Chapter 652: The Key Is the Engine
Just as Vice Admiral Gepratte had left, King Albert I entered the office, accompanied by Major General Eden.
"Long time no see, General," Albert I greeted warmly, stepping forward to shake Charles's hand with a bright smile.
He then took a box and certificate from Major General Eden and presented them with both hands.
"This is the Order of Leopold, General, in recognition of your contributions to Belgium."
(Note: The Order of Leopold is one of the three national chivalric honors in Belgium, awarded personally by the king to individuals with outstanding contributions, typically to politicians or members of royalty.)
Charles wasn't particularly interested in medals, but out of courtesy, he stood, saluted, and accepted the medal with both hands, expressing his thanks.
Albert I pulled a chair over and sat across from Charles.
"General, I heard you defeated the Germans at sea, and even sank a battlecruiser?"
"That's correct," Charles nodded.
"I need to confirm something," Albert I said.
"It's about the aircraft that can carry torpedoes to attack enemy warships…"
Charles took a document from his aide, opened it, and signed as he replied:
"You want to know whether the British are capable of doing what I did—mounting torpedoes on aircraft, right?"
Albert I was slightly taken aback, then smiled awkwardly.
"You guessed correctly, Vice Admiral. I need a clear answer."
Charles paused in his signing and looked up:
"Let me put it this way, Your Majesty. While the British cannot do it now, it's only a matter of time before they can. You already know that—it's inevitable."
Albert I frowned slightly and nodded thoughtfully.
He had considered this on the way here.
With Britain's industrial and technological strength, if they went all-in, they would soon develop a similar torpedo bomber.
When that day came, Charles's advantage at sea would diminish, and Belgium would again face a maritime threat.
But Charles changed tone:
"However, I don't think you need to worry about that, Your Majesty."
"Why not?" Albert I asked, puzzled.
His mindset was that war was a game of matched units:
Torpedo bomber versus torpedo bomber, battleship versus battleship—ultimately leading to a conclusion that the Royal Navy held the upper hand.
But reality didn't work that way.
Charles reminded him:
"The key is the fighter plane."
"Fighter?" Albert I was confused. "You mean it can also carry torpedoes?"
Charles shook his head and replied calmly:
"No, Your Majesty. But it can shoot down enemy bombers carrying torpedoes."
Albert I suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly, his mouth slightly open.
Behind him, Major General Eden also had a moment of clarity and exclaimed:
"Yes! Fighters can establish air superiority. As long as we have them, no torpedo bomber can get near our ships."
"That's why fighters are the most important!"
"And ours—no, the General's fighters—are the most advanced."
But then Major General Eden hesitated.
"But General, I heard the British have acquired a batch of 'Camel' fighters. Doesn't that mean…"
Charles raised his pen and pointed it in the air toward Eden:
"The key to a fighter is the engine, Major General.
It determines whether a fighter can fly faster, farther, and more nimbly."
Eden and Albert I exchanged glances and visibly relaxed.
It was clear Charles possessed the most advanced engines.
From that alone, it wasn't hard to see that Charles was the one who could truly dominate the English Channel.
"Of course," Albert I let out a breath of relief. "I've always believed that no one can match you, General—on land or sea!"
Charles smiled but didn't respond.
Albert I's questions had already shown he didn't "always believe."
But Charles didn't blame him—it was only natural for a king to weigh the future of his country.
A single misstep or overlooked detail could spell disaster for Belgium.
"General." At that moment, a communications officer stepped forward. "General Winter has arrived. He requests a meeting with you."
Charles raised an eyebrow at Albert I, and the few men in the room smiled knowingly.
They all guessed what Winter had come for.
Not long after, General Winter appeared at the door of the office.
He looked pale, shivering and taking deep breaths—the cold from the flight clearly got to him.
When Winter saw Albert I, he was stunned for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile, stepping forward to shake hands with everyone.
"Seems my visit won't go as planned, huh?" he said to Charles with a shrug.
Belgium's interests were to have Charles alone fend off threats from all other countries, including Britain.
So with Albert I present, and Charles not asking him to leave, it was clear: the negotiation was already lost.
Charles didn't answer.
Instead, he ordered his aide to bring Winter a cup of coffee.
"Have a coffee before you leave. It wasn't easy coming all this way."
"But Vice Admiral," Winter wasn't giving up yet,
"If Britain also had this kind of torpedo bomber, we could easily blockade the North Sea and maybe even crush the German navy in short order.
Don't you want to see victory?"
That was moral blackmail.
He was tying Charles's refusal to provide the torpedo bombers to a supposed reluctance to win the war.
"Think about it, Vice Admiral," Winter continued,
"There are thousands of soldiers dying on the battlefield, people suffering from war, starvation, and cold.
You are the only one who can save them!"
This was a speech Winter had prepared on the way.
Since Charles was known as a "capitalist with a conscience," this was his best and only hope to sway him.
After all, no one would be foolish enough to hand torpedo bombers to the world's strongest navy—
These planes were battleship killers, weapons capable of dethroning Britain's naval supremacy.
But Charles wasn't moved.
He nodded as if agreeing, but said nothing, continuing to sign his documents.
Albert I and Eden sat quietly on the side, sipping coffee like spectators.
Politics was brutally practical, and in the face of national interest, moral pleas often sounded hollow.
Winter had no choice but to try one last tactic.
"Vice Admiral," he said, "I assume you wouldn't want the press to get hold of these words?"
There was a trace of threat in his tone.
Charles looked at him with slight surprise and calmly replied:
"Perhaps you've forgotten, General, but if you and your country truly cared about the soldiers and the suffering of the people,
you could end this war at any time."
Winter was rendered speechless.
Charles was right.
Germany had already shown willingness to negotiate peace.
But American-bought politicians had interfered and misled the public, preventing the ceasefire.
As a Brit, Winter had no right to say such things.
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