novelraw Chapter 605: The King’s Command
Chapter 605: The King’s Command
Shire’s command post was set up in an armored reconnaissance vehicle, without a canvas cover in the open air. Snowflakes continuously fell from above, and the cold wind howled, making everyone shiver.
But Shire knew this was necessary.
While covering with canvas to shield against wind and snow seemed desirable, it would cause significant inconvenience for escaping and counter-attacking if the armored reconnaissance vehicle was attacked and caught on fire or encountered an emergency.
Nothing is more important than safety on the battlefield; everything else must yield to it.
Shire was eating his lunch, a piece of black bread seized from the German Army, frozen like a stone and needed to thaw in his mouth for a while before it could be chewed.
Tijani handed Shire a telegram, his face unabashedly showing excitement and pride: "The Germans have sent us another batch of supplies, filling more than twenty trucks!"
Shire took the telegram and saw that the tank unit at the forefront had encountered a supply convoy from the German Army. With just a few shots, the Germans surrendered, and the supplies, along with the trucks, were seized by the French Army, not a single one missed.
Such occurrences had happened more than once already and from all directions, making the previously resource-scarce First Armored Army suddenly affluent, at least in terms of food.
"I heard Hasselt is the German Army’s logistics center?" Shire asked.
"Yes." Tijani nodded: "The German Army’s train line leads directly to Hasselt city, where many underground warehouses have been built to store supplies."
This was decided by Shire after he continually attacked the German Army’s logistics supply line while holding air superiority.
The German Army did not dare to extend the train line directly to Leuven or closer to the front line; otherwise, both the railroad and the trains would be bombed into scrap metal.
They could only transport supplies to Hasselt and then disperse them to various frontline locations by truck under the cover of night to avoid airstrikes.
"Very well." Shire looked at Hasselt on the map and ordered: "Command the troops to prepare for a night march. We must arrive in Hasselt before dawn tomorrow."
"Yes, General." Tijani responded and relayed the order.
He understood the principle of speed being crucial; the sooner they arrived meant fewer enemy reinforcements, less prepared Hasselt, and a greater chance of quickly capturing it.
At this moment, a sedan from the rear caught up, honking several times as it closed in on Shire’s reconnaissance vehicle.
Shire and Tijani looked at the sedan in confusion, seeing Albert I sticking his head out, enthusiastically waving at Shire: "Hey, General, it’s me. I came straight after getting off the plane!"
Shire and Tijani exchanged glances, seeing surprise and alarm in each other’s eyes.
Albert I had committed at least three fatal mistakes:
First, he was driving a non-armored and very conspicuous sedan on the battlefield. If any German soldiers were ambushing by the roadside, they could easily recognize someone important in the car.
Second, he waved at Shire and shouted "General". If a German sniper or squad happened to be lurking nearby, Shire and his command post would be in danger.
Third, he was dressed in an extremely ostentatious military uniform: wearing a high-crowned hat with gold trim, a wide collar embroidered with noticeable leaves, shoulder straps adorned with yellow decorations, and a medal pinned to his chest, resembling a president from the Republic era.
This outfit would inevitably bring danger to himself and those around him, no matter where he went.
(Above: Albert I in military uniform)
Tijani cautiously stuck his head out to scan the surroundings, and only when he detected no anomalies did he turn back to Shire, with a tone of relief and disdain: "Do you think he is suitable to command the Belgian Army?"
Shire felt a bit helpless. He ordered the reconnaissance vehicle to stop and gently answered as Albert I got on board: "Yes, Major General, no one is more suitable than him."
Tijani assumed Shire was being sarcastic. Originally intending to retort, he held back as Albert I approached, simply pursing his lips dismissively.
He believed this king was more suited to stay at the rear and stabilize the situation; the battlefield was not his place.
"My dear friend." Albert I embraced Shire excitedly as he boarded, then patted Tijani’s shoulder and firmly held Shire’s hand, his eyes filled with gratitude: "I knew you would lead us to defeat the Germans, General. I never doubted it, nor did my soldiers!"
"Your Majesty." Shire casually handed over his helmet: "If you wish us to defeat the Germans, you must wear it."
Albert I froze briefly, then realized and responded with embarrassment: "Of course, General. Forgive me for my folly. However, I shouldn’t use your helmet; I could..."
He suddenly remembered the Belgian Army was not equipped with helmets yet.
"Take it." Shire handed over the helmet: "My helmet is the same as anyone else’s. My orderly will get me another."
In fact, Shire wanted Albert I to quickly replace the conspicuous high-crowned hat, which was particularly noticeable in the semi-open armored vehicle.
"Alright!" Albert I finally complied and replaced it as per Shire’s suggestion.
But this wasn’t all; Shire sent the sedan trailing behind away, then had Albert I remove his medal, shoulder straps, and decorations, equipping him with a white cloak for camouflage to finish the task.
Albert I wasn’t entirely clueless. He understood the reason, and thus did not object from start to finish.
"What can we do, General?" Albert I asked.
"You might already know where our target is." Shire answered.
"Of course." Albert I pointed to a spot on the open map: "Hasselt."
This wasn’t hard to guess from the direction of Shire’s troops.
"First." Shire replied: "I need your troops to establish a supply line from Namur to Hasselt."
"Understood!" Albert I decisively nodded.
He knew well what establishing a supply line entailed.
Supply lines differ from defensive lines.
Defensive lines require trenches, barbed wire, and guarding each point without leaks.
Supply lines involve occupying and holding villages along the route, providing cover and protection for arriving supply convoys.
Shire had done this when attacking Antwerp, and Albert I had long studied these tactics thoroughly.
"Secondly." Shire continued: "I hope you can send a team of militia to infiltrate Hasselt, leading its people to cooperate with our attack."
"No problem." Albert I confidently nodded, as this was his specialty.
Tijani finally understood. He looked from Shire to Albert I.
Indeed, the king was an apt commander, Tijani thought because Belgians along the way would believe it was the king leading the army and Shire to liberate them!