CHAPTER 543: CHAPTER 543 FOR PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

The rain fell heavier and heavier, tinged with a faint red, striking the tank’s armor with a "thump-thump-clang-clang" sound.

In the assault trenches, the First Specialized Artillery Division was ready and waiting.

Kristen, clad in a raincoat, sat in the open rear compartment of the armored reconnaissance vehicle, surrounded by "Shire A1" tanks ready for action.

Beside him, a staff officer craned his neck to look beyond the assault trench, where the German Army had already clashed with the charging French infantry.

"General," the staff officer turned back to Kristen, puzzled: "This isn’t how our training goes; we seem, we should be leading the charge, not staying here."

Kristen sighed deeply; he didn’t know how to respond.

Perhaps cavalry should charge behind the infantry.

When both sides’ infantry are engaged in fierce battle, the cavalry can suddenly emerge from the flanks, encircling their rear, throwing the enemy into disarray and rout.

However, these are tanks.

If they charge behind the infantry, what significance does their armor hold?

As Kristen furrowed his brows deeply, a sharp, piercing whistle suddenly sounded, followed by the front-line commander’s loud order: "Attack, First Specialized Artillery Division! Attack!"

Kristen followed with the order: "Attack!"

The lead tank roared to life, revving up its engine and charging out of the assault trench, followed in single file by other tanks.

An officer poked his head out from the tank’s hatch and shouted to encourage his men: "Show those Germans some real strength, kill them all!"

Kristen, however, lacked any confidence.

It’s not pessimism; he knew Nivelle’s combat plan wouldn’t work.

Perhaps cavalry penetrating into enemy territory could survive for days, maybe even longer, as they more easily obtain supplies either from the enemy or requisitioned from civilians in enemy-controlled France.

Tanks are different; they require gasoline, which is not easily captured or requisitioned from civilians.

Without a successive plan, the First Specialized Artillery Division would barely survive a day after penetrating enemy lines.

While thinking this, the armored vehicle already ascended the battlefield slope.

Kristen was stunned by what he saw.

Shells continued to bombard the enemy positions fiercely, while French soldiers charged forward in waves against the artillery.

However, the Germans noticed the French tactics, risking the artillery to set up machine guns and sweep the advancing French.

Artillery fire posed little threat to the German machine guns, protected in trenches and behind sandbag parapets, some machine gun positions reinforced with logs, stones, and earth bunkers.

Unless a shell hits directly, it is difficult to destroy them.

Artillery fire instead posed significant impediment to the charging French: the smoke from exploding shells obscured the German firing points, and flying shrapnel and shattered stones prevented the French soldiers’ approach.

Thus, rows of French soldiers fell on their way to the charge, yet more French soldiers continued to storm forward over the bodies.

The no-man’s-land’s rotting corpses hadn’t been cleared yet and were soon covered by a fresh layer of bodies.

The dark red dried blood mixed with the bright red fresh blood and under the rain’s help covered the entire battlefield; it looked like a vast red land.

Soldiers continued to charge, falling amidst the rain of bullets.

The varied postures of the bodies underfoot made their charge increasingly difficult; some soldiers had to crawl on the corpses to advance.

Kristen, using binoculars, quickly scanned the scene and said expressionlessly: "We can’t follow the plan."

"But General," said the staff officer: "The plan is formulated by the Commander-in-Chief."

Not following the plan meant defying orders.

Kristen hesitated for a few seconds.

The infantry seemed incapable of successfully seizing the German defense line; if they continued with the original plan to penetrate, it was virtually a one-way trip.

Instead, changing the plan to coordinate with the infantry’s attack might offer a glimmer of hope.

With that, he decisively ordered: "Transmit the order; cancel the trench penetration, fully assist the infantry’s attack!"

"Yes, General," the staff officer responded and immediately conveyed the order through signal flags and radio.

The facts proved Kristen’s decision was correct.

The tanks penetrated the battlefield from the flanks, suppressing the German machine guns at close range with machine guns and artillery, using their armor to shield the infantry from bullets and shrapnel, enabling the infantry to charge into the German trenches for close combat.

Later, the French infantry and "Specialized Artillery" (armored soldiers) formed a tacit understanding in this struggle, cooperating to advance, successfully pushing the front line forward by one kilometer before dusk.

Nivelle, upon hearing the victory news, was elated; he promptly reported to Paris: "After arduous fighting, our army achieved a decisive victory at the River Somme, capturing two lines of defense and advancing one kilometer in just one day!"

Then, he eagerly sent the news to various newspapers.

The government, parliament members, and newspapers remained sober; instead of rushing to announce or report, they consecutively telephoned Nivelle to inquire about the casualties.

Everyone understood that Nivelle’s supposed victory likely came at a heavy cost.

Nivelle felt rather awkward but, with a history of concealing facts, didn’t dare to dodge the issue this time, hesitating briefly before truthfully responding: "Over 40,000 casualties in total."

The room was shocked:

"40,000 casualties in one day? That’s twice the size of Shire’s unit."

"Shire’s assault on Namur only resulted in a few hundred casualties, pushing the front line 13 kilometers; Shire didn’t claim a great victory, yet Nivelle calls this a major win?"

"How should we report this ’victory’? Ignore the casualty figures?"

...

Fuxu’s comments were particularly biting: "I cannot call this a ’victory’—advancing one kilometer at the cost of over 40,000 men. At this rate, when we push to the German border to reclaim French lands, it will cost us all our soldiers."

Petain stood with Fuxu at this point: "Then the Germans will proudly point their guns at our heads. And we can only surrender, for there will be no adult left in France to take up arms."

Nivelle didn’t anticipate such a reaction; just as he fumed, a more fatal blow came.

German Emperor William II voiced through the Berlin Daily: "Undoubtedly, the Allies are on the path to defeat; it’s time to end this meaningless war—Germany is willing to negotiate for peace!"

Do the Germans believe they are in an advantageous position?

And are willing to negotiate as victors?

Moreover, after Shire’s victory at Namur?

Clearly, it was the Battle of the River Somme that gave the Germans such confidence and momentum!

(Note: Germany indeed proposed to negotiate for peace, but it was in 1916 when both sides were exhausted, and Germany had the upper hand—both were willing to negotiate, but the United States’ financiers sabotaged it)