"How can we win this battle?"

On the east side of Elena, in the camp outside the Xinshan crossing, the Sixth Prince Eliot once again threw out a question that he had asked several times.

"Your Highness, it's better to fight for Lena than to be in a hurry."

Henry Crafflin, Grand Duke of the Golden Lion, who was standing in front of the Six Princes, gave his latest answer, "Now we and the Western Military Region are encircling Elena in both directions, which is a strategic advantage. Although Elena is easy to defend and difficult to attack, there was only one small town before, with a weak industrial base, insufficient population, and poor ability to sustain economic development. Although their trench tactics were solid in defense, and the steam machine gun of the Luoshan 1 type was also very lethal, whether it was a trench or a machine gun, it needed to be used by people to defend. We have now locked down Elena completely, and if we ensure that this plain is only accessible and not accessible, it will soon be difficult for Gastens due to lack of manpower, financial weakness, and lack of supplies. When the time comes, we don't even need to fight, we can make him surrender without a fight! ”

"This matter is not so easy", Vincent Navre, chief of the General Staff of the Guards, waited for the Grand Duke of the Golden Lion to finish speaking, and began to speak, "Ankenrein's current situation does not allow us to stay in the province of Enspen for too long, and the situation on the Eastern Front needs us. The battle on the Western Front also needed Skye Hamm's army. If we throw an army of more than 100,000 men at this tiny Elena, there may be problems on both the eastern and western fronts. ”

"The soldiers who were recruited before will soon be ready for use", Elliot lowered his head and threw out an update, "Moreover, my father is planning to recruit another 400,000 soldiers and expand the Guards system, and the shortage of manpower will soon be no longer a problem." ”

"400,000?" Henry Claflin, Grand Duke of the Golden Lion, frowned, "This is almost equivalent to a national mobilization." ”

"Not to that point," Elliot looked up, "counting the 600,000 people who were conscripted before, it was only 1 million, which is not an unbearable number compared to the population of our country. ”

"But it's already affecting the normal functioning of the economy," Vincent adds, "so even if there are new recruits, we can't take it lightly, because the country can't support an army of this size for long." ”

"The size of the army we can support depends not on us, but on the enemy", Eliot saw this very clearly, "If the current forces cannot hold the east and west fronts, we must recruit again, you all know this very well." ”

Vincent and Henry nodded at the same time. The survival of a country is more important than the country's economy, and when the time comes for the whole country to mobilize, naturally no one will mind the impact of the national mobilization on the economy.

"Your Highness, if that's the case......," Henry paused and gave a not new answer, "then it can only be an honest attack." Their lack of manpower is a hard wound, and as long as we kill more people, they will naturally not be able to persevere. ”

"Killing more means killing more ourselves", Vincent emphasized.

"There is no immortal in war", Elliot stood up and took two steps around the room, "I will definitely attack, and the strong attack is the most feasible and quick way for us to win at the moment." If we don't attack, but just consume, we may not be as good as the other side. ”

"And what about Skye Hamm? Do you want to inform them and launch an attack at the same time? Vincent raised his concerns.

"What do you think?" , Elliot throws the question back to Vincent.

"Tell them, and then each of them will fight their own, and whoever gets in first will divide the spoils first."

"It's a way, didn't you say that before?"

"If we do fight and it works, they'll know. And compared to Skye Hamm, time is on our side. No one can deny the legitimacy of His Majesty the Emperor. Conscription is easier for us than Paul Chung, dragging it out is not good for them. ”

The room was quiet again. After a while, Elliot made a decision.

Send someone to tell Skye Hamm, and continue to look for the trails in the surrounding mountains to see if there are any shortcuts that can get people in. Then, we still have to focus on how to attack, the double armor last time seems to work well, is it possible to get some more? ”

"The rear factory has been notified to speed up production, the process of simple plate armor is not complicated, and the double-layer armor can be supplied soon", Vincent, as the chief of the general staff of the three guards, still knows a lot about his own equipment supply.

"Where's the slow-motion rifle at the Weapons Research Institute?"

"It's still in trial production, and the news a week ago was about 500."

"Then we have to wait," Elliot touched the village, "and with two thousand, we can equip two regiments, with double armor, and a large force in the rear, and we can launch a deterrent attack." The specific timing of the attack must be coordinated with Skye Hamm. Although we don't have an advantage in terms of big time, I can still wait for a week or two. ”

Henry Claflin and Vincent nodded, though they sometimes disagreed with Prince Eliot. However, their task is to make recommendations and fill in the gaps after His Royal Highness has made a decision, so as to promote the implementation of the decision. So, now that Elliot has made a decision, no matter what the two of them thought before, there is only one purpose left.

Push this battle to achieve the desired or even better results.

However, just as Prince Eliot and his two core staff officers reached a concrete intention on the next step, a herald brought news that surprised all three.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, the latest news, the army of the Negru Republic has broken through the Lorraine-Rennes Line! The Western Theater has almost lost control of Tulucas, and the Republic of Negru may attack the Duchy of Rylin at any time! ”

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"How is this possible!"

Skye Hamten, who heard the news, stood up, and the herald kneeling in front of him touched his head to the ground in a sad tone, "My lord, this is true! The Republic of Negru has come up with more than forty improved steam cannons, which are extremely powerful! Our iron shield defense line will not be able to defend against such an attack by the enemy at all! The Lorraine-Rennes line was crushed almost instantly! The Fourth Legion was almost destroyed! Commander Zhong has already begun to set up a defensive line in the territory of the Principality of Lailin. The latest order from the commander, if you already get what you need, go back immediately!! ”

"Now? Go back immediately? Skye Hamm frowned, "If we go back now, our previous sacrifice will be wasted!" Do you know how many people died before us? ”

"General, these are the exact words of the commander!"

The soldier kneeling on the ground kowtowed vigorously, and his voice was terrible. Skye Hamm took a deep breath and calmed down. In front of him was only a herald, and whatever he said to the herald would not change Paul Chung's decision.

"I ...... I'll think again. ”

With a word, Skye Hamm fell silent. If we look at the purpose of waging the war alone, the western theater of operations that launched this Elena offensive campaign for the Brave Rifle has achieved its original purpose after obtaining the Luoshan 1 steam rifle. However, if you look at the possible gains, a Luoshan type is obviously not as good as Elena's arsenal with almost infinite possibilities. In particular, after the battle with Elena, Skye Hamm had a gut feeling that if they let Elena go this time, they would never have a chance to defeat Elena again.

There was silence in the empty command hall, and everyone was waiting for Skye Hamm's decision. The battle-hardened general, after five minutes of silence, gave his answer.

"Tell me to go down, and the class teacher will return to the camp tomorrow!"

——————————————

"This news is definitely good news that you can't imagine!"

At the daily meeting, Sink Warren, who was in charge of intelligence work, said with a happy face, "The Negro Republic has broken through the Lorraine-Rennes line, and the Western Theater will not be able to hold on." Skye Hamm has already ordered the withdrawal of troops tomorrow, and the pressure on our Western Front will soon disappear. ”

"But Elliot is still preparing for a big battle, isn't he?" , Ivan interjected, "There is no pressure on the Western Front, and Elliot will not let Skye Hamm leave." What will we do if he sends troops to take over the Western Front and form a direct total encirclement of us? ”

"By his four crippled divisions?" Calaiber Warren, who came out of the 22nd death squad at the earliest, did not fully agree with Ivan's concerns, "If he dares to divide his troops, we can unite with Berranchel and completely destroy his troops!" ”

"If he doesn't divide his troops, we can get a respite from the Western Front!" , Shinke Warren took over, "Either way, Elena's crisis seems to be resolved!" ”

"This matter still needs to be seen dialectically," Gastens interrupted the discussion, "although the breakthrough of the Negro Republic on the Lorraine-Rennes line has temporarily relieved the pressure on our Western Front. But if the Western Theater can't hold the Duchy of Rairin, we'll have to face the Neglo Republic head-on. It is not an opponent that can be equated with the Western Theater, and moreover, they must completely and completely surpass us in terms of industrial strength and national strength. When the time comes, our battle will be even more difficult to fight. ”

"That's ......"

Ivan muttered and fell silent. The problem pointed out by Gastens does exist, and everyone here is not stupid, so they naturally know what kind of predicament Elena will face if what Gastens predicted really happens. Because the joy generated by the news brought by Zink was extinguished by the gloomier future before it could be expanded, and the look on everyone's faces became heavy again.

"Oh, yes", as if remembering something, Zink began to add, "There is information that this time the Negru Republic has used a new type of weapon called the Steam Cannon, which is so powerful that it has broken through the iron shield breastwork defense, and the Western Theater is now in a position to use this weapon. ”

"Steam cannon?" , Gastens remembered that he had heard of something, "I have heard about this weapon, and not so long ago our Valiant rifles had a confrontation with this weapon, and judging by the results, the Western Military District, which used our rifles, won. But this time, it seems that Negro's side is more fully prepared. ”

"Steam cannons can be continuously improved," Gurakos, who was in charge of the factory, made a rare remark, "If they come up with more efficient steam cannons, it will be really difficult to resist by relying only on those Type 27 and Glory rifles of the Western Military District." ”

"What about us?" , Ivan cares more about himself than the enemy, "Boss, what kind of steam cannon is this, can you make it?" ”

"Didn't you ask me that question," Gastens smiled, "and although this weapon is powerful and difficult to produce, it is not impossible. However, in my opinion, the steam cannon is not the development path we want to choose, and the production will definitely be produced, but the priority should be placed behind the Luoshan 1, in terms of cost performance and mobility, the Luoshan 1 is better than the steam cannon, isn't it? ”

"That's right, with the Luoshan Type 1, no one can enter our barrage, even if it's a steam cannon?" Calaiber said loudly, both to echo Gastens and to cheer everyone up.

"Okay, the cannon matter will be discussed later, Gastens tapped the table gently, now that Skye Hamm is leaving, what do you think of Elena's next strategy?"

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The meeting on the next step lasted until late at night, and Gastens saw off his comrades. He fell asleep after a simple wash, but he did not expect to meet a completely unexpected person the next morning.

An emissary from the Western Theater of Operations, claiming to be Manny Casdire, Chief of Staff of the Third Army.

"Mr. Casdire?" , Hearing that someone came to report to his home, Gastens was a little surprised, "If I understand correctly, you, as the chief of staff of the corps of the Third Legion, at least with the rank of major general, came to me like this, aren't you afraid that I will arrest you and sacrifice the flag??" ”

"Fear of death does not lead to victory", Casdir was not afraid of Gastens's threat, "I have come here to discuss something with you. ”

"You say."

"We have encountered a very tricky weapon of the Neglo Republic on the Western Front, called a steam cannon", Manny Casdir said in a tone that was not impatient. If you don't know the inside story, no one will be able to believe that the big man behind him has been deprived of his prestige by this weapon of the Negru Republic, "You are an expert in weapons. Your prowess in weapons has also been recognized. If so, how do you fight this giant killing machine? ”

"If I'm not mistaken," Gastens had understood what the chief of staff meant, "do you want me, the enemy you were trying to kill yesterday, to provide you with weapons against your enemy?" ”

"It's not us," Casdir corrected sternly, "it's Anken Rein's enemy." If the Western Theater can't hold the Duchy of Ryrin, your Elena won't be able to escape. After all, we don't just know what level of weapons Elena Plains is. ”

"So, you're threatening me?" Gastens asked with interest, "This is not the attitude you should have. ”

"That's nature," Casdir nodded, and then looked directly at Gastens, "We just want to know if you have a solution to the problem, no matter what the cost!" ”