The French military headquarters was in chaos; no one, including Xia Fei, had anticipated the Germans would launch an attack before the French Army, turning a planned offensive into a makeshift defensive battle.
"What is the terrain of Combray?" Xia Fei anxiously asked.
"It’s hard ground, General." Kanes’s eyes filled with fear, "The kind of ground suitable for tank attacks."
Following Charles’ advice earlier, Kanes had identified all the hard ground defenses, and Combray was one of them. However, it was ruled out because it was within Fuxu’s Northern Group Army’s defense zone in northern France.
Soon, more detailed information was brought to Xia Fei:
A solid layer of chalk, an open area for miles around, with extremely flat terrain.
Xia Fei closed his eyes in frustration. He knew that such terrain through the offensive preparation period meant not just "suitable" but "perfect" for tank attacks.
"Why didn’t we hear a peep about this!" Opening his eyes, Xia Fei furiously complained, not even aware that the Germans were preparing an attack.
"Clearly, it was tight intelligence lockdown." Kanes recalled, "The few tanks we spotted were likely shown to us on purpose by the Germans."
Kanes referred to the photos taken by the Second Bureau of tanks covered by tarpaulins on a train.
"What do you mean?" Xia Fei asked.
Kanes handed over the photos and documents, whispering, "They made us think these tanks were heading to Messina, and there were not many."
Xia Fei was momentarily speechless, realizing this was his judgment.
The train had only two carriages with a total of six tanks, heading to Messina.
"The Germans have at most twenty or thirty tanks, and the hilly terrain in Messina is not suitable for tank warfare."
"They still don’t know how to fight tank battles!"
Xia Fei then ordered increased aerial reconnaissance over Messina to monitor the German Army’s movements.
Now it was apparent that the Germans had fooled him, and this was all part of what they wanted him to believe.
Of course, Xia Fei would never admit it.
The embarrassment on Xia Fei’s face was fleeting. He coughed lightly, returned to normal, glanced at the map, then ordered calmly and steadily, "Order the First Specialized Artillery Division to reinforce Combray."
After a pause, Xia Fei ordered again, "Send a telegram to Charles, instructing him to command the Second and Third Air Corps to support our forces!"
Soon, Charles received the order from the headquarters to collaborate in the operations at Combray.
This was reasonable, as the Air Corps under Charles’ command did not mean they were his private forces.
However, Xia Fei specifically designated the Second and Third Air Corps, the two airbases closest to Combray.
Charles sent a telegram asking, "Are you certain, General? You should know the Germans are equipped with new aircraft."
The headquarters’ reply was arrogantly dismissive: "Of course, I need you to immediately regain air superiority over Combray! Immediately!"
Xia Fei had never taken the German new aircraft seriously. He believed France had control of the air, as it always had previously; it was no different now. All that Charles needed to do was get the aircraft into the sky.
At this moment, there should be a battle plan to guide Charles on how to coordinate the aircraft with the ground forces, but Xia Fei said nothing about it.
Charles could only reply, "As you wish, General!"
After some thought, Charles telegraphed orders to the Second and Third Air Corps to prepare for combat and dispatched four aircraft from each group to scout the situation over Combray.
Charles specifically instructed, "It’s reconnaissance; retreat immediately if things go wrong!"
After further consideration, he ordered the First Air Corps in Paris to send a squadron to reinforce the frontline airbases.
The town of Combray in northern France was resounding with artillery fire.
German tanks advanced in orderly formations towards the French defense lines amid smoke and gunfire, followed by squads of German soldiers armed with rifles.
This was the First Tank Division of the German Second Army Group.
They had secretly reinforced Combray: the tanks moved to the frontline under the cover of artillery fire and darkness, then hid in tank shelters and camouflaged themselves upon arrival, even frontline allies were unaware of their presence.
This was a common method in war to lock down intelligence, often needing to guard against allies more than enemies because the main channel for enemy intelligence was through captured prisoners.
The commander of the First Tank Division, Major General Nicholas, stood on a Silesian tank, holding binoculars as he watched the frontline battle unfold.
Through his scope, he observed tanks crossing enemy trenches in waves, then splitting into several groups to flank the trenches and assist infantry in breaking through enemy lines.
This was a tactic developed by Major General Nicholas, which he called "encircling tactics."
(Note: This tactic did exist during World War I, but it was invented by the British. The reason was the lack of armored personnel carriers to quickly move infantry. Once tanks rapidly broke through enemy trenches and advanced deep, they would leave infantry far behind, making them vulnerable to being isolated and destroyed by the enemy. Hence, it became common for tanks to break through the trenches and then turn back to support infantry in capturing them with machine guns and artillery.)
Watching the French soldiers fall one after another under the tank’s machine guns, soon to collapse and flee, Major General Nicholas smiled with satisfaction.
He had been worried that the new tanks and new tactics might lead to unforeseen issues, but now it seemed those worries were entirely unnecessary.
"General," at this moment, a staff officer reported, "enemy aircraft spotted, Aphro fighters!"
Major General Nicholas’s heart skipped a beat, Charles’s Air Corps!
They said the new "Fokker E1" fighters could easily shoot down the "Aphro," but without actual combat, who could be certain?
Especially when facing Charles!
No one could afford to underestimate Charles; otherwise, they would face the harshest lessons!
"How many?" Major General Nicholas asked.
"Four planes from each of two directions," the staff officer replied, "a total of eight, searching for our reconnaissance planes."
The staff officer’s underlying message was to deploy the "Fokker E1" now as it was the best opportunity to test them.
Major General Nicholas was also tempted, but after contemplation, he restrained himself.
"Ignore them!" Major General Nicholas ordered.
"General!" The staff officer was reluctant, "Our reconnaissance planes are being destroyed."
Major General Nicholas coldly ordered, "Tell them to accelerate their retreat and keep distance from the enemy planes."
"Yes," the staff officer responded helplessly.
Nicholas sensitively sensed that this could be a probe by Charles.
He then thought of a more terrifying possibility: if Charles was probing, did it mean he already knew about the German new aircraft?
Furthermore, had Charles also developed new aircraft?!