The battlefield is always awe-inspiring with its ever-changing changes in the fighter planes. Please search on Baidu for the latest chapters of this book: 1 Novel Network During the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon wasted more than seven hours of the most critical struggle for strategic initiative, which eventually led to the demise of the French Empire.

Fighters are fleeting, and on the changing battlefield, the grasp of fighter jets often means the failure of a battle.

After reading the telegram sent by Han Wu, Cai E immediately realized that the plan he and Xu Shuzheng had originally created could not be implemented. According to their plan, whether it was a feint or assist, the Expeditionary Force would fight a decent battle. No matter what the result was, they would always fight, and then use some excuses to end this year's war. Then, in half a year, the integration of the Expeditionary Force was completed in France, and at least the formation of the Expeditionary Force's army and corps in preparation for next spring.

The situation is no longer allowed now!

To be precise, the hasty withdrawal of the 17th Army of the German army caused a series of gaps and defense gaps to appear on the frontier of the German army, which was the fighter jet that the Expeditionary Force had been looking forward to.

From the entry of the First and Second Army into Belgium on August 4, 1914 to the end of the First Battle of Ipre in November 1914, the fierce battles for several consecutive months exhausted both sides of the war. After the end of the Battle of Marne, a stalemate was formed on the battlefield on the Western Front. During the attack and defense, both sides especially strengthened their defenses. The warring sides dug trenches deep, strengthened bunkers, and set up barbed wire to build fixed positions.

At first, the trenches on both sides were trenches dug out. With the development of the war, commanders and logistics also went deep into the trenches to command and supply. Therefore, the trenches were continuously deepened and widened, and the defense system became more and more developed. By the end of the First Battle of Ipree, a solid defense line covered with trenches, tunnels, shelters and barbed wire was spread across the front line of more than 600 kilometers from the Swiss border to the sea.

The emergence of trench nets makes combat more and more beneficial to the defense. The desolate unmanned area between the positions is aimed at by countless black muzzles. As long as the attacking troops appear in the unmanned area, the enemies in the opponent's trenches can be clearly seen. The machine gunners ambushed behind the fortifications easily take away the lives of the attacking soldiers like a strong wind sweeping away fallen leaves. Therefore, night becomes working time, and daytime is used to rest and restore physical strength.

The British army's more than 60,000 casualties during the attack on No. 1 are a clear reminder of the fact that trenches and machine guns completely prevented the infantry from charging.

For the Expeditionary Force, from the time of its dispatch until now, what I am most reluctant to see is to become cannon fodder in the hands of the great powers. It is precisely because of this that Xu Shuzheng tried every means to use some of the delicate mentalities of the French generals to avoid the coalition forces using the Expeditionary Force as cannon fodder, but... how long can it be dragged?

And on the other hand, the country is eager for the expeditionary forces to show their power in the foreign land, not just a small-scale battle, but to play a decisive role in a battle. By allowing the entire military action to gain some recognition, it paves the way for the country to win post-war status.

In other words, whether you are willing to become cannon fodder or not, the expeditionary force will eventually need to use self-sacrifice to pave the way for the future of the country. Now, there are fourteen divisions in France and nearly 300,000 expeditionary force. According to the worst plan, the expeditionary force will launch a battle at the latest next spring. Even if it is piled with human flesh, it will pile up one for the world to look at it.

And now, from the telegram I just received, an unprecedented opportunity was placed in front of the expeditionary force. If we could seize this opportunity, perhaps... the blood could flow less...

Should I catch it or...

The answer is very clear... Cai E clearly realized that the moment that will decide the future of the Expeditionary Force is coming...

After breakfast, it was already dawn. However, the room of the combat chamber with thick curtains was still dark. Cai E was checking the German defense map drawn by the coalition forces based on intelligence and aerial photos with the electric light. The combat director Ding Zimao came and he handed Cai E a telegram:

"Sir, another telegram was sent from the front finger."

Cai E took the telegram and saw that Han Wu asked the Expeditionary Force headquarters to send the reconnaissance planes to determine the enemy's depth. It seems that Han Wu... went with him!

Putting down the telegram in his hand, Cai E looked up at Ding Zimao, and the combat director from the Jiangsu Army General Staff said.

"Oh, please come here immediately, hurry up!"

A few minutes later, Xu Shuzheng came to this war room. After he arrived at the war room, Cai E immediately communicated with him with the telegram, and then looked at him and said.

"How is it? Youzheng, what do you think of this opportunity?"

"The opportunity is a good opportunity!"

Opportunity, is there a better opportunity than the current opportunity? This is the first time. Two years after the outbreak of the European War, the coalition forces had the first chance to free themselves from the slough of trench warfare. Lying on the map, Xu Shuzheng held a pencil in his hand, and then drew a line on the map, as if he was outlining the planning and deployment of the battle in his mind. Gradually, his expression became more and more serious.

"If we can seize this opportunity, we can fight in a way we are familiar with, instead of staying in the trench all day long and fighting to consume! As a result, we have learned nothing except defense!"

Studying, this time they came to Europe to fight wars, they came with the idea of ​​learning, but apart from digging trenches, what have they learned until now? When fighting trenches, the Expeditionary Force is not even as skillful as the British and French troops. For the Chinese Expeditionary Force, they have their own habits and their own fighting styles.

"Three divisions, probably before No. 10, we can only send three divisions! It may be difficult to be able to invest one division today."

The best breakthrough has been discovered by the French, and the French are missing out on opportunities. Although there are still some defensive gaps, those gaps are too narrow and are not suitable for corps assault.

"What if the attack is divided into points? Sir!"

At this time, Ding Zimao suddenly interjected something next to him.

"Oh, let me tell you what you think!"

Although he felt a little unhappy about his words being interrupted by others, Xu Shuzheng, who knew that this matter was very important, still looked up at Ding Zimao and asked.

Faced with the sight of these two generals, Ding Zimao nodded with a cramped expression. He was a young man in his thirties. His ability to serve as the commander of the combat is actually the result of the game of force. On the surface, the expeditionary army, which seemed to be a solid body, has had various game of force since its establishment, and many of the officers' positions are often the result of the game of force. He is, Xu Shuzheng, and even Cai E is the same. Although as the commander of the combat, he has been very familiar with the two, Ding Zimao's view on a certain issue was the first time, and he knew that this matter was of great importance. Therefore, his expression was nervous, and even his voice trembled slightly when he spoke.

"I think we should not only limit our attention to a certain defense gap. Since its establishment, the Expeditionary Force has never cooperated with large-scale combat. Compared with legion-level battles, we are better at division-level combat. Now, our frontal enemy should be the eight severely damaged divisions on the front line of the German army, and they are rushing to evacuate the war zone. Considering that the German defense replacement troops may be about 3-5 divisions, this should be the last reserve team in the hands of the Second Army. If we regard the German frontiers in the Somme as a whole, it will be an irresistible defensive fortress, and now, here, here..."...

Ding Zimao successively drew multiple map points on the map. Without exception, those map points were defensive gaps found by the reconnaissance troops from hundreds of meters to kilometers wide.

"In short, the German army's overall trench defense system was partially disintegrated due to the 17th Army's urgency retreat, which means that the original long snake was cut into several pieces. Of course, if we missed the fighter plane like the French army, the long snake would grow rapidly, but if we mobilized three to six divisions from these points and inserted it suddenly..."

While talking, he gestured with his hands and intertwined with each other.

"In this way, the reserves of the Second Army will be divided into multiple unconnected strongholds. Considering that the German 17th Army has suffered a heavy blow, the German Command would not risk the collapse of the defense line and order the defense to retreat, and it would not evacuate in such haste. Therefore, at least before the German Command mobilizes a new reserve, the 17th Army will not be able to form an effective defense against us. Therefore, while dividing its reserves, we can mobilize six to eight divisions to decisively break through to the third position of the German Army, and form a roundabout siege, and end the battle with a beautiful left hook..."

When Ding Zimao put forward his opinion, both Cai E and Xu Shuzheng were surprised. From Ding Zimao's plan, they saw an unprecedented gambling. Unlike Han Wu's proposal to take the opportunity to advance more than ten kilometers, Ding Zimao wanted to fight a "sex-like" battle in the Somme River!

For the Expeditionary Force, this is completely a gamble. Once this plan is launched, it means that in the next month, the Expeditionary Force will not only need to invest in the current fourteen divisions, but even the three divisions on the sea will serve as reserves. This is a gamble, and more importantly, this gamble has many other uncertain factors, if...

"We don't have the experience of large corps fighting!"

After lit another cigarette and spitting out this sentence, Cai E stared at Ding Zimao, a guy who had not even finished Zhenwu Academy.

"It is true that there is no experience in combating a large army, but if you don't fight, you will never have..."

Ding Zimao said hurriedly, and involuntarily raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"When we were fighting with the Japanese in Jiaoao, we didn't even conduct division-level exercises..."

"That's defense..."

Xu Shuzheng said casually a little impatiently.

"At the beginning, it is an offense, coordinate the steps of each division, and at the end, it will definitely be a defense!"

Ding Zimao argued urgently, thinking that he was careless. He didn't know if Xu Shuzheng's question was disgusted with his explanation, and he had to explain it clearly.

"... That's right, we should know our own. The Germans have the strengths of the Germans, and Britain and France have the strengths of the British and French, but we have our strengths. If we fight in their way, we will be restrained. Instead of doing this, we might as well let go completely. What is the purpose of this battle? Why is it a month ahead of time? It is to relieve Verdun's pressure. In any case, as long as we fight this set of combinations, the German commander will have to fight with us in our way... For example, until now, Germany has not mobilized the main force of the Verdun battlefield because they do not think that the scale of the battle fought by the coalition forces here will have to do it. At least now, they have not realized it yet, so we

What we have to face is the Second Army. The 17th Army suffered heavy damage. Even if it was put into the reserve team, the British and French armies could contain part of it. Therefore, the German army we need to face directly is actually relatively limited. Now, we have fourteen divisions of new forces, but none of them are put into use. If we use three divisions to divide the German army in this area and then send the main force to the depth of the German army, then the retreat route of the German Second Army will be cut off. At the same time, the transportation supply line will be cut off. In this way, the German army in the Somme will face an enemy from both sides... At this time, we will send the last, the fourth batch of troops that have just arrived in the Mediterranean, and then it will almost be a defensive battle..."...

While listening to Ding Zimao's report, Cai E looked at the map carefully, and then fell into thought. He didn't even notice it immediately when Ding Zimao finished speaking.

"Yuzheng, what do you think?"

Cai E asked, but his eyes did not leave the map.

It is undeniable that although Ding Zimao's suggestions are full of various risks, the biggest risk possibility is that the expeditionary force is completely destroyed, but... the temptation is too great!

Illegal the Second German Army!

"If you really fight like this, the risk is too great, and..."

After thinking about it, Xu Shuzheng said again.

"However, if implemented, even if it is half successful, it may affect the entire battle situation. I am not talking about this battle, but the entire war."

What does it mean to affect the entire war? Regardless of whether the Expeditionary Force can achieve the battle goal, once the battle begins, with the continuous investment of the Expeditionary Force and the emergence of the battle situation, the Expeditionary Force and China will surely win a little - the complete respect of the great powers, which means that the Expeditionary Force may become an independent group, rather than a small follower of the French army.

"I see, in comparison, sometimes,..."

After thinking for a long time, Cai E spoke:

"There is little chance of achieving the goal completely."

“Yes, it’s unlikely to achieve the goal completely…”

Ding Zimao followed.

"But, as long as half of it is achieved, it's enough?"

Cai E asked back after looking at Ding Zimao.

"For half of the goal... this is to take hundreds of thousands of brothers' lives to bet!"

"this……"

For a moment, Ding Zimao's speech was blocked, his cheeks turned slightly red. After a while, he spoke.

“I…I…Brothers…”

He wanted to say that from the day the country sent the expeditionary force to fight, the fate of the expeditionary force was actually destined. Even if they were unwilling, they had to face a reality in the end - sacrifice. Only through the sacrifice of the expeditionary force can the country win the respect of the great powers, and only sacrifice can the change of the national status be achieved. However, he could not say this, so who could say it? Although it is well known that this is the fact...

"At least, dying like this is better than being beaten like the British, as if he were shot as a target!"

Xu Shuzheng took the initiative to lift the siege for Ding Zimao. He knew very well that once the Expeditionary Force carried out this battle, no matter what achievements the British and French coalitions achieved in the Somme, they would not be able to hide the glory of the Expeditionary Force. By then, the Expeditionary Force would become the hero of the entire Allied Power, and then...

Nodded, Cai E did not deny it.

Stepping in the combat room and thinking for a long time, Cai E looked at Xu Shuzheng and said.

"I think this matter is not careless, so I should inform the country immediately and let the country make a decision..."

At this time, even as the commander of the Expeditionary Force, he was not determined to make this decision. After all, whether to carry out this battle is directly related to the future of the Expeditionary Force and even the fate of the country.

"You see, in addition to telegrams to the Ministry of the Army, have you sent a telegram to the Presidential Office and the State Council?"

"Um,"

Xu Shuzheng also did not object to this. Although the opportunity to the battlefield was fleeting, sometimes he was as bold as him and needed to be more cautious.

"I also need to telegraph all the troops of the Expeditionary Force to make all preparations before this evening, and it is not too late to come!"

This suggestion is a very normal suggestion. There are only nine divisions in the Expeditionary Forces that can be put into use at any time. Except for three who arrived at the front line and two disrupted divisions fighting at Verdun, the remaining three divisions are still in central France.

"The most important thing is to communicate with France. If the French disagree, we will start such a big battle without authorization. The French may not be able to explain it at that time..."

“I don’t think the situation is optimistic,”

After waved his hand, Cai E's face was slightly mocked:

"You know Xia Fei, but even we can't stand it if we are cannon fodder?"

Even cannon fodder doesn't look down on you!

This is probably the helplessness of a weak country. Even if you want to sacrifice, you still have to act according to the expressions of others.

At this time, the sun was rising slowly, and the lawn was covered with golden yellow. Without wind, the air seemed to be hot. Cai E said intentionally and unintentionally:

"This year is our first summer since we arrived in Europe, and this summer is so hot..."

Turning around and looking at Cai E with his bright eyes. Xu Shuzheng knew the meaning of Cai E's words and understood the burden on his shoulders, but he still said:

"If it's hot, everyone is hot..."

"Yes, it won't be too shocking there, everyone will be warm together!" (To be continued)
Chapter completed!