Chapter 431 This is the British

Charles casually handed the telegram to Albert I.

Albert I took the telegram and was surprised: "You are short of fuel?"

Charles said nothing, but glanced at the telegram meaningfully, signaling Albert I to read it more carefully.

Albert I turned his gaze to the telegram again with a puzzled look.

Soon confusion turned to shock, and then to anger.

"Who sent this telegram?" Albert I asked in a deep voice.

"General Winter," said Charles. "But I think that's what 'Secretary of the Admiralty' meant."

Albert I nodded slightly and asked, "Does this mean that if you don't go to the Dardanelles, you won't provide us with fuel?"

Colonel Eden looked at Albert I in surprise, as if he couldn't believe that this would happen. Using fuel to force Charles to surrender?

Tijani, who was reviewing documents, also stopped what he was doing. He looked at Albert I, then turned his gaze to Charles and waited for his answer.

Charles confirmed Albert I's guess with his silence.

This moment was like a powder keg being ignited, and Albert I exploded at that moment:

"What a bunch of bastards, what shameless people!"

“How could they do this?”

"I know that the British are unreliable. They only think about their own interests at all times."

…

Tijani stepped forward, took the telegram and read it:

"I don't quite understand that our victory here is also in the interests of the United Kingdom. Could this be a misunderstanding?"

"Maybe they didn't mean anything else but just meant it literally."

"I mean, there are German submarines blockading Antwerp..."

Charles shook his head. "As long as I agree, they will deliver the fuel immediately. Otherwise, they will continue to drag it down."

Tijani turned his gaze to the telegram again, and finally nodded slowly: "You are right, this telegram is impeccable, and there is no coercion in the literal meaning. But in fact, whether there is a German submarine is just a word from them."

"This is the 'Minister of the Navy' hoping to save the defeat in the Dardanelles." Albert I gritted his teeth and said, "This bastard, he ignored the interests of his allies for his own political interests, and the dangers that may be caused by doing so. This may make everyone's efforts come to naught, and it will kill many people!"

Charles didn't say anything. He stood up and made himself a cup of coffee.

If the "Secretary of the Navy" had been so far-sighted and reasonable, he would not have seized the Ottoman battleships.

But Albert I was not as calm as Charles. He was so angry that his face turned pale, his chest heaving violently and he was breathing heavily. At this moment, he was like an enraged bull, ready to lower his head and rush towards his target with horns raised.

After a while, Albert I picked up his hat from the table and turned away.

"I'm going to England," he said.

"Sire," Charles called to him, "do you think it would be useful to go to England?"

He should know that he has become "Mrs. Cow".

Albert I turned around and replied: "This is probably the private decision of the 'Secretary of the Navy', and others may not agree with this approach."

He then added: "Besides, he is no longer the Secretary of the Navy. He has no power to make this decision."

"But the power of the 'Secretary of the Admiralty' remains." Charles replied: "It has nothing to do with whether he is the Secretary of the Admiralty or not. It is his connections and his ability to convince others that this is in the interests of Britain."

"But this is not in the interests of Britain," Albert I insisted.

He believed that as long as he went to Britain and raised his voice, the "Secretary of the Admiralty" would immediately be criticized by everyone and the fuel problem would be solved smoothly.

"No, sir," Charles replied, "the point is that I am French, not English."

Albert I, who was about to turn around, was petrified upon hearing these words, and his feet seemed to be tied up and he could no longer move.

"Think about it." Charles held the brewed coffee and stirred it gently with a spoon. Shi Ran returned to his desk and sat down: "The British transport ships will not only deliver fuel, but also reinforcements. When the British reinforcements arrive, who will command the next battle?"

Albert I understood instantly.

If Charles continued to stay in Antwerp, no one could take the command away from him, which meant that the British army would have to obey Charles' orders, and the final credit would belong to Charles, with the British army being just a foil, no matter how many people died.

This is something the British cannot tolerate. They are the world's most powerful country. They want to dominate everything and be the protagonist everywhere.

Otherwise, it would threaten Britain's international reputation and even the centripetal force of its colonies.

"We can verify it." Charles took a sip of coffee and looked up at the signalman waiting on the side: "Call General Winter back: 'I'm very sorry! As I said before, I can't leave Antwerp. Now is the critical stage of the battle. I think I should be in charge of the situation here.'"

"Yes, General." The signalman responded and turned and ran to the telecommunications room.

Charles waved his hand at a few people: "What do you think General Winter will say? I guess they have already arranged everything!"

Tijani chuckled. He agreed with Charles that although Britain was an ally, it was also a competitor of France.

Colonel Eden was at a loss as to what to do. Before this, he thought that Britain and France were firm allies and were united in fighting the Germans, but now he realized that this was not the case.

Albert I sighed softly, returned to his desk and sat down in a sullen manner, feeling a sense of powerlessness.

Soon the messenger returned with a telegram in his hand: "General Winter said that the situation in Antwerp has been settled, and they plan to send Marshal Kitchener to take charge of the situation. The brigadier general can rest assured to command in the Dardanelles, where he is more needed."

(The picture above shows Kitchener, the Minister of War. He was also a ruthless character. He used cruel methods of burning and killing to deal with the Boers in the Second Boer War. He was arbitrary during World War I and ignored the decision of the cabinet to expand the army on a large scale.)

Tijani said "Wow", smiled and looked at Charles and joked: "Your battle was so dazzling that even the British Field Marshal was jealous."

Then Tijani thought, who says it's not true? In the face of this war, what does a British field marshal count for?

Albert I said sarcastically with a deadpan expression: "It's a perfect plan. They are very good at winning such 'battles'. This is the British!"

Colonel Eden, who had been silent, interrupted at this time: "But Your Majesty, General, if these are the only problems, I think we can solve them without the British. We can ask the guerrillas for reinforcements. I believe they are no worse than the British. We can call on the surrounding towns to provide fuel."

Tijani smiled and shook his head: "This matter needs to be kept secret, Colonel, we can't let others know that our tanks have run out of fuel and can't move!"

Charles remained silent, for now he had different ideas.

(End of this chapter)