Zhang Chi's requirements for the South African 1st Division were not high. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

In fact, Zhang Chi had no requirements for the South African 1st Division at all.

For example, seeing that a big war was coming, Zhang Chi's order to the 1st Division in South Africa was not only to "rest" but also to "rest".

This made Brigadier General Jack and other British officers serving in the 1st Division in South Africa incomprehensible.

And people are often like this, with the inertia of the South African 1st Division, if Zhang Chizheng assigns a task to continue, I am afraid that the South African 1st Division will be vain from top to bottom...... This was determined by the morale of the 1st Division in South Africa, which had not fought any decent battles since its formation, and had always been looked down upon in the Commonwealth Army, and equipment and supplies had always been the last to be allocated, so much so that until now they were not even fully equipped with rifles.

However, the British can't be blamed for this, because the South African soldiers used their guns too "roughly", for example, they would use the gun as a crutch, and even use a burning stick, and they would throw it into the sand next to them when they slept...... As for wiping guns, it is not a specialty of South African soldiers.

So the rifles always broke down one by one, and then the British stopped doing it...... In the beginning of the war, they were unable to fight anything, but the guns used were twice or more than those of other troops, so they simply rationed them and let them toss for themselves.

This was fed back to the South African soldiers, that is, the British officers of the South African 1st Division also felt that the unit was muddy and could not support the wall, so they all had the psychology of breaking the tank and breaking it.

Therefore, the purpose of the South African 1st Division from top to bottom is four words: perfunctory.

But now, Zhang Chi gave the order to "rest" again and again, which made Brigadier Jack's heart furious.

One day he summoned the British officers of the 1st Division in South Africa to a meeting, and said to them: "Gentlemen, don't you think it's a little strange? ”

"Yes, Brigadier General!"

"That Chinese general only let us rest!"

"Wouldn't that be nice?"

……

"That's good!" Jack replied, "But why is that?" ”

Of course, they don't know the intention of the Chinese general to do this, and the others always shout at the South African 1st Division over and over again emphasizing quality and training, but the Chinese general does the opposite.

"Think about it, gentlemen!" Brigadier General Jack said: "Chinese generals, they don't care about the lives of our British officers, and certainly not about the lives of those South African soldiers......

"Brigadier General means ......" and then an officer responded: "You mean...... The Chinese general is ready to send us to the battlefield to die? ”

Brigadier General Jack nodded and said, "That's the only way to explain that he doesn't care about our training, doesn't it?" ”

"No, we can't let them do that!"

"Of course he can!" Brigadier General Jack replied: "You forgot, he is our commander!" ”

"We've got to stop him!"

"How to stop it?" Brigadier General Jack asked.

"Let's report to General Montgomery!"

"Report what?" Zhang Chi asked: "Report to the Chinese general that we are resting and not training?" ”

The officers were silent.

After a long time, a voice asked, "Brigadier General, what should we do then?" ”

"There's only one way now!" Brigadier General Jack replied: "Train your troops well, so that you can hope to save your life!" ”

Finally, Brigadier General Jack added: "Listen, this is no joke! ”

As a result, to everyone's surprise, including Zhang Chi, the South African 1st Division entered training in an unprecedented state of mind, and even Brigadier General Jack personally mediated the transfer of a batch of rifles and machine guns to update the equipment of the troops.

In fact, the British officers are a bit "living the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain", and the reason why Zhang Chi let the South African 1st Division rest is because he wants the South African 1st Division to do something very simple, that is, to transport supplies and build fortifications for the new 1st Division, which is the strength of the South African soldiers living in the desert.

On the other hand, because there were too many spies planted or bought by the Germans in the South African First Division, Zhang Chi would undoubtedly reveal more information to the Germans if he had too much training.

It is no wonder that the British officers thought so, they themselves always used the colonial army as cannon fodder, and this time they were of course worried about being used as complete cannon fodder by the Chinese.

However, it is of course a good thing that the South African 1st Division is willing to train, sweat more before the war and shed less blood during the war, so Zhang Chi will not bother to care about them.

A few days later, Montgomery called Zhang Chi: "Major General, are you ready?" ”

"The hunt is about to begin, isn't it?" Zhang Chi asked.

Montgomery called the siege operation a "hunting operation."

"Yes!" Montgomery replied.

Because the situation in Malta is becoming increasingly tense, the sooner Operation Hunt begins, the more beneficial it will be for the Commonwealth Army.

"Let's get started!" Zhang Chi said: "We are ready! ”

So the plan began that night...... The defensive ring on the periphery of Alexandria was withdrawn without the Italians even noticing, forcing the British 50th Infantry Division stationed there to make a noise with tanks.

It was only then that the Italians, who were slow to react, fired a few flares, and only then did they realize that the British were retreating.

However, the Italians were very cautious, fearing that this was a trap carefully laid for them, so they waited until dawn to occupy the ...... In such a situation, it is generally necessary to send a small force to reconnoitre, but no one in the Italian army dares to take risks easily in the dark night, so it is difficult to carry out even if a small force is sent.

At the same time, the Italian officers had good reason: if the British did retreat, they would not return even by daylight the next day, and if they had laid a trap, they would probably have had to work in vain.

This seems to make some sense, so the Italian army does not need to be in a hurry.

The next day, after some fire reconnaissance, the Italians mustered up the courage to send out scouts, and then they were overjoyed to find that the enemy had retreated, and the follow-up troops rushed forward like a tide...... The Italians were undoubtedly gifted both in escaping and in grabbing.

Then the Italians excitedly told their commander, Marshal Cavalero, the good news.

Of course, they will not say that this position was abandoned by the British on their own initiative, but will make a big deal about how they fought valiantly and how much they paid to finally repel the enemy......

Field Marshal Caballero was convinced of this, but Rommel frowned when he heard the news.