I was a tycoon in World War I: Starting to save France

In the evening, the setting sun shines through the gaps between the branches and leaves of the sycamore tree into the second floor of the 6th Army Headquarters, casting vague afterimages on the busy officers and soldiers inside.

After receiving a phone call, the staff officer walked towards Gallieni with a puzzled expression:

"General, there is a rumor in the city today, saying that we have abandoned Paris and the army is retreating. It is also said that all troops will withdraw from Paris tonight!"

Gallieni couldn't help but be stunned. The Paris army clearly did not retreat, not a single one. Why are there such rumors?

Spread by the Germans? Is the purpose to disrupt the morale of the military?

The next second Gallieni denied this statement, which could only disturb the morale of the Paris people but not the military! The most it can do is allow the hesitant people to evacuate Paris.

If it wasn't the Germans who spread this rumor, then who was it? What's the purpose?

Just as Gallieni was considering several possibilities, another staff officer hurriedly came forward to report:

"General, we discovered that the German First Army changed its marching route. They chased our 5th Army around to the east of Paris!"

"What?" Gallieni's eyes widened: "Are you sure there is no problem with this information?"

"Confirmed!" the staff officer replied: "Our pilots saw clearly that the Germans changed their marching direction!"

Gallieni walked quickly to the map and swept the paper, pen, ruler, etc. placed on it to the ground. He drew lightly on the map with his finger and said:

"If this is the case, the flanks of the German First Army will be completely exposed to Paris. They can even jump into our encirclement! Why do they do this?"

Major General Maunouri, commander of the 6th Army, also felt strange. He thought for a while and said with uncertainty in his tone: "General, could this be related to rumors?"

"Rumors?" Gallieni raised his head: "You mean the rumors that we will withdraw from Paris?"

Major General Monuri nodded and explained:

"If the Germans knew that there was an army group in Paris, they would definitely not change their route to pursue the Fifth Group like this. But if..."

Gallieni continued: "If they think Paris is an empty city, the siege is meaningless. The best choice is to continue to pursue the 5th Army!"

"Yes!" Major General Maunouri said: "This explanation is reasonable! The Germans were advancing with great momentum, which gave them a mentality of underestimating the enemy, so they did not carefully verify whether the rumors were true, and they took it for granted that Paris was an empty city."

Then Major General Maunouri added: "If you look at it this way, this rumor is very beneficial to us. It successfully introduced the Germans into our encirclement..."

The light in Gallieni's eyes soared: "No matter who spread it, it is certain that our good luck has come, Monuri! Get the soldiers ready for battle immediately!"

"General, any of our actions require General Joffre's permission!" Major General Maunouri reminded.

Gallieni frowned: "Then ask him for instructions and prepare for battle!"

Gallieni cursed in his mind. You don't need to ask for instructions to prepare for battle, right?

…

It was getting dark, but Major Browne and his soldiers were still training behind the tractor in the square.

The square is huge, about two acres.

This is a test site used by the tractor factory, with various terrains: roads, dirt roads, uneven vegetable fields, and even swamp-like fields.

This is very suitable for use as a training ground for the troops, but the open space outside the factory does not have such complex terrain. It is an open grassland on one side, and one kilometer to the north is the Marne River.

There were more than 300 soldiers, most of them Major Browne's subordinates.

At this time, the French army had about 268 men in a company and 4 companies in a battalion. Although Major Browne was only a battalion commander, he had more than a thousand men.

Unfortunately, only these 300 people could successfully reach the small town of Davaz.

"Major!" Charles heard a soldier yell: "What's the use of following these tractors? Will they take bullets for us?"

The tractors on the training ground are original "Holt 60" tractors, and have not yet used "tanks".

At this time, the "tank" has not been completed, and the "tank" carrying thick steel plates for training may break down soon.

More importantly, Ciel did not intend to put the "tank" in front of the world so early.

When the British invented the tank, in order to allow the tank to catch the enemy by surprise on the battlefield and cause as much psychological shock to the enemy as possible, they called this thing called the "Land Cruiser" a "water tank", which is also a "tank". ".

Charles felt that secrecy was necessary.

Major Browne was the only insider other than Charles. He turned his gaze to Charles, who was watching from the side, and seemed to be saying: It's almost time. The workers have gone home from get off work. It's time for the soldiers to know the truth. !

Charles Shiran stepped forward and said to the soldiers:

"You are right, they can indeed stop bullets for you, because when you go to the battlefield, you use tractors equipped with steel plates!"

The soldiers were in an uproar and whispered:

"Will this work?"

"Are you sure it's not a child's toy?"

"Can it be used on the battlefield?"

…

Of course there will be doubts, not only because Charles is a teenager, but also because tanks have never appeared before. The soldiers can't help but wonder: If this is useful, why didn't they use it before? Why didn't others think of this method?

Charles joked: "These grumpy ladies (referring to tractors) are willing to block bullets for you, aren't you happy?"

The soldiers laughed knowingly, and then they figured it out:

"It's better to have it than not!"

"That's right, how about charging at the enemy with rifles as before?"

"I think it's better to have a tractor!"

...

"Charles!" Dejoka and Camille appeared behind him with anxious faces.

They found that it was dark and Charles hadn't come back yet, so they came all the way and were surprised to see Charles with a group of dirty soldiers.

Deyoka quickly stepped forward and pulled Charles behind him, and said to the soldiers with some fear in his eyes:

"Sorry, gentlemen, I'm bothering you. I'll take him back now..."

"No, father!" Charles interrupted Deyoka: "I was just about to find you. We'll stay here tonight and tomorrow! Believe me, this is the safest place!"

Then Charles turned around and ordered the soldiers:

"Continue training, you should learn how to cooperate with each other!"

Major Brownie shouted:

"Did you hear what Master Charles said? Get moving, you guys, the Germans won't be polite to you!"

"Yes, sir!" The soldiers responded loudly and devoted themselves to training.

Deyoka and Camille were so shocked by this scene that they stood there for a long time without reacting.

Charles actually gave them orders?

These ferocious soldiers actually obeyed Charles' orders?

Just now, the two were still worried that the soldiers would be bad for Charles!