Chapter 469: Moltke Wants a Single Challenge (Second Update, Please Subscribe)

On September 20, Paris, the capital of France, was surrounded by 100,000 Prussian troops.

Yesterday, the Prussian army arrived in the city and began to besiege it. Although Marshal McMahon, who retreated to Paris, organized the city defense and mobilized soldiers at the emperor's instruction, it is still unknown how long the city can hold out in such a hurry.

The Prussian army that arrived in Paris did not even have time to rest, but launched an attack on Paris the next morning. In just a few hours, the North German coalition poured more than 100,000 artillery shells into Paris. Although the intensity of the artillery fire was not as strong as that in Sedan, it was still one of the largest artillery bombardments in history.

“Quick, quick…”

At several artillery positions outside Paris, the Prussians camouflaged Krupp steel cannons with branches, fishing nets and other objects. The artillery positions were even deployed directly in the woods to avoid exposing the positions. It must be said that the Prussians reacted extremely quickly. After Sedan suffered an air raid, they immediately made targeted adjustments, among which the camouflage of the troops became the top priority. After all, they were really scared of being bombed.

It even caused psychological trauma. After the Battle of Sedan, it took the Prussian army almost two days to resume its offensive - this was because they received intelligence.

The airship is useless!

At Sedan they had used up all their bombs, shells, and even fuel.

Therefore, we must seize the time and capture Paris before they replenish their supplies!

Hundreds of Krupp cannons were hidden in the woods around Paris. These Krupp cannons all used steel rifled barrels and were breech-loaded. In the hands of experienced and well-trained artillerymen, they could even fire at a maximum rate of 10 rounds per minute. In terms of range, the effective range of Krupp cannons could reach 3,500 meters.

The German soldiers operating Krupp's breech-loading steel cannons were not worried about the French cannons at all - the range of the French bronze muzzle-loading cannons was only about 2,500 meters.

For a whole day and night, the woods outside the city were shrouded in thick smoke, and artillery shells fell like raindrops on the French fortifications and strongholds inside and outside Paris. After the preparation of the Chassepeau rifle four years ago, this advanced rifle also changed the French tactics: French soldiers were required to learn to dig trenches with shovels within 30 minutes, and use their advanced rifles and secret weapon machine guns to mow down the Prussians in the trenches.

After the Prussians had tested the superiority of the French Chassepeau rifles with their own bodies, they immediately withdrew their troops beyond the range of the French infantry and used the superior steel Krupp cannons to attack the French. Therefore, the Prussians could not defeat the Prussians with their rifle advantage alone. Instead, the Prussians relied on their artillery and manpower advantages to outflank the French and easily defeated them again and again.

"Target……"

On this huge artillery position, officers holding binoculars were constantly adjusting their targets, using accurate artillery fire to blow the French positions into the sky again and again.

Under accurate and fierce artillery fire, the defensive fortresses and fortifications outside Paris had been reduced to ruins. The destroyed positions were littered with dead soldiers and flames shot straight into the sky.

But even so, every time the Prussian army launched an attack, they were still faced with fierce rifle fire from the French. They attacked again and again, but were repelled again and again by stubborn resistance.

The battle situation on the front was quickly sent via telegram to the Palace of Versailles, located in the southwest suburbs of Paris. This was the headquarters of the Prussian army and the residence of King William I of Prussia. According to the Prussian system, the king must be with his army headquarters during wartime. This was the king's obligation as the commander-in-chief of the three armed forces and a Prussian monarch who was not a figurehead. After all, in the unpredictable wartime, the issuance of various orders from the General Staff was inseparable from the king's opinions and decisions.

When the Battle of Sedan was frustrated, William I, Bismarck and Moltke the Elder were all supervising the battle at the front line. After the army suffered heavy losses in the air raid, it was with his support that Moltke finally decided to let the Prussian army march straight into the heart of France and quickly surrounded Paris.

William I's headquarters was moved to the outskirts of Paris along with the main army.

"Your Majesty, the Nanhua army is coming!"

This news is not sudden. After all, newspapers all over Europe have been reporting this news in the past half month, which is definitely not good news.

"Where's their airship?"

William I was more concerned about their airships. After all, their airships had brought a disaster to Prussia at Sedan.

Even now he could still remember the tragic scene after the bombing. If it weren't for Nanhua's airship, perhaps they would have won the victory in Sedan.

Even the Emperor of France might become his prisoner, and the war would be over.

But the emergence of airships changed everything. Not only did the war continue indefinitely, but more importantly, in every battle now, they had to consider the threat posed by airships.

"Did they fly to Le Havre to join us?"

William I breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that there was no unusual movement of the airship in Orleans.

"At least we don't have to worry about their airships now."

"Yes, Your Majesty. As long as their airships don't get fuel and bombs, we can defeat them on the battlefield, or at least stop them from rescuing Paris. According to our intelligence, the army they sent should be around 35,000. It is impossible to rescue Paris with just this army."

As the Chief of the General Staff, Moltke is still extremely conceited. This should be self-confidence! It is the confidence in the combat effectiveness of the Prussian Army. Perhaps, Nanhua's airship is very powerful, but God can testify that it is because the Prussian soldiers have no wings. If God gave them wings, they would definitely not be afraid of that airship.

Even deep down in their hearts, many Prussian soldiers, including Moltke, had an obsession - they hoped to have a fair fight with the South China Army. Of course, not in the air, nor on the sea... Well, on the sea, although the Prussian navy could not catch up with the French, it was certainly not worse than the South China Army.

Let's fight an honest battle on the ground!

September 2nd.

Sedan... is a disgrace to the Prussian army!

Since the rise of Prussia, it has never suffered such a loss. Now that the South China Army has finally arrived, let us fight a fair battle.

For a moment, Moltke even thought about whether he should write a letter of challenge, telling the other party clearly that we will fight alone, but without the airship!

"Are you sure that their airships won't be deployed in the battlefield in the short term?"

"Sire, the railway from Le Havre to Orleans has been cut off by us, unless they ..."

Suddenly, Moltke realized the problem.

The South China Army can indeed fly. South China's airships can fly! Their airships may fly through the sky at any time, fly over their blockade, and then get supplies. Then their airships will appear on the battlefield again...

Then what will be waiting for them?

It will definitely be a disaster!

I have set up a book club: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.

(End of this chapter)