On the night of October 8, the moon was bright and breezy in the sky.

The desert under the moonlight is like a layer of silver foil, glowing with a faint white light, giving people a sense of desolation and solemnity.

The commander-in-chief of the British forces in El Alamein, Major General Allen, had no intention of admiring the beautiful night, but stood on a two-story building in the southeast corner of the town of El Alamein, looking worriedly at the Alam Halfa Ridge, about ten miles to the southeast.

The British positions at Alam Halfa Ridge shook incessantly, and the whistling of shells tore through the silence of the night sky.

More than 300 howitzers, mortars and tank guns of various calibers launched a fierce artillery bombardment on British artillery positions, trenches, pillboxes and minefields, and the overwhelming shells carried a sharp whistling sound and hail down the Germans, and the blazing artillery fire reflected the sky of Alam Hallefa Ridge red.

When the sun was about to set, Herman. The main forces of the Goering Motorized Rifle Division made a wide detour, bypassing the Ruwisat ridge to reach the Alam Halfa ridge.

Major General Allen knew the enemy's intentions very well, and the success or failure of Alam Halfa Ridge would determine the success or failure of this battle.

Putting down the binoculars, Major General Allen paced back and forth on the roof with a frown, sighing incessantly.

It wasn't until he saw his adjutant Captain Jack running up to the roof that Major General Allen stopped and strode forward.

"How?" Major General Allen asked, staring anxiously at Captain Jack.

"Colonel Abbott of the 4th Panzer Brigade sent a telegram that he and his men had arrived at Alam Hallefa Ridge and were now fighting with the German troops."

Major General Allen slammed his head. Sighed easily.

"They moved so quickly. Luckily, it was just in time. ”

But their army was less than 1,500 men. I am afraid that it will not be able to stop the German offensive, and at most it will only delay the German offensive for a while. Captain Jack reminded his old superiors worriedly.

"I know all of this, but the only reinforcements I can send right now are them." Major General Allen.

"We still have Major Turner's troops." Captain Jack reminded again.

"No, they're the last reserve in town, and they're going to be used to deal with the Germans after dawn tomorrow." Major General Allen shook his head and said.

"A telegram came from the Air Force before dark, saying that German troops were marching on the west, at least one division, and that they were expected to arrive tonight. And we have no reserves in the rear at our disposal. I don't think there's any point in fighting this battle any longer. Seeing that there was no one else around, Captain Jack lowered his voice and whispered to Major General Allen.

Major General Allen stared at his old subordinates with a straight face and did not speak for more than ten seconds.

"General, at dinner Major Turner said that the Germans had brought back a man named Tom. Hardy's captain, the officer, and asked him to bring you a message, and you didn't have time to see him at the time. Now you can meet him and listen to the message that the Germans have brought him. Seeing that Major General Allen was not angry, Captain Jack boldly suggested.

Major General Allen walked around the roof a few more times with his hands behind his back, and after glancing at the night sky in the direction of Alam Hallefa Ridge that shone with "fireworks" from time to time, he nodded silently to Captain Jack.

Fifteen minutes later, in the headquarters of Major General Allen in the middle of the town of El Alamein. Captain Hardy and Major General Allen sat opposite each other at Major General Allen's desk.

"Who told you to come back with a message? What is he going to say to me? Major General Allen asked.

"It's Heinz. Feng. General Rosen let me back, and he was Herman. Commander of the Goering Motorized Division. He said,

"Wait, you said Heinz. Feng. Is General Rosen the same Colonel Rosen who drew up the battle plan for attacking France? Major General Allen interrupted Captain Hardy in surprise.

"It's him, he's now promoted to the rank of lieutenant general." Captain Hardy nodded in reply.

Major General Allen suddenly became excited, and the rapid destruction of France made the names of Manstein and Rosen spread throughout the military circles of the world, and he also heard about it.

This Rosen general, Captain Tohardai, brought a message to himself, there should be astonishing remarks, or some hidden conspiracy, and he must be mentally treated.

With 120,000 vigilance and curiosity, Major General Allen asked, "What does he want to say to me?" If it's trying to persuade me to surrender or something, don't say it. ”

"No, he meant the opposite, he asked me to bring you three pieces of information.

The first message was that the Luftwaffe had built enough field airfields near Mesa Matru, that the Second Air Force would be transferred tonight, and that after dawn tomorrow we would see at least three times as many German fighters and bombers descend on the battlefield and raze all our positions to the ground. ”

The muscles on Major General Allen's face twitched involuntarily, and in today's daytime battle, the air forces of both sides were evenly matched. But even so, their own troops could not withstand the enemy's offensive, and if three times as many German fighters really arrived on the battlefield tomorrow, the picture would be too beautiful to imagine.

"Do you think what he said is true?". Major General Allen asked after thinking for a few minutes.

"I don't know." Captain Hardy said bluntly that he didn't dare to express his opinion on this kind of issue that could affect Major General Allen's judgment of the battle situation, not to mention that he really didn't know.

"Okay, let's just assume he's threatening us, this message can be ignored for the time being, what's the next message?" Major General Allen said.

"The second piece of information is also related to the Luftwaffe. He said that the distance from El Alamein to Alexandria is about a hundred kilometers, and there is a lot of no-man's land on the coastal road to Alexandria. Early tomorrow morning, when there is just a glimmer of light in the sky, a detachment of German paratroopers will land at a certain point in no man's land, cutting us off from the rear. Captain Hardy said.

"He's a threat, a naked threat." Major General Allen said angrily, his face flushed.

"Nope. General Rosen said. You must be thinking he's threatening you. Or think he's showing off, which he didn't mean to be. ”

"What is it if it's not a threat?" Major General Allen asked.

"He said he told you that the purpose of every next move was to let you know that you were fighting a losing battle, and that resisting any longer would only result in more British families receiving death notices, more British mothers losing their sons, and more British women losing their husbands," he added.

"What else is he saying?" Major General Allen keenly spotted Captain Hardy's anomaly.

"He also said that you don't want Mrs. Allen to receive a death notice, do you?" Captain Hardy had no choice but to tell the truth.

Major General Allen's hand shook involuntarily. Captain Hardy glanced at it, then turned his gaze to the side, pretending not to see. "Damn, and a threat. His ultimate goal was to persuade me to surrender, and I really overestimated him. Say, what's the third one? Major General Allen asked.

Speaking of the third, Captain Hardy's face instantly became bloodless.

"The third piece of information is that tomorrow after dawn there will be an Italian naval fleet sailing off the coast of El Alamein to shell us. There were fourteen battleships in the fleet, including two battleships. Each battleship had nine 381-mm guns. ”

Major General Allen's face instantly turned as pale as Captain Hardy.

The office was eerily quiet, except for the second hand of the watch on Major General Allen's wrist ticking and jumping happily.

I don't know how long the ticking sound has been ringing. Major General Allen finally spoke, his tone extremely heavy.

"No more news?"

"Nope." Captain Hardy shook his head.

"You go out first, I need to be quiet alone." Major General Allen said weakly

There was a knock at Major Turner's quarters.

It was Captain Mills who came in, and looking at Captain Mills with an embarrassed expression, Major Turner asked suspiciously, "Is there something wrong?" Captain Mills. ”

"Mr. Major, do you know where diesel is found?". Mills asked, expectantly.

"What do you want diesel for?" Major Turner asked, puzzled.

Captain Mills explained, embarrassed, "It's complicated to say. My men and I escaped by stealing two trawlers from the port of Mesha Matruh, and what we really wanted to go to was Alexandria. Unexpectedly, when the ship ran out of fuel near El Alamein, it had to dock, but it was requisitioned by General Allen. As you should know, the Massella Ridge was occupied, and I escaped with a group of men.

The tide of the war is now very unfavorable to us, and we will either die in battle or be admitted to a German prisoner of war camp. I didn't want that to end up, I sent someone to the beach after dinner to see that the two fishing boats were still there, and we had enough diesel fuel to get them running again, all the way to Alexandria. ”

"You want to be a deserter?" Major Turner asked with a cold face.

"Tell me, Mr. Major, what do you think will be the result of the battle?" Mills did not answer, but asked Major Turner with a serious expression.

Major Turner's response was silence.

"We can't make meaningless sacrifices, we have to conserve our strength and use our strength in the counteroffensive, what do you think?" Captain Mills walked the ladder.

Major Turner remained silent.

"Fighting any longer and being captured is already the best outcome. In case of the worst outcome, you know that shells and bullets will not go around us.

What is the significance of our sacrifice? Except for some shells or bullets that could consume the Germans, we could not stop the Germans from breaking through our lines.

Now that the situation is clear, the Germans and Italians will occupy all of Egypt, and we must make a strategic retreat until we have gathered enough strength to retake Egypt. We should save ourselves and devote our forces to a counter-offensive, Mr. Major, and I ask you to give serious consideration to my proposal. Captain Mills stared at Major Turner tightly, his face sincere enough to make the stubborn nod.

Seeing that Major Turner still refused to speak, Captain Mills stood up and slammed his face on the table.

Major Turner, frightened by Captain Mills's sudden move, looked up at Captain Mills, only to see Captain Mills' angry expression.

"Major Turner. I don't know what you're hesitating about? But we can't afford to put it off indefinitely. It's going to be dawn soon.

We can do that. I'll stay, and you let my men go, even if it's only half of them. The youngest of them is only seventeen years old, they still have a good life to enjoy, we cannot let their young life end in this desert, I beg you to give them a chance to live, let them go. ”

He cried! Major Turner could clearly see tears welling up in the corners of Captain Mills' eyes.

Impressed by Captain Mills' noble sentiments, Major Turner had an irrepressible impulse in his heart.

"Good. I promise you. There should be some diesel fuel in the town, I'll figure it out, you go back to your place and wait for me. ”

"On behalf of my men, Major Turner, I thank you, you are such a generous gentleman." Captain Mills raised his hand and saluted Major Turner as he spoke.

"You are a good superior and a good soldier, I will go and help you find diesel right now." Major Turner said.

"Mr. Major, please wait." Captain Mills called out to Major Turner, who was walking out.

"What's the matter?" Major Turner asked.

"Even if all my men and I get on board, there's still plenty of room on board, at least twenty more people. Do you want to retreat with us? Captain Mills asked.

Major Turner pressed his right hand against the table. There was a look of hesitation on his face.

Captain Mills, seeing Major Turner's hesitation, was about to speak again. Major Turner suddenly shook his head and said, "No, I can only let some of your subordinates leave at most, if we all leave, it will cause the army to collapse." ”

"You're such a competent soldier." Captain Mills couldn't help but praise.

Major Turner gave Captain Mills a good-natured smile, and the two men walked together to the door to the office.

The phone rang suddenly, and Major Turner looked back at the phone on his desk, motioning for Captain Mills to go first.

"Bill, please come to my office." Major General Allen's voice came from the phone.

Five minutes later, Major Turner appeared in Major General Allen's office.

Major Turner saw at a glance the heavy dark circles on Major General Allen's eyes, as well as the loose skin on his face.

"Bill, you're my old subordinate. I have a question for you right now, and you have to answer me honestly. Major General Allen said.

Major Turner looked at Major General Allen suspiciously.

"What do you think of the current situation?" Major General Allen asked.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Major General Turner said: "The situation of the battle is very unfavorable for us, and if we continue to fight, we will only increase unnecessary casualties." ”

Major Turner suddenly remembered what Captain Mills had just said, and after a pause, he continued: "If we continue to fight, we will only die in vain, and we will not be able to stop the Germans from breaking through our line except for the consumption of some shells or bullets from the Germans." ”

"Even you see it that way," Major General Allen leaned back in his chair in a gloomy manner, staring blankly at the ceiling of his office.

Major Turner suddenly remembered another passage that Captain Mills had just said.

"Now the situation is clear, the Germans and Italians will soon occupy all of Egypt. We must make a strategic retrenchment and wait until we have gathered enough strength to retake Egypt. We should now save ourselves and devote our forces to a counteroffensive. Major Turner said.

"What do you mean?" Major General Allen asked, staring at Major Turner.

"The battle will be decided tomorrow, and we should use tonight to send some of the men away, while the Germans have not cut us off. Rather than having those soldiers killed or captured by the Germans, it was better to have them withdraw to the rear and accumulate strength for a later counteroffensive. Major Turner said.

Major General Allen lowered his head in pain, and covered his forehead with his hand in thought.

Major Turner just looked at Major General Allen quietly and did not say anything to urge.

Just when Major Turner thought that Major General Allen was asleep, Major General Allen raised his head sharply and said, "For the sake of the future of the British Empire, I agree with your suggestion." It's up to you, start now, and be sure to move as many troops as possible to the rear before dawn. ”

Major General Allen said as he picked up his pen and quickly signed an order.

"With this order, the people in the rear will not trouble you."

"General, aren't you going with us?". Major Turner did not take the order from Major General Allen's hand, but asked with a look of surprise on his face.

"Don't ask so much, take this order and organize a retreat. Act quickly, and withdraw before the Alam Halfa Ridge is lost, otherwise you won't be able to leave if you want to. Major General Allen slipped the order into Major Turner's hand and waved his hand.

An hour and a half later, more than a hundred Bedford trucks pulled out of the eastern part of El Alamein and sped in the direction of Alexandria.

Almost at the same time, seven ships, large and small, loaded with British soldiers, went out to sea offshore.

Looking through the cockpit window at the twenty unfamiliar British soldiers on the trawler, Captain Mills rubbed his nose and shouted, "The boat is going to speed up, sit down." ”

"Mr. Captain, when will we be able to get to Alexandria?" A soldier asked.

"At the speed of this ship, you'll see Alexandria at sunrise." Captain Mills shouted.

"Will we run into our warships on the way?" Another soldier asked.

"We are more likely to meet the battleships of the Italians, pray to God." Captain Mills said with a cold face.

No one spoke on the fishing boat, only the sudden sound of the diesel engine spinning rapidly (to be continued......