CHAPTER 683: CHAPTER 683: THE TRAP SET BY SHIRE

In the meeting hall, only Briand remained calm throughout.

He knew the state of Parliament, with many members bought by the British or even the Germans. If this battle plan was revealed in Parliament, it would no longer be a secret to the Germans.

However, Briand faced a dilemma. He couldn’t use this to reject Gallieni’s plan, nor was his military knowledge sufficient to find flaws in it.

After thinking for a while, Briand believed he had found a breakthrough.

He walked up to the podium with a map, looked up at Gallieni and asked, "Minister, the key point of this plan is to capture the Liege Fortress, correct?"

"Yes," Gallieni nodded, everything was based on capturing the Liege Fortress.

"But as far as I know, the Liege Fortress has been eighty percent restored by the Germans." Briand asked again, "Moreover, the Germans have laid a large number of mines, barbed wire, and anti-tank trenches outside the fortress. How can Shire capture it?"

His words reminded the members, who immediately followed up, echoing aloud:

"Yes, the Germans have been fortifying the Liege Fortress for nearly two years, with giant fortifications and large-caliber artillery."

"Simultaneously, it’s wedged between the Arden Forest and Holland, with no other routes around it, only a frontal assault."

"Not only that, I’ve heard that the Germans have added several artillery divisions there and stored large quantities of ammunition."

Some members with a rudimentary understanding of military affairs shouted:

"Shire’s armored units are unsuitable for attacking such a fortress; they would be blown to pieces by German artillery fire."

"If Shire can’t break the Liege Fortress, this plan falls apart, and we can’t defeat the Germans."

...

Briand kept looking at Gallieni, asking, "General, does Shire have a plan to take the Liege Fortress?"

Then he added, with a tinge of regret in his voice:

"Please believe, I very much hope he does."

"Because no one would be unwilling to win, especially me."

"But I’m afraid that if we risk everything on attacking the Liege Fortress and fail, the British Expeditionary Force might be crushed by the enemy."

The members voiced their approval in chorus:

"We can’t pin our hopes on unrealistic fantasies."

"Even if it’s not a fantasy, this plan is risky."

"If it fails, the Allies will collapse, France will lose all support, and ultimately be defeated by Germany!"

...

Gallieni’s face turned red, and he stammered, "Yes, of course, Shire has a plan to attack the Liege Fortress."

"What is it?" Briand asked again.

"I, I can’t say, Prime Minister," Gallieni replied, "Sorry, it’s a military secret. I’ve already revealed too much. If I say more, this plan might never be implemented..."

"You only need to reveal a bit," Briand pressed on, "Just enough to convince us. Or, impose a security lockdown on all the members as you did before."

"It’s different, Prime Minister," Gallieni answered, "Shire’s attack is at least a month away. We can’t lock all the members in a room for that long!"

Briand smiled slightly, "Maybe, Shire doesn’t have a plan to attack the Liege Fortress at all."

The members started jeering.

Briand believed Shire had an attack plan, and he even believed Shire could take the Liege Fortress and perhaps break through the German lines to end the war.

But Briand was certain Gallieni would not reveal this plan, not even a word.

Because attacking the Liege Fortress was too crucial, it could almost determine the outcome of the entire campaign.

Briand grasped this point to reverse the favorable wind for Shire, and the members began advocating to redeploy Shire and his troops to Dunkirk to reinforce the British Army.

At the same time, the social discourse even circulated the notion that Shire was unwilling to reinforce the British Army in Dunkirk because he was unwilling to give up his interests in Belgium.

...

At the Namur Castle.

Shire received a telegram from Paris, knowing that Parliament was fiercely debating whether to reinforce Dunkirk, but he paid it no mind, casually tossing the telegram aside.

Tijani smiled faintly at the telegram, "This is your doing, isn’t it?"

"What?" Shire feigned ignorance.

"The plan General Gallieni spoke of," Tijani gestured toward the telegram, "As well as the support of Steed and my father. They’ve all tried to make others believe we have a plan to attack the Liege Fortress."

Shire asked in return, "Did it work?"

"It seems so!" Tijani nodded, "I’ve heard the Germans have reinforced the Liege Fortress with two more infantry divisions. Moreover, they’re digging trenches outside the Liege Fortress as if preparing for its potential fall."

The Germans had lost confidence even with such an impregnable fortress as the Liege Fortress, fearing Shire might still take it.

...

In Berlin, Fajin Han received wind of Shire’s plan to attack the Liege Fortress.

He immediately grew tense, convening a meeting right away and instructing his staff:

"Although we don’t know how Shire plans to take the Liege Fortress, we mustn’t assume he can’t."

"Time and again, Shire has proven capable, always achieving what seems impossible to us."

"Therefore, we should assume Shire can do it!"

...

Assuming Shire can do it, the price becomes high: the German Army not only needs to reinforce the Liege Fortress but also establish defensive lines in the northern regions to prevent Shire from breaking through.

This was exactly what Shire wanted to see.

Only this way could he draw the German resources and troops towards the Liege Fortress and away from the key positions behind the River Somme and the Mezieres.

At that moment, a guard reported, "General, Albert I is outside."

"Let him in," Shire nodded, knowing what Albert I had come for.

Sure enough, Albert I entered with a pale face as if facing a great calamity, "General, I want to know if you are going to leave here?"

Once Shire’s troops withdrew, Belgium would be finished.

Although Shire would likely fight back later, how could the Belgian people endure such repeated purges!

Curse those British, curse the French Parliament; they completely disregard Belgium’s interests!

"Yes, I have to leave, Your Majesty," Shire’s tone was calm and certain.

"No, you can’t do that," Albert I’s face instantly turned ashen, "You, you must at least organize Belgium’s defenses."

"Of course," Shire nodded, "I’ll leave the 6th Army here."

"I know my forces lack combat power, but perhaps we can hold out until you return..." Albert I spoke nervously, not even registering Shire’s words clearly.

Suddenly, he processed what Shire said, looking at him in astonishment, "What? You’re, you’re leaving the 6th Army here?"