CHAPTER 591: CHAPTER 591: I HEARD THAT MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR TROOPS SPEAK GERMAN?

The first rays of New Year’s sunshine lit up the world, and the resounding chimes told people that it was now 1916.

However, the sunshine couldn’t dissolve the dense war clouds over the world, the clear bird songs couldn’t quell the flying bullets, and the sorrowful sobs couldn’t bring back the lives of loved ones.

On this New Year’s Day, what people were thinking was: How many more fresh lives will leave their beloved families, leave their cherished hometowns, and head towards the unknown battlefields to meet their deaths this year!

...

Namur City Hall, the headquarters of the First Special Reconnaissance Army.

Albert I was busy with a pile of supply lists. In just a few days, all kinds of urgent supply reports had flown to his desk like snowflakes:

"The flour reserve has hit the red line, and the remaining quantity might only last three days."

"Ammunition has entered the danger zone; many soldiers don’t have a full complement of bullets."

"There is a severe shortage of shells; at least a third of the artillery has no shells to use!"

...

At last, Albert I threw down his pen in anger, got up from his desk, and began to pace back and forth.

This cannot continue.

We absolutely cannot allow the 6th Army’s supplies to run short. That is Shire’s unit; if they fall into trouble, Belgium will be in danger!

Those damned British, they are finding all sorts of excuses at this critical moment to reduce the supplies to the French Army, and the Germans seem to know this too, as they are deliberately launching feints to deplete the 6th Army’s ammunition.

"Where is France’s ammunition?" Albert I asked.

"They are still in Paris, Your Majesty." Major General Eden stepped forward to answer, "It seems to be a deliberate obstruction by the parliament; the ammunition shipped from the ’Saint-Étienne’ armory is stuck there for review."

The parliament’s excuse was that during war, arms are an important strategic resource, and transactions must comply with government regulations, even if the buyer is Shire.

"Those bastards!" Albert I couldn’t help but curse, "Selfish people, they cannot see the dangers of the war, ignore the lives of the front-line soldiers, and totally disregard Belgium’s interests."

Thinking for a moment, he issued a series of orders:

"Call on the people of Belgium to tighten their belts; no matter what, we must ensure the 6th Army’s rations!"

"As for ammunition, contact FN immediately and see what solutions they have."

"For instance, exchange our rifles and ammunition for the 6th Army’s ’Lebel’ rifles. Of course, this needs Shire’s consent!"

At this moment, the communications officer stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, General Shire is here!"

Albert I was stunned, turned around, and quickly went out to greet him.

Usually, when he saw Shire, he would greet him with a smile, "General, my friend, I’m very glad to see you!"

But now, he looked grave, walked up to Shire, shook his hand, and said with difficulty:

"Rest assured, General, I will handle the supply issue!"

"You don’t need to bow to the British."

"I understand that if you bow to the British, it means Belgium bows to the British!"

Clearly, Belgium’s survival was decided by Shire and his troops. Controlling Shire would equate to controlling Belgium.

To Albert I’s surprise, Shire replied, "I didn’t come here for that, Your Majesty."

"Not for that?" Albert I was stunned; what could be more important than this right now?

Shire gestured towards the conference room with a "please" gesture.

Albert I understood and walked side by side with Shire into the room.

The orderly deftly served each of them a cup of hot coffee, lit the fireplace, and then withdrew and closed the door.

"The supply situation is not as bad as you think, Your Majesty." Shire stirred the coffee with his spoon absentmindedly, not intending to drink it as he had just had breakfast.

Albert I was puzzled, "But what I see is different..."

"That’s what I wanted others to see." Shire interrupted Albert I.

Albert I let out an "oh" and his tense expression relaxed, and soon, he smiled: "So, this was your scheme?"

"You could say that!" Shire nodded slightly.

"How did you manage it?" Albert I asked curiously, "I mean, how did you ’save’ ammunition and supplies under the eyes of the British, the parliament, and the Germans?"

"It started the day I left Jangbulu." Shire answered unhurriedly, "That was one of the reasons I adopted ’elastic defense’."

One function of ’elastic defense’ is to save ammunition.

This tactic could significantly reduce frontline troop numbers, fewer troops consume less ammunition, but the reported consumption remains the usual level.

The ammunition Shire saved was stored right under the eyes of the parliament and the British.

"But..." Albert I asked doubtfully, "Why did you do that? To get through this crisis?"

"No, Your Majesty." Shire replied calmly, "You can’t rely on reserves to get through such danger. I did this to lure the Germans to attack Antwerp."

Albert I jumped up in shock, "Antwerp? The Germans will attack Antwerp?"

Shire nodded and answered concisely, "My troops would lose their combat effectiveness due to lack of supplies; Antwerp stores a large amount of supplies but is only garrisoned by the British Army and the Belgian Army. It also threatens the safety of over 100,000 German troops, so they will certainly attack Antwerp."

Albert I looked at the map hanging on the wall, walked closer, and found Antwerp’s location.

Indeed, as Shire said, Antwerp had unknowingly become a critical node again.

"We cannot lose Antwerp." Albert I’s eyes were fixed on the map, and his face gradually turned pale, "It’s the cornerstone of this defense line, the supply base. Once Antwerp falls, the whole defense line is at risk of collapse!"

"It won’t fall, Your Majesty." Shire put down his spoon, got up and walked towards the fireplace, stretching out his half-frozen hands, and a wave of warmth instantaneously spread from his fingertips through his entire body.

Albert I suddenly understood.

Shire had hidden the supplies not to get through the current so-called critical moment, but to counterattack the German Army.

Then Albert I thought, if Shire had begun "saving" ammunition when he left Jangbulu on Christmas Day, did that mean that he had anticipated this situation since then?

Albert I turned to look at Shire in astonishment.

My God, it had been a trap he had set from the start, and everyone was moving according to his plan, the British, the parliament, and the Germans!

At this moment, Shire, out of nowhere, asked, "I heard that many of your troops speak German?"

"Of course." Albert I replied and then asked puzzled, "Why do you ask?"