Chapter 147: Assault on Liège

The unit of the Second Army Group responsible for the main attack on the Liège Fortress cluster was the ‘Meuse River Battle Group,’ a temporary formation consisting of six infantry brigades and three cavalry divisions, totaling nearly sixty thousand men.

The Battle Group Commander was General Otto von Emmich.

Morin had little impression of this general, knowing only that in the world before he crossed over, this man nearly failed to take the Liège Fortress…

The vanguard of this Battle Group approached the Liège Fortress cluster from the northeast in the morning. Responsible for blocking them on the outskirts were the Eleventh and Twelfth Brigades of the Grand Duchy of Flanders Army.

Facing an enemy several times their size, these two brigades did not offer excessive resistance.

After a brief exchange of fire with the Saxon Army’s advance cavalry, they quickly withdrew their forces, retreating into the twelve fortresses of the Liège Fortress cluster, preparing to rely on the sturdy fortifications for defense.

By noon, the main force of the ‘Meuse River Battle Group’ arrived at the pre-determined attack positions one after another.

General Emmich immediately ordered a fierce assault on the Barchon Fortress, located at the easternmost side of the fortress cluster.

For a time, the sound of artillery rumbled, deafeningly loud.

The entire eastern sky over Liège was enveloped by the smoke of gunpowder…

Meanwhile, far behind the Second Army Group, the Instruction Assault Battalion, which had been ‘carefully protected’ and enjoyed a leisurely journey, finally received their first combat mission of the campaign.

A Dispatch Rider, on a fast horse, found Morin resting by the roadside.

“Report, Captain! An order from the Army Group Command Post!”

The Dispatch Rider jumped off his horse and handed over an order sealed with a wax stamp.

Morin tore open the order and quickly scanned it.

Then, a strange expression appeared on his face.

Manstein and Kleist, who were nearby, saw his expression and curiously gathered around.

“Sir, what is the mission? Are we going to support the attack on Barchon Fortress?” Kleist’s tone carried a hint of excitement.

“It’s more important than that mission. The Army Group Command Post is entrusting us with a heavy responsibility…”

Morin, with a slight smile, handed the order to them, his tone even.

The two took the order and read it, their expressions instantly freezing.

The order stated clearly:

“Imperial Guards First Instruction Assault Battalion is hereby ordered to proceed immediately to the Supply Train assembly area behind the Army Group, to be responsible for its security and to ensure the logistic supply line is foolproof.”

Protect the Supply Train?

Kleist and Manstein exchanged glances, seeing four large words written on each other’s faces—utter disappointment.

“Wh-what does this mean?” Kleist’s voice was slightly altered.

“They want us to protect the Supply Train? The entire Second Army Group is in front of us. The Flanders army has long been beaten back into the fortresses. Where would the enemy come from in the rear? This needs no protection at all!”

“The Command Post clearly doesn’t want us on the front line!”

Manstein also couldn’t help but complain. The young staff officer, eager to achieve merit, was a little agitated:

“They would rather let conventional infantry brigades chew on a hard nut like the fortress than let us, the unit most proficient in assault, go up!”

Other officers in the battalion also gathered around, and upon seeing the contents of the order, they were all indignant and full of grievances.

They had trained so hard for so long, equipped with the most advanced weapons in the entire Saxon Empire, not to be running to the front lines to act as warehouse guards.

Looking at the agitated crowd of subordinates, Morin instead laughed.

“Alright, stop complaining.”

He looked at Kleist and Manstein and said, “An order is an order. We are soldiers and must obey, even if they wanted us to return home for rest, we would have to turn around obediently.”

Manstein: “But, Sir…”

“There are no buts.” Morin interrupted him. “Don’t be anxious. I guarantee you, there will be a time for us to be on the field.”

“When that time comes, facing artillery shells falling from the sky and bullets flying everywhere, you might regret not cherishing this peaceful time today.”

Morin’s words carried a hint of teasing, which eased the tense atmosphere somewhat.

Although the officers still harbored frustration in their hearts, they said no more and went back to restrain their troops.

Taking this opportunity, Kleist walked up to Morin and said with a serious expression, “Sir, as the Battalion Adjutant, I have a request.”

“Speak.”

“Sir, if—I mean if—our battalion has an assault mission in the future, I hope to lead the frontline attacking force.”

Kleist’s eyes were serious; he was not joking.

“As the Battalion Commander, you should be stationed at the battalion headquarters, responsible for commanding the overall situation.”

Shortly after the Instruction Assault Battalion was formed, the Battalion Adjutant had heard of Morin’s ‘glorious deeds’ on the battlefield from people like Klaus and Bowman.

Upon hearing that the latter often transformed into the ‘Assault Captain,’ charging at the front line and even directly infiltrating the enemy’s rear, Kleist felt he should discuss this with Morin.

In his view, Morin was already the Battalion Commander, the backbone and the brain of the entire battalion, and should not personally risk danger.

A commander’s duty is to strategize from the rear, not to charge and fight like a common soldier.

Hearing his words, Morin was stunned, then burst into laughter.

“What adjutant or not, the two of us can just divide the work and discuss it as we go…”

Morin quickly glossed over the topic with a chuckle.

Just as Kleist was about to say something more, a low humming sound came from the sky.

Immediately after, a black silhouette appeared in the distant clouds and continuously descended in altitude.

A new unit was quickly marked on the system map—Zeppelin Armored Airship L28.

The Saxon Empire currently possesses a total of 32 large airships. Besides the 16 passenger and cargo airships, those numbered L17 to L32 are armored airships belonging to the Imperial Air Force.

Five of these, L28, L29, L30, L31, and L32, are newer models equipped with 203mm Naval Cannon.

The armored airship slowly flew over the heads of the Instruction Assault Battalion and then headed in the direction of the Liège Fortress cluster.

Nearly all the soldiers watched the massive object in the sky with curiosity. For many, this was their first close-up view of this kind of War Behemoth.

As Morin looked at the Magic Aura on the airship’s envelope and the Twin-barreled 203 turret mounted on the deck below, a thought flashed through his mind.

“The caliber might still be a bit too small… I remember the Liège Fortress in the other world was immune to artillery attacks below 210mm caliber… But if it uses a Top Attack, is it still possible to smash through?”

“Wait a minute, under the influence of the Britannian people, the Grand Duchy of Flanders is also following the Magic Guided Technology Route. Then, the Liège Fortress wouldn’t also be equipped with a Defense System like a Large Spell Shield, would it?”

Just as Morin was pondering these questions, the ‘boom-boom’ of cannon fire echoed from the distance in the sky.

The armored airship, having flown a distance, began its salvo.

(End of this Chapter)

You can support the translator and get advanced chapter by join his patreon at https://www.patreon.com/caleredhair