I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 924: Who Can’t Make Empty Promises?

London War Office Building.

Perhaps because similar scandals have become countless, they don’t really count as anything significant.

Or perhaps it’s because the Minister of Military Supplies has a strong resilience and mental fortitude, making his reaction much more stable than Wilson’s.

Upon hearing about this matter, he merely snorted coldly, holding a smoldering cigar: "So this is Shire’s plan."

However, General Winter was a bit flustered: "Minister, should we make an explanation in the media..."

"Explain what?" the Minister of Military Supplies interrupted General Winter:

"A loan of 10 billion US Dollars, if we don’t completely defeat the Germans and get compensation, we will be burdened with high debts for the next decade or even longer."

"Isn’t this perfectly justified?"

"This is not just a government problem, but also a difficulty the citizens face, and those soldiers on the front line can’t escape."

"They wouldn’t want to come back from the battlefield and still have to work around the clock to repay debts with their incomplete bodies, would they?"

General Winter was dumbfounded.

He didn’t expect the Minister of Military Supplies to speak so refreshingly about such a shady scandal.

The 10 billion US Dollar debt was said to be for war expenses, but how much of the supplies and funds ended up in the pockets of legislators, corrupt officials, and nobility?

Moreover, it wasn’t the citizens who started the war, so why should they be responsible for it?

Why should soldiers bleed and sacrifice on the front lines, only to come back and bear loans?

However, the Minister of Military Supplies’ logic was simple: the debt belonged to all the British people, and if the citizens didn’t want to be in debt, they should fight until the Germans were willing to pay up, so the war should continue.

Then, the Minister of Military Supplies thought of what President Wilson was considering: Shire violated his promise, accepting the aircraft carrier data sent by England but not joining the offensive.

The Minister of Military Supplies stood by the window, his brows furrowed as he blankly gazed at the fog rolling in the sunlight outside.

He didn’t like to be deceived and disliked others taking advantage of England, and if anyone dared to do so, he would certainly...

The Minister of Military Supplies suddenly realized he had nothing to constrain Shire with, making even a harsh statement unrealistic.

After sulking for a while, the Minister of Military Supplies ordered General Winter: "Go to Metz, it’s time for Shire to fulfill his promise. You know what to do."

"Yes, Minister," General Winter responded.

...

That afternoon, General Winter rushed to Metz.

He didn’t go directly to find Shire but instead contacted Minister of War Baker. After meeting, they both headed to the command center; only by uniting as creditors could they exert pressure.

"The ice and snow are about to melt, Vice Admiral." When seeing Shire, General Winter did not hide his displeasure: "You should know that the best time for an offensive will have passed by then."

General Winter was upset that Shire’s spy organization had infiltrated England, even capturing a few British legislators and forcing them to confess to bribery.

"And then?" Shire retorted.

General Winter’s face darkened: "I always thought we were friends, Vice Admiral, but you didn’t keep your promise, you betrayed the trust of your friends and allies."

Minister of War Baker stepped forward to back him up:

"2 billion US Dollars is not a small sum."

"The Vice Admiral might invest it in the ’super defense line,’ but if you don’t fulfill your promise, we have the right to retract this reduction."

"Furthermore, due to the Vice Admiral’s integrity issue, we may reconsider withdrawing the loan to the Bernard Group."

This is a common tactic used by the United States; they always use loan pressure to naturally demand other benefits.

Shire, who was signing documents, paused, leaned back casually in his chair: "Not fulfilling the promise? Who are you talking about, me? No, no, gentlemen, it seems you are the ones breaching the contract. I was just about to find you!"

General Winter raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

"Two months ago, the British Army and the American Army still had the strength to fight." Shire spread his hands: "But now, you can’t even disperse the German Army’s forces."

General Winter and Baker exchanged glances, seeing helplessness reflected in each other’s eyes.

Shire was right; the Anglo-American forces were currently facing new pressures and challenges.

The reason was the issue Shire had exposed: the Anglo-American armies continued the war for loans.

This led to large-scale protests among the troops:

"We were deceived by those despicable politicians, we risked our lives on the front line, only for their money."

"We could have ended this war long ago, but they didn’t do so."

"How much money can exchange for a soldier’s life? And we’ve never seen that loan, let alone enjoyed it!"

...

The protest’s influence was vast, including the US Army.

A significant portion of officers could no longer command their troops; they were unwilling to fight for the wallets of politicians and nobility, deeming it devoid of honor.

"I’ve already prepared for the offensive." Shire, shameless, said: "I’ve even formulated an operational plan."

He pulled out two documents from a drawer, handing one each to General Winter and Baker.

General Winter understood, Shire had anticipated these two "creditors" would come knocking, so he had been prepared.

"Look." Shire gestured towards the plan document:

"I need you to launch a feint attack on Saarbrücken, just like last time."

"After all, you’re familiar with the terrain here and have offensive experience."

"Then, my troops will cross the Rhine River from the Strasbourg area and attack Offenburg!"

(A red arrow on the above map indicates the direction of Shire’s planned attack)

Baker flipped through the plan: "But this won’t work, with the snow melting and the Rhine River’s water level rising, it’ll be hard to cross the Rhine against the Germans’ defense."

Shire answered confidently:

"No, Minister."

"You seem to forget we have the ’band ferry bridge’."

"Moreover, we have air superiority, coupled with artillery superiority and tank units, there’s nothing we can’t achieve."

After a pause, Shire added: "Oh, the Germans wouldn’t expect my main force to take the distant route to attack from Offenburg."

Baker was speechless; it seemed to be a feasible plan.

Shire continued:

"I’ve already prepared to fulfill my promise, are you ready? If you’re ready, let’s plan it out properly."

"First, the Anglo-American forces must launch a significant offensive on Saarbrücken to distract the German main force; my air force will provide comprehensive cover for you."

"I will send out five fighter wing squadrons and two bomber squadrons..."

"Vice Admiral." General Winter couldn’t help but interrupt Shire; anyone could make grand promises.

Shire knew perfectly well that at this time, the Anglo-American forces couldn’t launch such a large-scale attack.

Everything was within Shire’s plan.

He exposed the scandal to demoralize the Anglo-American forces, making them unable to cooperate with the French Army, and then shifted the blame for breach of contract onto the Anglo-American forces.

The key point is, Winter knew this, yet he was powerless against Shire!