Belante waved his hand kindly, interrupted Alphonse's worry with a smile, and said: "I, Bironte, am stationed in Algeria personally, not to lose this big oil field in China. ”

Realizing that he was quick to talk for a while, Alphonse also smiled wryly: "I made a slip of the tongue, I actually mean ......."

Belant shook his head and smiled: "Governor Alphonse doesn't need to explain it to me, I understand, what you said is also very reasonable. ”

Outside the door, the staff officer knocked on the door and entered, bringing double the coffee that Berlunte had asked for. After taking the piping hot coffee, Bronte picked up the white sugar on his table, poured it into the cup, and asked Alphonse, "Would you like some?" ”

Waving his right hand, Alphonse waved his hand and said, "No, coffee and I have never been used to adding sugar. ”

I have to say that at this time, Béronte was more like a governor in charge of one side than when he first came to Africa. While retaining his military temperament, he gradually adapted to his new identity as a governor.

Without making Alphonse wait too long, Belante continued: "I think the purpose of taking in the Italians, I think Marshal Petain, is only to show goodwill to the allies and strive for a better position in the future. As for the arrangements for these Italian soldiers, I do not think that Marshal Petain would have wanted us to squander this generous gift to the Central Powers as cannon fodder. What's more, we do not lack these forces that are not combat-ready. ”

Glancing at Alphonse, who was already a little moved, Belante paused and continued: "In terms of troops, we are still a lot more than the African Commonwealth army. Moreover, the general Wavell, who defeated the Italian army of 500,000 with 100,000 men, was not as invincible in my eyes as the British boasted. ”

If someone else says this, it may be inevitable that they will be suspected of bragging. In other words, Bironte, who defeated the main Italian army of 320,000 with 50,000 men, is not overdone at all.

Not to mention that the battle of Bironte was more severe than that faced by Wavell in terms of the proportion of troops. Just take the Italian army he defeated, all of them were the main forces of Italy itself, unlike the 500,000 Italian troops defeated by Wavell, which were mixed with a lot of water and filled with a huge number of local African colonial troops.

"However, the British army in Africa can be replenished from their colonies, from their allies, from the Commonwealth countries around the world. But if we want to replenish anything, apart from self-sufficiency, we can only ask for it from the local people, whose economic situation is already dangerous. Which side of us is easier to replenish combat power, I believe you should be able to see at a glance. ”

"What is lacking in the British army? Compared to us, they lack almost nothing! Whether it is the source of troops, weapons and equipment, economic strength, or the domestic political situation and morale, they are far better than today's France! ”

Alphonse listened quietly, a cold sweat already breaking out on his forehead.

Although he had been in the world for three years longer than Béronte as a governor, his vision was still too small, and he was designated in North Africa. He also considered what Belante said, but it was definitely not as thorough as Berente thought.

It's not something you can learn by sitting in an office!

Berente's vision stemmed from his trials and tribulations in Verdun, in Poland, on the Weygand Line, and in the Alps. A large number of battles allowed this famous French general to gain practical combat experience that he did not have in the military academy, as well as control of the overall situation.

After drinking the coffee in his cup, Belante slowly stood up, walked to the wall of his headquarters, and pointed to the Libyan strip on the map of North Africa by the wall for Alphonse with a telescopic pole: "Second question. The British have already occupied and controlled ninety percent of Libya and have the upper hand in the confrontation with us. Have you ever wondered why they have unabashedly continued to mobilize troops and concentrate troops in Libya? ”

"It's nothing more than an attempt to attack our African colonies." Alphonse saw this very clearly, and he was convinced: "With the means of the British, a surprise attack should soon be launched against our oil fields." Half of the oil fields we have developed in Algeria are located on the border not far from Libya, which is very dangerous. ”

Belante nodded, "Yes, so we can't retreat from the beginning, because there isn't much buffer space left for us." Even if the British army did not defeat our main force, they only needed to destroy our oil fields, and we lost this battle. ”

Belante looked at Alphonse, who was frowning tightly, and said with a smile: "That's why I don't send Italians to garrison the border area." Even if the losses are destined to be large, in the first battle on the border, we must send our men to garrison. It is likely that the British will not use their British forces as the first offensive force, but with their Commonwealth allied forces to test our depths. It just so happened that we were also using our own colonial forces against the British allies. When the British general named Wavell mobilizes the British army to carry out the breakthrough, I will immediately lead the French army in my hand to confront it! ”

Although Alphonse did not have as much combat experience as Béronte, he was not an inexperienced young general after all, and when he heard this, he immediately realized: "So you just put the collected Italian army at the end, and put the colonial army and your own French army in the first and second lines, so that the decisive battle can be started at the beginning!" However, in this way, we are still inferior to the British army in terms of combat effectiveness, and you are afraid that you will suffer? ”

Béronte sighed, Alphonse was not stupid, but his position for a long time had caused him to develop a fatal flaw.

Although the official position of the governor of Morocco is on the same level as that of the governor of Algeria, Belante, the power in his hands is relatively weak after all.

Alphonse had been operating in Morocco for more than three years, and it was only then that the initial French infantry regiment was garrisoned and an additional 30,000 African soldiers recruited from Morocco and its environs. That's quite a result!

It's a pity that this power is still too weak in the turbulent Africa. Therefore, Alphonse has developed the habit of being cautious and cautious everywhere.

As a commander, caution is a must, but if you are too cautious and cause you to be afraid to move forward, it will backfire and miss out on many good fighters.

Belante said earnestly: "It is certain that we will suffer, after all, we are the underdogs. But just as the British only need to destroy our oil fields, we only need to defeat the British forces that are their core force and immediately achieve our strategic objectives. In this battle, we don't need to destroy the entire army of the opponent, so it is actually unnecessary to compare the full combat power of both sides. As long as we can fight for losses, even if it is a huge loss, take advantage of our military superiority, replace the core troops of the British army 2 to 1 or even 3 to 1, and wear out their offensive ability, everything will be worth it! ”

"Besides......." Birrent smiled slyly, "I also want to fight against the strongest British player who has been blown into the sky." Let's see if their British generals are superior, or if I, the French general, are superior. ”