Chapter 315 Command Power
"Your Highness, the Russian Southwest Front Army has a strong force. And our allies seem to be unreliable. I'm afraid this battle is not easy to fight!" Manstein was a little worried about the upcoming battle.
Qin Tian nodded, the next battle is indeed not very favorable. However, in order to realize the plan and win the final victory on the Eastern Front, this battle must be fought!
"It is indeed difficult. But even so, we must fight this battle and win it. I believe that the Austrian army does not want to lose this battle. Once the battle begins, they will He will definitely cooperate with us," Qin Tian said.
Manstein nodded: "Your Highness, shall we hand over the command of this battle to the Austrian army? If we let them command our troops, I am afraid that not only will we not be able to win, but we will suffer heavy losses."
"How is this possible? There has never been a precedent for the Austrian army to command us. I will talk to them this afternoon about the issue of command. It would be best if the Austrian army could hand over command. If they refuse If the command is handed over, then everyone can only cooperate with each other. As for whether the cooperation is tight, it depends on them. However, I think we should not have too much expectations for this." Qin Tian said.
"Yes, Your Highness." Manstein felt more and more that this battle was not easy to fight. But at the same time, he also knew that this battle had to be fought and had to be won. Only in this way can the German Empire win the victory on the Eastern Front and change the current unfavorable situation.
Qin Tian rested for an hour, and at 2:30 in the afternoon, the joint combat meeting between Germany and Austria officially started.
In the conference room of the Austrian Army Command, the two parties sat down on both sides of the long table. However, there were several people sitting on the side of the Austrian army. On the German side, apart from Qin Tian, there was only one young Manstein.
"The Germans actually only sent two people to participate in the joint combat meeting. They are simply belittling us!" Crown Prince Karl was very upset when he saw Qin Tian and Manstein on the other side of the meeting table. In his view, this is clearly the Germans' contempt for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In addition, Germany only deployed one 8th Army on the long Eastern Front, and the other troops were deployed on the Western Front. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had to deploy millions of troops on the Eastern Front. This is clearly the Germans using them to fight with the Russians in order to reap the benefits. It is precisely because of this view that Crown Prince Karl is very dissatisfied with Germany from the bottom of his heart. If the Austro-Hungarian Empire is now in his hands, it is estimated that he will directly lead the Austro-Hungarian Empire out of this war and let Germany fight alone!
"His Royal Highness Oscar, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is grateful to Germany for sending reinforcements to us at a critical moment. His Majesty believes that the army led by His Highness will definitely defeat the Russians. In addition, His Majesty hopes that His Highness can visit Vienna at an appropriate time. His Majesty looks forward to Meet you." Archduke Friedrich had a smile on his face.
"Your Majesty the Grand Duke is too polite. Please tell His Majesty the Austrian Emperor that after this war is over, I will definitely visit Vienna." Qin Tian replied with a smile. He knew very well that Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria would not live long. Once the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I passed away and Crown Prince Karl succeeded him as Karl I, the relationship between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the German Empire would probably retreat significantly. This made Qin Tian hope that this war would preferably end before the death of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I. In this way, even if the attitude of the Austro-Hungarian Empire towards Germany changes, Germany will be able to handle all this with ease.
"His Royal Highness Oscar, does the German Empire have any plans for this battle against the Russian Southwest Front?" Marshal Herzendorf, Chief of Staff of the Austrian Army, asked.
"Your Excellency Chief of Staff, the 8th Army of the German Army has been heading to the front line one after another. It is estimated that within three days, it will arrive at the predetermined position. Three days later, that is, on October 7, the 8th Army will move from the north to the southwest of the Russian Army. The front army launched an offensive. Our primary attack target is the 4th Army of the Russian Southwest Front. After defeating the 4th Army, we will turn to attack eastward and threaten the rear of the main force of the Russian Southwest Front. We hope that the Austro-Hungarian Empire will The army can launch an attack on the frontal battlefield, cooperate with us in fighting, and defeat the Russian Southwest Front Army in one fell swoop." Qin Tian said.
"God! If I heard correctly, does His Royal Highness Oscar want the German Eighth Army to defeat the Russian Fourth Army first, and then cut off the retreat of the remaining three main Russian armies and eat them all at once?" Baron Herzendorf exclaimed.
The other Austrian generals were also shocked. In their opinion, the appetite of these Germans was too great.
Crown Prince Karl's face was full of contempt. In his opinion, Qin Tian is clearly bragging. Are the Russians that easy to deal with? If it could be defeated so easily, the Austro-Hungarian Empire would not be forced into what it is now.
"His Royal Highness Oscar, the Russian Southwest Front Army we are facing has four main armies with a total strength of more than one million soldiers. How could they be defeated so easily?" Crown Prince Karl asked.
"Of course, the Russian army is very strong, but we are not weak either. I think that no matter how strong the Russian Southwest Front Army is, it will not be much stronger than the Russian Army Northwest Front Army? We also wiped out the Russian Army in the previous battle. The Northwest Front Army is here." Qin Tian still kept a smile on his face, appearing very humble and polite.
But Crown Prince Karl believed that Qin Tian was clearly showing off the combat effectiveness of the German 8th Army, and even mocking the Austrian Army. A corps of the German Army faced the Northwest Front of the Russian Army and achieved a brilliant victory. But the Austrian army was beaten all over the place by the Russians.
Immediately, Crown Prince Karl's complexion became a little unsightly. But he has no way to refute, who made the German army so dazzling on the Eastern Front, and the Austrian army so incompetent? This made him, the crown prince, unable to straighten his back at all!
"Your Highness Oscar, how confident is your army in this battle?" Archduke Friedrich asked.
"At least 50% sure! If the Austrian army can fully cooperate with us in this battle, our chances of winning will be even greater. Therefore, I hope that in this battle, the Austrian army can obey my command! "Qin Tian said.
