The Belgians, united in a state of war, some even went to Paris to hand out flyers:
"Look, we cannot let true heroes be buried."
"It was Shire who defeated the Germans and saved Belgium; only he can represent the Allies in receiving the German surrender."
"Shire also saved France and many soldiers. We will not bow to power and manipulation; we seek the truth!"
...
The Belgians are smart, or rather, it was a tactic of Albert I, learned from the British.
Belfort's statement hoped to stand on moral high ground, using the frontline soldiers to support Xia Fei, but Belgium's publicity made it easy for people to think of possible insider trading between Belfort and Xia Fei.
The truth is not important; what matters is how people will associate.
Britain plays this game masterfully; for instance, their newspapers once inscribed the German Army with cannibalism, or laying mines targeting civilian ships.
