I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start

Chapter 126: Who Can Hold Out Until the End

After a silent night, Ypres greeted yet another cold, dreary morning. The sun briefly peeked out but was soon enveloped by thick gray clouds that seemed intent on snuffing out any light, plunging the world back into darkness. Fine, mist-like rain fell steadily, barely perceptible yet persistent, leaving the Belgian soldiers shivering in their trenches and bunkers.

Their uniforms were soaked through, and out of fear that lighting fires would give away their positions, they could only endure the damp chill. Some soldiers had turned pale, others coughed uncontrollably, and a few were already feverish. Despite the cold, they could not help but voice their frustrations:

"When will the reinforcements arrive? Weren't they supposed to be here last night?" "I can barely hold my rifle with these freezing hands." "Just hang on a little longer. I heard Charles is leading the reinforcements himself!"

In these frozen, lifeless trenches, the mere mention of Charles lifted the soldiers' spirits. To them, he symbolized a glimmer of hope, perhaps even a promise of victory. But within the command bunker, King Albert I wore a grave expression, unable to hide the disappointment in his eyes despite his noble composure.

"A flood? The reinforcements were blocked by a flood?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes, Your Majesty," General Charles replied helplessly. "With the heavy rains of the past few days, rivers have overflowed and bridges have collapsed, forcing the reinforcements to take a longer route."

"How much longer?" Albert asked.

"Seven to eight hours," Charles answered, handing him a telegram. "General Gallieni isn't sure of the exact timing, but the artillery has arrived—four battalions stationed about five kilometers behind our line."

"Five kilometers?" Albert raised an eyebrow, visibly puzzled. Though he lacked formal military training, he knew that French artillery was typically positioned within one kilometer of the frontline to better shield infantry and maximize the 75mm cannon's high rate of fire for breaking through enemy lines.

Nonetheless, Albert had little faith in these artillery units. Ypres's logistical nightmares and supply shortages only deepened his skepticism. Moreover, he knew that the German artillery significantly out-ranged the French 75mm guns. The Germans' 105mm howitzers had a range of up to 12 kilometers, compared to the French field artillery's mere 8 kilometers. This 4-kilometer difference allowed the Germans to sit safely out of range while hammering the French artillery—just as they had done in Antwerp.

Seeing the king's concern, General Charles reassured him. "This is part of Charles' plan. General Gallieni has asked us to trust in Charles and the French forces. If we're forced to open the floodgates, we should only do so after consulting him."

Albert relaxed slightly. "Then we'll keep waiting for the reinforcements."

Charles hesitated. "Should we…tell the men the truth?"

"No," Albert replied, resigned. "Tell them that reinforcements have arrived and are currently coordinating with the artillery units. Just say they're taking time to familiarize themselves with the battlefield."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Charles answered, aware that this lie would be quickly exposed unless the French artillery units stayed silent.

…

Not long after, General Kroos of the German forces received a report on the Belgian forces. His surprise was evident. "The enemy only has a British infantry division and four French artillery battalions?"

"Yes, sir," the aide replied. "The French reinforcements were delayed by flooding. Only four artillery battalions arrived in time, and they're positioned five kilometers behind the Belgian line, supposedly with limited ammunition."

Kroos was thrilled. He had thought his chance to take Ypres was slipping away, but this revelation offered a perfect opportunity: the enemy reinforcements were delayed, while Kroos had just received 36,000 fresh troops from the Bavarian Corps. These men, although largely students and inexperienced youth, were eager and fearless—ideal for a high-intensity offensive that could drain the enemy's already limited ammunition.

"Prepare for battle!" Kroos ordered, barely concealing his excitement. "Tell the men not to retreat under any circumstances. Push forward! Only forward! Victory lies just ahead!"

Kroos was aware that he needed to press the attack before French aircraft could scatter his forces. Once Ypres was in German hands, it would only be a short step to capturing Dunkirk, the critical port linking Britain to France's frontline. Without Dunkirk, British reinforcements to France would be severely compromised in both speed and quantity.

Kroos didn't know, however, that every detail he "knew" was precisely what Charles had intended for him to know, thanks to the Belgian troops.

"No one must know the truth," Charles had emphasized to Gallieni in a private conversation. "If the Germans suspect a trap, they'll change tactics and avoid concentrated assaults, making it impossible for our artillery to have the desired impact."

Gallieni had nodded in agreement. "So even King Albert must remain uninformed?"

"Absolutely," Charles confirmed.

"But what if this affects the morale of the Belgians?" Gallieni paused, frowning. "Their spirits are already at a breaking point. They're clinging to the hope of reinforcements, and we're telling them those very reinforcements are delayed by a flood."

"Then we'll see who can hold out the longest," Charles answered calmly. "There's no battle with guaranteed success. Until the end, no one can predict the outcome."

Gallieni chuckled softly; these were not words one would expect from a seventeen-year-old. But Charles was right—it was a truth far more grounded than Joffre's relentless claims of "inevitable victory."

After a moment of reflection, Gallieni warned, "The last attack revealed our aircraft's machine guns. The Germans might be better prepared now. Our planes are not invincible."

"I know," Charles replied, his confidence unwavering. "Which is why I've made my own preparations."

(Above: The deployment map for the First Battle of Ypres. The young Bavarian soldier in the central sector would soon witness his regiment of 36,000 dwindle to only 6,000 survivors before retreating.)

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