I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start

The people of France went through a rollercoaster of emotions, from despair to elation.

Charles's battle plan was a closely guarded secret, kept even from the command at the Paris Defense Headquarters, including General Gallieni himself. So when the 43rd Division broke ranks and retreated from the gas attack, everyone thought Charles had failed.

Initially, some speculated this was merely part of his "mobile defense" plan: "Charles planned this; he would retreat as the gas spread, then counterattack once it dissipated. This isn't a defeat."

But soon, others countered, "This has nothing to do with 'mobile defense.' It's the wind; today, the wind was too strong, spreading the gas far beyond the planned defense positions—over three kilometers. Everyone was forced to retreat, including the 105th Infantry Regiment."

With that, a heavy silence fell over the crowd. Everyone understood that, even for Charles and his elite forces, it was impossible to survive in such conditions. This battle appeared to be a lost cause.

People began finding excuses to defend Charles:

"He did everything he could; it was an unforeseen disaster." "Yes, it was poison gas. No one can counter it—at least Charles tried." "He was brave, no doubt about it."

Yet there was no denying the sense of disappointment and dread on people's faces. They couldn't help but wonder: if Charles couldn't stop the poison gas, was surrender France's only option?

In the town of Dawatz, Camille and Deyoka were locked in a heated argument.

"Are you sure Charles is at the Defense Headquarters and not at the front?" Camille asked. She'd heard that the 105th Infantry Regiment had been lost, scattered while trying to hold off the gas attack.

"Absolutely!" Deyoka answered firmly. "He was at Defense Headquarters this morning, even giving an interview to reporters."

With that, Deyoka handed her a copy of The Medal, a newspaper featuring a photo of Charles at Defense Headquarters, dated that very day.

Camille took the paper and scanned it over, breathing a sigh of relief. But she kept reading, then looked up suspiciously at Deyoka. "How do I know you didn't print this paper yourself, like you did last time?"

Deyoka stared back, exasperated. "This one's real, Camille; everyone knows! The neighbors are talking about how lucky Charles wasn't on the battlefield since the 105th Infantry Regiment seems to have been wiped out."

The 105th hadn't retreated alongside the 43rd Division, so the French soldiers fleeing the gas thought the 105th must have been left behind, killed by the toxic fumes. Some speculated the 105th Infantry Regiment had sacrificed themselves to cover the main force's retreat.

"They're heroes; they protected us," people said gratefully, although they couldn't mask their fear of the poison gas, some even visibly shivering.

Camille exhaled a sigh of relief. Though the loss of the 105th was tragic, at least Charles was safe, and that mattered more than anything.

But just as she found peace in that thought, shouts erupted outside:

"The 105th won! They drove the Germans back and reclaimed their positions!" "Charles was on the battlefield himself, leading the 105th through the gas to counterattack!" "This wasn't 'mobile defense'—they pushed through the gas, risking their lives to fight back!"

Camille's face instantly went pale as she turned, wide-eyed and furious, toward Deyoka, who stood there, stunned and slack-jawed.

The news of Charles's victory sparked a frenzy across France. While the full details were still unknown, everyone began speculating on how Charles and the 105th Regiment had won:

"It's Charles's charisma—he went to the front, lifting the troops' morale, which led them to victory." "But even with high morale, wouldn't the poison gas still have stopped them?" "Maybe they launched their attack the moment the gas was released, before it had fully spread."

Each person had a theory, though everyone agreed on one thing: they were in awe of Charles's courage in personally leading the counterattack. But they were also filled with concern:

"He's saved France once again." "My God, that was poison gas—can you imagine charging through it to face the enemy?" "Will there be any lasting effects on him and his men? I've heard people have gone blind from gas exposure!"

Crowds began to gather spontaneously outside the Defense Headquarters in Paris. They knew this was the closest point of contact with Charles. People hoped General Gallieni would give them some reassurance about Charles's safety.

Gallieni wasn't planning on making any public announcements, out of concern for military secrecy, as the battle was not yet over. But people lingered outside for hours, gathering in greater numbers and refusing to disperse, even as the afternoon wore on.

Then the phone rang in Gallieni's office—it was General Foch.

"Congratulations, General," Foch said, his voice warm. "The battle is over. They've won."

Gallieni, however, had only one question on his mind.

"Charles is safe, isn't he?" Gallieni asked, his tone cautious and earnest. Despite knowing about the gas masks, he was still anxious for Charles's safety, knowing he had led his men into enemy-held territory.

"Yes," Foch confirmed. "Charles is safe. He led the attack himself through the gas—a truly courageous example for us all."

Foch emphasized the word "attack," clearly savoring the validation of his own "offensive theory" with Charles's success.

He continued, "Two German infantry regiments attempted to break out but ultimately surrendered to us. They suffered over two thousand casualties, most from their own gas."

These two German regiments had advanced after the gas, only to find Charles's troops occupying the defensive positions they had planned to take. With no way to resupply, they tried using the abandoned French munitions left in the gas-filled trenches. But their crude gas masks quickly lost effectiveness, leading to the tragic irony of many Germans succumbing to their own gas.

"You may lift the information blockade now," Foch said, his tone admiring. "I think the honor should be yours, General. You should be the one to deliver this victory to the French people."

So, Gallieni stepped out onto the headquarters balcony, addressing the eager, anxious crowd below. He raised his voice, pride evident as he spoke:

"It's true—Charles was at the front. He led the 105th Infantry Regiment through the gas and counterattacked, securing a victory."

"He's unharmed—Charles is safe."

"Thanks to his invention, a gas mask that effectively shields against the poison, we no longer need to fear the enemy's gas attacks!"

The crowd fell silent, stunned. Then, an outpouring of cheers and applause erupted. People smiled in relief, embraced each other in celebration, and even shed tears of joy, deeply moved and full of pride.

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