CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 427 THIS IS THE BRITISH

Shire casually handed the telegram to Albert I.

Albert I took the telegram and was taken aback: "You’re short on fuel?"

Shire didn’t say anything, just glanced meaningfully at the telegram, signaling Albert I to look more carefully.

Albert I, with puzzlement on his face, turned his gaze back to the telegram.

Soon the puzzlement turned to shock and then to anger.

"Who sent this telegram?" Albert I asked in a deep voice.

"General Winter," Shire replied. "But I believe this is the intention of the ’Minister of the Navy’."

Albert I nodded slightly and asked, "Do they mean that if you don’t go to the Dardanelles Strait, they won’t provide us with fuel?"

Colonel Edison looked at Albert I in astonishment, seemingly unable to believe that such a thing could happen, using fuel to coerce Shire into submission?

Tijani, who was reviewing documents, also stopped what he was doing. He looked at Albert I, then turned his gaze to Shire, awaiting his response.

Shire confirmed Albert I’s guess with silence.

In an instant, it was like lighting a powder keg; Albert I exploded in that moment:

"Those bastards, shameless scoundrels!"

"How can they do this?"

"I knew the British were unreliable; they always think of their own interests first."

...

Tijani stepped forward and took a look at the telegram:

"I don’t quite understand. Our victory here is also in Britain’s interest. Could this be a misunderstanding?"

"Maybe they don’t mean anything else, just what the words literally mean."

"I mean, there are indeed German submarines blockading Antwerp..."

Shire shook his head: "As long as I agree, they will immediately send the fuel. Otherwise, they will continue to stall."

Tijani turned his gaze back to the telegram and finally nodded slowly: "You’re right, this telegram is impeccable; there’s no hint of coercion on the surface. But in reality, whether there are German submarines or not is up to their word."

"The ’Minister of the Navy’ hopes to salvage the defeat at the Dardanelles Strait," Albert I said through gritted teeth. "This bastard, ignoring the interests of allies for his political gain and the potential dangers this could cause, this could nullify everyone’s efforts and kill many people!"

Shire said nothing. He stood up to make himself a cup of coffee.

If the ’Minister of the Navy’ had such foresight and empathy, he wouldn’t have detained the Ottoman Empire’s battleships.

But Albert I was not as calm as Shire. He was so angry that his face turned pale, and his chest heaved as he panted heavily. At that moment, he was like an enraged bull, ready to lower his head and charge at any moment.

After a while, Albert I picked up his hat from the table and turned to leave.

"I will go to Britain," he said.

"Your Majesty," Shire called out to him, "do you think going to Britain will help?"

He should know by now that he had become ’Lady Niu’.

Albert I turned and replied: "This is likely a private decision by the ’Minister of the Navy’; others may not agree with this approach."

Then he added: "Besides, he is no longer the Minister of the Navy; he has no authority to make this decision."

"But the ’Minister of the Navy’ still has influence," Shire replied. "This has nothing to do with whether he is the Minister of the Navy or not; it’s his connections. He can persuade others and make them believe this aligns with Britain’s interests."

"But this is not in Britain’s interest," Albert I insisted.

He believed that as long as he went to Britain and called for it, the ’Minister of the Navy’ would immediately be harshly criticized, and the fuel issue would be smoothly resolved.

"No, Your Majesty," Shire replied. "The point is that I am French and not British."

Just as Albert I was about to turn, he froze on the spot, his feet seemingly bound and unable to move.

"Think about it," Shire stirred his coffee lightly with a spoon and then returned leisurely to his desk and sat down. "British transport ships will not only bring fuel but also reinforcements. When the British reinforcements arrive, who will command the subsequent battles?"

Albert I understood instantly.

If Shire remained in Antwerp, no one could take the command from him. This meant that the British army would have to obey Shire’s orders, and in the end, the glory of the battle would belong to Shire. The British army would just be a supporting role, no matter how many of them died.

This was intolerable for the British. They were the world’s leading power and wanted to lead everything, to be the protagonist wherever they were.

Otherwise, it would threaten Britain’s international reputation and the cohesion of its colonies.

"We can verify it," Shire said, taking a sip of his coffee and looking up at the waiting communications officer. "Send a reply to General Winter: ’I’m very sorry! As I said earlier, I cannot leave Antwerp as it is the critical stage of the campaign. I believe I should preside over the situation here.’

"Yes, General," the communications officer replied, turning and running towards the telegraph room.

Shire waved his hand at the others: "What do you think General Winter’s response will be? I bet they’ve already arranged everything!"

Tijani chuckled; he agreed with Shire’s assessment. Although Britain was an ally, it was also France’s rival.

Colonel Edison was at a loss. He had thought the British and French were staunch allies, united against the Germans. Only now did he realize the truth wasn’t so.

Albert I sighed softly and, in a depressed mood, returned to his desk, a sense of helplessness welling up inside him.

Soon the communications officer returned with a telegram in hand: "General Winter says that the overall situation in Antwerp has been settled and that they plan to have Marshal Kitchener come and preside over it personally, so the brigadier can confidently go to the Dardanelles Strait where he is more needed."

(Above is a picture of the Minister of the Army Kitchener, who is also a fierce character. He used brutal methods to deal with the Boers during the Second Boer War. In World War I, he acted arbitrarily, ignoring the cabinet’s decisions to massively expand the army.)

Tijani let out a "Wow," smiling at Shire and joking: "Your battle has become so brilliant that even the Marshal of the British Army is jealous."

Then Tijani thought to himself, who wouldn’t be? In the face of this battle, what could the Marshal of the British Army really count for?

Albert I, expressionless, sarcastically commented: "A perfect plan; they’re very good at winning such ’victories.’ This is the British!"

Colonel Edison, who had been silent, finally interjected: "But Your Majesty, General, if these are the only issues, I think we don’t need the British. Reinforcements can be supplied by the guerrillas; I believe they won’t be any worse than the British, and fuel can be sourced from the surrounding towns."

Tijani smiled and shook his head: "This matter needs to be kept secret, Colonel. We can’t let others know that our tanks have run out of fuel and can’t move!"

Shire remained silent; at this moment, he had a different thought.