I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 860: Equal Treatment for All

In the torrential rain on the Western Front, the sound of gunfire was ceaseless.

The position of the Algerian Army was located behind the junction of the British Expeditionary Force and the Eastern Army Group.

This area was the easiest for the Germans to penetrate and break through because the two armies spoke different languages and belonged to two different command systems, often resulting in chaos.

The defense line of the Algerian Army was there to remedy this shortcoming, akin to patching up a gap.

Thus, once a battle occurred here, it was a brutal melee, facing the best of the Germans: the Storm Assault Team.

Sergeant Haji, clad in a raincoat, knelt on one knee beside his friend and subordinate, Aburam.

They had just repelled an attack from the Storm Assault Team; Aburam had been stabbed in the abdomen by a German army bayonet and was gasping painfully under his rain poncho.

Veterans of war knew that a stab to the abdomen was the most painful way to die.

This spot was not vital and wouldn't kill you instantly, but each breath would tug at the wound, causing excruciating pain.

Meanwhile, it was impossible for French hospitals to treat wounded colonial troops.

Thus, they could only wait in despair for death to come slowly. Some would even last a few weeks until their wounds rotted and were infested with maggots before they died with their eyes open.

"Don't worry... about me," Aburam's voice was weak, but his tone was firm: "Find a chance to meet Shire. That's the most important thing."

Haji nodded slowly: "I will, but not now."

"Why?" Aburam asked in confusion.

"We're not the same, Aburam," Haji said. "Shire is a General of France; we are French colonial troops. Do you know what that means?"

Aburam softly said "Hmm": "You are worried that Shire will treat us differently?"

"Yes," Haji's eyes showed concern:

"Think about it, why does Shire say those things to the British colonial troops, why does he send them supplies and equipment, but not us?"

"Since the war broke out, we've been incorporated into the French Army, and we've always been treated unequally."

"He is a General of France; shouldn't he first care about the French colonial troops?"

Aburam groaned in pain, clutching his wound. He took a few difficult breaths of cold air and replied: "Maybe, maybe he doesn't know these things."

"I don't think so," Haji shook his head: "We've always been here, right in front of him."

"Even so," Aburam lightly shook his head:

"But he's only 19, Haji."

"At that age, if he's not figuring out how to deal with politicians, he's facing Germans on the battlefield."

"The only troops he can come into contact with are a small part, and they're all air force and armored army, or the 6th Army Group."

Haji couldn't refute.

These troops were all the top tier of the French Army, the best quality, and best equipped.

Whereas the French colonial troops were undoubtedly at the bottom.

So, although in the same military, the same system, it's worlds apart.

But Haji remained sufficiently cautious: "Don't worry, Aburam; I know what to do."

Aburam thought he hadn't persuaded Haji yet and continued to urge, "Go see him; he's our only hope. We have no other choice."

"I know, Aburam," Haji nodded: "I've made appointments with a few people."

"Made appointments?" Aburam looked at Haji in confusion.

"Yes," Haji replied: "I've arranged to meet representatives like Sucu and Goye, and we will go see Shire together."

Aburam instantly understood what Haji meant.

Sucu and Goye were representatives from British colonies like Kenya and Northern Rhodesia (modern-day Zambia).

The fact that Haji arranged to meet them meant he wanted to know whether Shire would say the same things to both British and French colonies.

...

The next day, Shire unknowingly received a visit from over a dozen representatives.

They shook hands with Shire one by one and expressed their gratitude through their respective courtesies:

"We have received your supplies, General. I represent the Kenyan troops in thanking you."

"You saved many of us; they received treatment because of the doctors you sent."

"And the medicines, things we couldn't even imagine, thank you so much!"

...

Shire could feel their gratitude and respect, except for one person dressed in a French Army sergeant's uniform, who coldly looked at Shire, his eyes constantly vigilant.

"Do you have any questions?" Shire asked.

"Vice Admiral." The sergeant stood at attention and saluted: "Sergeant Haji of the 3rd Platoon, 5th Infantry Regiment, Algerian Corps."

Shire quickly understood the issue, a representative of the French colonial troops standing alongside a group of British colonial representatives.

Shire smiled and shook hands with Haji:

"My mistake, Sergeant."

"I haven't been paying attention to the French colonial troops because I thought they were sure to treat you equally, after all, this is France, and they still regard Algeria as territory."

"But I've only recently discovered that's not the case."

Haji was a bit surprised; he didn't expect Shire to be so direct.

After being stunned, he asked Shire: "Vice Admiral, do you mean, you have the same view towards French colonial troops as well?"

"Of course." Shire confidently nodded, with even a hint of incredulity on his face: "This is the French spirit, Sergeant. If we, as France, can't do it, how can we demand it of other countries?"

Haji's previously cold gaze immediately showed a glimmer of hope, and the other representatives nodded in agreement.

If Shire's idea of equality only applied to the British colonial troops and refused to grant the French colonial troops the same rights, it could only prove one thing: Shire had ulterior motives.

"But the irony is that aid to the French colonial troops might be more difficult." Shire slightly shook his head, speaking with a hint of helplessness: "You know, a considerable part of the French deputies and capitalists stand against me, and I must obey the decisions of the parliament..." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Yes," Haji gave a decisive answer: "I know this, the Eastern Army Group, and the colonial conglomerates, they've been spreading detrimental claims about you."

"Also, the navy," an informed representative added: "I mean the Toulon Faction navy, including the Minister of the Navy, they oppose Shire as well."

Shire spread his hands:

"It's not that I don't want to treat everyone equally, but I must obey the decisions of the parliament."

"It's different with the British colonies; that's a relationship between nations. I don't need to obey their orders."

"So, I hope you can understand my difficulties."

The representatives all nodded: "Of course, Vice Admiral."

While agreeing, Haji's eyes flashed with a hint of resentment.

Those despicable people, they're the ones stopping Shire's goodwill.

In other words, as long as all of us support Shire, giving him more power and commanding more armies, we will gain freedom and equality!