Chapter 431 This Is the British

Charles handed the telegram to Albert I.

Albert I received the telegram and read it, and was surprised: "Are you short of fuel?"

Charles didn't speak. He glanced at the telegram thoughtfully, signaling Albert I to read it more clearly.

Albert I once again turned his attention to the telegram with a puzzled expression.

It didn't take long for confusion to turn to shock, then to anger.

"Who sent this telegram?" Albert I asked in a deep voice.

"General Winter." Charles replied: "But I think this should mean 'Lord of the Navy'."

Albert I nodded slightly and asked: "Do they mean that if you don't go to the Dardanelles, you won't provide us with fuel?"

Colonel Eden looked at Albert I in surprise, as if he couldn't believe that this would happen again, using fuel to force Charles into submission?

Tijani, who was reviewing documents, also stopped what he was doing. He looked at Albert I, then turned his gaze to Charles, waiting for his answer.

Charles confirmed Albert I's guess with silence.

This moment was like igniting a powder keg, and Albert I exploded at that moment:

"These bastards, shameless people!"

"How could they do this?"

"I know the British are unreliable. They only think about their own interests at all times."

…

Tijani stepped forward and took the telegram and read it:

"I don't quite understand. Our victory here is also in Britain's interests. Could this be a misunderstanding?"

"Maybe they didn't mean anything else but what they meant literally."

"I mean, there are indeed German submarines blocking Antwerp..."

Charles shook his head: "As long as I agree, they will send the fuel right away. Otherwise, they will continue to drag it down."

Tijani turned his attention to the telegram again, and finally nodded slowly: "You are right, this telegram is impeccable, and literally does not mean any coercion. But in fact, whether there are German submarines is just a word from them."

"This is the 'Admiral of the Navy' hoping to save the defeat in the Dardanelles." Albert I gritted his teeth and said: "This bastard, he ignored the interests of his allies and the possible dangers caused by doing so for his own political interests. This could undo everyone’s efforts and kill many people!”

Charles didn't say anything. He stood up and made himself a cup of coffee.

If the "Admiralty of the Admiralty" had such foresight and sense, he would not have seized the Ottoman battleships.

But Albert I was not as calm as Charles. He turned pale with anger, his chest heaved violently and he was breathing heavily. At this time, he was like an enraged bull, ready to lower his head and charge towards the target with his horns raised. .

After a while, Albert I picked up his hat from the table and turned around to leave.

"I'm going to England," he said.

"Your Majesty." Charles stopped him: "Do you think it is useful to go to England?"

He should know that he has become the "Cow Lady".

Albert I turned around and replied: "This is probably a private decision of the 'Admiral of the Navy', and others may not agree with this approach."

Then he added: "Besides, he is no longer the Lord of the Navy, so he has no power to make this decision."

"But the power of the 'Admiralty' is still there." Charles replied: "This has nothing to do with whether he is the Admiralty or not. This is his connections. He can convince other people and make others think that this is in the interest of the United Kingdom."

"But this is not in Britain's interests." Albert I insisted.

He believed that as long as he went to England to raise his voice, the "Secretary of the Admiralty" would be criticized immediately and the fuel problem could be solved smoothly.

"No, sire," Charles replied, "the point is that I am French and not English."

Albert I, who was about to turn around, was instantly petrified when he heard these words, and his feet seemed to be tied and could no longer move.

"Think about it." Charles took the brewed coffee and stirred it gently with a spoon. Shi Ran returned to his desk and sat down: "The British transport ship will not only bring fuel, but also reinforcements. When the British reinforcements arrive, , who will direct the next battle?"

Albert I understood instantly.

If Charles continues to stay in Antwerp, no one can take the command away from him, which means that the British army must obey Charles's orders, and the final victory is also Charles's. The British army is just a foil, no matter how many people die. .

This is intolerable to the British. They are the world's most powerful country. They want to dominate everything and should be the protagonist everywhere.

Otherwise, it would threaten Britain's international prestige and the centripetal force of its colonies.

"We can verify it." Charles took a sip of coffee and looked up at the waiting signal soldier: "Call back to General Winter: 'I'm very sorry! As I said before, I can't leave Antwerp. Now is the time. It’s a critical stage of the campaign and I think I should be in charge here’.”

"Yes, General." The signal soldier responded, turned around and ran to the telecommunications room.

Charles raised his hands to several people: "What do you think General Winter will answer? I guess they have already arranged everything!"

Tijani chuckled. He agreed with Charles's statement. Although Britain is an ally, it is also a competitor of France.

Colonel Eden was at a loss as to what to do. Before that, he thought that Britain and France were staunch allies and were uniting to deal with the Germans. Only now did he discover that this was not the case.

Albert I sighed softly, returned to his desk and sat down in a sullen manner, feeling a sense of powerlessness.

After a while, the signalman came back with a telegram in his hand: "General Winter said that the situation in Antwerp has been decided at this time. They plan to send Marshal Kitchener to personally preside over the situation. The brigadier general can rest assured to go to the Dardanelles to command, where the brigadier general is more needed."

(The picture above shows Kitchener, the Minister of War, who is also a ruthless character. He used cruel means of burning and killing to deal with the Boers in the Second Boer War. He was arbitrary during World War I and ignored the cabinet's decision to expand the army on a large scale.)

Tijani said "Wow", smiled and looked at Charles and joked: "Your battle is so dazzling that even the British Field Marshal is jealous."

Then Tijani thought again, who said it wasn't? In front of this battle, what can the British Field Marshal count for?

Albert I said sarcastically with a blank expression: "Perfect plan, they are very good at winning such 'victories', this is the British!"

Colonel Eden, who had been silent, interrupted at this time: "But your majesty, General, if it is just these problems, I think we can solve them without the British. The guerrillas can make up for the reinforcements. I believe they will not be worse than the British. Fuel can be called on to provide fuel from the surrounding towns."

Tijani smiled and shook his head: "This matter needs to be kept secret, Colonel, we can't let others know that our tanks have run out of fuel and can't move!"

Charles remained silent, and at this time he had a different idea.