Imperial Palace, Berlin, German Empire.

In the spacious and bright Kaiser's study, a very detailed topographical map of Western Europe was already hung on the wall; On this huge map, mountains, lakes, towns and villages, roads and bridges, and other factors related to specific marches are all available, like a GPS satellite map from above. The gray arrows, which symbolized the German offensive line, were densely packed with every corner of the southern Netherlands, all of Belgium, and northern France, and even the number of troops in each army was accurately estimated on this map.

Qing Ying looked at this precise battle map plan like a self-striking bell, and her heart was shocked inexplicably, and it was indescribable for a long time. Although he knew that the staff officers of the German General Staff were the top in the world, their efficiency and meticulousness had been vividly demonstrated in all wars; However, after all, it is a peep in a tube like a mountain, and there is a lack of intuitive understanding of the detailed formulation steps in the pure military field. Seeing this combat map, Qingying finally understood why the German army could advance in 1870, 1914 and 1940 with a near-invincible posture and be invincible; In the planning of the pre-war period, the German General Staff had reached a peak height!

Seeing Qingying's face full of amazement and shock, the corners of Shi Lifen's mouth were hooked up, and a smug smile appeared on his face. Since Qing Ying questioned the idea of destroying France through the Low Countries, Schlieffen has been refining this plan for more than half a year; All the personnel of the General Staff participated in the project, and repeatedly confirmed the terrain verification, combat deduction, and other aspects. At this moment, Schlieffen's plan is really refined from a strategic concept to a practical plan; Once it can be put into practice. The whole world will tremble!

"My Count. Is this your plan for defeating France in six weeks? "Half an hour later. William came back to his senses and asked in a tone of admiration.

Schlieffen nodded, "Exactly." After more than half a year of work, the General Staff Headquarters has refined and perfected the framework I proposed, and this has become the picture that His Majesty is seeing now. Excitingly, the implementation risk of this plan has been greatly reduced compared to my previous expectations. ”

"According to our investigation, the vast majority of the artillery currently equipped in the French army is light artillery of 75 mm caliber and below, and even 105 mm howitzers are almost not seen at all. This configuration, though, gives them a great advantage in field warfare and maneuvering. But the disadvantage is that there is a serious lack of ability to attack. The Russian Grey Cattle, on the other hand, were even more ineffective, and they could not be a match for the German army because they were dull, slow-moving, and completely unconcealed. As long as we build a line of defense on the southwestern frontier and in East Prussia, as well as in the offensive and defensive exercises of the kind that His Highness had built six months ago, it would be enough to tear to shreds the French Red Pants, who were trying to regain Alsace, and the Russian Cossacks who had annexed East Prussia. Schlieffen smiled and said confidently.

Hearing Schlieffen's words, Qingying felt a little bitter in his heart, everything he had done in the army field before was to let Germany at this level be able to do the business of attacking Russia that would make a lot of money, and the offensive and defensive drill was the most critical part of it. But who would have predicted. Schlieffen actually reciprocated the other way: Didn't you say that the strength of defense is greater than that of offense? That was wonderful, and the security of the border between Alsace and East Prussia, which had been defended by only a small number of troops, was worrying. Now you don't have to worry about it at all; As long as a strong enough defense line is established, the French and Russians will come and die as many as they want!

"And on the offensive on the right flank, our spearhead will be sharper! The Imperial Army, heavily armed with light machine guns and mortars, had an overwhelming superiority over the French in individual firepower in skirmishes; A large number of new howitzers and the large-caliber heavy artillery brought by His Highness from Austria-Hungary also laid a solid foundation for our victory in the battle of the Great Corps. In the war games of the General Staff, we will have an absolute advantage in the frontal battle of the French red pants! With this elite army, armed with a large number of new weapons, it is enough to sweep away all the enemies in front of it; If everything goes well, then we can take Paris in a month. "This time, we will never be as merciful as we were in 1871, and we must make France a threat to our Germany for the next 200 years!" ”

Qingying's thin lips moved, but she finally endured it and did not say much to Schlieffen on this issue. Anyway, this guy in front of him won't stay in the position of chief of the general staff for long, and it is more convenient to start with his successor, Moltke, Jr., rather than fighting with him and offending him and the cronies of the officer corps behind him. This combat plan, which does not take into account logistical provisions and soldiers' physical fitness, is nothing more than a self-compiled science fiction novel, and cannot stand the actual test of the outside world. The German offensives in 1914 and 1918 proved that the blitzkrieg of the First World War was impossible on the Western Front!

Just when Qingying was determined to be a wooden man in Schlieffen's strategy report with the peaceful mentality of "relying on your youth to kill you", she found that the narrow eyes of this thin old man were staring at him like a falcon. Qingying was slightly stunned, but saw Shi Lifen helping the one-sided glasses hanging on the bridge of his nose, and said slowly: "Your Highness, have you said before that there are big flaws in the logistics support of the right wing army and the physical fitness of the soldiers?" Now I want to tell you clearly that I have solved most of these two problems through exhaustive deduction; They are indeed one of the biggest obstacles to the implementation of this plan, but they are not an insurmountable chasm. ”

Qingying's pupils contracted suddenly. The corners of Schliefen's mouth hooked, and then he explained his thoughts to Qingying in detail.

"Logistics is not a big problem. As long as the Belgians do not choose to resist, then we can use their well-developed domestic transportation network for our own use, and merge it with our German railway lines; In this way, it was enough to support the outflanking of about 1 million troops in northern France. And if the Belgians dared to resist the might of the Reich and wreak havoc on their own lines of communication, which was negligible, there was a way to deal with it, and that was to use a strategy of war for war in Belgium. Since they dare to resist, then we cannot be blamed for taking extraordinary measures. The history of war does not blame the victors for all their actions! Schlieffen had a hint of fierceness in his eyes, and then said, "In this way, our right-wing cluster will also be able to ensure the logistical supply of troops under the city of Paris and capture it in one fell swoop." The war games of the General Staff have also confirmed the two points I have just said. ”

Schlieffen's words gradually softened, and he said, "The only tricky thing is the physical fitness of the soldiers. Maneuvering long distances with items weighing more than 60 pounds on their backs was not an easy task, and according to the current battle plan, by the time they arrived under Paris a month later, their remaining stamina would be difficult to fight at a normal intensity. However, the French will also lose their fighting spirit, and after a month of successive defeats and retreats, they will be like frightened hares in a pack of wolves, and they will no longer have the courage and conviction to fight us head-on. If we can do our best, we can conquer Paris in one fell swoop! As long as Paris is breached, then the will of the French army to resist will collapse, and the whole European continent will be dominated by our Germany; Compared to the huge benefits that come with success, this small risk is well worth taking. ”

Qing Ying looked at the extremely detailed battle map in front of her, her brows furrowed, and she was silent for a long time. Before the Battle of the Marne, the situation on the Western Front was exactly as Schlieffen put it: the Germans were advancing with great victory, while the French army was retreating like frightened birds, as if the situation had been determined. However, at the last moment, the French officers and soldiers, who had fled for hundreds of miles and were in constant fear, were able to regain the high morale of daring to attack to the death one month ago under the shout of Xia Fei's raised arms, and immediately turned back to charge and killed, and fought side by side with the British expeditionary force that came to reinforce them, and withstood the onslaught of the German army that was already at the end of the crossbow at the Marne. This incredible thing shocked even the top brass of the French army themselves. Although Qingying knows this history, how can he explain it to Schlieffen in front of him? This is simply an elusive thing that has no basis at all!

"Papapa......" There was a crisp applause in his ears, Qingying turned his head to look, but it was William who stretched out his shrunken left hand with gloves, and constantly collided with the sound right arm, and his face was full of joy and excitement. After careful study, the young and vigorous Wilhelm had already tasted the great pile of arrows, and expressed his heartfelt amazement at Schlieffen's extremely detailed battle plan. He let out a long breath and said, "My count, you have devised the perfect plan for Germany to dominate Europe. Even Marshal Blucher's exploits in bringing in reinforcements at the Battle of Waterloo cannot be compared. When the final victory comes, your name will be remembered by all the German people and sung from generation to generation! ”

Schlieffen smiled slightly, his smile was full of pride and pride! (To be continued......)