I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France

The "Camel" fighter was indeed outdated equipment for Shire. At this moment, his aircraft engine had reached 180 horsepower, while the engine installed on the "Camel" was only 150 horsepower.

In this regard, the Germans were ahead, their engines also had 180 horsepower and reached this power output long before Shire did.

The difference was that the Germans installed the most advanced engines on Zeppelin airships to enhance their speed and redeploy them onto the battlefield.

(Note: The Germans stubbornly believed that airships could bring victory to Germany, despite the emergence of rockets and incendiary bullets capable of destroying them. However, German airships persisted until 1918, and the last one destroyed was equipped with a 200-horsepower engine.)

...

The night had fallen over London, the hazy lights swaying gracefully over the Thames River, with a cool evening breeze gently brushing the treetops, bringing an almost imperceptible moisture to the air.

The Minister of the Navy walked into his study in his pajamas, eagerly poured himself a glass of whiskey and drank it down in one gulp without even turning on the lights. He then poured another glass and held it in his hand, skillfully lighting a cigar, only then turned on the light and sat in the rocking chair by the window, staring out at the night scene in a trance.

The cigar slowly burned between the Minister of the Navy's fingers, and the swirling smoke seemed to materialize his anxiety, gathering more and more in the air until it filled the entire study.

The Minister of the Navy was undecided about the trade involving the "Camel" fighters.

This deal was not unprofitable. Trading five artillery production lines for the safety of British airspace was imperative.

However, the Minister's character was to have it all.

He was thinking that the British Army would be unable to equip itself with the new artillery for at least the next six months, if not longer.

The main point is...

The development of this 6-inch howitzer was targeting not only the German 105mm howitzer, but also the French Army.

The French Army also had their 105mm howitzers, various types of tanks, and Shire's infantry regiment. All of these would be annihilated in the face of this new artillery.

Now, they were expected to sell the artillery production lines to France, which meant the British Army would have no advantage and no secrets.

Therefore, when the Minister of the Navy received General Winter's telegram, he instantly flew into a rage:

"This is outright extortion! For just a single plane, they want five artillery production lines."

"Does he understand what five artillery production lines mean? We could win the war with them!"

"Moreover, we are allies. Isn't technical sharing supposed to be among allies?"

After thinking for a while, the Minister decided not to respond to Shire but instead sent a telegram to Clemenceau of the French Army Commission, laying out all of Shire's alleged misdemeanors:

"Five production lines—this is not a trade; it's a thorough destruction of Britain's new artillery. This is evidently detrimental to the war effort."

"We do have aircraft technology; we just wish to share and exchange. This is the only way to let both sides' fighters develop better and faster to defeat the enemy."

"This is in both our interests, but Shire has positioned himself as an uncertain factor."

...

The Minister of the Navy hoped the government would pressure Shire to cancel or reduce the "price."

However, Clemenceau was not a fool and promptly replied:

"I am very sorry, sir, but this is Shire's private property. He has full 'industrial rights,' and we have no right to intervene."

"Furthermore, we do not believe Shire's actions are inappropriate."

"His demands for your production lines are also out of technological exchange considerations, which benefits both of us."

The Minister of the Navy was left speechless. His unseemly obsession with others' obligations while ignoring his responsibilities was laid bare until he fell victim to his own double standards.

...

The Minister of the Navy gently rocked the chair, falling into deep thought with its creaking sounds.

Did they really need to exchange five artillery production lines?

Or should they urgently modify these five production lines to temporarily develop an "export version"?

But this might not be appropriate. Shire was no fool. If the artillery was an "export version," the aircraft he provided would also be an "export version."

Such a result would still disadvantage Britain because air superiority would remain in France's hands.

As the Minister hesitated, a distant muffled sound suddenly broke the silence. A flare of fire rose in the darkness, soon transforming into a faint, almost ethereal, cloud of smoke.

The Minister of the Navy jerked upright, thinking some accident had occurred, perhaps an explosion at a flour mill or an armaments factory.

But he soon realized this was not the case, as the explosions became more frequent and continuous, all coming from the same direction.

"What's going on?" he asked, rising and pushing open the window, scanning the horizon beyond the buildings towards the source of the flames.

It seemed like enemy shelling, but London was far from the front lines, so artillery strikes were unlikely.

Just as the Minister was mulling it over, a piercing and prolonged air raid siren blared. Lights flickered on in the previously dark residential areas, and people leaned out of windows to look up at the sky, trying to understand what was happening. Some even climbed onto rooftops.

However, the dark sky revealed nothing. Only the sounds of explosions echoing throughout London.

The searchlights beamed up, their sharp rays piercing the sky like swords but still finding nothing.

(Note: In 1915, the British did not believe the Germans had the capability to air raid London, so there was no air defense readiness. Most searchlights were used by infantry, with a range of about 1,000 meters, while the airships were at an altitude of over 3,000 meters.)

Churchill rushed back to his desk, frantically rummaging through a drawer for his binoculars, and then hurried back to the window, his hands trembling with tension.

The moon emerged from the clouds at that moment, illuminating a massive object in the gaps between the clouds.

The sight made the Minister's hair stand on end, as it resembled the kind of monstrosity described in Wells or Verne's science fiction novels. The silver hull of the airship was faintly visible under the moonlight, dropping something down below.

Explosions followed one after another.

"Sir!" The study door was pushed open, and the tardy guard nervously stood by the Minister of the Navy.

"What is that?" the Minister asked, his voice tinged with fear.

"It's an airship, sir," the guard replied. "A German Zeppelin airship."

The Minister of the Navy grunted, glaring angrily at the guard:

"How did they get here?"

"Don't we have planes and rockets?"

"Why weren't they destroyed en route, but instead allowed to fly over London and drop bombs on our heads?"

The guard remained silent, as this was not a question he could answer. The furious Minister of the Navy was obviously asking the wrong person.