I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start

Chapter 145: Conditions

This was the first time Charles had been summoned to headquarters by Gallieni during his leave. He had been taking an afternoon nap when he was abruptly woken up.

The factories under Deyoka's management were finally running smoothly, though the aviation plant's distance from Davatz made it difficult for him to oversee directly. This allowed Charles some personal time, free from constant business concerns.

Just as he was waking up, still in a sleepy daze, he heard Laurent's voice outside his door. "Lieutenant, the General wants you back at headquarters immediately!"

…

On the drive over, Charles learned the rough outcome of the battle: more than a thousand casualties, with the loss of 59 CA-1 tanks and 15 Saint-Chamond tanks. Most of the Saint-Chamonds hadn't been destroyed by the enemy—they were immobilized in craters, so heavy that the Germans hadn't even noticed them for some time. Despite this, French engineers couldn't extract them. At 27 tons each and equipped with heavy tracks, they were lodged in place, too massive for several vehicles to pull free.

As the rain let up, disaster struck again: German forces noticed the stalled tanks and shelled the area. Not only were the Saint-Chamonds shredded, but hundreds of engineers and a dozen vehicles were also lost.

Laurent sighed, "No one expected the 'Saint-Chamond,' in which we placed so much faith, to perform this poorly. Joffre even invited all the major newspaper reporters to Lafaux. He was hoping to capitalize on the victory, but it seems like he's shot himself in the foot this time."

Charles, however, remained unfazed. Joffre was the hero figure crafted by capitalists and upheld by the media as the nation's anchor, especially in wartime. The influential factions behind the CA-1, supported by the right, and the Schneider-backed Saint-Chamond on the left, controlled much of the press and could sway any dissenting voices. In the end, they would likely divert attention or quietly cover up the issue, eventually fading from public memory without reaching Joffre's level.

Sure enough, as Charles exited the vehicle, he overheard snippets of whispered conversation:

"I heard the tanks had some design flaws, causing the army heavy losses."

"Exactly. It wasn't the soldiers' fault—they fought bravely!"

"Those designers are clueless about battlefield realities. They're out of touch!"

Such was the power of controlled narrative. The media adeptly deflected attention towards the military, soldiers, and designers, forcing the public to place blame on someone else. But the true culprits—the ones who took vast sums from the military—remained safely behind the scenes.

As Charles approached, Gallieni led him straight into the rest area. Seated in a chair, Gallieni's face was dark with frustration. "Your fears were justified, Lieutenant. Our tanks didn't even make it to the enemy; they were utterly defenseless!"

This was no surprise to Charles. The tanks had only small observation slits, and with heavy rain and poor visibility, seeing the enemy was impossible.

"Do you think your tanks could do better?" Gallieni asked.

Charles gave a cautious response. "They should be able to, but I can't say for certain, General."

Charles knew the army needed tanks to break through the frontline and that his was the only available option. There was no need for him to make any guarantees; he could afford to play it cool and indifferent.

Gallieni seemed to see right through Charles' thinking. He tapped his fingers on the table and adopted a stern tone. "Lieutenant, I expect a full assessment report on the Charles Tractor Factory tanks, delivered within thirty minutes. Can you manage that?"

Charles was momentarily taken aback. The General was pulling rank again?

Gallieni added, "Unless you're going to tell me that you don't know your own tanks?"

"No, General, I'm well-acquainted with them," Charles replied.

"Good." Gallieni nodded approvingly. "So, will you put it in your report, or will you tell me directly?"

Charles straightened. "General, our tanks can break through enemy lines, but under certain conditions."

"What conditions?" Gallieni asked, intrigued.

"I need Colonel Browning from the Fifth Army and his unit," Charles replied.

Gallieni nodded in agreement. Colonel Browning was the first commander to work effectively with Charles, their success at the Marne River well-known. People dubbed Charles "the inventor" and Browning "the tactician." Charles' request was logical.

"And?" Gallieni prompted.

"I'll likely need the First Aviation Squadron as well," Charles added.

Gallieni agreed without hesitation. This was already a unit under Charles' command, hardly a major request.

Finally, Charles lowered his voice, sounding slightly hesitant. "I'll also need an artillery officer—a certain Colonel Estienne."

Gallieni raised an eyebrow. "Estienne? Who's that?"

Charles replied even more quietly, "The developer of the CA-1…"

"No, absolutely not!" Gallieni replied, frowning. "If he developed the CA-1, then he's with the right!"

Gallieni knew about the tension between Charles and the right-wing faction, the very people who had lured him to Antwerp under false pretenses. And now Charles was seeking an alliance with them?

"No, General," Charles explained. "Just Colonel Estienne. I'm not looking to collaborate with the right. Estienne designed the CA-1 for the right under certain circumstances, but he has since come to me."

Gallieni seemed to recall something. "Is he the one who Laurent reported giving a beating to a few days ago?"

Laurent had filed a report about it, but Gallieni hadn't paid much attention at the time.

"Yes," Charles confirmed, "and I need him to train our tank crews."

Browning was more suited for frontline command, executing operations according to established tactics. But Estienne, on the other hand, needed to understand the principles deeply to serve as a qualified instructor for the tank units.

Gallieni replied flatly, "I'll reserve judgment on that. I'll investigate him first and let you know."

He lightly shook his head, as though saying, "You're too quick to trust people. If Estienne is a spy from the right, you'll have handed over everything."

Gallieni grunted under his breath, mentally noting that if Estienne truly was an infiltrator, he would make him regret it.

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