I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 825: The US Army Is Merely Bait
Bicangxi Training Base.
While calmly sipping coffee, Shire flipped through the intelligence from Paris, occasionally nodding lightly, a satisfied smile on his lips.
After dropping the "Meuse River Crisis" bombshell, capitalists and individual investors couldn't hold on any longer, asset prices tumbled in response.
But Shire wasn't in a hurry to buy; he planned to let the situation unfold a bit longer.
Tijani's focus was on the battle at the Nancy defense line, though he didn't seem anxious.
"I just want to know what you're plotting," Tijani glanced at Shire not far away.
"What?" Shire didn't lift his head, asking casually.
Tijani waved the telegram in his hand, feigning a look of horror:
"God, at the current speed of the Germans, in just two days they could capture Reims and surround us."
"What should we do? Surrender?"
Then he changed his expression: "Or perhaps, the great 'French Mars,' the people's hero, is seizing this chance to 'profit'?"
Shire chuckled silently.
Even Gallieni hadn't seen through it, yet Tijani had.
But it wasn't surprising.
Gallieni was straightforward and would never have imagined Shire orchestrating this massive defeat to acquire premium assets from capitalists.
Tijani was different; he always knew Shire considered the British his primary enemy, even over the Germans.
Thus, this move could strike the British Army and reclaim assets from capitalists — why not?
But Shire didn't acknowledge it: "You're overthinking it, General, this isn't something I can control."
"Come on, Vice Admiral." Tijani chuckled lightly: "You seem to forget I was originally a businessman; perhaps I can..."
Just halfway through his sentence, Tijani stopped himself.
Dammit, I always forget Shire's 'genius businessman' status; in less than two years, he'd grown Bernard Group from poverty to its astounding current scale.
So, as a businessman, Tijani might not even be worthy of tying Shire's shoes.
Shire didn't directly respond to Tijani; such matters should never be admitted, even when both parties are aware.
"Think bigger, Major General." Shire set down the telegram and looked at Tijani: "If you want to know what I'm planning, then look further ahead."
Tijani paused, then turned his gaze to the map by his side; after a while, he said, "You mean, Reims?"
Tijani was guessing.
Everyone knew the Germans' target was Reims, a point where they could sever the Meuse River defense line's supply routes.
Unexpectedly, Shire responded with a "hmm": "Then what?"
"And then..." Tijani thought for a moment: "Do we send troops ahead to hold it?"
"Is that all you could envision?" Shire's face showed a hint of disappointment. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
After following me for so long, is your thinking still so simplistic? Still only content with defense?
Tijani was somewhat frustrated: "I know we don't have enough time; we have just two days and can't establish a complete defense line, but what else can we do?"
Shire reminded him: "Reims is roughly surrounded by three mountain ranges, Major General. To the west, 10 kilometers away, sits Saint-Thierry Mountain; 15 kilometers south is Mount Montbeh; 12 kilometers east is Beihan Mountain."
Tijani looked stunned, then gazed at Shire with a face full of shock: "You mean to encircle the Germans in Reims?"
"Why not?" Shire replied: "They think they are achieving victory, yet unknowingly, they are walking into our trap."
The US Army is merely bait to lure the German Army into the trap, though they themselves remain unaware.
Besides, Shire believes the US Army will act well in this play, and Pershing, uninformed, will try his utmost to keep the German Army outside of Reims.
"But..." Tijani reviewed for a while, then shook his head: "The Germans will surely guard against this, especially on Mount Montbeh to the south, which is their supply line, they'll deploy heavy forces to defend it."
Shire said nothing, quietly watching Tijani as he held his coffee cup.
Tijani suddenly understood; knowing the Germans would heavily defend, why not make pre-arrangements there?
The other two mountains should be treated similarly.
He took a few deep breaths and looked at Shire with admiration: "You send chills down my spine, Vice Admiral. I'm glad I'm not your enemy."
At this moment, Pershing rushed into the office, voice arriving before his presence: "Vice Admiral, the Germans will soon be at Verdun, where are our reinforcements?"
"I'm sorry, General," Shire replied, "the reinforcements might take three more days; General Gallieni needs time to organize, and the German bombers are striking at our transportation lines."
After the heavy damage to the British Army's airfield, the air defense to the south is temporarily in a void, even Shire's air squadron struggles to manage.
The reason is that the 'Camel' fighter has short legs, with a total range of only 400 kilometers. Calculating a third of the combat radius means its air control range is only just over a hundred kilometers near the airfield.
(Actually, not even 100 kilometers, as the German Army has equally capable Fokker triplanes, making combat near the radius edge nearly unfeasible)
Thus, German bombers took advantage of the night and bypassed Shire's airfield, penetrating into the British airspace to bombard the railway stations and tracks, crippling transportation.
Nonetheless, this was Shire hiding his strength.
The upgraded "Curlew" model has a 200-kilometer combat radius, more than enough to cover the air defense gap.
Upon hearing this, Pershing was anxious: "Three days, by then the Germans could be at Reims!"
Shire didn't answer directly but asked instead: "What are you suggesting, General? Retreat or engage? Now is the time to decide."
Pershing looked troubled.
He wasn't afraid of confrontation; in fact, he was always in favor of fighting.
But the US Army's training was severely lacking, rushing into battle now could result in significant casualties, potentially demoralizing the troops and causing panic.
Yet retreat wasn't an option either, as it would not only harm morale but make the US Army look down upon by other forces, branding them as cowards.
"No, we won't retreat," Pershing said firmly. "We'll fight alongside the French Army, Vice Admiral, under your command, issue the order."
"Excellent, General," Shire said, guiding Pershing to the map and pointing to a spot:
"Take your forces to Le François immediately and start building a defense line."
"Construct multiple layers, defend methodically, and retreat towards Reims."
"The goal is to buy time for replanning and reinforcements, not to engage in head-on battles with the German Army, understand?"
"Understood," Pershing nodded heavily.
He was relieved; this task has great flexibility. It's not like the British approach of charging headlong into deathly confrontation with the enemy.
(The map shows the US Army deployment position and retreat direction, employing a tactic similar to the "rolling strategy" invented by the famous General Liao Yaoxiang, constructing multiple defense lines, constantly defending and retreating, repeatedly)
