I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 750 - 150 Copy Shire’s Troops

Paris City Hall.

Major Durra pushed the door open and walked into the Prime Minister's office with a panicked expression. He walked up to Briand, who was busy reviewing documents, and spoke hesitantly: "Your Excellency, the Prime Minister..."

Briand replied with a sound of acknowledgment, lifting his eyelids slightly: "Is everything going smoothly?"

"No, Your Excellency," Major Durra answered. "Not very smoothly. In fact, we have failed."

Briand froze, his hand stopping instantly. He looked up at Major Durra in disbelief.

The Second Bureau, unable to handle Clemenceau?

"It... it was Shire," Major Durra said, his face pale. "He seized the initiative..."

"Then send more people," Briand said, not hiding his unease.

Clemenceau could expose the previous scandal at any time, causing an unprecedented political storm.

"Your Excellency," Major Durra's eyes showed a hint of fear, "I think we'd better be cautious."

"What do you mean?" Briand asked.

He had never heard Major Durra speak in this tone before. The Second Bureau, cautious?

If they wished, they could create any kind of possible incident.

But Durra answered:

"We are not facing an ordinary opponent, Your Excellency."

"It's an intelligence organization. Shire has built his own intelligence organization."

"This organization is very tight-knit and large, even surpassing the Second Bureau."

Briand immediately understood the severity of the situation.

If Shire had an intelligence system more powerful than the Second Bureau, it meant that the initiative for creating "incidents" was no longer in the hands of the government but in Shire's hands.

Briand felt a chill down his spine. His breakfast, the car he rode in, and the people around him—had they all been quietly replaced by Shire's spies?

Major Durra understood Briand's expression and reassured him: "Please do not worry, Your Excellency. I will send additional personnel to protect you. Also, I think he won't do that."

"Why?" Briand asked, not wanting this to be an empty consolation.

"Shire's goal is to support Clemenceau," Major Durra replied. "If he does that, Clemenceau would be unable to avoid suspicion, which benefits no one."

Briand felt slightly relieved.

Major Durra was right. Clemenceau, the one eager to run for Prime Minister, would be greatly affected by the accusation of assassinating the current Prime Minister to gain power. Both Shire and Clemenceau wouldn't be that foolish.

But then, Briand thought, they would certainly find other ways to force him out of office.

What would it be?

Briand stood up and paced a few steps anxiously. He couldn't guess what Clemenceau would do. He only knew he needed more leverage.

"You may go now," Briand said to Major Durra. "Have Ganmelin come to see me."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

...

Ganmelin had been feeling frustrated and unappreciated lately.

He felt like a ball being kicked around.

A few months ago, he was appointed as the commander of the 6th Army Group. At that time, he thought he finally didn't have to stay in the office and make useless strategic plans.

However, Shire forced him out within just a few days upon his return.

A similar incident happened again recently: he was appointed as the Reserve Army Group commander but was soon removed and brought back.

This time was even shorter than the last—he was in office for less than a day, not having the chance to do anything.

Ganmelin felt like a joke. People whispered behind his back, saying he was a clown trying desperately to squeeze into the military, only to be kicked out time and again.

"I should be on the battlefield!" Ganmelin told himself. "Otherwise, it will be too late, and I'll have to watch this war end without earning any honor!"

Sometimes, Ganmelin thought, if he had been commanding on the battlefield, his reputation might be equal to or even surpass Shire's.

As he sat at his desk, absentmindedly flipping through battle reports, Major Durra knocked on the door and entered.

"Major General," Major Durra said, "The Prime Minister requests your presence in his office."

The Prime Minister?

Ganmelin's eyes lit up, feeling his opportunity might have come.

...

Sure enough, as Ganmelin stood before Briand in his office, he heard Briand say: "I heard you've been studying Shire's tactics?"

"Yes, Your Excellency," Ganmelin replied. "Although I don't like Shire, it is a fact that he's achieved great success on the battlefield. I want to find out the reason for his victory."

"Did you find it?" Briand asked again.

"Yes," Ganmelin's eyes were filled with confidence. "I believe the key lies in his tanks. The 'Shire A1' is the perfect combination of speed, defense, and firepower. It's the key to Shire's victory."

Briand stared at Ganmelin, his voice low: "Then, if I gave you such a unit, could you win like Shire?"

"Of course, Your Excellency," Ganmelin answered confidently. "It's not hard at all."

I am the smartest person in France. What Shire can do, I can do too.

Briand nodded with satisfaction: "Remember the Second Specialized Artillery Division?"

"Yes, of course."

The French Army had organized two specialized artillery divisions, one under Kristen's command, the First Specialized Artillery Division, and the other under Tijani's command, the Second Specialized Artillery Division.

However, Tijani was transferred to Shire's side and heavily utilized, leaving the Second Specialized Artillery Division incorporated into the Eastern Army Group.

Briand handed Ganmelin a freshly signed transfer order:

"You are now the commander of the Second Specialized Artillery Division. Go and take command of your troops."

"I hope you remember your words and achieve victory like Shire."

"We are all waiting for your victorious news!"

Ganmelin took the transfer order, looked at it, and then looked up at Briand: "But, Your Excellency, I recall the Second Specialized Artillery Division is equipped with 'Saint Chammon' and 'CA-1' tanks, which are far inferior to Shire's tanks..."

"No, Major General," Briand interrupted Ganmelin. "It is equipped with the 'Shire A1', and we have also expanded it with a mechanized division. Its organization and equipment are almost identical to Shire's First Armored Army."

Briand added: "They even received the same training, General."

Ganmelin understood.

A commander who studied Shire's tactics, leading a unit organized and equipped like the First Armored Army.

They hoped to replicate Shire's victory!

"Yes, Your Excellency," Ganmelin replied, standing tall. "I will do it!"

Watching Ganmelin's departing figure, Briand murmured: "You had better do it."

Briand was buying himself some political capital.

If Shire's victory could be replicated, Briand would tell the people: The Prime Minister would create several "Shire units" and lead the nation to complete victory.

Then, would people still try to depose him?

Could Shire and Clemenceau still depose him?