Today, due to work commitments, I'll only be able to post one chapter. My apologies.

Once again, I'm serving as a homeroom teacher for a third-year class, which makes the start of the school year especially busy.

I've applied multiple times at the beginning of the year to be relieved of this role, hoping to focus on my writing. However, it seems to be a never-ending cycle: the more experienced or well-regarded you are as a homeroom teacher, the harder it is to step away. Year after year, they insist you stay, even forcing the position upon you if necessary.

Ironically, if I had completely given up and done a poor job, perhaps they'd be hesitant to appoint me next time.

…

Charles felt confident about the battle ahead.

One of the main reasons was that the French had previously captured several "Upper Silesia" tanks, allowing Charles to test them and obtain comprehensive data on their performance.

The "Upper Silesia" tank's front armor was 14mm thick, meaning the 37mm cannon on the "Charles A1" could penetrate it from around 350 meters away.

In contrast, with additional frontal armor bringing its thickness to 45mm, the "Charles A1" could only be pierced by the "Upper Silesia's" 57mm cannon if it got within 200 meters.

(Note: Dedicated armor-piercing shells had not yet been developed at this time, or the 57mm cannon's armor penetration capability would have been considerably stronger.)

Knowing this, the tanks of the 1st Armored Division stopped roughly 200 meters from the enemy trenches, setting up a steel barrier directly in front of the German defenses.

Rather than aiming at the German tanks or their 77mm field guns, the French tanks targeted machine gun nests and infantry in the trenches.

This was because most German tanks and guns were partially hidden in emplacements, making them hard to destroy given the "Charles A1's" precision limitations.

To counter the German tanks, the following "Saint-Chamond" and truck-mounted cannons moved in.

The truck-mounted cannons took center stage.

Tijani's 1st Mechanized Division deployed 80 truck-mounted cannons, and after the "Saint-Chamond" tanks forced the German artillerymen to retreat, the trucks quickly moved into firing positions.

This setup took only minutes; all they needed was flat ground or slightly leveled terrain. With a quick turn, the trucks pointed their 75mm cannons at the enemy's lines.

The more complex, vital preparation happened just before the truck-mounted cannons engaged:

Artillery spotters advanced alongside the infantry, identifying enemy tank positions through binoculars and marking their coordinates.

Communication soldiers followed, laying out telephone lines to connect with the artillery spotters as quickly as possible.

Initially, Charles had intended to use radios, but at that time, radios were low-quality, easily interfered with, and unsuited for the noise-ridden battlefield, serving better for communication between stable command posts.

The problem with telephones was that the lines were prone to being severed by artillery fire or accidentally run over by friendly vehicles.

Charles's solution was "spare no expense," assigning two communication teams to each artillery spotter unit, with each team setting up a line. Additionally, an emergency communication company was formed.

This emergency unit used armored cars and motorcycles with sidecars equipped with spools to rapidly lay lines. Covering distances of 3–4 kilometers took just five minutes to establish a connection.

This arrangement perfected the coordination between frontline infantry and rear artillery.

Artillery spotters relayed the tank coordinates to the rear artillery by phone, and the artillery fired accurately to eliminate each target.

The 75mm cannons had a maximum firing rate of 30 rounds per minute; even firing at a normal rate of about ten rounds per minute, the 80 truck-mounted cannons created an overwhelming barrage.

Shells exploded one after another across the German defenses, leaving German tanks in shambles in no time.

Meanwhile, the German tanks made little headway, their shells merely flashing in front of the "Charles A1" tanks without stopping their barrage on the German front.

Erwin, watching the scene, was on the verge of despair. This was one of the few battles since joining the war where he felt completely stymied; the previous time had been Charles's counterattack in Cambrai.

After a moment of silence, Erwin suddenly shouted, "Retreat! Retreat!"

He realized that defeat was inevitable, and continuing to fight would only add to their casualties.

The communications soldiers quickly relayed the retreat signal, though only eight German tanks managed to pull back, and two of those were destroyed while retreating.

With only 5mm of armor at the rear, even fragments could pierce the "Upper Silesia" tanks and damage their engines, even if the shell didn't hit directly.

Covered in dust and smoke from the explosions, Erwin returned to the forest where the tank division was based, his confidence shattered, his face darkened with soot, and his once-bright eyes now dimmed.

Major General Nicholas was pacing anxiously outside the shelter. As soon as he saw Erwin, he hurried over and asked, "What's the situation?"

"It's not good, sir," Erwin said, shaking his head helplessly. "Charles is far more formidable than I imagined. The defense I organized couldn't hold up against him."

Nicholas was taken aback; this didn't sound like Erwin at all. Erwin, normally brimming with pride, never backed down from a fight or deferred to others, not even Nicholas.

Yet now, he stood there, defeated and crestfallen, like a rooster after a lost fight.

"Pull yourself together, Captain," Nicholas said. "We haven't lost yet. You were at least right about Charles's intentions, and you alone saw through him! Now, I need you to anticipate his next move and stop him."

"Yes, sir." Erwin swallowed hard, gritting his teeth as he forced himself to focus. Looking over the map spread out on a nearby wheel, he said, "General, we have only one choice."

Pointing at the map, Erwin said, "The town of Valois, about thirty kilometers from here, is a crucial checkpoint on the way to Brussels. There's a bridge there, and if we can defend it or blow it up, we'll delay the enemy's advance."

Without further hesitation, Nicholas glanced at the map and decisively ordered, "The entire division is to withdraw to Valois. Full speed ahead!"

The German 1st Tank Division sprang into action. With only 38 tanks left, some of them recently repaired, no one could say if they'd even make it to Valois.

In the 1st Mechanized Division's command post, Charles received a call confirming the successful capture of the German defenses. Turning to Foch, he said, "Apologies, sir, but it seems I can't host you any longer."

Foch noticed the guards gathering documents and equipment. "You're planning to advance with the troops?" he asked, surprised.

"Yes," Charles nodded.

"No," Foch's eyes betrayed a hint of surprise. "You don't need to do that, Brigadier. You know this penetration mission is highly dangerous; one misstep, and you could find yourself surrounded by the enemy…"

"That's exactly why I need to be with the troops," Charles replied firmly. "Otherwise, how can we ask our soldiers to charge the enemy's positions despite the risks?"

Foch paused, then silently patted Charles on the shoulder. "You're right. I'll await your news of victory."

"Thank you, General." Charles shook Foch's hand.

As Charles's group departed, the command post suddenly felt empty, leaving only Foch and Weygand behind.

Thoughtfully, Foch asked Weygand, "Now, do you still believe his theories are wrong?"

Weygand fell silent.

Compared to them, strategists who crafted battle plans from the rear, Charles was a commander who threw himself into the fray.

It meant he could unite theory with practice, truly grasping the pulse of war, seizing the enemy by the throat…

Though Weygand hated to admit it, he had to concede, deep down, that the one who might be wrong was himself.

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