As the dawn of the new day is approaching, Huthir and his staff officers once again climb to the north tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens.

It has been 24 hours since the start of the Battle of Amiens. This short day was a meaningful beginning for Huthier, Xia Shu, and every ordinary officer and soldier of the German 1st Marine Division. This marine unit specially formed for amphibious operations has the level of artillery equipment equivalent to that of the army's light infantry division. Facing the Amiens defenders with three lines of defense, they only took 12 hours to conquer all the French defense lines and completely occupy the city of Amiens. The speed and efficiency were so fast that the German army's ace troops could only sigh. Then, the 1st Marine Division perfectly demonstrated the advantage of the rapid offensive and defense transformation of the German field troops, and defeated the French counterattack without any suspense, killing more than 7,500 French troops and capturing more than 3,200 people. The German official announcement called it the "Amiens Victory."

While killing and injuring the French defenders in large numbers, the German 1st Marine Division suffered more than 10,000 casualties in a single day. Despite this, this combat force still maintained its strong combat effectiveness. As soon as the Amiens offensive and defensive battle came to an end, the trumpet of advancing towards Paris was sounded. Including the restored tanks, 16 Hubert-13 were ready to go. The 3rd Marine Brigade drew a half-infantry regiment, and the 1st and 2nd Marine Brigades each dispatched 2-3 infantry battalions to form an advance force of about 6,000 people. They set off at night and aimed at Paris.

This powerful advance force was led by Brigadier General William Grientz, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade. He was a naval officer who grew up step by step from the fleet of marines. He had the typical characteristics of a German naval officer: strong body, firm will and quick thinking. After the establishment of the Marine Force, he served as battalion commander and regiment commander. With his excellent command ability and rich command experience, he was quickly promoted to the ranks of generals.

"Five days later, see you in Paris!"

On the tower of the Amiens Cathedral, General Grienz looked at Paris with senior officers of the division, and his farewell speech also seemed very passionate. According to the combat plan formulated by the General Staff of the Marine Division, the advance troops should advance to Paris at an average marching speed of 20 kilometers per day. Based on mileage alone, it only takes five days to reach the city of Paris. However, this combat plan does not require the advance troops to arrive in Paris within five days. The specific time and itinerary shall be determined according to the changes in the situation. In other words, the five-day period can only be achieved under the most optimistic circumstances.

"This attack is like raising a sword to stab the Frenchman's heart. No matter how fierce the other battlefield is, like human instinct, the French team will definitely fight to the death without reservation." Hutier's words undoubtedly reminded Grientz that you must not underestimate the enemy during this trip, and do not underestimate the strength of the French.

Hutier, who has always advocated attack, has become cautious, and this change in mentality is naturally affected by the casualties of the troops. It is understandable to be cautious in itself, but the situation is special. Hutier's attitude will be a suggestive effect on General Grienz's decision-making in the front. In order to prevent Grienz from being timid and looking forward, which delayed the fighter plane, Natsuki deliberately sang "opposite":

"Fortunately, the main French troops have been put into the Marne battlefield. The entire northeastern French region is like an egg. After breaking the egg shell, there are egg whites that basically do not constitute resistance. If nothing unexpected happens, we do not need to break through any enemy defense before approaching the outskirts of Paris."

Huthier's title of commander of the 1st Marine Division was personally appointed by the German Emperor, but after all, he came from a military aristocratic family and knew the secrets behind power. He would definitely not have a different opinion on this issue with his chief of staff and argued endlessly, but just gave Grientz a congratulation, "I hope the horse will succeed."

Huthier did not know that Xia Shu's optimism was not only a positive attitude, but also an accurate grasp of the elements of war. In the entire northeastern France, including the reserve forces that had been mobilized, the total number of combat personnel of the British and French troops was more than 200,000. Just concentrate one-quarter of the troops in one place, and the offensive of the German Marine Forces can be completely curbed, and even use the advantage of the troops to fight an annihilation war. The key is that these Allied forces are scattered within a radius of hundreds of kilometers, and only by relying on railways can they gather quickly. In other words, as long as the railway network in northeastern France is destroyed and paralyzed, the power of the Allied Team can be restricted to achieve this.

In purpose, Xia Shu had already made a move: the Zeppelin airship had a range and bomb load capacity, and in good weather conditions, it could carry out destructive bombing on the enemy's railway stations and railway hubs. Although the war in the Marne River was tight, he still tried every means to come from the German Army to bomb the railway facilities in Paris and surrounding areas. The German Navy had fewer airships equipped with than the Army, and it was greatly damaged in previous combat operations. This time, the airship was unable to send an airship fleet to assist in the operation, but the Navy's airline team had advanced aircraft technology, well-trained pilots, and had the Juncker-V long-range bomber that was unique to the great powers at this time.

This double-wing and double-engine large aircraft can carry 800 kilograms of bombs for 300 kilometers. Before the outbreak of the war, the German Navy had equipped 11 Junker-vi, and in August it received 4 more from Junker Company, and then formed a unique long-range bomber squadron in Europe.

After leaving Amiens, the German advance troops led by Grientz advanced rapidly along the railway trunk line in northeastern France. The scattered troops left by the French 6th Infantry Division and friendly and neighboring defense forces were like dead branches and leaves, and their role was to slow down the opponent a little. At this time, in the small town of Barr, more than 50 kilometers south of Paris, the generals of the French General Command obviously did not expect that the German troops that captured Amiens could attack Paris so quickly. At breakfast that day, they were still arguing about whether to issue an order to destroy railway facilities to the 9th Army. This important and intact double-track railway line was falling one after another into the hands of the Germans. The German engineers only needed to repair the railway tracks from Duran to Amiens, so that their army could speed into the vast and fertile Paris Basin!

Go forward, go forward, go forward to Paris!

Stimulated by this huge tempting target, Commodore Grientz and his highly motivated soldiers could not stop at all. Just after noon, they had arrived at the town of Adiviraire, 20 kilometers south of Amiens, and encountered a rear guard of the French 6th Infantry Division here. More than 400 French officers and soldiers built a defensive position against the woodland. They had seven Hachicais, four 1897 field artillery and more abundant

With the ammunition, an armored train equipped with artillery and machine guns was parked on the railway line behind. The French intended to hold on here until reinforcements arrived, but the direct support of the armored train did not make their defense indestructible. Under the cover of a team of combat vehicles, two battalions of German naval infantry launched an attack from the front, attracting the attention of the French army. The other team of combat vehicles cooperated with the two battalions of naval infantry to quickly detour from the flank and launched a strong attack on the French armored train.

The earliest armored trains appeared in the American Civil War in the mid-19th century. Armored trains could be seen in the later French-Prussian War, Boer War and Russo-Japanese War. Early armored trains were usually covered with iron armor and steel plates on the front and outside the carriage. Some even piled up sleepers and sandbags in important locations. The main purpose was to protect personnel and supplies from attacks and damage by small enemy troops during transportation, or to carry cannons to the front line to support infantry operations. Before the outbreak of World War I, the French had developed locomotive technology, but they were not like Tsarist Russia and Austria.

The Hungarian Empire was so keen on the research and development of new armored trains. The French armored train that arrived at the front line of the Amiens but failed to enter the battle was the old equipment of the last century. It carried two 120mm-caliber 1878 cannons, four 37mm-caliber Hatchais machine guns and six 6 HAatchais machine guns. At first glance, it looked like a moving steel fortress, which was vulnerable in front of the small-caliber chariot cannons of German combat vehicles. As the front of the locomotive exploded, hot steam filled the four-car armored train, and the French soldiers on the car fled into the woods.

The roundabout troops solved the French armored trains, and the German troops who were put into frontal attack began to advance quickly. They captured the French positions with one wave of offensive. Their force was so fierce that many French officers and soldiers did not even have a chance to escape. In the end, only dozens of people were able to escape, and the casualties of the German offensive troops totaled less than two hundred!

Adivirel's victory made the naval infantry under Grienz's command soar. They took a break near the town and ate lunch. The 100-kilometer journey from Amiens to Paris was flat and barely barrier-free. Walking south along the railway trunk line, there was only one city on the way, Beauvais. It is the capital of Oise Province of Picardy, and the city size and permanent population are only half that of Amiens. In fact, according to Xia Shu's optimistic estimate, as long as the Marines advance to Beauvais, the French top leaders will definitely be shocked by this sharp blade that stabbed to the heart. Whether they draw troops directly from the front line of the Marine River or transfer the reinforcements originally sent to the Marine River to Paris, it is enough to change the course of the Battle of the Marine River.

Soon, a naval reconnaissance plane landed, and the pilot brought a news that excited the German officers and soldiers: In addition to the small group of French troops that had previously collapsed, within a radius of twenty kilometers, on the roads, in the fields, and in the villages and towns, there was no way to see even a team of French soldiers marching or setting up defense lines!
Chapter completed!