Chapter 296 Navy Code Book
Charles's fleet returned to the anchorage to a hero's acclaim.
Whether they were French soldiers, British soldiers, Australian soldiers, New Zealand soldiers, or even African soldiers, everyone crowded on the side close to the passage. They waved everything they could find at the fleet, including national flags, handkerchiefs, and rags, and shouted in different languages:
"Welcome back triumphantly!"
"Well done, Ciel!"
"A beautiful battle, a perfect command!"
…
Tijani looked at the warships and the crowd that were retreating with the warship, with some confusion, some excitement, and more of flattery in his eyes.
What he had been pursuing all along was the art of war, the moment when his equipment worked and achieved victory. Now he found that this feeling of being recognized by everyone and immersed in cheers seemed not bad.
Charles was somewhat used to it. He looked at the cheering crowds on both sides with an expressionless face, and calmly raised his hand and waved in response.
The crowd seemed to be interacting with Charles, and the cheers were instantly pushed to another climax.
Soon, Charles saw a small wooden boat waiting at the anchorage, with several British soldiers standing on the boat ready to board.
Tijani also noticed this, and he said to Charles excitedly: "It's the signalman of the Queen Elizabeth. They must be bringing us congratulations and awards!"
"Really?" Charles smiled softly.
If it was for "congratulations and commendations", the person who came should not be a signalman, but at least a colonel-level staff officer or even Lieutenant General Robeck himself.
…
In the meeting room on the island of the "Queen Elizabeth", the atmosphere in the room was quite strange.
Lieutenant General Robeck had a smile on his face, but everyone could see that it was a forced smile.
The officers remained silent. From time to time they glanced at Lieutenant General Robeck, as if trying to see his attitude.
General Geprat strode in. He was late because General Robeck did not inform him of the meeting.
He first found Charles' transport ship, and after asking, he learned that the two were called here by Lieutenant General Robeck.
When General Geprat saw Charles and Tijanni, a proud smile appeared on his face, and he shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Well done, Ciel, and Tijani."
"I reported your victory to the Admiralty, and the Minister was very satisfied with your performance."
"The minister said that this is the combat style of our French Navy. We never hesitate to fight. If there is anything standing in the way of victory, we will solve it first!"
…
The faces of the British officers turned very ugly in an instant, especially Vice Admiral Robeck, because it was he who ordered the battleships to provide "limited reinforcements", which was what Geplat called "being afraid of fighting and not moving forward."
After General Geprat sat down, Lieutenant General Robeck cleared his throat, forced a smile and looked at Charles: "Congratulations on your victory in the first battle, Colonel. But..."
Lieutenant General Robeck's voice turned low: "As a soldier, you should understand that military orders are as heavy as mountains. Your actions today have disrupted our overall combat plan."
O'Connell took over the topic in a calm tone with a smile on his face:
"Yes, Colonel."
"I'm not sure if you know this, but the troops on Cape Helles are waiting for you."
"The troops on W Beach and S Beach were attacking the enemy to support your landing, but you chose to bomb the submarine instead of landing."
O'Connell was trying every means to find a justification for Robbek's anger. He believed that only in this way could he maintain relations with Charles and even France.
"Really?" Ciel asked calmly, "Then why haven't I heard of the so-called 'cooperation' before?"
Lieutenant General Robeck answered without thinking: "That is our battle plan..."
Charles hummed, and looked at General Robeck mysteriously, with a mocking smile on his lips.
Lieutenant General Robeck suddenly realized that he had fallen into Charles' trap: if the British army's battle plan could be kept secret from Charles, then Charles' battle plan certainly did not have to be told to the British army.
Therefore, Shire was not responsible for the so-called "losses" of Cape Helles.
This smart bastard, he might have thought of this loophole a long time ago.
Robbeck regretted that he should have pretended to throw a "battle plan" to this arrogant Frenchman before the war!
Now, the only thing to grasp is "disobeying orders".
However, just as Lieutenant General Robeck was about to speak, General Geprat spoke first.
"It's my fault, Your Excellency Lieutenant General!" General Geprat apologized to Lieutenant General Robeck with a smile: "I know the whole plan, and they originally wanted to discuss it with you. But for confidentiality reasons, I decided not to make the plan public. Facts have proved that this is correct!"
Lieutenant General Robeck was stunned.
If General Geprat knew the plan, then Charles wouldn't even be considered to have "disobeyed orders."
Just when Lieutenant General Robeck was still thinking about what charges he could use to suppress Charles' arrogance, a staff officer came in and handed Lieutenant General Robeck a telegram in a panic.
Lieutenant General Robeck glanced at the telegram, suddenly looked at Charles in shock, and then looked at the staff officer, as if to confirm the authenticity of the telegram.
The staff officer nodded slightly.
Lieutenant General Robeck gritted his teeth, finally sighed softly, and relaxed his expression reluctantly.
…
The telegram was from the Minister of the Navy, and contained only a few simple words: "Cooperate with Charles, and do not interfere!"
This made Lieutenant General Robeck very confused.
It was the Minister of the Navy who originally wanted to target Charles.
Because if Charles wins, the popularity of the Minister of the Navy who initiated the Battle of the Dardanelles will be affected, and everyone will think that Charles can do what he cannot do.
Vice Admiral Robeck didn't understand what made the Navy Minister suddenly change his mind and support Charles's "self-willed approach".
The answer is simple.
After the victory at sea, Charles sent a telegram to General Winter: "Sink the submarine, offshore, the Germans may not have time to destroy the code book!"
General Winter was discussing the war with his staff at the Ypres headquarters at the time. He believed that more navy and army should be deployed in terrain like Ypres to coordinate with each other. Only in this way could unnecessary casualties be reduced and this muddy land be defended.
When he received the telegram, he jumped up as if he was pricked by a needle: "God, the German Navy code book!"
General Winter knew how important this was.
At this time, the blockaded German fleet was ready to move: Britain sent a large number of warships to the Dardanelles to fight, which was obviously the best time for the German fleet to break out.
The British Navy was worried about this, as they didn't know when the Germans would launch a surprise attack on the blockading fleet.
If at this time, the Allies could obtain the German Navy's code book and use it to decipher the German Navy's telegrams, it would mean that the German operation would have failed before it even began!
(End of this chapter)
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