Expedition to Europe

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Soldiers are very clear about the role of artillery in war. It's not that the Beiyang government doesn't want to equip more artillery, but it really can't afford it. Take the French 155mm artillery as an example. The price of each artillery is about 25,000 francs. If the cost of artillery shells is added, the cost of purchasing ten artillery pieces and purchasing rifles can almost equip two infantry divisions.

After this calculation, the Beiyang government is naturally reluctant to equip more cannons. The reason is very simple. There are not many people in the country who have artillery. In this case, let's use infantry to consume each other.

Since this time, Yuan Shikai would feel guilty when facing foreigners. Because of this, when Yuan Shikai faced the Japanese "Twenty Articles" that were almost blackmail, he did not dare to go to war despite hating him again and again.

Zhang Jingzong, who was accustomed to living frugally in China, was shocked when he saw such generosity of the French in Europe.

The Germans were also shocked.

As soon as the shelling started, the Germans hid in the tunnels. Except for a few soldiers using trench periscopes to observe, only the rats in the trenches were left on the position.

The impact point of the artillery shells was a little forward, and most of them went towards the barbed wire fence in front of the position. Every time a shell falls, it is accompanied by an earth-shattering explosion, always stirring up a large amount of mud and water, and occasionally wooden piles and barbed wire in front of the position.

That's the result of large-caliber artillery shells.

The weather has been rainy recently, and there is not much dust stirred up by the shells. The strong smell of gunpowder smoke drifts along the breeze, stimulating the Germans' senses, making their hearts beat faster, breathing heavier, and their eyes bloodshot...

They know.

bloody battle.

It's about to start.

After twenty minutes of firepower, the first barbed wire fence was almost wiped out, the anti-tank trenches also collapsed in many places, and the second and third barbed wire fences also had many gaps.

Normally, artillery fire would now extend to the rear of the position while the infantry charges.

Sure enough, just as the artillery fire began to extend, observers noticed through the trench periscope that the French Foreign Legion in the distance began to gather and prepare to launch a charge.

"Beep..."

The observer blew the copper whistle in his hand vigorously to notify the troops to enter the position.

Countless German troops rushed out of the tunnels and artillery holes. They carried rifles, grenades, heavy machine guns and bullets, and rushed to their predetermined positions, preparing to meet them.

The formation of the foreign legions in the distance was completed, and the commander drew out his saber. Even though they were five or six hundred meters away, the cold light was still gleaming and captivating.

This foreign legion was very unprofessional. The starting position they assembled was too far away from the German position. After a long time, the artillery began to extend and they did not launch a charge.

The Germans waited anxiously.

"Haha..." I don't know who was so unserious, a chuckle came from the German position.

"Wow haha..."

"Go home and nurse!"

"I can take a nap first!"

Suddenly there was a burst of laughter on the German position, followed by all kinds of obscene remarks. The Germans are notoriously lacking in humor. It is not easy for them to have fun, especially in the cold and damp tunnels. Catching a mouse can take a long time, not to mention the amusing scene in front of them.

So, just when the Germans started to jeer, no one noticed the scream of artillery shells in the air.

Boom boom boom...

The shells that were far denser than before instantly enveloped the German trenches. Orange-red flames bloomed in the crowd, and clouds of black smoke rose up. Each one represented a dozen or even dozens of lives. Large chunks Blocks of soil mixed with broken limbs were flying in the air, and countless German soldiers were blasted into the sky by artillery shells before they could close their mouths.

"Retreat to the tunnel, retreat to the tunnel!" The Germans no longer bothered to scold this shameless behavior, and helped each other to crawl back into the tunnel.

Many Germans were unable to move. They could only cover their wounds in vain, scream in agony as they watched the blood gushing out, or crawl and roll on the ground, looking for their limbs that had been blown off. Someone was shouting for help from people running around. But no one paid attention to them, so the cry for help turned into yelling.

This time it was not the French who were scolded, but the Germans who refused to save themselves.

Don’t worry about scarcity but inequality.

This is human nature.

More people could no longer make any sound. They could only lie on the ground, looking at the gloomy and cold sky, listening to explosions, cries for help, screams, begging, and curses, silently waiting for the arrival of death.

It would be better to be killed directly by a cannonball, at least there would be no pain.

…

This time the shelling lasted for 20 minutes. Hundreds of German soldiers were killed and thousands of German soldiers were injured. The damage caused to the Germans was enough to be worth a small battle, and the price paid by the French was only thousands of artillery shells.

This bombardment may not be the most fruitful bombardment by the French, but it is certainly the most cost-effective bombardment.

This work is compiled and uploaded by Liujiu Book Bar~~

Just as the shells began to extend to the rear, the foreign legion began to gather again. The commander drew out his saber and swung it hard in the direction of the position. Then the soldiers lined up in neat rows, marched in neat steps, holding rifles with bayonets, carrying grenades, engineer shovels, mattocks, and cages with pigeons, and began to charge in a grand manner.

Seeing their relaxed and comfortable appearance, perhaps they thought that the Germans on the position had been wiped out in the previous artillery attack.

"Beep..."

The observer blew the copper whistle in his hand hard. This time he dared to swear that the French foreign legion did start to charge.

So there was another round of chaos. This time the speed of the Germans was far slower than before. Perhaps many Germans ran into the tunnels and found their consciences, thinking of the wounded who were forgotten on the position, so some Germans actually forgot about the foreign legion that was charging and began to rescue the Germans who were injured in the artillery attack.

"Assholes, get into combat positions, and let the auxiliary soldiers take over here." The officers roared and kicked and beat the Germans into combat positions.

The Germans also had colonial troops, but their seaports were now blocked by the British, and they could no longer replenish their personnel.

The damned foreign legion advanced less than 200 meters. Just when it was about to enter the German shooting range, the foreign legion squatted on the spot or hid behind for cover, with no intention of moving forward.

The Germans suddenly felt bad and had an ominous premonition in their hearts. Just when the Germans wanted to retreat to the tunnel, the whistling of artillery shells came from the air again.

"Liar!"

"Asshole!"

"Pig!"

The Germans cursed angrily, and while cursing, they tried to get back into the tunnel.

The foreign legion watching the excitement did not curse them back, but just watched it all coldly.

The Germans were hit back by rain of artillery shells and fierce explosions.

Smoke once again enveloped the German positions. It was unclear what was happening inside, but one could faintly hear screams, cries for help, curses, and pleas...

"General, I think we can launch an attack now. If the infantry starts charging now, it will be a piece of cake to capture this position." Dempsgaier ignored Qin Zhiyuan's rank and expressed his respect with "General".

"No, the Germans still have the ability to fight back. Let's torture them today. It's time to launch the attack tomorrow morning." Qin Zhiyuan put down the telescope in his hand, his eyes full of confidence.

The Germans haven't shed enough blood yet!