Chapter 473: The Clash between Nanhua and Prussia (3rd update, please subscribe)

Starting from September 28, small-scale encounters were continuously reported to the Palace of Versailles and the Prussian army's headquarters via telegrams and signalmen.

In this base camp, the staff officers are always analyzing this army from a foreign land.

After all, they are strangers.

"Their tactics were proactive and flexible."

"Their soldiers are extremely well trained."

…

Comments like these seem to indicate one reality—the South China Army is better than they imagined, but their weapons are even better.

As the Chief of the General Staff, Moltke had praised the French rifles before, but that was all. But now, when faced with the Type 70 rifles that had just been captured, he could not help but praise them.

"Oh my God, this must be a miracle!"

Picking up the rifle and feeling its smooth bolt, Moltke exclaimed in admiration.

"If I hadn't seen it in person, it would be hard to imagine that there is such a perfect rifle in the world, and its bullets..."

Picking up a yellow bullet from the table, Moltke said to Bismarck.

"The troops that encountered the South China Army all reported that this type of bullet produced no smoke or even flame when fired. This is a perfect weapon, but unfortunately it does not belong to us."

This kind of praise is from the heart, after all, they are still using poor paper shell bullets. This generation gap in weapons is simply unimaginable.

In fact, at the beginning, they didn't think highly of the Spencer rifle at all. Its range was too short and its power was too small. In a word, the Spencer rifle with a metal eggshell did not meet their needs.

But the Type 70 rifle that had just been seized had fundamentally overturned their perception of rifles. Even the most picky people had to admit that this was an extremely perfect weapon.

Bismarck simply nodded slightly in response to the Chief of Staff's praise.

"When the war is over, you will have everything a man wants, including this rifle, but now, is everything going as planned?"

In response to the prime minister's question, Moltke nodded.

"Yes, everything is going as planned, and now they are rushing towards Paris just as we planned."

The corners of Moltke's lips curled up slightly, and his beard trembled slightly.

"If nothing unexpected happens, we can implement the plan tomorrow. Our Fourth Army has already begun to march towards Rouen. We will force them to move to the south bank of the Seine through a fierce attack on their flanks. Then we will cut off their retreat and complete their encirclement."

The plan is always perfect, but what is the biggest flaw of this plan?

It's in the air!

In all of Moltke's plans, he had not considered one point - when the Fourth Army began to move, their actions were exposed. No matter in what era, the actions of tens of thousands of troops could not be hidden, and there were many French people who actively provided intelligence to the South China Army.

"The Prussians are surrounding the point and attacking the reinforcements!"

After receiving intelligence gathered from various directions, Zhu Xianhai sneered.

"It's just like the Battle of Sedan. This battle fully embodies the Prussian army's combat ideas of flank attack and outflanking. They are doing the same to us now. Paris, like Bazaine in Metz, is a link that we must save. He has laid a bait there, waiting for us to plunge in. As long as we plunge in, they can mobilize superior troops, attack from the flank, force us to retreat to the south, and then repeat the success of Sedan..."

No need to think, everyone knows what the Prussians are thinking. That is, after this war, frontal attack and wing detour became an old tradition of the Germans.

From World War I to World War II, the Germans used this tried and true tactic time and time again.

Moreover, as a good student of the Prussian army in East Asia, Japan is also good at using this tactic.

Holding a cigar between his fingers, Zhu Xianhai looked back at Wang Dewen and asked.

"Dewen, now that the Germans have taken action, how are you going to respond?"

"It couldn't be simpler. Let's take advantage of their trick!"

Wang Dewen answered directly.

"Moltke's plan may be perfect, but what is its biggest mistake?"

“We are not French!”

Zhu Xianhai smiled with the corners of his lips raised.

"So he made a wrong calculation from the very beginning!"

Staring at the battlefield situation map, Zhu Xianhai punched hard and said to the Fourth Legion.

"Let's defeat the Fourth Legion first!"

Looking up, Zhu Xianhai smiled.

"Perhaps the Prussian staff and officers are excellent, and the plans they formulated are also very good, but this time we have to teach them a truth, which is... force can defeat skill!"

What does it mean that one force can defeat ten skills?

To put it bluntly, no matter how many tactics and tricks you use, I can only say one thing - we can defeat you with strength.

…

Although it was late at night, Clement and his comrades continued to advance southwest. Although marching at night was uncomfortable, no one said anything.

Occasionally, Clement would look into the distance, where he could vaguely see the lights on the artillery carriages. In the darkness, that little bit of light flickered in the wilderness like a firefly.

When passing through a small French town, although the town seemed very quiet, Clement could still feel that someone was watching them.

It's French!

The French were watching them.

"The French will definitely tell the South China Army about our whereabouts!"

"That's for sure, but what would happen even if we told the South China Army?"

It is very difficult to conceal the whereabouts of a legion of nearly 100,000 troops. However, this army is different from any previous army. They hide during the day and move at night. They only march at night. As soon as the sun comes out, they will quickly hide in the woods.

Why did they hide in the woods?

"airship!"

Standing in the empty manor, Field Marshal Count Helmuth von Moltke, commander of the Fourth Army, looked up at the sky from the window and said to the generals around him.

"Whether we like it or not, we must adapt to this new mode of warfare. If we march during the day, we will most likely expose our target and become a target for airships. According to the intelligence we have received, the Argentine army was bombed many times when it was gathering at the front line. We must get used to marching at night!"

When saying this, Count Moltke's tone was full of helplessness. Under his command, the Prussian troops kept approaching the flanks of the South Chinese, but they could only march at night. Only in this way could they avoid their airships.

"Sir, if nothing unexpected happens, we will encounter the South China Army tomorrow morning, or even tonight."

Count Moltke, who had been staring at the sky, looked up and muttered to himself.

"Tonight or tomorrow... maybe it will be faster!"

Just as Count Moltke had guessed, just two hours later, the Prussian reconnaissance cavalry encountered Nanhua's cavalry, and the battle between them fired the first shot of this battle.

(End of this chapter)