I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 875: "Super Defensive Line" Activated

Shire did not disappoint Gallieni.

This time, the main force was the Second Specialized Artillery Division and the Specialized Mechanized Division of the Eastern Army Group.

Shire expressed his gratitude to Ganmelin for replicating the First Armored Army exactly, even though they only learned the surface and not the essence, but their equipment, organization, and tactics were all the same.

What was lacking was morale, organization, and command.

After Tassin came and reorganized, Shire took over command, and the combat effectiveness of the entire unit instantly rose to another level.

Additionally, the infiltration this time was much easier than before, much easier.

In the past, infiltrations involved breaking through enemy lines and diving straight into the enemy's encirclement, facing enemies from all directions without reinforcements and with difficulty in getting supplies; if the infiltration was not in place or something unexpected happened, it could lead to the annihilation of the whole army.

This time, after the Second Specialized Artillery Division broke through the German Army's defense line, they moved north along the Meuse River, attacking the flank of the German Second Army, almost pushing through enemy depots, artillery positions, and command posts.

Trophies, equipment seized were countless, with countless enemies killed or injured, and over 30,000 captured prisoners, including more than thirty senior officers of colonel rank and above.

There was no worry about reinforcements and supplies either, as once the Second Specialized Artillery Division pushed through the German coastal positions, the First Armored Army and the US Army would cross the Meuse River and land.

Their attack directions were different: the Second Specialized Artillery Division attacked from south to north, while the First Armored Army and the US Army attacked from west to east.

These armored units cut the German Army like a cake, slicing vertically and then twice horizontally, dividing the German Army into several encircled segments.

The German Army tried to form a defensive line using the water network at Metz to stop the French Army, but after the French Army built dozens of pontoon bridges connecting the intricate waterways, the only thing the German Army could do was surrender.

...

The campaign lasted for three days, the longest in Shire's history and with the largest scale of commanded troops:

The Eastern Army Group, including the Algerian Corps, had over 500,000 men.

Including the First Armored Army, the US Army, and the subsequent reinforcement of French infantry, the total strength exceeded 1 million people.

The entire army crushed the German Army, killing and capturing more than a hundred thousand, finally stopping in front of the Hindenburg Line on the Franco-German border.

...

An excited Clemenceau gave a speech to the public in the square of Paris City Hall:

"Children of France, as you have heard, Shire has once again won a victory, and we have recovered the Lorraine and Alsace regions."

"This is an unprecedented victory; Shire has succeeded!"

"But never forget, the Germans are defeated today, driven out of France, but they are not annihilated."

"We still need Shire, need the army, and every one of us."

"Only by united efforts and actively preparing for war without relaxation can we prevent the enemy from finding any weaknesses and stop another battlefield catastrophe!"

...

The citizens cheered, shouting "Long live France" over and over.

Clemenceau understood marketing.

He ostensibly celebrated the victory and issued a warning to the citizens, but it was actually emphasizing the importance of Shire: don't think that driving the Germans out of France is the end; Germany has not been destroyed, still holding on, the war is still ongoing.

On the other hand, it laid the foundation for the "Super Defense Line": it represents active preparation for war, it can prevent the enemy from exploiting any weaknesses, it can stop the next war.

Citizens certainly have no problem, whatever Shire says is like sacred decree, it can't be wrong.

The only strong opposition comes from the capitalists and the members of parliament under their control.

They know that once the "Super Defense Line" starts, the high-quality assets Shire purchased not long ago will immediately become "living water," attracting vast sums of money and talent to control numerous enterprises.

Because Shire holds absolute authority among the military and civilians.

If he says how to build the defense line, that's how it will be built, and no one can refute.

If he says which company is qualified, that's the qualified company, no one can influence it.

If he says where to procure goods, that's where they will be procured, no one can oppose it.

If someone says:

"I don't think we should do it this way, we should use Schneider's artillery, it has a longer range."

"CMP Metro Company should build the subway for the 'Super Defense Line, instead of Shire's Bernard Group."

"CSF should be responsible for the 'Super Defense Line's communications, this company has been operating for years and has rich experience."

...

Immediately someone would retort:

"Do you know better than Shire how to fight a war?"

"Do you know better than Shire what the army needs?"

"Do you know better than Shire the battlefield environment?"

...

Even the mineral resources of the colonies will be under Shire's control.

Because Shire is the "client," he can decide with which capitalists France does business.

...

Therefore, there was a unified voice of opposition from the members of the Palace of Versailles:

"We have just driven the Germans out, the war is not over, and we don't have enough funds to build the 'Super Defense Line'."

"Now should be a time for recuperation and rest, and funds should be used to encourage production."

"This will lead to disaster; the citizens are nearly starving!"

...

Gallieni, sitting in the audience, snorted coldly.

Shameless guys, they ignored the life and death of citizens to make a fortune from the war, and now they oppose Shire's "redistribution of benefits" under the guise of citizens.

"Gentlemen!" Gallieni rose with a blank expression and said to the members below:

"There is a statement I agree with, the war is not over yet."

"But precisely because the war is not over, we need to build this 'Super Defense Line'."

"Otherwise, encouraging production without a defense line, what do you think will happen?"

The members were speechless.

France's minerals and heavy industry are concentrated around the northeast Mezieres area, and the German Army could take one step forward to seize them all.

By then, all "encouragement to produce" would burst like soap bubbles, and the Germans would only need to set a fire to turn them all to ashes.

Petain leisurely walked onto the podium:

"Gentlemen, I must emphasize that the Germans have constructed the Hindenburg Line on the border, and we have nothing."

"It is very difficult to break through that line because it has laid a large number of mines, barbed wire, and anti-tank ditches, and it can be expected to have more in the future."

"Over time, even Shire's armored units will find it hard to breach."

"Do you know what this means?"

"It means only the Germans can attack us, but we cannot attack Germany!"

Finally, Petain added a sentence: "You may wish for this, but leaders with the spirit of France do not wish for this, soldiers fighting on the front do not wish for this, and all independently thinking citizens do not wish for this!"

Petain was putting the opposition on a skewer.

Still opposing?

That means you're against the spirit of France, against the soldiers, against the citizens!