Chapter 137 I would rather not know the truth
"What else can I do, General?" Charles asked back, "I don't want my tank to lose, but the fact is that it has no hope of winning!"
Gallieni was stunned for a moment, then realized that it was not Charles' fault and it was not something he could control.
However, Gallieni still believes that he cannot sit idly by: "You can try your best to stop it!"
"How to stop it?" Charles asked softly, and then added: "If they believed me, the other two tanks would not have appeared. They produced these two tanks just to defeat me, but you tried to make them believe me and give up those two tanks!"
Gallieni was speechless. Charles was telling the truth. It was impossible to make the opponent give up research and development and competition with words alone. That would only be considered as having "ulterior motives" and be ridiculed!
He paced back and forth in the room with a frown on his face. Suddenly he stopped and said, "Tell me about their tank problems, and I will put pressure on them!"
Charles shook his head. "It's no use, General! They have long thought you are in the same group as me. What you said is also seen as 'ulterior motives' in their eyes!"
"We must try!" Gallieni insisted. "This is related to the victory or failure of a battle, and the casualties of countless soldiers!"
Charles could only answer: "I don't know the data of their tanks, so I have no way of knowing their specific weaknesses..."
This is not true. Charles doesn't need to look at the data to know the weaknesses of the opponent's tanks, but that is future data, and of course Charles cannot tell you.
"Tell me what you know!" interrupted Charles.
"Artillery, General!" Charles replied, "Moving artillery onto a tank is not as easy as you might think. Weight, accuracy, exhaust, all the problems have not been solved. This will create a series of fatal weaknesses!"
The "Type 1" tank produced by Germany decades later during World War II still only had two machine guns. The 100-horsepower engine could only accommodate two people with two machine guns, and the total weight was 5.4 tons.
Although the Saint-Chamond's engine had only 90 horsepower, it had the courage to stuff a 75MM caliber cannon and four machine guns into it. It required nine people to operate it, and the total combat weight reached an astonishing 27 tons.
Gallieni thought about it and felt that it made sense. If it was so easy to move artillery onto tanks, why didn't Charles do it? Was Charles stupid?
Then he seemed to understand the problem: others were taking too big a step, pursuing superficial data and powerful weapons but ignoring overall performance.
Although Charles' tanks have no artillery, this is precisely what is rational, correct, and applicable to actual combat.
There was no doubt about it; Charles knew it, having been assured of so many glorious victories on the battlefield.
Gallieni sighed and sat back in his chair. He understood Charles's predicament.
This is the greed of capitalists.
They can do anything for profit and wealth, and no one can stop them!
But sadly, it is the soldiers fighting on the front lines who have to pay the price!
…
When it came to bidding, Gallieni was stunned. He saw the data of the two tanks:
Saint-Chamond: 90 horsepower, one long-barreled 75MM cannon, four machine guns, 9 crew members, combat weight 27 tons, speed 8.5 kilometers per hour.
CA-1: 61 horsepower, a short-barreled 75MM cannon, two machine guns, 6 crew members, combat weight 14 tons, speed 5 kilometers per hour.
If Charles had not reminded him, Gallieni would have wanted as many tanks and weapons as possible like everyone else, but now he knew there must be something wrong.
However, everyone was like crazy, even the soldiers who participated in the test believed that such a tank was needed and that such a tank could protect them and bring victory.
Members of the House of Representatives argued fiercely over this issue. Both factions refused to give in. They attacked each other and presented every piece of data for comparative analysis.
The final result was an order for 400 tanks each, with a unit price of 21,000 francs and 12,000 francs respectively.
Gallieni, contrary to his usual practice, said nothing from beginning to end; he knew this could not be changed.
He could only exclaim in his heart: God, this is more than 13 million francs. It is crazy to use so much money to buy a bunch of machines that are about to lose battles and kill soldiers!
However, he could only watch it all happen.
At this moment, Gallieni even hoped that Charles had not told him the truth!
…
In sharp contrast to Gallieni's frustration, there was cheering in Brad Manor.
The glasses filled with golden champagne clinked together happily, making crisp sounds.
Armand raised his glass excitedly and shouted: "Cheers to Colonel Estiny! And his tanks!"
Others followed suit and shouted, "To Colonel Estiny!"
The right wing had no regrets. Being able to snatch an order from Schneider was already an unprecedented victory. In the past, these had nothing to do with them. They could only watch the orders fly into the left wing's pocket.
This is not just about money, this is about the resurgence of the right wing and the control and influence the right wing has over the military!
Colonel Estiny was not satisfied with this. He complained: "The Saint-Chamon is not a tank at all. It is at most a turret, but it is sold at a higher price than us!"
Others just agreed with him frivolously or just smiled and nodded along.
"As a tank, it should be able to break through the enemy's defenses!" Colonel Estiny continued, "It should at least be able to cut through the barbed wire, cross the trenches with the help of the infantry, and finally lead the troops to break through the defenses and outflank the enemy's rear. 'Saint-Chamon' can't do these!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, but no one expressed their opinion. They didn't even understand what Estinis was saying.
Colonel Estiny could only turn his gaze to Francis: "Sir, what do you think?"
"That's Schneider, Colonel!" Francis responded. "You should be proud of that!"
Grevy added: "Saint-Chamon has an electric motor drive system that can propel a monster weighing more than 20 tons at a speed of 8.5 kilometers per hour. Although our tanks are lighter, their speed is only 5 kilometers per hour. This is something we cannot match!"
"Don't lose heart, Colonel!" Grevi raised his glass to Colonel Estiny, "We will defeat it one day!"
Everyone agreed.
Colonel Estiny raised his glass in response, but could not hide his disappointment.
He would rather discuss how tanks should fight on the battlefield and what role they can play in the army.
But these people are talking about money and benefits, and they also express admiration and envy for the obviously wrong design of "Saint Chamon"!
They don’t know what a tank is. They are not the same kind of people as me and it is impossible for them to have a common language with me!
Is this really what you need?
Colonel Estiny thought of Charles...maybe he was the one he was looking for!
(End of this chapter)
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