On the night of April 9, in Reims, the German Western Front command.
As the front lines gradually stabilized, the German forces were systematically breaching the defenses of the Anglo-French coalition. QinTian saw no reason to remain at the front and returned to headquarters to oversee the broader situation.
That evening, several corps commanders gathered at the command center.
"Gentlemen, the progress at the front has been relatively smooth, hasn't it?" QinTian inquired, surveying the corps commanders.
"Your Highness, the 2nd Corps will require no more than three days to seize Champagne-Shalon!" General Bilot of the 2nd Corps reported.
QinTian nodded and turned to Generals Hausen and the Duke of Württemberg, both of whom affirmed that the 3rd and 4th Corps were also making commendable progress, defeating their immediate adversaries and capturing their designated objectives—it was merely a matter of time.
QinTian was quite pleased with the current developments on the battlefield. Though the casualties were significant, war inevitably incurs losses. Furthermore, the enemy was a world-class power, and achieving such favorable damage ratios was indeed remarkable.
"General Dimlin, when can we deploy the 5th Corps to the battlefield?" the commander of the 5th Corps, General Dimlin, asked impatiently. Watching the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Corps engage vigorously with the Anglo-French coalition while being sidelined was a torment for a commander eager to prove his worth.
"General Dimlin, the 5th Corps will soon see action," QinTian assured with a smile.
This news not only exhilarated Dimlin but also uplifted Generals Bilot and others. According to the plan, the 5th Corps would only enter the fray if the front encountered a crisis, serving as the precursor to a general offensive aimed at decisively defeating the Anglo-French forces.
Given the current circumstances, it was indeed time to launch the final assault. Over the past week, the Anglo-French coalition had suffered severe setbacks, with losses amounting to hundreds of thousands. Although the Germans had also incurred losses, their main forces remained largely intact, particularly the armored divisions, which had yet to engage in large-scale combat, deploying only a limited number of tanks to support assaults on enemy positions. These tanks were preserved for the forthcoming offensive to ensure a breakthrough against the Anglo-French lines.
"Your Highness, is the moment for our general assault upon us?" General Bilot asked.
"Yes. The Anglo-French troops on the Marne line have been significantly weakened. Furthermore, our left flank has made remarkable strides. The 1st and 8th Corps have encircled three hundred thousand Anglo-French soldiers along the Seine River, and at Rouen, they have eliminated at least one hundred thousand more. The left flank now controls Rouen. The 1st Corps is currently crossing the river. Consequently, we have revised our operational plan: the 1st Corps will cross the Seine, with the 8th Corps advancing from the north, both moving toward Paris along the Seine. Under these circumstances, it is impossible for the Anglo-French coalition to reinforce their positions on the Marne. Therefore, delaying further serves no purpose. We must decisively crush the forces deployed along the Marne and coordinate with the left flank to besiege Paris!" QinTian declared.
His words ignited excitement among the commanders. Paris, the capital of France, was at stake! They optimistically believed that capturing Paris would effectively conclude the conflict, rendering the French unable to continue fighting after losing their capital. Such an outcome would undoubtedly bring Germany closer to ultimate victory in the war.
"The 1st and 8th Corps have performed admirably; despite being outnumbered, they have already dealt with four hundred thousand Anglo-French soldiers, matching our achievements!" General Hausen marveled.
"Indeed! We must act swiftly. Otherwise, the left flank will reach Paris while we remain at the Marne," the Duke of Württemberg concurred.
The progress of the left flank instilled a sense of urgency among them all. The prospect of being on the verge of Paris was a profound honor for every commander present.
"Then let us prepare for the general assault. Tomorrow, the 5th Corps will head to the front. Simultaneously, all armored divisions must be ready for an offensive. The day after tomorrow, April 11, we will launch a comprehensive attack, decisively tearing apart the Anglo-French coalition's final defenses along the Marne and thoroughly defeating them!" QinTian commanded.
"Yes, Your Highness!" the corps commanders responded.
"Additionally, send a telegram to the 6th and 7th Corps; they must expedite their assault on Verdun," QinTian instructed.
The German 6th and 7th Corps, totaling four hundred thousand, were set to attack Verdun, defended by the French 3rd and 5th Corps. Although the German firepower had inflicted considerable losses on the French, the fortified defenses of Verdun had successfully withstood their advances.
However, with the outcome of the Marne battle becoming clearer, the situation at Verdun would soon resolve as well. Should the Germans defeat the main body of the Anglo-French forces at Verdun, any remaining French troops would find their retreat cut off, facing encirclement by the Germans.
Thus, the impending general assault by the Germans on the southern banks of the Marne was of utmost importance, potentially determining the war's outcome for them.
If the Germans decisively defeated the Anglo-French forces stationed on the southern banks of the Marne, they could advance directly toward Paris, joining the two corps of the left flank to besiege the capital.
For the battered Anglo-French forces, holding Paris would be nearly impossible. Once captured, even if France chose to persist, the question remained: how long could they withstand further losses? It was evident that this conflict would likely reach its conclusion swiftly.
On April 10, the entire 5th Corps began crossing the Marne. Utilizing the pontoon bridges constructed by engineers, all personnel, equipment, and supplies of the 5th Corps were transported across the Marne in a single day, arriving on the southern banks.
In accordance with QinTian's orders, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Corps were also prepared to launch the general assault. Forces attacking the three cities held by the Anglo-French coalition continued their offensive, while the remainder assembled to prepare for a direct assault on the remaining positions.
On the morning of April 11, thousands of German artillery pieces resumed their relentless bombardment of the last two defensive lines held by the Anglo-French coalition.