Qin Tian established his command in Versailles. Though merely a small town on the outskirts of Paris, it was renowned for its historical significance. Decades earlier, during the Franco-Prussian War, after the Kingdom of Prussia vanquished the Second French Empire, William I was crowned here, marking the inception of a unified German Empire. This event, however, became an indelible source of anguish for the French, forever entwining their fate with that of Germany as eternal rivals.
Once again, in this conflict, Germany held an undeniable advantage. The German army had reclaimed Versailles, and the entirety of Paris lay encircled. It could be said that victory for Germany was now tantalizingly close.
"Your Highness!" General Kluck, commander of the First Army Corps, beamed with satisfaction. His left wing had achieved a resounding victory on the battlefield of Rouen, earning him commendations even from Wilhelm II, which delighted Kluck immensely.
"General Kluck, I trust that my setting up headquarters here does not inconvenience you?" Qin Tian inquired with a smile.
"Your Highness, you are far too courteous. It is our honor to have you establish your command in the First Army Corps' sector. Besides, Versailles is a city of great renown. The glory of the German Empire was forged here. I have every confidence that under your leadership, we shall witness a new era of brilliance for the German Empire," Kluck declared, thoroughly convinced of Qin Tian's capabilities. His leadership had nearly won over the entire German army, with many believing he was destined to be the unrivaled leader of the German Empire.
Qin Tian nodded. "Generals Bülow, Dimlin, and Ludendorff, please come to see me. Before we launch our assault on Paris, we must discuss our strategy."
"Yes, Your Highness," replied Major General Manstein, promptly arranging for their attendance.
On the afternoon of April 16, the commanders of the First, Second, Fifth, and Eighth Army Corps arrived at the command headquarters in Versailles, all wearing expressions of exuberance. They seemed astonished at how smoothly the campaign had progressed; within just half a month, they stood on the brink of Paris. Capturing the city would significantly diminish the French resolve to continue fighting. Even if the French did persist, the German forces had sufficient strength to crush them, indicating that victory in the war was within reach.
"Everyone, Paris is now within our sights. Capturing the city will effectively conclude this campaign. However, I urge you all to remain humble as we prepare for the assault. Although the French have suffered significant losses, they are far from defeated. Should we become complacent and careless, a defeat at the gates of Paris would jeopardize the Empire's ambitions. I do not wish to see such a fate befall us," Qin Tian stated earnestly.
As the saying goes, a journey of a hundred miles begins with a single step. Now, with the defeat of France merely a step away, he understood that a string of victories had bred a sense of hubris among many officers and soldiers. Qin Tian was determined to prevent this from undermining their future operations.
"Yes, Your Highness," the commanders replied, their expressions turning serious in response to Qin Tian's demeanor.
"For the assault on Paris, let us proceed from our current positions towards the city center! Although our intelligence indicates there are still five hundred thousand Allied troops within the city, I aim for us to capture Paris within a week, and no later than two weeks," Qin Tian commanded.
Though the notion of taking Paris within two weeks while eliminating hundreds of thousands of Allied troops appeared somewhat unrealistic, the commanders believed it was indeed achievable. The elite forces of the Allied troops had been largely eliminated in previous engagements, leaving only newly formed units with less training. It was improbable that these would withstand the might of the German army.
"Your Highness, capturing Paris within a week may be challenging, but within two weeks should be quite feasible," General Kluck acknowledged.
"Indeed, Your Highness. The fighting spirit of the Allied forces has been thoroughly shattered. I am confident that those remaining in Paris lack the resolve to fight to the last," General Dimlin concurred.
"Your Highness, the French made a significant error in their defensive deployment. They should not have stationed the British Expeditionary Force's Fourth Corps in Paris. After all, Paris is the capital of France, not Britain. While the French may fight tooth and nail for their city, the British are unlikely to do the same," Major General Ludendorff added.
Qin Tian could not help but chuckle, imagining that Marshal Joffre had not considered this aspect.
"Given this, our chances of capturing Paris increase substantially. I anticipate we will achieve victory soon," Qin Tian proclaimed.
"The Empire shall prevail!" the commanders declared, their confidence palpable.
At that moment, Major General Manstein entered the room.
"Your Highness, a telegram from the homeland," he announced, handing a message to Qin Tian.
Upon reading the telegram, Qin Tian's expression darkened.
"Your Highness, is there a problem?" General Ludendorff inquired.
"Hmph! This is a telegram from His Imperial Majesty. The Emperor states that numerous so-called artists claim Paris to be a city of art, with its buildings regarded as cultural treasures. They demand that we take care to protect these structures during our assault on Paris. Should they be destroyed, it would result in a loss of artistic wealth for all humanity," Qin Tian said, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"Nonsense! Are we to attack Paris without artillery fire? Without bombardment? That would only serve to send our soldiers to their doom. Those shameless individuals should take it upon themselves to capture Paris if they feel so strongly," General Kluck retorted angrily.
"Indeed! Your Highness, our strength lies in our firepower. To forsake this advantage would make capturing Paris within two weeks utterly impossible. Moreover, our losses would certainly exceed expectations," General Bülow added.
Qin Tian nodded. "The Emperor has merely forwarded this telegram; he has not mandated our compliance. I have always believed that the lives of our soldiers are of utmost importance. As for those artistic treasures, they can go to hell!"