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

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Ammunition Compatibility Issue



Chapter 39: The Ammunition Compatibility Issue

Not long after, Uncle Guillaume returned with a group of workers he knew well—skilled craftsmen unlike those who relied on flattery or family connections to reach mid-level positions. These were men of integrity, the kind who stood by their word.

Standing in front of Charles, Guillaume said, "Young Master Charles, once they heard about what you're doing, they all offered to help us retrofit these motorcycles for free!"

The workers chimed in:

"Helping the army is helping ourselves, Young Master Charles. We want to contribute to France too!"

"Yes, many of us have kids serving in the army. We support what you're doing!"

"If funds are tight, we can even pitch in some ourselves!"

"Thank you all," Charles replied gratefully. "I appreciate your generosity, but I need workers who can stay with me long-term. You all need fair wages—you've got families to feed."

Charles knew that small savings here wouldn't matter much and could be better spent by earning goodwill and loyalty. Sure enough, when he mentioned their families, the workers nodded, understanding they couldn't afford to work without pay.

"Rest assured," Charles continued, "if you work hard and make this motorcycle factory successful, I'll earn enough to pay your wages while continuing to help those in need. What do you say?"

"Of course, Young Master Charles!"

"That's exactly our goal!"

"We're more than willing to do this!"

Charles planned to develop these workers into the backbone of the motorcycle factory. Over time, they would spread Charles's story and values, creating a culture where every worker felt they weren't just laboring for wages but contributing to something meaningful.

On the surface, this might not seem significant. After all, they were workers being paid for their labor. But instilling a purpose meant that Charles's factory would have motivated workers—something rare in a time when France averaged over five hundred strikes a year. And beyond that, his key technicians and managers would be far less likely to be poached by higher offers elsewhere; they would be loyal because they valued more than just the paycheck.

Without delay, the workers began modifying the motorcycles with sidecars. Before long, someone spotted a flaw in the prototype:

"Hey, Guillaume! Isn't just one steel bar too weak? It could snap while driving. We should reinforce it with a few more!"

"Good idea. And this gun mount—if we're putting a Maxim on it, we should switch to a tripod for stability."

"And what about adding some shock absorbers? Otherwise, a small bump could leave the gunner's backside in pieces!"

The workers laughed, and Guillaume made note of every suggestion, updating the design accordingly. By the end of an hour, the sidecar model had been significantly upgraded, resembling something much closer to a modern military sidecar.

"Young Master Charles!" Guillaume called out as he prepared to test-drive the upgraded motorcycle. "Should I keep an eye on anything specific while driving?"

"Actually, yes," Charles replied. "There are a few points to be careful of: Start smoothly and accelerate gradually, or the bike will veer right. Same goes for braking. If you brake too hard, it'll pull left."

Guillaume looked at Charles, surprised. "How did you know that, Young Master Charles? I thought those quirks were just part of the prototype."

Guillaume had noticed this during his initial test drive, but he didn't know the reason behind it and hadn't dared to mention it. Now, Charles's explanation made him realize this was likely a characteristic of all sidecar motorcycles.

"No, Uncle Guillaume," Charles clarified, "it's because the sidecar's power and braking aren't centered—it's asymmetrical. The sidecar's inertia counteracts the bike's movement. The heavier the sidecar, the stronger this effect becomes. Understanding this is crucial."

Guillaume nodded, understanding only partly. He wasn't familiar with terms like inertia, but he figured if Young Master Charles could identify the issue without ever driving the bike, he was probably right. Educated people really are different, Guillaume thought to himself.

Just then, Major Browning arrived with his men.

Two hundred soldiers marched in formation into the factory, saluting Charles and greeting him with respect. In their eyes, Charles was more than just a civilian; he was a comrade who had stood with them in battle and whose invention, the tank, had saved their lives—more than once. To them, Charles represented hope for France, a rare capitalist who genuinely cared about supporting the military and the nation.

Major Browning ordered his men to stand down, then approached Charles and saluted before waving for the supply wagon to be brought forward.

"I figured you might need some machine guns for testing," Browning said. "I brought some over, and there'll be more coming in later!"

"You're one step ahead of me, Major," Charles said with a smile. "But I think you should also bring some German rifles."

"Rifles? German ones?" Browning asked, puzzled. "Why?"

"Have you thought about this," Charles began, "you're using German Maxim machine guns, but the standard rifles are French Lebels. What issues might that create on the battlefield?"

Browning's eyes lit up with understanding. They used different ammunition types. In the heat of battle, soldiers might grab the wrong rounds from an ammo crate and rush into combat, only to find themselves at the front lines with incompatible bullets. Or worse, a Maxim's ammunition belt might accidentally be loaded with Lebel cartridges. Either way, the results could be disastrous.

Looking at Charles with complete trust, Browning was convinced that Charles's judgment was sound.

"So, if we're using Maxim guns," Browning said, "we should also carry and get familiar with German rifles?"

"Exactly," Charles nodded.

"But what about supplies?" Browning asked. "If we run out of ammunition, what if reinforcements bring only 8mm French rounds?"

"Major," Charles interrupted, "if you're riding these sidecars into combat, chances are you'll be surrounded by Germans. That means it'll be easier to find 7.92mm German rounds than 8mm French ones."

"What?" Major Browning looked at Charles in alarm. "Are we supposed to be fighting deep behind enemy lines? But there are only two hundred of us…"

"We should discuss tactics," Charles replied, as if reading Browning's thoughts. "Do you have a map, Major?"

"Yes, of course!" Browning quickly pulled out a military map and spread it out before Charles. Beneath his calm demeanor, he was growing uneasy. This young man—does he think we're invincible?

Of course, Charles didn't think Browning's men were superhuman. He simply planned to teach them the tactics of mobile warfare. After all, if they mounted a heavy machine gun on a mobile sidecar, sticking to traditional trench warfare would be a surefire way to get them killed.

And Charles had no intention of seeing that happen. After all, the success of this sidecar—and the future of his factory—depended on these soldiers making it work.

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