"Tower! Control tower! Here is the 11th Squadron of the 2nd Fighter Wing of the Luftwaffe from Tunisia, we have seen the airfield, please arrange a landing runway, please arrange a landing runway! ”

"Roger! This is the control tower of the Malaga Air Base, welcome to Spain! Please land on the northernmost main runway 3 and 4 of the airport, repeat, please land on the northernmost main runway! Complete! ”

"Roger, northernmost main runways 3 and 4! Complete! ”

In the bubble-shaped cockpit with a good view, the young and handsome pilot wearing a leather flight cap and a leather jacket turned the intercom to his squadron channel after finishing the call with the ground tower.

"Guys, we're going to land on the two main runways in the northernmost part of the airport, still the same as before, one by one! Ladies and gentlemen, this is Spain, please strictly observe the order of air traffic! ”

"Understood!"

Soon, the group of silver-grey propeller fighters flew to the busy Malaga air base. Since the Gibraltar incident, it has become the largest German air base in Spain and even southern Europe, with 5 main runways, 5 auxiliary runways and 4 spare runways, 66 open-air hangars, 120 underground hangars, 4 underground ammunition depots, 4 underground oil depots, and a complete ground defense system, which are not comparable to the Gibraltar military airport with limited area and insufficient depth.

Before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the German 19th and 31st Air Force Mixed Wings were stationed at the Malaga Air Base, equipped with more than 200 fighters of various types, pilots, and nearly 10,000 ground support and garrison troops. The two mixed wings were not the best German air wings, and the Messerschmitt trainers they were equipped with were only old models that had been put into production 10 years earlier, but with improved radio equipment and aviation rockets, they were still strong enough to outperform the countries of southern Europe and the Mediterranean. The main fighter formations of the Spanish, Italian, and Greek air forces are currently insufficient to compete with the Messerschmitt training group.

Under the watchful eyes of the ground personnel, the group of German fighters from Tunisia landed one after another on the two standard large airport runways, their wings and tail invariably painted with the familiar white iron cross, and their respective numbers near the tail.

"Tsk. A whole squadron of Messerschmidt 303! ”

A pilot who was about to climb into his plane tilted his head, at this moment he was simply envious of his colleagues on those fighters, knowing that his Messerschmitt training can barely reach a speed of 600 kilometers per hour when diving, and the Messerschmitt 303, known as the "lightning eagle", can easily exceed 600 kilometers per hour in level flight, and they are also the fastest flying propeller fighters in the world.

Looking at the Messerschmitt 303, which looked like a vicious and ugly hammerhead shark, the ground crew also stopped what they were doing and watched them land gracefully and smoothly on the runway one by one, and then slid into the temporary tarmac next to the runway under their own power.

At this time, out of sheer curiosity. The pilots and ground crews who were already assigned here were wondering what new faces would appear tomorrow with the arrival of Messerschmidt 2, the Vulture 2-C and the more advanced Lightning Eagle. Known as the Superfortress Authentic Neil 3 ultra-long-range bomber? Or the legendary jet fighter?

※※※※※※※※

Since the defeat of France, the Bay of Biscay has become a place for the free movement of German ships, and the ports on the west coast of France, headed by Brest, have become the main forward bases of the German Navy overlooking the Atlantic, and at the same time, more than 60 percent of France's overseas trade has also been monopolized by German shipping companies.

Just as this summer draws to a close. The situation on the Iberian Peninsula, adjacent to the Bay of Biscay, is quietly changing. Although it has received direct military support from Germany, Italy and other countries. However, the regime of Alfonso XIII, which had been ruled brutally at home and lost the hearts of the people, and had long been oppressed by the foreign powers, was as powerless as a tree with dead roots, and now they could only rely on the protection of foreign interventionists to survive in the south, while the revolution burned like a prairie fire on Spanish soil. Despite the armed intervention and military blockade of foreign forces, they still fought with tenacious vitality and unremitting efforts.

Against this background, at the instigation of the Italian government, the regime of Alfonso XIII lured the leaders of the anti-government forces to come to the talks under the guise of the king's abdication, and successfully captured more than 30 people, including Ismal, a high-ranking commander of the southern armed forces. What is even more incredible is that they ensnared another large number of revolutionaries in the name of public trial, which caused the power of the Spanish anti-government forces in the south to be greatly reduced for a while, but this method of treating the symptoms but not the root cause did not really eliminate the trouble in the heart of Alfonso XIII, and the Italians who had bad ideas behind them were quickly punished. During a terrible thunderstorm, a large number of Spanish Revolutionary Armed Forces soldiers successfully raided the temporary camp of the 11th Infantry Division of the Italian Army, killing and wounding nearly 3,000 Italian soldiers. and the seizure of a large amount of supplies, which was the worst defeat suffered by the Italian army since entering Spain, and the first launch of the novel also cast a shadow over Mussolini's forty-ninth birthday.

"It's obviously not a good idea to camp on the hill on the side of the road to avoid the rain! The Italians are too underestimated! Hum! ”

In the officer's conference room of a Scharnhorst-class heavy cruiser in the southern waters of the Bay of Biscay, Chen Tian looked at the materials that had just been airlifted from the mainland, and his words could not help but have some elements of schadenfreude.

Just a week ago, he moved his temporary camp to the cruiser Anim, and since then, this relatively spacious conference room has become his and Ollie's "private territory." The room is simply furnished around the perimeter. The main attraction is the large fixed sand table in the center of the room, which is miniature to the whole of Western Europe, with the blue Bay of Biscay and Gibraltar on the top and bottom, Lisbon in Portugal in the west, and Menorca in the east, the farthest point in Spain.

Judging from this sand table, the Bay of Biscay and Gibraltar are the territory of the Luftwaffe Navy and Air Force, and there are many Italian warships anchored on the east coast of Spain, but the Spanish land is not so distinct, and the footprints of the Italians have spread to most of Spain. But the symbols used to signify the Spanish anti-government forces are vague – no one knows exactly where they are massing their main forces.

Ollie had a stack of black-and-white photographs in front of him, and he was studying one of them with a magnifying glass in his hand.

"I think that in order to complete such a surprise annihilation battle, the Spanish armed forces need to gather at least 10,000 soldiers, and they also have a lot of artillery!" After a while, Ollie put down the photo in his hand and said. It was an enlarged aerial photograph of the camp where the Italian Army's 11th Infantry Division had been attacked two days earlier. As the fighting was over, the Spanish militants were not seen in the photographs, only corpses and burned tents, cars and discarded equipment.

"Hmm!" Chen Tian simply expressed his approval.

Followed by.

Ollie added: "Judging from the topography of this camp, the Italian commanders did make a very undeserved mistake - to underestimate the enemy, and the Spaniards showed the world through this battle that they were not just a group of partisans who could only burrow into the woods, they also had the strength to fight big battles and win battles!" ”

"It seems that in the past two months, the Russians have sent them a lot of supplies! Ammunition for rifles, machine guns, submachine guns, all kinds of guns, and by the way, a bazooka that is not very powerful! This also shows from one side that the development speed of military technology in Soviet Russia in recent years is indeed very fast! Chen Tian immediately put forward his own analysis.

"Your Majesty's idea is indeed very clever, to give the Italians a resounding slap in the face by the hand of Soviet Russia, but compared to Italy or Spain. I'm still more worried about Soviet Russia! After all. A united and strong Russia is a great threat to the stability of Europe and the world! Ollie leaned back in his chair and looked at the big sand table.

"Our Earl has also begun to analyze affairs with a political eye!" Chen Tian nodded approvingly, "Indeed." Russia was a latent and unavoidable enemy, but I have always believed that we could have the kind of deterrent that could have avoided a new world war sooner than they did! At that time, we will crush them by another non-violent means! ”

"Nuclear weapons? I hope so! Although he had heard the word from Tatsuten's mouth more than once, it was still difficult for Ollie to connect it with his intuitive imagination.

"Now as soon as the Italians withdraw, we will re-blockade the Spanish coast, and saving the regime of Alfonso XIII is a very difficult job, just like rescuing a man who is about to die, which requires very good medical skills! Although it is very tiring to do this, we would rather be neighbors in such an old and weak country! ”

This is Chentian's big abacus.

"At the same time, we can test our weapons and improve them through this battlefield. By the time this war is over, we will again maintain an advantage over other countries in the field of technology for at least ten years! ”

This is Ollie's little abacus.

"When does the Count think our Italian neighbor will announce his withdrawal?"

"Autumn or winter! What does Your Majesty think? ”

"At this rate, I'm afraid it's not until after the fall! However, we can also give them some catalysts to get out of the way sooner! The best thing is the kind that makes them flesh and heartache! ”

Chen Tian held his chin with one hand, with an expression of serious thought.

"Your Majesty must be eyeing the treasures of the Italian Führer......" Ollie's eyes widened deliberately, and the "treasures" he was referring to were the two battleships that Mussolini used the most in his propaganda offensive, the "Roma" and the "Caesar".

"This is a challenge that only the brave are qualified to do!" Chen Tian said intently. "Our intelligence officer has good news, a batch of aircraft engines and aerial torpedoes will arrive in the northern ports controlled by the Spanish anti-government army in the near future, although we don't know exactly who these equipment will be used against, but I think it will be a good opportunity!"

"Your Majesty means ......," Ollie had already guessed seven or eight points in his heart at this time.

"Only light destroyers, minesweepers and offshore patrol boats will be left to carry out blockade missions in the southern part of the Bay of Biscay, and ships of more than 1,500 tons will be temporarily withdrawn to Brest! In addition, from now on, our ships deployed near Gibraltar must operate within the effective defense range of land-based aviation units and aircraft carrier-based aircraft, comprehensively upgrade the air defense level of the bases in Gibraltar and Malaga, and send fighter jets to patrol! Chen Tian clasped his hands in front of his chest and said confidently: "In that case, there will be very few optional targets left for the Spanish rebels!" ”

The two were talking when there was a soft knock on the hatch.

"Your Majesty, Marshal. There's an expedited cipher from Berlin! ”

"Come in!"

Chen Tian and Ollie, the two old fritters, had already reached the realm of not being surprised, and taking advantage of this opportunity, the two of them invariably picked up the big cup in front of them. It was the height of summer, and both of them switched to cold beer – a definite summer favourite among Germans.

However, after receiving the telegram sent by the communications officer, Chen Tian's face changed little by little, and the "sunshine" just now was gradually replaced by a serious expression, after carefully reading this slightly lengthy telegram twice. One of the few times he threw the newspaper on the table.

"Hmph, I can't see that Ramirez, who is amorous and can only brush up on small conspiracies, is still such a number one person! How do you say that? Belch...... No amount of intelligence officers can figure out other people's household affairs! ”

"Oh? And what our German intelligence can't grasp? Ollie picked up the telegram, and there were not many things left to change the mood of the deeply troubled Kaiser, for it had always been as if everything had been under his control.

"Is our intelligence officer incompetent, or are the Spaniards acting too secretively?" Chen Tian himself asked such a question to himself.

In his impression, Germany has always lacked the kind of super-first-class spies, and although Germany's global intelligence network is now unmatched and unmatched, its efficiency still needs to be improved, and the main reason for this is that this nation is simple, old-fashioned, and even dull in some respects.

Ollie read the contents of the telegram and said with great concern: "The two highnesses will not be in any danger in Seville. Do you want to urgently transfer troops to our embassy to strengthen the guard? Or send troops directly to escort the two Highnesses back to our military base in Gibraltar? ”

"Is it necessary for the Crown Prince of the German Empire to make such a mess?" Chen Tian looked disdainful at this time. Just because the Spaniards dare to oppose Germany? Not to mention the support of the Italians, if he is happy, he can even repeat the military operation of "blitzkrieg Austria-Hungary" in the Apennine Peninsula - Germany is now stronger and more advanced. Italy, however, was far from the military strength and depth of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

"Your Majesty's meaning ......" Ollie thought for a moment, but did not speculate.

"Our crown prince will be on time for the banquet tonight!" Chen Tian smiled weirdly.

"Oh?" Ollie was a little confused at first, but quickly figured it out, and then laughed along, and it was as you can imagine that it would be funny when those Alfonso XIII and Ramirez saw Andres again.

Soon, an encrypted telegram was sent from the "Arnim" to Berlin, and then Berlin sent a telegram to the embassy in Spain, and the German ambassador to Spain received the telegram as soon as it was received. In front of the Alcachar Palace, he went to meet Alfonso XIII.

Almost at the same time, another urgent telegram was sent to the German commanders stationed in Malaga and Gibraltar.

In an instant, the terrible sound of battle sirens sounded at the two bases, ready to dispatch orders quickly and quickly to every squadron that was in a state of readiness. The results of the good training and tireless exercises on weekdays are vividly reflected at this moment, and the entire base is full of nervous but not panicked figures, and the fighter pilots on the front line appear in the cockpits of their respective fighters within five minutes, and their war eagles are also called to fly, and they can fight; Second-line fighter pilots and bomber pilots rushed to the operational command rooms of their respective squadrons as soon as possible.

Huge and well-trained ground crews sprang into action as soon as the alarm sounded, some towing the refueled and refueled fighters in the ground hangars in tractors to the designated runways, while others were putting the fighters in the underground hangars into combat as fast as possible. Half an hour later, second-line fighters and tactical bombers began to enter their positions ready for take-off, and the long-range bombers were prepared a little slower, but basically completed all the preparations before take-off within an hour.

In order to adjust the strategy on the basis of this, in the last two weeks, the Luftwaffe has successively transferred fighters and bombers from Tunisia, France, and the German mainland, plus the combat planes originally stationed in these two places, and at this time the number of fighters that can be lifted into the air at the two bases has reached more than 540, plus those fighters that have already taken off for duty and are in a state of maintenance, Germany has deployed more than 600 ground-based combat planes in Spain. Regardless of the difference in the quality of fighters, there are currently less than 30 combat aircraft that can be lifted into the air by the entire Spanish Air Force, and the Italian Air Force, which is known as the first in southern Europe, is stationed in Spain, plus the total number of fighters left behind in the country is less than this number!

Gibraltar and Malaga are both about 150 kilometres from Seville, and the fastest German fighter jets can fly from base to the head of the King of Spain in a quarter of an hour – no air zones in Spain at this time, and even if they were, it was for the weak.

An hour before Alfonso XIII's dinner began, the first German fighters flew over the city of Seville in a neat formation, and citizens looked up to see the striking Iron Cross under their wings. Then watched in horror as their bellies flew almost against the roof.

Then, a second group of fighters and bombers also skimmed over Seville at approximate altitude and in an equally neat formation, with Messerschmidt, Junkers and Dornier series of military aircraft, and the roar of the engines could be heard clearly in every corner of the Alcasal Palace from beginning to end.

After meeting with the German ambassador, Alfonso XIII had already hurriedly ordered the dinner to be raised to the highest level, but looking at the dark German fleet through the window, the expression on his face was very complicated, with a hint of uneasiness in his confusion and a hint of panic in surprise. It is the rebels who are more terrible.

Or the powerful "foreign helper" is more terrible, he has no idea at all at this time.

Ramirez, who was standing on his balcony, had a calm face at this time. But in my heart, it was like knocking over a five-flavor bottle. Although the German fleet did not drop a single bomb, it made everyone feel depressed and frightened with its momentum, and Ramirez suddenly felt sorry for his treatment of a group of German officers like he had done in the afternoon, perhaps the black lieutenant colonel and the young white major were far inferior to himself, but they had German backing behind them, and although he was one person in Spain, even if he defected to the Italians, he could not get a real reliable backing.

At seven o'clock in the evening, Andres and Friedrich, dressed in the dress of a German army major, appeared at the gate of the Alcashar Palace on time. Although there were less than 20 guards with them, although the last German bombers had just left. But Andres was enough to walk into the palace with his head held high and without scruples. The horns of the King of Spain and foreign heads of state were ringing in their ears, and the red carpet was rolled out from the palace entrance to the banquet hall, flanked by respectful Spanish royal guards, a treatment that was nothing short of the way they had arrived.

Andres's gown was still the same as that of the day, except for a golden ribbon that only members of the German royal family could wear, and a sword symbolizing the status of the crown prince, and he wore a top hat and walked at the front of the group with a powerful step; Friedrich, who walked behind Andres, was also dressed in the dress of a German army major, with a gold-encrusted blue and white ribbon to symbolize his status as Duke of Bavaria, and a long sword in the classical style at his waist; General von Budenbrock, dressed in the dress of a major general of the German Army, had a sash but no sword (he was not eligible to carry a sword when entering the palace), while Lieutenant Colonel Ayo Mkwa did not have a sash at all. But his hanger-like physique still adds a lot of color to the gown on his body.

The moonlight was beautiful that night, but most people here still had the shocking scene of the German plane flying by. Andres held the hilt of his sword in his left hand, and his right swayed slightly with his pace, and this time all the doors of the palace were open for himself, and the straight-line distance from the palace gate to the hall was obviously much closer than the winding cloister. In the distance, Andres saw a group of Spanish ministers and generals standing at the entrance of the hall, and behind them were noble ladies with their hair pulled up high and wearing ornate tufts. There is no doubt that some of these people were ordered to meet him, and some of them just wanted to get a glimpse of the honor of the German crown prince as soon as possible, but at this time Andres only wanted to see the guy named Ramirez, to see the ridiculous expression when he recognized him, and to see the embarrassed expression when he put out his right hand and did not respond for a long time. (Full Text)