I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start

Following a series of grenade explosions, French soldiers swiftly sprang up and charged into the German trench.

The German trench, hastily constructed in mere hours, was shallow—just over a meter deep. The French soldiers, still riding the momentum of their assault, leapt into the smoke-filled trench. They swung their bayonets wildly, stabbing anything that moved without hesitation.

The French needle-point bayonets had the advantage of not getting stuck in bone, but they left only a small puncture wound. If a stab wasn't lethal, the enemy might still fight back. Over time, French soldiers had developed a habit of stabbing their target multiple times in various places to ensure their demise.

The trench was soon filled with the sickening sounds of bayonets piercing flesh, the sickly "schlup" of metal in muscle, German soldiers' screams, and the pleas of those who had lost hope of survival.

But the French soldiers remained merciless, thrusting their bayonets again and again. Drenched in blood, they continued their relentless pursuit, moving onto the next line of defense, following the fleeing German troops.

The 105th Infantry Regiment advanced in organized formation. Two battalions led the assault, with the sniper company in the middle, and a reserve battalion at the rear.

Charles and Tijaney moved forward with the reserves. Shen Billy stayed close to Charles, and as they entered the German trenches, he eagerly ripped off his gas mask and tossed it aside.

"I don't like this thing!" Shen Billy grumbled.

The gas mask's eye lenses were standard glass. While they allowed him to see the battlefield, they interfered with his precision, causing him to miss two shots—one of which had been aimed at a German soldier targeting Charles.

Luckily, Charles had neutralized the threat just in time, avoiding what could have been a disastrous outcome. The thought of Charles falling on the battlefield and the impact it would have on the army was a nightmare Shen Billy couldn't even begin to imagine.

Charles also removed his gas mask. None of the Germans here wore gas protection, so it was safe.

"Colonel," called Tijaney from nearby.

Charles crouched down and moved forward toward a collapsed section of the trench where Tijaney was examining a figure sprawled on the ground.

The figure was barely alive, drenched in blood, with pale skin and labored breaths. He clutched his chest, struggling to hold onto life.

"He's a major general," Tijaney pointed out, turning the man's shoulder to reveal the rank insignia. "And he's got an Iron Cross medal."

"Apologies," Charles crouched down beside him, his tone sincere. "My men couldn't distinguish officers from soldiers in the smoke. Had they known you were a major general, they might have spared you."

Charles meant it. This wasn't about the Geneva Convention or chivalry—those notions had vanished when the Germans used poison gas. Rather, capturing a German major general could yield valuable intelligence.

Charles and Tijaney were about to leave him there to focus on the battle ahead when the German major general's eyes suddenly brightened.

"You… you're Charles?" the man gasped. "You're… Charles!"

"You know me?" Charles looked at him, surprised.

"No… not… really…" The German major general struggled to lift his hand, blood dripping from it as he tried to reach out. "But… it's… an honor…"

Charles reached out to meet the general's hand, but it dropped limply, his head falling to the side as his body went limp. Yet, his lifeless face still bore a faint, almost contented smile.

"Another fan of yours," Tijaney remarked, smirking. "I'd guess he wanted your autograph—right here on his body."

With a chuckle, Tijaney tore off the major general's shoulder insignia and Iron Cross, evidence that the 105th Regiment had taken down a German major general.

Before leaving, Tijaney noticed several unused gas canisters stored in the trench and asked, "What should we do with these?"

Without hesitation, Charles replied, "Leave a company here. If the Germans manage to counterattack, release them."

"Brilliant!" Tijaney agreed. "That will keep our rear well-protected."

Meeting minimal resistance, the 105th Regiment continued pressing forward, shattering the German line and eventually colliding with an artillery regiment advancing to support their infantry. The Germans, unprepared for a sudden French assault, were swiftly overrun.

In a stunning victory, the 105th seized thirty-one German howitzers along with over two thousand artillery shells.

Charles and Tijaney had initially thought their mission was complete; they had achieved more than enough. The 105th Regiment had not only reclaimed their territory but also routed a German infantry battalion and captured an enemy headquarters.

The battle had resulted in the death of a German major general and several colonels, while the 105th suffered minimal losses. And two other German regiments, having advanced too far without support, were now trapped behind French lines with no choice but to surrender or be annihilated.

By any measure, it was a decisive victory worthy of a lifetime of accolades.

But Charles hadn't anticipated that this was only the beginning.

When Tijaney and his troops advanced two kilometers, they entered a section of trench the French had abandoned just yesterday—only to find it teeming with Germans.

These weren't regular German soldiers, but rather medics, logistics personnel, and support staff. The well-fortified French trench, which the Germans had repurposed, served as a logistical hub with a field hospital, food supplies, ammunition, and, most shockingly, the 26th Army's command post.

The Germans there, unaware of the impending danger, were taken completely off-guard. When French soldiers jumped into the trench with rifles aimed, they surrendered in confusion, becoming instant captives.

When the German officers realized the severity of the situation, they attempted a desperate breakout with their guard company.

But any attempt to escape into the open was hopeless. The landscape outside the trench was an open, muddy field, leaving them exposed. French troops set up machine guns and pinned down the German escapees, making it impossible for them to advance.

In the end, the German officers could only surrender, one by one, raising their weapons in defeat.

Among the captives were a lieutenant general, a major general, and eight colonels.

This victory would echo not just through the ranks of the 105th Regiment but across France, a tale of resilience and strategy against overwhelming odds.

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