Qin Chuan and Colonel Slein took Major General Oxter's jeep back to the barracks.

"I have a question!" Colonel Slein, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat, said: "Marshal Raeder doesn't look like he came to see these warships and leave!" ”

"Of course!" Rear Admiral Oxter replied: "Our warships in Germany can only stay in the harbor and cannot move, and if he wants to do anything, he has to stay here!" ”

"So who should we command?" Colonel Slein said, "Marshal, or admiral?" ”

Colonel Slein didn't say it explicitly, but everyone understood it...... The marshal was referring to Raeder, and the admiral was Rommel.

In terms of rank, it should be Raeder, but this is obviously inappropriate.

"Oh, Colonel!" Rear Admiral Oxter replied: "I think your worries are unfounded, at least the warships of the Navy can't go ashore to deal with enemy tanks, can they?" ”

As he spoke, several people couldn't help laughing, and although the driver didn't quite understand the meaning of the joke, he also laughed.

Amid the laughter of the crowd, the jeep drove into the barracks of the 36th Infantry Division...... It was originally a shoe factory, and when the 36th Infantry Division arrived in Algeria, it did not find a suitable place and took it for granted that it was its own barracks.

In fact, this is because the 36th Infantry Division is accustomed to their style of cunning and plundering, and Colonel Slein's first corps and even the Italian "Lightning Division" are camped in open fields on the outskirts, and they have nothing to do with the people...... This is not only because of the strict military discipline of the 1st Infantry Division and the "Lightning Division", but also because of the method of buying people's hearts and minds in Egypt, Libya, etc.

On the contrary, the 36th Infantry Division was transferred from France, and they had long been accustomed to the tricks of the common people.

As soon as the jeep drove into the barracks, a faint sound of music was heard, and when the car stopped, it saw a factory building a few hundred meters away with flashing lights and crowds, and the sound of music came from there...... It is clear that the officers of the 36th Infantry Division have converted it into a ballroom.

Qin Chuan and Colonel Slane couldn't help but glance at each other, and they both saw a trace of dissatisfaction in each other's eyes...... You must know that Algiers was shot down by the Afrika Korps, and most of the soldiers of the Afrika Korps at this time were still fighting with the British on the Alexandria Line in the desert, and even the first regiment and the "Lightning Division" that directly hit Algiers were blowing cold winds in the suburbs, but these guys who had never fired a shot were enjoying themselves in Algiers.

However, because Major General Oxter was a general, it was inconvenient for Colonel Slain and Qin Chuan to say anything.

"Hey!" After Major General Oxter jumped out of the car, he said to Qin Chuan and Colonel Slane, "Look, there's a ball over there, why don't we go and relax?" ”

"I'm sorry, General!" Colonel Slane said, "I think we'd better go back to the barracks, maybe what's going to happen......"

"Don't be funny, Colonel!" Major General Oxter couldn't help but invite Qin Chuan and Colonel Slane to walk in the direction of the ballroom: "What can happen at this time?" I understand that you've just returned from the Alexander Line, but that's why you need to take it easy! ”

"General!" At this time, a staff officer rushed up and said, "Here are a few messages that you need to sign!" ”

"Sorry, gentlemen!" Major General Ochster said, "You go first, and I'll come later!" ”

Because they couldn't refuse, Qin Chuan and Colonel Slane had to walk into the dance hall.

Qin Chuan was a little surprised by the luxury of the ballroom, with streamers and lanterns hanging overhead, a band playing waltzes on stage, a couple of men and women dancing to the rhythm of the music on the dance floor, and waiters occasionally shuttling through the crowd to serve wine and food to the attendees...... If it weren't for the fact that he had just gotten off the military jeep, Qin Chuan would have thought that this was a medieval aristocratic ball.

"Where did they get these women?" Qin Chuan couldn't help but ask: "This is Algeria!" ”

Qin Chuan noticed that the women were white...... German officers disdained to associate with women whom they considered to be inferior.

"They're French!" Colonel Slain replied in a low voice.

Qin Chuan couldn't help but let out an "oh...... Algeria is a French colony, and because the north of France has fallen and the south of France is in danger, a colony like Algeria is safer.

This can be seen even by ordinary people.

On the one hand, the reason is that France may break out into war due to the presence of the Toulon fleet, fighter planes and other equipment, and on the other hand, because the 100,000 troops stipulated in the German-French armistice agreement do not include the colonial army.

As a result, in this special period, the size and combat effectiveness of the Algerian colonial army surpassed that of the French army.

It is precisely for this reason that rich and powerful French "elites" have "immigrated" to live in Algeria.

It's just that what they didn't expect was that Algeria was the first to be occupied, so these "big fish" were caught one after another.

Qin Chuan looked at the women who were dancing on the dance floor, although they had smiles on their faces, there was fear in their smiles. Look at the French man who came with them, his face was full of helplessness and embarrassment.

Qin Chuan didn't like this atmosphere very much, so he took advantage of Colonel Slain talking to a few officers and walked out......

Lighting a cigarette in the evening breeze, Qin Chuan walked into the garden path next to him alone.

The noise of the music gradually faded away, replaced by the sound of insects in the grass, which made Qin Chuan feel much better...... This may be an occupational disease of soldiers who come down from the battlefield:

The battlefield is too noisy, so they prefer quiet places;

The battlefield is too dangerous, so they prefer areas where no one is around;

There are no women on the battlefield, so they don't really know how to socialize with women...... One might even say a little scared.

Except, of course, units like the 36th Infantry Division.

At this time, there was a sudden strange sound in the darkness, Qin Chuan habitually threw away his cigarette, and then pulled out his pistol as fast as he could, and shouted into the shadows: "Who is it?" Come out! ”

"No, no...... Don't shoot! "A woman's voice, speaking English.

"Don't shoot!" The woman said, "I was invited to ......"

"French?" Qin Chuan asked.

"Yes, the French!" A frightened Frenchwoman walked out of the darkness with her hands raised.

Qin Chuan confirmed that she was not lying, because she was wearing a gown, but in the moonlight, the makeup on her face was a little spent, and it looked like she had cried.