[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran":3,"chapter-i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-chapter-579":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1335547,1779,"Chapter 579: Many Do Not Understand the Cruelty of War","i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-chapter-579",579,"\u003Cp>Foch hardly needed to explain anything to Paris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Prime Minister's office at the Paris City Hall, two of France's most powerful men sat across from each other by a warm fireplace, sipping red wine in comfort and engaging in casual conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"People are tired of war,\" Clemenceau said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Especially the soldiers at the front. They're always looking for an excuse to avoid fighting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who can blame them?\" Briand replied with a shrug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They even dared to mutiny and refuse combat—it's disgraceful. Stupid, even. If they don't fight, the entire country will be lost. Them included!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which is why we need an offensive,\" Clemenceau said, swirling his wine glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A show of force.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Briand frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think we'd be better off maintaining a defensive stance. Another offensive might trigger another mutiny.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clemenceau shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Prime Minister, you seem to have forgotten what happened last Christmas Eve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That stopped Briand. He remembered now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year on Christmas Eve, there had been widespread unofficial truces between French and German troops. Soldiers from both sides drank together, played football, exchanged gifts…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Briand's expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We can't let that happen again. It would destroy morale and combat resolve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said it with patriotic conviction, but the real reason was different: they didn't want peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morale in the French Army was already shaky. If peace ever seemed possible again, public pressure might push Parliament into serious negotiations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Americans didn't want negotiations. And neither did the British MPs or French officials who had accepted American bribes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, an ironic situation emerged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A future Nobel Peace Prize winner was now actively working to prevent peace, doing everything in his power to keep a meaningless war going—for the sake of money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is exactly what I mean,\" Clemenceau said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need an offensive. One that must be launched, but not so intense it provokes resistance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Briand finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn't need a victory. They needed the appearance of combat to prevent a repeat of the Christmas Truce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few deaths—acceptable losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need to be very careful with this,\" Briand murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unfortunately, careful is not something we're very good at.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, politicians were good at drafting grand strategies in their cozy offices, but they knew nothing about actual battlefield operations. That was up to the generals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a tall, elegantly dressed blonde secretary entered the room. She handed a telegram to Briand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A message from the Commander-in-Chief, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Briand opened it. His eyes lit up as he read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Commander-in-Chief thinks just like we do. It seems we picked the right man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed the telegram to Clemenceau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading it, Clemenceau nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This saves us a great deal of trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two men smiled at each other and clinked their glasses. The crystal produced a crisp, harmonious chime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What they didn't know was that this was exactly what Charles wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jambes front line – The snow was falling heavier now. Water on the ground had frozen solid. Rooftops and branches were dusted in white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the falling snowflakes, French soldiers were slowly regaining their spirits. The fear and pressure of the last few days began to lift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Charles had come to see them. And he brought supplies—beef, turkey, fresh vegetables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These were all bought with Charles's own money—just like last Christmas.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. The Parliament would never send us this. All they send are orders to attack.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Quiet, you fool! Do you want to be dragged in for questioning?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's the difference? We're going into battle tomorrow. On Christmas Eve!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attack orders had already been distributed. Everyone knew that on Christmas Eve, a \"limited offensive\" would begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Charles walked among the men, the camp erupted in cheers. The soldiers rushed forward to shake his hand:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's good to see you, General!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We were afraid you wouldn't be leading us anymore!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for the food and supplies—we know that came from your personal funds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles smiled and replied as he shook hands:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's my duty. Tonight, we'll celebrate Christmas Eve together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because tomorrow night, they would be sent into combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the conversation shifted to the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General, what exactly is a 'limited offensive'? It sounds… odd.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles gave a helpless smile and spread his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry. I don't know either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn't the truth. Charles knew exactly what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the soldiers looked stunned. They exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The General doesn't know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did that mean the offensive wasn't his idea?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse yet—had he lost command of the Sixth Army, just as many had suspected?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles offered a tired smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All I can say is—follow your orders. Your officers will explain what to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patted a few shoulders and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men stood watching his retreating figure. Whispered conversations rippled across the camp:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"God… so it's true. Parliament stripped him of command.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Obviously. They took control of the Sixth Army while he was on leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He came back before his vacation ended, but it's already too late. There's nothing he can do now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anger brewed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers' eyes shifted toward the new officers—arrogant, unfamiliar men who hadn't seen the horrors of the Somme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Charles leading them, they knew exactly what would happen:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They'd be slaughtered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They remembered Somme vividly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The promises:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This offensive won't be too bloody. We guarantee it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nivelle had said the war would be over in days. The ones who believed him were all dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Battle of the Somme still hadn't ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A storm was brewing again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some soldiers wanted to help Charles reclaim command. Others whispered of another mutiny. A few even dreamed of a coup...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles sensed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew his men. He could read them easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the new officers—aristocrats, military academy graduates—had no idea what was coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even Gamelin, France's so-called \"smartest general,\" sitting in his cozy office, saw it coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Charles found Christine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said only two sentences:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The battlefield is chaos. Blades don't see faces.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If someone wronged you—settle it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine glanced across the camp at the new regimental commanders and staff officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And replied with a phrase full of layered meaning:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Many people don't understand the cruelty of war, General.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com\u002FFranklin1\u003C\u002Fp>",1063,"2026-06-05T20:02:33.312Z",1,"novelbin.me","acae9737486fd5f75f4e2703299b73c1e7151546f8e176ea7bdc4b71fe9f5e56","i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-chapter-580","i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-chapter-578",622,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-cover.jpg"]