Chapter 56: Despise The Enemy Strategically, Take Them Seriously Tactically
It was Christmas Day, and the Britannians within Ypres were doing their best to regain their confidence.
The Germania Army, outside the salient’s encirclement, was exuding arrogance from their recent victory.
Remaining undiscouraged despite defeat is a very rare quality. Among the Britannians within the salient, Lieutenant General Haig is likely the most undiscouraged by defeat.
Remaining unarrogant despite victory is an even rarer quality. Among the Germanians outside the salient, Captain Lelouch Hunt is likely the most unarrogant in victory.
“We’ve finally cut off the Britannians’ railway lifeline! The enemies in the Ypres salient must be on edge now. That old dog French must be thinking of a breakout!”
Lelouch’s direct superior, Major General Karl, could not resist opening champagne on Christmas night and invited his trusted subordinates to celebrate at division headquarters. Even the Army Group Commander, Duke Rupprecht, personally came to the front line to inspect and share in the soldiers’ joy.
Because they had won a victory on Christmas Eve, there were no major combat operations on Christmas Day. All soldiers were given a rest during the day, and the quartermaster and logistics departments additionally distributed chocolate and alcohol to everyone again, even arranging a rare roast meat feast.
Lelouch did not want to dampen everyone’s spirits, so he did not offer any cautionary words during the small lunch gathering that day.
However, Duke Rupprecht and Major General Karl, who were brothers, also knew that Lelouch was one of the contributors to this victory. They clinked glasses with him during the lunch to celebrate.
The Duke, whom he had not seen for several days, noticed his spirits were not high and kindly inquired, “What? Not happy despite winning? The enemy’s supply lines have already been cut!”
Lelouch did not want to mention it, but since he was asked, he did not hesitate to lower his voice and say a few words: “I believe this campaign is less than halfway through. Cutting off the supply lines is indeed very important; it will cause the enemy to bleed continuously from now on.
However, Ypres Highlands are stocked with military supplies. Furthermore, our own army has not yet resolved the logistical bottlenecks for the newly occupied areas, and the railway from Armantieres to Stenford is now in a state where neither side can use it.
The problem is not obvious yet, simply because the British 3rd Army was too cowardly before and left their supply depots to us when they hastily fled Bailleul. But ‘living off the enemy’ is a one-off. Next time the enemy loses another stronghold, they will surely use scorched-earth tactics and leave us not a single piece of firewood.”
Lelouch eloquently outlined the main issues at hand.
If Lieutenant General Haig of the British Army could see this scene with clairvoyance, he would undoubtedly experience a sense of déjà vu, feeling “what I see is what you see.”
Their judgments were so similar.
Upon hearing this, Duke Rupprecht and Major General Karl gained a deeper understanding of Lelouch’s “unbeaten in victory, undiscouraged in defeat” demeanor.
For a young man to not be arrogant is truly rare, and yet he is so calm and insightful.
They were also discerning individuals; they had simply been a little carried away by the momentary victory.
After Lelouch calmly pointed out the issues, they immediately judged with professional eyes that these problems did indeed exist.
Having understood this, the Duke mused to himself, “Indeed… the previous two victories were due to the advantage of a surprise attack. But ultimately, warfare requires a direct confrontation, and some issues cannot be avoided. In the next step, the entire Army Group must prepare for tough battles and strive to resolve two points in a short period:
First, we must assault Stenford City and open the railway. Second, we must capture Kemmel Hill on the northern side of the railway! At least capture Hill 155, the main peak! That place is only 7-8 kilometers from the railway, and heavy artillery mounted on the mountaintop can easily blockade the railway.”
The Duke had thoroughly grasped the situation. To annihilate the enemy and achieve a complete victory, the plan could be broken down into three steps:
Step one: To choke the enemy’s neck. This step has already been achieved.
Step two: To break the hand that the enemy is using to choke themselves. This is what will be done immediately.
Step three: To quietly wait for the enemy to suffocate, or, while continuously choking the enemy’s neck, to induce them to struggle more and consume more oxygen, thus accelerating the process of suffocation.
Of course, the enemy will not truly suffocate to the last breath. Before they realize they are about to die, they will definitely try to break out or save themselves. But by then, at least their fortified highland strongholds will become useless, and the Empire can then annihilate the enemy attempting to break out in a war of maneuver.
A grand objective was thus broken down into three smaller objectives.
After discussing the issues, the Duke issued a formal order: “It is Christmas today, so let it be. Let the troops have a complete holiday. Starting tomorrow, we will execute the two small objectives of the second step. These types of assault battles, where there is no room for shortcuts, cannot be accomplished by the Assault Battalion; they require the main forces to be deployed in large numbers.
Lelouch, you mentioned to Karl before that you would go to the rear to contact Krupp and discuss the matter of railway guns. I can grant you a week’s leave. However, before Stenford City is officially captured and Hill 155, the main peak of Kemmel Hill, is taken, I hope you will return promptly to participate in the subsequent battles.”
The Duke was well aware that the Assault Battalion was his most valuable asset at the moment. However, this unit was meant for finding enemy weaknesses and then executing envelopment and infiltration, not for frontal assaults.
Whether it was urban warfare or a frontal assault on highlands, such valuable elite special forces should not be wasted as cannon fodder.
Lelouch simply saluted silently, accepting the order. However, he also realized that the Duke seemed to have underestimated the difficulty of assaulting Stenford City and Kemmel Hill.
The success of the previous two infiltration battles had raised their expectations. Did they really believe they could take a city and the most important peak on the southern side of Ypres Highlands in a week?
Lelouch did not want to directly contradict his superior and demoralize the troops, but he also had to point out the potential risks involved.
After much deliberation, Lelouch finally said tactfully, “Then I wish the troops participating in the assault success in achieving these two small objectives within a week. However, I still believe we should not underestimate the Britannians’ resolve to defend to the death.
I actually have some ideas regarding mountain assaults and urban assaults. If Your Highness is interested and willing to allocate the budget…”
The Duke had immense trust in Lelouch’s judgment and immediately stated, “Speak freely. Money and resources are not issues, as long as the methods are effective.”
Lelouch: “I believe that if we were to face urban warfare scenarios in the future, we might consider equipping some soldiers with shotguns for close-quarters combat indoors. Additionally, the long-handled wooden-handled grenades are not very suitable for combat in confined spaces.
Due to time constraints, I only improved the long-handled grenades for grenade launchers. In the future, perhaps we can imitate the British Army’s pineapple grenades and produce similar defensive or indoor grenades. They are lighter, have more explosive charge and shrapnel, but their throwing distance is short.
Some other ideas are not very clear at the moment. If problems arise in actual combat later, we can analyze them based on the specific situation.”
Duke Rupprecht only thought for a few seconds before accepting these two suggestions: “Excellent, shotguns are indeed suitable for this environment. We will request an urgent shipment from the rear today. Regarding the pineapple grenades, they require a certain production cycle and will not be ready for the assault on Stenford this time. If we were to attack Ypres City or Dunkirk in the future, they might be ready.
How about this: I heard that the Bergmann Company gave you company equity worth fifty thousand Marks for your previous idea. We cannot be stingy either. Upon your return, I will give you activity funds of five hundred thousand Marks. You will first go to Krupp and clarify the order and technical requirements for the railway guns. For the remainder, you can proceed according to your own vision. If you have any small ideas for military industry reforms, go ahead and implement them, just remember to report them for record before final implementation.”
This was a very substantial display of trust and authorization, indeed a “knowing and appreciating” grace.
It was Lelouch’s series of brilliant calculations before that had accumulated such strong credit endorsement.
“Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I will take my leave then…” Lelouch immediately accepted the order.
The Duke was surprised: “You’re not even attending the Christmas dinner?”
Lelouch: “Time is of the essence, and I also want to visit the military hospital in Brussels on my way back to see the wounded comrades. I will spend tonight with them.”
The Duke was even more impressed with him and did not try to stop him, merely having some consolation items prepared.
…
In the afternoon, Lelouch completed the handover and left the front line in his car, leaving his duties to Captain Lister of C Company. He drove for an entire afternoon and returned to Brussels in the rear.
Returning to the rear for a temporary leave with him was Major Bock, the Battalion Commander. This was also planned, as Major General Karl had said that Bock’s uncle was the Chief of Staff, and taking him along to place an order with Krupp would make Krupp pay more attention.
Although the surprise offensive on Christmas Eve yielded substantial results, the Assault Battalion also suffered considerable losses, with many officers and soldiers wounded.
Especially the two platoons that were at the forefront executing the infiltration mission, their casualty rate was the highest.
Lelouch arrived at the Brussels Military Hospital and, after inquiring about the ward, headed straight to the room where Platoon Leaders Model and Dieter were staying.
Model was touched when he saw his company commander appear on Christmas night and nudged Dieter next to him, who had been unconscious earlier that night and had just woken up.
“The commander knows I’m skipping the Christmas celebration dinner to see you. He’s specially approved some nutritional supplements. You two keep these condensed milk and canned beef to eat slowly. Have your wounds been treated properly?”
Lelouch, very casually, put down the food as soon as he entered and then asked about their injuries.
Model pointed to the torn bulletproof vest and damaged helmet on the back of the chair by the hospital bed.
Model was in close combat with the enemy in the trench warfare during the final stages of the Christmas Eve infiltration assault. He was stabbed by a bayonet, but the 3-centimeter-thick dense silk bulletproof vest had some anti-stab capability. Therefore, the bayonet only penetrated about an inch into his flesh before being caught by the silk.
In the close-quarters bayonet combat environment of the trench, rifles were ineffective, but pistols could still be fired. Model was also shot twice in the chest and abdomen by a British officer’s pistol, but the silk bulletproof vest, worth three thousand Marks, protected him. He only suffered two bruises and subcutaneous internal bleeding.
After the doctor treated his wound, he indicated that he was not seriously injured and would recover within a week. If he wished to be discharged, he could leave in three days and let the rest of the healing happen slowly at the front after changing his dressing.
Dieter, who led the machine gun platoon, was more seriously injured than him.
Although Dieter’s combat position was further back, allowing him to hide in the trench and avoid being at the very front, his machine gun position was targeted by the enemy last night.
Dieter was hit by a ricocheting bullet in his M15 steel helmet, which resembled the M56 helmet of later generations, when he peeked out to observe enemy firepower.
That was a full-power rifle round. Fortunately, the angle of impact was slanted, and the angle of incidence was too large, causing a ricochet. The steel helmet was pierced with two holes, then deflected and bounced out. Simultaneously, it left a blood groove on his forehead. The flesh and skin were completely torn open, and even a few millimeters of the skullcap were abraded. He likely suffered a mild concussion and would need to lie in bed for one to two months.
“You are both warriors, and I assigned you the most dangerous missions. These were obtained from the British military supplies I confiscated that day. You two keep them for your recovery expenses. I have also strived to detail your merits in the report, stating that you were the main executors of the mission to cut off the enemy’s railway line last night. The Division Commander has signed the document, and you will be processed for promotion to Lieutenant upon your discharge.”
Lelouch looked at his comrades’ injuries, feeling somewhat ashamed, and explained the terms he had secured for them.
As he spoke, he also left two thousand Marks for Model and three thousand Marks for Dieter. These were equivalent to their half-year and nine-month salaries, respectively.
The two were greatly moved and quickly stated that they could not accept this, as they had already received official battle wound compensation.
“Sir, how can you bear the burden of such matters… And many comrades who were more seriously injured than us last night, as well as so many who died…”
Lelouch’s expression turned stern, leaving no room for doubt: “I naturally have my own way of handling things and will ensure fairness! You two just take it! I am also aware of everyone else.”
Lelouch would not mention that he had a total of 800,000 Marks liquidated; that was irrelevant to everyone else, and only he knew the detailed accounting. As long as the subordinates knew that their company commander was absolutely fair and just in his dealings, that would be enough.
Lelouch also decided that after this matter was settled, he would definitely find an Italian arms dealer and buy more silk bulletproof vests at three thousand Marks each, at least ensuring that every promising officer he valued had one.
In the future, when he led them to achieve merits and promotions, these “potential stocks” would gradually be dispersed, and they would become company commanders or battalion commanders. At that time, they would not be so close to the front line, and their personal safety issues would not be so urgent.
After this war ended, the Assault Battalion, which currently only had two units, would definitely be expanded. Even if the Junker Officer Corps reacted slowly and only replicated the expansion within the Barians’ Army Group, with each of the 12 divisions having one Assault Battalion, the total number would reach six times the current amount.
Therefore, the elite backbone under Lelouch’s command might very well become a squad leader in the future, leading a 6-man fire support team or an 8-man assault team, even if they were just ordinary soldiers.
Every soldier under him would be at least a corporal or even a sergeant in the future. Every platoon leader under him could be sent out as a company commander. Most of them would be promoted by one rank. This was a group of valuable talents not to be underestimated.
After visiting Model and Dieter, Lelouch also comforted other wounded comrades whose names were not recorded, giving each of them a Christmas gift: a box of condensed milk and canned beef.
Finally, amidst the touching tears of his comrades, Lelouch took his leave and, together with Major Bock, took a train that night to Düsseldorf in Essen.
They slept in the train’s berths and, the next morning, holding the Duke’s official documents, headed straight to the headquarters of the Krupp Company.
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PS: Although it hasn’t been released yet… but today is another eight thousand characters. I only ask that the areas with a slower plot pace pass quickly, ensuring that the main storyline progresses a little each day, so that everyone can follow the updates comfortably.
I’m already updating eight thousand characters daily during the free period. Is it too much to ask for everyone to comment, follow updates, collect, and vote every day?
Please, this book is on the dividing line between being able to get on Sanjiang or not. If everyone ensures they follow the updates daily and comment as much as possible, there’s a chance. But if the follow-up drops, it will be immediately removed from the Sanjiang candidate list.
