Conquer Europe from the West

Chapter 77: Visitors from the General Staff
"You should know what you mean, right?"

"Rebuilding a vast empire comparable to the Holy Roman Empire is no simple task."

There was some hesitation in Hellingen's voice, which made his words sound less oppressive.

But Ryan was ready.

He took half a step back, without lowering his head, but simply lowered his gaze, maintaining a standing position, and looked at Heilingen.

"I know very well, Commander."

Lane began to address Hellingen by his position rather than his rank. In Hellingen's eyes, this immediately changed the conversation from one officer to another to a conversation that only took place within the command level of the Seventh Army.

Heilingen subconsciously adjusted his sitting posture, straightened his back and looked at the young man in front of him who was a dozen years younger than his daughter.

He had a premonition that once Ryan's next words were spread, it would inevitably cause excessive attention to everyone, including Ryan and himself.

"It's going to be a big fight."

Ryan finally spoke.

"This will be a war that will completely affect the entire world, a war that will completely change the world order."

"It is estimated that the number of participants will be one-third of the total population of all European countries, and the actual death toll may exceed 20 million..."

"If the Empire fails to gain the upper hand before it is completely enmeshed in this situation and all the countries on the continent are fully mobilized, then we will only face an outcome that no one wants to see."

"Defeated..."

This word came out from between Schubert's teeth.

"No," Hellingen corrected him. "It means destroying the country."

"Our enemies will completely dismantle the empire's borders, dividing it into ten, or even dozens of different small countries, or even their provinces."

Ryan didn't say anything. He retracted his gaze and looked at the road and grass outside through the glass window not far in front of him.

He has already played most of the cards he can play at present.

Whether it is the analysis of the future situation of the war or the analysis and prediction of future battlefield troop tactics and battlefield situation, it has reached the limit of the current imperial industrial capacity and population mobilization capacity.

The empire does not have the Soviet Union's ability to build a large military force during World War II, nor does it have the industrial capacity of the United States during World War II. What it can rely on now are only the 50 million local citizens who have received six years of compulsory education and the industrial and technological environment that is still developing rapidly.

Therefore, Ryan cannot play too radical a card.

He must choose a trump card that can be tested on a small scale, can quickly produce results, and can be quickly rolled out after success.

Plans such as immediately mass-producing tanks and advanced low-wing fighter jets are an extremely waste of time.

But the empire can waste anything except time.

The air in the office began to get colder and colder. Ryan could even feel his body temperature gradually disappearing. The skin on his fingertips, muscles, and even bones were all experiencing waves of tingling pain.

The same is true of Heringen and Schubert.

The two generals kept looking at each other, then looking away. The tips of their beards trembled slightly, as if they were talking to themselves, but also seemed to want to talk to someone else.

The sounds of the clock's hands becoming increasingly clearer, and finally, when the full hour rang out, the gloomy atmosphere that enveloped the entire office completely dissipated.

"Tomorrow, the General Staff will take an airship to Stuttgart. They are supposed to be inspecting the front."

Helingen lit a cigarette, a hazy puff of smoke rising from the corner of his mouth. "Captain, you should have brought your dress uniform, right?"

"If it's for military use..." "Let one of my tailors do it."

Schubert immediately understood what Hellingen meant. He said, "Lieutenant General Draven of the General Staff is not easy to deal with."

"Then do as you say."

Hellingen nodded and pressed a button next to his desk.

A crisp bell rang, accompanied by hurried footsteps. The side door was pushed open, and the female secretary from before appeared in the corner of the room: "Father, you called me?"

Hellingen pointed at Ryan and said, "Take Captain Flig to the hotel and get settled. He must be exhausted after coming back from the front."

"Oh, and also, arrange for his adjutant, a girl named Brinkman, as I remember. The rest of the people can be arranged in the officers' quarters."

"I see."

The woman immediately came forward, and she skillfully helped Ryan pack up the documents on the table, snatched Ryan's briefcase, and prepared to take Ryan away.

But Ryan was already scared to death by the word "father" she said.

How could he dare ask the daughter of the army commander to help him carry his bag? He quickly pushed her away, saying, "It's okay, ma'am. I can do it myself. I can do it myself."

The woman was used to Ryan's behavior. As soon as she released the force in her hand, the bag returned to Ryan's hand.

Seeing this, Ryan immediately saluted Schubert and Hellingen again, then hurried to catch up with the woman who had already left the door, his heart full of fear.

Damn, why would anyone bring their daughter to the battlefield to be a secretary?

"Is it weird?"

The woman saw through Ryan's thoughts almost immediately: "My husband died of cancer last year, and my child also joined the army, so he has been in the army ever since."

"I see." Ryan nodded.

"You're quite interesting." The woman slowed down her pace and looked at Ryan: "You didn't even apologize like the others did."

Ryan: "I think that for someone who has already accepted the reality of the situation, an apology is actually a slight to the other person."

The woman turned her head, her high heels clicking on the marble floor, the sound like horse hooves. "Interesting statement. No wonder Uncle Schubert likes you so much."

"The General is a straightforward man. He was just too excited that time."

"But he's never wrong about people, is he?"

"It is just as you said."

Ryan sensed a heat wave coming from the gate. Several newly arrived officers, including lieutenants and colonels, were queuing at the source of the heat wave. They were stunned when they saw Ryan, but immediately saluted when they noticed the blue medal hanging on his collar.

Ryan instinctively raised his hand to return the greeting, but then he saw that the anti-aircraft gun crew had straightened their instruments and were standing in line on the path beside the garden.

"Captain Ryan Fleagle!"

The squad leader of the anti-aircraft artillery squad, the second lieutenant, ran over the moment he saw Ryan and immediately saluted him.

"What are you doing?" Ryan was very confused.

Then he heard the other person's voice: "I'm sorry, Captain Flig, we didn't recognize you before. It wasn't until just now that we realized it was you."

"You are a hero of the Empire. Please allow us to pay you our highest respects!"

(End of this chapter)