Chapter 442: The Crossroads of Belgium
Charles located the piece of land that King Albert I had mentioned on the map.
It was situated to the north of Antwerp, 2 kilometers from the port, 1.5 kilometers from the train station, and only 100 meters away from a road. There were also factory buildings already constructed, along with several dormitories and office buildings that could be immediately put to use.
King Albert I had explained that this land had originally been a bicycle factory invested in by the British. However, with the onset of the war, the factory had shut down due to fears of being affected.
Charles roughly calculated that the 2,000 square meters of land would cost 3 million francs, which meant a price per square meter of less than 1,500 francs. Given the included infrastructure, it was practically being given away for free.
While land prices during wartime were generally lower, this one was extraordinarily cheap, especially considering that with Charles' victory, land prices around Antwerp had skyrocketed, particularly near the port. Many investors were hoping to "scoop up bargains," but they were having a hard time finding opportunities. However, King Albert I had placed this prime land right in front of Charles.
More importantly, the area was very safe. It was close to the sea and within range of naval guns, making it Antwerp's final line of defense. If enemies attacked in the future, this area would likely be the last to fall.
But Charles wasn't particularly appreciative.
In his command center, he took King Albert I and Colonel Idin to the break room for a discussion. After all, this was a business matter, and it would feel awkward to haggle openly in front of the staff, including the advisors and radio operators.
Perhaps to save electricity, the lights in the dormitory were dim, and the air was thick with the smell of mildew and sourness. The beds were stacked in two layers, and a small room barely big enough for four soldiers. The three of them seemed a bit cramped inside.
The only furniture was a small single table at the far end of the room.
Charles unfolded the map on the table and used a pencil to circle the area King Albert I had pointed out.
"I admit this is a very good deal, Your Majesty," Charles said regretfully. "It's just that I haven't yet figured out what kind of business I could run there. As you know, I mainly engage in the production of arms and equipment, and such things don't need to be frequently imported or exported."
Military equipment was different from other products; it relied more on technology and patents. Once those were dealt with, other countries could easily produce them on their own without the need to establish factories in Antwerp to sell them, especially the British.
However, this was Charles retreating while probing. He was carefully testing the waters.
King Albert I was momentarily taken aback, as he hadn't considered this aspect.
But he quickly became excited and replied, "That's wonderful. We have a huge demand for arms, Brigadier. I'm currently considering rebuilding the Belgian military and updating its equipment. Not just firearms, but artillery, and even tanks."
This was a major business opportunity, Charles thought, but he remained silent for the moment. He needed to maintain his composure.
King Albert I then turned to Colonel Idin.
Colonel Idin seemed distracted at first, but after a moment, he responded with surprise, "We could get these weapons? That's excellent news."
Colonel Idin then looked at Charles and carefully asked, "I hope we can build the Belgian military just like yours, General. If possible, I would also like to ask if you could train our troops."
His voice quivered with excitement, and his eyes were full of uncertainty. He was afraid that Charles might not want to share his secrets—after all, this equipment and tactics could very well dominate the battlefield.
"It's not difficult," Charles responded calmly. "You just need to import from France—it's right next door. As for training, since I'm selling the equipment to you, I'll naturally show you how to use it."
"Really?" Colonel Idin's eyes lit up immediately. "That's wonderful, Brigadier! I can't wait to see that day come."
This was an unexpected surprise for Colonel Idin.
He had often thought about the future of the Belgian military. With a population of fewer than 7 million, it was hard enough to draft tens of thousands of soldiers, but those troops wouldn't even be enough to make a dent against the major powers.
This was why Belgium had been so enthusiastic about building fortresses and strongholds, willing to spend huge amounts of money on them.
But now, it seemed that the fortress strategy might not guarantee Belgium's safety.
So, Colonel Idin thought of Charles' forces.
Charles' army numbered only a bit over 20,000 men, but they were able to break through the German siege of over 100,000 soldiers without difficulty. If they could build a similar force with Belgium's tens of thousands of troops, what would the result be?
Yes, this was what Belgium needed!
King Albert I, however, was hesitant on this matter. He didn't oppose Charles; he just wasn't entirely convinced by Colonel Idin's viewpoint.
"I've been thinking about something, Brigadier," King Albert I said. "I'd like to ask you while I have the chance. The fortresses have clearly played their role in this war. They allowed our small forces to hold out against the overwhelming German attacks for more than two months."
(Note: King Albert I was referring to the surrender of Antwerp. If we also count Ypres, Belgium held out through most of the war, although the battles in Ypres were mostly fought by the French army, not Belgium.)
"So now," King Albert I gestured around, "should we give up this proven strategy?"
"Your Majesty," Colonel Idin objected, "it hasn't been proven to be the right strategy. In fact, I think it's the opposite. The fortresses couldn't withstand the German heavy artillery. We only had one path left—waiting to die."
"But what if we had Charles' bombers?" King Albert I countered. "Bombers could destroy the heavy artillery. Wouldn't that allow us to withstand any attack?"
Colonel Idin was speechless, as it seemed that what King Albert I had said was correct.
Charles, listening to their debate, seemed to understand. Belgium was at a crossroads when it came to its future military direction: should it develop armored and mechanized units like Charles, or continue its traditional focus on building better and stronger fortresses?
For Charles, there was no conflict of interest in either direction.
Because no matter what choice Belgium made, Charles would benefit.
In the first case, armored and mechanized units would require Charles to supply all the equipment.
In the second case, the fortresses would likely be built by Charles, the military expert, since he knew exactly how to defend them.
Charles didn't say much more. He simply looked at King Albert I and said, "Your Majesty, you only need to remember how I broke through Antwerp."
King Albert I was taken aback, and his mouth opened, but he couldn't say anything.
Colonel Idin suddenly had a realization, and he found the strongest evidence: "Yes, Brigadier, your armored units broke through the Antwerp defenses at night—defenses manned by the Germans. The fortresses were practically useless at night because they couldn't see the enemy, and they didn't know where to fire!"
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