The Royal Banner Falls

"This was our survey map of the entire Shaokui terrain over the past few days. Although Count Roberts had hoped to make a last-ditch stand by relying on the Limpopo River, yesterday's battle dealt the Allied forces a fatal blow. With his troops already stretched thin, the defensive system Count Roberts had planned was now riddled with enormous holes. This was especially true in western Shaokui. Count Roberts had surely intended to make use of the river bend there, but now he could only retreat into the narrow eastern area. The west was therefore the Allied forces' weak point. If we concentrated our artillery and troops for a forceful assault, we should soon be able to wipe out Count Roberts's forces completely."

Commander-in-Chief Leiden of the Western Military Region addressed the assembled officers. With Merke having gone south to command operations against Cape Town and Natal, Leiden was now East Africa's highest military commander in Mozambique.

The Western Military Region was also now the main force confronting the Mozambique army, especially after Mozambique's western main force had been surrounded by the Western Military Region in the Saint George area.

Mozambique had now become a piece of succulent meat in East Africa's mouth. The quickest way to resolve the Mozambique issue was to eliminate the Allied forces' General Headquarters led by Count Roberts and the Mozambique government, then persuade the main Mozambique Allied forces in the west to surrender.

If that still failed to achieve their objective, then after eliminating Count Roberts's forces, the East African Army would advance westward and, together with the four divisions besieging the Allied main force, annihilate the enemy at Saint George.

Of course, the most important matter now was taking Shaokui. Shaokui's terrain was extremely favorable for defense. The only pity was that the Allied