Chapter 435: Can't You Just Let the Germans Go?
The battle of Mons reached its fifth day. After enduring heavy losses of over ten thousand casualties, the German forces finally gained the upper hand, securing control over most of the area.
Falkenhayn considered these sacrifices worthwhile, as they broke through Charles' encirclement and ensured the retreat of the remaining 110,000 soldiers.
At the same time, Falkenhayn made comprehensive preparations for Charles' impending offensive.
The streets and alleys of Mons were blocked by German forces using obstacles, which was not difficult to achieve in the city. By piling stones and debris between buildings, and then laying barbed wire, a single infantry company could seal off an entire street, preventing enemy advances.
Even the pathways left for German movement were rigged with explosives on the surrounding buildings under Falkenhayn's orders.
If Charles' armored units advanced, a controlled detonation would use the rubble to block the streets, rendering the tanks immobile.
Falkenhayn believed he had discovered a way to counter tanks. Cities would become the graveyards of armored vehicles, which was precisely why Charles preferred to draw the German main force into open and vast terrains.
For this, Falkenhayn gave full credit to Colonel Moritz: "Well done, Colonel. If anyone can defeat Charles, it will surely be you."
"Thank you, General," replied Colonel Moritz, his exhaustion visible on his face, though tinged with excitement. "But we cannot underestimate Charles. He remains our most formidable opponent, and the outcome is still undecided."
"Indeed," Falkenhayn agreed, leaning back into his chair, his gaze fixed on the map of Mons as he spoke with a relaxed tone. "But for now, we can take a breather."
Colonel Moritz nodded. At this stage of the battle, not even Charles could prevent the German breakthrough.
He felt a sense of pride in this achievement. After all, their opponent was Charles, known as the "French Mars." To have him at a disadvantage was no small feat.
This meant that after this battle, his own name would soon be as renowned as Charles' across the world.
As Colonel Moritz indulged in his thoughts, a signalman suddenly rushed out from the communications room, reporting nervously, "General, Colonel, Charles' armored units have been spotted in the village of Puville!"
"Puville?" Colonel Moritz and Falkenhayn bent over the map simultaneously to locate the village.
When their fingers stopped at Puville’s position, their faces instantly turned pale. They looked up at each other and saw the same shock in their eyes.
"It—it’s outside Mons," Moritz stammered, fear gleaming in his eyes.
"Charles has created another encirclement," Falkenhayn muttered in a daze. "He’s surrounded us again!"
...
Falkenhayn and Moritz weren’t the only ones caught off guard—Tigani, who had been with Charles, was equally surprised.
As fuel supplies became increasingly abundant, Tigani’s tense nerves began to ease.
He tossed the telegram he had been holding aside and glared at Charles. "Spill it, you trickster. What other underhanded schemes have you pulled off?"
"What?" Charles was taken aback by Tigani’s sudden accusation.
"It’s obvious you’re a master deceiver," Tigani stated seriously. "The Germans are still lost in your web of lies, even though the British have tried to tell them the truth."
Pointing his finger at Charles, as though seeing through him, Tigani continued, "That’s why I suspect you’ve been deceiving us too, just like you’ve done to the Germans!"
Charles rolled his eyes and replied, half-jokingly, "Fine, I admit it. I’ve deceived all of you—emotionally!"
Tigani burst into laughter. "That’s far worse than deceiving the Germans!"
Reflecting on Tigani’s words, Charles asked, "You seem certain the 'First Lord of the Admiralty' told the Germans the truth?"
This was news even Charles didn’t know, and "The Lady in White" hadn’t uncovered it either.
Smugly, Tigani nodded. "It seems you’ve forgotten my father. Anything related to the navy rarely escapes his notice."
Charles murmured an "Oh" in understanding.
Wells’ intricate ties with the navy and his potential connections with France’s Minister of the Navy allowed him access to first-hand information. In this regard, the recently formed "Lady in White" was outmatched. As a civilian organization, most of its members were from the lower classes, facing insurmountable barriers to the upper echelons of society.
As if to show off, Tigani recounted the story: "Though the 'First Lord of the Admiralty' said nothing, a double agent mysteriously disappeared several days ago. We know about this because it was our group who uncovered and notified the British about him. The Second Bureau has been keeping an eye on him."
Charles hummed in acknowledgment. There was no doubt—the double agent had fallen victim to this "shadow war."
There were two possibilities:
Either the "First Lord of the Admiralty" silenced him to cover their tracks, or the Germans did it after discovering his dual allegiance.
Charles believed it was the latter because the Germans had continued their offensive at Mons, showing they didn’t trust the "First Lord of the Admiralty’s" information.
"Want to know what my father said about you?" Tigani asked.
"Wells?" Charles replied with a smile. "He doesn’t seem like the type to praise people often."
"Not often? He’s almost never praised anyone," Tigani complained. "Think about it—I grew up under that stifling atmosphere. Maybe that’s why I’m always at odds with him."
Tigani’s gaze turned envious as he continued, "But he praised you. He said if you focused on business or pursued politics, no one would be your match, and all of France would be yours for the taking."
Charles nodded earnestly. "He’s absolutely right. Your father is a man of great insight."
Tigani scoffed in exaggerated disbelief, calling out, "Shameless!"
He then turned to the map with a defiant look. "Anyway, you succeeded. We’ve gathered enough fuel. So, when do you plan to attack Mons?"
"Attack Mons?" Charles shook his head. "I never said we were attacking Mons."
"Then are we..." Tigani’s eyes roved over the map. "Stopping at Tournai?"
Answering his own question, Tigani added, "Maybe you’re right. Mons really isn’t suitable for armored warfare. That’s Foch’s concern."
"No, General," Charles corrected him. "Our target is Puville, a tiny village with fewer than a hundred households."
Tigani quickly located Puville on the map. Looking up at Charles in astonishment, he exclaimed, "My God! Can’t you just let the Germans go? They’ve just escaped one encirclement!"