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Text Chapter 1,496 A Hard Fight

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    A small hotel near the sea in Astor has become the temporary residence of the Chinese Embassy in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  Although this small hotel is very inconspicuous, because of the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Austria-Hungary, it has become one of the most important places in the entire Maritime Province.  Although Archduke Karl, the Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary, and the government have stated that some high-end hotel rooms can be provided to the Chinese Embassy in Austria-Hungary.  However, this was rejected by Shen Ruilin, the Chinese Ambassador to Austria-Hungary.  Although the conditions of the small hotel are not very good, it is better than safety!  The German Air Force had bombed Astre several times before. The Germans not only bombed military targets, but also some civilian buildings.  Several luxurious hotels were destroyed by Luftwaffe bombings, and the senior officials of the Austro-Hungarian Empire who stayed there suffered heavy casualties.  From this, we can see the foresight of the Chinese Embassy in Austria-Hungary.  This situation only changed after the Chinese Air Force and Naval Aviation regained air supremacy over the Mediterranean.  However, from time to time, Luftwaffe fighter planes would still fly to Astre and drop some bombs. Although they did not cause much damage, they made people panic.

    As for the Austro-Hungarian Empire¡¯s air force, most of it was lost in the battles in the past few days.  The remaining pilots no longer dare to take to the air to fight, even if they disobey their commander's orders.  The old-fashioned F6 or F5 fighter jets equipped by the Austro-Hungarian Air Force are simply no match for the Luftwaffe's Hurricane IV combat aircraft.  Once in the sky, it is very likely to be shot down by Luftwaffe fighters.

    On the afternoon of January 10, Archduke Karl, Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Count Leopold von Berchtold, Minister of Foreign Affairs, took a car and secretly arrived at the Chinese Embassy in Austria-Hungary.  During the morning meeting.  Archduke Karl asked Austria-Hungary to persist in fighting and the German troops to compromise.  However, Archduke Karl was also very anxious in his heart, and he hoped to get further definite answers from China.  Otherwise, rely solely on the strength of the Austrian Army.  It was impossible to protect the Maritime Province, let alone defeat Germany and regain the Austro-Hungarian Empire!

    "His Royal Highness, good afternoon!" In a garden of the small hotel, Ambassador Shen Ruilin met with Archduke Karl and Count Leopold von Berchtold.  Compared to the anxiety of Archduke Karl and others, Ambassador Shen Ruilin seemed much calmer.  Although early in the war.  The Chinese Air Force and Naval Aviation were surrendered by the German Air Force and suffered heavy losses.  But in the following week of fighting, the Chinese Air Force and Naval Aviation gradually regained their disadvantage.  This also gave Ambassador Shen Ruilin greater confidence in the empire's strong military strength.

    "His Excellency Ambassador, good afternoon! The main reason why I came here today is because the German Army has approached the Maritime Province. According to the intelligence we have received, the incoming German Army has more than 600,000 people. With the current strength of the Austrian Army,  I'm afraid it will be difficult to defeat them!" Archduke Karl said with some embarrassment.  When the Austrian Army retreated from Vienna, there were only more than 200,000 soldiers.  Fortunately, all the troops deployed to the southern part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and preparing to invade the Kingdom of Serbia were withdrawn. Otherwise, the Austrian Army would have even fewer troops.

    "Don't worry, Your Excellency! Chinese reinforcements are already on the way! I just received a domestic telegram this morning. The fleet transporting the 19th Army of the Imperial Army is about to enter the Adriatic Sea. The fleet will not arrive until the afternoon of the day after tomorrow at the latest.  We will arrive in Astor!" Ambassador Shen Ruilin said.  Originally, according to the plan, the 19th Army was supposed to board the ship today.  But when the fleet entered the Mediterranean, it encountered a German submarine in the eastern Mediterranean waters, and a transport ship transporting ammunition was sunk, which made the fleet greatly nervous.  The Chinese Navy's Third Fleet even mobilized more than a dozen new "Erhai-class" frigates to conduct an encirclement and suppression campaign in the eastern Mediterranean Sea before escorting the fleet to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which delayed some time.

    After hearing Ambassador Shen Ruilin¡¯s affirmative answer, Archduke Karl and Count Leopold von Berchtold breathed a sigh of relief.  Although the Austrian army was weak, it could hold on for another two days.  There should be no problem.  When the Chinese Army arrives, it will be much easier for them.  Although only one group of the Chinese Army has come so far, with more than 200,000 people.  However, the senior leaders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire believed that once the Chinese army landed in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  They will not give up this bridgehead easily.  At that time, China will continue to invest more troops to fight Germany.  With China's huge population advantage and industrial strength, the final victory is very likely to be China's.  The Austro-Hungarian Empire was also able to successfully survive this crisis with the help of China.

    "Your Excellency, Ambassador, we can rest assured! We will definitely be able to hold on until the Chinese reinforcements arrive!" KarlThe father patted his chest and promised!

    Ambassador Shen Ruilin smiled, and then said: "Your Excellency, the Grand Duke, you must have confidence in us! Now the empire has regained its disadvantage and is about to launch a counterattack! Although Germany is powerful, even with the strength of the entire Holy Alliance, it cannot fight  The empire competes! The final victory must belong to the empire! And the Germans will pay a heavy price for their despicable behavior!"

    ¡° Archduke Karl and Count Leopold von Berchtold both believed in this.  They all believe that China will win in the end, and China's victory has become their only chance!

    Ambassador Shen Ruilin actually despises the performance of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  Such a huge country was at the end of its rope in just one week, and was almost destroyed by the Germans. I really don¡¯t know what the rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire did.  This also made China's early investment in the Austro-Hungarian Empire completely wasted, causing China a lot of losses.  However, if the Austro-Hungarian Empire is not rescued and Germany occupies the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire and digests the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it will be a serious threat to China.  The strength of the Holy Alliance is already strong enough. If it gains the industrial strength and population of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it will be even more difficult for China to defeat Germany!

    Starting from the morning of January 11, the German troops who invaded the Austro-Hungarian Empire intensified their attacks.  German forces from two armies attacked the Maritimes from the north and east.  To this end, the German Army invested four armored divisions and more than 800 tanks.  The terrain of the Maritime Province is flat, and armored forces attack at rare times.  In order to resist the attack of the German troops, the Austrian Army also tried its best!

    At this time, the Austrian Army, which had withdrawn to the Maritime Province, still had six armored brigades and thousands of tanks, which gave it a certain numerical advantage.  But in terms of quality, except for a very small number of T6 tanks that can compete with the German Army's Panzer IV tanks, the remaining T5 tanks and T4 tanks are simply no match for the German armored forces.  In fact, the power of the T5 tank is enough to threaten the German Army's No. 4 tank.  However, the quality gap between the tank troops on both sides was too great, which directly caused the Austrian Army's armored forces to be completely suppressed, and the entire battlefield was almost one-sided!

    Within one day, the German Army used four armored divisions as arrows to advance thirty kilometers and directly reached the city of Astre.  The Austrian Army paid a heavy price in this day's battle.  Six armored brigades were crippled and two-thirds of their tanks and armored vehicles were lost.  The personnel losses were even greater, with as many as 200,000 people killed, captured, and missing. This caused the Austrian army to lose almost half of its strength!  The remaining troops also retreated to Ast, and did not dare to continue fighting against the German Army!

    The disastrous defeat of the army shocked the Austro-Hungarian government.  A group of people headed by the Duke of Kasbah, the Minister of War in Audi and the Minister of War of the Central Government of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, took the opportunity to jump up and down, advocating that if the fighting continued, the Kingdom of Austria would be destroyed, hoping to force Archduke Karl to agree to Germany.  The conditions proposed were to abandon the alliance with China and turn to Germany.

    At this time, the Austrian Army was already in a bitter battle. Because of the heavy losses and the delay in the arrival of reinforcements, the Austrian Army was already panicking.  If the Austrian Army Commander Archduke Friedrich hadn't personally rushed to the front line to take charge, the Austrian Army might have collapsed!

    Archduke Karl, the Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was also under tremendous pressure, but in the end he withstood it.  He did not want to be a puppet king under German control, he wanted to restore the glory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  And to realize his dream, he can only follow China's footsteps!  Archduke Karl repeatedly ordered the Austrian Army to persist, and Chinese reinforcements would arrive soon.  By then, the crisis in the Austro-Hungarian Empire will be resolved!

    The German side also seems to have learned that the reinforcements sent by China are about to arrive in Astre.  Therefore, regardless of the unclear visibility at night, the attack was launched overnight, which put even more pressure on the Austrian Army!  The fierce artillery fire of the German Army launched an artillery bombardment on Astre. Many buildings in the city were destroyed by the German artillery fire.  The senior leaders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire had to withdraw from Ast and fled to the base of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.  Many people also asked the navy to provide ships to take them to Sicily for refuge.  However, this request was rejected by Archduke Karl!  He would not leave the Austro-Hungarian Empire unless absolutely necessary!
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