I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 796: Forcing the United States to Join the War

Chapter 796: Chapter 796: Forcing the United States to Join the War

The newly appointed commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, Pershing, had a lot to do.

For example, organizing recruitment, formulating training plans for the troops, assigning instructors, and so on. He should have stayed in the United States with the troops.

However, as soon as he left the White House, Pershing took his chief of staff Hubbard and flew to New York.

(The picture above shows James Hubbard, a capable assistant to Pershing during World War I. He was responsible for the daily organization and logistics coordination of the Expeditionary Force. In the early stages of the war, the US Army didn’t have helmets, and officers often wore French or English helmets. Hubbard wore a French-made Adrian helmet.)

(Some American officers did the same, removing the badge from the Adrian helmet and writing "US" on it.)

The plane landed at New York airport, and Pershing immediately got into the car that had been waiting there.

Hubbard couldn’t resist asking Pershing, "Where are we going, General?"

Pershing nonchalantly replied, "France."

A stunned Hubbard was so surprised his mouth gaped open, taking a while to react:

"France? But..."

"I don’t think this is the right time, General."

"You should be in the United States, with your troops..."

Hubbard was somewhat panicked. The Expeditionary Force needed Pershing to oversee the overall situation, but he left the troops and hurried to France with only a few men.

Pershing turned to avoid the wind from the car window, leisurely lighting a cigarette and casually handing one to Hubbard.

After exhaling a long puff of smoke, he asked back, "What can I do if I stay here?"

"A lot of things, General," Hubbard replied, puzzled. "Mainly training."

"Really?" Pershing turned to look at Hubbard "All our war experience comes from the Indian Wars, San Juan Hill, or fighting guerrillas in Mexico. Do you know how to train troops? I mean against the Germans."

Hubbard was dumbfounded.

None of them knew how to fight this war, let alone how to train for it.

"Our training is likely wrong, James," Pershing nodded slightly toward Hubbard, but his eyes were serious. "This means everything we do is futile and might even harm the soldiers, understand?"

Hubbard nodded in agreement.

Incorrect training directions could create an inertia within the troops. Once they fought according to this inertia on the battlefield, the cost would inevitably be paid in blood and life.

Pershing looked thoughtfully at the dock appearing in view ahead: "The most important thing now is to learn, not train, recruit, or anything else."

After a moment of silence, Hubbard suddenly remembered something:

"There’s someone who might be helpful, General."

"His name is Johnson, from the military’s tank lab. He bought the ’Shire A1’ tank from Shire and is studying tactics."

Pershing’s eyes lit up: "Get him, I might need him. Also, buy the equipment produced by Bernard Company in the United States."

"Which one, General," Hubbard asked, "and how much?"

Pershing looked incredulously at Hubbard.

If not for their years of cooperation, Pershing might have kicked him out of the car for that question.

The US Army was expanding from 300,000 to 1 million, and in the near future, it might reach 2 million or even 5 million.

Everything was in short supply, especially military supplies.

And Hubbard, responsible for daily organization and logistics coordination, actually asked "Which one" and "How much"!

The United States had been at peace for too long, with no concept of war, Hubbard included!

...

At the Bicangxi training base in France, Shire was enjoying his lunch, a slice of Lorraine quiche.

(The picture above shows Lorraine quiche, a specialty food of Lorraine.)

Shire felt nothing special about it. It was basically bread with ham, salmon, onions, and similar ingredients.

Western food tends to be quite similar: bread with meat is a burger, bread with cheese is pizza, and bread filled with stuffing is a pie.

But compared to battlefield rations, it tasted pretty good.

"What day is it today?" Shire asked, gesturing to the quiche, directing his question to Tijani. "I remember Bicangxi isn’t part of Lorraine, yet it has Lorraine’s specialty food."

Tijani put down his knife and fork, mimicking blowing out candles: "June 12th, General, happy birthday!"

Shire was taken aback and replied, "Thank you, Major General."

"No need to thank me," Tijani turned his attention back to the food, shrugging: "I just follow your orders strictly. Birthdays don’t exist on the battlefield. Mr. Victor prepared this for you after finding out your birthday."

"Victor?" Shire didn’t remember knowing anyone by that name.

Tijani explained:

"He owns a factory in Metz. When we attacked Metz, he led a workers’ uprising."

"When the English were defeated, he feared retribution from the Germans, so he fled here."

"I think he wants to use this quiche to remind you not to forget Lorraine!"

Shire smiled slightly, understanding it was a hope for him to lead troops back to liberate Lorraine, especially Metz.

"Why didn’t he escape with the English?" Shire asked.

"It’s obvious," Tijani answered vaguely. "They believed it was safer here and trusted you to help them reclaim what’s theirs. Many others think the same way."

Shire shook his head slightly.

They were probably going to be disappointed, as this place was where Shire planned to weaken both the British and the German armies.

At that moment, a communications soldier delivered a telegram to Shire, sent from Dejoka:

"Happy birthday, my child!"

"Some good news: the United States government purchased all the stock and production capacity of the Joseph arms factory at a high price. We made over 600 million US dollars in total, and that’s just the first batch."

"Your strategy was very successful. We even sold helmets at high prices. Setting up a factory in the United States was very wise and foresighted."

This was proof that pressuring the US was effective. Shire was very satisfied, with more funds to continue acquiring quality assets in France.

"Good news?" Tijani asked.

"Yes," Shire replied. "The United States is preparing to join the war."

The dinner knife in Tijani’s hand clattered onto the plate: "Are you serious?"

"Of course it’s true," Shire said. "Surprised?"

Tijani gently shook his head, his face dark: "Not surprised, but... it means the war will continue."

Tijani had accepted the reality Shire had previously told him—that this war was something capitalists didn’t want to end.

So he knew that the US joining the war wasn’t to stop the war but to prevent negotiations and a ceasefire.

Shire continued to eat the quiche on his plate.

Although he proposed "negotiation" and "ceasefire," he never truly aimed to achieve it.

Shire’s goal, from start to finish, was to force the US to join the war.

Including the "Zimmerman Telegram" that was decoded and sent to the United States.