Chapter 668: Harvesting Popularity
Hasselt Command.
As soon as Albert I entered the office, he couldn't wait to take out the telegram from his pocket. It was indeed sent by Gallieni:
"The British army was defeated on the Somme a few days ago. We believe that only Charles' troops can change this situation."
"Given that the first troops the Germans deployed on the Somme consisted of a tank division and three infantry divisions."
"We need to transfer Charles' First Panzer Corps and the main force of the Sixth Army to the Somme River to fight."
"To prevent the Germans from taking advantage of the situation and invading Belgium, Your Majesty, please make defensive preparations in advance!"
Albert I hesitated for a moment and ordered Major General Eden: "Reply: 'I want to know whether this is an order from General Haig, a decision from the French Parliament, or the intention of Lieutenant General Charles!'"
Soon, Major General Eden came back with a telegram, saying in surprise: "General Gallieni said that they have not made a final decision yet. This is General Haig's personal request!"
Albert I breathed a sigh of relief. If this was the case, there was still room for maneuver.
Without hesitation, he called Gallieni back: "I don't think this is a wise choice, General. Please consider it carefully. And I think the most important thing now is Lieutenant General Charles's opinion. He will definitely give an answer that satisfies everyone."
If Ciel thinks it's okay, then it's okay.
Even if something goes wrong, Charles will take responsibility, and one day when he returns, he will still be able to regain the lost territory.
Then Albert I ordered: "Prepare the car, I am going to Paris."
But he immediately changed his words: "No, prepare the plane!"
He had to get to Paris as soon as possible, even though it was unsafe to fly at night.
Just now, Albert I had decided that he would attack from several aspects at the same time:
One was to go to Paris and lobby French politicians to believe that Haig's reinforcement plan would be of no help.
The second is to mobilize all Belgian soldiers and civilians to protest against Haig's disregard for the safety of Belgium!
The most important thing is to find out what Charles is thinking.
As long as Charles, the "Mars of France", considered the plan unfeasible, Haig would lose the support of the majority.
…
It was past ten o'clock when Charles finished his conversation with Gallieni and went downstairs to visit the Officers' Club.
But what is strange is that Paris, the former "City of Light", is now pitch black. Originally, candles were lit everywhere in the streets and alleys, but now only a few street corners in the center can still see a little light.
I was even more confused when I walked into the club.
Normally this place would not close until midnight, and it would be bustling after ten o'clock, but at this moment it was completely deserted, with no one here.
Lucia and Garrel are cleaning as they prepare for closing time.
Seeing Charles coming in, the two tired-looking men were stunned at first, and then they put on charming smiles, not knowing whether it was because of their profession or because of Charles' military rank.
Garrel pushed Lucia and turned to Charles and said, "Wait a minute, General. What are you doing?"
"A glass of soda water," said Charles, who did not want to be kept awake by the coffee.
Lucia replied, "Regular soda water."
The sodas in the club include regular soda and hard soda, the latter of which contains 5% alcohol, which is almost the same as beer.
"Okay!" Garrel responded, and soon brought the food to the two people sitting at the table. When he returned to the counter, he turned on a few colorful lights to add to the atmosphere.
Charles looked out the dark window and asked, "Paris seems different than before."
"It's about you." Lucia took a few sips of soda water. She seemed a little thirsty.
"Is it related to me?" Charles looked at Lucia with a confused look on his face.
Lucia nodded and put down the cup:
“Capitalists try to create an atmosphere that is not in your favor.”
"You may not know this because you were commanding naval operations in Antwerp during this period, and no one told you about these conspiracies hidden in the dark of the country."
Ciel was confused: "An atmosphere that is not favorable to me?"
"Yes." Lucia rubbed her right arm unconsciously. It was always sore from mixing drinks for a long time.
"Recently, there has been a rumor that the Shire has used the 'echo sounder' to control and monopolize the transportation of materials, which has caused prices to rise sharply."
"Now, people can no longer afford electricity or even candles, cinemas are open only three days a week, and the streets are deserted after 10 o'clock."
"Because people no longer have extra money to spend, including our club."
Charles still didn't understand: "But I didn't do anything. I just set up an insurance company and a shipping company. The materials I brought in were always sold at a fair price."
Supplies should have been more relaxed than before, because Charles ensured that more supplies were delivered safely to France and were not controlled and exploited by Britain.
"I know." Lucia laughed, "It has nothing to do with you."
This made Charles even more confused.
First he said “because of you” and now he says “it has nothing to do with you”. Aren’t these two sentences contradictory?
Lucia seemed to see through Charles's thoughts. She smiled and moved closer, explaining, "Like I said, this is what the capitalists did on purpose. They bought up all the supplies you sold at a fair price and stored them in the warehouse, artificially creating the illusion that supplies were even tighter."
Charles understood.
This is a means for domestic capitalists to put the blame on Charles, and perhaps the parliamentarians are also involved.
They took advantage of the fact that Charles controlled the safety of the waterway. They could hoard goods and sell them at high prices to earn huge profits, and at the same time damage Charles' reputation, killing two birds with one stone.
"When did it happen?" Charles asked. "I mean, prices have been rising to this level for a long time, right?"
"Shortly after your 'Echo Sounder' achieved its first victory on the battlefield." Lucia nodded slightly.
Ciel frowned. That was two months ago. "You should have told me earlier."
"I think now is the time." Lucia raised her eyebrows.
"What?" Charles didn't understand what Lucia meant.
Lucia smiled gently:
"Only in this way, after you speak out to clarify, will people suddenly realize that they have misunderstood you."
“People only then saw the ugly face of capitalists and realized that they had been deceived.”
"Then they will think of a more serious problem: while you are fighting the enemy on the front line and ensuring the supply and transportation of France, the capitalists in the rear are raising prices and using this to discredit you."
As she spoke, Lucia picked up the cup and gently touched it with Charles's. They made a crisp sound. "You're welcome. This is what I should do!"
It was then that Charles realized that Lucia was capable of more than just collecting intelligence.
Things were exactly as she thought. If she had nipped the capitalists' little move in the bud when the slightest sign of trouble appeared, there would have been no reversal and no shock at all.
There is no doubt that this will bring another wave of popularity to Charles!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
