On September 13, 1936, Spain's second government was deeply divided over Francisco's plan to go south. A large number of government dignitaries opposed the transfer of the capital's defense forces, and for this reason, Francisco pushed the troops south to advance against public opinion.

In compromise, Francisco acquiesced to the relocation plan of the Spanish Republican government. According to this plan, the Second Spanish Republic would move its capital from Madrid to Valencia, to the southeast. In this way, even if Madrid is lost, the southbound troops taken by Francisco can return to the aid of Barbya southeast of Madrid faster than the enemy forces occupying Madrid.

For this little cleverness, Francisco is scoffing. If Madrid is lost, then even if he can bring the southbound troops back to Palumbia, he will not be able to recover. On the contrary, if the government of the Republic could remain in Madrid, it would inspire the 200,000-strong militia in Madrid to resist with high morale.

Sure enough, after learning that Francisco led the main force south, the government of the republic moved its capital to Barlumbia. The morale of the officers and men of the People's Guard stationed in Madrid immediately dropped significantly. Originally, they were just a militia formed by a group of patriotic people, and they have only persisted until now by relying on patriotic enthusiasm. As a result, the government they desperately defended abandoned them at the most critical moment!

This is a blatant betrayal! Every soldier of the National Guard spits on those government officials who are greedy for life and afraid of death. At such a critical moment, government officials are not thinking about how to take the lead, but how to protect themselves.

In an effort to compete with the National Army for power, the republican government squandered 5 million tons of gold that Spain's leaders had painstakingly saved. It was the century-old savings of the whole of Spain, the cornerstone of Spain's future rise, but it was easily exchanged for a bunch of German eliminated rags by the republican group of fools!

The most unbearable thing is that this group of people who only know how to fight for power are greedy for life and fear death when everyone is going all out, and they hide far behind. Compared with the cleverness of the upper echelons of the Republican Army, the top brass of the Nationalist Army of Franco was single-mindedly focused on fighting the war.

If the Republican Army under such leadership can win, then there is really a ghost!

It's a simple truth. Why in the Battle of Berlin in history, Hitler could gather a million troops; And why didn't Hitler finally take refuge in Austria, which had more troops, or fly to Norway, which was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and retained 200,000 troops?

All this is to stabilize morale and maintain the morale of the army. That's right, if the historical Hitler chooses to leave Berlin, militarily speaking, there is indeed the capital of World War I. Politically, however, a government that can be easily abandoned even in the capital loses all hope of victory.

It's a pity that no one in the current Spanish government sees this. Or, someone saw it, but chose to turn a blind eye.

But in any case, Francisco's southbound troops set off. Francisco attacked head-on with 30,000 regular troops of the Republic, followed by 50,000 militia guards, and repulsed the main force of Franco's National Army by surprise in just 3 days.

Francisco's strategic goal was clear: as long as Franco's 100,000 national army was defeated, the Romanian volunteers, Portuguese volunteers, Irish volunteers, Moroccan foreign legion, etc., who were attached to the national army, would all collapse and lose their combat effectiveness. In this way, the southern front of the republic will be secured for a longer period of time. The Republican Army could also take the opportunity to repatriate the troops scattered on the southern front and strengthen the forces on the northern and central fronts.

If the German-Spanish Combined Corps in the middle of the lane hits its head and breaks the blood flow during the attack on Madrid, then the Republican Army even has a chance to turn the tables!

Unfortunately, under the blow of the government's move to Barlumbia, Francisco was not sure if the People's Guard in Madrid would be able to hold up. All he can do now is to defeat Franco's Southern Front National Army as soon as possible and return to the division in time.

..........

"What are they doing in Trumbus?" A Republican captain smoking a cigarette was lazily asking the sentry next to him, "Although the Germans on the other side are unlikely to call, as the leader of the patrol, Trumbus should not be so leisurely." ”

The captain was asked to take command of the 1,000-man National Guard and was the only regular army officer in this forward position. At the beginning, the captain was very nervous and responsible, and arranged for a two-team patrol model of 10 people.

However, with the long-term forbearance of the German-Spanish Combined Corps on the opposite side, the captain gradually became lax. Since the first offensive of the Italian expeditionary corps, which arrived with them, has been waiting until now. As if Rommel had never discovered Madrid's warplanes, he silently led 100,000 allied troops to defend the national army defense line that had existed before.

The generals of the Republican Army judged on more than one occasion that Rommel would make a move, but all speculations were unsuccessful. Gradually, rumors spread that Commander Rommel of the German-Spanish Combined Corps was a waste. Gossip about Rommel circulated in the major barracks, and the image of a young, courageless, inexperienced, and connected German general remained in the hearts of the officers and men of the Republic.

As a member of the Spanish Republican Army, the captain in charge of one of the many forward positions was no exception. With his laxity, the patrol team has also changed from the original two-team non-stop patrol to the current single-team patrol in batches.

Many patrol captains who have a good relationship with the captain even slip away from patrol duties from time to time, resulting in frequent unmanned patrols.

At this moment, although Trumbus, who was in charge of patrolling, had not yet returned, he had not yet arrived as a replacement patrol officer for the second team. And the captain's words that seemed to reproach Trumbus did not have the slightest stern tone.

"Hi, Captain! I am back. In the distance, Trumbus, who had been patrolling for too long, finally waved back. If someone looks closely, it is not difficult to find that Trumbus has a small amount of dust on the uniform of the People's Guard at the moment.

"Trumbus, what are you kid doing! I came to you for a drink myself, and you seemed dutiful and conscientious on patrol. I love patrolling so much, and the future patrol tasks will simply be handed over to you all-inclusive. The captain joked, "Hurry up, come down to my tent and come to me." ”

However, Trumbu, who has always talked a lot, did not answer unusually, and just led the team straight towards the camp.

The captain, who didn't hear the other party's response, frowned and was about to say something.......

Wrong! There is a problem with the 9 players behind Trumbus! Their steps are so neat! Not to mention ordinary members of the People's Guard, even the government army of the Republic would not be able to maintain such a neat pace in such an ordinary patrol.

The captain's long-term lazy eyes quickly regained his spirits. And just as the captain slowly stretched his hand to the pouch at his waist, Trumbus on the opposite side suddenly fell to the ground with his head in his hands. Then, a soldier walking to the left of Trumbus, wearing a People's Guard uniform, quickly raised his gun and aimed it at the captain.

Looking at the other 8 "patrol" soldiers who quickly dispersed to raise their guns, the intriguing Spanish captain chose to withdraw his hand that was stretched to his waist, and immediately raised his hands.

"I surrender." The captain, who had long been dissatisfied with the government's abandonment of his own people, loudly stated his attitude.

As he finished the last word, the captain clearly saw that the soldier who was aiming at him had put his finger on the trigger. Fortunately, he said it for a few tenths of a second earlier, and the captain secretly rejoiced.