Chapter 447: The Bigger, the Better
The person most shaken by this news was King Albert I.
When King Albert I heard the Germans were preparing to surrender, he sprang from his bed mid-nap. A man known for his careful attention to appearance, he rushed outside in his pajamas, shouting to his attendants and the workers filling craters and shell holes: “We’ve won! The Germans are surrendering! Long live Belgium!”
The attendants and workers dropped what they were doing and joined the celebratory cheers.
Soon, the news spread, and the entire estate erupted in jubilation.
Overcome with excitement, King Albert I grabbed a maid and spun her around several times. Although she stepped on his feet repeatedly due to her lack of dance experience, he felt no pain at all.
Then, as if suddenly reminded of something, he left the maid behind and dashed toward the telegraph room, barking orders: “Relay this news to everyone, to everyone!”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the communications officer replied enthusiastically.
King Albert I considered opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate but had another thought. Turning, he hurried toward the dressing room. Poking his head out after entering, he called to an attendant outside: “Prepare the carriage; I need to visit the fortress!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
King Albert I quickly changed his clothes, muttering to himself, “Of course, such an occasion wouldn’t be complete without Charles. Without him, there would be no victory today. A celebration without the main protagonist? That would hardly be a celebration at all!”
Once dressed, he selected a hat and walking stick, and with a light step, descended the stairs.
Before he could reach the door, Colonel Eden entered from outside.
“Your Majesty, I have something to report…” Colonel Eden’s face bore a troubled expression.
Oblivious to the seriousness, King Albert I, still caught up in the joy of victory, interrupted as he walked toward the waiting carriage: “I know, I know—the Germans are surrendering! I’ve already heard, Colonel. Your timing is perfect; let’s go find Charles and celebrate together.”
Colonel Eden could only follow behind.
“No, Your Majesty,” Colonel Eden said indignantly. “It’s something else. They intend to have Joffre accept the German surrender.”
As King Albert I was stepping into the carriage, he froze, nearly losing his balance. Fortunately, Colonel Eden rushed forward to steady him.
Before regaining his composure, King Albert I turned to Colonel Eden with an incredulous expression. “What did you just say? Is that true?”
Colonel Eden nodded. “It was proposed by Britain’s new ‘First Lord of the Admiralty,’ Belfour. He claims the victory, achieved at great sacrifice by British and French soldiers, should be marked by the Allied Commander-in-Chief accepting the surrender.”
King Albert I’s face darkened. He asked coldly, “And Joffre? What does he say?”
Joffre, who had no direct contribution to the frontlines, should step aside, showing magnanimity while avoiding embarrassment. As the saying goes, “One should not accept rewards for accomplishments they did not achieve.” If Joffre accepted the surrender, could he endure the stares of others?
But King Albert I underestimated Joffre.
Colonel Eden replied, “Joffre hasn’t responded. At least, not yet. I believe he intends to feign ignorance.”
In this context, feigning ignorance was tantamount to tacitly agreeing with Belfour’s proposal.
“Shameless!” King Albert I was furious. “These scoundrels! Brazenly stealing Charles’ victory under the pretext of frontline sacrifices!”
“Your Majesty,” Colonel Eden reminded cautiously, “this could have consequences far more significant than it appears.”
“What do you mean?” King Albert I looked at Colonel Eden in confusion.
Colonel Eden leaned closer, lowering his voice:
“Charles achieved such a monumental feat, yet the glory goes to someone else.”
“Then what’s the point of Charles doing any of this?”
“Wouldn’t Charles think, ‘If that’s the case, let Joffre station troops in Belgium and recover the remaining territories himself…’”
King Albert I was stunned, frozen in place for a long moment. This was the worst possible scenario he could imagine.
Although Charles’ maneuvers had successfully recaptured Brussels, reclaiming the capital, only about a third of Belgium’s territory had been recovered.
If Charles were to abandon his mission, who would retake the remaining lands?
Joffre, that fool?
If Joffre were entrusted with the task, forget recovery; even holding the current territory would be questionable.
And there was still the matter of Charles creating a defensive system for the future.
“No, no.” King Albert I’s face changed dramatically. He climbed hastily into the carriage, urging Colonel Eden, “Get in! We must see Charles immediately.”
…
At Charles’ command center, Charles had just sent off General Winter when he heard about the British proposal to let Joffre accept the surrender.
“Brilliant,” Tigani remarked sarcastically. “Nowhere to be found during the fighting, but always at the front when it’s time to claim credit. Truly the brave and fearless Commander-in-Chief.”
Seeing Charles remain unperturbed, Tigani asked skeptically, “You seem to be taking this rather calmly?”
“What else can I do?” Charles replied evenly. “Grab a gun and protest?”
“Maybe you should.” Tigani’s expression was less than pleased.
This wasn’t just unfair to Charles but also to Tigani as the commander of the mechanized division, the armored division commanders, and the entire military.
“Let him be,” Charles said, a faint smile on his lips. “If he has the ability to swallow this fruit without choking, then let him try.”
“What?” Tigani was puzzled. Then, as understanding dawned, he shook his head with a laugh. “You think Joffre won’t have the audacity to go through with it? You underestimate him, Brigadier.”
Charles merely smiled without further explanation.
Though outwardly indifferent, Charles knew he couldn’t remain silent.
He personally cared little for titles and formalities, being a man who valued practical gains over empty honors—a mindset befitting a shrewd capitalist. Wise capitalists remain low-key and avoid putting themselves in the spotlight.
However, this incident could affect the morale of his troops.
As Tigani had pointed out, Joffre had been absent from the battlefield but now sought to claim victory for himself and his forces.
What would that make of the armored and mechanized units that had risked their lives to achieve this victory?
Wouldn’t this lead them to question whether their achievements would once again be handed to others?
This would breed complacency—a dangerous, even deadly mindset on the battlefield.
Charles would never allow his troops to be exposed to such peril, which would be no different from exposing himself.
Therefore, despite appearing indifferent, Charles resolved to make Joffre back down. Ideally, he would escalate the matter, thoroughly humiliating Joffre in the process.