It's getting dark.

Feng? Major Kleist once again raised his telescope to look in the direction of Mount Gibraltar.

There was no light in the British fort, and the whole area was dead silent, except for the searchlights that were on guard near the Spanish line.

"It seems that the British are afraid of our cannons, and they don't even dare to turn on the searchlights!" The chief artillery specialist of the General Staff, the technical head of the operation, Max? Colonel Bauer said in a contemptuous tone.

Kleist put down his binoculars and looked ahead with a regretful expression.

"There's never been a better time to storm the fortress, but unfortunately we're running out of soldiers!"

Behind them, the four cannons had been covered with damp-proof canvas, and most of the soldiers were now sitting in the previously dug circular trenches enjoying dinner, while the rest were patrolling near the artillery positions in a team of 10 men according to Kleist's orders.

"I want to bombard for a few more days, and the British will not be able to stand it! We will then be able to take Gibraltar without any casualties, and it will be a wonderful combat operation! "Max at this time? Bauer was neither Mr. Chiang's number one military adviser, nor Ludendorff's hammer (historically, Bauer contributed a lot to the famous Hindenburg plan and the strategic concept of the general war, and Ludendorff, who was the chief of the General Staff at the time, obeyed him, so some people compared Ludendorff to the hammer that beat the drums of German war, and Bauer was the hammer bearer), but an artillery expert who admired heavy artillery, he not only studied artillery tactics, but also personally designed heavy artillery, because his cannon showed his skills in the French battlefield, He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Berlin.

"Don't be like the Japanese, who bombed for 3 months before occupying the Russian fortress! We don't have that much time, and we don't have that much ammunition! "Kleist roughly calculates that at the current rate, it will only take a week to use up the 1,000 shells he brought, knowing that the next batch of shells is still in the production hall of the Krupp factory.

"No, it won't! We are not Japanese, and the fortress system opposite is much less massive and strong than the Lushun fortress! According to my speculation, we only need to use half the shells to make the Gibraltar fortress no longer called a fortress. It's just a pile of rubble and rubble! Bauer looked back at Kleist with confidence, "Major, trust me!" ”

"Is this your Majesty's plan?" Kleist looked at the artillery expert in front of him in a daze, although he had served as a midshipman in the field artillery regiment, but in front of Colonel Bauer, his knowledge of artillery and fire calculation ability were just children's games.

"It's hard to imagine that such a battle plan based on heavy artillery actually came from the idea of His Majesty, and in other words, it was the words of the emperor. In this case, I am afraid that only the battlefleet will be sent to bombard! ”

"Oh! It turns out that our Majesty also has a lot of research on artillery, and I always thought it was ......"

"Always thought that His Majesty only had research on new weapons? Ha ha! You two are actually talking about our honorable Emperor behind your back! ”

When the hearty voice came from behind, Kleist stopped talking with a cautious expression, and Bauer's expression was much more relaxed, because he knew the identity of the person who came by listening to the voice.

"General Ludendorff, you're a little late, our artillery show is long over!" Bauer said with a smile on his face.

"Ah, we've heard the sound of cannon here in the morning! It's a pity that the Spanish marshals and generals were too stubborn, you see. Our talks have just ended! The Spaniards also invited us to a banquet. But I really wanted to come and see what it was that could make that loud noise, so I snuck in halfway through! Ludendorff said, pointing to the four big canvas guys, "That's it!" ”

Bauer nodded. "Yes, they're Big Berta, or 'FKI' as we used to call them!"

"Oh, I see!"

With Crown Prince Ruprecht's ascension to the General Staff, and Bilow's ties to the 2nd Army, Ludendorff was transferred to the General Staff Headquarters, a distinguished staff officer who had previously participated in the Vienna Peace Conference in Austria. This time, he came to Spain as deputy head of the second German delegation, with the purpose of consulting with the Spanish government and military on how the Spanish army could cooperate with the German army in the attack on Gibraltar and on various post-war matters.

"By the way, I'll introduce you! This is the von of the 1st Royal Hussar Regiment? Major Kleist, he is in charge of the security of this operation! This is Feng? General Ludendorff. The hero of the French battlefield, the big red man of the General Staff! ”

After Bauer's introduction, Ludendorff and Kleist exchanged military salutes and shook hands, at this time the two are very different in age, rank, seniority and influence, 50-year-old Ludendorff is already well-known in military circles, 34-year-old Kleist is just a fledgling mid-level officer, their chance encounter did not leave too deep impression on each other, but many years later, the situation when the two met again was completely different.

Things in the future belong only to the unknowable future. Next, General Ludendorff and Colonel Bauer walked to the camp while they talked, while Major Kleist continued to do his duty on this cold night.

"If you give me an elite commando, even if it's just to give me full command of these soldiers here, I'll make the world remember my name!" The Major thought so in his heart, but he knew better what his task was. Although there was a Spanish infantry regiment and a two-day defensive line in front of this artillery position, Kleist once again inspected his defensive area and supervised his soldiers to strengthen their vigilance and defense, and all 32 light and heavy machine guns of the Marines included the roads and wilderness near the position under his own fire.

Toward midnight, Major Spit, the deputy commander of the Marine Corps, arrives to replace a slightly tired Kleist, but at this moment, something unexpected happens. First there was the sound of gunfire in the direction of the Gibraltar Hills, and then the gunfire became more and more dense and gradually spread across the entire front. In less than half an hour, gunfire was everywhere near the artillery position.

“…… Could it be that the British army fought back? Spit looked in amazement at the distance at Mount Gibraltar, where the night was constantly marked by flying bullets and cannonballs, and the sound of gunfire was heard.

"It is impossible for the British to carry out a full-scale counterattack at this time, there are no more than 3000 thousand soldiers who can fight in the entire fortress, unless they want to break through, but they have nowhere to go!" As he spoke, Kleist ordered all his soldiers to go into a state of alert, and in a short time, everyone moved in an orderly manner.

In the darkness, the chaos around them continued. Kleist's soldiers tried to communicate with the Spanish Army command by phone, but unfortunately the line was completely blocked.

"Signal men, ride to the Spanish 172nd Infantry Regiment in front and ask their officers what happened!" After Kleist's order, the two horsemen set out quickly, and the sound of horses' hooves soon faded away, and their figures disappeared into the night to the south.

"Send a report to Admiral Sheppel, report that we have an anomaly here!" Kleist grabbed a steel helmet and replaced his peaked leather military cap. And called one of his platoon commanders, "Sergeant, take a team of people to escort the officers in the camp!" Remember, no one is missing! ”

The Marine camp was located on the edge of a wooded field more than 200 meters north of the artillery position, and a little further north was the Spanish army station, with a large wooded area to the east and an open hill to the west. It was not only a camp for the Marines, but also a place for the accompanying artillery specialists, for whom the Spanish military had prepared wooden barracks next to the headquarters, but the German specialists preferred to live closer to the artillery with their own soldiers.

Minutes ticked by. The German officers and men, including Kleist, all went into the trenches. One by one, they lay on the edge of the icy trench, their eyes wary ahead.

About 10 minutes later, there was a stumble of footsteps from the north. The soldiers were nervous for a moment, but only the experts from the camp and the soldiers who were guarding them appeared in front of them.

Guided by the soldiers, Ludendorff soon came to Kleist's side, and he asked in a low voice: "Major, what happened?" ”

"General, the specific situation is not clear for the time being, but the situation does not look good! It could be that the British sent harassing troops, or it could be the Spaniards......" Kleist did not go on, as an officer he had little say in politics. But anything can happen on the battlefield.

"Gentlemen, did the British and the Spaniards fight?" Poor Colonel Bauer seemed to be visibly lacking in exercise, and he was already out of breath when he came to the two of them.

"Hopefully that's the reason!" Ludendorff's tone sounded strange, and he seemed to know more than anything at the top, but he didn't continue.

"General, do you need to hand over command here?" Kleist asked cautiously.

Ludendorff did not have direct command of the field according to the corps, "No, Major, you are the supreme commander here. Don't worry about my opinion! Only, I need to warn you that you have to protect the cannons and specialists here and not let anyone approach them! Anyone, understand? ”

Kleist hesitated for two seconds, "Yes!" ”

Until the telegram of Admiral Shepar arrived, there was no threat around this position.

"Our country is in contact with the Spanish government, and the Marines can see the opportunity!"

The report did not bring much luck to Kleist and the Marines, as only one of the two communications corps had been sent had returned, along with a wounded Spanish officer.

"Mutiny, mutiny...... army" The officer fell unconscious after saying these words.

"Oops!" Ludendorff sighed, he was good at strategy and organization, but he was not a good field commander, he was the commander of an infantry unit in his youth, and his grades were only passable.

At this time, Kleist commanded his soldiers in a loud voice: "4 companies and 1 platoon to the northern trenches!" 3 companies and 1 platoon to the south! All machine gunners are ready to shoot, and the muzzles are aimed at the ground 200 meters in front of the position! Grenades listen to the command and prepare to throw!