The information brought by the two special forces of the DreamWorks force is invaluable.

Knowing that the main force of the British army had fled to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, Marshal Graziani and Rommel immediately decided to divide their forces and seize strategic points in Egypt.

On 10 October, the Greater German Motorized Rifle Regiment marched eastward to Port Said, Egypt's second-largest port, in northeastern Egypt on the west bank of the Suez Canal.

The Italian Marati battle group seized the city of Tanta, south of Alexandria.

Tanta is located in the middle of the Nile Delta, about 100 kilometers from Alexandria to the north and Cairo to the south.

Having made up his mind to prove the fighting power of the Italian army at the end of the campaign, Marshal Graziani swept away the procrastination of the beginning of the war.

At his urging, the main forces of the Italian Tenth Army marched day and night towards Alexandria.

After sending all the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the Italian Blackshirts to Alexandria, the truckers turned west to meet the 62nd and 63rd Infantry Divisions, which were lagging behind.

On the night of October 10, the German 7th Panzer Division was fully assembled. At this point, the Axis ** team that arrived in the Nile Delta has arrived

to four divisions and one regiment, and occupied almost half of the Nile Delta.

On the way to the Axis ** team, the army and police composed of the Egyptian natives not only did not resist, but actively cooperated with the Axis ** team to ease traffic. Maintain law and order.

The German and Italian armies reciprocated with strict military discipline. Along the way, there was no rape, plunder, or other acts that violated the honor of soldiers. Both sides were happy for a while.

At 8:30 a.m. on 11 October, the generals of the Axis Brigade gathered in the conference room of the famous Big Windmill Hotel in Alexandria for a military meeting, the theme of which was quarrels.

"General Rommel, in my capacity as commander-in-chief of the coalition forces in North Africa, I order you to stop the offensive on the east bank of the Suez Canal. You must lead your forces to join me in the capture of Cairo, then go south to Sudan to join up with friendly forces from Ethiopia to the north, and then launch an attack on the east bank of the Suez Canal after completing the orders I have given you. ”

Rommel rejected Marshal Graziani's order.

"No, I can't. The order given to me by the German High Command is to cross the Suez Canal east as soon as possible, and seize the advantage as soon as possible when the main force of the British army is in Cairo and the British army on the east bank of the canal is empty. ”

The two argued-for-tat for ten minutes without deciding the winner, and Chen Dao, who was sitting on the sidelines watching the battle, was very anxious.

Before the final victory of the war, the two sides began to split, which was really terrible.

What is even more frightening is that the split between Marshal Graziani and Rommel is but a rehearsal of the conflict between German and Italian interests in the Mediterranean.

If the signs of division are not suppressed at the embryonic stage, the consequences will be dire if the two countries become more unequal in the distribution of spoils in the Mediterranean.

The logistical lifeblood of the Afrika Army is in the hands of the Italians, and if the Italians are not satisfied, their future manipulation of supplies will be enough to put the Afrika Army in a dilemma.

The Italians could not afford to offend. Lao Long is his own person, and his elbow can't turn outward. There is no other way but to go with the mud.

Chen Dao violently crushed the cigarette butt in the ashtray in his hand, and then slammed his knuckles on the table a few times, interrupting the argument between Marshal Graziani and Rommel.

"What is there to argue about such a simple question? If the British knew that we were arguing over such a trivial matter, they would definitely laugh off their front teeth. Chen Dao said angrily.

"What do you suggest?" Rommel asked.

Graziani also looked at Chen Dao, his eyes full of anticipation, as a business partner, Heinz should be on his side.

"My suggestion is to divide the troops into two routes, General Rommel with the 7th Panzer Division and the Großdeutsche Motorized Rifle Regiment to cross the Suez Canal eastward, and I with Hermann. Wouldn't the Göring Motorized Rifle Division move south to support the Tenth Army in its attack on Cairo? ”

Graziani was overjoyed when he heard Chen Dao's words, he really didn't guess wrong, and Heinz was really still on his side.

In a flash, another layer of concern came to mind, and Marshal Graziani asked: "We have no idea how many troops the British have in Cairo. Will the forces of the Goering division be a little too light to attack Cairo with us? ”

"Herman. The strength of the Goering division was enough. In the past few days of fighting, our logistical supplies have been transported by trucks from the port of Tobruk, and as the battle line has become longer and longer, the logistics line from Tobruk to El Alamein has exceeded 500 kilometers. Constrained by the lack of supplies, Herman. The combat effectiveness of the Goering division was only half of its effectiveness. But now it's different, our ships can go directly to Alexandria, and not only are the road transport conditions from Alexandria to Cairo far more than the coastal roads in the desert, but there are also railways that can be used. Supplies are abundant, Herman. The combat effectiveness of the Goering division can be at least 90%, and you don't need to worry about insufficient strength. Chen Dao patiently explained.

Graziani thought for a while, and although he was still a little uneasy about Chen Dao's assurance, he couldn't think of any good way to persuade Rommel, so he nodded and agreed.

Of course, Rommel would not object to Chen Dao's suggestion, and nodded in agreement.

After leaving the conference room, Chen Dao followed Rommel back to the Afrika Army headquarters in southeast Alexandria, and after an hour of secret discussions, a lengthy telegram was sent to Berlin.

Half an hour after this telegram was sent, another radio wave flew out of Marshal Graziani's headquarters, which was then placed on Mussolini's desk as a telegram

Cairo, the capital of Egypt, was already under war clouds at this time. Trains, cars, bicycles, and various livestock-driven trucks carry countless citizens and their wealth out of the city. You want to evacuate the battlefield before the fighting reaches Cairo.

As early as the day of the occupation of El Alamein by German troops. King Farouk of Egypt and Prime Minister Hassan. Sabri then led the cabinet members out of Cairo and into Palestine.

Remaining in Cairo to fight with the British was the Chief of the General Staff of the Egyptian Army, Ahmed. Hassanain.

A graduate of Oxford University in England, Hassana was a hardcore Anglophile among the top officials in the Egyptian army.

Sitting in the office of Lieutenant General Wilson, commander-in-chief of the British forces in Egypt, Hassana and Wilson sat opposite each other at their desks, their faces full of anxiety.

Lieutenant General Wilson subconsciously shook the coffee cup in his hand, looked at the rippling coffee in the cup, and asked without raising his head: "The Italians have occupied Tanta, which is less than a hundred kilometers from Cairo, and can reach Cairo in two days at most, at least one day." Before they arrive. Can you gather more troops, even if it's just one division? ”

"Two divisions are already the limit, and even if more troops are recruited, they will only be a group of civilians with weapons, which will not play any role in the battle, and they will waste valuable weapons and ammunition." Hasanain shook his head.

Lieutenant General Wilson put down his coffee cup and let out a long sigh.

"If we don't have more troops, the only ones we have at our disposal to resist the Germans are your two divisions, the 1st South African Brigade, which has just arrived, the three battalions that have arrived from Sudan, and the more than 3,500 men who have been withdrawn from Alexandria and Port Said, for a total strength of less than 50,000 men. And there was a lack of heavy weapons and tanks, and there were less than fifty planes left. There is no way to resist the German army moving south, and not to mention the fact that the Italian army from Ethiopia north may appear behind us at any time, and you must find a way to recruit some more troops. ”

Listening to Lieutenant General Wilson's account of the precarious situation, Hasana's brow wrinkled even tighter.

"Why do we have to fight near Cairo? In the situation we are facing, we should lead our forces to the east bank of the Suez Canal, or withdraw further into Somalia, and wait until we have gathered enough troops to counterattack. Why do we have to stay here and watch the enemy surround us? ”

Lieutenant General Wilson glanced at the angry Hasanain, a helpless smile on the corner of his mouth.

What else could be the reason? It is not that the Prime Minister of London wants to fight a political battle in Cairo, and in the future, when questioned by parliamentarians, he will be able to confidently say that the British ** team lost the Egyptian capital after a terrible battle, instead of retreating without a fight and fleeing without firing a shot.

In order for him to keep his position under the ass, I don't know how many British YMCAs will be lying on the streets of Cairo, and maybe even he will have to bury his bones in a foreign land.

It is a pity that this reason cannot be spoken, and he should find a more appropriate reason to answer Hasanain's question, Lieutenant General Wilson pondered hard.

Sensing the inexplicable smile on the corner of Lieutenant General Wilson's mouth, Hasana's anxiety instantly rose into anger.

"General Wilson, on behalf of the Government of Egypt and on my own behalf, I would like to make a proposal to you that you send another telegram to Mr. Churchill explaining the perilous situation in which we are now. It is also important to emphasize that there are pyramids and sphinxes in the suburbs of Cairo, and nearly 300,000 artifacts in the Cairo Museum in the city that need to be protected, and if these artifacts are damaged in the war, we will become sinners of history.

What's more, there are still nearly 400,000 citizens in the city who have not been evacuated. You know the architectural style of Egypt very well, there are not enough bomb shelters and basements here, and after the fighting, I don't know how many civilians will die in the fighting, please take this into account, not from a military point of view, but from a point of view of protecting cultural relics and monuments and humanitarian point of view, please be sure to accept my advice. ”

Lieutenant General Wilson's eyes lit up, and the anxiety in his heart instantly decreased by half.

Why didn't I think of those cultural relics and civilians in the city? Why didn't you try to convince the Prime Minister from a conservation and humanitarian point of view?

Fortunately, there was a reminder from Hasanain, otherwise he would really miss a perfect excuse.

Thinking of this, Lieutenant General Wilson cheered up and said to Hasanain: "General Hasanain, this suggestion of yours is very important. Egypt is a country of ancient civilizations, and the British Empire is a country of gentlemen. We are not barbaric Germans and Italians. We must think about our war from a humanist and humanitarian perspective. Efforts were made to avoid the loss of cultural objects and civilians in the war.

I'll send a telegram to the Prime Minister right away, but my writing is not good enough, I'm afraid I won't be able to impress Mr. Prime Minister, can you ghostwrite?

The telegram should be as sensational as possible, and the Prime Minister is a lover, and he is very emotional, and if we can arouse his pity for the civilians, he will certainly agree to our withdrawal. ”

Hasana's first stunned hearing this. Then he said: "If I write, I will be able to impress Mr. Churchill, and I am confident in my writing." ”

October 12 at 1 a.m., 10 Downing Street.

Winston Churchill, the wartime prime minister of the British Empire, sat in his smoky office, crossed his legs, took a Havana cigar in his mouth, and silently commented on the telegram in his hand while swallowing the clouds.

The writing is flying, not like a war report, but like a long poem that touches the heart.

Request for the evacuation of Cairo in order to protect the safety of monuments and civilians?

This reason is naïve. What you can all think of, I can't think of?

If only the civilians of Egypt had not been killed by the bombs of the Germans and Italians. How is it possible that Egyptians and the Egyptian government have accumulated enough hatred? How could they firmly stand on the side of the British Empire and fight the Germans and Italians to the end?

Even if those artifacts were destroyed, the murderers were Germans and Italians. After the war is over, it is not a big deal to ask Germany and Italy to pay more war reparations.

Sneering and crumpling the telegram in his hand and throwing it into the garbage basket, Churchill picked up a pen and paper from his desk and spent ten minutes writing a speech.

After another five minutes of polishing, Churchill put away his pen contentedly.

After the Germans and Italians dropped bombs on the heads of the citizens of Cairo, who suffered heavy casualties, the statement condemning the atrocities of Germany and Italy and expressing solidarity with the troubled people of Egypt will be put to use.

This time, it was the turn of the British Empire to take the moral high ground.

At 6:50 a.m. on the same day, on a British position northwest of Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

Captain Mills, holding a steaming lunch box, shouted to a lieutenant, "Lieutenant Barker, come here." ”

Lieutenant Barker walked over to Captain Mills with his lunch box, and the two then walked to a bunker in the middle of the trench.

Sitting around the round table in the bunker, Captain Mills whispered to Lieutenant Buck while eating with his head down, "How are the team members feeling lately?" Is there anything out of the ordinary? ”

"Balk and Short are a little agitated, and I've been restless lately." Lieutenant Balk replied.

"Why? Is it because you are always surrounded by a group of British people, and you are scared in your hearts? Captain Mills asked, staring at Lieutenant Barker.

"How is that possible?" Lieutenant Barker's face turned red instantly, "We were all volunteers for this operation, and we were sent by General Rosen to carry out this mission. On the day El Alamein landed, I thought I was dead, how could I be afraid? ”

"I blame you wrong, and I apologize to you. Why are you agitated? Tell me why. ”

"In the next battle, are we going to continue to retreat, or are we going to stay here and fight?" Lieutenant Buck asked.

"With the current situation, we may have to stay here and fight side by side with the British, the enemy is our comrades-in-arms." A hint of worry flashed across Captain Mills' face.

"Once the battle starts, how many of our team members will die under the fire of their own people, have you thought about it?" Lieutenant Buck said.

Captain Mills tossed the spoon in his hand into the lunch box, and the expression on his face froze.

"We could all be killed by our own people, or none of us might die. Is this what makes you anxious? ”

"Isn't that enough?". Lieutenant Buck said in a deep voice.

Captain Mills hesitated for a while and then said: "In fact, I have been thinking for a long time about our next move, in the next battle, we can raise the white flag and surrender when our comrades have just launched a charge, we can abandon our position and flee to the city of Cairo at the beginning of the battle, or we can attack the British on both flanks of our position after the battle has started, but no matter which method we choose, it will not allow our team members to avoid being accidentally injured or killed by our own people, who will let us wear the uniforms of the British?" ”

Lieutenant Buck covered his face with his hands and said in a trembling voice, "I think the same as you think, this is an unsolvable problem. ”

After a few seconds of silence, Lieutenant Buck jerked down his hands and picked up his lunch box again and took a big bite of breakfast.

"Don't think about it if you don't have an answer, and when the battle begins, we'll simply rush into Major Turner's battalion headquarters and capture him, and open the way for our comrades to march, just as we did at Maiselya Ridge."

"It's great that you can think like this, but the emotions of the players still need to be soothed, and after breakfast, you ask Balk and Short to come to me, and I will talk to them." Captain Mills said. (To be continued......)