Rheims, an important city in northeastern France, is now firmly under German control. The northern region of France boasts an extensive network of railways and roads, enabling the swift mobilization of troops and supplies by the German forces. The Western Command is established in Rheims, where Crown Prince QinTian and a cadre of commanders arrived on March 28.
Although QinTian still holds the position of commander of the Eighth Corps, the day-to-day affairs are managed by Major General Ludendorff, allowing QinTian to focus on overarching strategies. He greatly values Ludendorff's capabilities and intends to cultivate his potential further, planning to appoint him as a corps commander or deputy chief of staff after the war.
As QinTian stood in the operations room, he studied the map on the wall, which clearly delineated the positions of friendly and enemy forces in red and black. The eight German corps were organized into four clusters: the right cluster, comprising the First and Eighth Corps; the central cluster, made up of the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Corps; and the left cluster, formed by the Sixth and Seventh Corps. The central cluster, with a total strength of 820,000 troops, was the most formidable, while the right cluster boasted 500,000 and the left approximately 400,000.
In contrast, the red markings representing the Anglo-French forces revealed an even greater strength, with the French and British armies densely deployed along the southern bank of the Marne River and from Amiens to the north of Paris.
"Manstein, our forces are only about sixty percent of the Anglo-French strength. Defeating them in this battle will be quite challenging," QinTian remarked.
"Your Highness, we have triumphed in many battles against superior numbers. I am confident we can emerge victorious this time as well," Major General Manstein replied optimistically.
"I share your confidence, but we must exercise caution, as the Anglo-French forces are significantly more formidable than the Russians," QinTian stated, recognizing the superior combat capabilities of the enemy.
"Indeed, Your Highness," Manstein nodded in agreement.
"Your Highness, Generals BiLo, Haussen, Duke of Württemberg, and General Dimlin have arrived," reported a staff officer.
"Let them in," QinTian commanded.
General BiLo commands the Second Corps, General Haussen the Third, the Duke of Württemberg the Fourth, and General Dimlin the Fifth Corps. Had it not been for Crown Prince Wilhelm's incapacitation, Dimlin would have been in command of the Fifth Corps.
"Your Highness," the generals saluted QinTian.
"Please take a seat, gentlemen. Manstein, arrange for coffee," QinTian instructed.
"Of course, Your Highness," Manstein promptly set about his task.
"Gentlemen, are your troops fully prepared?" QinTian inquired.
"Your Highness, the Second Corps is combat-ready and can launch an offensive at any moment!" General BiLo reported.
The other corps commanders echoed their readiness.
QinTian nodded: "According to our previously established objectives, the Second Corps will advance on Chalons-en-Champagne, the Third Corps on Épernay, the Fourth Corps on Château-Thierry, and the Fifth Corps will remain in reserve to support the front lines as needed."
The generals nodded in agreement, having already been briefed on these missions during the prior meeting.
"Based on our intelligence, the opposing forces include the French Second, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, and Ninth Armies, along with the British Expeditionary Force's Second Army, totaling over 1.2 million troops—more than 400,000 greater than ours. However, I am confident we can defeat them," QinTian asserted.
"Your Highness, our forces have been reinforced. Each corps has established armored units, and firepower has been enhanced. Despite the Anglo-French superiority in numbers, we will prevail," General Haussen declared.
Over the past six months, the German Army has been meticulously preparing. The weapons developed by the German arms company have been validated through the Eighth Corps' performance on the Eastern Front. With Moltke dismissed and the new chief of staff, von Falkenhayn, being an ally of QinTian, these advanced weapons are now being distributed among the corps on the Western Front. However, due to time constraints, the corps have only received improvements in machine gun firepower and semi-automatic rifles, rather than a complete overhaul.
Had it not been for the heavy demands placed on the right cluster, QinTian would have considered reallocating the Eighth Corps to the central cluster. Nevertheless, the right cluster's long-range mission of 200 kilometers necessitated a stronger combat capability and mobility, which is why QinTian assigned the Eighth Corps to the right.
Seeing the confidence among the commanders brought QinTian satisfaction. Given the Germans' meticulous nature, he trusted that these leaders were not merely boasting. Moreover, as the future emperor, he held the power to deal with any overconfidence once he ascended the throne.
"Tomorrow at 8 AM, our central cluster will initiate the attack. The left and right clusters will follow suit the day after. I expect us to set an example by breaching the Anglo-French defenses along the Marne River within three days," QinTian declared.
"Yes, Your Highness," the commanders replied, filled with determination.
QinTian engaged in discussions with the generals regarding the current situation and potential enemy movements once the battle commenced. From their conversations, he sensed their unwavering confidence. Although the Anglo-French forces had also been preparing during the German Army's regrouping, mobilizing significant numbers and fortifying their defenses along the southern bank of the Marne, the German commanders remained resolute. They firmly believed that victory would belong to the German Empire, for the narrow Marne River could not possibly withstand the might of the German advance.
In this battle, the German forces not only bolstered infantry firepower but also received substantial reinforcements in the form of armored units, with the four armored divisions in the central cluster fielding over a thousand tanks. Additionally, four air fleets provided support with thousands of combat aircraft, enhancing the ferocity of their offensive.