"Yield! Surrender your weapons and you shall not be harmed!"
A battalion of Russian soldiers found themselves surrounded by a German company at the foot of a small hill. Despite being outnumbered, it was the presence of tanks accompanying the German infantry that truly instilled fear in the Russian troops atop the slope.
In their chaotic retreat, the Russian battalion had already lost nearly all their heavy equipment, with only two heavy machine guns remaining. Clearly, two machine guns could not withstand the onslaught of the German tanks.
Having received assurances of their safety from the Germans, this battalion, under their commander's leadership, surrendered.
Before the war commenced, Qin Tian had ensured that the soldiers of the German 8th Corps were taught some basic Russian phrases, particularly "surrender" and "you shall not be harmed."
Now, these phrases were being put to effective use. Countless Russian soldiers, responding to this rallying cry, surrendered their weapons and obediently marched into captivity.
Throughout the day of September 12, the Russian 2nd Guards Army suffered yet another heavy defeat. Over two days, they had lost half their forces, leaving them at a disadvantage against the main body of the German 8th Corps. Moreover, amidst the chaos, the Russians were being cut off and surrounded, waiting to be systematically eliminated by the Germans. The annihilation of the Russian 2nd Guards Army seemed merely a matter of time.
"Your Highness, the situation at the front is exceedingly favorable. The Russian 2nd Guards Army is utterly unable to withstand our onslaught. It is only a matter of time before we eliminate them completely," exclaimed General Hindenburg, visibly pleased. Should they completely vanquish the Russian 2nd Guards Army, it would mark the third Russian army group brought to its knees by the German 8th Corps. Coupled with the already beleaguered 9th Russian Army, this would amount to the 8th Corps having neutralized forces equivalent to five times their own, thereby securing the eastern front for the German Empire. This, without a doubt, was a tremendous feat for the Empire. General Hindenburg, who once believed he would never rise to the rank of Field Marshal, now saw the prospect of achieving that honor after the eastern campaign concluded, based on his military accomplishments.
This prospect invigorated General Hindenburg's eagerness for battle; he could hardly contain his anticipation for the ultimate victory.
"Once we have defeated the Russian 2nd Guards Army, it will be time to turn our attention to the 9th Russian Army. How is the situation for the 20th Army? Are they under significant pressure?" Qin Tian inquired.
"Your Highness, although the Russian 9th Army has launched fierce assaults on the 20th Army's defenses, overall, they pose little threat. General Mackensen reports that aside from logistical strains, the 20th Army is facing minimal pressure," replied Major Ludendorff, his face alight with smiles. For soldiers, victory always brings immense joy.
"That is reassuring! However, we must prevent the 9th Russian Army from fleeing once we annihilate the 2nd Guards Army. To secure a total victory on the eastern front, we must strive for the complete destruction of the 9th Russian Army," Qin Tian declared.
"Your Highness, we will do our utmost. However, the likelihood of the 9th Russian Army retreating is almost certain. The railways within Poland are not comparable to those in East Prussia, and our ability to mobilize troops will certainly not match what we achieved there," Major Ludendorff acknowledged.
Qin Tian nodded, aware of the issue at hand.
"Consolidate our trucks for troop transport! I refuse to believe that the Russians' two legs can outrun our trucks' four wheels," he stated.
"Understood, Your Highness," Ludendorff affirmed, recognizing it as a feasible solution, though achieving complete certainty would still be challenging.
"Your Highness, we may also need alternative strategies to prevent the Russians from escaping," General Hindenburg suggested.
After a moment's contemplation, Qin Tian responded, "Send a telegram to the 8th Air Force to prepare for action! If the 9th Russian Army attempts to flee, they should engage them, seeking to delay their advance, allowing our main forces to catch up and obliterate them!"
"Yes, Your Highness," both General Hindenburg and Major Ludendorff nodded. Although they were uncertain whether deploying the air force could sufficiently hinder the Russian 9th Army, Qin Tian's confidence might yield results. Even if the impact was minimal, utilizing the air force would certainly inflict greater losses upon the Russian 9th Army.
The 8th Air Force had been established for some time, but following the outbreak of war, it had primarily provided reconnaissance support to the 8th Corps without playing a significant role in combat. Due to the Russians' weak air capabilities, the 8th Air Force had found little opportunity to engage on the eastern front, unlike the western front, where the Germans and the British-French forces had extensively employed aircraft in battle.
Indeed, thanks to better preparations and the introduction of new fighter aircraft developed by the German Aircraft Manufacturing Company, the Germans had nearly overwhelmed the British and French air forces.
However, due to mismanagement, the German Air Force, while achieving notable successes, had failed to turn the tide of the war on the western front. Although the Germans still maintained an advantage, this edge was steadily diminishing with the passage of time. Unless the Germans could swiftly conquer France on the western front, the war would inevitably devolve into a prolonged conflict.
Despite the initial vigor of the German assault during the recently initiated Battle of the Marne, it now seemed to possess a distinctly sluggish momentum. Capturing Paris would likely prove a formidable challenge.
Yet for Qin Tian, these matters appeared to hold little relevance. At present, his focus remained on commanding the 8th Corps to victory on the eastern front. As long as Moltke continued as the Chief of the General Staff, he would be unable to interfere in the affairs of the western front. However, should the Battle of the Marne fail to yield the results desired by Wilhelm II, Moltke's tenure as Chief of Staff would likely come to an abrupt end. Regardless of his personal rapport with Wilhelm II, the Emperor would not tolerate continued failure.