Chapter 1515: Hamburg

Hanover, the base camp of Ling Chen.

Ling Chen has already returned to Hanover; at this moment, he is in the temporary command room, staring at a map.

Three locations are marked on the map, and everyone in the command room looks at the map, lost in thought. Ling Chen glances over them and says in a deep voice, "There are only three targets; which one shall we choose to attack?"

These three targets are as follows.

The grain transport line of the Austrian Army.

Located within a valley, only a general location has been determined so far, and the specific route has not been scouted.

The base camp of the Franco-Austrian Allied Army.

Located below Hanover; although the Austrian Army has fully withdrawn from Prussia, the Franco-Austrian Allied Army does not consist only of the Austrian Army.

Other armies are still stationed in Hanover, and it is because of this force that most of the Longyan troops cannot be mobilized.

There is also another one, which is a city located at the other end of Hanover: Hamburg.

Hamburg is now taken over by Sweden, with mostly merchants, and the Swedish Army does not have many troops there.

"The Austrian transport line."

Ling Chen looks at the captain of the Third Squad who spoke up and asks, "Why choose the Austrian transport line?"

He walks to the map, points at the Austrian transport line, and says indifferently, "Cut off the Austrian grain transport line, and their troops in Prussia will no longer be able to sustain themselves."

No one speaks up to refute this.

It is already winter, and there is definitely grain on the Austrian transport line; as long as this batch of grain is intercepted, our Longyan Army's winter provisions will be guaranteed.

Moreover, it is winter now, Austria's front line in Prussia is too long, and their main force is attacking Prussia in Poland with the government-in-exile.

The troops left behind on this transport line will definitely not be many.

Everyone nods one after another; it is indeed a good choice.

"I disagree!"

A cold voice rings out, and everyone turns their heads to look toward a corner.

Their gazes are all drawn to Diana, and their brows furrow slightly; someone says with displeasure, "How can an outsider participate in a military meeting!"

Diana ignores him, walks to Ling Chen, and looks at him deeply.

Pointing at the Austrian transport line, she says coldly, "I do not agree with attacking this place."

"Why?" Ling Chen looks at her and asks indifferently.

Diana shifts her gaze from Ling Chen's face, looks at everyone present, and says, "Winter has already arrived; if we cut off the Austrian transport line now—"

"Setting aside whether we can win, the aftermath of the war will ultimately be borne by the civilians of Prussia."

"The attacked Austrian Army will definitely aim their spears at targets they can quickly plunder when food is scarce in winter."

"If such a situation is caused, what is the use of the public support that Longyan has gathered?"

Diana speaks coldly, and everyone is left speechless.

Ling Chen, however, casts a look of approval at her.

"You are right," Ling Chen says approvingly, looking at her again, "If we do not cut off the Austrian Army's transport line, they won't attack the Prussian civilians?"

"The initiative is not in our hands now."

"Right, Miss Diana?" Ling Chen stares at Diana's face.

Diana wants to refute, but suddenly finds that she has nothing to say.

The Austrian Army does not take orders from the Longyan Army.

If they want to plunder Prussian civilians, they do not need the consent of the Longyan Army.

Ling Chen shifts his gaze away from her.

Ignorant kindness...

"The Austrian transport line does indeed need to be cut, but I think there is a better target."

Ling Chen's finger lands on the map, and everyone is stunned.

"General, I don't understand; if we look at it from a strategic perspective, the priority of the Austrian transport line is clearly higher."

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"As for Hamburg, the Swedish Army is stationed there, but we are not laying siege, only seizing grain. We can only mobilize thirty thousand troops now, and heavy weapons like Siege Cannon cannot be used."

"Laying siege would be very disadvantageous for us."

Ling Chen scans everyone: "Do you all think the same?"

The others nod one after another, but Ling Chen shakes his head and sighs: "Our current problem is solving the grain issue."

"We do not have control over the timing of the Austrian transport line's grain shipments; if we attack, we can only wait in vain."

"And it is winter now; if the Austrian Army has not engaged in large-scale conflict with Prussia, then what will their remaining troops do?"

"They certainly won't be on the transport line."

"The reason for choosing Hamburg is that although the Swedish Army controls the city, their troop strength is not high."

"Its Geography is very important; Hamburg is close to the North Sea, and on land, it has ports that can lead to the Baltic Sea and the territory of France."

Ling Chen points to the map of Europe; almost all other Franco-Austrian Alliance countries need to transport supplies through Hamburg.

"I have already scouted it; the city's defensive strength is too weak. Although we can only mobilize thirty thousand troops and it is indeed difficult to take Hamburg, we need the grain."

"We can completely intercept the grain they are transporting from Hamburg to various places."

Ling Chen looks at everyone with emotionless eyes and says indifferently: "Hamburg is the connecting hub for all the Franco-Austrian Alliance countries; once we cut it off, it is their own citizens who will suffer."

Everyone is bewildered; they then carefully examine the map and find that it is indeed as Ling Chen said.

After Hamburg falls, all the Franco-Austrian Alliance countries connected through it will be affected.

It is winter now, an unofficial period of truce.

Now that food is scarce and economic development is stagnant, there is an urgent need for merchants to operate between various countries.

The Geography of Hamburg is extremely important, perhaps because the Franco-Austrian Allied Army believes that Hamburg must already be completely surrounded and that it is impossible for anyone to strike from there.

Even though Ling Chen entered the area connecting Hanover and Hamburg, the Franco-Austrian Allied Army did not add a single soldier to Hamburg.

This is because the Dragon Flame Army currently looks as if it has broken through the encirclement to unite with Prussia.

But in the eyes of the Franco-Austrian Allied Army, Ling Chen has actually entered their ambush circle.

It is just that this ambush circle is massive.

Yet the Dragon Flame Army now seems to be right under their noses, as if every move they make is seen by the Franco-Austrian Allied Army, so they do not take it to heart at all.

That is why they did not station many troops in Hamburg, but merely dispatched a Swedish Army.

At this moment, someone asked: "General, but we are not familiar with the terrain of Hamburg."

"It does not matter, Miss Diana and I have already carefully scouted the Geography there."

Ling Chen paused for a moment, then said softly: "Oh, right, I forgot to tell you all, this plan was proposed by Diana."

The crowd was once again drawn to this European woman, but this time, the look in their eyes had changed significantly.

"I agree to attacking Hamburg, but we cannot lay siege to the city; we can only intercept."

Ling Chen nodded, and the other generals also expressed their agreement with this plan.