[{"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-581":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},1335549,1779,"Chapter 581 581: The Laws of Nature","i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-chapter-581",581,"\u003Cp>Jambes Frontline — One hour before the Christmas Eve offensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the snow-filled trenches held by the First Special Artillery Division, Major General Christine sat on a shell crate covered in frost while a medic bandaged his bleeding head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bullet had grazed him just moments ago. Christine had raised his head to survey the terrain, and the enemy, spotting a glint from his binoculars in the setting sun, had sprayed the position with machine gun fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One round had torn across his forehead, leaving a gash deep enough to expose bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General,\" the medic said, still rattled, \"if it had been just half a degree to the side, it would've gone straight through your right eye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine didn't flinch. On the battlefield, \"what if\" doesn't exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you're alive, you keep going. That's all there is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you believe in natural laws?\" Christine suddenly asked, out of nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The medic was startled, but continued working as he replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I guess, sir. But I don't think this has anything to do with natural law.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine went on, ignoring the answer:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You'd best believe in them. Like summer being hot and winter being cold—things we can't control.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you disrespect those laws, try to break or bend them to your will…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You'll be punished. Without exception.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The medic said nothing more, clearly not following. He finished the dressing in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine gave no further explanation. His expression was grim, his eyes full of deadly intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He put on his officer's cap and stood, blood still running down his face like sweat. He didn't even notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned two corners in the trench and arrived at a more open dugout — a protected area behind a hill used to gather troops, safe from artillery fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, all brigade and regimental officers of the First Special Artillery Division were assembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two brigade commanders, four regimental commanders, and a dozen staff officers — almost all of them newly assigned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine had only learned their names a few days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had discreetly asked around. Most were relatives or loyalists of capitalists and parliamentarians — assigned here for oversight, not military competence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse yet, they were proud of it. They'd casually name-drop their patrons, pretending to be modest while clearly showing off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine stood before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gentlemen,\" he began. \"You are aware of tonight's mission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers answered lazily, indifferent:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, General.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a simple assignment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're not required to capture the enemy trench. That means we can order a retreat at any time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine's gaze darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But there's a problem,\" he said, voice low and cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know that not long ago, the First Artillery Division, among others, experienced a mutiny.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The soldiers have deep resentment toward offensives...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the brigade commanders cut him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's your point, General? That's exactly why the high command assigned a 'simple' task tonight. Are you saying we can't even handle this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine recognized him — Xavier, Clemenceau's nephew. A watchdog, here to monitor and control the division.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly,\" another added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Besides, we're already dealing with the troublemakers. No big deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Godefroy, an in-law of the Geni Food Conglomerate — a man whose political connections had soared in value amidst wartime scarcity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine nodded without expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not that the task can't be done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you should ask yourselves why the soldiers mutinied in the first place. Because officers stayed in the trench, blowing whistles to send them to die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's why they compare themselves to sheep, and us to shepherds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some officers chuckled, seemingly proud of their \"shepherd\" role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine's tone turned colder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we keep doing things the same way, we'll never run out of 'undisciplined soldiers' to punish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You understand what I'm saying?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few moments of silence, then reluctant nods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine went on:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since this is a simple task — no objective to capture, tanks to cover us — then why not show the soldiers that 'shepherds' can walk onto the battlefield too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I, for one, will be doing exactly that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wiped blood from his brow, then motioned dismissively:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm already out there. Do as you like.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he smirked, turned on his heel, and walked toward the front line — leaving the others speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Xavier stood to follow — but Godefroy stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're really going out there?\" Godefroy asked, clearly terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's right,\" Xavier replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we stay behind and push soldiers forward, how do you think they'll see us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had all felt it since arriving: the contempt and hatred in the soldiers' eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This might be our chance,\" Xavier added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Think about it — this is a low-intensity skirmish. We just need to march forward, then retreat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah,\" someone else said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This isn't the Somme.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And it's not Verdun,\" another added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At Verdun, they shot you if you tried to retreat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even General Christine is going.\" A voice, filled with guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we don't go, what does that make us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That question struck home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If both the men above and below them were on the field, and they — the Parliament's hand-picked officers — stayed in the trench, how could they command anyone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go.\" Xavier patted Godefroy on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We'll be fine. We have the Char A1.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Godefroy nodded weakly, his face pale with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together, the officers headed toward the front, where they reported to Christine:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We'll advance with the troops, General.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good,\" Christine said with a satisfied nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then find your units. We move out soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers dispersed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Christine turned his eyes back toward the enemy lines. He muttered under his breath:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"War is cruel, gentlemen.\"\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>",967,"2026-06-05T20:02:33.312Z",1,"novelbin.me","358052cc71b20dfeda893b2cb3d27cedac92c04389ad9d4aa5197e1e08011452","i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-chapter-582","i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-chapter-580",622,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-cover.jpg"]