I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 192 - 92: Copycat Tactics

Chapter 192: Chapter 92: Copycat Tactics

Germany Berlin, Wilhelm Street.

Usually, Berlin sees its first snow in early December, but perhaps due to the harshness of war, this year’s first snow arrived a bit earlier.

The fluttering snowflakes fell to the ground and quickly disappeared, leaving only a touch of white on tree branches and rooftops, like the white hats worn by Santa Claus.

Inside the General Staff, Fajin Han leisurely sipped steaming coffee at his desk. With the Seventh Transport Department producing Germany’s own tanks, he finally felt that the gap between Germany and the enemy wasn’t so vast anymore.

More importantly...

"The intelligence has been confirmed!" Colonel Moritz responded, holding a telegram: "It’s Xia Fei commanding the attack towards Cape Town."

"Are you sure it’s not Shire?" Fajin Han asked again.

"It’s not Shire!" Colonel Moritz confirmed emphatically: "Our intelligence personnel have identified the attacking units’ numbers; they are Xia Fei’s troops, not the 5th and 6th armies commanded by Gallieni."

Fajin Han hummed with satisfaction and then inquired, "What’s the matter with the aircraft?"

The 1st Flying Squadron was set up by Shire, and wherever the 1st Flying Squadron was, Shire would be there too. This had long ceased to be a secret.

...

When Fajin Han first learned about this, he was startled, even preparing reinforcements.

"Deploy three infantry divisions for reinforcement immediately!" Fajin Han’s face turned pale.

Colonel Moritz was puzzled: "The enemy currently has only three divisions amassed, while we already have four divisions at the front line..."

"But that’s Shire!" Fajin Han interrupted Colonel Moritz: "We can never predict his moves, how much manpower he’ll use, where he’ll attack, or what new equipment and tactics he’ll employ. The only thing we can do is block him with more troops!"

"Yes, General!" Colonel Moritz responded, turning to relay the orders.

Soon, the tense and oppressive atmosphere changed in the command center, some staff officers even had fear in their eyes, having lost confidence after being defeated by Shire so many times like Fajin Han.

This tension spread like a plague outside the command center, quickly reaching the front line where the 4th Reserve Army stationed at Cape Town became anxious, the whole army nervously preparing for battle.

However...

At this time, news came from the front line that the commander directing this attack was the French Commander-in-Chief, Xia Fei, and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"Unbelievable!" Fajin Han looked puzzled upon hearing the news: "Shire has always been winning, he’s never failed, yet they’re not letting him command, including the 1st Flying Squadron he formed. Why is this?"

Colonel Moritz responded with a hint of meaning: "Perhaps Shire’s presence has offended the French Commander-in-Chief."

Fajin Han "hmm-ed" and then a smile appeared on his lips: "This is what they call the council, isn’t it?"

"Indeed." Colonel Moritz replied with ridicule: "The council doesn’t send the most capable person to the battlefield, but the most powerful one!"

Fajin Han nodded, feeling a bit relieved.

"We’ve also clarified the aircraft issue!" Colonel Moritz handed over another telegram: "Indeed, it’s Shire’s 1st Flying Squadron patrolling the position; it was dispatched to the front line by Xia Fei."

Fajin Han’s face changed: "Shire was also transferred?"

He knew Shire was the squadron leader of the 1st Flying Squadron.

"No, General." Colonel Moritz shook his head, his voice filled with contempt: "They excluded Shire. As I said, they want to surpass Shire, naturally, they wouldn’t let him be part of this battle."

Fajin Han chuckled: "I like this Commander-in-Chief!"

Colonel Moritz agreed deeply: "Me too, I wish I had a chance to thank him in person!"

The two exchanged smiles.

After a while, Moritz asked, "So, should we still reinforce with three infantry divisions?"

Fajin Han put away his smile, stared at the map for a moment, then spoke with ease: "No, Moritz, we should reinforce with four infantry divisions!"

Colonel Moritz thought he misheard: "Four infantry divisions?"

"Yes!" Fajin Han nodded lightly, picked up his coffee, and leisurely took a sip, then asked enigmatically: "I heard Xia Fei’s supported tanks received new orders?"

"Yes!" Colonel Moritz replied: "’Saint Chammon’, and also CA-1."

Fajin Han hummed: "The 1st Flying Squadron, tanks, and Cape Town..."

Fajin Han lightly tapped a spot on the map, reminding: "What does this make you think?"

Colonel Moritz eyed the Cape Town defensive line under Fajin Han’s finger and suddenly understood: "Cape Town is a salient. The General means Xia Fei plans to replicate the Battle of Lafox?"

Fajin Han smiled without speaking, leisurely sipping his coffee again.

"But, General." Colonel Moritz said: "This is a tactic Shire just used. Xia Fei blatantly copying this..."

"That’s exactly why he chose Cape Town." Fajin Han placed the coffee cup on the empty space of the table, cutting off Moritz’s words: "Lafox involved only one infantry regiment plus two artillery regiments. If Xia Fei were able to encircle all four divisions in Cape Town, do you think people would care whose tactic he used?"

Colonel Moritz thought it over and found it reasonable. After all, the propaganda tools were controlled by Xia Fei. As long as they avoided heavy coverage of the tactics, people would still cheer for Xia Fei’s victories.

Fajin Han continued his analysis: "The three divisions Xia Fei uses for frontal assault could very well be just a feint. His main force should be deployed on the two wings of Cape Town. I estimate there will be one or two divisions on each flank, equipped with a substantial number of tanks for penetration!"

Colonel Moritz was speechless; if this were true, Xia Fei would entirely replicate the Battle of Lafox’s tactics.

Thinking again, it made sense. The French Army had been tactically inept for decades, repetitively attacking without much variance.

Now, suddenly, Shire introduced an innovative envelopment tactic. Copying it once should be the norm.

"So!" Moritz pointed at the map: "If we divide our four divisions into two parts and ambush on the wings, waiting for the French to break through into our defense area before reclaiming the frontline, their penetrating units would..."

Fajin Han and Moritz exchanged smiles, seemingly already visualizing Xia Fei’s enraged reaction.

(The above image shows the modern street view of Berlin Wilhelm Street, the administrative center of Berlin, the capital of Germany, from the mid-19th century until 1945)

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