Chapter four hundred and sixty fifth
Nyköping, a city in southeastern Sweden, was originally a logistics distribution center for the Swedish Southern Army. However, now this place has become the forefront of the battlefield. Since the French army launched a fierce attack, the Swedish army's frontline positions have frequently missed, and they have not stabilized until they retreated to Nyköping.
Admiral Kyle, the commander of the Swedish army, silently watched the busy officers and soldiers outside the headquarters. He has been the supreme commander here for less than a month. However, the current battle situation has become like this. He was almost certain that it would not be long before the Swedish army would collapse across the board. The powerful attack power of the French army is simply not something that the more than 200,000 Swedish troops in his hands can resist.
It has been less than two days since the French army launched the attack, but his army has lost tens of thousands of people. At this rate, his troops would be wiped out in less than a week. Although he doesn't know how much the French army lost, he can be sure that the French army's losses must be much lighter than the Swedish army's losses. Even if there are losses, most of them are the troops of France's vassal states. The losses of the French 89th Army were slight and almost negligible.
"General, there is an urgent call from Stockholm." A communications officer came to Kyle with a telegram.
Kyle took the telegram and waved the officer down. He knew it should be Stockholm's answer. Three hours ago, he reported to Stockholm the situation on the front line and asked for instructions from Stockholm.
There were only a few words in the telegram, and after a little reading, Kai Kele understood the meaning of Stockholm.
Due to the current situation, Stockholm is in the middle of the French army's north-south attack, and it is impossible to send troops to support the southern battlefield. Moreover, the southern battlefield must also resist the pace of the French army going north, creating enough time for Stockholm to resist the French army from the north. But now the Swedish army on the southern front can no longer withstand the attack of the French army, and it is only a matter of time before they collapse. The only thing the Swedish military can take advantage of is their favorable terrain. They can use the favorable terrain to stop the advance of the French army. To try to get out of the current predicament.
"Retreat to South Talije? This is simply impossible." Kyle put the telegram on the table angrily, and said dissatisfied. Now the French army is pressing very hard, and the Swedish army can temporarily resist the French army's attack by relying on a solid position. Once retreating, the French army will definitely seize this opportunity to attack aggressively. By that time, it will be basically impossible for the Swedish army to resist the attack of the French army.
However, it is not advisable to stick to Nyköping. As more and more French artillery entered the battle, the defense line built by the Swedish army was being smashed bit by bit by the French army. When the defense line completely collapses, it will be their end. This day may be in a week, but it is also very likely to be tomorrow.
However, it would be very beneficial to the Swedish army if it could safely retreat to Sodertalye. Although it is impossible for them to defeat the French army, it is quite easy to resist the French army's attack. The west of Sodertalje is Lake Mälaren, and the east is the Baltic Sea. The terrain is very narrow. As long as troops can be sent to establish a line of defense on the South Tallje line, it will be very difficult for the French army to break through the Swedish army's defense line and attack Stockholm. However, Sweden and Canada are now facing a difficulty, that is, can the French army allow them to evacuate Nyköping? Once the French army followed them while they were withdrawing, it was likely to cause a complete collapse of the Swedish army.
"Come on, the generals are all called to the conference room, saying that there is an important strategic situation that needs to be discussed." Kyle ordered.
His orderly was soon off to deliver orders.
In less than half an hour, all the officers of the Swedish army with the rank of brigadier general and above gathered in the conference room. Although Sweden's southern army has only a total of more than 200,000 troops, there are many generals, more than 50. But most of them are brigadier generals and major generals. There are only 4 lieutenant generals and only two generals, one is Kyle, and the other is a veteran who is over 60 years old-General Byron.
"Your Excellency, Commander, don't you know that the war is very tense now? You want us to attend this kind of boring meeting. If the defense line is breached by the French army, who will take the responsibility." As soon as Kyle sat down, a The lieutenant general named Lev complained.
"General Lev, don't forget, I am the supreme commander here now. I know what the meeting should be, and you have no right to refute." Kyle got angry immediately. He knew these generals and basically rejected him. Do you think he came by airborne? Originally, Admiral Byron was the most promising commander of the southern front, but due to Kyle's intervention, Byron could only become the deputy commander. Most of these generals are from the Byron family.
"Don't act like a deputy commander. You are nothing in front of me. Remember when I led the army to fight, you didn't know where to nurse?" Lev slapped the table and laughed loudly. Didn't take Kyle seriously at all.
Seeing that Lev didn't take himself seriously, Kyle was even more angry. He knew what was behind Lev, and with Byron backing him up, Lev wouldn't have dared to be so arrogant. Glancing at Byron, he saw that Byron was sitting on a chair in a daze as if he hadn't seen the incident at all. Kyle only felt angry, and shouted: "Come on, pull Lev out for me. I will punish the 50 army sticks."
Immediately, a group of gendarmes rushing in like wolves and tigers. Hold Lev and pull it out.
Lev didn't believe that Kyle dared to deal with him, and immediately cursed: "You son of a bitch, dare you."
"Okay. Lev, apologize to General Kyle!" Byron said suddenly at this time.
"Me." Lev was a little unwilling.
"Sorry!" Byron said impatiently.
"I'm sorry, General Kyle." Lev apologized unwillingly. Although he said so in his mouth, he already hated Kyle to death in his heart.
"Let's not be an example!" Kyle said. Then he waved to the gendarmes, and the gendarmes let Lev go.
"Okay, let's have a meeting now." Kyle glanced at the generals sitting below, and many of them dared not look at him. It seems that his toughness just now has had an effect. It's just that he didn't understand why Byron didn't help Lev in the end.
"Just received a telegram from Stockholm. Your Excellency the King and the Minister of War want us to retreat to South Talije and hold on." Kyle said. Then he passed the telegram from Stockholm to Byron.
As soon as he finished speaking, the discussion started immediately. Byron also frowned after reading the telegram.
"Retreat now, isn't that courting death?" someone said.
"I really don't know what those people in Stockholm are thinking." Someone echoed.
"If you don't retreat, staying here is a dead end. We can't resist the French attack at all." Some people said.
"General Kyle, what do you think?" Byron asked as he put down the telegram. Although his voice was not loud, everyone in the conference room could hear it clearly. When everyone heard him speak, they all stopped discussing.
"The only way to stay here is to wait for death. Once our defense line is smashed by the French army bit by bit, we will not be able to resist the French army's attack at that time. Although retreating to South Talier will take a lot of risk, but If we can successfully retreat, then we should be able to withstand the attack of the French army for a period of time to come," Kyle said.
Byron nodded and retreated to Sodertalje. For the Swedish army, it was a gamble. If the bet wins, he can use the favorable terrain to resist the French attack. If the bet is lost, then they have nothing but failure.
"Since your Excellency the Commander has made a decision, let's do as you say. I will fully support it." Byron said. Although he and Kyle are not on the right track, they are still very clear about the national interests.
"Thank you for your support." Kyle thanked him sincerely.
Next, Kyle made a series of arrangements for the operation~www.mtlnovel.com~ He planned to withdraw part of the army first, leaving part of the army to resist the French attack. In this way, most of the troops can be safely withdrawn to South Taliye. However, there is a premise for this, that is, the French army does not know their plan at all. And the remaining troops must be able to completely withstand the French attack.
In the end, Kyle decided to withdraw 100,000 troops first, leaving more than 100,000 troops. It's just that the elites withdrew first. As for the commander of the remaining troops, Lieutenant General Keljeev served. This is not because Lev and him are not on the right track, but Lev does have great talent in commanding the defense of the troops. What's more, when retreating at the end, the general is usually at the front, and I believe Lev will be fine.
However, he did not expect that his order would make Lev resent him. Think Kyle is deliberately trying to put him to death. So in the second day of the operation, Kyle led the elite troops to leave, and he led the confidants to leave on the back. And still retreat to the north of Sweden.
The command of the Swedish army was in confusion due to the absence of a commander. And Monty seized the opportunity and launched a fierce army against the Swedish army. The Swedish army, which lost its elite troops and command, could not resist the French attack at all. In just half an hour, it completely collapsed.
The French army took advantage of the situation and launched a pursuit.