Chapter 222: Ciel's Influence
In the lounge, the light cast three faint shadows on the desk.
Gallieni's old injury seemed to have relapsed. He frowned and rubbed his abdomen subconsciously, but soon let go and returned to his original expression.
Charles noticed this, turned around and made a cup of coffee for Gallieni.
"Thank you, Colonel!" Gallieni was a little surprised when he took the coffee, then nodded slightly, with a hint of relief and smile in his eyes.
"That's right!" Albert I looked at Charles with a hint of expectation: "Have you heard about the Ottoman Empire (Türkiye) joining the Allied Powers?"
"Yes, of course!" Charles nodded.
This happened last month, shortly after the Battle of the Marne.
The cause was that Britain detained two dreadnoughts ordered by the Ottoman Empire for use in the war and refused to refund the money.
This was exploited by Germany and used to sow discord, which eventually got out of control and led to the Ottoman Empire joining the Central Powers.
Gallieni snorted: "British arrogance!"
It is true that Britain did not take the Ottoman Empire seriously and did not give it the most basic diplomatic respect.
Albert I did not make many comments. As the king of a small country, he was not well suited to comment on Britain.
Albert I spread out a map on the table and pointed at it, saying, "After this, many people thought that if we cannot break through from the front, we need to land from the enemy's flank or even from the rear to open up a new battlefield."
Charles glanced at Gallieni, who had asked Charles a similar question not long ago: Is it possible to use the "Charle A1" to break through the enemy's defense line head-on?
Charles' answer was no, so Gallieni turned to support the British flank landing.
Gallieni said nothing, but just took a sip of his coffee, which was considered as his consent.
"There are several plans for a flank landing." Albert I did not notice the expressions of the two men and continued, "Some people think we should land in the Baltic Sea area in the north, while others think we should land in the Mediterranean area in the south. The two sides are still deadlocked in the debate."
Charles was a little confused: "But this doesn't seem to have anything to do with us. We are the army, and this is the navy's business?"
Gallieni raised the corner of his mouth: "Maybe it has nothing to do with me, but it may not be the case for you."
Albert I nodded, looked at Charles and said, "Many people want to hear your opinion."
"My opinion?" Charles was puzzled. Why should he listen to the opinion of a colonel?
Gallieni seemed to see through Charles's thoughts. He looked at Charles with a strange look and said in a relaxed tone: "You don't seem to know your influence yet, Colonel?"
Seeing Charles' confused face, Gallieni smiled and shook his head slightly:
"Do you think that after you have invented so many devices and won so many battles, others will still treat you as an ordinary person?"
"Perhaps that is the case in France, because it is controlled by capitalists, and the capitalists control Parliament."
"But all strategists from any country other than France, including Britain and Russia, hope to get your approval when making operational plans and decisions!"
Albert I nodded to confirm Gallieni's statement: "Although they don't say it, they will take your opinion as the standard answer in their hearts, Colonel!"
As he said this, Albert I's eyes sparkled with pride, as if he was honored to be friends with Charles.
Charles was somewhat speechless, because these influences seemed to be of no use to him and could only bring him trouble. For example, now Albert I came to him to ask for an "opinion".
Looking at the expectation in Albert I's eyes, Charles knew that this was not as simple as asking for "opinions".
As the King of Belgium, Albert I certainly hoped that the Allied Powers could land from the north, because if the landing was successful, it would mean that the restoration of Belgium would be not far away.
This is not the case for landing from the south.
Therefore, Albert I hoped to win Charles' support.
As for Charles' attitude, as they just said, since Charles is always right and always wins, it is very likely that the deadlocked North and South factions will fall to the other side.
Albert I was destined to be disappointed. Historically, this battle was fought in the Dardanelles in the south. Although it was ultimately defeated, both sides lost 250,000 people each and gained nothing.
At this moment, Charles' mind suddenly flashed back to the woman he met at the dance, the naval battle, the landing, the Minister of the Navy, the lover...
This means that all the Allied combat plans will be laid bare before the German army without any secrets.
Thinking of this, Charles pointed to the north and said seriously: "I think we should land from the north."
"Yes, I think so too!" Albert's nervous expression suddenly relaxed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He pointed to the map and said, "Once our army successfully lands in the north, we can immediately attack the German troops stationed in Belgium from the rear, thereby cutting off the German army's transportation supply lines."
Charles nodded with difficulty: "This can determine the outcome of this war. The German army will have to abandon the entire Western Front."
He said this, but in his heart he was thinking: Your Majesty, Belgium built the Liege Fortress. Although part of it has been blown up, there are still several strong fortresses left when they surrendered. The Germans are guarding there. What can our landing troops use to attack?
He thought about it in his heart but did not show it on his face, and continued to support Albert I.
Gallieni frowned: "But this also means that we will be attacked by the main force of the German army from all directions, even by the German fleet!"
"I don't think we need to worry about the German fleet." Charles replied, "Britain has always been implementing the double plan. For every warship the Germans build, they build two. Now is the time for the British fleet to come in handy!"
"I think so too." Albert I nodded repeatedly: "Britain is fully capable of blocking the German fleet and allocating some ships to reinforce the landing force."
Charles added: "There is another advantage to doing this. Both fleets are in the Atlantic Ocean. If necessary, the landing fleet and the blockade fleet can reinforce each other. If we land from the south..."
"A very good idea." Albert I was so excited that he could not contain himself. "If we land from the south, the landing fleet will have to enter the Mediterranean Sea, and the two fleets will not be able to reinforce each other."
Charles concluded: "We must consider this. If the German fleet breaks out during our landing operation, it is likely to catch the British fleet off guard. Unless Britain is confident that it can blockade the German fleet with warships of equal strength, we can only land from the north."
This analysis left Gallieni speechless, because such a risk does exist.
(The picture above shows the British "Irish", formerly known as the "Resadih", one of the battleships of the Ottoman Empire detained by the British)
(The picture above shows the British battleship "Agincourt", formerly known as the "Ottoman Sultan I", one of the battleships of the Ottoman Empire detained by the United Kingdom)
(End of this chapter)
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