Chapter 573: Charles Is No Lamb
Maybe it was the urgency of war, or maybe it was simply the realization that "Charles" had become synonymous with profit and opportunity—either way, Stokes set up a prototype laboratory for developing specialized tank guns within just two days. His goal was to redesign the breech of the French 75mm cannon to shorten it, reduce weight, and increase its service life.
Meanwhile, Mathieu had officially moved the Char B1 project to the front burner.
With blueprints, a working engine, and an established production base already in place—and using existing artillery models—the tank was more or less like a puzzle that just needed assembling. Mathieu estimated that a prototype would be ready for field tests within a month or two.
Joseph was dispatched to the United States to begin industrial operations.
He believed that with FN's support, he would quickly gain a foothold in the U.S. arms market.
But FN's support wasn't the crucial factor.
Though FN (Fabrique Nationale) and Steed's arms factories were loyal to Charles and followed his lead, the company's U.S. subsidiary was another story.
In Belgium, Charles had absolute control—FN's headquarters didn't even have the leverage to oppose him. They knew full well that submission was their only option.
But in the U.S., things were different.
Once Joseph established an arms factory there, it could even become a rival to FN's American branch. FN's support, therefore, was mostly surface-level—a political gesture under pressure from the main office.
The real key to success lay in Charles's personal connection to Colonel Johnson—head of the U.S. Tank Research Laboratory and the man who had previously bought the license to produce the Char A1.
…
Washington, D.C. – Tank Research Laboratory
Located on the northern bank of the Potomac River, the so-called "laboratory" was more of a fortress than a lab.
(Illustration: Washington, D.C., 1910s)
The gates were permanently shut. High walls ringed the compound, with patrols and guards posted at every corner. But within those walls, the sounds of engine roars, explosions, and shouted orders echoed constantly.
The grounds resembled a miniature battlefield, complete with trenches, barbed wire, and anti-tank ditches.
Colonel Johnson was in the middle of commanding a live-fire exercise.
He held a file under one arm and squinted at the unfolding drill. Occasionally, he'd bark furious commands at the lazy American soldiers:
"Move your damn legs and keep up with the tank, you bastards! If you don't, I'll ram the exhaust pipe straight up your—!"
His aide, Ryan, lowered a pair of binoculars and offered a grim report:
"Sir, we can't cross the anti-tank ditch. I think buying a bridge-laying vehicle from Charles is the only way."
Colonel Johnson shook his head.
"You don't understand, Ryan. There's too much we'd need to buy."
Almost everything had to be imported from Charles: armored scout cars, submachine guns, machine guns—even helmets.
The U.S. was wealthy, yes, but there was no war pressure. Congress wouldn't approve the funds. It had taken a monumental effort just to secure the license to produce Charles's tank.
What now?
Johnson stared at the soldiers fumbling across the muddy field and sank into despair.
These green recruits had no concept of what real war looked like. The idea of 100,000 casualties in a day meant nothing to them. They thought war was a game. On a real battlefield, they'd wet themselves before the first shot.
Then a communications officer handed him a message.
"Colonel, a telegram from France. General Charles is considering opening an arms factory in the U.S. He wants to know if we'd welcome it."
Johnson spun around.
"What did you just say?"
Without waiting for clarification, he snatched the telegram and read it twice. When he confirmed it, his gloom vanished. He clutched the message and shouted:
"That's it! We're saved!"
He waved his fists and even thrust his hips forward in a ridiculous display of excitement.
Then he pointed at the radio operator.
"Send a reply immediately: Tell him he's very welcome. If he sets up shop here, the government and the military will offer maximum preferential treatment!"
As the operator rushed off, Johnson turned to his aide.
"Get the car—we're going to headquarters. General William will want to hear this!"
…
Three hours later, Charles received a reply from Colonel Johnson:
"I've spoken with my superiors. We'd be honored to have your factory here. The government is prepared to offer a range of benefits—land subsidies, priority worker recruitment, and legal support from the military."
Among those, the most significant was legal support—which meant that Charles's factory would have official protection and backing from the U.S. military. Army lawyers would be assigned to guard his interests.
But Charles still wasn't satisfied.
He responded:
"I still have concerns. As you know, the U.S. isn't at war. That means your procurement orders won't be very large."
This was standard Charles: say less, ask for more.
There was a delay. The reply didn't come until the next day.
Charles later learned that the U.S. military had spent the entire night negotiating with the federal tax bureau to secure better terms.
The reply was stunning:
"We can offer your company three years of tax exemption.
Additionally, for each product you manufacture, we guarantee a minimum procurement volume—details to be discussed.
Rest assured, General, we won't let your business fail!"
From the tone of the message, it seemed Colonel Johnson was more desperate than Charles.
Charles had expected this.
Though the U.S. still clung to its isolationist "Monroe Doctrine," it was also a country that hated to be left behind.
In terms of industrial output, America was already ahead of Britain. But militarily, it was stuck in the past—behind nearly every European power.
(Note: This was largely due to peace-time stagnation. War accelerates innovation. America's lack of involvement had left it technologically behind.)
That's why they had bought the Char A1 license in the first place.
But as the war progressed, new tech kept appearing: grenades, mortars, light machine guns, fighter aircraft...
To buy every license would bankrupt even a rich country like the U.S.
Now, Charles was offering to set up shop on American soil.
It was like being handed a divine gift.
The moment Charles began production in America, the locals would gain not just equipment—but know-how, technicians, tools, even tactics.
(Note: Unlike consumer goods, weapons production requires training soldiers on use—which inevitably spreads doctrine.)
Even if, years later, America decided to seize the factory, Charles couldn't stop them.
From their perspective, he was a lamb sent to slaughter.
Why wouldn't they welcome him?
But what they didn't know was—Charles was no lamb.
He was here to shear the flock.
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