I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 973: Subordinates Defying Superiors

Haig and Baker initially didn’t take the civilian "riot" seriously.

Haig even joked, asking the guard, "Against me? Is this Shire’s new tactic? Is he planning to drown me with the spit of French civilians?"

Baker laughed and leaned over to sip his coffee from the coffee table, his actions relaxed and casual.

The reason for their confidence was that they were not French citizens, in principle, they had no interaction with French military and civilians, and the protests from the French were irrelevant to them.

More importantly, they had troops, over a million British and American Expeditionary Forces, what storm could protesting civilians possibly create!

"Did our troops accidentally harm French civilians?" Haig asked.

Such incidents were frequent, along with looting and uncontrollable urges, with large forces and under the pressures of war, such things were inevitable.

However, the guard said, "No, General, they say... they say you collaborated with the Germans and planned to dispose of Shire!"

Instantly, everyone in the office, the staff and communications personnel, all focused their gaze on Haig.

Haig and Baker were stunned, looking at each other as if asking, "How did they know about this?"

Haig, seasoned from years of war, remained calm and let out an exaggerated laugh, "Collaborate with the Germans? That’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard."

Baker had a natural smile on his face, as a politician, he was skilled at disguising himself:

"There’s even a part for me?"

"They must have been used by German spies."

"A simple tactic to sow discord, the Germans are trying to divide us!"

This reason was quite reasonable, Haig nodded in agreement, "Yes, this must be it, these foolish guys!"

The staff believed their words and continued with their work.

However, the guard said, "General, they say there’s a recording, your conversation has been published by the ’International League’!"

Haig and Baker’s faces changed, realizing the issue might not be as simple as they thought.

At this moment, the phone rang, the staff handed the receiver to Haig, "General, it’s General Winter."

Haig instantly sensed something bad.

General Winter had always been part of the International League, matching what the guard said, could there really be a recording?

He took the call, half-believing, and listened for a while as his face gradually turned pale, he even asked, "Is there really a recording?"

Baker looked at Haig in astonishment, his hand holding the coffee cup trembling uncontrollably.

If there really was a recording, it meant his political career was entirely over.

Who did this?

Haig slowly put down the phone, the receiver felt as if it weighed a ton in his hand.

Just as he was dazed, "bang," a stone smashed the window glass, and angry shouts came from outside:

"Come out, shameless traitor, we need an explanation."

"Hiding inside is useless, you seem to forget you’re in France, eventually, you’ll have to come out."

"Shire has saved you and your soldiers many times, you bastards!"

...

Haig panicked, glanced at Baker, hurriedly grabbed his military hat from the rack, "I need to go out!"

Baker quickly got up, "I’ll go with you, General."

But as soon as they stepped out, a group of soldiers blocked them.

They were "our own," with British soldiers and American soldiers, including Pershing and Patton.

"What are you doing?" Haig ordered sternly but inwardly flustered, "Move aside, I order you!"

The soldiers didn’t move, but instead took a step forward.

Pershing remained silent, unsure of what to say.

Patton stepped forward, glanced at Haig, and finally fixed his gaze on Baker.

"Is what they’re saying true?" Patton asked coldly.

"What?" Baker feigned ignorance.

Patton’s gaze locked on Baker, asking word by word:

"We clearly can defeat the Germans, why retreat?"

"Was the purpose of the retreat to leave Shire’s First Armored Army to the Germans?"

"Is this the ’gift’ you sent to the Germans?"

Nearby British and American troops questioned one after another:

"Do you know how many of us died during the retreat? You’re telling me now it was all meaningless?"

"Its meaning is to overthrow the First Armored Army and Shire?"

"You make me sick, damn politician!"

Perhaps sensing the murderous intent in the soldiers’ eyes, Baker was too scared to speak.

Haig stepped forward to explain, "No, it’s not as you think..."

"Bang!"

Before finishing the sentence, a heavy punch knocked Haig to the ground.

British and American soldiers swarmed in, punching and kicking the two, cursing loudly:

"You betrayed us, betrayed everyone!"

"This is for Shire, this is for me, this is for the soldiers you deceived!"

"Damn it, I’ve had enough, you made us all cowards!"

...

Haig’s guard stood by, most people just shouted without acting, a few tried to step forward and mediate but were blocked by soldiers with murderous intent:

"Hey, relax, buddy."

"They’re not worth it."

"Want to have a go with us?"

...

Behind them, more soldiers eagerly crowded in, and the protesting civilians heard the commotion, cheering while squeezing towards them.

At this point, an extraordinary scene appeared: no battlefield had ever seen such a situation, British, American, French soldiers, and civilians all united just to land a punch or spit.

The chaotic scene lasted for over ten minutes.

Finally, Pershing saved the two, worried about causing deaths, which would change the nature from "assaulting superiors" to "mutiny," "rebellion."

He loudly ordered everyone to stop, used stretchers with the guards to rescue them.

Haig and Baker were bruised and battered, lying on the stretchers, clutching their injured areas and groaning continuously.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Angry civilians kept throwing stones and rotten eggs at them until the stretchers were taken to the car.

Unfortunately, when the stretcher-bearer got into the car, he tripped, and Haig fell head-first heavily onto the ground, cursing in pain.

However, when the stretcher-bearer jumped off the car and stepped on his hand, Haig seemed to understand something and dared not say anything more.

Pershing walked to the front of the car and patted the car door.

The driver stuck his head out, "General."

Pershing ordered, "To the airport." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Shouldn’t they go to the field hospital?" The driver looked at the back of the car.

"No." Pershing replied, his tone sarcastic, "If they were sent to the field hospital, they wouldn’t come out alive."

"Understood, General." The driver replied, a hint of regret in his eyes.

Pershing beckoned the driver closer, the driver stretched his neck to listen.

Pershing lowered his voice, "Drive slowly, you have all the time!"

The driver understood immediately and responded loudly, "Yes, General!"