My Third Empire

Eighty Seven on the Rhine

Paris France.

Mr. Prime Minister. A secretary said to his boss leaning on the back of the chair with a document: Mr. George Clemenceau, the former Prime Minister, passed away. Do you want to attend his memorial service?

Of course, you arrange the time! The French Prime Minister nodded: I don't want to have no one at my funeral in the future.

He thought about it and asked again: Is the unemployment rate still high?

Yes, Mr. Prime Minister. President Doumergue has ordered the cut-off of the army, and now the public grievances are boiling, which is not good for us. The secretary said as he sorted out the papers on the table: Sir Sherlock would like to see you, right at the door. outside.

What is he doing at this time? To prepare the car, I'm going to the presidential residence. French Prime Minister Andre Tardieu frowned and thought for a while before adding: Let him in, I'll talk to him. 5 minutes.

Okay, Mr. Prime Minister. The secretary turned and left the room. After a while, Ser Sherlock came up to him smiling.

Good afternoon! Prime Minister Andrei. I know you are very busy, so this time I brought the documents, I hope you can take a look. Sherlock put the documents on the table and looked at it with a smile on his face Prime Minister Andrei.

You and my secretary are cousins. I didn't want him to be embarrassed to let you in. Prime Minister Andrei looked at the man who came in and said.

Well! You should be glad that you have such a secretary. Sherlock nodded and said, That's why I came to you first instead of the president.

I know that you have been very close to the Germans recently. Although some private German companies have remained stable during the economic crisis this time, the German government is not as good as us. What documents can you bring from the Germans? An Derek asked with some disdain.

I still have a few minutes? Sherlock looked at the clock on the wall and asked politely.

It's a little over three minutes, so if you want to convince me, hurry up. I'll be going to President Doumergue in a while.

The smile on Sherlock's face deepened: If that's the case, it's even better. Then you can take this document to Mr. President to see, I believe it will be beneficial to both of you. As for the content of the document, it's about Germany. A huge procurement contract from a private consortium.

What? Andre threw himself on the table, snatched the contract, opened it, and began to read the contents in detail. He saw that Mercedes-Benz, the Bavarian equipment factory and the Krupp factory were preparing to import to France. 500,000 tons of steel, 500,000 tons of coal, 10,000 tons of gasoline, 90,000 tons of rubber, and a large barter transaction with France, exchanging potatoes and other grains for French steel, and preparing to buy French shipping companies with cash.

The entire cooperation plan exceeds 1 billion US dollars, which is a life-saving straw for the French financial community in the economic crisis. If there is this cooperation, then Andre and Doumerg's helplessness in the economic crisis will become a proper response. , is likely to save the French economy and win re-election.

Mr. Prime Minister, the car is ready! The secretary walked in and saw the shocked Prime Minister and his cousin Sir Sherlock who was playing with the small globe on the Prime Minister's desk.

Get out! I told you to come in again! The car is ready at the front door! I might use it at any time. The Prime Minister raised his head and waved at the secretary.

What do the Germans want? After reading the last page of the contract plan, Andrei put down the document in his hand,

Looking at Sir Sherlock who was sitting on the sofa with the black tea brought by the secretary, he asked.

The Germans want to take back the Rhineland demilitarized zone. Sherlock replied with a smile: They implored the French government to withdraw the troops stationed in the Rhineland. Give it to the German army for full control.

It's impossible. Andre shook his head and said, I can't betray France's interests. Don't even think about it.

Mr. Prime Minister, I know that the issue of withdrawing troops from the Rhineland is already being discussed in your cabinet, and you must be thinking about how to stabilize your country's economy. Since you will withdraw your troops sooner or later, what will happen sooner or later? What's the difference?

Of course there is a difference! Andre said angrily: It's our business to withdraw our troops! You have to garrison troops! That's not safe for France! Although we can no longer exercise control over the entire Rhineland region , but also cannot hand over control of the entire Rhineland to the Germans!

Then this contract, I'm going to take it with me. Sherlock said with a smile: I also wish Mr. Andre and Mr. Dumaige to control the situation and save the French financial economy! Oh! Of course, I also wish the two can be re-elected.”

These are private capital! Even if there is no arrangement from the German government! They will voluntarily invest in France! As long as we give some discounts! Andre looked at Sherlock and said.

Do you think that without the participation of certain forces, how could the Germans come up with such a contract at this time? Why would the Germans organize such a huge amount of private capital to rescue the market in France? Sherlock asked with a smile.

As Sherlock said, he packed up the documents, put them back in the file bag, stood up and nodded, Since we can't cooperate this time, see you next time, Mr. Andrei Prime Minister.

After saying that, he walked straight towards the door, went all the way to the door, reached out and twisted the door handle.

Wait a minute! Behind him, French Prime Minister Andre was sweating profusely, and he finally couldn't help but shout out: You and I go to the presidential residence, I want to talk to Mr. President, and then to give you an answer.

Prime Minister Andre, you are really a wise politician. Sir Sherlock opened the door with a smile: Then ask Mr. Prime Minister to go first.

...

I heard that my aunt's fashion store went bankrupt. A French soldier wearing a wide-brimmed steel helmet took a deep breath of the cigarette between his fingers and threw a document into the brazier in front of him.

Another soldier also nodded: My dad is a mechanic in the factory, and his craftsmanship is useless! It's been decades, and no one in their factory knows my dad. In the end, he was unemployed this time.

After finishing speaking, he also threw a document with a security seal in his hand into the fire, staring at the beating flames in a daze.

I heard that a steel factory in Lorraine was acquired by the Germans. It is recruiting workers. There are thousands of people queuing at the door. If we lose our jobs this time, I will go and have a look. The soldier looked a little listless: I came from the division headquarters, and I heard that the designation of our division will be cancelled.

Damn it! These officials. When they make money, they put it in their pockets. Now the disaster is coming. They run faster than rabbits! In the end, we have to rely on those Germans to save us! The first one complained. The soldier threw another stack of documents into the brazier, held the cigarette in his mouth, and said bitterly.

The soldier with the gun nodded, Isn't that true? Back then, the Germans were driven away with all their might, and now they spend money to bring them back! I don't even know what the officials above us think.

Long live the Greater Deutsches Party! While these French soldiers were speaking, a German stood under the statue of a knight at the intersection of the French garrison outside the window of the French garrison, with his right hand raised and the German salute while shouting loudly. .

Long live the Greater Deutsches Party! A group of people around him shouted loudly, waving banners and raising their arms.

Welcome to the Wehrmacht back in the Rhineland! the leader continued to shout.

Welcome to the Wehrmacht back in the Rhineland! There were also hysterical shouts from the crowd.

In the headquarters of the French garrison in the Rhineland, a colonel looked at his guest with a wry smile: Did you hear the shouting outside? It's only a matter of time before the Germans return here. I have already received the order. Today At night we will leave here and retreat to France for reorganization.

Yes, I heard that I will be the person in charge of this reorganization. The French officer who came here to be a guest also had an unwilling and wry smile on his face: I was ordered to set up an independent French armored unit to verify that the tank unit operates independently. possibility.”

Why are you suddenly interested in this? The colonel asked casually while packing up the documents.

The visiting officer didn't stop to think about it. He felt that he could tell the secret order to his friends who were about to become his subordinates. So he replied directly: Because the Germans are also doing this, and they have invested a lot of money. There is also information on Grudo's side that the Germans have equipped a batch of new tanks and spent a lot of money.

Here we, Grudo, and the British we already know, the information proving that the Germans are expanding their armaments is piled higher than a mountain. The officer who packed the documents angrily threw the information in his hand into the In the brazier in front of him, he said bitterly: The group of idiots above just pretended not to see! You say this is irritating or not! Colonel de Gaulle.

No way, the analysis I submitted about Arcador Rudolph and the information about the Germans arming themselves are all gone. The gains are not great, but it does prove that Germany is equipped with tanks and aircraft. But the British government seems to hope that the Germans can deal with the Soviets and help Europe defend against the communist attack.

Ridiculous! Can't they see how the Germans and the Soviets flirt? The officer sneered.

Don't count on others! We are the hope of this country! De Gaulle stood up and walked in front of the colonel: I have changed my mind, no longer obsessed with preventing that Akado from expanding his army and preparing for war! Since the Germans want to prepare for war ! Then we'll prepare for battle!

He looked at the sunset outside the window: Give an order! Let's go home!

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