"Let the 6th and 7th Corps march southward from Verdun, capturing Lyon and pushing all the way to Marseille. The 3rd and 5th Corps will also continue south, advancing into central France to eliminate any remaining French resistance. The 2nd and 3rd Corps shall move south from Paris. As for the 1st and 8th Corps, they will proceed westward along the Seine River. Didn't the British and French 1st and 5th Armies retreat to Le Havre? It is imperative that these British forces do not return to the British Isles!" QinTian commanded.
Although the Anglo-French coalition still numbered close to two million soldiers, QinTian considered them utterly ineffective. Compared to the battle-hardened elite German forces, the Anglo-French armies were woefully inadequate. Especially those newly formed units, whose fighting capacity was abysmal. As for the British Expeditionary Force, despite having only thirty thousand soldiers left, QinTian was determined to annihilate them in France, rather than allow them to return to Britain. Should they manage to reach their homeland, they might one day pose a significant threat when the Germans land on British soil.
The British Army, in comparison to the Royal Navy, was undoubtedly much weaker. The British Expeditionary Force was, after all, the most well-equipped and battle-hardened unit among the Allies. Though they had suffered heavy defeats on the French battlefield, should they return to Britain, rearm, and find renewed resolve under the banner of defending their homeland, their fighting spirit could prove formidable.
QinTian had no desire to see German casualties increase in a future invasion of Britain. After all, the war was nearly over, and losing lives at that point would be a tragic waste.
"Your Highness, allocating six corps to attack the remnants of the French forces in the south may be excessive," General Krook cautioned. "The vast expanse of northern France also requires troops to remain stationed, particularly as our supply lines stretch longer. This could offer the French resistance an opportunity."
QinTian nodded in agreement; logistics were indeed crucial, especially once the army moved into central and southern France. Troops would need to be deployed at key transportation hubs, patrolling and eliminating any persistent pockets of French resistance. It was therefore impossible to send every unit southward.
"Which unit should remain in northern France for garrison duty?" QinTian inquired.
"Let the 4th Corps, under Duke of Württemberg, stay behind. The Duke's health has recently deteriorated, and he has requested to return to Germany for recuperation. This would be an ideal opportunity for the 4th Corps to take on the logistical task of securing our supply lines," suggested General Bilo.
After a brief pause for consideration, QinTian approved the plan. The 4th Corps would handle logistics, while the other five corps moved southward. Even with one fewer corps, QinTian remained confident that the remaining forces—over a million men—would easily sweep across all of France. The scattered remnants of the French military were no match for the might of the German army.
"Your Highness, Le Havre is a French naval base, and they still have a considerable number of warships there. If we attack Le Havre, we may face bombardment from French naval guns. The artillery of the army is, of course, no match for naval firepower. Moreover, if we do not blockade Le Havre, the British may attempt to withdraw to the Isles. It would be wise to enlist the help of our Navy in this operation," said Major-General Ludendorff, Chief of Staff of the 8th Corps.
"Indeed, Your Highness," General Krook added. "If the Navy can assist us, we can cut off the British retreat. Taking Le Havre and annihilating the British Expeditionary Force will be far easier."
"I will coordinate with the Navy. When the 1st and 8th Corps attack Le Havre, they will receive naval support," QinTian assured.
While the French Navy boasted a respectable fleet, it had long been relegated to the Mediterranean after the collapse of the Second French Empire. Once a contender for maritime supremacy against the British, the French naval ambitions were crushed. After the fall of the empire, the Royal Navy of the British Empire emerged as the undisputed global naval power. Today, the French Navy was no longer a threat to the mighty German Navy. Even with ten main warships, the French fleet was no match for the formidable German naval forces, which had already triumphed over the British Royal Navy and stood as the undisputed masters of the seas.
"Gentlemen, the campaign in France will soon reach its conclusion. In fact, aside from the upcoming invasion of Britain, there will be no major land battles left. The invasion of Britain will not be a quick undertaking; preparations are necessary, and it will likely not commence until the latter half of the year. Therefore, in these final mopping-up operations in France, I urge caution. A single misstep could tarnish our otherwise flawless record of victories," QinTian warned.
It was a universal belief that the German Army was the greatest in the world. Despite its rigorous discipline, the string of glorious victories had inevitably fostered a sense of hubris within the ranks. This could well become the seed of their downfall.
"Yes, Your Highness," the corps commanders nodded solemnly. Recent morale among the troops had indeed been slightly off.
"Very well, gentlemen. Return and prepare your forces. I hope we can bring the campaign in France to a swift close and begin preparations for the invasion of Britain," QinTian said with a smile.
"Yes, Your Highness," they all replied, though none knew yet which corps would be involved in the British landings. But in their hearts, they all secretly hoped for the opportunity.
The next day, the German forces resumed their advance. The 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th Corps moved south to attack the remaining French forces. The 1st and 8th Corps headed west towards the sea, while the 4th Corps remained to secure the logistics and supply lines.