Chapter 981 - 204: Blitzkrieg (Part 2)
The Russian military command, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front, Admiral Brusilov was startled from his sleep by the urgent ringing of the telephone.
"The Gorlice-Tarnow line has been breached?"
Admiral Brusilov awoke more fully, took a sip from the coffee handed to him by his attendant, and calmly walked to the sand table map.
The Gorlice-Tarnow line belongs to Debang’s "Galicia·Lodomeria Crown Territory," one of the key defense lines the Russian army has managed. Previously, the Russian army made incursions here into the Galicia Region, annihilating and capturing many of the Crown Territory’s forces.
Two years ago, the Tsar visited the Lviv Region personally.
If Prussia’s reinforcements hadn’t arrived in time to cut off the Russian army’s retreat, they might have already broken through the Carpathian Mountains and entered the sprawling plains of the Hungary Region, drinking from the Danube River.
"Connect me with General Luther of the second line, instruct them to strengthen defenses, I will immediately allocate mobile forces for support."
"What, you can’t reach him?"
Admiral Brusilov’s expression slightly changed, the prolonged standstill on the Eastern Front was akin to a tonic that dulled the sharpness of officers. The opposing Galicia and Hungarian forces had long maintained a steadfast defense, causing Brusilov to abandon any ambition for glory.
But if the enemy were to push along the Vistula River into the Lublin Region, even a small infiltrating force could incite His Majesty the Tsar’s thunderous wrath.
"Where are the airships we deployed on the front line? What on earth is happening now?"
"What, the phone lines were cut, and the airship destroyed?"
"What exactly are you doing, reporting without any clarity, immediately dispatch the First Air Fleet and Caster team to scout ahead, quickly ascertain the enemy movements!"
The Russian army only deployed one steam airship on the Gorlice-Tarnow line, and it was just a piece of scrap with weak armor discarded by the French, primarily serving as the eyes of the senior officers rather than to bombard the enemy.
The vast Eastern Front is so extended that the Russians must allocate three fronts, totaling over three million men for defense. The advanced equipment of floating airships was spread thin across this lengthy line, stretching resources to the limit.
Soon, the staff officers who had received the news rushed into the command post.
The group contemplated the enemy’s intentions while observing the sand table.
"I think the enemy intends to move south along the Reche Lvov line, directly targeting the Dniester River with the aim of conquering the entire Galicia Region, joining forces with Bulgarian and Ottoman enemies."
"No, in my view, the enemy’s grand offensive this time is merely a feint to constrain our Western Front’s forces. Their true intent lies in organizing an attack in the Estonia Region, directly capturing Saint Petersburg."
"That’s right, I think General Shatilov’s statement is reasonable. Galicia is the most impoverished and backward among Debang’s Crown Territories. Capturing this area is useless, whereas our enemies have been harboring frequent minor actions with their Baltic Fleet, most likely covertly supporting a large-scale landing of ground troops."
The group engaged in lively debate.
In the Mediterranean Sea, the Allies dominate, but the North Sea has entirely become the shape of the Allies. Saint Petersburg is the capital of Tsarist Russia, and anyone would regard this location as far more significant than the so-called "Galicia."
As for the real intentions of William the Elector and Grand Master of the Order of Knights—maneuvering along the Vistula River, reaching the Bug River, then moving north to encircle and annihilate the entire Western Front in the Polish Region.
Even if someone guessed it, voicing it would only invite scoffing!
No one in this era can envision the blitzkrieg tactic.
Modern warfare’s increasing logistics demands make it impossible to operate like in ancient times, with one person and three horses, raiding across thousands of miles.
A large army, detached from railroad or waterway transport, simply cannot accomplish such a degree of long-distance raid.
Even the draft animals need vast feed supplies, numerous as they might be, they can’t replace trucks.
Admiral Brusilov cleared his throat, setting the tone for this military council: "Regardless of whether this offensive is merely a feigned assault by the Germans, a small and elite German force has penetrated our borders. This indisputable fact necessitates us warning the Northern Army while doing everything possible to obliterate this brazen, small German troop!"
In his view, the intruders were merely a small elite force from Prussia, though tricky, limited in numbers, they wouldn’t endure long under the Russian army’s extraordinary power.
However, just as he disbanded the military council, the sharp ringing of the telephone echoed once more in Admiral Brusilov’s ears.
Upon answering, a piercing shout came from the other end: "Prussian forces have reached outside Reche, they are numerous, equipped with countless armored units and... heavens, what is that thing?"
Admiral Brusilov hastily inquired, "What is what, be clear!"
But regardless of further questioning, the other end of the line ceased responding.
"How could the enemy possibly break through so rapidly, not even overnight?"
Brusilov could no longer believe that the invader was only a small elite force of the enemy: "Transmit my orders, mobilize forces from Lviv, Lavroskaya, and the Lublin Region to support Reche immediately; instruct the Kielce Region’s mobile forces to cross the river south, cutting off the enemy’s retreat. The river fleet on the Vistula must fully cooperate, letting no enemy supply ship slip through!"
...
It’s untenable to say Brusilov’s decisions were wrong given constrained intelligence and the smoke screens thrown by the Allies everywhere.
Generally speaking, such steady and well-rounded responses usually minimize the losses inflicted by the enemy onto one’s side, but the problem is, this invading enemy force simply cannot be considered by ordinary reasoning.
Inside Reche City, the area had completely turned into a raging inferno.
On the vacant ground outside the city, Losa descended from above, retrieving massive supplies from the Emperor’s Treasure Ring.
On the ground stood a giant teleportation gate, continually swallowing and spewing out supplies.
This technology, previously used by the British Expedition Army in America, although incapable of mass transporting personnel, was perfectly suited for delivering regular supplies not including "Magic Stone Ores and White Crystals" imbued with extraordinary power.
As for the former, Losa’s Emperor Treasure Ring would accept them indiscriminately.
Through the combination of both resources, the Debang-Prussian joint army’s attack speed far exceeded the expectations of the Russian army.
Meanwhile, while these armored forces were resting in Reche, the Teutonic Order’s Storm Assault Team had donned Russian military uniforms, infiltrating enemy rear, cutting telephone lines, beheading commanders, spreading chaotic messages.
Many Storm Assault Team members carried White Crystal Bombs, causing disruptions everywhere, making it impossible for the mobilized Russian army to discern the true direction of enemy attacks.
The Grand Master, mounted on a mighty warhorse, gazed at Losa with a hint of envy in his expression.
Many Storm Assault Team members carried White Crystal Bombs, causing disruptions everywhere, making it impossible for the mobilized Russian army to discern the true direction of enemy attacks.
The Grand Master, mounted on a mighty warhorse, gazed at Losa with a hint of envy in his expression.