(Chapter to)
"Then how should our troops be distributed? The 89th Army Corps is currently assembled in the Le Havre area, and the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions are in Calais. Should we abandon the landing at Dover and divide the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions? Where's the 2nd Marine Division going to Normandy?" Eck asked.
"I don't think so. We can completely change the landing points from two to three. We will first land in Plymouth, and then wait for an opportunity to land in Portsmouth and Dover." Dougal suggested.
"I agree with Dougal. Once we land in Plymouth, we will definitely disrupt the deployment of the British, and the British army only has one infantry division in Plymouth. They will inevitably draw troops from other places. , then our chance will come." Xiao Jie also agreed.
"Then how many troops do we need to invest in the Plymouth landing operation? If we want to contain the main force of the British army, this force must also have a strong combat effectiveness." Eck continued.
"Well, the main force of the 89th Legion will be transferred to Normandy, and two infantry divisions will be deployed from it to Calais. This way of apportionment is basically enough." Eck thought for a while and said.
"Should we be the first marine division in Normandy? After all, they are the best at landing operations." Davout also suggested.
"That's good. The 2nd Marine Division will be transferred from Calais to Normandy, and the troops drawn from the 89th Army will also be increased from two infantry divisions to three infantry divisions." Xiao Jie made a final decision. In this case, the landing force of the French army is divided into three parts, one part is the army directly under the 89th Army in Normandy and the three infantry divisions of the army, plus the 2nd Marine Division, the total force is about More than 80,000 people. The second part is the 4 marine divisions deployed on the Isle of Wight, with a total strength of about 60,000 people. The third part is the 1st Marine Division and the 3 infantry divisions of the 89th Army deployed in Calais, with a total strength of about 60,000 troops.
"Your Majesty, I still think it's not safe to invest 200,000 people in attacking England. Why don't I use my French 1st Army as a reserve team, and if other situations arise, I can quickly put them on the battlefield." Davout said with a smile all over his face. He was bent on leading the army to land in England, even as a reserve.
"Doesn't the French 1st Army have combat missions? They will work with the French 2nd Army to wipe out the guerrillas in Prussia." Xiao Jie said with a frown.
"Your Majesty, now that we have signed a peace treaty with the Prussian side, the combat mission has dropped a lot. One legion is enough. Therefore, I hope you can let the French 1st Army perform the combat mission of sweeping up the Prussian guerrillas. The 2nd Army is willing to be a reserve force for landing in England." Bessières also expressed his intention.
Next, several other legions expressed their willingness to serve as the reserve team. This situation made Xiao Jie dumbfounded.
"Quiet me, what are you arguing about? I made this proposal first. Of course, our French 1st Army should be the reserve team." Marshal Davout roared angrily. He wants to use his seniority and prestige to put others down. However, the others didn't seem to give him face, and they kept arguing.
Seeing this situation, Eke quickly winks at Xiao Jie, implying that if he does not agree to Davout's request, it may be difficult to end today.
Therefore, Xiao Jie had no choice but to compromise: "Well, the French 1st Army will serve as the reserve team for this battle."
After Xiao Jie gave the order, Dawu, who had what he wanted, immediately became proud, while the others looked depressed.
After that, a large number of orders were passed from the French General Staff, and the French army moved again. A large number of troops began to mobilize. The strait was clouded with battle clouds again. In order to confuse the British, the transfer of the 89th Army Corps and the 2nd Marine Division was carried out in secret. Everyone only knew that a large number of French troops were being transferred to Calais, but they did not know that the main force of the 89th Army Corps had already secretly left. Normandy is gone. In addition, Xiao Jie asked the French army to build a large number of camps in Calais. The scale was completely built according to the standard of a legion's garrison. This made the British more sure that the main direction of France's attack was at Dover. Already.
The large-scale mobilization of the French army also attracted great attention from the British side. On June 9, the British Prime Minister, the Earl of Liverpool, once again convened cabinet members to discuss countermeasures.
"Your Excellency, if the information from the Military Intelligence Bureau is correct, then the French should be preparing to land in Dover. At present, we have less than 70,000 troops deployed in Dover. If France really invests one If the army has nearly 110,000 people to attack, I am afraid that we will not be able to stop it, so I request to send two to three additional infantry divisions and two independent artillery brigades in the direction of Dover." Minister of War Hammurabi suggested.
"However, apart from the recruits who have just finished training, only the 1st Infantry Division is still deployed in London, and all other divisions have combat missions." Liverpool said with some embarrassment. He has suffered a lot from his previous emphasis on sea and light on land. If he had been able to increase his investment in the army, he would not be so embarrassed now. However, it is too late to say anything now, even if all the national power is used on the army now, it is too late. The only hope is that the Army can hold out until the newly recruited army can form a fighting force, and then there is still hope for Britain to win.
"I think we can draw troops from Scotland or other places." Hammurabi suggested, obviously he didn't have much trust in the army that had just finished training.
"This will not work. Now we have only 4 infantry divisions in the army deployed in Scotland, no less." Liverpool refused.
"However, if we don't increase our troops, I'm afraid that the front line will be unable to withstand the French attack. Once they are allowed to gain a firm foothold, our situation will be in danger." Hammurabi persuaded.
Liverpool was lost in thought. Although the United Kingdom now has more than 600,000 troops, including 450,000 people who are undergoing training, he still feels that there is a huge shortage of troops.
"How about it, Your Excellency Prime Minister, we can send three recruit divisions to Scotland, and then replace the two divisions stationed there to defend England. Although the combat effectiveness of those recruit divisions is not strong, it is still more than enough to maintain the stability of the region. ’ suggested Hammurabi.
That's a good idea, thought Liverpool. "Well, then, as you say. But time must be quickened, and the French attack may be imminent. In order to ensure that the position is held until reinforcements arrive, I think it is better to transfer the 1st Infantry Division to Dover first. Alright," said Liverpool.
Hammurabi was overjoyed. The 1st Infantry Division is an elite force in the British Army. Their duty has always been to protect the safety of the capital. If the 1st Infantry Division is transferred to Dover, Dover's defense line will be much stronger. However, before he was happy for a long time, he immediately raised objections.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, that's not acceptable. If the 1st Infantry Division is transferred away, then who will be responsible for the safety of London?" The Home Secretary immediately objected.
"Yes, Your Excellency, the 1st Infantry Division is responsible for defending the capital and the royal family. How can it be transferred to the front line?" The Foreign Secretary, Lord Smeagley, also echoed.
"If we can't hold the line of defense and let the French army land, then what's the use of the 1st Infantry Division staying in London?" Hammurabi said a little angrily.
"Well, let's decide. The 1st Infantry Division will be transferred to Dover first. After the arrival of the two infantry divisions from Scotland, the 1st Infantry Division will withdraw to London. In the meantime, the safety of London will be determined by the The Police Department is in charge, and as for the safety of the royal family and His Majesty the King, I think the Royal Guards should be able to take care of it." Liverpool said compromised.
Now ~www.mtlnovel.com~ everyone has no objection.
"Prime Minister Singer, what if the French army's main attack direction is not Dover? Isn't our deployment in vain?" The Minister of the Interior suddenly thought of a possibility and quickly reminded.
"Your Excellency, according to the information obtained by the Military Intelligence Bureau, there are only two areas where the French army gathers. One is the Isle of Wight, where there are about 60,000 people, and the other is Calais, where the French army has deployed more than 100,000 people. , From this point of view, the direction of the French army's attack is also obvious. In other words, if the French army lands from the direction of the Isle of Wight, then we don't have to be afraid at all. We have deployed 8 infantry divisions near Portsmouth Yes, it can completely guarantee the safety of the area." Hammurabi laughed.
The Minister of the Interior stopped talking, he could hear the ridicule from Hammurabi's words, but he didn't refute, just sat down resentfully. He knows that due to the tense situation now, after the defeat of the navy, the status of the army has risen to an unprecedented height, and Hammurabi has also become the second cabinet member under Prime Minister Liverpool. It wouldn't do him any good if it was head-to-head, so he chose to swallow his anger.
"Okay, everyone, stop arguing. The French attack is imminent. Everyone should unite and work hard to resist the French attack." Liverpool said majesticly.