Chapter 504: Inspection
At the Antwerp Airport, Charles met with King Albert I and Colonel Eden in a conference room.
Charles had no objections to their idea of forming an elite unit to cooperate with the French army in combat. Although there were the same issues of different equipment and incompatible ammunition between the Belgian army and the French army, it was still better than the British forces.
However, Charles was skeptical about King Albert I's suggestion of a "airport security force." "This seems unnecessary, Your Majesty. We already have our own security forces, and the airport is very secure."
"No, General," King Albert I replied. "Many people still don't know that Antwerp Airport has been converted into a military airfield. When they are stopped by security, there are often language barriers. I have heard this has caused you great inconvenience."
Charles paused, and it seemed that this was indeed the case.
In Antwerp, Dutch was more commonly used, which often led to unnecessary misunderstandings.
King Albert I continued, "If we use Belgian guards, these problems will not arise."
"I can select soldiers who speak both French and Dutch to guard the airport. They will be able to communicate seamlessly with both French and Belgian personnel. More importantly, they will have an advantage when it comes to searching for spies."
"You can also be assured of security; there will be no oversight."
The fighter planes were crucial not only for defending Belgium but also for reclaiming its territory. Moreover, since Charles's headquarters was located at the airport, King Albert I would not allow any issues there.
Charles listened and found the reasoning sound, especially regarding the search for spies. The French army did not have the authority to conduct searches, and language barriers made such searches difficult.
"Alright!" Charles nodded reluctantly. "We will proceed as you suggest, Your Majesty."
At this moment, Charles was completely unaware that King Albert I's establishment of this "security force" had a hidden agenda.
...
King Albert I acted swiftly. After receiving Charles’s approval, he immediately issued a special conscription order to the entire nation, including over 500,000 guerrillas:
"Warriors, due to the intense fighting at Verdun, France has had to recall its forces to fight at home."
"This has left Charles's armored and mechanized units lacking infantry support."
"Therefore, we intend to urgently form the First Special Reconnaissance Army, consisting of three divisions with a total of about 60,000 personnel."
"If you wish to reclaim your homeland and your country, if you want to drive the invaders out of our borders, if you wish to become a hero whose name will go down in history!"
"Now is the time, join us and march with Charles toward victory!"
(Note: Belgium's "Special Reconnaissance Units" were formed in 1955 as the precursor to the special forces, equivalent to the early "scout troops" of the Chinese military.)
Once the conscription order was issued, Belgium was immediately swept by a nationwide sensation. Eligible young men rushed to enlist, and on the first day, the number of recruits exceeded 100,000. The numbers continued to increase, with many even returning from abroad to join.
The biggest allure was the chance to "march toward victory with Charles."
Charles had spent one day successfully maneuvering through Antwerp and another day turning the tide at Verdun. These legendary victories were still widely talked about around the world, and people hoped to be part of them and share in the ultimate glory.
Suddenly, the opportunity was right in front of them.
Young men scrambled to the registration points, and the overwhelming response forced the staff to call in reinforcements.
...
Vice Admiral Avis was completely unaware of any of this. He thought it was just a routine formation of the Belgian army to better prepare for future battles.
Unprepared, he arrived at the airport, intending to assert his authority before Charles, only to encounter one setback after another at the airport gate.
At that point, Vice Admiral Avis still thought it was just a communication issue with the Belgian guards due to the language barrier, so he resigned himself to bad luck.
Before long, King Albert I and Colonel Eden emerged.
By this time, Colonel Eden had changed into his brigadier uniform, with two stars shining brightly on his collar. His eyes were sharp, and his chest was puffed up even more than usual.
"Your Majesty," Vice Admiral Avis stood and saluted. "We were planning to inspect the area here..."
King Albert I poked his head out and smiled, "Are you planning to inspect the airport? On horseback?"
Vice Admiral Avis was momentarily confused. Was there something wrong with that?
Colonel Eden stepped forward and explained, "Vice Admiral, you may not be familiar with fighter planes, but horses are easily startled on an airfield. If they run wild, they could pose a significant safety risk to the planes taking off and landing."
King Albert I raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly, "It seems you don’t understand the place you're trying to inspect, Vice Admiral."
This was a polite way of saying, "Can you even understand what you're inspecting? You don’t, so what’s the point of inspecting anything?"
Vice Admiral Avis felt embarrassed.
"I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I don’t know much about these matters."
"That’s why I wanted to learn more about what needs attention," he added.
This wasn’t Vice Admiral Avis’s fault. During World War I, airplanes were just beginning to be used in battle, and few army generals knew much about the specifics.
Then, Vice Admiral Avis looked behind him and turned back to say, "I’m only bringing two staff officers, Your Majesty. All horses will be left outside."
As he spoke, he sighed inwardly. The reason he brought cavalry was that he had heard that Charles couldn’t ride a horse. He planned to show off his skills in front of Charles and demonstrate what a real soldier looked like.
But his plan was doomed before it even started.
King Albert I nodded, "It’s better this way, Vice Admiral. Those fighter planes and their pilots are not something you can afford to replace."
This was the truth, especially when it came to pilots. During wartime, it was often impossible to buy pilots, even with money.
Vice Admiral Avis shrugged, indifferent.
King Albert I sneered. Of course, these British army officers, who refused to embrace new equipment, wouldn’t think that way.
Without further explanation, King Albert I turned and walked into the airport, with Vice Admiral Avis hurriedly following along with his two staff officers.
As they entered the gates, Vice Admiral Avis realized something seemed off and curiously asked, "Your Majesty, shouldn’t the headquarters be located..."
"No, Vice Admiral," King Albert I replied, without looking back. "General Charles is very busy, and I believe he shouldn’t waste his time on such a trivial inspection. Colonel Eden and I are happy to handle it. Is that a problem?"
The implication was clear: "If you want to meet Charles, you’re not worthy yet!"
Vice Admiral Avis made a noncommittal sound, though he was displeased. He didn’t dare say anything, and quickly followed King Albert I. "No, of course not. It is a great honor, Your Majesty."
After all, he was the King of Belgium, and the Allies were still fighting on Belgian soil. Offending him would bring no benefit.
Vice Admiral Avis had a bad premonition: Today’s "inspection" was unlikely to achieve the desired "effect."