Sun, sand, waves. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info white clouds in the blue sky, flocks of seagulls soar in the sky. Wave after wave crashes on the beach, splashes white foam, and then disappears.

On this beautiful Mediterranean beach, more than 100 Ming officers and soldiers wearing 'white swimming trunks' and a group of local girls are playing happily in the seawater.

If it weren't for those barracks not far from the shore and all sorts of vehicles and tanks parked in the barracks. If it weren't for the occasional military warplanes that flew through the sky with a whistling sound, perhaps no one would have thought of this place as a place that had just ended a war.

This is the territory of the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and the possession of Sicily, now the Kingdom of Italy. When the Ming Navy and the U.S. Navy stirred up boundless storms in the Pacific Ocean, you went back and forth to fight to the death and attracted the attention of the world. The troops of the Ming North African theater had already launched a new offensive, taking Sicily from the Germans and Italians.

At that time, the attention of European countries was deceived by the Ming intelligence services, believing that the troops of the Ming North African Theater would attack Sardinia in order to prepare for the direct landing in the southern part of France.

In fact, it's no wonder that European countries think so. The topography of Western Europe is characteristic. Germany, France, and even the Polish steppes all the way to Russia were basically flat, which was very suitable for large-scale wars.

Although Spain is only separated from North Africa by the Strait of Gibraltar, and the tenacious fortress of Gibraltar has always been firmly in the hands of the Ming Dynasty. But the Pyrenees, which completely separates the Iberian Peninsula from France, is the biggest obstacle to the towering mountains, with an average altitude of more than 2,000 meters above sea level, and difficult to navigate.

It was very difficult for the fully mechanized and rearmed Ming army to penetrate France through the Pyrenees. Even the occupation of the Iberian Peninsula was not of much importance to the war as a whole. Both sides know this.

Again, because of the terrain. As the largest mountain range system in Western Europe, the Apennine Peninsula is enveloped in an arc, and the existence of the Alps with an average altitude of more than 3,000 meters also makes the allies not think that the main direction of the Ming army will choose this direction.

Therefore, Sardinia with a large enough area, close enough to a good enough target came into the sight of both sides.

Not only the Allies, but also the senior generals of the Ming Army at the beginning promised Zhang Cheng that they could first attack Sardinia as a base for advance, and then launch a large-scale landing attack to land directly in the extremely important southern part of France.

The senior generals of the Ming Army are very optimistic that as long as they can gain a foothold in the south of France. With the strong strength of the Ming Army and the terrain of France, it is not a problem to sweep the whole of Europe.

When the time comes, from Western Europe all the way to the Russian battlefield, and cooperate with the army of the Russian battlefield to defeat the stubborn Russians, then the whole war will be decided.

It's just that the generals' suggestions were rejected by Zhang Cheng.

Compared with these high-ranking generals, who are basically over the age of sixties, Zhang Cheng, who has come into contact with the era of the information explosion from modern time and space, knows better the situation of the war and how it should continue.

This era has long since passed the period when the two sides laid out hundreds of thousands or even millions of troops to fight head-to-head to the death. In this era, more attention is paid to three-dimensional warfare and general warfare.

Zhang Cheng knew very well that neither Germany nor France had shown their true strength in the previous wars.

Previously, North Africa could only be regarded as a marginal theater of operations, and the level of attention paid by both sides was actually very average. On the Russian battlefield, which is the main battlefield, the armies of Western European countries that exist as guest troops are basically playing soy sauce and do not show their true strength.

Zhang Cheng knew very well in his heart that once the homeland really encountered a huge threat, Germany, France and other countries that had not yet gone all out would inevitably burst out with unprecedented combat effectiveness. Not just millions of troops, but also the powerful industrial power accumulated through the exploitation of the country. They have not shown it before, they are cheating on the assistance of the Americans. But when you actually use it, it will definitely surprise everyone.

To put it bluntly, Zhang Cheng didn't think about the ultimate decisive battle in the traditional way, because it would take too much to do that. After all, the Europeans fought on their own soil, while the Ming Dynasty was on an expedition of thousands of miles. He still understands the truth that a strong dragon can't suppress the head snake.

Zhang Cheng's idea was simple, land from Sicily and then attack Italy. Because of the presence of the Alps, the ability and determination of Germany and France to hold on to Italy were not strong. But as long as the Apennine Peninsula can be taken, then the whole of Western Europe will be within the coverage of the Ming bomber force.

The best and most effective option is to completely destroy the industrial potential and the country's heritage through large-scale strategic bombing. The Apennine Peninsula is the most suitable place to be.

Zhang Cheng ordered Xiao Hongbao to carry out a large-scale strategic deception, drawing everyone's attention to Sardinia. Not only the Allies, but also many in the Ming army believed that the next attack direction of the North African theater of operations was Sardinia. Therefore, when the Ming army suddenly landed in Sicily from Tunisia, hundreds of thousands of Allied troops stationed on Sardinia were dumbfounded.

A successful tactical deception left the Allies scratching their heads, and they did not understand why the Ming chose Sicily. Even when the Ming had already landed in Sicily, the high-ranking generals of the Allied forces still believed that the main target of the Ming army was southern France, and that the landing operation in Sicily was just a flank operation. He did not take the initiative to change his operational thinking.

After landing in Sicily, many Ming troops were sent to the islands, and the Second Armored Division, which had always been used as the main force in the North African theater of operations, was one of them. For the upcoming landing operation against the Italian mainland, many troops were given a short period of leave.

Even though it's December, Sicily, in the middle of the Mediterranean, is still able to reach a maximum temperature of nearly 20 degrees Celsius. After getting rid of the smell of engine oil, gasoline, and machinery, many armored soldiers chose to enjoy the sea. Even if the temperature is not suitable.

"Why don't you swim a few laps?" An armored soldier took a towel to wipe the seawater off his body, walked over to Lin Shuo, who was resting on a recliner, picked up a drink and took a sip.

"I don't really want to move." Lin Shuo, who has become the commander of the heavy tank battalion of the Second Armored Division and the ace commander with the largest number of destroyed vehicles in the entire Ming Army's armored forces, opened his mouth and yawned, and said casually.

Compared to other theaters, troops in the North African theater of operations, which are almost always in combat condition, rarely have the opportunity to rest. In particular, the 2nd Panzer Division, which was used as the main force, had fought in the Caucasus under Zhang Cheng's command at the beginning of the war, and since then this ace unit has hardly rested. This time, there was a rare and good opportunity, and the officers and men relaxed one after another.

"I'm going to Italy soon, what do you think?" The colleague lay down on another recliner on the side, feeling the leisurely sea breeze, and asked with a smile.

"What can you think?" Lin Shuo opened his mouth and responded, "Shangfeng will go wherever he goes, and after all, he will still fight." ”

"Didn't you want to improve your record a little more?" My colleague smiled and said, "I heard that there are already car crews on the Russian battlefield with good records, and they are about to catch up with you." ”

"Really?" Lin Shuo narrowed his eyes, and after a moment, he responded with a smile, "It doesn't matter, I don't care much about this kind of reputation." ”

"You don't care if anyone cares." The colleague looked sideways at Lin Shuo and said, "You are a member of our Second Armored Division, and your record is not only that of your crew, but also that of the entire Second Armored Division." Otherwise, do you think that our camp can come to the beach so easily, and we can still be accompanied by Sicilian girls? ”

The heavy tank battalion rested here, and the 2nd Armored Division specially arranged a scenic beach for them, not to mention, and also spent money from the island to find a group of local beauties to accompany them. This treatment was also available only to the heavy tank battalion in the entire 2nd Panzer Division. The only reason is that the heavy tank battalion has a very good record, and Lin Shuo, who holds the record of destruction, plays an important role.

Lin Shuo glanced at the local women who were wearing almost nothing not far away, and shook his head slightly, "This is the credit of the brothers, and it can't all be put on my head." ”

"Alright." The colleague smiled and waved his hand, "Don't be modest, let's all accept your affection." When you get to Italy, your brothers will help you, and you must maintain your reputation as the number one destroyer. ”

“...... Good. Lin Shuo doesn't really care much about all kinds of enjoyment, but he still cares more about reputation.

On the Russian battlefield, because the training level and equipment quality of the Russian armored forces are far behind the Ming Dynasty, it is very easy to produce results. If He Ziqiu hadn't been forcefully suppressing the Russian army on the battlefield for large-scale operations, perhaps the title of the number one destroyed would have been taken away long ago. After all, Lin Shuo's second division was basically against German, French or American troops. Although the armored forces of these countries have a certain gap with the Ming armored forces, they are already very good compared to the Russian armored forces.

When the smoke of gunpowder cleared in the eye-catching Pacific theater, the Ming army, which had been rested and prepared, soon launched a new landing operation towards the Apennine Peninsula. Again, it was a big surprise to many.

The old men at the top of the Allied forces still stubbornly believed that Da Ming was attacking the west, but those young young Zhuang officers firmly believed that Da Ming was serious.

Under pressure from the Shaozhuang faction, the Allies had to mobilize a part of their forces into the Apennine Peninsula to prepare to stop the Ming army. (To be continued.) )