Chapter 444 Safety

In London, England, the "Secretary of the Navy" stood in front of the window with a sullen face.

His eyes were dull, and the cigarette in his hand was slowly emitting green smoke. It had accumulated a finger-wide ash, but the "Secretary of the Navy" did not notice it at all.

This bastard actually used this method to deceive the Germans.

Those idiots in Germany, I clearly told them the answer, but they just thought it was a lie!

But the "Secretary of the Navy" was not really entangled in this.

Charles was undoubtedly on the road to victory. The surrounded German army could not hold on for long. Surrender was only a matter of time.

What we need to consider now is the division of interests.

Although Belgium has not been fully recovered, it has extraordinary significance after taking over the capital Brussels and Antwerp. Albert I can start to rebuild the Belgian army.

Equipment is a big deal, but it is not just a matter of money, it is the control of Belgium.

Whoever controls Belgium's arms can control Belgium. That is Belgium's lifeline and can determine Belgium's survival at a critical moment.

There is no need to think about this person, it must be Charles.

Because he led the army to defeat the Germans and liberate Belgium, and he was also an arms dealer. His equipment and tactics were invincible on the battlefield...

Anyone who is not a fool knows that Charles is the best choice, and Albert I is no exception.

But the "Secretary of the Navy" was still unwilling. Britain was the first power and it was impossible to watch its influence disappear. Even Belgium, which was right in front of him, had to be out of control and thrown into the arms of another country, especially that "other country" was France.

At this time, the fireworks had burned near his fingers. The "Secretary of the Navy" was burned and his fingers twitched. He hurriedly turned back and extinguished it in the ashtray.

At that moment, he suddenly made a decision.

I have to try it anyway!

…

Albert I excitedly returned to his villa in Antwerp, carrying the defense plan given by Charles.

The villa was a little dilapidated. Before the war, it was used as a headquarters by the Germans, and they made a mess of it.

There was a small-scale battle on the day of the recovery. The Germans resisted for a while to buy time to burn the documents.

This left the villa full of bullet holes and wooden walls blown up by grenades.

But Albert I didn't mind. He insisted on living here despite Colonel Eden's objection: "You don't know how lucky I am to be back here, Colonel. No matter how dilapidated it is, it is still my home."

The carriage drove into the gate, and the guard told Albert I: "Your Majesty, General Winter is here, he is waiting for you in the study."

Albert I's face sank, and he couldn't help but snorted.

The carriage stopped, and Albert I took off his gloves and hat and handed them to the servants who came up, with some hesitation.

He originally wanted to give General Winter some time, but finally thought it was not necessary.

Walking into the study along the broken passage, the first sentence Albert I said when he saw General Winter was: "You came just in time, General, I think you must have brought fuel for us!"

General Winter blushed, and he heard the irony in Albert I's words.

"Sorry, Your Majesty." General Winter explained: "It was an accident..."

"Well." Albert I interrupted General Winter: "I believe it was an accident. It must be a German submarine. There is no doubt about it."

Albert I's words made it difficult for General Winter to explain anything.

General Winter sighed in his heart. Everyone knew that any explanation was redundant. The behavior of the "Minister of the Navy" was once again proved to be wrong.

But it was he who bore the price.

"I hope to make some compensation, Your Majesty." General Winter said: "We can help your country rebuild its army."

"Help?" Albert I had a hint of sarcasm on his lips: "Like helping us deal with the Germans?"

"No, Your Majesty." General Winter replied: "We can provide free assistance to your country's artillery production line, and if necessary, we can also share fighter aircraft technology with your country."

General Winter did his homework before coming here.

After he received the order from the "Minister of the Navy", he was thinking in his mind before he set off: What does Belgium need?

Rifles. Belgium had previously obtained the production authorization of the German Mauser Company and was now able to produce them on its own.

Machine guns, no one can compare to Charles' "Saint-Etienne 2", it is the king of light machine guns.

Tanks, Britain is trying to produce a tank of its own based on the "Charle A1", of course it can't compete with Charles.

The only thing that can form an advantage over Charles is artillery, after all, Charles also produces 6-inch 26-cwt howitzers from Britain.

And the French artillery is either insufficient in production or too small in caliber to meet the current combat needs.

Albert I laughed: "This is very interesting, General. I want to know, why do you think I will choose British equipment?"

What you can provide, Charles can provide, Albert I thought, but what Charles can provide, you may not have.

General Winter didn't say nonsense, and answered directly: "Because you need checks and balances, your majesty."

"Checks and balances?" Albert I narrowed his eyes.

Then he suddenly realized: "You mean Belgium will be controlled by Charles?"

General Winter nodded:

"Think about it, what will happen if all of Belgium's equipment, or most of its equipment, is purchased from Charles?"

"One day, Charles only needs to do something to his arsenal, or stop supplying Belgium, and Belgium will suffer a devastating disaster."

"You are a wise king, Your Majesty, I believe you can make the right judgment and decision."

Albert I smiled and replied: "I'm sorry, General. I may not trust Britain or France, but I believe Charles, he will not do such a thing."

General Winter looked at Albert I with a puzzled look: "You should not trust anyone, Your Majesty."

This is not what a mature politician can say. In politics, there is only "interest" but no "trust."

"I know what you mean." Albert I replied: "But you are wrong. You think you can check and balance Charles by purchasing equipment from Britain, but it is not a problem of equipment."

"What?" General Winter became more and more confused.

"Safe, General." Albert I stared at General Winter and said calmly: "Only Charles can guarantee Belgium's safety in the war. Neither Britain nor France can."

After a pause, Albert I asked back: "Then please tell me, how can I check and balance Charles?"

General Winter was stunned. He had never thought about this.

But what Albert I said was the truth. Only Charles could defeat the Germans and guarantee Belgium's safety.