I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 940: Maybe It’s Worth a Try

Searching the forest is a thankless and arduous task.

The German Army’s fighting will is tenacious; despite being scorched by the fire, the Germans hiding in the fortifications may still survive.

The English and US armies, not skilled in jungle warfare, may encounter various "accidents" as they engage in battle within the forest.

Shire assigns such tasks to the English and US troops not only as a means of protection but also as a way to establish prestige.

The representatives of the "International Alliance" are almost constantly watching this battle.

In their view, if the English and US Allies merely assist the French Army led by Shire and suffer heavy casualties, the outcome is self-evident.

No matter how much the English and US troops sacrifice or strive, they will ultimately be looked down upon, while the French Army will be exalted.

"The forest has already been burned by Shire, and there are hardly any Germans left capable of breathing."

"Yet the English and US Allies still struggle so much; what does this say?"

"If the French Army were doing this, it surely wouldn’t be the same result; they would easily annihilate those Germans!"

The hardship is known only to the English and US troops, but they have nowhere to voice it because everyone has already made up their mind.

...

Shire’s First Armored Army, under the protection of the English and US troops, makes a grand entrance into the "Centipede Corridor."

On both sides of the road are soldiers of the English and US troops, with incessant and dense gunfire in the forest.

From time to time, more English and US soldiers are sent in, only to be carried out later as a line of wounded.

French soldiers driving tanks and cars look down from above, gazing at it all with a jocular expression, feeling a vague sense of pride and superiority.

...

At ten-thirty in the morning, sunlight shines into the trenches at the Saarbrücken front line.

This area has been cultivated by Germany into a "death zone"; to avoid obstructing visibility, the trees have been cut down, leaving an expanse of emptiness.

But it harbors hidden dangers: the 30-kilometer frontage is laced with landmines; even the German Army itself wouldn’t dare to walk into this "landmine graveyard" without a map, or else they’d swiftly be blown to pieces.

Major General Bernhard is still uneasy, which can be seen in the fearful eyes of his staff, couriers, and even guards.

If the command is in such a state, the soldiers stationed at the front are even more so.

Major General Bernhard feels the need to reassure the soldiers, so he takes some guards along and walks out of the command post, through the communication trenches, to the front trenches.

"How’s everything?" Major General Bernhard feigns calmness as he greets the soldiers, "Everything alright?"

"Everything’s fine, General," the soldiers reply.

Major General Bernhard nods approvingly, puffing out his chest and moving forward, fastening a discipline button for a wounded soldier and patting his shoulder for encouragement.

"Nothing to worry about," Major General Bernhard says as he turns back on a trench step to the soldiers:

"This is the largest minefield in history, with hundreds of cannons behind us."

"Furthermore, we have tanks on both flanks as a mobile force."

"No one will pass through such defenses; we’ve rehearsed countless times, and the result is always the same, the enemy will be blasted into the sky here!"

A timid voice pipes up from below, "But that’s Shire."

Someone adds, "Yes, Shire has never been defeated!"

"I know, soldiers," Major General Bernhard replies, "But this time will be different, I assure you."

Then he raises his hand and waves it backward:

"If anyone knows a way through this minefield, tell me."

"Shire’s tanks can’t possibly grow wings and fly over, can they?"

The soldiers laugh, the tense atmosphere seems to lighten somewhat.

They are veterans and know Major General Bernhard is right; such defense is a quagmire for tanks.

There seems to be only one way to get through: to clear the path with artillery.

However, even if the French Army can bring so many shells, the German Army has countermeasures: they’ve stored many landmines in the trenches, and in intervals of battle, soldiers sneak in replacements for mines.

"Woo!"

Just as Major General Bernhard intends to say more, a French fighter jet sweeps over at low altitude, kicking up dust that falls onto the Major General’s cap.

The Major General takes off his cap, dusts it off, and puts it back on, casting his gaze towards the lookout soldier a few meters away.

French aircraft conducting low-level reconnaissance often means their ground forces are imminent.

Sure enough, soon after, the lookout soldier yells in alarm, "They’re coming, Shire’s troops!"

The Major General takes up his binoculars and peers out, the tanks appear in the lenses; unmistakably "Shire B2," the globally renowned First Armored Army, considered the world’s strongest fighting force.

He puts down the binoculars and orders his soldiers behind him in a deep voice, "Prepare for battle!"

The soldiers respond, each grabbing their weapons and taking positions.

Rifles are set up on the trench edges, their muzzle holes ominously pointed at the no man’s land between them and the enemy, waiting for the enemy to approach.

The assistant machine gunner loads the Maxim’s bullet chain, the gunner uses a small hammer for final checks.

The artilleryman in the cover grips the anti-tank gun, ready to push it out and fire upon orders.

The courier shouts into the phone, contacting the rear artillery to prepare for the upcoming battle.

...

Major General Bernhard does not return to his command post.

The combat operation has been rehearsed many times, even without the command, preparations proceed according to plan.

He raises the binoculars again to observe Shire’s tank formation.

Major General Bernhard is somewhat curious: What method will Shire employ to attack the minefield?

...

Freeman United Command Post.

"Our timing upon arriving in Saarbrücken seems not quite right," Pershing remarks, receiving the telegram with some disappointment, "There wasn’t any German obstruction en route."

The original plan was for the First Armored Army to advance in battle, reaching outside Saarbrücken city by dusk.

Thus, the First Armored Army could retreat under the cover of dark and transfer to Strasbourg; Pershing even arranged the trains for transporting the First Armored Army.

Overnight, the First Armored Army could swap with the Third Armored Army, already on standby in Strasbourg.

"That’s okay," Shire responds casually, "Since we’ve arrived and have the time, maybe we can have a go."

"Have a go?" Pershing looks at Shire in astonishment; this was not part of the original plan, how can war be treated so lightly?

"Yes, have a go," Shire pretends not to see Pershing’s expression, "If we can break through the German defense and seize Saarbrücken, there’s no need for the redundant target change."

Haig bursts into laughter, rocking back and forth in a chair.

He specifically instructed the staff to buy it; he believes it highlights his status: neither Shire nor Pershing has a rocking chair.

"Then let’s have a go!" Haig says with a gloating smile on his face; anyway, it is Shire’s First Armored Army that will take losses, which isn’t bad.

Suddenly Pershing realizes and exclaims, "You, you had planned to do this all along, didn’t you?"