I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 993: We Should Help France

"Isn't it ironic?" Tijani said with a touch of emotion: "I've always loathed interest, only to find that what I'm pursuing is interest."

"Not at all," Shire responded, "because pursuing interest is inherent nature."

"Inherent nature?" Tijani gave a bitter smile: "That is synonymous with 'darkness,' Vice Admiral."

Shire replied calmly, "Then, what do you think the survival of the fittest among animals is? Do they also understand 'darkness'?"

Tijani was taken aback.

He felt as though his mental world had bounced back up from the bottom because of Shire's words.

Yes, why is this not inherent nature?

This is the most primitive desire among animals, their support and motivation for survival.

Animals, in order to survive, learn to hunt or evade from the moment they are born, which allows them to develop healthily.

Aren't human wars the same?

Tijani felt his understanding had ascended to another level. He shook Shire's shoulders excitedly:

"That's right, Vice Admiral."

"In war, the orientation towards interest returns to the primitive; this might be a natural law!"

"Wonderful, you are my idol, Vice Admiral, you are a wise man!"

Shire did not quite understand what Tijani was so pleased about.

It was just a sentence, in reality, Tijani hadn't gained anything.

Is this what is meant by 'to hear the Dao in the morning, one can die at dusk'?

But Tijani seemed to have untied a knot in his mind; he appeared more at ease than before, as if viewing tactics from a higher vantage point, rather than facing what he regarded as 'darkness' with disgust.

"So, we should not agree to the English terms, right?" Tijani asked. "Even if the English terms align with France's interests?"

This doesn't seem to comply with the principle of 'war is for interests.'

"There are short-term and long-term interests, Major General." Shire gazed at the scenery below the fortress and answered casually, "Many times, short-term interests seem bountiful but are actually traps. Agreeing to them would drag us into an abyss of eternal doom."

Tijani was puzzled, "Is this matter before us such a case?"

Shire nodded affirmatively, "This matter before us is indeed such a case."

He turned to look at Tijani:

"If we agree to the English terms, on the surface, it seems that France has gained interest, and quite substantial ones."

"France can get more reparations from Germany and can lift the British blockade against us."

"But."

"This means we have surrendered, Major General, and no one will believe in the French spirit anymore, nor will they see France as a leader."

"More importantly, if England can threaten us at sea once, it can use it against us twice, thrice, or even more."

Tijani uttered an "oh" and nodded slowly.

France's development cudgel would be held by the English, who would flash it before France whenever they felt displeased.

Then France would yield once, twice, thrice... ultimately becoming England's puppet, never surpassing England.

"But what can we do now?" Tijani asked with concern:

"Our navy is far inferior to the English; we cannot confront them directly."

"The Germans won't listen to us either; they will choose to watch us fight from a distance, so their navy won't join the war."

"Because the German Navy won't join the battle, the English will be able to concentrate their main forces in the Mediterranean, making their strength three times ours or even more."

Tijani summed it up well, making point after accurate point, but none of it was correct.

Shire provided a completely opposite answer:

"In fact, the strength of the Royal Navy is far inferior to ours, Major General."

"Although the Germans might not listen to us, their navy will go to battle."

"No matter how much naval power the English invest in the Mediterranean, it will become a fish in a barrel, mere meat delivered to us."

Tijani stared at Shire with a bewildered look, as if looking at an alien: "You're not joking, are you, Vice Admiral? This, this isn't funny at all!"

...

England's blockade over the Mediterranean became increasingly stringent and excessive.

Several times, England dispatched battleships surrounded by dozens of warships to encircle Alger Port, searching and detaining part of the merchant ships headed for France.

The reason given was: These merchant ships carried war materials, which might likely end up in Germany.

A huge commotion erupted in the media, with people criticizing England for betraying its allies.

Clemenceau was busy; he dispatched ambassadors to protest against England's actions.

England gave a seemingly "reasonable" explanation without much concern:

"France has already reached a 'ceasefire' agreement with Germany, so it has no combat needs."

"Yet France is transporting a significant amount of strategic materials and reselling them to Germany."

"This constitutes aiding the enemy and does not align with the Allies' interests; what we are doing ensures the materials don't flow into Germany."

It even put forth an odd theory: "We are not targeting France; we treat Denmark, Sweden, Holland, and other countries the same way, without discrimination!"

Implicitly: Other countries can accept it, so why can't France?

French media exploded, and all major newspapers, even those opposing Shire, protested in outrage:

"Transporting materials is a matter of French sovereignty, and it's not for England to interfere!"

"England has no right to intervene in France's internal affairs; this is an act of war."

"This is a betrayal, an insult to France!"

But none of this mattered.

In the international arena, might prevails over right.

...

At the Clyron Hotel, Clemenceau said with determination to the representatives of various countries:

"Gentlemen, do you think this is a matter for France?"

"No, I do not believe it is so."

"The reason England treats France this way is because of France's adherence to the 'French spirit.' Do you agree?"

After a brief pause, Clemenceau helped them recollect:

"France advocates the spirit of 'liberty,' 'equality,' and 'fraternity.'"

"This threatens England's colonial system and might even cause it to collapse."

Representatives from Algeria, Malta, Egypt, and other countries nodded in agreement.

French interests were aligned with their own interests.

They should bravely step forward to help France; otherwise, they might forever fall under English colonial rule or eventually be colonized by it.

Clemenceau continued:

"We are fighting for the interests of neutral countries, even granting the Germans a fair armistice agreement."

"But this doesn't align with England's interests, hence England's targeting."

Representatives from neutral countries like Greece and Holland exchanged glances, nodding silently.

If France were defeated by England, they too would never see the light of day, unable to escape England's 'clutches' within any foreseeable time frame.

Therefore, we should help France!