9:30 p.m. on 26 May 1940. On the road from Douai, in the department of Artois, France, to the provincial capital, Arras.

Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the British Expeditionary Force, Boonard. Toil. Major General Montgomery stood in front of his "Morris" mobile command vehicle, watching with concern the rolling traffic and infantry columns passing in front of him.

The troops had been marching continuously for a day, and now they were still more than ten kilometers away from the offensive position, and although the soldiers still maintained their morale, their bodies were already very tired. If, in the present state of the troops, they were to be allowed to attack the German positions tonight, it would probably be too reluctant for the soldiers, and it would probably be difficult to achieve the desired result.

He now has the Third Infantry Division directly under his command, and Gort also handed over the two crippled divisions to his command.

Their former commander is now being questioned in London to investigate why they retreated and abandoned Arras without permission. Think about those two guys are really unlucky. Their troops were crippled when they were given command by others, and Arras gave up after receiving Gort's orders, and now the War Department has put all this on their heads, becoming the scapegoat of two kings. I wish I hadn't become like them.

Montgomery turned and looked carefully at the map spread out on the bonnet again, with a lantern from his lieutenant beside it. Montgomery pondered, he had been pondering the same question all day. Did the Germans really leave a gap for the British.

According to the available intelligence, there were only two infantry regiments of the Germans defending Arras in front of him. And on the line of defense on the southern front of France, the Germans also had only one mechanized infantry division. Now, if you follow the strength of your own division and two brigades, you should be able to easily break through this defensive line. But Montgomery always felt that something was wrong, and he smelled a hint of conspiracy in the actions of the Germans.

If the Germans had set a trap, they must have ambushed a considerable number of troops nearby. Montgomery looked at the map and wondered where he would ambush his troops if he were a German commander. It takes at least a day for an infantry division to get from Cambrai to Arras, and half a day if it is a mechanized unit. If the Germans had set a trap, they should have set up troops in ambush on the east and west sides of Arras, and when they attacked Arras, they would have waited for an opportunity to attack their flanks and even encircle themselves. But if this is the case, his troops must lie in ambush within ten kilometers of Arras, otherwise they will not be able to attack themselves in time.

If you let yourself break through to Arras, then the Germans, who are not supported by armored forces, will no longer be able to retake it from their own hands. At that time, our own reinforcements will continue to rush here, and finally completely tear this hole and rush into the south of France.

But these are all their own speculations, at least so far I haven't gotten any information to prove my assumptions, maybe I'm just thinking too much. Even the latest air reconnaissance report, which was received at noon today, said that no signs of German activity had been found within a radius of fifty kilometres near Arras, and that the enemy's armored units were still repairing there in Cambrai. The two German infantry regiments in Arras were also hurriedly building field work and digging trenches. It seemed as if the Germans sensed something, and they were ready to hold out there to the end. Judging from the performance of those two infantry regiments, it is not clear that they have any strong backup.

But be careful. Montgomery, who had always been known for putting safety first, had made up his mind not to attack Arras before he knew if he was in ambush on his flank. Although his third division can be called elite, he can't take risks.

"Major Callaham."

Montgomery called his lieutenant.

"Yes, General."

"Immediately order the 5th and 50th Infantry Divisions to disperse on our flanks, and the reconnaissance units should search for a wide range of five kilometres from both flanks, but they should be careful to conceal. As soon as there is a situation, it will be reported to the division headquarters. ”

"Yes, General, I'll do it at once."

Montgomery then jumped into his command car and joined the marching procession.

May 26, 1940 at 11 p.m. Barracks in Tournai, Belgium.

Xu Jun was sitting in the briefing room of the campaign headquarters with his commanders, waiting for the last piece of information. During these two days, his main focus was on how to get his troops to run in with each other. He ordered two combat drills a day, but all the units participating in the drills were based on small detachments of companies and mixed forces from various divisions.

As a result, after these exercises, the officers and men of the 7th Armored Division and the 1st and 3rd Infantry Divisions are now in a single position. Moreover, the coordination between regiments and regiments, companies and companies, infantry and artillery tanks has been very skilled. After daily realistic combat drills, the morale of the soldiers has also been raised to the extreme.

What pleased me the most was that through these exercises, I found several talents among the officers of the 1st and 3rd Infantry Divisions. For example, the current commander of the 1st Infantry Division, Colonel Ravi, who was originally the commander of the 22nd Infantry Regiment, and Colonel Ludvik, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, who was originally the deputy commander of the 8th Infantry Regiment, have now become their right-hand men together with Muller. Hans, on the other hand, has also shown his military prowess, and is now also the chief of staff of his own legion. Dougan and Randolph also became their own intelligence analysts.

These people are slowly exerting their own light in their respective positions, and I believe that one day, they will become as brilliant as the sun.

"General, the telegram from Arras has arrived." Hans hurried into the briefing room with a telegram.

"Oh, it's finally here, bring it over." Xu Jun excitedly took the telegram from Hans's hand, looked at it, and then sighed.

He looked up at the officers who were looking at him anxiously, nodded and said.

"Yes, gentlemen. The telegram was the last thing we were waiting for. He picked up the telegram and read it.

"Arras to the General Command, Firelight!"

"They're attacking!"

"That means the information is true, haha, they're really in the trap."

"Can we act?"

"Don't make noise! Listen to the general. ”

When the officers heard the contents of the telegram, they all shouted excitedly. Xu Jun stood up, and the officers quickly closed their mouths, staring at their commander with expectant eyes.

"Gentlemen, it is time to order all troops and officers to assemble in the open space next to the barracks."

"Yes, General." The officers all stood up and answered excitedly, and it was finally about to begin.

Half an hour later, Xu Jun and his senior officers stood on a high platform erected next to the barracks and looked at the neatly arranged troops in front of them.

Countless huge lights illuminated the team under the stage. A full 50,000 German officers and soldiers were lined up in a dozen huge phalanxes, and the tanks were also neatly parked at the back of the line, all waiting with bated breath for the order to attack from their admired commander.

Xu Jun walked in front of the microphone placed in the center of the high platform, he looked at the more than 50,000 soldiers standing tall below, and couldn't help but feel a strong pride in his heart, this is his army.

He shouted into the microphone.

"Colonel Mueller!"

His deputy corps commander Mueller, who was standing on the side, hurriedly walked to the other microphone and answered.

"Yes, General!"

"Are these my soldiers?"

"Yes, General."

"Where did they come from!"

"Great Germany, General!"

"They're strong."

"Yes, incomparably strong, General!"

"They're brave."

"Yes, very brave, General!"

"They're loyal!"

"Yes, incomparably loyal! Checkmate! ”

"What are they afraid of?"

"Fearless except defeat, General!"

"What will they do to the enemy?"

"Straight into hell, General!"

"They are very cruel."

"Only for our enemies, General!"

"What's their name?"

"Cyprus Legion, General!"

"It's a noble name."

"Yes, very noble, General!"

"What does that name mean?"

"No enemy can pass through him alive, except the undead and noble warriors. Checkmate! ”

"Muller! Now can you lead my brave legion out to tear apart all the enemies that stand in your way? ”

"Always ready! Checkmate! ”

At this time, Xu Jun was so excited that he yelled loudly.

"Then let's go! I am here to command! The "noose" plan has officially begun! ”

After speaking, Xu Jun saluted Mueller.

"As you wish, General!" Mueller respectfully returned the salute to Xu Jun.

Then he yelled at the 50,000 officers and soldiers who were stimulated by Xu Jun's conversation with him.

"I command!" Cyporus", forward! ”

"Forward!" Cyporus"! ”

50,000 officers and soldiers erupted in excited roars!

As the order was given, the teams saluted one by one to the high platform and left the open space in an orderly manner, boarding the military vehicles parked on the side.

Accompanied by tanks, the long convoy roared towards the unknown darkness of the West.

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