It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 181 | I Believe in You

Clearly, Sigrid was also filled with uncertainty about the future.

She sighed and said softly, "The Hurricane's military strength is already overstretched. The government has begun conscripting seventeen-year-olds and fifty-five-year-olds. Even with Varland's help, the weapons can only meet the minimum needs."

Shang Ke nodded and said, "Judging from the current situation, Ivan Ross only needs to withdraw two tank divisions and two infantry corps to reorganize an army group, and he can gain an overwhelming advantage."

As for Marianne's expeditionary force, the two of them tacitly ignored it.

The morale of Mariana's expeditionary force, fighting on foreign soil, was actually low, and there were many complaints among the officers and soldiers who were unwilling to shed blood for Hurghia.

The second phase of the campaign was fought so well because, firstly, Marianna's army was indeed well-trained, and secondly, Ivanlus's army was exhausted after two months of hard fighting.

"If the enemy attacks again, I'm afraid I won't have the same resolve. Hurri has suffered too much..."

Sigrid said helplessly, a hint of resentment in her voice.

If Ivan Rus's army were to return, the devastated Hurricane would certainly be unable to put up a decisive resistance, and perhaps a symbolic resistance would be the best option.

In response, Shang Ke lowered his head and pursed his lips, hesitating for a few seconds before finally saying, "You've done your best, it's alright. Just make the most appropriate decision from your perspective."

"Shang, although the ambassador promised me that Zhongguo would not deny Hurry's sacrifice because of giving up resistance, I am very worried about whether we will see a glimmer of hope."

"Don't worry, it will definitely happen."

"Shang, the Ministry of Defense told me that your country may not be ready to participate in war for another ten to twelve months. What do you think?"

"That's the limit; theoretically, the later the better."

The Federal Armed Forces have just completed their first round of expansion, increasing the army's strength to one million.

There are several subsequent plans for military expansion, but the advisory council and the general headquarters are still arguing and have not yet made a decision.

The radical plan even proposed to immediately form sixty new divisions with more than one million men, plus a large number of independent logistics support units with two million men; then, to double them again in the same proportion, thereby increasing the army's strength to a daunting level within a year.

Of course, this unrealistic plan would not be approved, and the army, which had expanded rapidly like an inflated balloon, would be of little use.

"The British are openly opposing our country. It's only a matter of time before we break off relations and war engulfs the entire world." Shank stretched out his claws and clenched them, making a crushing gesture, and said with certainty, "Then we will overturn the current world order once and for all!"

Sigrid muttered somewhat dejectedly, "By the time your country is ready for war and launches a westward expedition from the east, that might be many years from now..."

"Many years?" Shank held up his index finger in front of her eyes and said, word by word, "As long as we don't lose the naval battle, we can capture Cairo and open up the Suez Canal within six months."

"Hmm...did you overlook India?"

“The land is rotten, so we’ll definitely surround it but not attack it. That place is hot and dirty, with temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius in the summer, and all sorts of infectious diseases are rampant.”

To be honest, despite Mr. Shang's confident assertions, Sigrid still felt that it was somewhat unreliable.

It's not that I'm questioning the national strength of the Great Unified Federation, but rather that Mr. Shang seems to have described the British Empire's army as utterly vulnerable, like a chicken or a dog that would collapse at the slightest touch. Isn't that a bit too dismissive?

Sigrid didn't dare to ask any more questions.

She clasped her hands together over her chest in a prayerful gesture and whispered, "The government has prepared for the worst. We will reorganize the government-in-exile and continue the struggle until the time is right to liberate our homeland."

Seeing her like this, Shang Ke couldn't help but reach out and touch the back of her hand, then squeeze it tightly.

"I support you." With a calm expression, Shang Ke gazed into the pair of emerald eyes before him and said solemnly, "Persist to the end, Your Majesty, and do not forget your dream."

Huh? Why did you take my hand? And you were saying such serious things while holding my hand.

Sigrid tried to remain calm, pretending nothing had happened, and gently withdrew her hands.

"Of course I won't forget."

"Keep it up. Our country has never interfered in the internal affairs of tributary states since ancient times. As long as you keep our country in mind, all you have to do is wait for good news." Shang Keye also pretended that he hadn't done anything just now and said with a smile, "Wait two years, maybe I will lead the expeditionary force back to fight our way back, and the storm will pass and the dark clouds will dissipate."

“I believe you, Baron Margaret,” Sigrid said slowly.

Mr. Shang was slightly embarrassed.

Sigrid did mention her dream, or rather, her beautiful vision, before.

First, reclaim Transylvania from the Romanians, then reclaim southern Slovakia from the Bohemians, and restore the glory of the Huns!
Their gazes met, and without a word, everything was understood.

Shang Ke then left.

Mariana's side has not yet given a formal reply, but Shank was unwilling to waste time, so he simply ordered everyone to load the tanks onto the flatbed trucks and secure them in advance, so that they could set off immediately once they received the crossing permission.

The battle in northern Varland remained tense when the 'Permit for Transit of Diplomatic Personnel and Special Goods' finally arrived.

A few months earlier, when the war had just begun, the 1st Minsk Front, tasked with containing the enemy, had no tank divisions, only a few independent tank brigades. However, as the situation changed, the Ivan Ross command reorganized the order of battle, allocating five tank divisions with a full complement of about 70-80% and an elite Guards tank brigade to the 1st Front, totaling more than 700 tanks of various types, one-third of which were T-34s. This greatly enhanced the 1st Front's breakthrough capability, bringing the total number of tanks in the 1st Front to over four figures.

Subsequently, the General Staff issued instructions to draw tank units equipped with T-34s from various units of the 4th Brest Front in the central line, and temporarily organize them into several independent tank detachments. A total of two-thirds of the T-34s, approximately 300 vehicles, were transferred away.

After a week of rest, the Ivanos army on the northern front was able to catch its breath and received unprecedented reinforcements.

As required by the General Staff, the Minsk Front should split into two forces: one to capture Hamburg and the other to capture Wittelberg, and must advance with unwavering determination to reach the Elbe River in one fell swoop.

As for the attack on Polin, based on the lessons learned from the Battle of Budapest, tanks are important and indispensable, but they are also easier to destroy than in open field battles due to the enemy's elusive infantry.

Therefore, Ivan Ross's command believed that the powerful T-34 could only maximize its combat effectiveness in field battles, and that using it for urban warfare would be a waste. They thought that for the attack on Polin, they could use consumables like the T-26 and T-35, since it wasn't unusable anyway.

(End of this chapter)