Trench Bolts and Magic

Chapter 256 Chief of Staff Seeker's Support

General Mackensen's orders were quickly relayed.

Before long, the core staff team of the First Army Group Command hurriedly gathered in General Mackensen's command tent.

Leading the group was Lieutenant General Seekert, the Chief of Staff of the First Army.

He was a lean, sharp-eyed middle-aged general, renowned within the Saxon army for his exceptional organizational skills and profound tactical thinking.

When Seeker and his staff entered the tent and saw Morin standing in front of the map, a hint of surprise appeared on their faces.

They were already very familiar with the name Friedrich Molin.

This young captain and his mysterious training assault battalion have accomplished too many miracles in the short time since the start of the war.

But this is the first time that such a high-level emergency meeting has been convened with a battalion-level officer as the main figure.

"General."

Seeker saluted Mackensen, then turned his gaze to Morin, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Secker, everyone, come here."

General Mackensen didn't waste any words and pointed directly to the map, saying:

"I've urgently summoned everyone here to discuss a new battle plan—a plan that might allow us to break through the Kree defenses in one fell swoop."

He glanced at Morin, indicating that he could begin.

Morin took a deep breath. He knew that what was about to happen was likely the most important 'report' he had ever faced since his transmigration.

Whether his ideas would be accepted by the imperial elites who held the power to decide the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the First Army depended on this one move.

Without the slightest stage fright, he clearly and logically reiterated what he had just told Mackensen and Leonia about 'slow-moving barrage' and 'assault group tactics' in front of everyone.

From concentrated artillery fire for precision strikes, to innovative infantry-artillery coordination, to using elite assault teams as spearheads to break through defenses, and finally to the rapid follow-up and deep penetration of subsequent troops.
Every word Morin spoke was full of power and confidence, echoing clearly in the ears of everyone in the tent.

The tent was completely silent throughout the entire presentation.

All the staff, including General Seeker, listened intently.

Their gazes followed Morin's finger as it moved across the map, their expressions shifting from initial surprise to solemnity, and finally to awe.

When Maureen finished speaking the last word and put down his pencil, a long silence fell over the entire tent.

The staff officers looked at each other, digesting the revolutionary tactical ideas they had just heard.

"That's too daring."

An officer in charge of artillery coordination spoke first:
"Concentrating most of the army group's heavy artillery on a two-kilometer front creates an unprecedented firepower density. But can our artillery really achieve such precise fire coverage and extension?"

"What if the shells deviate from their intended trajectory and accidentally injure our own assault troops? The consequences would be dire."

His concerns are valid, as this is a major weakness in the Saxon Army's current infantry-artillery coordination.

"Also, it's too dangerous to have the infantry charge while the artillery fire is extending!"

Another operations staff officer also raised questions.

"Soldiers will have a great fear of the artillery fire that is within arm's reach, which will affect their morale and the speed of their charge."

"The most critical issue is that we are deploying a large force on such a narrow front. If the breakthrough fails, our troops will be crammed together in the confined area, making them perfect targets for the Gauls' artillery fire. The casualties at that time will probably be even more severe than they are now!"

As soon as someone spoke up, doubts arose from all sides.

These experienced staff officers, from their respective professional perspectives, pointed out the enormous risks inherent in this tactic.

General Mackensen and Leonia listened quietly without saying a word.

They were also waiting, waiting for Morin to respond to these sharp questions, and also waiting for another person—the army group chief of staff, Seeckt—to make a statement.

Just as the atmosphere in the tent became somewhat tense, Morin spoke calmly:
"I and the training assault battalion will be the first to leap out of the trenches, and the follow-up troops will just follow in our footsteps and launch an attack on the enemy's positions."

“I will not be afraid, and I will teach the soldiers of the assault battalion not to be afraid either.”

"Or rather, we no longer have the opportunity to be afraid."

"This will be our final offensive."

The staff officers in the tent were momentarily at a loss for words, for they were well aware of the predicament facing the First Army.

Moreover, when the very person who proposed the battle plan is about to lead the charge from the front lines, they seem to have no right to question matters related to courage.
Just as the staff officers were exchanging glances, General Seeker, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

"Everyone."

The chief of staff walked up to the map and carefully examined the tactical markings drawn by Morin, a strange light gleaming in his eyes.

"The risks you mentioned all exist. However, as Captain Morin said..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming unusually firm.

Do we have any other options now?

Seeker looked around at his subordinates and then said:

"Can we break through Kree using the current method? Yes! But how long will it take? A week? Two weeks?"

"How many casualties will we need to suffer? Twenty thousand? Or thirty thousand?" "Even if we pay such a high price and capture Crey, will we still have the strength to attack Paris?"

A series of questions silenced the staff officers who had been questioning them.

Seeker turned his gaze to Morin, his eyes filled with admiration and approval.

"In fact, I've been thinking about ways to break the deadlock lately. Many of my ideas coincide with those of Captain Morin."

"However, while I was still conceiving a vague outline, he had already integrated these ideas into a complete tactic that was logically rigorous and highly operable!"

He slammed his hand on the table, making a loud bang.

"I support Captain Morin's 'assault group tactics'! I believe it's our only and best option right now!"

The army group chief of staff's statement acted as a reassurance, instantly changing the winds in the tent.

As the 'brain' of the First Army Group, his opinion carried immense weight.

With his support, General Mackensen's last shred of hesitation vanished.

He straightened up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, and delivered his final decision in an unquestionable tone.

"I have decided to adopt Captain Morin's suggestion and concentrate the entire army group's strength to launch a decisive offensive!"

"Secker!"

"Yes, General!"

"From this moment forward, you will personally take charge, leading the staff of the operations department, and immediately begin to refine the operational plan, focusing on the core concept of 'assault group tactics'!"

"Yes, General!" Seekers snapped to attention and saluted, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

After the impromptu meeting, the staff officers, led by Seekert, immediately threw themselves into the intense and exciting work of formulating plans.

The entire command center was like a war machine injected with new vitality, and began to operate at high speed.

Morin was left behind by Mackensen.

Friedrich

General Mackensen called out Morin's name, his eyes filled with a complex mix of relief and emotion.

"You've impressed me once again."

"General, you flatter me."

"This is not an overstatement."

Mackensen shook his head: "I just never expected that the kid I brought back from those decadent places in the capital would actually grow up to where he is today."

"Perhaps Captain Morin is a born soldier."

Leonia suddenly smiled and said:
"Captain Morin, I appreciate what you just said. Like all of us Teutonic Knights, 'fear' has never been in our vocabulary."

After the three exchanged a few more words, General Mackensen told Morin to go back and rest, and prepare for the upcoming battle.

Morin bid farewell to Mackensen and Leonia and walked out of the command tent.

The liaison officer who had just gone to the front lines to pick him up ran over at just the right moment and then led Morin into the car.

Late that night, an order from the army group command was sent to all attacking units at the front, as well as the temporary camp of the training assault battalion.

The command is very simple:
From this moment forward, the First Training Assault Battalion of the Imperial Guard will be dispersed into various infantry regiments that will be involved in the main attack, in units of companies and platoons.

They were responsible for providing 48 hours of temporary tactical training and joint drills to the elite commandos they selected.

As Morin looked at the order, he knew that an unprecedented storm was about to gather over Kree.

The training commando battalion will be at the center of this storm.

The next morning, before dawn, the Saxon positions on the Krei front became unusually busy.

It was no longer the deathly silence and tension before a charge, but a well-organized, slightly excited commotion.

According to the orders of the army group command, all infantry regiments that will serve as the first wave of assault forces in this 'decisive offensive' have selected the most elite and courageous soldiers from their respective units.

Most of these people were experienced veterans, or sergeants and privates who had performed well in previous battles.

They were temporarily organized into assault companies and assault platoons, and then taken to designated assembly points.

What awaited them were the 'instructors' from the First Training Assault Battalion of the Imperial Guard.

Morin completely broke up his training assault battalion, which was led by officers or experienced sergeants and assigned to one or two friendly assault units.

Private Eric was one of the 'elite' selected by the 42nd Infantry Regiment.

Yesterday's hellish charge and retreat left him almost exhausted, but once he successfully returned to the trenches, he had become an elite soldier of the 42nd Infantry Regiment.

When Eric was told by his superiors that he would be joining the first wave of attacking troops of the entire army group, his mind went blank, and he felt that he might be about to die.

However, he then learned that he had also been selected to participate in a training program personally instructed by the legendary training commando battalion.
Thinking about the skill and prowess shown by the soldiers of the assault battalion during yesterday's battle, Eric felt a renewed hope of survival.

Soon, he and the other selected soldiers left the front-line trenches and arrived at the assembly area further back.

(End of this chapter)