Trenches, Guns, and Magic

General Mackensen's order was quickly disseminated.

Before long, the core staff team of the First Army Group Headquarters hurried into General Mackensen's command tent.

Leading them was the Chief of Staff of the First Army Group, Lieutenant General Seeckt.

He was a lean-faced general in his middle years, known within the Saxon Army for his outstanding organizational abilities and profound tactical thinking.

When Seeckt and the staff officers entered the tent and saw Morin standing in front of the map, a hint of surprise crossed their faces.

They were all already familiar with the name Friedrich Morin.

The young Captain and his mysterious Instruction Assault Battalion had created too many miracles in the short time since the war began.

But to call an emergency meeting of such high caliber, with a company-grade officer as the main subject, was unprecedented.

"General."

Seeckt saluted Mackensen, then turned his gaze to Morin, his eyes holding a trace of doubt.

"Seeckt, everyone, come here."

General Mackensen wasted no words, pointing directly at the map.

"I called everyone together urgently to discuss a new operational plan… one that might allow us to break through the Creil Line in a single decisive strike."

He glanced at Morin, signaling him to begin.

Morin took a deep breath. He knew that the following presentation would likely be the most important 'briefing' he had faced since crossing over.

Whether his ideas would be accepted by these Imperial elites, who determined the lives and deaths of hundreds of thousands of men in the First Army Group, hung in the balance.

He showed no stage fright, and in front of everyone, he clearly and logically re-articulated the 'Creeping Barrage' and 'Assault Group Tactics' he had just presented to Mackensen and Leonia.

From concentrating artillery for precise strikes, to the innovative model of infantry-artillery coordination, to using the elite assault team as a spearhead to tear open a breach, and finally to the rapid follow-up and deep penetration of subsequent forces—

Every word Morin spoke was full of power and confidence, resonating clearly in the ears of everyone in the tent.

During the entire explanation, the tent was silent.

All the staff officers, including General Seeckt, listened intently.

Their eyes followed Morin's finger as it moved across the map, their expressions evolving from initial surprise to solemnity, and finally to shock.

When Morin finished his last word and put down the pencil, the entire tent fell into a long silence.

The staff officers exchanged glances, all processing the groundbreaking tactical concepts they had just heard.

"This is too audacious."

A military officer responsible for artillery coordination spoke first:

"Concentrating the majority of the Army Group's heavy artillery on a two-kilometer front does indeed create unprecedented firepower density, but can our artillery truly achieve such precise fire coverage and extension?"

"If the shell landing points deviate and accidentally hit our own Assault Troops, the consequences…"

His concern was well-founded; it was the major short-coming of the Saxon Army's current infantry-artillery coordination.

"Also, having the infantry charge while the artillery fire is still extending—that's far too dangerous!"

Another operations staff officer also raised an objection.

"The soldiers will experience great fear from the close proximity of the artillery fire, and this will affect their morale and charging speed."

"Most critically, committing heavy forces on such a narrow front means that if the breakthrough fails… our troops will be jammed together in a confined area, becoming perfect targets for the Gauls' artillery. The casualties at that point would likely be even worse than they are now!"

As soon as someone spoke, objections arose from all sides.

These experienced staff officers, from their respective professional perspectives, pointed out the enormous risks present in this tactical plan.

General Mackensen and Leonia listened quietly, saying nothing.

They were waiting to see how Morin would respond to these sharp criticisms, and they were also waiting for the statement of the other key person—Seeckt, the Army Group Chief of Staff.

Just as the atmosphere in the tent was growing heavy, Morin spoke calmly:

"I myself, along with the Instruction Assault Battalion, will be the first to leap out of the trenches. The follow-up forces only need to closely follow our footsteps and launch the attack on the enemy's positions."

"I will not fear, and the soldiers of the Instruction Assault Battalion will likewise not fear."

"Or rather, we no longer have the luxury of fear…"

"This will be our last offensive."

The staff officers in the tent were momentarily at a loss for how to respond. They naturally understood the predicament the First Army Group was facing.

Moreover, when the proposer of the operational plan was standing on the front line to lead the charge, they seemingly had no right to question matters related to courage…

Just as the staff officers were exchanging glances, General Seeckt, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

"Gentlemen…"

The Chief of Staff walked to the map and carefully examined the tactical markings Morin had drawn, an unusual light flickering in his eyes.

"The risks you mentioned all exist… But, just as Captain Morin said…"

He changed his tone, his voice becoming exceptionally firm.

"Do we have any other choice now?"

Seeckt looked around at his subordinates, and continued:

"If we continue with the current method, can we break through Creil? Yes, we can! But how long will it take? A week? Two weeks?"

"How many casualties will it cost? Twenty thousand? Or thirty thousand?"

"Even if we pay such a heavy price and take Creil, will we still have the strength left to attack Paris?"

The rapid succession of questions silenced the staff officers who had been raising objections.

Seeckt turned his gaze to Morin, his eyes filled with appreciation and approval.

"In fact, I have also been thinking about ways to break the stalemate recently… Many of my thoughts align with Captain Morin's."

"However, I was still formulating a vague outline, while he has integrated these ideas into a logically rigorous and highly viable complete tactical plan!"

He slammed his hand down on the table, making a loud noise.

"I support Captain Morin's 'Assault Group Tactics'! I believe this is our only and best choice right now!"

The declaration from the Army Group Chief of Staff was like a guarantee, instantly turning the tide of the discussion in the tent.

As the 'brain' of the First Army Group, his opinion carried immense weight.

With his support, General Mackensen's last trace of hesitation vanished.

He stood up straight, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, and delivered the final decision in an authoritative tone.

"I have decided to adopt Captain Morin's recommendation and concentrate the strength of the entire Army Group to launch a decisive offensive!"

"Seeckt!"

"Here, General!"

"From now on, you will personally take charge, leading the staff officers of the Operations Department to immediately begin perfecting the operational plan around the core idea of the 'Assault Group Tactics'!"

"Yes, General!" Seeckt snapped to attention and saluted, his eyes blazing with the will to fight.

The impromptu meeting concluded. Led by Seeckt, the staff officers immediately plunged into the intense yet excited work of planning.

The entire headquarters transformed into a war machine injected with new vitality, beginning to operate at high speed.

Morin was detained by Mackensen.

"Friedrich "

General Mackensen called Morin by his first name, his expression complex—both gratified and emotional.

"You have impressed me yet again."

"The General is too kind."

"It's not kindness."

Mackensen shook his head: "I just didn't expect that the young man I brought back from the hedonistic life of the capital would actually grow to this level today."

"Perhaps Captain Morin is a born soldier…"

Leonia suddenly said with a smile:

"Captain Morin, I greatly admire your words. Just like all of us Teutonic Knights, 'fear' never appears in our dictionary."

After a brief exchange, General Mackensen ordered Morin to rest and prepare thoroughly for the upcoming battle.

Morin bid farewell to Mackensen and Leonia and walked out of the command tent.

The liaison officer who had retrieved him from the front line 'timely' ran over and led Morin back into the car.

Late that same night, an order from the Army Group Headquarters was delivered to all the attacking units on the front line, as well as to the temporary camp of the Instruction Assault Battalion.

The content of the order was simple:

Effective immediately, the Imperial Guards First Instruction Assault Battalion, would be dispersed in company and platoon units among the various infantry regiments scheduled for the main attack mission.

They were tasked with providing temporary tactical instruction and coordinated drills for the elite Assault Troops selected by those regiments, over a period of 48 hours.

Morin looked at the order. He knew an unprecedented storm was about to gather over Creil.

And the Instruction Assault Battalion would be the eye of that storm.

The next morning, before dawn fully broke, the Saxon positions on the Creil front became exceptionally busy.

It was no longer the deathly silence and tension before a charge, but a measured commotion, tinged with a hint of excitement.

According to the order from the Army Group Headquarters, all infantry regiments designated to serve as the first wave of Assault Forces in this 'decisive offensive' selected the most elite and courageous group of soldiers from their respective units.

These men were mostly seasoned veterans, or non-commissioned officers and privates who had performed exceptionally well in previous battles.

They were temporarily organized into Assault Companies and Assault Platoons, and then brought to designated assembly points.

And waiting for them were 'instructors' from the Imperial Guards First Instruction Assault Battalion.

Morin completely broke up his Instruction Assault Battalion, with officers or experienced non-commissioned officers leading groups responsible for instructing one or two friendly Assault Troops units.

Private Erik was one of the 'elites' selected by the 42nd Infantry Regiment.

The hellish charge and retreat from the previous day had left him nearly collapsed, but once he successfully returned to the trench, he had become one of the 'elite soldiers' of the 42nd Infantry Regiment.

When his superiors informed him that he would be joining the first wave of the entire Army Group's attack force, Erik's mind went blank, and he thought his end was near.

However, when he immediately learned that he had also been chosen to participate in training personally conducted by the legendary Instruction Assault Battalion…

Thinking of the combat prowess displayed by the soldiers of the Instruction Assault Battalion yesterday, Erik felt a renewed hope for survival.

Soon, he, along with the other selected soldiers, left the front-line trenches and arrived at the assembly area further back.

The novel has already been fully translated up to the last updated chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at patreon.com/caleredhair