I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 841: A Frightened Bird Startled by the Mere Twang of a Bow
The Reims City Hall doesn’t have explosives.
Shire wanted to do it, but that’s the City Hall, right in the city center.
Burying explosives under the eyes of the public would be meaningless, as the Germans would easily find out beforehand, rendering all efforts useless.
Not only would it waste precious explosives and time, it would also cause panic at the City Hall and among nearby residents, since nobody wants to live or work atop explosives.
However, this didn’t stop Shire from spreading the "fake news" that "there are explosives buried under the City Hall."
The benefit is making the Germans hastily move their command from the City Hall.
At least during this time, the Germans are blank on command, even in chaos.
Hutier doesn’t even know where to set up his command post.
School?
With classes suspended there and far from residential areas, it could easily be targeted for "precision elimination" by French bombers.
Residential area?
Too many people and prying eyes around, just hide a few gunmen or explosive bundles and they could blow the command to pieces.
Factory?
Similar to schools, unable to guarantee safety overhead.
Finally, Hutier chose a grocery store, characterized by being more than two hundred meters from a concentrated residential area, with a dozen homes scattered around.
Hutier thought this solved the problem, but then reports kept coming from the staff:
"General, someone said they saw the French Army burying explosives on Mount Saint Thierry."
"It’s said there’s some on Beihan Mountain too."
"And in the French barracks, not only are there explosives buried, but also barrels of gasoline!"
...
Hutier was instantly baffled.
These places are ones where the French Army left fortifications and installations, and since they could bury explosives on Mount Montbeh, they might do so elsewhere too.
But what can be done?
Have soldiers dig underground to verify?
In such large areas, who knows where the French might have buried explosives?
Moreover, whether they’re there is uncertain, how to verify!
Withdraw soldiers from positions?
That would mean practically abandoning all positions, including the two elevations to the east and west, the gateways of Reims.
Suddenly Hutier realized, this is what Shire wanted:
He hopes German Army soldiers will fall into fear.
He wants them to get goosebumps standing on any piece of land, wondering if there are explosives beneath their feet.
Then, unexpectedly, be blown sky high and torn into pieces, unable to find a single intact corpse.
Next, Shire’s troops could take Reims effortlessly.
Thinking this, Hutier loudly reprimanded the staff reporting in, completely losing his usual grace:
"There are no explosives, understand? None anywhere, these are rumors spread by French spies."
"If anyone else says something similar, shoot them immediately."
"Furthermore, order the troops to hold their positions, no matter the person or situation, not retreat even an inch!"
The staff turned pale with fright, hastily responding: "Yes, General."
However, Hutier’s order contained a paradox:
If there are no explosives, then how was Mount Montbeh blown up?
If there are no explosives, why did Hutier and his senior officers leave the City Hall?
Is it possible that it’s Hutier who’s truly spreading rumors, willing to risk all soldiers’ lives to hold the line?
In the "frightened like birds" state of the German Army soldiers, they clearly prefer to believe the latter.
Thus, deserters started appearing in the acclaimed "Tiger of the Empire," the 18th Army Group.
Those who didn’t run looked around anxiously, trying to spot any trace of explosives beneath their feet.
They didn’t realize that under this enormous threat, they’d already ignored the steadily advancing Shire’s troops getting closer and closer.
...
Erwin’s tank units have crossed the Seine River.
They’re preparing to attack Mezieres, as soon as the 17th Army Group arrives they’ll race towards the destination.
Erwin even dispatched engineers and infantry ahead to pave roads, ensuring the tank units reach the destination by tomorrow.
"We might encounter enemy resistance." Erwin pointed at the map speaking to Manstein: "Here, and here, are where the French Army has constructed new defenses."
Manstein replied: "I guess that’s Fuxu’s division."
"Yes." Erwin nodded: "So we don’t need to worry too much, he might even counterattack us."
Fuxu’s offensive tactics are already "widely known," even the Germans are aware.
The reason it’s said "might counterattack" is because Erwin knows Fuxu has recently changed under Shire’s influence.
"They’re not a real threat." Erwin is confident: "They don’t have tanks, haven’t had enough time to construct defenses, they’ll swiftly collapse under our offensive."
"The most troublesome should be the Meuse River." Manstein pointed on the map: "Mezieres is on the east bank of the Meuse River."
"Yes." Erwin smiled slightly: "So I brought ’pontoon bridges,’ they’re fantastic."
Manstein and Erwin exchanged smiles.
Shire surely wouldn’t expect what he invented, the "pontoon bridge," to be used by the German Army’s tank units, and in the battle to encircle Shire.
Does this count as Shire digging his own grave?
Suddenly, a series of fierce explosions made them turn around simultaneously.
The German soldiers building fortifications stopped their actions to look toward the sound’s direction, even the tank crew opened the hatches to look, thinking they were under artillery fire.
Black smoke rose from Mount Montbeh direction, soon covering half the sky, like clouds before a storm.
"What’s happening?" Erwin frowned.
He had an ominous feeling, could Shire have some new trick?
"Maybe, Shire is attacking." Manstein guessed: "Did they use large-caliber artillery? My God, this artillery might be bigger than the Paris Cannon!"
Yet neither believed it was artillery, but aside from artillery they could guess nothing else.
While they were puzzled, a rear radio trooper exclaims: "General, Mount Montbeh is lost, Shire buried explosives there, the earlier sound was him detonating the explosives!"
Both Erwin and Manstein suddenly looked grim, seeing shock in each other’s eyes.
Shire buried explosives in advance on the high ground?
This allowed him to immediately take the previously impassable Reims Valley...
Erwin turned his gaze to the map, then shook his head gravely: "It’s over, everything’s over!"
"No, we still have a chance." Manstein said: "As long as we hold Reims, wait for the 17th Army Group to arrive..."
"You don’t understand Shire, Colonel." Erwin interrupted Manstein: "If Shire sets traps, they’ll be in a series, he won’t give us any chance, understand?"
Manstein was dumbfounded: "You mean, he has arrangements in Reims too?"
"Of course!" Erwin nodded firmly, it’s just Hutier hasn’t realized yet.
