I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 899: Leveraging the World

The Minister of the Navy, despite all his calculations, never imagined that the final "chain of evidence" would come from a port director and a bureau chief he had never met.

Adding to the joint scrutiny from the United States and Italy, even the British officialdom, who had close ties with the Minister of the Navy, dared not protect him.

Thus the next day, the "deeds" of the Minister of the Navy ignited public opinion in France; the streets were buzzing with news of his arrest and interrogation:

"It is said that the Minister of the Navy embezzled funds amounting to tens of millions of francs."

"That’s just the amount of bank deposits of gold bars found at his home; there are also funds he transferred abroad."

"This scoundrel used his position for such malevolent acts."

"The most intolerable thing is that he actually united the colonies to resist Shire. It is said the Mediterranean area has become Bernard Group’s forbidden zone!"

"Unbearable, this isn’t just corruption, it’s outright treason!"

...

(Note: During the term of French Navy Minister August in history, he was accused of receiving kickbacks in coal procurement, causing the government to pay high prices, contracts awarded to designated companies rather than through bidding, and illegal appropriation of funds, but none were prosecuted, just removed from office.)

The citizens’ thoughts were simple; if the Minister of the Navy merely embezzled some money, it could be tolerated, as virtually no one at the higher echelons of France was entirely free from corruption.

But if he were opposing Shire and also colluded with the colonies to create factions and incite division, it was undoubtedly treason and could not be allowed.

Thus, in less than an hour, the Minister of the Navy’s villa was surrounded by an angry mob; some even made Molotov cocktails and threw them inside.

If not for Gallieni sending Major Fernan with others to protect him while stating the evidence was still being sought, the villa might have been reduced to ashes.

The Minister of the Navy was handed over to the Second Bureau for questioning, on the grounds that there might be involvement of foreign forces’ penetration.

The Minister of the Navy originally thought he was holding onto the last piece of life-saving straw: his interactions with colonial governors. As long as he confessed leniently, the "scandals" of the governors would be exposed one by one alongside his.

Thus, the governors wouldn’t let anything happen to him!

However, the one interrogating him was the Second Bureau, Shire’s intelligence department.

Major Durra sat in front of the Minister of the Navy with a large stack of documents: "Talk, about the financial relationships with the governors."

The Minister of the Navy looked at Major Durra in surprise: "You already know?"

"Of course." Major Durra nodded.

The Minister of the Navy’s eyes filled with anger; if they knew this, why weren’t the governors brought along and only him?

Moreover, doesn’t this prove that the port director and the bureau chief were lying?

But the next second, the Minister of the Navy understood.

The governors remained unscathed because they held military power, which Shire needed to cooperate with them.

The Minister of the Navy was in trouble because he held military power, and Shire needed to eliminate him!

After understanding this, the Minister of the Navy abandoned resistance, sighed deeply: "Tell me, what’s my end?"

Major Durra stood up and handed the Minister of the Navy a cigarette: "That depends on you, Minister."

"Depends on me?" The Minister of the Navy didn’t understand, bewilderedly took the cigarette.

Major Durra nodded, lighting the Minister of the Navy’s cigarette:

"If you cooperate, confess the details of your interactions with the governors, we will provide you with the best suite and food, allowing you to enjoy your remaining years comfortably inside."

"You can even enjoy the best medical services, ensuring you live as long as possible."

"But if you don’t cooperate, we will let you go home!"

"Going home" meant leaving him to the angry citizens; the Minister of the Navy understood what this implied.

Cooperation made the Minister of the Navy a handle.

One day, if the governors become disobedient, the Minister of the Navy would be a lever to pry them!

The Minister of the Navy had no other choice; he inhaled deeply on the cigarette, started recalling the details of his "collaborations" with the governors as he exhaled smoke.

Every governor, every detail.

...

Shire read this intelligence on the plane back to Paris.

Shire was quite fortunate; he was facing a French regime corrupted to the core.

If every officer were upright and unwaveringly believed in a Republican system like Gallieni, Shire and his Bernard Group likely wouldn’t succeed, even if Shire had the support of the populace and advanced equipment.

Unfortunately, they were not; the vast majority of aristocratic officers more or less had corruption issues.

Thus Shire could easily topple key parts through intelligence, public opinion, and even fabrication, then use it to pressure other forces.

Shire placed the file into the briefcase, gazed out the window, toward the vast Paris Basin beyond the wings of the plane.

Forests, houses, fields, and troops en route to the front line.

Does all this belong to me now?

Shire was somewhat incredulous; he was about to achieve the unification of France, and only one last step remained.

...

Shire arrived at the House of Representatives a little after ten in the morning.

The conference room was already in an uproar; the deputies were arguing over the selection of the new Minister of the Navy, some attempting to save him.

"We can’t dismiss the Minister of the Navy at this time, nor should we investigate his corruption, as it would affect the citizens’ trust in the government."

"Yes, the Minister of the Navy understands the Toulon Fleet and the Mediterranean, we need him to stabilize the situation."

"Without him, our reinforcements to Italy might not proceed, and control over the colonies too!"

...

This brought a large wave of opposition.

Gallieni trembled with rage.

These guys dared to openly defend the Minister of the Navy, tying him to national security and war interests.

It seemed without the Minister of the Navy, France would fall into chaos and head towards failure.

At this point, Shire entered the conference room, and the entire room instantly fell silent.

"I’m here to answer these questions." Shire walked onto the podium, calmly saying:

"We have already dismissed the Minister of the Navy and investigated his corruption, making his crimes public, but the fact is that this hasn’t affected citizens’ trust in the government."

"Not only has it not affected trust, I see citizens increasingly owning the current government."

"I even hear their cheers, what about you?"

The deputies nodded in agreement, opposition deputies remained silent.

They didn’t dare say:

The citizens are rallying and cheering not for the government, but for Shire, who they support in defeating the corrupt government!

Shire continued:

"As for controlling the colonies."

"Why should we control them? Why should we enslave them, even dispatch troops to suppress them?"

"Why can’t they become our allies, equal like us, isn’t this their right?"

The conference room erupted in thunderous cheers, many shouted France’s spirit, shouting liberty, equality, fraternity.

They believed this was the only correct choice!