Chapter 0172: The Naval Mission

"Your Highness, the Schlieffen Plan was formulated a decade ago. The circumstances now are vastly different from those times. Thus, the General Staff has revised the plan to align with the present situation. The amended strategy is more appropriate for our current context!" Moltke countered.

He could no longer afford to remain silent on this matter; otherwise, he would indeed forfeit all credibility.

"Hmph! Mr. Chief of Staff, the crux of the Schlieffen Plan is that the right flank engages in combat in areas favorable to an offensive, possessing sufficient strength to encircle Antwerp, Namur, and Paris. Meanwhile, the left flank operates in positions conducive to defense, its strength merely adequate to entice the enemy. However, following the revisions, the right flank is gravely undermanned, utterly incapable of breaching the French defenses. Should the assault falter, the consequences would be dire!" QinTian scoffed coldly.

Like William II, Moltke was equally obstinate and arrogant. Although his plans retained the core principle of Schlieffen's strategy—defending in the east while attacking in the west—his specific approaches differed significantly, potentially leading to failure. Furthermore, he would not tolerate any questioning of his strategy, as that would undermine his competence.

"Your Highness, the entire operational plan has been meticulously scrutinized by the officers of the General Staff. Our strategy will surely succeed," Moltke declared, his anger mounting.

The generals in attendance were taken aback, their eyes widening. They had known about the fraught relationship between QinTian and Moltke, but they had not anticipated it to devolve to this extent. This meeting concerned the future conflict that would determine the fate of the German Empire, yet the two were embroiled in a contentious dispute, effectively tearing apart any pretense of decorum.

"Enough, Oscar. The Chief of Staff's modifications to the Schlieffen Plan were made with my approval," William II stated.

QinTian was momentarily stunned, at a loss for words. It was clear that like attracts like; no wonder William II and Moltke were such close allies—they were kindred spirits!

With little hope left for the army's success on the Western Front, QinTian could only wish for the Eighth Army to swiftly vanquish the Russians on the Eastern Front. If they could inflict sufficient damage, perhaps he could promptly redeploy them to the West to reinforce the assault against France and strive for victory.

Moltke cast a disdainful glance at QinTian, his eyes glinting with triumph, reminiscent of a victorious rooster.

Moltke organized the Western forces into seven corps: the First Corps, commanded by General Kluck, consisted of seven divisions, three cavalry brigades, and three national regiments, totaling 320,000 men; the Second Corps, under General Bülow, included six divisions, two cavalry brigades, and two national regiments, amounting to 260,000 men; the Third Corps, led by General Hausen, comprised four divisions and one national regiment, with a total of 180,000 men; the Fourth Corps, commanded by the Duke of Württemberg, consisted of five divisions and one national regiment, totaling 180,000 men; the Fifth Corps, under General Dimlin, included five divisions, one infantry brigade, two cavalry brigades, and five national regiments, with a total of 200,000 men; the Sixth Corps, led by Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria, comprised five divisions, three cavalry brigades, and four reserve divisions, amounting to 200,000 men; and the Seventh Corps, commanded by General Schlieffen, included three divisions, one infantry brigade, two reserve divisions, and four national regiments, totaling 125,000 men.

In total, over 1.4 million German troops were assembled on the Western Front, representing more than eighty percent of the army's total strength, even with only fifty percent of the forces mobilized.

William II stubbornly believed that mobilizing just fifty percent of the army would suffice to defeat the enemy. Another reason for this belief was his desire to minimize casualties; despite Germany's population exceeding 60 million, the number of able-bodied men was limited. A high death toll would severely hinder Germany's future development.

"Very well, generals. The troops have been deployed according to the operational plan. War will soon commence. Once the order to attack is given, I expect all of you to fight valiantly for the victory of the German Empire! Germany shall prevail!" William II proclaimed loudly.

"Germany shall prevail!" The room echoed with confidence regarding the impending conflict.

That evening, Admiral Count Tirpitz visited QinTian. With war on the horizon, the navy faced an arduous mission. Nevertheless, Count Tirpitz still sought to hear QinTian's thoughts.

"Your Highness, did you and Moltke have a disagreement during today's operational meeting?" Count Tirpitz inquired.

"Hmph! That self-important, obstinate man has utterly distorted General Schlieffen's plan and wears a facade of unfounded confidence. I cannot comprehend the source of his assurance," QinTian replied, his anger flaring as the memory of the meeting resurfaced.

Count Tirpitz furrowed his brow, noting it was the first time he had witnessed QinTian in such a state.

"Your Highness, does this imply that the army might encounter significant failures in the upcoming war?" Count Tirpitz asked, concerned. If the army could not achieve success, the conflict would be exceedingly challenging, potentially leading to Germany's defeat.

"It is difficult to ascertain, but the outlook is undoubtedly grim. Even in victory, our losses will be considerable. A pyrrhic victory is far from our objective," QinTian shook his head.

Despite the Western forces being equipped with over a thousand tanks and other modern weaponry, QinTian had no confidence in their effectiveness in battle. While weaponry is indeed crucial, the most vital factor in warfare remains the human element. Moreover, the current tanks exhibited alarmingly low reliability; if they were to embark on a long march, it was unlikely that even one would reach Paris.

"Your Highness, what should we do then?" Count Tirpitz inquired.

"Let us exert our utmost efforts. However, should the army fail to secure a decisive victory, the navy's mission will become exceedingly daunting. The navy must find a way to defeat the British; only then can we continue the war. Otherwise, if the coastline is blockaded and maritime trade is severed, we will swiftly collapse," QinTian responded.

Count Tirpitz nodded solemnly, acutely aware of the immense weight of responsibility upon his shoulders.