I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 200: Didn’t Expect This Result

Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Didn’t Expect This Result

Gallieni stood at the podium of the House of Representatives, delivering his speech with righteous fervor:

"Gentlemen, I don’t know how to describe this matter."

"Your industrial property is protected by property law, but the troops trained within the army are not."

"Charles trained this unit. He won victories on the battlefield with this unit, yet he was excluded from command."

"This will have a very bad impact on the army. Everyone will wonder if their efforts for the unit will ultimately lead to them being excluded like Charles?"

A representative immediately heckled from below:

"But this is the army, the army belongs to the nation, not to any individual!"

"If Charles trained them, he should command them. Over time, Charles would control the entire army."

"We cannot allow this to happen. The trainer and the commander of the troops should be separate!"

...

The representatives’ arguments were very reasonable, it was even standard military procedure.

For example, when mid-to-high-ranking officers are promoted, they are often transferred to other units to face new environments and subordinates.

The purpose of this is to prevent a commander from developing their own power due to long-term service in a unit.

However, Gallieni was prepared, he knew the representatives would say this and calmly responded:

"That’s not the key issue, gentlemen!"

"The key is that only Charles knows how to use the troops he trained. He can win with these troops, but in others’ hands, it would be complete failure!"

"We are in a time of war. I believe we should concentrate all our efforts against the enemy, rather than waste them like consumables!"

Wells and others immediately stood up in agreement:

"Gallieni is right, look at what’s happening on the battlefield, Xia Fei is losing the war. He used Charles’ troops!"

"Those troops should be under Charles’ command until we have someone who can learn his tactics!"

"If Xia Fei wants to deploy those troops, he should at least learn how to use them. I suggest he take Charles as his mentor!"

The room burst into laughter at the suggestion, while the representatives supporting Xia Fei looked embarrassed, unable to deny the battlefield failures, whereas Charles consistently achieved victory.

Then Grevy stood up and gracefully asked Gallieni at the podium:

"General, allow me to express some doubts, is this the appropriate time to discuss this matter?"

"Cape Town has over forty thousand troops surrounded. I think we should be discussing how to rescue them first!"

Gallieni silently acknowledged, it had come.

This was a question he couldn’t avoid and was difficult to answer. Grevy placed himself on a moral high ground, while Gallieni and Charles were leveraging the lives of over forty thousand people against the parliament!

...

On the train to Cape Town, Charles was discussing the battle plan with Brownie and Estiny.

"Our target is Rhodes!" Charles pointed at the map and said, "The terrain here is flat, suitable for tank breakthroughs. The Germans have deployed two artillery battalions there, but they’re only 77MM field guns!"

Charles turned his gaze to Brownie and said, "You know how to deal with them!"

"Yes, of course!" Brownie confidently nodded.

Estiny looked a bit uneasy: "Sir, are we only breaking through from one flank? That means we need to traverse the entire route!"

"Yes!" Charles nodded.

"But the ’Mark I’ tanks need to change tracks every thirty kilometers." Estiny reminded, "The full route is at least 25 kilometers, which is nearly the limit, the ’Mark I’ might not make it back!"

Thirty kilometers was the result of flat terrain testing, battlefield conditions would be much harsher, plus actual combat, it was almost impossible to complete the 25-kilometer journey.

Charles replied: "We won’t bring them back, they’ll be left with the Germans. Our goal is to rescue!"

...

"Of course, Charles would prioritize the rescue." Gallieni replied, "The problem is, given the current situation, he cannot execute the rescue plan!"

Grevy continued to press: "May I know the reason? Unless this is also a military secret!"

"No, of course not." Gallieni smiled slightly, "The situation is critical; Charles believes that to rescue the trapped troops, he needs absolute command authority, even over the supreme commander. Can you make that happen?"

The meeting room burst into an uproar; this basically meant making Xia Fei subordinate to Charles, something almost impossible.

Actually, Gallieni was bluffing; he knew every minute of this meaningless discussion bought Charles more preparation time.

Others were fooled by Gallieni, but Grevy remained clear-headed, he asked with a straight face:

"But what does this have to do with today’s agenda?"

"If the facts are as you say, General, we should be discussing command authority."

"But the facts are not so, we are discussing Charles’ conditions!"

Arman took the opportunity to jeer:

"Yes, the truth is simple, Charles is using this situation."

"He’s gambling with the lives of over forty thousand French soldiers. He wants control over the army."

"Do you know what controlling the army means? It is the foundation of a dictator!"

The room was abuzz; even Wells could not refute, the right-wing’s remarks hit the crux of the matter, they were indeed compromising to Charles.

...

After explaining the battle plan, Charles disembarked the train at Morik Town, where Major Laurent’s car was already waiting for him.

Laurent had brought two cars, one carrying guards, the other with a communications team equipped with a radio, worried there might be urgent situations at the front.

As the car approached Paris, Charles received a telegram stating the troops had arrived at Rhodes.

Charles nodded and ordered: "Reply: Inform the General that the troops have arrived safely!"

...

In the House of Representatives, Gallieni appeared somewhat embarrassed under the representatives’ relentless questioning.

Wells and several representatives initially thought it would be no big deal, not expecting it to escalate to the "dictator" level, they fell silent, fearing to speak.

The meeting room was filled with the rampant shouting and jeering of the right-wing.

A communications officer then walked briskly into the meeting room, whispered something to Gallieni.

Gallieni instantly let out a sigh of relief, stood tall, and cast a cold glance at Grevy and Arman, speaking with full sarcasm:

"Gentlemen, Charles’ troops have arrived at Rhodes, he will soon commence the rescue operation!"

"I am very sorry! We did this because we discovered some within the parliament were providing intelligence directly to the Germans."

"And Charles, from the moment I stood here, his rescue operation had already begun."

"Now, is there anyone still doubting his intentions?"

The room fell silent immediately.

Wells, who had been anxious, also let out a sigh of relief and exchanged glances with several nearby representatives.

Grevy was stunned, he thought this was a great opportunity to overthrow Charles, not expecting this outcome!

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