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

Chapter 68: Charles Is More Effective Than Gallieni

By dusk, Colonel Blonnie and his men returned to camp amid cheers from the Fifth Army troops. This marked their fifth successful harassment mission, with minimal casualties. For Blonnie, this tactic was ideal—not only because it was Charles's idea, but also because it was safe.

"No one dislikes safety!" Blonnie joked with his men on each mission. "If anyone does, tell him to report to me, and I'll make sure he gets what he wants!"

His men laughed, believing Blonnie spoke the absolute truth. Yet, even with this "safe" tactic, Blonnie's sidecar units had still lost over thirty vehicles. Some were lost to mechanical issues or mountain road accidents—the rugged terrain made the sidecars hard to control—while others were shot down by German rifle fire.

Each time before a mission, Blonnie would sternly remind his men:

"Our job is to harass, to keep them on edge! So there's no need to get close. If you're close enough to see them clearly, they're close enough to shoot you just as clearly."

Maxim machine guns could cover a wide area and threaten enemy forces from a kilometer away, a safe distance where the Germans could hardly spot them without binoculars. However, some soldiers insisted on seeing their targets up close, whether out of a desire for heroism or mere habit, and they paid the price. Close to twenty sidecars had been left behind on the battlefield.

Blonnie rode his sidecar to his tent, wincing as he stepped down, his legs stiff and numb. Although harassment tactics were safer, they required constant mobility, which even compelled Blonnie to learn to ride so he could alternate with his men. Exhausted from days on end, he grumbled that he'd rather "spread his legs like a whore on a bed than spend another minute on this contraption!"

All he wanted now was a hot bath and a good night's sleep. But General Garde intercepted him: "Everything went well, Colonel?"

"Yes, sir!" Blonnie responded, though his enthusiasm was tempered by fatigue.

Promoted to colonel, Blonnie now led a significantly expanded unit. His original hundred-strong sidecar force had swelled to three hundred and fifty, with two-wheeled motorcycles added to the mix, giving him a force of about two thousand. However, his men were scattered across vast areas for harassment operations, with some he'd never even met.

"Report to my command tent, Colonel," General Garde ordered.

"Yes, General," Blonnie answered, forcing his aching legs to obey.

Once inside, Garde handed him a new set of orders, saying, "Here's your next mission, Colonel."

Blonnie scanned the papers, his brows furrowing. "Reconnaissance? Locating enemy ammo depots and command posts?" He protested, "We're soldiers, General, not spies! I'm not sure we're suited for this."

Blonnie's complaint wasn't insubordination. After leading two hundred men to attack twenty thousand German soldiers, killing or wounding thousands while destroying dozens of artillery pieces with only twenty-three casualties, he had been appointed to the Fifth Army's staff, with his role including advising Garde on tactical matters.

"Really?" General Garde responded dryly. "Because these orders come directly from General Gallieni."

"Even Gallieni's orders don't make this any safer, General," Blonnie insisted, shaking his head. "This kind of operation is far riskier, and we're not trained for it…"

"But it's Charles's plan," Garde noted.

"Charles's plan?" Blonnie stared at Garde in surprise.

"Yes," Garde replied. "Charles is now serving as Gallieni's aide. Officially, he's a second lieutenant, though Gallieni didn't put it in writing. To instill confidence in the mission, he disclosed it over the phone."

It was a shrewd move on Gallieni's part, revealing Charles's involvement verbally rather than on paper, avoiding any lasting record. Nonetheless, Charles's military prowess couldn't be hidden for long; his talent had already made waves.

Blonnie looked at the documents again, pausing, then his tone softened without a trace of reluctance. "A fascinating plan! It's bold and innovative, even if it was a bit unexpected."

Garde raised an eyebrow, amused. "So, you think it's feasible?"

"Absolutely," Blonnie said firmly. "It's a well-thought-out plan. It instructs us to slip past enemy lines, hide the motorcycles in the mountains, and blend in by wearing civilian clothes. The Germans won't suspect a thing. After all, they're occupying French territory, and we'll easily find support among the locals."

"What about the attack phase?" Garde asked.

"That's the best part!" Blonnie's eyes lit up with admiration, his tone almost reverent. "Charles even accounted for the Germans' own sidecars. The Germans have been trying to use sidecars to counter our harassment tactics, though we've only seen a few so far. But Charles seized upon this fact, suggesting we disguise ourselves as Germans and ride sidecars right up to their command posts and ammunition depots. And we're even armed with German Maxims and rifles. It's as if Charles foresaw all this from the beginning!"

"Then, are you accepting the mission?" Garde asked.

"Without a doubt, General," Blonnie replied with conviction. "This strategy could work wonders—it's a real opportunity for us!"

Garde chuckled. It seemed Charles was indeed proving more effective than General Gallieni himself.

Friends, if you liked the novel you can subscribe to my p*treon