Chapter 687 07.686: “Eve of the Attack”

There are 84 days left until the planet extinction order is issued.

Tyra Week Saturday.

The Passchendaele-Ypres front was filled with a strong, pungent smell of blood.

The fishy smell floated in the air, covering the cruel battlefield.

“May their souls return to the Golden Throne.” Horatio slowly lowered the periscope, staring at the corpses lying all over the ground and the high piles of corpses formed by the remains of soldiers from both sides on the enemy’s position, and prayed in a low voice.

At this time, the 1124th Infantry Regiment was launching a desperate charge towards the Passchendaele area alone.

The absence of the 1118th Infantry Regiment, which was originally responsible for attacking another area, allowed the enemy to withdraw its troops to fully strengthen the defense of the 1124th Infantry Regiment’s charge area.

Horatio, Farida and Louise witnessed the entire brutal attack.

The Krieg soldiers looked solemn and silent.

As the whistle suddenly sounded and amid the rumbling of artillery fire, they resolutely climbed out of the trenches and advanced forward with firm steps.

During the attack, the heretics’ premeditated firepower came like a storm. Soldiers kept falling down, and they slowly approached the defense line at the cost of their lives and blood.

But the Chaos rebels were also afraid of the dense covering fire cast by the Imperial artillery units, and did not dare to easily fire at the Kriegs under the artillery fire.

In the end, under this suicidal charge, the 1124th Infantry Regiment left a pile of tragic corpses on the battlefield, but also severely damaged the enemy’s three infantry regiments.

Although they failed to completely break through the enemy’s position, they succeeded in inflicting heavy damage to the rebel corps guarding the Passchendaele area, rendering them unable to move and trapped in place.

After such intense and exhausting fighting and heavy casualties, it is unlikely that these rebels will have enough strength to support the defenders in the Ypres area.

Throughout the entire front, the Kriegs still had many places where they could launch effective attacks.

On Sunday, siege groups from many regions will coordinate attacks on these targets.

Even if the enemy has the mysterious and unpredictable arcane blessing of Tzeentch, it is difficult to predict which of the many attack points of the Krieg people tomorrow will be the main attack direction.

After all, every attack point is crucial and is a target that the Kriegs are determined to capture.

Therefore, even if the Tzeentch rebels obtained the so-called “divine foresight”, they did not have enough troops to deal with the Krieg’s last desperate offensive.

“Captain, we have mobilized the remaining industrial phosgene and chlorine from the surrounding factories in accordance with your request.” The staff officer wearing a gas mask saluted and reported.

“Only phosgene and chlorine left?” asked Horatio, frowning.

“Yes, these are the only industrial raw materials left. The more professional poison gas has been used up in the previous battle.”

Horatio was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly and said, “It’s better to have it than not. The rebels’ supplies are almost exhausted, and many of them use homemade gas masks of poor quality, which can be damaged by industrial phosgene. Moreover, as long as it can block vision and cover the attack, its purpose has been achieved.”

“In addition, the artillery regiment has prepared gas shells.” Staff Officer Clausewitz added, “These smoke and gas shells are standard artillery shells that can be fired at enemy positions to further disrupt the enemy.”

“The gas bombs can be fired at the bunkers at the enemy’s second trench, which will not hinder our attack. But is there any way to drop phosgene on the enemy’s position?”

The staff officer looked up at the flag on the position of the 1314th Infantry Regiment. At this time, a southeast wind was blowing in the gloomy sky.

He thought for a moment and then said, “I think, sir, we do have a solution.”

(Clausewitz Staff Officer/Staff Supervisor)
–
That night, the Kriegers laid long stretches of industrial pipe in front of their position, connecting them to truck tanks that stored dangerous gases in hidden locations behind them.

The rusty pipes were drilled with spray holes by an electric drill and were now lying quietly in the mud, emitting a sinister and dangerous smell.

At the headquarters, Horatio and Farida seemed more nervous than usual as the attack was approaching.

Farida stood in the command center, staring at the sand table in front of her, carefully examining the attack routes of each half company. Tomorrow morning, once the charge whistle blows, the attack plan on the sand table will be put into practice.

She was so nervous because she had never been in command of a large military group before.

From becoming the acting head of the group to formulating an offensive plan, all of this was accomplished in less than a week, which was somewhat like forcing things to happen.

Therefore, she was worried about whether every arrangement and plan she made was thorough and appropriate, and whether it would cause unnecessary casualties among the soldiers.

Even though the battle plan had been proposed by the entire staff, she still felt uneasy. But even if she felt uneasy, it was inconvenient to make major changes at this point.

[Horatio, witness our efforts! We will definitely take the Ypres position tomorrow!]
As the rumbling sound of artillery came from afar, the slender figure standing alone in front of the sand table was dimmed by the chandelier that was swaying slightly due to the distant artillery fire.

Horatio was also not idle at the position of the 1313th Infantry Regiment.

Before the attack, he planned to check the tunnels that had been dug in recent days.

The tunnel starts from the combat trench and extends towards the enemy position. It is complex inside and is divided into several different attack routes.

Compared to the rebels’ crude and low-end tunnels, the Kriegs, who had more experience in fortifications, obviously did a better job.

They reinforced the tunnel walls with timber and built drainage channels.

Every fifteen meters, each soldier is equipped with a hanging lamp installed on a wooden support column.

The layout of the entire tunnel is quite solid and orderly, and it does not look like a one-time temporary passage at all.

Before checking the tunnel, Horatio climbed up to the lookout again to observe the situation on the enemy’s position while thinking about the attack plan at dawn.

[The battlefield is so vast, how should I use the command hand and the war sand table?]
Through the trench periscope, he roughly estimated the coverage area of ​​his capabilities.

If he stayed in the trench command post, when his soldiers rushed to the enemy’s position, the place where they were would be beyond his maximum field of vision.

In addition to the depth, the width of the battle is what he is most worried about.

However, if I also participate in the charge in the no-man’s land and am in such a dangerous situation, it is still unknown whether I can take care of the micro-command at the same time.

Finally, his eyes fell on the entrance to the tunnel guarded by two soldiers, and an idea suddenly occurred to him.

[Wait, as long as I am within this range, I can command the troops. Does this mean that I can go through the relatively safe tunnels, through the no-man’s land, and continue to command the troops underground? !]
Thinking of this seemingly feasible plan, he took out his pocket watch and checked the time.

There are only three hours left before launching the attack, which is expected to start at five in the morning.

“Staff Officer Clausewitz,” he called to the entourage behind him.

“Here, Captain.”

“When the scheduled attack time comes, you will lead the staff and launch the attack according to the attack plan we have formulated.”

“What about you?”

“I led the underground commandos into the tunnels and through the no-man’s land. Don’t worry, I can also command the operations in the tunnels.”

The staff officer looked confused and couldn’t understand how one person could command ground operations in an underground tunnel, but this did not prevent him from executing orders. After all, this was the purpose of the existence of the general staff.

“Yes, Commander. At 1313 a.m., the th Regiment will launch the attack on time. I will then go into the tunnel and join you.”

“Release poison gas 30 minutes before attack.”

Horatio instructed, and then bent slightly, and under the watchful eyes of the staff team, he led a commando team consisting of up to a hundred grenadiers and veterans, and slowly entered the deep and dark underground tunnel.

(Horatio Cochrane, dressed during the Carpathian Campaign)
(End of this chapter)