I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start Chapter 103 103 - The Purpose of Tractors

However, when Camille and Deyoka tried to act on their plan, they quickly realized it wasn't so simple.

Holding the phone, Deyoka requested, "Please connect to the City Defense Command. We'd like to speak with General Gallieni."

The operator responded in a sweet but professional voice, "I'm sorry, you don't have the proper clearance."

"But I'm Charles's father, and he works there!" Deyoka insisted, "I just need to ask about sothing concerning him!"

"Apologies, sir," the operator replied evenly, "but unless Charles provides the access code himself, I can't connect your call."

Deyoka gently placed the receiver down, glancing at Camille with a helpless look. "The Command is connected to the military's internal line, not one we can just dial."

This wasn't Gallieni putting on airs but a necessary precaution. If anyone could just ring up Command Headquarters, communications could be overwheld during an ergency.

"What about Parliant, then?" Camille urged. "They made the decision to prevent young recruits from going to battle. Why ignore it now?"

Deyoka shrugged. "Camille, we can't even get past the doors of Parliant, let alone figure out which official to approach."

This realization left Camille stumped. Could they sohow gather a quorum of legislators?

Such barriers exposed the divide between the upper and lower classes: though free speech existed for all, the common person often had no clear path to make their voice heard in tis of need.

Deyoka cast a glance at Charles's bedroom door and said, "We could wake Charles up. If he's on the line, we might reach the General…"

Camille shook her head lightly, unwilling to disturb his rest.

Just then, the phone rang. Deyoka answered and quickly opened his eyes wide with surprise. "General Gallieni!"

Camille snatched the receiver, identifying herself imdiately, ready to let her questions fly. However, on the other end of the line, Gallieni spoke first with a sincere apology:

"Mada Bernard, I apologize. The responsibility is mine entirely. Please understand this was not intentional but rather an error, an unfortunate accident. For certain reasons, I can't explain everything, but I assure you, it won't happen again. I pledge on my honor to keep Charles safe."

Camille was at a loss for words. For so reason, she felt a surprising sense of relief, as if placing Charles's care in Gallieni's hands might actually be safe.

After she set down the receiver, Deyoka shrugged and glanced toward the door. "Well, I'd better head to work."

In the next mont, Charles dashed out of his room, calling, "Wait for , Father!"

Camille realized he hadn't even changed out of his uniform and imdiately understood he hadn't been resting. But by the ti she'd caught up, Charles was already bounding down the stairs, out the door, and into the car. Behind him ca Camille's exasperated voice, trailing off in frustration: "Charles…!"

Deyoka chuckled as he started the car, smiling at Charles. "I knew you weren't really resting."

Charles joined Deyoka for a visit to the tractor factory.

Under the joint managent of Joseph and Deyoka, the developnt of the "Mark I" tank was progressing smoothly, and the Holt 75 tractor had entered production.

During a factory tour, Deyoka voiced a lingering question. "I understand why we're producing tanks. The military is sure to buy them. But with tractors…you know that sales are weak, and for a while, demand might not change."

This was a reality shaped by the war. As long as it continued, farrs feared they might be drafted, and in such uncertain tis, few would want to invest in tractors.

"It'll be useful," Charles replied.

"Useful to whom?" Deyoka asked. "Within two weeks, we'll have the first batch off the line. At our current scale, we're set to produce 100 tractors per month!"

Deyoka worried the factory might soon be overrun with idle tractors gathering rust in the warehouse, while production continued unabated.

"It's October," Charles pointed out. "The rainy season is coming soon, lasting until April."

"What's that got to do with tractors?" Deyoka asked, still puzzled.

"A lot," Charles explained as he looked at the bustling workers. "Rainy season. Muddy roads. Heavy artillery."

"Artillery?" Deyoka's eyes lit up as he finally understood: their potential custor was the French Army.

The military's cannons were usually hauled by horse teams, which worked well enough for now. But when the rains ca and the ground turned to mud, moving artillery by horse would be a challenge, not to ntion dangerous, especially on hills.

By then…

"Good God!" Deyoka exclaid. "The Army might need large numbers of tractors to transport artillery to the front!"

"Not just artillery," Charles added calmly. "Supply transport, too. A tracked tractor could move easily through the mud, and high-powered tractors with trailers could ensure steady ammunition and supply delivery to the front."

"You're right!" Deyoka said, looking around the factory with fresh eyes. "One hundred tractors a month might not even et their needs."

Then, frowning, he added, "We should expand production right away. If we don't, the Army could just turn to Francis and buy their Holt 60 model—they have stockpiles ready."

Charles shook his head. "No matter how many hours we put in, or how much we expand, we'll never keep pace with the Army's coming demand."

"Then what do we do?" Deyoka lowered his voice. "This would be a major win for Francis's business. They've just sold a batch of tanks, and soon, the military could be scooping up thousands of their tractors in storage…"

Charles rely looked at Deyoka without responding.

Deyoka's mind raced. If he could buy up Francis's stock of tractors now at a discount, he could sell them to the Army at a markup when the rainy season hit, keeping all the profits. Francis would miss out on this lucrative opportunity entirely.

"Brilliant idea, Charles!" Deyoka nodded in appreciation. "Brilliant!"

But then he grew silent, his expression darkening. This wasn't just business; Francis was still his father.

"The decision's yours, Father," Charles said. "Buy them or leave them."

To Charles, it wasn't a huge deal. Although profitable, it wasn't irreplaceable. Acquiring all of Francis's stock and selling it later could bring in well over a million francs in profit, maybe even more.

But Charles could always find other ways to earn that sum.

What mattered more was seeing if Deyoka was truly ready to sever ties with Francis.

Because, one day, they'd both have to face that question.

(End of Chapter)