suppress the artillery targeting the Second Specialized Artillery Division. You know why."

Shire’s eyes widened, "No, he can’t do that!"

"Of course, he can!" Gallieni replied, "Using the First Flight Battalion to cover the breakout of over twenty thousand soldiers from the Second Specialized Artillery Division is worth it, even if it sacrifices the entire battalion. Moreover, this division includes many capitalists’ relatives, and its commander, Major General Tijani, is Wells’ son! Do you think they would object?"

Shire fell silent.

Indeed, there was no problem. The First Flight Battalion was insignificant to the capitalists, but the Second Specialized Artillery Division was not.

"Only you can save them, Shire!" Gallieni stared at Shire and slowly nodded, "If you can’t do it, no one can."

Gallieni added, "Whether for the tens of thousands of French soldiers, the First Flight Battalion, or yourself..."

Shire fell silent for a while, then calmly said, "I can try, but I hope there will be no similar situation in the future."

"What do you mean?" Gallieni’s eyes brightened.

"Do not transfer my troops!" Shire explained, "Xia Fei does not know how to use them. It’s a waste. This request is not excessive!"

Gallieni considered for a while, then heavily nodded, "I promise, nothing like this will happen again!"

(The picture above is an A7V tank, one cannon and six Maxim machine guns, operated by 18 people)