[{"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-585":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},1335553,1779,"Chapter 585","i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-chapter-585",585,"\u003Cp>Jambes Headquarters – Christmas Eve, past 11 p.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles, though with nothing to do, had not gone to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was casually flipping through a novel, The Legend of Uhlanspig, a story about a hero who fights bravely for national liberation and freedom of belief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in truth, Charles was only using the book to pass the time, while waiting for the inevitable developments that he anticipated would come tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few meters away, Gamelin took a telegram from an adjutant, skimmed it briefly, and smiled faintly before striding toward Charles's desk. His military boots stomped heavily with each step, as if issuing a challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He arrived in front of Charles, gave a ceremonial salute, and offered the report:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Commander, telegram from Paris. They've decided to send two divisions from the British Expeditionary Force and another from the Northern Army Group to assist us in suppressing the unrest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said the words \"suppressing the unrest,\" his tone slowed and deepened, as though worried Charles might not hear it clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles didn't move. He remained seated, legs crossed, casually flipping a page in his book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin placed the telegram gently on the desk and leaned forward slightly, his voice tinged with mockery:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, Commander. Jambes is very secure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles responded evenly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that so? Once these units arrive, what do you plan to do? Have the British take over our battlefield, or take command of our troops?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin blinked. He hadn't thought that far. But he forced a reply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll coordinate with General Avis to work out a plan. Everything will return to normal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles gave a soft, mocking laugh, not even glancing up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They say you're the smartest general in France. I find that hard to believe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin's smile faltered but quickly returned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That doesn't matter. What does matter is whether you are smart enough, Commander.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He locked eyes with Charles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles finally looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I were smart enough,\" he asked, \"should I abandon everything I'm doing and surrender to you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"More or less,\" Gamelin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"While there's still time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We don't need to waste our efforts, General. No need for the army to keep shifting back and forth in dangerous conditions. If failure is inevitable, why persist?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're a clever man. I'm sure you'll make the wise choice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles sighed and shook his head gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Poor Monsieur Gamelin… you still haven't figured out what's going on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\" Gamelin looked genuinely surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles had just called him \"Monsieur Gamelin\" — not \"General.\" The message was clear: he wasn't worthy of the rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin's face darkened. His eyes filled with fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They say you're a conscientious capitalist. But I see now—that was a lie. You'll regret your stubbornness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles calmly closed the book and placed it on the desk, then slid the telegram back toward Gamelin:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you really think Parliament sent in the British to suppress an 'uprising'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Think again. Why would they bring in British troops? Do they want a confrontation between the French and the British?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true. Using foreign troops to deal with internal army discipline seemed like a bad idea. It would complicate things, potentially spark misunderstandings—or worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's not your concern,\" Gamelin said, holding firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've got enough trouble staying afloat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I agree,\" Charles replied with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But that's exactly what you should be worrying about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\" Gamelin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles leaned back in his chair, relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When Parliament runs into a problem they can't fix, their favorite trick is to divert attention—shift the blame elsewhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're saying Parliament brought in the British just to redirect the soldiers' anger?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't believe it at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles turned serious:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not the soldiers — the public.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right now, Parliament is riding a tiger. They've brought in British troops so they can later say it was all under foreign pressure. It gives them an excuse — an exit strategy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Put simply, Parliament is already preparing to concede. And you still think I'm the one losing this 'battle'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin stared blankly at him, then burst into laughter:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe I'm not as clever as people say, but I'm not stupid, General. You can't scare me…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles cut him off, voice firm and filled with certainty:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me tell you exactly what's going to happen next.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The troops being sent will probably have a few minor scuffles with the Sixth Army. Something that can be spun as 'quelling disorder.' But in truth, they'll do nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not long after, Parliament will step in as a 'mediator,' pretending to be a neutral party — not the cause of all this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And in the end, they'll throw me a few rewards to appease me and the Sixth Army troops. They'll remove you and hand me back full command — to stabilize the army.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin's smile faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded exactly like something Parliament would do. Let the British take the heat, preserve their own image, and try to buy peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You… you're really that confident?\" Gamelin asked. But he was already wavering inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's wait and see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These so-called \"riots\" couldn't be quelled by brute force. No one even knew who the enemy was, or where. There was nothing for the incoming units to fight. Nothing to suppress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin slumped back into his chair. He was starting to suspect Charles might be right. Parliament might have to fold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What stung the most was how Charles had orchestrated all of this—every step moving precisely in his favor—while Gamelin had completely failed to read the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had even come swaggering in, trying to make Charles surrender—just before Charles won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin felt his cheeks burning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over and over in his mind, Charles's words echoed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The smartest general in France?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Monsieur Gamelin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's wait and see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. This won't be how it ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Parliament won't let Charles walk away from this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He's committed a terrible crime — he must pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter what Gamelin wished, events continued turning in Charles's favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Gamelin sat there, lost in grim thoughts, an adjutant approached cautiously, holding a document:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General… this document requires General Charles's signature.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\" Gamelin snapped, glaring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who dared to ignore the order to sideline Charles?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The adjutant hesitated, then explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The brigade and regimental commanders on the front lines… said if they don't acknowledge Charles's command, they might not survive tomorrow…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamelin had no words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"unspoken rule\" had become a deterrent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brigade and regimental commanders—and even staff officers—were now begging for Charles's leadership.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth was clear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charles had already won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because real command was returning to him.\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>",1130,"2026-06-05T20:02:33.312Z",1,"novelbin.me","5fac86869fb2e51e2f7d3e6c8f6a9218b0d0d664cd511e8bff4b341bbed20662","i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-chapter-586","i-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-chapter-584",622,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-a-tycoon-during-world-war-i-saving-fran-cover.jpg"]