Chapter 447: The Bigger the Matter, the Better
The one who reacted the most to the news of Germany's surrender was King Albert I.
When King Albert I heard that the Germans were about to surrender, he immediately jumped out of bed during his afternoon rest.
In his usual meticulous manner, he was so eager that he ran outside wearing his pajamas and shouted to the attendants and workers, who were busy filling in bullet holes and craters, "We've won! The Germans have surrendered! Long live Belgium!"
The attendants and workers stopped what they were doing and cheered along with him.
The news quickly spread, and the entire estate erupted in cheers.
Unable to control his excitement, King Albert I grabbed a maid and spun her around several times. Though the maid didn't know how to dance and stepped on his feet a few times, he didn't feel any pain at all.
Suddenly, he dropped the maid, turned, and rushed to the telegraph room, shouting, "Immediately send this message to everyone! Everyone!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." The telegraph operator responded with excitement.
King Albert I wanted to open a bottle of champagne to celebrate but then remembered something. He turned and rushed to the changing room. After entering, he hurriedly poked his head out and ordered his attendants, "Prepare the carriage! I need to go to the fortress!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
King Albert I quickly changed clothes, muttering to himself, "Such an occasion cannot be without Charles. Without him, there is no victory today! If we celebrate without the main hero, it's not really a celebration!"
After hastily dressing and picking out a top hat and cane, King Albert I hurried down the hall and downstairs, his steps light and quick.
Before he could leave, Colonel Eden came in.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report…" Colonel Eden's face was somewhat grim.
King Albert I didn't notice and, still in a joyous daze from the victory, eagerly interrupted, "I know, the Germans are surrendering. I've heard, Colonel. You came just in time! Let's go see Charles and celebrate together."
Colonel Eden had no choice but to follow him from behind.
"No, Your Majesty," Colonel Eden said, his voice full of displeasure. "It's something else. They plan to have Foch accept the German surrender."
King Albert I froze just as he was about to get into the carriage. He almost lost his balance and nearly fell, but Colonel Eden quickly grabbed him to steady him.
Before he had fully regained his balance, King Albert I turned to Colonel Eden, his expression one of disbelief, "What did you say? Is that true?"
Colonel Eden nodded, "It was proposed by the new British 'First Lord of the Admiralty,' Balfour. He said this victory, won through the tremendous sacrifices of British and French soldiers, should be accepted by the Allied Supreme Commander."
King Albert I's face darkened, and he asked coldly, "And Foch? What does he say about this?"
Foch, having no real achievements in this battle, was expected to tactfully decline the offer. Doing so would demonstrate his magnanimity and avoid embarrassment. There's a saying, "No merit, no reward." If Foch were to personally accept the surrender, could he handle the looks of others?
However, King Albert I had underestimated Foch.
Colonel Eden answered, "Foch hasn't responded at all, at least not yet. I think he plans to play ignorant."
In such a case, playing ignorant would imply he tacitly agreed with Balfour's proposal.
"Shameless!" King Albert I seethed in anger. "These bastards! They dare to openly steal Charles's victory, using the sacrifices of frontline soldiers as an excuse!"
"Your Majesty," Colonel Eden reminded, "The consequences of this may not be as simple as it seems."
"What do you mean?" King Albert I asked, puzzled, looking at Colonel Eden.
Colonel Eden leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Charles made such a huge contribution, yet the honor will go to others."
"So, what is the point for Charles in doing all this?"
"Do you think Charles might think: If that's the case, let Foch come to Belgium and recover the remaining lands…"
King Albert I was horrified. He stood frozen for a long moment, unable to process this. It was the worst news he could have heard.
Though Charles had achieved tremendous success in recapturing the capital, Brussels, he only regained about a third of the lost territory.
If Charles decided to quit now, who would take over the rest of the land?
Would it be that fool Foch?
If Foch were to be tasked with it, not only would he fail to recover the land, but he might not even be able to hold the ground already retaken.
Moreover, Charles was needed to build the defensive system in the future.
"No, no!" King Albert I's face changed dramatically as he quickly climbed into the carriage. He hurriedly told Colonel Eden, "Get in the carriage! We must see Charles right now!"
...
At Charles's headquarters, he had just sent General Winter off when he heard the British suggestion to have Foch accept the surrender.
"Perfect," said Tiziani sarcastically. "He was nowhere to be found during the fighting, but now he's charging to the front when it's time for the surrender. Truly, our brave and fearless Supreme Commander."
When Charles didn't respond, Tiziani asked with confusion, "Aren't you going to say something? You seem to have accepted it calmly."
"What else can I do?" Charles replied quietly. "Protest with a gun?"
"Maybe you should," Tiziani said with a sly smile.
This was not only unfair to Charles, but also to the commanders of the mechanized and armored divisions and all the officers and men.
"Let him be." Charles smiled slightly. "If he has the ability to swallow this fruit without choking on it."
"What?" Tiziani didn't understand Charles's meaning. Then, as if realizing it, he shook his head and laughed, "You think Foch has no shame to swallow it? You underestimate him, Major."
Charles just smiled, not elaborating further.
He didn't care much about honor, but this might affect the morale of his troops.
As Tiziani said, Foch was absent during the battle, but now he was showing up to claim the surrender.
So what were Charles's own troops, the armored and mechanized divisions, to be considered? Hadn't they risked their lives on the battlefield to achieve this victory?
If this issue was let go, the next battle would likely see all the officers and men thinking: will our hard-earned achievements again be taken by others?
Such thoughts would create a sense of complacency, and that could be dangerous and even deadly on the battlefield.
Charles would never put his troops in that kind of danger. This was as much about protecting himself as it was about protecting them.
Thus, despite his calm appearance, Charles wasn't indifferent. He intended to make Foch back down, and if possible, to stir up the issue, humiliating Foch thoroughly.
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