I was a tycoon in World War I: Starting to save France

Chapter 944: Perhaps we can give it a try.

Searching the forest is a thankless and arduous task.

The German troops were tenacious in their fighting spirit; despite being burned by fire, the German soldiers hiding in their fortifications might still have survived.

British and American troops, who are not skilled in jungle warfare, may encounter various "unexpected" situations when they venture deep into the jungle to fight.

Charles's assignment of such a task to the British and American forces was not merely a matter of protecting his own, but also a way of establishing his authority.

Representatives of the League of Nations were closely following the battle.

In their view, if the Anglo-American allied forces were only fit to serve as lackeys for the French army led by Charles, and suffered heavy casualties, the outcome was self-evident.

No matter how much sacrifice the British and American troops made or how much effort they put in, they would still be looked down upon in the end, while the French army would be elevated to a pedestal.

"The forest has been burned by the Charles, and there are hardly any Germans left who can breathe."

"But the Allied forces were still fighting so hard. What does that tell us?"

"If the French had done this, the result would have been very different; they would have easily wiped out those Germans!"

Only the British and American soldiers knew the hardships they endured, but they had nowhere to turn to for advice, because everyone had already accepted it.

……

Charles's First Armored Corps, under the protection of British and American troops, marched in with great fanfare into "Centipede Passage".

British and American soldiers were everywhere along both sides of the road, and gunfire was constant and intense in the forest.

British and American soldiers were brought in from time to time, and they carried out teams of wounded soldiers.

French soldiers, driving tanks and cars, looked down at the scene with mocking eyes, a strange sense of pride and superiority in their hearts.

……

At 10:30 a.m., sunlight shone into the trenches on the Saarbrücken front.

This area has been turned into a "death zone" by the Germans. To avoid obstructing the view, all the trees have been cut down, leaving the area completely empty.

However, it harbored hidden dangers: the front of more than 30 kilometers was covered with landmines. Even the German soldiers themselves dared not easily enter this "landmine graveyard" without a map, otherwise they would be blown to bits.

Commander Major General Bernhard was still uneasy, as were his staff, communications officer, and even his bodyguards, which could be seen from their terrified eyes.

If this is the situation at the command post, it is even more so for the soldiers stationed at the front lines.

Major General Bernhard felt it necessary to reassure the soldiers, so he took a few guards and walked out of the command post along the communication trench to the forward trench.

"How are things?" Major General Bernhard greeted the soldiers, trying to appear calm. "Is everything alright?"

"All is well, General," the soldier replied.

Major General Bernhard nodded approvingly, walked forward with his chest out, fastened the uniform button for a wounded soldier, and patted him on the shoulder in encouragement.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Major General Bernhard said to his soldiers, turning back from the stilts of the trench.

"This is the largest minefield in history, and there are hundreds of artillery pieces behind us."

"In addition, our tanks are also on both flanks as mobile forces."

"No one can get past this defense. We've done countless drills, and the result is always the same: the enemy will be blown to bits right here!"

A timid voice came from below: "But that's Charles."

Someone added, "Yes, Charles has never lost!"

“I know, soldiers,” Major General Bernhard replied, “but this time will be an exception, I assure you.”

Then he raised his hand and waved it behind him:
"If anyone knows how to get through this minefield, please tell me."

"The Shire's tanks can't just grow wings and fly over, can they?" The soldiers laughed, and the tense atmosphere seemed to ease a bit.

They were veterans and knew that Major General Bernhard was right; such defenses were a quagmire for tanks.

It seems there's only one way to get through: clear the way with artillery.

However, even if the French could bring in so many shells, the Germans had a way to deal with it: the Germans stored many landmines in the trenches, and the soldiers would fill in the landmines whenever there was a gap in the battle.

"Woo!"

Just as Major General Bernhard was about to say a few more words, a French warplane flew low overhead, and the gust of wind it generated swept a cloud of dust onto the major general's cap.

The major general took off his military cap, patted it off, and put it back on, turning his gaze to the lookout a few meters away.

French warplanes conducting low-altitude reconnaissance often means that their ground troops are about to arrive.

Sure enough, a moment later, the lookout cried out in terror, "They're here! They're here! The Charles's troops!"

The major general picked up the binoculars and peeked out. Tanks appeared in the binoculars' aperture. They were indeed the "Charles B2," the world-renowned First Armored Corps, arguably the world's most powerful fighting force.

He put away his binoculars and ordered the soldiers behind him in a deep voice: "Prepare for battle!"

The soldiers responded and each grabbed their weapons and took their positions.

Rifles were set up along the edge of the trenches, their dark muzzles pointing towards the no-man's-land between the enemy and friendly forces, waiting for the enemy to approach.

The assistant machine gunner loaded the Maxim with ammunition belts, while the machine gunner used a small hammer to perform a final check.

The gunner held the anti-tank gun in the bunker, ready to push it out and fire as soon as he received the order.

The communications soldier shouted into the phone, as they contacted the artillery in the rear to prepare for the upcoming battle.

……

Major General Bernhard did not return to his command post.

The battle has been rehearsed many times, and even without command, we can prepare in an orderly manner.

He raised his binoculars again and looked toward Charles's tank formation.

Major General Bernhard was somewhat curious: What methods would Charles have to attack the minefield?
……

Freeman Joint Command.

"Our timing in arriving in Saarbrücken seems rather inopportune," Pershing said with some regret upon receiving the telegram. "There were no German troops blocking our way."

The original plan was for the First Panzer Corps to advance during the battle and reach the outskirts of Saarbrücken before nightfall.

In this way, the First Panzer Corps could withdraw under cover of darkness and relocate to Strasbourg. Pershing had even arranged for trains to transport the First Panzer Corps.

Overnight, the First Panzer Corps could exchange places with the Third Panzer Corps, which was waiting in Strasbourg.

“It’s alright.” Charles said casually, “Since we’re already here and have time, perhaps we can give it a try.”

"Try fighting?" Pershing looked at Charles in surprise. This was not the original plan. How could war be treated so lightly?
“Yes, let’s give it a try.” Charles pretended not to understand Pershing’s expression: “If we can break through the German lines and capture Saarbrücken, we won’t need to go through the trouble of changing our target.”

Haig laughed and swayed back and forth in the rocking chair.

He had his staff buy it specifically, believing it would highlight his status: neither Charles nor Pershing had a rocking chair.

"Then let's see how it goes!" Hager said with a gloating smile. After all, it was Charles's First Armored Corps that suffered the loss, so there was nothing wrong with that.

At this moment, Pershing suddenly realized what was happening. He stared at Charles and exclaimed, "You, you originally planned to do this, didn't you?"

(End of this chapter)