I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 918: Genuine and Fake Data

The meeting concluded in a "pleasant" atmosphere.

Shire gave a positive response to Colonel Stephen's plan and expressed satisfaction with the data provided by the British side. He then made a few suggestions and hopes:

"During the era of Louis XIV, the French Navy was the most powerful naval force in Europe."

"Our ships traversed the seas, our cannons made enemies tremble with fear, and our sailors were courageous and fearless, proving the resilience and wisdom of the French Navy."

"Today, although we no longer possess the powerful fleet of the past, we have the French spirit, courage, and steadfast allies."

"I believe victory belongs to those who unite as one!"

"Let us fight to the end in the name of honor, in the name of our homeland. Long live France! Long live the French Navy!"

...

The headquarters of the Toulon Fleet was located at the military port five kilometers from the shipyard.

After the meeting ended, Pierre didn't linger for a moment; he went downstairs and got into the car back. Along the way, he was preoccupied and couldn't find his place.

He cast his absent-minded gaze out the car window at the buildings passing by, where people were bustling about, each with their own place and purpose.

Though Pierre was a Vice Admiral, he found himself seemingly without a path.

Besides staying in the military, what else could I do?

This is all I know, from understanding things, I've undergone military training, then joined the military academy, and eventually enlisted as a soldier.

Now, at 51, he encountered the greatest setback in his life.

Nothing is more tragic than this; should I just give up everything and find a place to retire?

Pierre was unwilling, he wasn't ready to live his life like this.

But what now?

Shire's influence was everywhere, and as a stumbling block, he would certainly be removed!

Just as he was thinking, the car stopped at a checkpoint. The soldier stood beside the car and saluted Pierre, reporting expressionlessly: "General, Minister of the Navy General Gephardt wants you to go to the Review Department."

Pierre sighed inwardly: What must come, eventually comes.

The Review Department was a temporary department General Gephardt set up at the shipyard to investigate corruption related to the Minister of the Navy. In recent days, dozens of executives and commanders had been held accountable one after another.

The driver looked back at Pierre in terror, seemingly seeking his opinion.

Major General Pierre responded powerlessly: "Go ahead, there won't be any trouble!"

...

In the Review Department at the shipyard, Shire and Admiral Gephardt were enjoying a pleasant chat.

"Are you sure you want to convert them into aircraft carriers rather than completing them as planned?" Admiral Gephardt had his doubts about Shire's plan: "You know, what we lack most are battleships."

"Of course." Shire replied very confidently: "You know the future trend of naval warfare, General."

Admiral Gephardt pondered for a moment and nodded:

"Although I'm still uncertain, reason tells me you are right."

"It's not because I believe planes can determine the victory of a naval battle, they pale in comparison to battleships."

"It's because if we compare battleships with our 'rivals', we'll surely fall behind them."

"We need to compete with them on another level, right?"

Shire nodded: "Yes, absolutely."

The two exchanged smiles, understanding each other without words: the "rival" of the French Navy was England, not Germany.

At that moment, a knock came from outside the door.

Once permission was granted, a tightly composed Major General Pierre walked in. He stood and saluted in front of the two: "Minister of the Navy, Admiral Shire!"

Admiral Gephardt made a sound of acknowledgement and gestured with his head towards the opposite sofa: "Please sit, Major General Pierre, would you like a cup of coffee?"

Major General Pierre was slightly surprised by the wording, but his response remained stiff: "Thank you, Vice Admiral, I have severe insomnia, my doctor advises me to drink less coffee, very sorry!"

His words carried a slight hint of gunpowder and determination.

Admiral Gephardt glanced at Shire and couldn't help but laugh.

"You take it over." Admiral Gephardt ceded the words to Shire, then picked up his coffee relaxedly and crossed his legs, assuming a spectator posture.

Shire rose and shook hands with Major General Pierre, signaling him to sit down.

This time, Major General Pierre couldn't refuse, he could only sit down nervously, looking doubtfully at Gephardt before turning his gaze to Shire.

"You must think our intention is to dismiss you, right?" Shire asked.

"Isn't that the case?" Major General Pierre hesitantly asked.

"No, certainly not." Shire replied: "In fact, we hope you can take charge of the conversion of aircraft carriers, the whole project." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Major General Pierre was instantly stunned.

Did I mishear?

The conversion of aircraft carriers?

The entire project responsibility?

"But, Vice Admiral." Pierre asked: "My views on aircraft carriers are completely different from yours..."

"No, we share the same view." Shire interrupted Pierre's words: "I also believe that all guns should be eliminated, this is the only correct choice."

Pierre was speechless for a long time.

After a while, he asked: "But at the meeting..."

"General." Shire explained: "The British don't want us to take the right path, they will do whatever it takes to interfere with our judgment."

Pierre suddenly understood.

Shire was putting on a show for the British to see, so they would feel reassured.

Then Pierre's eyes gradually lit up, this simultaneously meant Shire regarded the British as opponents!

God, he wants to build a navy that surpasses that of Britain!

This would be the greatest opportunity for the French Navy, and Pierre had the potential to witness this grand process.

Pierre swallowed nervously: "But General, since you already know, you obviously also know the British won't provide us with accurate data."

"Yes." Shire agreed: "They will alter the data to mislead us into the wrong direction, but that doesn't matter."

Pierre was puzzled, how could it "not matter"?

"If the British are smart." Shire explained:

"They will modify the takeoff and landing test flight data because this might mislead us."

"But regarding aircraft structural strength requirements, aircraft carrier layout, and fighter scheduling and such, they'll strive to be truthful."

Pierre understood, using real data to cover false data, otherwise the British conspiracy would be easily uncovered.

"And those real data are precisely what we need, correct?"

Shire smiled and nodded.

The Minister of Military Supplies was outsmarted by his own wit, he personally handed Shire a strategic deception opportunity.

The British thought the trajectory of the French aircraft carrier's development would be led astray.

But one day, when the French aircraft carrier sails out of the shipyard and appears before the world, the Minister of Military Supplies will be shocked to find that the reality is not so!