I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 921: We’ll Cross That Bridge When We Come to It

March's chill lingered, as the Anglo-American Allies continued to endure the baptism of fire along the Lorraine line.

Amidst the booming cannon fire, the earth was ruthlessly torn apart, the mud and blood forming a bleak oil painting.

Yet the US Army soldiers had grown accustomed to it; their faces marked with fatigue, yet they gathered in the trenches, talking and laughing, with a few even playing poker in the midst of the smoke, the stakes being cigarettes.

"Colonel," Williams approached Patton, who was observing the enemy with binoculars, and asked:

"Rumors about Shire are everywhere now."

"Some say he will choose to cease fire, some say he's negotiating with the Germans privately, and others say he will join us in launching a final assault on the Germans."

"Which one is true?"

Patton put away his binoculars, pulled back his neck, and after considering for a moment, gently shook his head: "I don't know, Lieutenant Colonel; nobody can guess what Shire is thinking."

With that, Patton hunched over as he made his way along the trenches back to his command post, unwilling to waste time on such pointless speculation.

If he could choose, Patton hoped for the latter, because it would mean this damned war would end soon.

Williams followed him from behind: "But Shire has already accepted our US Dollar 200 million loan remission."

Patton abruptly stopped in his tracks, turned back in shock to look at Williams: "What did you say?"

"You haven't heard?" A hint of surprise flashed in Williams' eyes as he pulled a folded newspaper from his pocket and handed it over: "Today's news, it seems the Secretary of Treasury let it slip."

Patton took the newspaper, opened it, and sure enough, it was on the front page headlines.

In an interview, the Secretary of Treasury confidently responded, "I believe Shire will join us, after all, that's US Dollar 200 million loan remission..."

At this moment, the Secretary of Treasury's face changed, quickly stopping himself and correcting: "I meant, remission or maybe, everything's in the plan, it's not a set plan."

Patton frowned.

He knew the Secretary of Treasury intentionally leaked it.

Including the previous rumors that "Germany and Shire are negotiating secretly, having reached some kind of understanding."

This paints the picture that "Shire is swindling to make a fortune from war."

What are Anglo-American politicians up to?

They're not trying to stop this war, but to ruin Shire!

These guys, Patton sighed.

They need Shire to help them win this war, yet don't want Shire to gain any benefits from it, creating a false impression that Shire takes money to deceive citizens and allies.

But, do you really think Shire is that easy to handle?

...

Behind the line, Freeman's American Expeditionary Force headquarters.

Upon seeing this news, Pershing realized it too, immediately taking the newspaper and pushing open the door to Secretary of War, Baker's office.

Baker had stayed at the front line for the past two months, focusing not on his primary war responsibilities or logistics, but on coordinating relations between the Anglo-American forces.

And this so-called "coordination" essentially meant pressuring Pershing to cooperate with the British Expeditionary Force, including using "military deterrence" on those unruly British Colonial Army.

"Secretary," Pershing raised the newspaper, his breathing somewhat heavy: "Can you tell me what's going on?"

Baker feigned taking the newspaper for a glance: "What's going on? Just the Treasury Secretary letting slip, I believe the White House will give Shire a satisfactory answer."

"An answer?" Pershing retorted: "Will an answer do any good?"

The impact has been made, even if the United States Government repeatedly declares no secret dealings between Shire and them, it's merely a "covered-up truth."

Baker set down his coffee, interlocked his fingers on the table, looking at Pershing with intrigue: "So, what else can we do?"

This seemed to confirm Pershing's suspicion, as he stared at Baker for a while: "The Treasury Secretary did this intentionally, right? This is all planned?"

Baker smiled noncommittally: "Brigadier General, do I need to remind you? You're a US General, you should consider issues from the US perspective, not bring in personal feelings..."

"I am," Pershing interrupted, voice laced with anger:

"You think I'm worried about Shire?"

"No, Mr. Secretary. I'm worried about ourselves, I'm worried about America!"

"You don't understand Shire; no one can play tactics with him, whether militarily or politically."

Baker snorted with disdain: "Really, then let's wait and see!"

He didn't believe Shire had any chance of turning the tables; the evidence was conclusive.

Seeing he couldn't convince Baker, Pershing could only nod helplessly, issuing another warning before leaving: "If I were you, I would choose to fully cooperate with Shire, sincerely. It might still be on time, Mr. Secretary!"

Baker shrugged casually, raised his brows with indifference: "I'll seriously consider your suggestion, Brigadier General."

...

Not far from Freeman, at Metz command post, questions surged towards Shire like a tidal wave.

Clemenceau conveyed complaints from opposition party members:

"Is Shire stopping the war because he has reached an understanding with the Germans?"

"He must have received benefits from the Germans!"

"He's also receiving benefits from both the Americans and British, who want Shire to join the war, but Shire tells everyone 'ceasefire aligns with France's interests'!"

...

Tijani and the staff were bustling amid the phones and telegrams, while Shire calmly continued to plan his "superline of defense."

After over two months of effort, the surface works of the "superline of defense" had taken shape.

This differed from the historical "Maginot Line."

The "Maginot Line" surface works were mostly turrets, machine gun pillboxes, observation towers, relying heavily on underground passages and ammo depots.

Shire's "superline of defense" combined surface and underground, so even if enemies occupied the surface works, they couldn't safely bypass this line to advance deeper.

Because troops hidden in the underground works could at any time counterattack via hidden passages to reclaim surface works, thereby cutting off enemy logistics and transit.

Feeling dizzyingly busy, Tijani looked at Shire's calm demeanor, boiling with unquenched anger: "Vice Admiral, shouldn't you say something?"

"Do I need to say something?" Shire countered.

Tijani raised his telephone notes in hand:

"Calls from journalists, legislators, and also diplomats from Holland, Greece, and other countries."

"They just joined the International League, only to discover they've been deceived by you."

"Don't you need to provide an explanation?"

Without raising his head, Shire added a section of communication trench to the blueprint: "Just wait, Major General, everything will work out when the time comes!"