Holy Roman Empire

When he spoke, Edward still had some lingering fears.Before the outbreak of the war, no one thought that Prussia and Prussia would be so crazy.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Garfield directly complained: "It's all a bunch of lunatics!"

Prime Minister Benjamin waved his hand and said casually: "It doesn't matter whether Prussia and Russia are crazy or not, the key is the chain reaction brought about by the war, and what benefits can we gain from this change in the international situation?

Not to mention the trade, everyone knows that the arms dealers are going to make a fortune.Let's talk about the changes in the situation in Europe and the world. "

Foreign Minister Edward smiled lightly: "It's not that serious. If the situation in Europe changes, although it is still uncertain, as long as France and Austria want to maintain stability, it can be suppressed.

The world situation has less impact. Although Prussia and Russia are not weak, they are not colonial empires, and their influence is mainly in Eurasia.

At most, the Far East will be affected to some extent, but the ruler of Sirius is too weak, even if the Russians have no time to look east, most of them will not dare to act rashly.

In fact, we can just pick up coffee, eat cakes, and watch Prussia and Russia fight. We really don’t need to do anything! "

Britain has the confidence to eat melons, and no matter what the outcome of the Russian-Prussian war is, their interests will not be affected.

Colonial Secretary Robert shook his head: "No, we can still do something. Everyone's eyes are drawn to Eastern Europe, then the South American war can go according to our script.

Before the end of the Prussian-Russian war, I thought Austria and Austria would not care about making trouble for us. The Chileans took a big advantage this time. "

The navies of Prussia and Russia are not very good. As a maritime country, Britain can be happy and rich in war, but France and Austria, which are on the mainland, cannot.

The European continent is too small to squeeze so many great powers, and it is impossible for France and Austria to allow new great powers to rise and squeeze their own interests.

Whether it is Austria or France, they must maintain their attention now, staring at the Eastern European battlefield, and be ready to intervene in this war at any time.

In order to ensure the investment of strength in the European continent, France and Austria will naturally ignore the South American region in a short period of time. Bolivia and Peru are considered tragedies.

……

2 Thirty Chapters Moltke

Under the roar of artillery fire, the sky gradually dimmed, and the screams of killing and killing could be heard in the distance. Perhaps there will be thousands more corpses tomorrow morning.

Marshal Moltke, who had just arrived at the front line, picked up the binoculars and stared straight ahead.Due to the distance, only the smoke from the shell explosion could be seen.

After a while, Mao Qi sighed.The situation was much worse than he expected. Judging from the artillery fire, it was clear that the Russians were no longer what they used to be.

As night fell, the two sides tacitly stopped fighting.Yinfeng began to howl, as if to wake up the dead soul.

In the headquarters of the Prussian Army, Marshal Moltke, who came to supervise the battle, began to lose his temper.

"It's been a week since the war broke out, and not a single little Brest has been taken, what a bunch of rubbish.

say something!Aren't you very capable in normal times?One by one, they were defiant, bragging about defeating Russia in three months, and going to St. Petersburg for a military parade within half a year.

Now, not even a single Brest can be taken down.Don't talk about going to St. Petersburg for a military parade. If this continues, our strategy of cutting off the Dnieper River will go bankrupt. "

Everyone bowed their heads as if they were listening to the teachings, but there was no way that the battle was really bad.

According to the plan of the General Staff, the Prussian army should capture Brest within three days, and then go down along the Dnieper River to capture Kyiv, cutting off the Russian army's water supply channel.

The core of this strategy is to be fast, the Russians lack everything, that is, there is no shortage of soldiers.Once the tsarist government reacted and a large number of reinforcements arrived, the war would be difficult to fight.

This is a historical lesson. The fact that the British and French allied forces used blood in the first Near East War told the world that the fully armed and well-equipped Russian army is tough.

As long as the Dnieper River is in the hands of the Russian army, supplies from Austria can be continuously transported, and the war will turn into a war of attrition.

The commander of the Southwest Front, Hohenlohe Ingelfingen, replied bravely: "Your Excellency, the enemy is much more stubborn than we thought. During these seven days, we have fought head-to-head dozens of times.

Although most of the time, we have the upper hand, but in general it is still not optimistic.The Russian army replenished very quickly, and the troops fighting us have changed three waves.

You may not believe it, but they not only stand still, but also launch counterattacks from time to time.

According to the detected information, there are 8 Russian troops guarding the front line of Brest, and there are [-] Russian troops in the Warren region, not to mention the continuous reinforcements in the rear.

The Russian commanders on the opposite side are a bunch of lunatics, they don't take the lives of soldiers seriously at all, and often exchange money with us on purpose.

In just one week, our Southwest Front Army lost the strength of two divisions.In a short period of time, it is almost impossible to make a breakthrough here. "

There is no way, the strategy can't be kept secret at all.The Prussian army wanted to cut off the Dnieper River, but the Russian army naturally refused.

As an enemy, it is natural to stare at each other.Especially after the birth of the airship force, Russian airships crossed the border for investigation every day, and a large number of troops were mobilized, so it was difficult to keep secrets.

Moltke frowned, and he also knew that the main responsibility for failing to take down the Brest Fortress was not with these officers.Strength speaks for itself on the battlefield, the Prussian army does not have an overwhelming advantage, and it is normal to fall into a stalemate.

The strategic plan formulated by the General Staff: feint to attack Estonia, make a posture of marching into St. Petersburg to attract the main force of the Russian army, and create opportunities for capturing Kyiv.

However, plans did not change quickly.The goal of attracting the main force of the Russian army was achieved, and the first step to capture Kyiv was stuck.

No matter how good the strategy is, it can't hold back the tsarist government's large number of soldiers.The Russian defenders outnumbered the attacking Prussians, and things got awkward.

Not only here, but the Russian army has the upper hand on the entire front.With all its strength, the Pubo Federation had only gathered 75 troops to go to the battlefield, while the number of Russian troops on the opposite side had already exceeded 100 million.

Moltke shook his head: "We don't have that much time, if we can't capture Kyiv before winter and cut off the transportation line of the Dnieper River, we will be in big trouble next year.

No matter how difficult it is, we must complete this strategy.Otherwise, the enemy will directly drag us to death by relying on their strength.

To tell you the truth, not only the offensive on the front line of Brest was blocked, but the entire battlefield.

In the past ten years, the enemy has built a large number of fortifications.How could so many lines of defense be torn apart in a short period of time? "

Having said this, Mo Qi sneered, and said sarcastically, "Why, are you afraid?"

"Not afraid!"

"Not afraid!"

……

As a group of warmongers, how could it be so easy to be afraid?The war has just begun, and it is normal to encounter difficulties.No matter how optimistic people are, they will not think that they can defeat the Russian army in just one week.

Compared with the last war, the current situation is much better.At that time, as soon as the war broke out, the Russian army fought against the Prussian army, but in the end they turned the game over.

"Since you are not afraid, then don't make excuses. Be calm and find a way to tear through the enemy's line of defense.

The enemy has deployed heavy troops in the Brest area, so find a way to get around it.A large army can't make it through, but a small army can't?

No matter how bad it is, you can arrange for someone to blow up the Dnieper River. As long as the strategic goal is achieved, I don't care what method you use. "

In order to win the war, Moltke is already desperate.Regardless of how easy he said, if a small group of troops went deep alone, they would basically never return.

Hohenlohe Ingelfingen: "Your Excellency Marshal, the enemy has deployed heavy troops in the Brest area, which is not suitable as a breakthrough, it is better to change the direction.

Unlike the last war, the Russians have made full preparations this time, and the Russian army will not be short of supplies in a short time.

Even if the Dnieper River is cut off, they can be transported by the railways in the Eastern Ukraine, unless we can occupy the entire Ukraine.

From a strategic point of view, this is very tasteless.The Ukraine region is not the core of Russia, and even if it is lost here, the Russians will not surrender.

They have obtained the understanding of the Nordic Federation. In addition to Austria, the Russians can also obtain supplies from the Nordic Federation.

Before the Tsarist government spends the last gold coin in its pocket, it will be difficult for us to wear them down materially.

To defeat the Russian Empire, Moscow and St. Petersburg must be captured.Compared with these two strategic places, other places should only be auxiliary. "

Moltke slapped the table: "I will seriously consider your proposal. What is needed now is to execute the order, understand, General!"

It's not that this proposal is bad, nor is it that Mao Qi can't tolerate different opinions.In fact, on the contrary, if there is no preparation to fight Moscow, the Berlin government would not insist on Smolensk in the last war.

The strategically important places to attack Moscow are all in our hands, how could Moltke ignore them?

The problem is that the Russians also noticed it. As soon as the war broke out, the Russians mobilized heavy troops to besiege Smolensk.

Under this background, Moltke would naturally not choose to fight the Russians recklessly, and only then did the offensive and defensive battle of Brest.

As for Smolensk, use it to consume the enemy's troops.The Berlin government has established a complete fortification locally, which just happens to attract Russian firepower.

……

After the meeting, Moltke left Hohenlohe Ingelfingen to confer.

"Marshal, why didn't you say it at the meeting?"

Moltke: "That's right, that's what you think. Of course, I'm not saying that there is something wrong with the people who attended the meeting. The Russians are not yet capable of buying high-level military officers.

The people below are not sure. We have caught quite a few spies in recent years, and many of them leaked the news to the enemy without knowing it.At this critical moment, we must be cautious. "

Hohenlohe Ingelfingen was thoughtful, catching spies was never a harmonious matter. Although the Berlin government did not get involved, many officers were still involved.

Wherever there are people, there are disputes, and the military is not monolithic. Because of the power struggle, as long as it is involved, no matter if it is innocent or not, it will have to retire in disgrace.

"Well, in principle, I have no objection to this battle plan. The Southwest Front Army will try to attract the enemy's attention as much as possible, but I am still a little worried about breaking through the Warren area."

If you want to capture Kyiv, you can not only go down the Dnieper River, but also push it directly from the Volyn area, but it is not so convenient.

Mo Qi smiled slightly: "It's right to be worried, even if you think it's impossible, the enemy will be even harder to think about.

Besides, no one stipulated that we must go directly to Kyiv.

After the breakthrough in the Volyn area, we can turn our guns around and outflank the Russian army in Brest.

The war has already begun, and the strategic plan formulated in advance can only be a plan.Whether or not to implement it, and how to implement it, must be carried out according to the actual situation.

No matter how you fight, just win the war.What we have to do now is to wipe out the main force of the Russian army as much as possible. As long as this group of troops is killed, the subsequent battles will be easy. "

Once the success is complete, everyone is only concerned about the victory of the war, and no one pays attention to the efforts behind it.The unsung hero is the greatest and the most tragic.

Moltke would rather put pressure on the officers and force everyone to launch an attack than to tell everyone the truth about the feint. There are also considerations in this regard.

If everyone knew the truth, would they still work so hard?If it is not desperate enough, how can it create enough pressure on the enemy and force the surrounding Russian troops to reinforce it?

Even out of political considerations, this feint will be artificially erased.If there is no breakthrough on the battlefield, the troops in charge of the feint attack will not only fail to obtain military exploits, but will also be punished.

An excellent commander not only considers military affairs and politics, but also human nature.

Chapter 231 willing

The Prussians were on the move, and the Russians were not idle either.Perhaps having learned the lessons of the last war, the Russians are much more cautious this time.

No matter how the Prussian army fought, they identified Smolensk, and other areas relied on the fortifications built before.

From the standpoint of a bystander, the Russians are a little conservative in strategy, but they have to admit that this is the safest choice.

Smolensk is the gateway to Moscow. If it is not captured here, the Russian army will not be able to move westward with confidence.

Anyone who has studied the Prussian army knows that they like to concentrate superior forces on local battlefields for decisive battles, and they are strong in splitting and attacking, rapid breakthroughs, outside operations, and quick battles.

In the last war, the Russians suffered a big loss, and now they naturally have to learn a lesson.

Steady and steady is undoubtedly the best choice.Concentrate forces in one direction and focus on attacking, and rely on fortifications in other areas for defense. Even if the Prussian army concentrates superior forces, it will be difficult to break through in a short time.

Defense is always more advantageous than offense. With the support of bunkers and fortresses, there is no advantage of two or three times the number of troops. Under normal circumstances, it is impossible to break through.

Looking at the Russian military deployment map in the Palace of Vienna, Franz frowned. The Russians are safe, but what about the Pubo Federation?

An evenly matched battle is what Franz wants to see.Now the tactics of the Russian army do not have any technical content, and are completely consumed by the Pubo Federation.

"Albrecht, if you were in Moltke's position, how would you fight this war?"

After a little thought, Albrecht picked up the baton and clicked on the map: "Here is

Smolensk, located in the middle of the Eastern European Plain, is regarded as the gateway of Moscow militarily.

In recent years, Prussia and Russia have built many fortifications on the border, and Smolensk has even more fortresses.

If it is under my command, since the Russians want to attack Smolensk, they should directly defend where they are and use the fortifications to consume the strength of the Russian army.

The Russians defended in other areas, and the Prussian army could also hold on.Anyway, winter is coming soon, even if a breakthrough is made now, there is no way to expand the results of the battle.

The issue of the decisive battle can be delayed until the beginning of next spring, when the muddy road will be the biggest enemy of the Russian army's mobilization. "

After a pause, Albrecht added: "Actually, besides the army, you can also consider the navy.

In recent years, the Russians have abandoned their navy due to financial constraints.Although the navy of the Pubo Federation is not good enough, they can ask Britain and France for help.

Buy or lease a fleet and directly attack St. Petersburg. If you are lucky, you can end the war within a year.

Even if the tsarist government is not retained, it does not matter.The capital is lost, and the Russian army on the front line will definitely be in turmoil.

In exchange for failure, maybe the tsarist government will change its previous strategy and order the Russian army on the front line to come out for a decisive battle, and fighter opportunities will naturally appear. "

Franz was taken aback for a moment, and suddenly found that the Russians had such an obvious flaw, so he couldn't help but be surprised.

After calming down, Franz shook his head: "Moltke would not do this, and the Junker nobles would not allow the glory of defeating the Russians to be given to the navy.

The sneak attack on St. Petersburg required the close cooperation of the army and navy.The Prussian army has never conducted landing training. If the cooperation is not good, this plan will not be realized at all.

Moreover, it is difficult to keep the news of purchasing such a big fleet secret.No matter how well Britain and France cooperate, it will be exposed when they enter the Baltic Sea, unless Britain and France send troops in person. "

The dispute between land and sea is an unavoidable topic.Although the army has an absolute advantage in the Pubo Federation, the navy also has many supporters.

In the late 50s, when the last wave of colonial expansion broke out, Prussia also set off a wave of naval development, and even built its own ironclad ships, opening up a colony in the Indochina Peninsula.