I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 830: Who Can Stand Against Shire?

Despite the inevitability of defeat, the US Army held off the German Army on the front line for over 8 hours.

Pershing sent a telegram to Charles almost every half hour:

"We can't hold them, Vice Admiral, our supply lines are under attack, and we're running dangerously low on ammunition."

"Mount Montbeh has been occupied by the Germans; we couldn't reclaim it in several assaults, and the Germans have cut off our retreat to Reims."

"Please dispatch reinforcements immediately, or the fall of Reims is inevitable."

...

Indeed, Shire dispatched reinforcements, as the act must be convincing, or the Germans would become suspicious.

The reinforcements were the 27th Army under Fuxu, ordered to support Reims but encountered barriers in the form of the river and Beihan Mountain.

The Seine River stood between the Bicangxi war zone and the Reims war zone, requiring the troops to cross a bridge and then pass through Beihan Mountain.

Even a modest German force could easily obstruct them.

Eventually, around 3 PM, the US Army was forced to retreat to the east bank of the Seine River to defend along the river.

By around 8 PM, the Germans successfully occupied Reims, completing the "C"-shaped encirclement on the Meuse River front.

...

French media were instantly ignited.

Although it wasn't dawn, major newspapers rushed to release editions announcing this bad news:

"Reims has fallen; the Meuse River front is encircled, with Mezieres now the only gap."

"We should extract Charles and his elite forces while there's still time!"

"But Charles insists on staying with his troops, hoping to wait for reinforcements to retake Reims."

"Yet this is unlikely and very dangerous. Supply lines have been cut, and the ammunition available to the troops on the Meuse front is dwindling. Most reinforcements from the Reserve Army Group lack combat experience and are poorly equipped; they won't fare much better than the US Army!"

"More importantly, Reims is surrounded by rivers and mountains, making it easier to defend but difficult for large troop movements."

"Charles is in danger, which means France is in danger, unprecedented danger!"

...

French citizens were stunned by this news and took to the streets shouting:

"It's the English's fault; they have betrayed us!"

"The English appear to be our allies but are our enemies, always needing rescue, always leaving openings for the Germans, time and again."

"Expel the English; we don't need their troops. They have put Charles in danger!"

...

The enraged people vandalized shops owned by the English, protested in front of the British Embassy, throwing stones inside, and tied up passing English soldiers and guards, even dragging wounded English soldiers out of hospitals, accusing them of wasting resources and medicine.

Rational French citizens donated money and materials, forming militias spontaneously in preparation for supporting Reims.

Many others petitioned Parliament and Gallieni, hoping to persuade Charles to abandon the front and return alone.

At this moment, everyone reached a consensus: Charles must survive; as long as he lives, there's hope for France.

Even Charles's arch-enemies, those capitalists and opposition members who always reaped profits behind the scenes, fell silent.

Because there was a past lesson.

One ungrateful capitalist, drinking red wine, gloated, saying, "Look, Charles's end has come, this arrogant dictator, the Germans are helping us get rid of him."

This was said at home, with only two servants, confidants around.

Yet within ten minutes, he was dragged into the streets by angry servants who publicly declared his crimes.

The crowd fell on him, beating him up; the police quickly blocked army personnel arriving to maintain order, with some kicking him during the chaos.

His villa and factory became the brightest torches in Paris within half an hour.

The people felt it was not enough and took him to the bank, forcing him to donate all his money, threatening to hang him on an electric pole otherwise.

He survived in the end but became a beggar on the streets, with passersby spitting on him, yet always giving him food to keep him alive.

Because citizens believed his life was a warning to others.

It was only then that the capitalists and opposition members truly felt Charles's power.

These were not Charles's orders; Charles didn't know, but people acted spontaneously for him.

Even saying it was "for Charles" wasn't accurate; it was people venting their anger.

If so, who could oppose Charles?

...

Davaz Town.

Camille felt a bit confused; for some reason, the family's radio broke two days ago, and even Victor, the most skilled artisan in town, couldn't fix it. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Newspapers hadn't published for two days, reportedly due to a workers' strike.

The neighbors looked at her oddly, maintaining their smiles but with a sense of panic and other emotions in their eyes.

Sorrow, pity, or sympathy?

Camille wasn't sure.

That night, Camille donned her nightdress, ready for bed.

Under wartime rationing, except for factories supplying equipment and ammunition to the front lines, residential areas had power cut off promptly at 9 PM.

At that moment, noises came from outside the window, Camille vaguely hearing someone shout, "We cannot let Charles be in danger..."

The words pierced Camille's sensitive nerves, and she quickly opened the window to see what was happening, why Charles was in danger.

Outside, Dejoka's anxious footsteps could be heard as he rushed in, closed the window without a word, and drew the curtains.

"Time for bed, dear," Dejoka said.

Camille didn't move, staring at Dejoka with anger in her eyes: "Tell me, what's happening? Why is Charles in danger?"

"You must have misheard," Dejoka shrugged, "it's just some workers causing trouble."

"Workers, causing trouble?" Camille squinted her eyes.

Dejoka realized this was a poor excuse; worker unrest was common elsewhere but had never happened in Davaz Town.

But what else could he say?

"I need to know the truth!" Camille became agitated.

"Alright," Dejoka knew he couldn't hide it: "They say the Germans have surrounded Charles."

Camille nearly fainted but managed to stay on her feet.

"What kind of danger?" Camille asked.

Dejoka comforted: "Charles can handle it, we should have faith in him. You know, he has faced danger many times but always pulled through..."

"But this time is different, isn't it?" Camille interrupted Dejoka.

Dejoka paused and finally sighed, nodding:

"Yes."

"It's the English, their 600,000-strong army collapsed within days."

"This puts Charles in danger; he is surrounded by the Germans."

Camille, shocked and fearful, covered her mouth, tears uncontrollably spilling from her eyes.

My poor child, he's only 19, why must he endure such suffering!