Chapter 447 No Matter Too Big

The person who reacted most strongly to this incident was Albert I.

When Albert I heard the news that the Germans were preparing to surrender, he jumped out of bed during his lunch break.

He, who always paid great attention to his image, actually ran out in his pajamas and shouted to his entourage and the workers who were filling the bullet holes and craters outside: "We have won, the Germans have surrendered! Long live Belgium!"

The attendants and workers stopped what they were doing and cheered.

The news soon spread and everyone in the manor cheered.

Albert I could not control his excitement. He excitedly grabbed a maid and spun her around a few times. Although the maid did not know how to dance and stepped on his feet several times, he did not feel any pain at all.

Then, he suddenly left the maid behind and rushed to the telecommunications room and ordered: "Pass this news to everyone, everyone, immediately!"

"Yes, Your Majesty." The signalman replied excitedly.

Albert I wanted to open a bottle of champagne to celebrate, but then he remembered something and ran to the dressing room. After entering, he quickly turned around and stuck his head out to order the entourage outside the door: "Prepare the carriage, I want to go to the fortress!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Albert I changed his clothes quickly, muttering to himself, "Charles is indispensable for such an occasion. Without him, there would be no victory today, and the celebration would be without a protagonist! A celebration without a protagonist is certainly not a celebration!"

After quickly changing his clothes, choosing a top hat and a cane, Albert I walked briskly through the passage and down the stairs.

Before he could leave the house, Colonel Eden came in from outside.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report to you..." Colonel Eden looked a little ugly.

Albert I was unaware. He was overwhelmed by the joy of victory. He walked towards the carriage parked at the door without stopping. He interrupted Colonel Eden excitedly: "I know that the Germans are going to surrender. I heard about it, Colonel. You came at the right time. Let's go see Charles together and celebrate."

Colonel Eden could only catch up from behind.

"No, sire," said Colonel Eden indignantly, "it's something else. They intend to make Joffre accept the surrender of the Germans."

Albert I, who was about to get on the carriage, suddenly froze, lost his balance and almost fell. Fortunately, Colonel Eden rushed forward and supported him.

Before he could stand still, Albert I turned his head and looked at Colonel Eden with an expression of disbelief: "What did you say? Is this true?"

Colonel Eden nodded. "It was proposed by the new British 'Secretary of the Navy' Balfour. He said that this was a victory achieved after great sacrifices by British and French soldiers, so the Allied Commander-in-Chief should accept the surrender."

Albert I's face darkened, and he asked in a cold voice: "Where is Joffre? What did he say?"

Xiafei, who had done nothing, should have come forward to decline the offer, which would have shown his magnanimity and resolved the awkward situation. There is a saying that goes "no merit, no reward". If Xiafei really had to accept the surrender, would he have been able to bear the strange looks from others?

But Albert I underestimated Joffre.

Colonel Eden replied: "Joffre has made no reply, at least not yet. I think he intends to pretend he does not know."

In this case, pretending not to know means tacitly agreeing with Belfort's statement.

"Shameless!" Albert I was furious. "These bastards are blatantly stealing Charles's victory and using the casualties of the frontline soldiers as an excuse."

"Your Majesty," Colonel Eden reminded, "This impact is not as simple as it seems."

"What do you mean?" Albert I looked at Colonel Eden in confusion.

Colonel Eden came closer and lowered his voice:

"Charles has made such a great contribution, but the honor belongs to someone else."

"So what's the point of Ciel doing this?"

"Will Charles think: In this case, let Joffre come to Belgium to garrison and recover the remaining land..."

Albert I was horrified and stood there for a long time without reacting. This was the worst news he had ever heard.

Although Charles achieved great success in regaining the capital Brussels during this infiltration, he only regained about one-third of the land.

If Charles quits, who will take back the remaining land?

That idiot Joffre?

If he really comes, let alone recovering the land, it will be a problem whether he can hold on to the existing land.

What's more, Charles will be needed to build a defense system in the future.

"No, no." Albert I's face changed drastically. He quickly climbed into the carriage and said to Colonel Eden anxiously, "Get in the carriage. We must see Charles immediately."

…

At Charles's headquarters, Charles had just seen off General Winter when he heard the British propose the suggestion of "letting Joffre accept surrender".

"Great." Tijani said sarcastically, "He was nowhere to be seen during the war, but he was at the forefront when accepting the surrender. He is indeed our brave and fearless commander-in-chief."

Seeing that Charles didn't respond, Tijani asked doubtfully, "You seem to have accepted it calmly?"

"What else can I do?" Charles replied calmly: "Protest against them with a gun?"

"Maybe you should do that." Tijani said calmly.

This is not only unfair to Charles, but also to him as the commander of the mechanized division, as well as the commander of the armored division and all the officers and soldiers.

"Let him be." A smile hung on Charles's lips: "If he has the ability to eat this fruit without choking."

"What?" Tijani didn't understand what Charles meant, then he seemed to understand, he smiled and shook his head: "Do you think Joffre is too embarrassed to swallow it? You underestimate him, Brigadier General!"

Charles just smiled and didn't explain further.

He felt that he could not remain silent any longer.

Charles himself didn't feel much about this. He has always paid attention to practical interests rather than fame. This is what a smart capitalist should do. A smart capitalist will always keep a low profile instead of putting himself in the spotlight.

But this incident may affect the morale of the troops.

As Tijani said, there was no Joffre during the battle, but he and his troops were there when the surrender was accepted.

So what about the armored and mechanized forces that directly participate in the war?

Didn't they risk their lives on the battlefield to achieve such a victory?

If we just let this matter go today, in the next battle, all officers and soldiers will think about one question: Will the military achievements we have made this time belong to others as before?

This will cause them to develop a slack mentality, which is dangerous or even fatal on the battlefield.

Ciel would never put his troops in danger, it would be no different than putting himself in danger.

Therefore, Charles was not as indifferent as he appeared. He planned to make Joffre give up, and it would be best if he could make a big fuss about the matter and humiliate Joffre severely.

(End of this chapter)