The battlefield always awes people with its ever-changing fighter planes.

To catch it, or...

The answer is clear... Cai E clearly realized that the moment to decide the future of the expeditionary force is coming...

After breakfast, it was already daybreak. However, it was still dark inside the combat conference room with thick curtains. Cai E was looking at the German defense map drawn by the coalition forces based on intelligence and aerial photos by using the electric light. Ding Zimao, the director of the operations department, came over and asked him

Give Cai E a telegram:

"Sir, another telegram has been sent from my front finger."

Cai E took a look at the telegram. In the telegram, Han Wu asked the expeditionary force headquarters to send out reconnaissance planes to determine the enemy's deep distribution. It seemed that Han Wu... thought of it with him!

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

"Oh, please ask Chief of Staff Xu to come over immediately, and hurry up!"

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

"How's it going? Zheng Zheng, what do you think of this opportunity?"

"Opportunity, it's a good opportunity!"

Opportunity, is there any better opportunity than the current one? This is the first time. Two years after the outbreak of the European War, the Allied Forces have the first opportunity to extricate themselves from the quagmire of trench warfare. Lying on the map, Xu Shuzheng

Holding a pencil in one hand, he then drew a line on the map, seemingly outlining the battle plan in his mind. Slowly, his expression became more solemn.

"If we can seize this opportunity, we can fight a battle in the way we are familiar with, instead of sitting in the trenches all day long, fighting there! As a result, we have learned nothing but defense after fighting!

"

Learning, this time they came to Europe to fight, they came with the idea of ​​learning, but apart from digging trenches, what have they learned until now? When it comes to actually fighting trench warfare, the expeditionary force is not even as good as the British and French troops.

For the Chinese Expeditionary Force, they have their own habits and their own fighting methods.

"Three divisions. It is estimated that before the 10th, we can only send three divisions over! It may be difficult to send even one division over today."

Now the best breakthrough point has been discovered by the French, and the French are missing the opportunity. Although there are still some defensive gaps, those gaps are too narrow and are not suitable for the corps to assault.

"What if we attack at separate points? Sir!"

At this time, Ding Zimao suddenly interrupted.

"Oh, tell me what you think!"

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

Facing the gazes of the two generals, Ding Zimao nodded, his expression a little awkward. He is a young man about thirty years old. His ability to serve as the director of the operations department is actually the result of a game of power. On the surface, he seems to be monolithic.

The expeditionary force has been involved in various power games from its establishment until now, and the positions of many of its officers are often the result of power games. He is, so is Xu Shuzheng, and even Cai E is the same. Although as the chief of the operations department,

I have been very familiar with the two of them for a long time, but this was the first time that Ding Zimao had his views on a certain issue, and he knew that the matter was of great importance. Therefore, he looked nervous, and his voice even trembled slightly when he spoke.

"I think we should not just limit our sights to a certain defensive gap. Since the formation of the expeditionary force, we have never cooperated with large-scale group operations. Compared to regiment-level battles, we are better at division-level battles.

Combat, and now. Our frontal enemy should be the 8 heavily damaged divisions on the German front line. They are hastily withdrawing from the theater. Considering that the German defense replacement force may be around 35 divisions, this should be in the hands of the Second Army.

The last reserve, if we consider the German frontier along the Somme as a whole, is an insurmountable defensive fortress, and now, here, here..."

Ding Zimao drew multiple points on the map one after another. Without exception, those points were defense gaps ranging from hundreds of meters to kilometers wide discovered by the reconnaissance troops.

"In short, the German army's overall trench defense system has been partially disintegrated due to the hasty retreat of the 17th Army, which means that the original long snake has been cut into several pieces. Of course, if we miss the opportunity like the French army, this long snake will

The snake will grow quickly, but if we mobilize three to six divisions from these points to rush in..."

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

"In this way, the reserves of the Second Army will be divided into multiple unconnected strongholds. Considering that the German Seventeenth Army has already suffered heavy losses, otherwise the German high command would not risk the collapse of the defense line and order the withdrawal.

And it will not evacuate in such a hurry. Therefore, at least until the German high command mobilizes new reserves, it is impossible for the 17th Army to form an effective defense against us. Therefore, while dividing its reserves,

We can mobilize six to eight divisions to decisively break through the German third position, form a roundabout encirclement attitude, 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 a gamble of unprecedented scale, which was different from Han Wu's plan of taking the opportunity to advance more than ten kilometers.

Yes, Ding Zimao wanted to fight a "Sedan-style" battle on 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 the current fourteen divisions, but also the three divisions currently at sea.

Individual divisions will also serve as reserve teams. This is a big gamble, and more importantly, there are many other uncertain factors in this big gamble. If...

"We don't have the experience to fight with a large corps!"

After lighting up another cigarette and spitting out these words, Cai E stared at Ding Zimao, a guy who hadn't even finished studying at Zhenwu Academy.

"It's true that I don't have the experience of fighting with a large corps, but if I don't fight, I will never have it..."

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

"When we fought the Japanese in Jiao'ao, we didn't even conduct division-level exercises..."

"That's defense..."

Xu Shuzheng was a little impatient and said casually.

"It starts with an attack. Coordinate the steps of each division. In the end, it will definitely become a defense!"

Ding Zimao argued hurriedly, thinking that he could not be careless. He didn't know if Xu Shuzheng's question was offensive to his explanation. He had to explain clearly.

"...It's like this. You should know the enemy. The Germans have their strengths. The British and French have their strengths. But we have our own strengths. If we fight according to their way, we will be tied up.

Instead of this, it is better to simply let go completely. What is the purpose of this battle? Why is it advanced by another month? It is to relieve the pressure on Verdun. No matter what, as long as we execute this combination of punches, the German High Command will

, you have to fight us in our own 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 do any harm to them.

At least for now, they have not realized it, so what we have to face is the Second Army. And the Seventeenth Army has suffered heavy losses. Even if it has put in reserves, the British and French armies can contain some of them, so we

The German forces that need to be faced directly are actually relatively limited... Right now, we have 14 divisions of fresh force in our hands, but none of them have been put into use. If we use three divisions to divide the German forces in this area, and then send the main force

If the German army reaches deep inside, it will cut off the retreat route of the German Second Army. At the same time, it will also cut off the transportation and supply lines. In this way, the German army along the Somme River will be faced with enemies from both sides... Wait until this time, and we will put the last one, that is,

Now that the fourth batch of troops that have just arrived in the Mediterranean has been sent over, 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 thinking. Even when Ding Zimao finished speaking, he did not notice it immediately.

"Youzheng, what do you think?"

Cai E asked. But his eyes did not leave the map.

It is undeniable that although Ding Zimao's suggestion is full of various risks, the biggest risk of which is that the expeditionary force will be completely disabled, but... the temptation is too great!

Annihilate the German Second Army!

"If we 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 war 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 campaign goal, once the battle begins, with the continuous investment of the expeditionary force and the emergence of the war situation, both the expeditionary force and China will definitely win something - the great powers

This means that the expeditionary force will be able to act as an independent group and will no longer be a small follower of the French army.

"I think, in comparison, sometimes..."

After thinking for a long time, Cai E said:

"It is unlikely that the goal will be fully achieved."

"That's right, it's impossible to completely achieve the goal..."

Ding Zimao followed.

"But, as long as we achieve half of it, that's enough?"

After looking at Ding Zimao, Cai E asked.

"For half the goal...you have to risk the lives of hundreds of thousands of brothers!"

"this……"

For a moment, Ding Zimao was speechless, his cheeks turned slightly red, and it took him a long while before he spoke.

"I...I...brothers..."

He wanted to say that from the day the country sent the expeditionary force, the fate of the expeditionary force was actually determined. No matter how reluctant they were, they had to face a reality in the end - sacrifice. Only through the sacrifice of the expeditionary force, could they succeed.

A country can win the respect of the great powers, and only through sacrifice can a country's status change. However, he cannot say this, and who can? Although it is well known that this is a fact...

"At least, dying like this is better than being treated as a target like the British!"

Xu Shuzheng took the initiative to relieve Ding Zimao. He knew that once the expeditionary force carried out this battle, no matter what achievements the British and French coalition forces achieved on the Somme, they could not cover up the glory of the expeditionary force. By then, the expeditionary force would

The army will become the hero of the entire Allied world, and then...

Cai E nodded, but did not deny it.

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

"I think this matter cannot be taken carelessly. We should report it to 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 conduct this battle was directly related to the future of the expeditionary force and even the fate of the country.

"Do you think that in addition to sending a telegram to the War Department, do you want to send a telegram to the Presidential Office and the State Department?"
To be continued...