Another World: Naval Storm

Chapter 174: Failure of Accountability

"Damn it! They are not the savage yellow monkeys on the Japanese islands, nor the worthless black people on the Philistine continent. They actually frequently attack white people!" Antino and other reporters wrote furiously to make the crimes of the Allied Powers public.

"Leo, we will slowly settle these things later! This meeting is to discuss your unauthorized mobilization of the fleet!" Holding was a little furious, not knowing that this would make him even less popular. The death of soldiers fighting for the country was not a big deal? The conservative navy who originally supported him also began to be dissatisfied with him. What can be said and what cannot be said? He has become the Minister of the Navy and still doesn't understand?

"You must explain clearly that arbitrarily mobilizing the fleet is the biggest mistake you have made!" Holding's words made everyone frown. He wanted to deal with Leo but he didn't know how to cover it up at all.

"Ahem, looks like it's time for me to speak!" Before Leo could speak, Bollinger stood up and spoke to everyone. His old voice made the emperor and Holding change color. They knew that Bollinger's coming was not a good thing, but they didn't expect that he would really betray the royal family.

"On March 3, based on intelligence from all sources, the Navy Department predicted that the Talens might launch a surprise attack in the North Sea, and the Ocean Fleet lacked rapid reconnaissance capabilities, so the Navy Staff secretly formulated a reinforcement plan to transfer the First Reconnaissance Fleet, which was conducting cruise training in the Sarmatian Sea, back to Port Wilhelm." The spacious conference room was deathly quiet. The voice of Navy Chief of Staff Bollinger was old but powerful: "The result of the naval battle shows that this was the most successful tactical fraud in history. General Leo's actions on April 13 did not violate any of the Navy's disciplines!"

"No violation? What are you talking about, Bollinger?" Holding was almost dizzy from the shock, and everything was settled in Bollinger's words.

"Impossible! Why didn't I see any paper documents or records?" Holding still wanted to struggle, but since Bollinger dared to say it, he would not leave any loopholes.

"Dear Minister of the Navy, it seems that you have not spent a few days in the Navy Department since you took office. Charlottenburg Castle is more like your office. It is normal that you don't know this!" Bollinger's words caused everyone to laugh.

"Then why didn't Leo explain? Why did he let the newspapers describe it as they pleased? Wasn't it because he felt guilty?"

"Your Excellency, the Minister of the Navy, have you forgotten the rules of the Navy?" Leo frowned as he looked at Admiral Holding, who had served in the Navy for many years. Having been involved in politics, he seemed to have long forgotten the ethics of a soldier. "No matter how the outside world spreads rumors or slanders me, I cannot reveal any information involving military secrets. Without the authorization of the Navy Department, if I leak secrets, it will be a real crime for me!"

Most people in the conference room were frightened several times in a short period of time and their brains were blanked. But after taking a deep breath, Holding's mind quickly flashed through everything that had happened in the past few days. He understood, but it was too late.

They regarded Leo's concession as a helpless move, and Leo even colluded with Admiral Bollinger, and struck back on the peak stage created by him and the emperor to achieve a stunning reversal. Holding completely became a supporting clown.

With the witness of reporters, public opinion will experience a shocking reversal tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Holding will never believe that Leo and the First Reconnaissance Fleet had obtained the consent and records of the General Staff when they took action, but with Bollinger, everything will be different.

Regardless of whether he is there or is a backup, all of Leo's actions have been legal and compliant. This meeting is a conspiracy against him. Holding and the emperor's instigation helped Leo and allowed him to watch Holding fall into this trap!

Both Holding and the emperor were overwhelmed by their anxiety. After the naval battle, Holding secretly launched a propaganda campaign, first suppressing Leo and then praising him to a high position, and then exposing his stains and bringing him down from the altar.

The plan went so smoothly that Holding forgot to think carefully about whether Leo would just sit there and wait to die.

In the storm of public opinion, the people of Draco who worship and trust Leo remained silent. However, this silence does not mean that they will do nothing, but rather they are waiting for the final result. The more suffering the people of Draco are in during this period, the greater the power they will burst out.

What is even more terrifying is the anger of the navy. Leo's prestige among the middle and lower-level officers and ordinary sailors in the navy is unmatched. Look at the 90 middle and lower-level officers behind Leo, they represent the will of the Drake Navy, and they support Leo even when he is very likely guilty, not to mention that Leo is not guilty of any crime now.

As for the two problems that Leo admitted, it was not considered a crime in the Navy. What's wrong with using the flag of a neutral country? Using your flag is giving you face. The general has apologized. Kingdom of Noah, don't be shameless? It's not like the Allied ships have used your flag before. If you dare to say that, we will kill you!

As for tampering with the list of casualties, that was the general's true nature. He couldn't bear to see his soldiers killed or injured. The families of them had no objections and there was no need for anyone to blame him. If it really didn't work, he could just change it back. It's not a big deal.

Although Holding operated in secret, using rumors and naval information released by some conservative newspapers that were dissatisfied with the navy, this cannot remove the suspicion that he was doing bad things. Holding's dislike for Leo was already known to the whole empire. In addition, he slandered people before the incident was settled, and finally spoke nonsense at the naval meeting. Holding had already exposed himself to the sun, and what awaited him was the anger of tens of thousands of naval officers and their families who fought desperately in the North Sea.

"This is a trap, damn it! The scumbags from the slums of Kerry and the remnants of the Piltz era have teamed up to fool everyone. God should send them all to the stake!"

Holding really wanted to point at Marshal Piltz and Admiral Bollinger who were chatting happily and scold them, but he was afraid that if he did so, more than a hundred naval officers and soldiers would beat him up and not leave him the last bit of dignity. Holding closed his eyes, and the era of the ocean fleet belonging to the royal family ended.

It would be an exaggeration to say that Holding's appointment was only to serve as a mascot. Although he could not control too much power in the navy, the position of First Lord of the Admiralty at least gave him the right to participate in decision-making and some superficial respect.

But this time, in order to cooperate with the emperor's plan, he not only lost the support of naval officers and soldiers, but also pushed himself to the opposite side of the navy. The conservatives within the navy would not follow his broken ship on a journey of no return.

The Emperor leaned back in his seat, breathing heavily. His plan to regain control of the navy had failed again. He and Holding had miscalculated the unity of the navy.