Chapter 409: Sakura Nation Corps Deploys to the Somme

The meeting lasted two and a half hours. The debate was fierce: the army feared slipping again into a war of attrition, the navy was eager to wash away its disgrace, the foreign ministry worried about international impact and allied relations. But in the end, everyone realized—Yingguo needed a victory, any victory.

At 1 p. m., the resolution took shape: Yingguo would mobilize fifty divisions, including troops from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa and the Indian colonies, to launch a large‑scale offensive in the Somme region under the code name "Breakthrough". The battle was set to begin on July 28, two weeks later.

The French side would be coordinated by General Joseph Xiafei, but the main attack and command authority belonged to Yingguo. In exchange, Yingguo would increase its loan quota to Faguo and pledge to shoulder more naval escort duties during the campaign.

The resolution document required the Prime Minister's signature. As Kaodelui walked out of the conference room with the papers, he heard General Jackson whisper to Lord Jiqina behind him: "Hope we've bet right this time. If we fail again… I don't know how much more bad news the home front can bear."

Jiqina looked out at the London streets, where tram bells rang, women in black mourning clothes passed silently, and shop windows displayed the slogan "Save Food, Support the Front".

"We have no choice, Henry." The army minister, famed for his iron fist, rarely showed a weary expression, "The war has reached a stage where it is a contest of will. Whoever cracks first loses everything."

And in Berlin, Kaiser Wilhelm II was saying almost the same thing.

Berlin, General Staff underground operations room, midnight, July 12.

This place was far more spartan than the London conference room: the concrete walls were only coated with a layer of whitewash, the ceiling exposed pipes and wires, and the sole illumination came from a dozen uncovered bulbs casting harsh white light. The air was stagnant, thick with smoke, coffee and the musk of men.

In the center of the room stood a massive sand table, precisely reproducing every terrain feature of the Western Front from the North Sea to the Swiss border. Beside it, General Erich von Fajinhang, Chief of Staff, leaned over to examine the topography of the Somme area. Behind him, a blackboard was filled with chalked unit numbers, artillery counts and supply routes.

Fajinhang had gone forty‑eight hours without sleep. Dark circles hung heavy, his stubble was unkempt, his once‑crisp uniform was rumpled, and two buttons at the collar were undone. Around him, a dozen staff officers bustled: taking calls, consulting maps, crunching numbers, whispering discussions. Everyone operated like a wound‑up machine, keeping going despite extreme fatigue.

"General, urgent telegram from the Eastern Front." A young staff officer handed over a telegram, "General Brusilov of the Russian army is reorganizing forces and may launch a new offensive in early August. The Eastern Front command requests reinforcements."

Fajinhang didn't even glance at the telegram: "Reply: The Western Front is the decisive battlefield, no troops available. Let them sort it out themselves."

"But General, if the Eastern Front collapses…"

"The Eastern Front won't collapse." Fajinhang straightened, massaging his sore neck, "The Russians have already bled dry; Brusilov's so‑called 'offensive' is nothing but a dying struggle. The Western Front is the key, Verdun is the key."

He walked up to the intelligence chief: "Has the Yingguo movement been confirmed?"

"Basically confirmed, General." The intelligence chief opened a folder, "Aerial photos show British Army positions north of the Somme are receiving massive reinforcements. Rail traffic has tripled in the past week, mainly heavy artillery and ammunition. Also, intercepted radio indicates the British are forming a 'Fourth Group Army' under General Luolinsen, comprising at least twenty divisions."

"What about the colonial troops?"

"Australian and New Zealand units have arrived at Le Havre, moving toward the front. Indian troops landed at Marseilles. Total strength is estimated… over five hundred thousand."

The room fell silent instantly. All staff halted their work and looked at Fajinhang.

Five hundred thousand. That means the Somme sector will face the strongest attack since the war began.

"General, we must pull units from other fronts." Operations Director Colonel Max von Hofmann was the first to speak, "From Verdun we can spare at least ten divisions, from Flanders five, from Alsace three…"

"Verdun cannot be moved." Fajinhang cut him off, "We have finally made progress; the Sakura Nation troops exchanged ten thousand lives for ten kilometres of depth. If we retreat now, the previous sacrifices will be in vain."

"But General, if the Somme is breached, the Yingguo will be able to thrust straight into our rear! Then it won't just be Verdun; the entire Western Front will collapse!"

Fajinhang walked to the sand table, staring at the complex terrain of the Somme area. There the river network was dense, hills undulating, natural defensive features abundant. Yet against five hundred thousand troops and two thousand artillery pieces, even the best terrain was insufficient.

"Adopt a 'flexible defense' tactic." He finally decided, "Leave only a small alert force on the front line, pull the main body back to the second line. When the Yingguo's artillery preparation ends and their infantry begins the charge, our troops will emerge from the shelters, using machine guns and mortars to reap them."

Colonel Hofmann frowned, "That's risky. If the Yingguo's artillery preparation lasts long enough, our second line will also be destroyed."

"Then build a third and fourth line." Fajinhang's fingers moved across the sand table, "The Somme area has enough depth. We will trade space for time, using flesh and blood to sap the Yingguo's vigor and manpower."

He turned to the logistics chief: "How are the ammunition reserves?"

"Barely sufficient, General. But if the battle lasts beyond two weeks, some caliber shells will run short. Especially the 150 mm howitzer shells; stockpiles only cover ten days of high‑intensity use."

"Prioritize machine‑gun ammunition and mortar shells. Artillery… use sparingly."

Another telegram was passed over. Fajinhang glanced at it, his complexion shifting slightly. The telegram came from the Verdun sector, sent by Major General Chai Wulang—not through official channels but via "personal connections."

"Sakura Nation troops request a rest. Eight divisions have been reduced by over forty percent; soldiers' stamina and morale are on the brink of collapse. If we continue high‑intensity combat, a massive breakdown or mutiny may occur. We earnestly request redeployment to the rear for replenishment. —Chai"

Fajinhang crumpled the telegram into a ball and tossed it into the wastepaper basket.

"General?" Hofmann asked tentatively.

"The Somme needs reinforcements." Fajinhang's voice was cold, "Order: the remaining eight Sakura Nation divisions from the Verdun sector shall immediately move to the Somme area and be incorporated into the Second Group Army's order of battle. They have four days to complete the transfer and deployment."