I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 1008: Persuading Them to Surrender Is the Best Solution

Chapter 1008: Chapter 1008: Persuading Them to Surrender Is the Best Solution

"Is everything alright, Winter?" Shire contacted General Winter through the radio.

At this moment, General Winter had been transferred to the battleship "Prince of Wales," his face blackened by smoke, half of his eyebrows singed, and his right hand wrapped in bandages hung around his neck.

These injuries were sustained when he evacuated from "Canada," where thick white high-temperature gases from the fire and steam pipelines significantly reduced visibility, taking quite some time to find the ladder hanging on the ship’s side.

"I’m fine, Shire." General Winter replied; however, his face showed otherwise.

"I warned you," Shire said, "you wouldn’t succeed."

"Yes, I lost, Shire." General Winter’s expression was complex, his tone carrying a hint of anger: 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"So, stop saying these pointless words."

"We can be straightforward; tell me what you want?"

"I mean, how do you plan to deal with us?"

Shire chuckled:

"What do you think I’ll do to you? Throw you into the sea? Or shoot you in the head?"

"No, Winter."

"I will treat captives well; it’s my usual style."

General Winter grunted: "You’d better do as you say."

At this moment, General Winter seemed like a wounded beast.

Not physically injured, but psychologically.

Shire’s excellence completely shattered all of General Winter’s pride and arrogance, even making him feel ashamed.

But that’s human nature; the more self-deprecating one feels, the more they exhibit pride.

Thus, General Winter’s choice of words in the telegram wasn’t very polite.

"If that’s the case, we have nothing more to say." General Winter wanted to end the conversation: "Remember your promise, Admiral."

Just as he was about to turn and leave, a French Army guard blocked his way.

With his right hand resting on his gun holster, he politely said, "Please continue the conversation, General, until Admiral Shire agrees to end it!"

General Winter gritted his teeth and returned to the radio.

"Don’t rush, Winter." The radio operator handed the translated telegram to General Winter:

"Here’s the thing, you’ve surrendered, and I can guarantee your safety."

"But have you considered the issues concerning others?"

General Winter immediately guessed Shire’s intention:

"You want me to persuade my troops to surrender?"

"Don’t be foolish, Shire; I won’t be that stupid."

"They will fight to the last moment. They will destroy Malta Airport to secure an ultimate victory, then proceed to Toulon Port..."

Ranting on and on, General Winter talked big, spouting unrealistic ideas, more like venting his emotions.

Shire remained silent, calmly waiting for him to send telegram after telegram.

A few minutes later, when General Winter was out of words, Shire replied:

"Do you know our losses in this naval battle?"

"Only two pilots."

"One died due to an accident while landing, crashing into the sea; the other had a malfunction while returning, but successfully parachuted to safety."

General Winter collapsed instantly.

His fleet lost two of the most advanced battlecruisers of that era.

(Note: During World War I, dreadnoughts were considered the most advanced battleships, with battlecruisers being slightly less advanced used for hunting enemy ships)

The flagship was bombed into paralysis, over two thousand crew members were dead or injured, nearly twenty warships of the whole fleet surrendered, yet Shire’s aircraft carrier only lost two aircraft and sacrificed one pilot?!

As General Winter remained silent, Shire’s telegram arrived again:

"So, do you think continuing this battle is meaningful?"

"You are merely targets, Winter. If it were in the Atlantic Ocean or the North Sea, perhaps I might have concerns, but here in the Mediterranean."

"Do you know why?"

A French Army guard appropriately handed General Winter a map and spread it out in front of him.

Shire continued:

"In the Atlantic Ocean or the North Sea, my aircraft carriers cannot come and go freely."

"Because we might have to pass through the La Manche Strait, which would be a graveyard for aircraft carriers."

General Winter agreed.

The aircraft carrier’s strength lies in using bombers for long-distance strikes; entering the La Manche Strait is courting disaster.

"We also have to worry about planes taking off from the British mainland."

General Winter nodded again.

He knew the vulnerability of aircraft carriers, a single bombing, even a runway damage could potentially incapacitate them.

"But in the Mediterranean, I can be certain, no matter how many warships enter, even if it’s the entire Royal Navy, there will be no return."

General Winter laughed:

"You’ve forgotten that we still have Egypt, Admiral."

"Besides, we have Greece, these two places will become our ports and bases."

"Even if our fleet doesn’t return home, it can contend on equal terms with the French Navy in the Mediterranean."

Shire simply replied, "Is that so?"

Then he said no more.

General Winter waited for quite a while without hearing anything, confusedly glancing around: "What do you mean?"

As General Winter was figuring out Shire’s scheme, a French Army staff officer entered the communication room from the door outside, taking out two documents from his briefcase and handing them to General Winter: "General, these are our upcoming operational plans."

"Operational plans?" General Winter received the documents half-believingly, glanced at them, and instantly turned pale.

These two documents were the "Greek Operation Plan" and "Egypt Operation Plan."

General Winter turned over the files incredulously.

So, everything had been planned by Shire?

At this moment, Shire’s telegram was delivered again:

"You know you won’t have the initiative in Greece, the French Army has over two hundred thousand troops there with the support of Greek military and civilians."

"As for Egypt. They will soon hear of the British Fleet’s disastrous defeat."

"Wouldn’t you think that a country long oppressed by England might seize this perfect opportunity to seek independence?"

Cold sweat appeared instantly on General Winter’s forehead.

England managed to control these colonies because it had the world’s strongest navy.

But now, the navy had suffered a crushing defeat by Shire; Egypt would certainly seize the opportunity.

And not just Egypt, but also Africa, Canada, and Australia...

"Give it up!" Shire continued:

"Continuing is meaningless, except for increasing your casualties."

"I will block the Tunis Strait using Toulon Port and Malta Island, relying on Greece’s Piraeus Port to supply the aircraft carrier blockade and attack the Suez Port in Egypt."

"You are already trapped in the Mediterranean with no way out."

(The above image shows the location of Egypt’s Suez Port, at the exit of the Suez Canal)

Finally, Shire spoke coldly: "Persuading them to surrender is the best solution!"