"Look at the side of Area C, their soldiers are armed with assault rifles, vest-style body armor, and anti-aircraft combat vehicles...... Tsk, that's enviable! ”

"Hey, that's just their standard equipment! Think about those expensive individual night vision equipment, advanced jet aircraft, and heavy aircraft carriers with first-class combat effectiveness, that is really enviable! ”

"No way, who let them have a great king?"

"Shh......h Don't talk nonsense about this kind of thing, if the gendarmes hear it, they may try you for treason! ”

"Well, you know, isn't that a casual idea!"

"Woe comes from the mouth, be careful! Something has to go wrong, no one will intercede for a soldier like us! ”

"Alas, be cautious in everything, be careful at all times, just like Spain in the international arena, the more cautious and careful, the more you will be bullied! Look at Ireland, in the past few decades, the big and small wars have not been drawn, and the result is getting stronger and stronger, and even an old power like Italy can easily get down! ”

"Hey, don't talk about state affairs, don't talk about state affairs......"

The two sentries who spoke, dressed in the standard uniform of the Spanish Navy's 6 fighters and each carrying a 7.92 mm M1916 rifle, were on duty at a guard tower at the Cartagena naval base in southeastern Spain. From this location large enough to overlook the harbor, including the "C Zone", the entire naval base can be seen.

At first glance, the high-security "Area C" looks no different from its surroundings, but if you look closely, you will see that the area is separated from the perimeter by a barbed wire wall, and the soldiers inside are wearing Spanish naval uniforms, and neither individual equipment nor combat vehicles belong to the Spanish system.

The existence of this strange "Area C" at the Cartagena naval base dates back to a secret military agreement between Spain and Ireland in the early 30s. According to this secret treaty, Spain set up a secret stronghold in the form of a "port within a port" in Cork and Shlig in Ireland and La Cruña and Cartagena in Spain. If either side is involved in the war, the other side has the obligation to ensure the safety and smooth operation of the "port within the port" during the war. In other words, as long as the two countries are not on the opposite side in a particular war, they will provide a special guarantee for the other side's naval combat operations.

On the basis of this precautionary military agreement, Cartagena became the strategic fulcrum of the new United Kingdom navy in the Mediterranean when the new United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary jointly went to war against Italy. There are not only hundreds of well-trained Navy 6 fighters stationed here, but also a large amount of fuel, ammunition, and maintenance parts for ships and aircraft, as well as loading and unloading facilities and maintenance equipment next to the dock. When the news of the start of the war came, the "C area" of the Cartagena naval base was on higher alert, and sentries with loaded guns could be seen everywhere inside the barbed wire walls, and on the roofs of buildings and in open areas, anti-aircraft guns usually wrapped in tarpaulina showed their hideous faces......

In the afternoon, in the corridor of the headquarters of the naval base in Cartagena, a Spanish officer with the rank of captain said to his companions in a low voice: "Well, the latest news confirms that the coalition forces sank more than 40 Italian ships, including two heavy aircraft carriers, in one day yesterday, and most of the achievements were achieved by the fleet of the new United Kingdom Navy!" ”

Another young lieutenant officer laughed and said, "So, you have a big chance of winning the game with Captain Vallejo!" Hey, what's the stake? 2ooo peseta? ”

The square-faced captain officer shook his head and held out five fingers.

In this time and space when Germany dominates the world economy, the overall economic situation of Spain has been stable and rising, and the exchange rate of the peseta against the mark has also been stable at the level of 2.4 to 1 for a long time. In 1949, the monthly salary of a Spanish naval captain was about 15oo-2ooo peseta, which was equivalent to two or three months' salary, which was a big bet. However, seeing the five fingers of the captain's officer, several officers next to him did not show surprise. Judging from the various expenses of food, clothing, housing and transportation on weekdays, it is obvious that they do not refer to the main ones who live on the salaries of military personnel.

Among the officers of similar age, the tallest was a tall, lanky naval lieutenant with a beard, who resembled Alfonso XIII in his style, beard, and even appearance, so that his colleagues privately jokingly referred to him as the king's illegitimate son. In fact, the major was born in a noble family in the north that was qualified to enter and exit the royal family, and it was not entirely impossible that he would have some kind of relationship with the members of the royal family.

After Lieutenant Fang made his bet clear, the major said pointedly: "It is difficult to say whether this war will drag on for a month or more, but the suspense of whether we will enter the war or not should be revealed soon." ”

The previous lieutenant glared and said, "Suspense? How strong the naval and air forces of the new United Kingdom are, and how weak the combat strength of the Italian navy and air force is, we will definitely make a sure profit and not lose money when we participate in the war! ”

The major glanced at the lieutenant, and then analyzed unhurriedly: "Considering the close relationship between Germany and the new United Kingdom, even if Germany does not directly participate in the war, it will not sit idly by and watch the Italians turn around, so from the perspective of short-term interests, we are indeed sure to make a profit by participating in the war, but you should not forget that we are across the sea from the Italians, and the New United Kingdom and the Italians are separated from the European big 6." If we enter the war at this time, it will be tantamount to taking advantage of the fire for the Italians, and they will certainly find ways to retaliate in the future. ”

The square-faced lieutenant smiled: "Who knows if Italy will continue to exist as a state after this war?" ”

The Major retorted: "If such a great power as Italy dies out, then the League of Nations will lose its purpose of existence!" ”

The captain looked at the other people, and then proposed: "Since the opinions are opposite, why not gamble on a game?" ”

The major was about to respond, but saw a staff officer hurrying in the corridor, he approached, winked at the officers, and said, "They'll be there soon!" ”

The "they" he meant meant the staff officers of the new United Kingdom Navy, who were about to coordinate military affairs and deploy operations. A group of several people flew from Limerick to Madrid in the morning, went to the Spanish General Staff and the Navy Command to coordinate various matters, and then flew directly from Madrid to Cartagena.

If nothing else, the staff team will remain in Cartagena until the end of the war.

Hearing that those special guests were about to arrive, another Spanish captain, who had just been silent, said: "Well, gentlemen, perhaps our argument is of little practical significance. Whether to participate in the war or not, presumably the Madrid Royal Palace has already been decided, so let's prepare early! ”

The officers dispersed, and after a while, they followed the commander of the Cartagena naval base, Major General Ceballos, to greet the visitors from afar. Dressed in dark blue uniforms with the army's logo removed, the new United Kingdom naval officers showed the rigidity of the military with their gestures. It was evident that the outstanding performance of the Mediterranean Task Force Combat Fleet the previous day had given the officers confidence in the prospects of war, and perhaps it seemed to them that the next action was like a march, and it was only a matter of time before they reached the end of victory.

The 44-year-old was in high spirits and extraordinary in front of the 59-year-old Rear Admiral Ceballos, who could be said to be a microcosm of the Spanish army's generals: old, bloated, calm, and sluggish.

After taking his seat in the room, Vice Admiral Waters, who was three-quarters German, told Rear Admiral Ceballos straight to the point that the Spanish General Staff and the Naval Command had signed a special authorization allowing him to requisition all supplies and manpower from Cartagena during the war. Now, he needs Base Command to requisition as many barges, repair vessels, and floating docks as possible in case of emergency.

"I don't understand!" Rear Admiral Cebaros replied tepidly, "As far as I know, your fleet not only defeated the Italians yesterday, but also had nothing to lose of its own, what is the purpose of recruiting barges, repair ships, and floating docks in large quantities?" ”

Lieutenant General Waters replied: "War is made up of all sorts of predictable and unpredictable factors, so we must be as prepared as possible. ”

Rear Admiral Cebaros did not question the other party's request, but asked: "If the civilian ships we have recruited fill the harbor, how will your country's follow-up fleet be accommodated when it arrives?" ”

"That's not a problem."

Waters paused: "In fact, according to the terms of the international neutrality law, our fleet cannot stay in your port for a long time during the war, so a considerable part of the repair and supply work needs to be carried out outside the port. ”

Major General Ceballos thought for a moment: "If this is the case, the Italians will have no reason to attack us!" ”

"It's better not to take such a chance, respected General Ceballos!" Waters blinked, "Anything can happen before the war is over." ”

These words made Rear Admiral Ceballos feel unpleasant, and he moved his body stuffed in his chair slightly: "Regarding the maritime and air defense of the port of Cartagena during the war, I wonder if the General Staff and the Naval Command are inconclusive?" ”

"It's a sensitive issue." Waters replied, "We are not in a position to intervene in your defense until Spain is determined to enter the war, but we may take on part of it if you deem it necessary." ”

Rear Admiral Seballos put his hands on his belly, his thumbs circled each other, and pondered like this for a while: "How about the specific defense distribution, how about discussing it after your fleet arrives?" ”

Waters raised his hand and looked at his watch: "Our Mediterranean fleet arrives in about 7 to 8 hours. ”

Hearing this answer, the Spanish officers present were in an uproar, and then exchanged heads and ears in their characteristic language. After a while, Major General Ceballos coughed twice and motioned for his officers to shut down.

"I thought that your Mediterranean Fleet would stay in the waters of the Balearic Islands for a short time to observe the enemy's reaction before launching a follow-up operation." Major General Ceballos said.

Waters smiled indifferently: "If the Italian Navy has the courage to send the main fleet to chase after it, the Austro-Hungarian fleet will just kill the Adriatic Sea in one fell swoop and turn southern Italy upside down, and we will use a sumptuous feast to retain most of the ships of the Italian fleet, so that they will never see the lighthouse of Taranto again!" ”

(End of chapter)

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