CHAPTER 684: CHAPTER 684 MEZIERES

Albert I appeared surprised, but quickly became despondent again: "But if you leave the Sixth Army here, what will you use to reinforce Dunkirk?"

In the next second, Albert I seemed to understand:

"You plan to take the First Armored Corps and the Belgian First Special Reconnaissance Corps, don’t you?"

"A good choice, General."

"Trust me, the First Special Reconnaissance Corps was built to cooperate with the First Armored Corps, and they can complete all the tasks you assign to them."

Shire said nothing, not agreeing with this point.

The Belgian First Special Reconnaissance Corps were pure infantry; they could only "follow up" and "fill in the lines" rather than "cooperate."

But that wasn’t important.

"I want you to meet someone, Your Majesty," Shire said, nodding towards Tijani.

Tijani understood and turned to give an order to a staff officer.

After a while, a young colonel entered the office and stood upright in front of Shire, saluting. He even had a wound on his forehead, bandaged with a visible patch of blood seeping through.

Albert I glanced at the colonel and looked at Shire with a puzzled expression: "I don’t believe I know him, General."

"You don’t know him," Shire gestured toward the young colonel: "Let me introduce you; this is Colonel Tassin, just promoted to commander of the First Artillery Division, for his role in defeating German deserters in the Arden Mountains!"

Albert I suddenly understood; he had heard about that battle.

Tassin stepped forward and saluted Albert I: "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty."

Albert I shook hands with Tassin: "The honor is mine, Colonel. That was an excellent command; two thousand men defeated five thousand enemies!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Tassin maintained a calm expression. Only Shire’s approval could truly excite him.

"But," Albert I asked in confusion: "I heard you and your unit were searching for remaining enemy forces in the Arden Mountains..."

"No," Tassin spread his hands: "As you can see, we are in Namur."

"We?" Albert I asked, "You mean..."

"Yes, we." Tassin nodded, "My unit and I, the First Special Artillery Division."

Albert I was even more perplexed: "You mean the First Special Artillery Division is in Namur?"

Tijani laughed: "You thought the tanks and the ’Saint-Chamond’ were from the First Armored Division? No, Your Majesty, those were from the First Special Artillery Division!"

This was a ruse Shire devised to confuse the Germans.

Shire, Tijani, and numerous tanks were in Namur. Naturally, they thought the First Armored Division was there.

But that wasn’t the case.

The First Armored Division had already swapped places with the First Artillery Division from Charleroi during a night unnoticed by the German Army.

Albert I still didn’t understand: "If the First Special Artillery Division is here, then where is the First Armored Division? Have they gone to reinforce Dunkirk?"

"No," Shire shook his head: "The First Armored Division is in the Arden Mountains."

Albert I gasped: "The Arden Mountains?"

"Yes!" Shire replied calmly: "They will spend the next two to three days crossing the Arden Mountains to attack Mezieres!"

Albert I stared blankly for a moment, then turned his gaze to the map on the table.

When he found Mezieres’ location, his eyes widened, and he looked up at Shire in disbelief: "My God, you’re planning to surround all the main German forces! Is this... is this possible? Can it succeed? I mean, can an armored unit cross the Arden Mountains..."

...

Mezieres is located at the junction between the Paris Basin and the Arden Mountains, a transportation hub in northeastern France. Several railways and highways pass through the city, and the Meuse River runs through it as well, with nearby iron and coal mines, making it an important metal smelting industrial center in northeastern France.

(Above is the location of Mezieres, the red line indicates the route of Shire’s First Armored Corps. The name on the map is "Charleville-Mezieres." During World War I, Charleville and Mezieres were two adjacent fortress cities. After World War II, as the cities expanded, they merged into one.)

Admiral Nicholas, commander of the 21st German Army, established his headquarters here.

This was not by his choice, as Mezieres is over a hundred kilometers from the River Somme front line, truly a rear position.

Admiral Nicholas, former superior to Major General Erwin and former commander of the First Tank Division, would have preferred to lead his men in tanks charging into enemy trenches.

However, Fajin Han’s orders dashed his hopes.

Fajin Han spoke gently:

"You have been wounded, Admiral. For the sake of your health, and also as a strategic-level commander."

"I believe you are more suitable for ensuring the safety of rear supplies. Mezieres is a good place; it is a major rear position of our army!"

"It is very important; besides you, I wouldn’t trust anyone else."

Yes, Mezieres was indeed very important.

From here, almost all supplies heading north had to pass through Mezieres. Additionally, nearby Mezieres were Germany’s much-needed coal and iron mines. The city itself was also a highly productive industrial city.

However...

"I can’t imagine what danger could be here!" Admiral Nicholas angrily complained to his staff officer while looking at the map: "The Meuse River creates a ’C’ shape blocking ahead, and the rear is the Arden Mountains. Seeing an enemy here would be difficult, unless they’re spies!"

The staff officer patiently responded: "We are the strongest support for the front line, General."

The staff officer knew that Fajin Han’s arrangement was to hand over military power to Major General Erwin. He believed that if anyone could defeat Shire, it had to be Erwin, undisturbed Erwin.

Facts had proven Fajin Han right, as Major General Erwin achieved unprecedented success on the River Somme front.

Meanwhile, Shire didn’t dare to move a step from Namur.

"General!" a communications officer reported: "The First Tank Division has already reached Dunkirk, and Major General Erwin is commanding them to attack the British Army’s defense line!"

The command post erupted in cheers as the staff officers and communications officers congratulated each other:

"Great, we’re about to defeat the British."

"No one can save them, not even Shire."

"Because France has only one Shire, and he can’t be in two places at once!"

...

Admiral Nicholas looked at the telegram in his hand, his expression complex.

He shouldn’t envy Erwin’s achievements; he should be happy for this victory, feel honored.

However, he couldn’t deceive himself; his heart was filled with bitterness.

"I should be there!" Admiral Nicholas murmured quietly.

The staff officer understood what these words meant. He opened his mouth to say something but ultimately said nothing.

War is realistic; Admiral Nicholas should accept that Major General Erwin was better than him!