Calais, Imperial Army Headquarters for the British Campaign. Emperor QinTian and the senior commanders of the Imperial Army and Navy had all gathered here. The Imperial General Staff had already drawn up the operational plan for the campaign against Britain, and upon QinTian's arrival in Calais, the General Staff seized the opportunity to present the plan to him.
The forces designated for the operation against Britain mainly consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 8th Armies of the Imperial Army. These were among the most powerful and elite formations of the German Army. The combined strength of these four armies exceeded one million men.
The reason for deploying these particular armies was singular: victory in the operation against Britain was paramount. By committing these elite forces, the chances of success were greatly enhanced.
"Your Majesty, for this campaign against Britain, the Imperial Army will mobilize four of its primary armies, while the main fleet of the Imperial Navy's High Seas Fleet and the Imperial Marine Corps will also be fully engaged in the operation. The total strength will amount to one and a half million men!" Marshal von Falkenhayn declared.
QinTian nodded, acknowledging that for this operation, the Empire was committing its finest forces to the task.
"In this campaign against Britain, the most challenging aspect will undoubtedly be the amphibious landings. The General Staff plans to launch assaults at Ramsgate, Folkestone, and Eastbourne. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Armies of the Imperial Army, in coordination with the Marine Corps, will land at these points. The 8th Army, also supported by the Marine Corps, will land at Bournemouth and advance toward London from the south, striking at the flank of the British main forces."
"Once the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Armies have drawn the British forces to the southeast of England, the 8th Army's attack on their flank will offer us the opportunity to annihilate the British main forces in this region. If we can execute this phase successfully, the subsequent operations will be considerably easier," Marshal von Falkenhayn continued.
Though Britain's landmass was relatively small, it was densely populated with towns. To wage a prolonged battle over each city would result in heavy casualties for the German Army, even if they ultimately emerged victorious. However, by destroying the bulk of the British Army in the southeast, it would become exceedingly difficult for the British to defend London or other major cities.
QinTian, too, believed that once the three primary German armies landed in the southeast, the British forces would be under immense pressure to concentrate their strength in that area. The task of the 8th Army was to cut off their retreat and strike at their vulnerable rear. The likelihood of success for this plan seemed very high.
"Once this phase of the operation is completed, the Imperial Armies will march toward London. As the British capital, London will undoubtedly be fiercely defended. If the four armies can further decimate the remaining British forces there, we will have dealt a crushing blow to their military. With their strength broken, it will be much easier to defeat the British in the ensuing battles. Of course, another possibility is that, upon the fall of London, the British may choose to surrender," Marshal von Falkenhayn concluded.
"Once the Empire takes London, some may indeed surrender. But I am confident that a large portion of them will continue to resist. Churchill, in particular, is the type of person who will never cease fighting even with the fall of the capital. Even if we occupy the entire British Isles, I doubt their resistance will falter," QinTian remarked.
Marshal von Falkenhayn and Count Tirpitz, along with the other commanders, furrowed their brows. This was somewhat different from what they had anticipated. Initially, they had assumed that the fall of London would prompt British surrender, bringing the war to a swift conclusion, after which the Empire could achieve its goals at the negotiating table.
"Your Majesty, does this mean we must occupy the entire British Isles?" Count Tirpitz asked, his voice tinged with concern. If that were the case, the military task would undoubtedly become far more arduous.
QinTian smiled and shook his head. "After we take London, some British leaders will surely recognize the inevitable and surrender. At that point, we can support this faction in establishing a new government. We can then negotiate with them for peace. As for Churchill, if we can eliminate him on the battlefield, that would be the best outcome. Even if he escapes to another country, he will only cause minor trouble for the Empire. The victory is already a foregone conclusion."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the commanders responded in unison.
"One thing must be noted in this campaign against Britain. For centuries, the British Empire has been the world's dominant power, amassing vast wealth from its colonial conquests. This wealth is now stored in secret royal vaults across the British Isles. I expect that once we invade, we will secure these treasures. If Churchill and other imperialist figures manage to evacuate these riches, the Empire will face considerable difficulties," QinTian warned.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Marshal von Falkenhayn nodded, having already made plans to carry out extensive searches across Britain once the invasion commenced.
"The Imperial Navy must reinforce its blockade of Britain. Should the British realize they can no longer defend their homeland, they will undoubtedly attempt to flee. From the current situation, Canada seems to be their most likely escape destination. The Navy must ensure that the British do not reach there. If necessary, we can sink their ships. Even if King George V is not captured, he must not escape; if that is impossible, he should be eliminated. The treasure, including gold, must be dealt with in the same manner. If the Empire cannot have it, I would rather it sink to the bottom of the Atlantic," QinTian declared.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Admiral Reinhard Scheer, commander of the High Seas Fleet, responded.
"Very well, gentlemen, that will be all for now. Continue with preparations for the invasion of Britain. I expect the fighting to be concluded before Christmas this year," QinTian said with a smile.