I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 202: This is Shire’s Style

Chapter 202: Chapter 202: This is Shire’s Style

Mortars suppressing German trenches, they have a short range and can closely coordinate with infantry and tanks.

Under the cover of artillery fire, the tanks slowly advance towards the enemy trenches with infantry.

The tanks are "Mark I" models, their 17MM frontal armor is slightly inadequate, but this is not a major problem; binding a layer of sandbags temporarily before the battle can deal with it.

Barbed wire need not be cleared, the wide tracks of the "Mark I" can easily crush and even carry it away.

But Brownie considered one issue: "The barbs might get caught in the tracks and road wheels. Breaking through the lines is not a problem, but maintenance will be needed immediately after the battle, otherwise it won’t last ten kilometers."

Colonel Estiny agreed: "We should spend some time removing the barbed wire; this will save more time for subsequent battles!"

So there was a scene of engineers hooking away the barbed wire before the battle.

The sound of artillery suddenly ceased.

German soldiers poked their heads out of the trenches one by one, startled to find the enemy tanks right in front of them. The tall bodies of the tanks resembled giants, their dark machine gun barrels were like their eyes, gleaming coldly in the rain, chilling the heart.

Panic-stricken German soldiers tried to organize a defense, but the machine guns suddenly spewed fire at them.

The dense rain of bullets pinned them down completely, and before they could react, rows of grenades fell from the sky and flew into the trenches...

The French offensive and firepower were layered one after another: mortars, tanks, grenades, seamlessly coordinating and giving the Germans no chance.

The Germans lacked not only tactics but also equipment.

The best way to counter mortars, in principle, is mortars.

But the Germans had no mortars.

To counter grenades, the best method is also to throw a row of grenades to create a barrage in front of the trenches, but their grenades were still primitive and not yet equipped in bulk.

The result was that the Germans were suppressed by the French throughout, with no power to fight back.

...

Bazelle escaped from a sea of corpses and blood with his subordinates’ cover. He thought the enemy would expand their achievements from the breakthrough point and attack the entire line, but the enemy did not do so.

The battlefield quieted down again. Bazelle, fleeing, turned back in confusion.

No enemies, no tanks, no grenades!

If not for the mess on the battlefield with German soldier bodies everywhere, Bazelle would hardly believe the enemy had been here.

What happened?

They came too fast and left quickly as well.

In just over twenty minutes, the enemy broke through the line and departed, like passing by to say hello to the Germans.

Colonel Aifuri, already far away, gasped and returned, asking in confusion: "They, they did not occupy the line..."

"They are reinforcing the besieged French!" Bazelle answered slowly, "They are Shire’s forces!"

Colonel Aifuri’s face instantly filled with amazement.

Colonel Aifuri always thought Shire was just a legend, a figure possibly deified by the French as he had never experienced in the battlefield himself.

But what happened today could only make him believe.

Because it seems only Shire’s forces could achieve this.

...

Berlin, Germany, General Staff Headquarters.

Fajin Han leisurely appreciated the sweeping snowfall outside the window. He believed that since taking over the command of the German Army, the first major victory was imminent, unstoppable like this snow.

Fajin Han planned to present a perfect response, aiming to persuade Hindenburg and Ludendorff, the Eastern Front Faction.

The Eastern Front Faction believed that a victory on the Western Front was impossible in the short term, thus mainly transferring German forces to the Eastern Front, and after achieving victory there, moving troops back to fully confront France.

"Idiots!" Fajin Han muttered to the snowy expanse outside the window, "There are no troops to transfer on the Western Front, not only no troops but need to continue in increasing numbers, or there will be no Germany, not to mention the Eastern Front!"

At this moment, Colonel Moritz, stationed by the radio, suddenly raised his head to report, his voice carrying panic, even almost shrieking: "General, Shire’s forces have appeared, they have penetrated our encirclement!"

Fajin Han was startled, swiftly turning his head towards Moritz.

Everyone in the command center was surprised, their actions visibly paused.

Fajin Han sprinted back to the desk, his eyes landing on the map, urgently asking: "What position? How many troops?"

Colonel Moritz, holding the telegram, quickly approached the desk, speaking even before he arrived: "Rhodes direction, approximately two thousand men!"

Fajin Han raised his head, eyes wide, looking at Moritz in disbelief: "Two thousand men? Two thousand men breaking through the line of an infantry division with over ten thousand troops?"

A force of over ten thousand should fend off an attack from twenty thousand or more enemies, but now two thousand have broken through.

Colonel Moritz checked the telegram again, nodding affirmatively: "Yes, General, and it took only seventeen minutes, with Shire’s ’Mark I’ tanks!"

Fajin Han responded with an acknowledgment, indicative of Shire’s style, he should not be surprised.

Fajin Han turned his eyes back to the map, finding Rhodes first, then looking at the extended line to Tram, immediately pointing at the map issuing orders: "Immediately redeploy forces to reinforce these two locations, Shire is likely to break through from these points!"

"But General!" Colonel Moritz cautioned: "The French are concentrating forces attacking Cape Town, they intend to flank and break through from the front..."

"No!" Fajin Han interrupted Moritz decisively: "Shire will not break through from the front!"

Fajin Han’s fingers traced the Cape Town area, explaining: "If Shire’s forces maneuver to Lorca Town to rescue the two forces there and then break through from Cape Town, the total route would be over thirty kilometers!"

Colonel Moritz exclaimed: "The ’Mark I’ tanks need to change tracks every thirty kilometers, they can’t simultaneously break through and spend hours on maintenance, thus taking the shortest route only!"

"Indeed!" Fajin Han’s finger heavily pointed at Lorca Town: "Unless he abandons the tanks here!"

Colonel Moritz supplemented: "Even if he’s willing to dump the tanks, it’s infeasible. Without tanks, his forces can’t break through Cape Town’s reverse defense line!"

Fajin Han smiled and nodded: "Shire’s too arrogant, taking only two thousand men to penetrate the encirclement, dreaming of changing the battle situation! This time, I’ll encircle him within!"

"But General!" Colonel Moritz looked troubled: "We already lack additional troops!"

Fajin Han didn’t hesitate, ordering: "Telegraph the 4th Reserve Army, instruct them to redeploy forces to reinforce the wings!"

"Yes, General!" Moritz responded, turning to execute the command.