I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France Chapter 830 830: Who Can Stand Against Shire?

Despite the inevitability of defeat, the US Army held off the German Army on the front line for over 8 hours.

Pershing sent a telegram to Charles almost every half hour:

"We can't hold them, Vice Admiral, our supply lines are under attack, and we're running dangerously low on ammunition."

"Mount Montbeh has been occupied by the Germans; we couldn't reclaim it in several assaults, and the Germans have cut off our retreat to Reims."

"Please dispatch reinforcents imdiately, or the fall of Reims is inevitable."

...

Indeed, Shire dispatched reinforcents, as the act must be convincing, or the Germans would beco suspicious.

The reinforcents were the 27th Army under Fuxu, ordered to support Reims but encountered barriers in the form of the river and Beihan Mountain.

The Seine River stood between the Bicangxi war zone and the Reims war zone, requiring the troops to cross a bridge and then pass through Beihan Mountain.

Even a modest German force could easily obstruct them.

Eventually, around 3 PM, the US Army was forced to retreat to the east bank of the Seine River to defend along the river.

By around 8 PM, the Germans successfully occupied Reims, completing the "C"-shaped encirclent on the use River front.

...

French dia were instantly ignited.

Although it wasn't dawn, major newspapers rushed to release editions announcing this bad news:

"Reims has fallen; the use River front is encircled, with zieres now the only gap."

"We should extract Charles and his elite forces while there's still ti!"

"But Charles insists on staying with his troops, hoping to wait for reinforcents to retake Reims."

"Yet this is unlikely and very dangerous. Supply lines have been cut, and the ammunition available to the troops on the use front is dwindling. Most reinforcents from the Reserve Army Group lack combat experience and are poorly equipped; they won't fare much better than the US Army!"

"More importantly, Reims is surrounded by rivers and mountains, making it easier to defend but difficult for large troop movents."

"Charles is in danger, which ans France is in danger, unprecedented danger!"

...

French citizens were stunned by this news and took to the streets shouting:

"It's the English's fault; they have betrayed us!"

"The English appear to be our allies but are our enemies, always needing rescue, always leaving openings for the Germans, ti and again."

"Expel the English; we don't need their troops. They have put Charles in danger!"

...

The enraged people vandalized shops owned by the English, protested in front of the British Embassy, throwing stones inside, and tied up passing English soldiers and guards, even dragging wounded English soldiers out of hospitals, accusing them of wasting resources and dicine.

Rational French citizens donated money and materials, forming militias spontaneously in preparation for supporting Reims.

Many others petitioned Parliant and Gallieni, hoping to persuade Charles to abandon the front and return alone.

At this mont, everyone reached a consensus: Charles must survive; as long as he lives, there's hope for France.

Even Charles's arch-enemies, those capitalists and opposition mbers who always reaped profits behind the scenes, fell silent.

Because there was a past lesson.

One ungrateful capitalist, drinking red wine, gloated, saying, "Look, Charles's end has co, this arrogant dictator, the Germans are helping us get rid of him."

This was said at ho, with only two servants, confidants around.

Yet within ten minutes, he was dragged into the streets by angry servants who publicly declared his cris.

The crowd fell on him, beating him up; the police quickly blocked army personnel arriving to maintain order, with so kicking him during the chaos.

His villa and factory beca the brightest torches in Paris within half an hour.

The people felt it was not enough and took him to the bank, forcing him to donate all his money, threatening to hang him on an electric pole otherwise.

He survived in the end but beca a beggar on the streets, with passersby spitting on him, yet always giving him food to keep him alive.

Because citizens believed his life was a warning to others.

It was only then that the capitalists and opposition mbers truly felt Charles's power.

These were not Charles's orders; Charles didn't know, but people acted spontaneously for him.

Even saying it was "for Charles" wasn't accurate; it was people venting their anger.

If so, who could oppose Charles?

...

Davaz Town.

Camille felt a bit confused; for so reason, the family's radio broke two days ago, and even Victor, the most skilled artisan in town, couldn't fix it.

Newspapers hadn't published for two days, reportedly due to a workers' strike.

The neighbors looked at her oddly, maintaining their smiles but with a sense of panic and other emotions in their eyes.

Sorrow, pity, or sympathy?

Camille wasn't sure.

That night, Camille donned her nightdress, ready for bed.

Under warti rationing, except for factories supplying equipnt and ammunition to the front lines, residential areas had power cut off promptly at 9 PM.

At that mont, noises ca from outside the window, Camille vaguely hearing soone shout, "We cannot let Charles be in danger..."

The words pierced Camille's sensitive nerves, and she quickly opened the window to see what was happening, why Charles was in danger.

Outside, Dejoka's anxious footsteps could be heard as he rushed in, closed the window without a word, and drew the curtains.

"Ti for bed, dear," Dejoka said.

Camille didn't move, staring at Dejoka with anger in her eyes: "Tell , what's happening? Why is Charles in danger?"

"You must have misheard," Dejoka shrugged, "it's just so workers causing trouble."

"Workers, causing trouble?" Camille squinted her eyes.

Dejoka realized this was a poor excuse; worker unrest was common elsewhere but had never happened in Davaz Town.

But what else could he say?

"I need to know the truth!" Camille beca agitated.

"Alright," Dejoka knew he couldn't hide it: "They say the Germans have surrounded Charles."

Camille nearly fainted but managed to stay on her feet.

"What kind of danger?" Camille asked.

Dejoka comforted: "Charles can handle it, we should have faith in him. You know, he has faced danger many tis but always pulled through..."

"But this ti is different, isn't it?" Camille interrupted Dejoka.

Dejoka paused and finally sighed, nodding:

"Yes."

"It's the English, their 600,000-strong army collapsed within days."

"This puts Charles in danger; he is surrounded by the Germans."

Camille, shocked and fearful, covered her mouth, tears uncontrollably spilling from her eyes.

My poor child, he's only 19, why must he endure such suffering!