The Rise of the Empire

"Although the troops on the northern front suffered losses, their overall combat effectiveness was intact. After being refurbished, they could be put into battle immediately. Can the center? I have to say that this was a terrible failure. The most powerful assault force of the French Republic was in a battle. All were lost in the large-scale armored battle, but fortunately the other side also suffered huge losses. According to our information, the number of vehicles available to the other side has dropped to less than one-third. Apart from small-scale battles, the two sides on the southern front have no Other changes." Pétain used a push rod to introduce the generals of each group army on the huge sand table.

"In other words, the overall retreat of the front has become a foregone conclusion? So where are we going to rebuild the defense line?" Xiafei asked with a sigh.

"The safest option is naturally to re-establish a line of defense at Rouen, outside Paris, and at Fort Gaucher. Here, we have enough depth to offset the Germans' air superiority, and we also have enough time to replenish and adjust our troops. " said Petain.

"To be honest, it's hard for me to bear having our capital face the heavy artillery of the Germans. Paris, the most beautiful city in the world, should not face such a fate." General Dubai, commander of the First Army, said.

"This is only the safest plan, but if everyone is willing to take risks, I have a more radical plan here. If it succeeds, we can not only reverse the decline, but even launch a large-scale annihilation war." Petain's words attracted everyone's attention.

"Everyone, please look at the sand table. The two German troops on the northern and central fronts do not actually form a stable front. There is a very large space between them. If we seize the opportunity, concentrate our forces and choose one of the troops to attack. Then the advantages are still huge.”

"The Northern Front cannot be chosen, because here are two German army groups, one with four armies. The troops are strong, and the attack went very smoothly, and the losses were not large. With our remaining armored units and troops, without passing If you are fully prepared, it would be very irrational to attack the opponent's four armies."

"But the center is different. There is only one army group in the center, and the strength is not enough for two armies. The armored force that the German Army in the center is proud of also suffered huge losses in the battle some time ago. If we concentrate some of the forces on the southern front , there is every chance to launch an attack while ensuring the bottom line defense." Pétain revealed his plan.

"If we want to defend the German army on the northern front, we need at least the British Expeditionary Force and two French armies. The Third Army in the center has been defeated. If we want to attack the German center army, then we must mobilize it from the southern front. It takes nearly one army to have a chance." Castelno, commander of the Second Army, said with some concern.

"General Meret, what's your opinion?" Pétain looked at the commander of the British Expeditionary Force sitting aside and asked.

"The British Expeditionary Force plus two French armies face the four German armies. This is the lowest bottom line. It cannot be less." The British still have lingering fears about the impact of the German army.

"It is impossible to mobilize a complete army group on the southern front." When Langrezac, commander of the French Fifth Army, spoke, Pétain's plan was on the verge of failure. When the military chiefs on both the northern and southern fronts did not support it, it was naturally impossible for Pétain to use the broken Third Army to confront the prince head-on. That would be courting death.

"If we have to fight, we still have 4 divisions on the French-Italian border that can be mobilized.

The three reserve divisions and a large number of artillery that belong only to the Army Headquarters can also be mobilized, and the fortress garrison troops at Belfort and Verdun can also be mobilized. In this case, we can accumulate at least nine divisions. Coupled with some of the troops drawn from the Fourth and Fifth Armies, our strength advantage over the Germans is 2 to 1! "French army commander-in-chief Joffre, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.

"Will the Verdun fortress troops be used?" Almost everyone, including Pétain, was shocked by Xiafei's plan. You must know that the Verdun Fortress is the most important node connecting the northern and southern French armies. At the center of the entire position, the French deployed more than three divisions of fortress garrison troops. Although the Germans did not launch an attack on this area, and although the French were very confident in the defenses here, they left the necessary troops behind. It seems necessary to most people.

"The Fortress of Verdun only makes sense if we keep the front line near the national border. Now that the opponent has broken through our defense line from the north and may push the front line to Paris, the Fortress of Verdun has lost most of its defenses. Meaning, because they have been able to bypass this fortress and bring the best places in France within the range of the artillery. We cannot let the front line be near Paris, because doing so will not only cause the fall of a large area of ​​​​the country, but also cause great harm to the country. It has lengthened our battle line, making it easier for the opponent to take advantage of mobile forces to break our defense line, so for this battle, I will not hesitate to mobilize the general reserve and fortress garrison troops!"

Xiafei has never been a person who muddles along. Although under the current situation, victory or defeat is no longer determined by a battle. The two sides need to go through a series of offensives and a long period of consumption to determine the outcome. France has not been forced. In a desperate situation, at least it would be stable for the troops to withdraw to build a defense line near Paris, but Joffre was unwilling to do this. He believed that letting this war evolve into a tug-of-war that exhausted national power was a crime against the Republic, so he gave up the more secure plan. , decided to choose a slightly radical plan!

"This plan is okay." The commander of the French Fifth Army, Lezaco, nodded. In fact, he was not willing to maintain the current equipment. In addition to dealing with the two Germans in the direction of Alsace-Lorraine, the French Fourth and Fifth Army In addition to the army group, we also have to deal with the German Third Army Group, which is eyeing the north.

A pincer offensive is brewing. If Germany stabilizes the northern front and launches an attack like the southern front, then the situation will be too bad. The reason why I started to disagree with Pétain's plan was largely because of the two southern fronts. The French Army Group has to mobilize a large number of troops, but now that Xiafei has solved the problem of troop strength, the French Army on the southern front is naturally willing to fight.

"So everyone on the northern line, what do you mean?" Xiafei turned his attention to several other people.

"Our northern front is guaranteed to block the attacks of the two German army groups. But it may be difficult to get reinforcements," Castelno said.

"Up to 6 divisions! The three armies can mobilize up to 6 divisions!" Xiafei said.

"Our British Expeditionary Force can send out two divisions." After hesitating for a moment, Mere said.

"Okay, that's it. I agree with this plan, but I hope that some tanks in the general reserve can be transferred to us. After all, the armor strength of the German Third Army Group has also been greatly weakened. Not that much,” Castelno said.

"This issue can be considered. Let's refine this plan!" Xiafei said.

Here comes the third update~! Please subscribe and reward~!