Chapter 1922 The Situation Is Stronger than People One
The contact between the two parties went very smoothly. The Kaiser and the parliament faction, who were busy fighting for domestic rights, did not mind Ruprecht's request to meet the French at this time. They had no time to think about the battlefield. Every inch of the map is contested for land and rights. When the prince said that he would meet with the French representative together with Moltke and Crook, the Kaiser and Albert signed the power of attorney very readily.
And on the other hand? The French side that requested contact was also very straightforward. The Paris side quickly issued an order, asking Clemenceau and Joffre to prepare for this meeting, and made a plan for this meeting: "Your main task this time is to detect The attitude of the Germans and their reality, we need you to judge the recent military dynamics and domestic situation of the Germans based on the conversation, you don’t need to talk about any substantive conditions, we can define it as contact rather than peace talks!” Telegram sent in Paris wrote in.
After the two governments agree, the next step will be very smooth. How far is it from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Brussels in Belgium? After the two sides formed a tacit understanding, the two French representatives took the Dutch train to Brussels very smoothly. Three days after the meeting between Duke Hendrick and the prince, the French representatives successfully arrived at the heart of Germany on the Western Front!
Because it was a secret meeting, there was no such thing as a welcome ceremony. And after more than 2 years of life and death, the two sides can finally see with their own eyes who the enemy on the other side is. As a soldier, Joffre described in his diary how he felt when he met the German delegation.
"The first thing I noticed was Little Moltke. I was very interested in the descendant of the German commander who ruined the French Empire at the Battle of Sedan. Little Moltke looked very similar to his uncle, with a serious expression and a square manner , it seems that every action follows a certain rule. It is a pure Prussian soldier. On the surface, it seems to be carved out of the same mold as the old Moltke. However, I feel that the little Moltke is only superficially close. The performance and reaction in the subsequent negotiations lacked the agility and strategic thinking of the old Moltke. Therefore, I can only say that the little Moltke is a copy of his predecessor."
"Sitting on the right hand of the prince is General Crook, the commander of the German First Army. The First Army he commanded entered France first, but was stopped by my army in the ensuing battle. Before arriving on the Western Front, my group army fought with him again and again, and we lost a little from the results. He is a very good tactician, with shrewd and capable eyes shining. In addition, I can't see anything else."
"Finally, what I pay attention to is the main opponent in this negotiation, the pulverizer on the Western Front, the nightmare of the Russians and the terminator of the tsar, the future king of Bavaria—Crown Prince Ruprecht, he is a terrifying Whether it is on the Western Front, the Eastern Front or the Balkans and Asia Minor. Whether it is us, the British or the Russians, no one can resist the Bavarian soldiers. I subconsciously feel that the other party is also watching me , there is a trace of fear in my heart, like a prey being targeted by a hunter."
"I raised my head and observed the prince myself. The first feeling he gave me was calm. It seemed that today's negotiations were not about deciding the fate of two hostile powers, but just drinking afternoon tea. I could feel his relaxation and comfort. , I understand it as a well-thought-out plan. He doesn't have the military-specific hostility of Mao Qi and Crook. But he is full of strength in his gestures. This feeling is more like a mixture of a soldier and a politician. It's a bit similar to the feeling of Emperor Napoleon back then. This is the third time I have fought against the crown prince. The first two times were on the battlefield, and this time we are in the German headquarters.
"
"This is a very difficult person to deal with, and the subsequent negotiation process should prove this, we are negotiating with the devil! After the negotiation, I even had a nightmare for a week!" At the end of the diary, Joffre Write it like this. In the end, Xiafei did not explain what the content of the negotiation was!
"Welcome to Brussels. I noticed that General Joffre is also here. It seems that it will be convenient for us to discuss some things." The prince looked at Clemenceau and Joffre opposite and said relaxedly. "I already know the purpose of your visit. According to the previous negotiation process, shouldn't we first analyze the situation on the entire battlefield? The prince asked."
"It seems that you are sure of winning and feel that you have a great advantage? I want to say that the current Western Front is no longer the Western Front of 2 years ago. The record you played back then cannot be replicated now. The Western Front is the cruelest in the world. The battlefield! Every step forward must be advanced in waist-deep blood." General Xia Fei said.
"How does the equipment level of the French army on the western front compare to when we fought in Asia Minor? How is the support capability and density of the British and French air forces on the western front compared to the Balkans? I think you know it very well." The prince didn't mind the sting in Joffre's words. . Instead of directly arguing with Joffre on some technical level, he took a roundabout tactic.
"What do you mean?" Clemenceau, who was originally an envoy, now looked like a bystander. He looked at Xiafei who was beside him.
"The troops in Asia Minor are our most elite, and I am very sad for their loss. But now, we have made up for these losses. And our troops are now ten times as strong as the troops in Asia Minor," Joffre said. He now feels a little emboldened. Not to mention in Turkey, the French ruined at least 5 of the most elite armored divisions and a large number of experienced combat commanders. Just talking about the air force, the air support on the entire French front may not be much better than the planes that the British supported the French in Turkey! Considering the length of the French army's front again, there is no reliable cover over the entire French army!
"The French army can maintain its current combat effectiveness. As an opponent, I would like to say a word of admiration. Among the three countries of Britain, France and Russia, your country has caused the largest casualties to the imperial army. Think about it, your country has a population of only 40 million Base number, an army with a total strength of nearly 2.3 million is organized! If the number of mobilized people is counted, this number is probably 3.5 million! Coupled with the manpower invested in military-related fields such as military industry, transportation and energy, this I'm afraid it's an astronomical figure, there may be as many as 4 million people engaged in industry and transportation alone! A quarter of a country's population! All have been thrown into the war!"
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