Chapter 296: Bombing Brighton

In order to support the two-line battle at the same time, France's war machines were overloaded. A large number of troops began to mobilize to the designated areas. Various military supplies were also transferred from Iberia and mainland France to border areas.

On March 2, the 3rd French Legion arrived at the Arden Plateau. On March 4, the 4th French Legion arrived in the Lorraine Plateau. For a time, France deployed nearly 350,000 3 legions in the area bordering Prussia. All four legions of the Kingdom of Prussia were deployed in the border areas. For a time, the situation on the European continent became extremely tense and the war was about to break out.

"His Majesty, I ask you to agree to send two more troops to the front line. France has gathered more than 200,000 troops in the border area and is continuing to increase troops. If we do not send reinforcements to strengthen the military force on the border, we may suffer heavy losses under the sudden attack of France." In the Berlin Palace Hall, the Chief of Staff of the General Staff of the PLA, Clausewitz, requested.

"But we only have 6 regular legions, and the reserve legions still need to undergo some training. If we send all the troops out, will there be no need for defense in other parts of Prussia?" King Friedrich William III of Prussia said with some embarrassment.

"Now that France's threat to various countries has been fully exposed, and no country will ignore the threat of France and start war against us." Clausewitz explained.

"But our agreement with Britain was to send five legions to the war, otherwise we would send one legion to the front line." Friedrich William III said hesitantly.

"Your Majesty, one legion can't play much role at all, even the role that two legions can play is very limited. If possible, I even hope to send two more legions to the front line to deploy defenses." Clausewitz persuaded.

Seeing Clausewitz so determined, Friedrich William III had to choose to compromise, but he still said angrily: "Damn Frenchman, why do you always use us as the first target of attack? Do you really think that we are still bullying us in Prussia?"

Clausewitz just glanced at Friedrich William III and thought to himself that's not the reason why you are so active. If you shoot the first bird, who will France attack Prussia if you don't?

"Chief of Staff, why are you leaving for the front line?" asked Friedrich William III, who had finished venting.

Clausewitz thought for a while and said, "In 5 days, the 1st and 5th Legions should be ready at that time. Then we and the others will rush to the front line together."

Friedrich William III nodded and then asked, "How much do we have to hope to resist the French attack this time." Every war was fought on the Prussian territory. How much did Friedrich William III hope to defend against the enemy abroad.

"If France does not launch an attack within these five days and has only two French regiments to face, I am sure to defend the defense line for one week. If reinforcements from other countries can arrive in time, we have the hope of controlling the war in France." Clausewitz thought for a while and said.

"One week?" Friedrich William III exclaimed, as if he was hit by this answer. But then he realized the gap between the Prussian army and the French army. It would be quite good to be able to block France's attack with a considerable force. "Your Excellency the Chief of Staff, the future of the kingdom will be left to you. I hope you can withstand the attack of the French." Friedrich William III looked at Clausewitz eagerly and said.

However, Clausewitz did not dare to give him a positive answer, but only replied that he would do his best.

After Clausewitz left, Friedrich William III immediately summoned the Foreign Minister and asked him to send troops to support Prussia as soon as possible.

On March 5, the French Air Force mobilized. In order to carry out this bombing of Brighton, Air Force Commander Valdesius Air Marshal mobilized 250 airships of all sizes to gather in the Abvere area in the lower reaches of the Somme. Among them, there are 20 super-large "Fortress" class airships, and the other ones are 50 large airships, 100 medium airships and 80 small airships. Small airships mainly provide protection for airship troops, because the UK also has a formed airship force with a number of about 50. Although its performance is much worse than that of French airships in various aspects, it still poses a certain threat to the large, large and medium airships loaded with bombs.

On March 6, Xiao Jie led Dugor, Ek and others to Abveur and summoned Valdesius that afternoon. "How is the preparations going? When will the plan be implemented?" Xiao Jie asked as soon as he met.

Valdesius replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, the preparations are going smoothly and are expected to be ready by tomorrow afternoon. As for the attack date, it is initially scheduled for March 9. Feiteng troops will take off at 2 a.m. and bomb Brighton military port at 9 a.m. and then return to Abveil."

"Take off in the early morning? How to grasp the course?" Xiao Jie frowned and asked. On the dark night, the airship troops would easily lose their direction in the sky.

"You don't have to be careful about this. Take off in the early morning, on the one hand, you can avoid being discovered by the British Navy, and on the other hand, you can suddenly appear above the British fleet in the morning. Even if they were discovered at that time, they would not have enough time to respond. As for the course issue, the Navy will provide us with help. The Navy will send 30 warships, starting from Abveur, and one subordinate every two kilometers to point us in the direction. After dawn, the airship troops can also control the direction themselves." Bardesius replied.

"What about the weather? Will the airship troops allow the weather to attack during the time?" Xiao Jie continued to ask.

"According to the forecast of meteorological experts, the weather on March 9 is very suitable for airship flights. Of course, if the weather conditions suddenly change, we can only postpone the bombing plan."

Xiao Jie nodded. He was still very satisfied with Valdesius' preparations and had taken into account all possible factors. On March 7, Ek returned to Paris, because the land attack was about to begin, and there must be a responsible person in the General Staff. Xiao Jie and Dugor stayed in Abvere, ready to witness this great moment in history.

On the evening of March 8, Xiao Jie, like most people, was so excited that he was not awakened. He came to the temporary airship docking base with Dugor. Seeing the ground crew constantly busy transporting fuel and other supplies to the airship, of course, bombs were essential.

In order to completely damage the British Navy, the airship troops attacked this time were loaded with bombs, all of which were 500 kilogram bombs. This kind of bomb has devastating lethality to all the British warships in service. If one of the "Honor" class warships is hit by one, they will be reincarnated if they are hit by two. Not to mention those "British" class warships, they only need one bomb to be sent to the bottom of the sea. Of course, considering that the hit rate will not be very high, the plan adopted this time is to carry out intensive bombings at all ports in Brighton. Putting all 8,000 bombs into the military ports, even if the hit rate is only 2%, it is enough to eliminate half of the British Navy's strength in Brighton.

At 3 a.m. on March 9, the well-prepared airships slowly began to take off. At 3 o'clock, all 250 airships took off and began to fly towards Brighton. The navy's warships were all in place, and 30 "Iberia"-class warships from the Straits Fleet will take on the job of navigating the airship forces.

After 5 hours of flight, the airship troops were discovered by the British Navy, and it was only 15 kilometers away from Brighton. Except for 6 of the 250 airships returning early due to failure, the other conditions were still in good condition.

"General, the patrol fleet found a large group of French airships coming to Brighton, and it is estimated that it will reach over Brighton in half an hour." A staff officer reported to Nelson. Since the last time Westrop led the navy to attack the French Mediterranean fleet, not only suffered heavy losses, but also failed to achieve the predetermined combat target, the commander of the British Navy was replaced by Nelson.

"Flying boat? What do the French want to do? What do they send airships to Brighton for?" Nelson asked in wonder.

"Aren't airships only used for reconnaissance and to provide shelling data to warships? It seems that the French also bombed with airships." The staff officer suddenly replied.

"Bomb? By the way, bombing. The French wanted to bomb Brighton with airships. To be precise, bomb our navy." Nelson immediately understood the French intentions.

"Let the warships set sail immediately, leave the port, and all disperse." Nelson roared in anger. I have to say that he is still very capable, and he thought of how to avoid the bombing of French airships in an instant.

However, it was too late. Although many warships faithfully carried out his orders, it took at least an hour for the fleet to leave the port, and the French airship was already very close to Brighton.
Chapter completed!