Counterattacks also take time to prepare, with units with heavy casualties needing to be replaced and recuperating, and strategic supplies taking time to be raised and transported.

Facts have long proven that modern warfare is no longer a simple battle on the battlefield, and the rear is also fighting.

The Battle of the Rhine, which had just begun, was an example, and if it were not for the large number of machine guns and artillery that Austria had gathered, it would not have been possible to resist the French attack with inferior forces.

The more firepower you have, the greater the logistical requirements. More than eighty percent of the trains and ships sent from Austria to the front were transporting strategic goods.

If it weren't for the large amount of transportation capacity occupied by the transportation of logistical materials, the Austrian army's movement would not have been so slow.

Of course, the sluggishness of the present is mainly for the sake of the rapidity of the future.

In fact, a few years earlier, the Vienna government had proposed to the German Confederation the construction of a strategic road from Bavaria to Luxembourg.

It's just that the situation in Europe was still very peaceful at that time, and everyone did not have enough sense of crisis, because the relationship between costs was not agreed for a long time.

After all, the transportation in Germany is already developed enough, and the river + railway can fully meet the daily transportation needs, and the economic value of building another road is too low.

In addition, Britain and France feared that Austria would further deepen its influence on the West German region through this road, and the plan was stumped behind it, so the plan was shelved.

It wasn't until the outbreak of the European War that the logistical pressure on the front line intensified, and the governments of the states along the route were forced to restart the strategic highway plan.

In order to save time, governments have decided to widen and reconnect the existing roads.

The time was too short for the German Confederation alone to complete the project in a short period of time. Even if only temporary roads are built, it will not be enough.

As a good ally, Austria naturally had to lend a helping hand. So far, the number of Austrian laborers entering the German region has exceeded 600,000, more than the Austrian soldiers on the Rhine front.

With such a large construction team, management is naturally a difficult problem.

Fortunately, Austria has adopted a system of universal military service, and these conscripts, even if they have not entered the army, have been trained in the reserves, and can adapt to it in the shortest possible time.

The humble town of Vess, chosen as the new main road because of its location.

The 3rd Battalion of the 4th Regiment of the 3rd Austrian Engineer Division was responsible for the construction of this section. Iverson, the engineer who is the technical leader, is surveying the site with a telescope at the moment.

Speaking of exploration, Iverson actually brought pen and paper, plus a pair of telescopes. Surveying and exploration instruments do not exist.

It's not that he is derelict in his duties and lazy, but mainly to catch up with the deadline, and not waste too much time in the preliminary work.

In the past, exploration, analysis, and research are all omitted. "Looking at the past with the naked eye + experience = road map."

After determining the general direction, I went straight forward. Except for special areas that must be avoided due to geographical conditions, other direct A can be done.

This is road construction, not a delicate job. Even if there is an error, it is a big deal to turn a corner when docking halfway, as long as the deviation is not too excessive, it is acceptable.

"It's a pity, such a good manor is about to be split in two!"

Along the way, Iverson has lost count of how many times he has made similar exclamations. There is no way, now he is doing the work of a demolition worker.

The flat terrain of the manor is convenient for agricultural production and road construction. All you need to do is level the ground a little and compact it with concrete.

Geological conditions, soil types, bearing capacity, and the basic parameters of construction in the past have now become redundant.

When building roads in plain areas, even if the pressure is too high in the later stage and the subgrade settles, it will not sink anywhere.

The problem of road quality, that is completely too much to think about, now everything is in a hurry, as long as the danger is within the controllable range, nothing else.

It's a big deal to rebuild it after the war, as long as it can be used temporarily to meet the logistics and transportation.

Moreover, in these years, the load capacity of the car is limited, and the heavy trucks that can pull dozens of tons of goods at one time are not high.

"Lieutenant, someone outside is looking for you, saying that there is an urgent matter to discuss with you."

A guard on duty ran over to inform.

Since it is a militarized management, military ranks are naturally indispensable. Although he was only a junior engineer who had just been drafted, Iverson still relied on his skills to become a junior officer.

Putting down the binoculars in front of him, Iverson asked slowly, "Got it." First of all, ask the person who came to me for something.

If you can't tell me anything specific, or if the reason is too far-fetched or too demanding, you can send it all to me. ”

It can be seen that Lieutenant Iverson is already experienced in dealing with it. Even if you don't see anyone, you know what they're coming for.

"Demolition" is naturally indispensable for interests. There are no demolition fees these days, and even if the land is privately owned, it still needs to be occupied.

At most, it will give some symbolic compensation, and it will not be much higher than the price of land in the world anyway.

In the event of large-scale land acquisition, this compensation may not be lost by the landowner, but the problem is that now it is only compensation for the land occupied by the road.

However, the loss of profits brought about by highway construction is not only the little land occupied. Many manors were cut in the middle by the road, and in an instant they became chicken ribs.

To be reasonable, I'm sorry it's the war years. Everything had to be given way to the war, and all the problems had to wait until after the war.

Not everyone has the big picture, and not everyone is willing to contribute. In order to reduce or transfer losses, there are naturally many people who climb relationships.

The people who can find the door are not ordinary people, and at the beginning, in order to establish a good relationship with the local powerful faction, Iverson also participated in a lot of banquets.

However, he soon gave up, and the land annexation situation in Germany was already so serious that no matter how the road was chosen, it would inevitably harm the interests of some people.

After all, this is a strategic highway, and the area is naturally small. Compared with the original road two or three meters wide, it has now directly increased by five or six times, and these are all land occupations.

To get rich, you must first build roads, which is not applicable in the German region. The local economy is already good, and the existing roads are sufficient for daily transportation.

The strategic highway being built now has seriously damaged the interests of landowners.

Just like the manor in front of you, once it is divided into two by the road, not only will its own area be reduced, but the management cost will also increase greatly, and its value will naturally plummet.

If the Luxembourg line collapsed, Lieutenant Iverson would have considered whether to sell the landlord for a favor and find a way to detour from the periphery.

Not now, the top three orders and five times to urge the progress, naturally how fast and how to come. As for the follow-up, that's the state government's own business.

……

"Lieutenant, this is the wine I brought, for ......"

Before the old man could finish speaking, Iverson interrupted: "Sorry Mr. Will, you should know that the Luxembourg defense line has been lost, and now the Rhine defense line is also in danger.

For the sake of the overall strategic situation, the order was made to connect most of the sections in two months, and we had no time. ”

The Rhine defense line is certainly not precarious, but when it comes to demolition, it must be.

If they don't feel the pressure, who can guarantee that the owners of these lands will not be motivated by the desire to deliberately block the construction of roads.

The old man replied bitterly: "Lieutenant, I understand all these truths. As soon as the French break through the Rhine line, it will become a battlefield, and no one will be left alone.

But I'm a vineyard, and once the road passes through the middle, it will inevitably affect the quality of the grapes.

Let's take a detour from the side, it will increase the distance by less than a kilometer in total, and the terrain here is flat, so it won't take much time! ”

It is inevitable that the road passing through the middle of the vineyard will affect the quality of the grapes. Among other things, the noise of light traffic and the dust flying on the roads can affect the growth of grapes in the vicinity.

Grapes are not easy to preserve, and the vineyard mainly sells raisins and wine these days, and if you only enter the low-end market, it doesn't hurt that the quality of the grapes is poor.

Anything that could affect the quality of the grapes in order to enter the mid-to-upper segment of the market could be fatal for the vineyard owner.

Iverson shook his head: "Sir, I'm very sorry, I really can't help you with this favor." Personally, I suggest that you negotiate with the local government as soon as possible on the issue of compensation to minimize the damage.

Perhaps, in your opinion, a detour of a few hundred meters over the adjacent land will minimize the economic damage and will not add much work.

But don't forget that the land next to it also has an owner. The owners of the land certainly did not want something like that to happen to them.

If the owner of the land appeals to the troops, this kind of obvious malicious encroachment and targeting, I will go to court-martial. ”

Austria, however, was preparing to unify the German region, so naturally it could not act arbitrarily. It is understandable that the construction of strategic highways occupies land, but only if it is as fair as possible.

Even if it is necessary to make a detour, it is only possible that the landowner has coordinated first, and everyone has no opinion.

The old man nodded helplessly: "I'm sorry for embarrassing Your Excellency." The road can't be diverted, so move to the side and pass through the edge of the manor.

Don't worry about the increased workload, I will organize people to help by myself, and it will not affect the progress of the construction. ”

"It's just a slight offset, it doesn't involve land disputes, it doesn't affect the construction progress, I think there is no problem!"

Lieutenant Iverson didn't deliberately make things difficult, and he was happy to sell his favor without affecting the mission.

The local officials who were in charge of coordinating and communicating on the side also breathed a sigh of relief, and similar things had happened countless times. If you can solve the problem without conflict, it can be regarded as a happy ending.

(End of chapter)