I was a tycoon in World War I: Starting to save France - Chapter 596

c588 Divide and conquer

On the road from Brussels to Gembloux, Lieutenant General Ives led the 3rd Cavalry Division of the British Expeditionary Force to move forward in the fog and snow.

At this time, the sky was just getting dark, and the white fish belly in the east was reflected in the heavy snow, which plunged the whole world into a cold and gloomy sky.

Lieutenant General Ives shivered uncontrollably and wrapped his cloak around his body. The night march for several hours made him cold and hungry, and he felt that he might fall off his horse at any time.

However, at the thought of being able to arrive soon and let Bleu incorporate the French 6th Army into his command system, Lieutenant General Ives once again cheered up and urged the horses.

It was a force of 200,000 men, Lieutenant General Ives thought, and a special artillery division, said to have more than 200 tanks and an unknown number of armored vehicles.

More importantly, those were Ciel’s troops.

Of course, it was only a charr force in name only, and soon it was no longer.

Lieutenant General Ives recalled in his mind Clemenceau’s description of the current situation of the 6th Army:

“Charles is competing with Major General Gamelin for command. The 6th Army is in chaos, and there are even signs of another mutiny.”

“In principle, the Antwerp defense line is under your command, Lieutenant General. We think it is necessary for you to let Blue go.”

“If you can resolve this crisis, we are willing to leave the 6th Army on the Antwerp defense line to cooperate with your army!”

…

This was a decision Brian made after careful consideration.

“Divide and rule” is a common method of management and rule by Western powers. If the target itself is constantly fighting and internally consumed, it will obviously be easier to rule.

Briand confidently said to Clemenceau:

“If the British can successfully take back command, they will weaken the charr’s strength and at the same time become a strong opponent of the charr.”

“If not, this can also intensify the conflict between the British and the Ciel, and at the same time we can find a way out.”

“No matter what the outcome is, it will only benefit us and give the British a favor.”

Clemenceau nodded in agreement and immediately made arrangements according to Briand’s wishes.

…

Lieutenant General Ives did not realize from the beginning to the end that this was a plan by the French Parliament to drive away the wolf. He thought it was because the French Parliament was forced by the Charles and had to ask for help from the British.

Lieutenant General Ives was secretly proud.

The 6th Army was in chaos and had no combat effectiveness. He was the commander-in-chief of the defense line and had command authority, and the British still had supplies. There was no reason why they couldn’t do it, right?

Lieutenant General Ives believes that the last point is the key. Materials are related to the life and death of France. The French army has to listen to the British Empire, otherwise it will only end up waiting to be defeated by the Germans.

Therefore, the 6th Army is only the starting point, not the end!

This can gain practical benefits and improve the reputation that the British army has lost before without a single blow. Why not do it?

“General.” A signal soldier rode up from the front and reported: “Five miles ahead is Jean Boulou.”

Lieutenant General Ives was overjoyed and ordered angrily: “Order the troops to speed up!”

“Speed ​​up!”

“Speed ​​up!”

…

The orders were passed down one after another, like a long cavalry team speeding up as if given a shot in the arm.

Lieutenant General Ives rode his horse up to a small mound on the roadside, raised his telescope and looked at the small town of Gembloux a few miles away under the pressure of wind and snow, and murmured to himself: “I’m here, Charles, you Are you ready for the challenge?”

…

In the small town of Jeanboulou, the British 3rd Cavalry Division moved along the road. Their destination was the French military camp and defense line east of the town.

In order to show that he took the lead, Lieutenant General Ives led the guard company at the front of the team.

However, the further I went, the more something felt wrong.

There are trench fortifications everywhere on both sides of the road. Judging from the military uniforms, they are Belgian troops, but they do not look like Belgian militia.

Their fortifications were built in an orderly manner: barbed wire, machine gun forts, and even the houses in the town had perforations drilled out and transformed into bunkers.

Their equipment is very complete: Maxim heavy machine guns, mortars, “Saint-Etienne 2” light machine guns…

When you see the “Saint-Etienne 2” light machine gun Lieutenant General Ives, you will understand that this is a force on the side of Charles.

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Sure enough, when the troops entered the town and passed a three-story Gothic building, Lieutenant General Ives saw King Albert I smiling and waving to him upstairs:

“Long time no see, Lieutenant General Ives!” Albert I lowered his eyebrows condescendingly: “How do you think my army is? The First Special Reconnaissance Army is the most elite force in Belgium. I don’t know if it can compare with it. Your cavalry division?”

Lieutenant General Ives did not answer. He raised his left hand and bowed slightly to salute Albert I on his horse: “Your Majesty, forgive me for being busy and unable to go upstairs to visit you.”

Lieutenant General Ives did not intend to get too entangled with Albert I. He hoped to rush to the barracks as soon as possible to control the situation.

“Of course.” Albert I smiled and nodded. When Lieutenant General Ives passed by and showed his back to him, he shouted with a smile: “Remember this, General, we will be your Strong support.”

After hearing this, Lieutenant General Ives felt a chill on his back. There were so many machine guns and mortars aimed at him from behind, and the cavalry division could be instantly beaten to a pulp as soon as the attack started.

This bastard, he is clearly threatening me. Lieutenant General Ives gritted his teeth and cursed secretly. Doesn’t he know that we are helping Belgium resist the German invasion?

How could he do that!

However, Lieutenant General Avis did not stop, he continued to lead his troops forward.

The sound of gunfire on the front line was getting closer and closer. From a distance, the French army camp was seen, and the French soldiers were standing in front of the camp in neat formations with bright helmets and armor, and even their bayonets were ready. The muzzles of rifles and machine guns were pointed at the British army.

Lieutenant General Avis was confused. Where was the chaos? Where was the internal fighting?

It was Gamelin who came out to greet Lieutenant General Avis. He and a group of officers were also thorns in their backs. The French soldiers were fierce and ferocious. Who knows if there will be a sudden “hidden rule”.

Seeing Lieutenant General Avis and the British Cavalry Division, Gamelin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and greeted them as if he had seen a savior.

However, a “rumbling” engine sound sounded, and another unit arrived at the camp almost at the same time.

Gamelin looked closely and saw that it was Charles’ mechanized division, led by a major general standing on an armored reconnaissance vehicle.

Gan Molin’s heart sank instantly. He recognized the major general. It was Tijani, the commander of the Charles Mechanized Division.

Tijani said nothing and waved his hand expressionlessly.

The mechanized division’s troops quickly launched against the British Cavalry Division. Amid the roar of the motors and the sound of the tracks, the armored vehicles and tanks aimed their guns and cannons at the British cavalry at close range, almost against the cavalry’s heads, frightening the cavalry so much that they dared not move. Even the war horses felt the murderous aura, and neighed and stamped their hooves on the snow.

Suddenly, there was a “woooo” in the air, and more than a dozen fighter jets flew low, shaking the snow on the eaves to fall down.

The frightened war horses panicked and wanted to escape, and the cavalry hurriedly controlled them.