On the third day after Zhang Cheng took over the North African battlefield, Rommel gave him a dismissal. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

After a week of hard fighting, the German Afrika Korps under Rommel's command captured Benghazi, an important port city in Cyrenaica. And it was a deep threat to Tobruk, the only way to Egypt. The incident received unprecedented publicity in European countries, Rommel was immediately promoted to general, and all officers and men who participated in the war were commended by telegram.

In fact, at this time, the main forces of the German and French armies were still on their own soil, preparing to go to the Russian battlefield to support the Russians in the war. There are not many troops actually committed to the North African battlefield.

Rommel's Afrika Korps had only about seven divisions, with a total strength of no more than 100,000 troops. However, his brilliant achievements in a short period of time made the whole of Germany pay attention to the North African battlefield at once, and a large number of replenishments were soon sent to North Africa by sea. This is the coveted overseas territory of European countries.

At this time, Zhang Cheng was meeting with Lord Shoufu's envoy Wang Fan in a luxurious seaside villa by the sea in Alexandria.

"How quickly did so many defenders of Benghazi fall into defeat?" Wang Fan picked up the teacup on the coffee table with a regretful look on his face, took a sip, shook his head and sighed lightly, "Tens of thousands of troops are holding on to the fortified city but are easily defeated, these mercenaries. Hey. ”

As Shoufu's henchman, Wang Fan naturally has no good impression of the private armies of those family consortiums. At this moment, when I heard that they had suffered a major defeat, there was a faint sense of schadenfreude in my words.

Zhang Cheng frowned, pursed the corners of his mouth and glanced at Wang Fan. In Zhang Cheng's eyes, no matter who is behind the Foreign Legion, after all, it is the army of the Ming Dynasty, and it is the army under his command at this moment. Like Wang Fan's previous words, he didn't like it very much.

Turning his head to look out at the balcony garden, the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea are not far ahead. The blue sky, fine sandy beaches and the pristine sea that constantly lap the coast are a delight to watch. After a moment, Zhang Cheng said softly, "I don't know much about diplomatic matters, but my opinion is that it is not a good idea to put Greece on our side at this moment. It would be far more useful for them to remain neutral than to go to war now. As soon as they enter the war, the Germans will soon be over, and I will need to mobilize troops to reinforce them. And in reality it was almost impossible to hold Greece at this time. This would have a detrimental effect on my operations in North Africa. ”

Wang Fan came here as a special envoy not only to see Zhang Cheng, but also to shoulder an important diplomatic mission. At this moment, when almost the whole world is on the opposite side of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty needs allies, no matter how weak they are, it doesn't matter. Daming needs to prove that he is not alone, not without friends. This will have a positive effect on the political contest and the enhancement of the people's will.

At this moment, on the European continent, the only country that the Ming can still do is Greece in the south of Europe. Greece was also the last European country that did not declare war on the Ming Dynasty. Now both sides are courting Greece, and the increase is getting higher and higher. Shousuke, who was in a hurry to make a major breakthrough in diplomacy, gave the Greeks a favor that the Greeks could not refuse, the Aegean islands and Crete!

Although it seems that the whole world is fighting against the Ming Dynasty at this moment, the powerful empire on which the sun never sets seems to be in jeopardy. But in fact, people with real discerning eyes know that this matter is not so simple at all.

It's not the first time Da Ming has encountered this kind of thing. In the past hundreds of years, the countries of the world have united against the Ming Dynasty twice, and each time it ended with the final victory of the Ming Empire.

The Ming Dynasty's powerful industrial strength, vast territory and endless resources, as well as a desperately large population base are all powerful weapons that influence everyone's final decision. What's more, Daming also has an incomparably glorious history. These will affect everyone's judgment.

European countries have no choice, either they are coerced by Germany, France, Britain and Russia, or they want to take back their colonies and expel the Ming Dynasty who is lying on their stomachs and sucking blood. They had to declare war. Greece, on the other hand, has a choice.

Zhang Cheng naturally understands how important it is for a country to stand on the side of the Ming Dynasty in the current diplomatic situation. But he was a soldier, the commander of the North African theater of operations. He has to think about his work and responsibilities.

Greece, which borders Germany proper, is unlikely to be able to successfully defend itself against a million-dollar German army moving south. At this time, the Ming Dynasty was also unable to provide Greece with strong support capable of resisting the German attack. The fall of Greece was inevitable.

"Shousuke-sama has made it clear." Wang Fan glanced at Zhang Cheng and said with a smile: "After Greece enters the war, a war zone will be re-established, and some troops will be mobilized to go over, just make sense." The loss of Greece will not affect your reputation. This black pot is naturally carried by someone. ”

Zhang Cheng frowned slightly, although he must have understood that the necessary sacrifice was inevitable when he reached this position. But watching his own people go to death still made him feel very uncomfortable. However, Zhang Cheng did not show it, and now he has not yet sat in a position where he can control the overall situation. The necessary things are necessary to cultivate obscurity and forbearance.

"Don't the Greeks understand?" Zhang Cheng asked out with some doubts: "They can't hold it." The loss of the homeland is already inevitable. Are they willing to take the initiative in this situation? Crazy? ”

"They're not crazy." Wang Fan stood up and walked to the white jade railing, feeling the salty sea breeze, and said with a smile, "On the contrary, they are very smart." ”

Who can be the leader of a country, especially the kind that competes for posts, which one is stupid? Noble and hereditary people are not counted, how can people who break through the brutal fighting in the political arena have no vision? Naturally, they don't look at just part of things, but look at all of them.

For the Greeks, now siding with the Ming will inevitably invite a powerful attack by the European coalition forces, and even lose their homeland. But in exchange for doing this, he got the trust and benefits of Daming!

When the Ming Dynasty finally wins the war, Greece, which is on the side of the Ming Dynasty, will not say that it is no problem to eat some fatty meat and drink a mouthful of broth, right? The Greeks chose to stand on the side of the Ming Dynasty, which means that they pressed the treasure on the Ming Dynasty in this large-scale war that affected the whole world.

If the Ming wins, the Greeks who bet on the right treasure will inevitably benefit. If the Ming loses, the Greeks will lose everything. This is the sorrow of small countries, they have few choices, and can only constantly maneuver back and forth in the cracks of the great power game. When you can't get around, you can only choose one side to press all your net worth.

"Greeks." Zhang Cheng leaned back on the rattan chair, crossed his legs and slowly closed his eyes. After a moment, he whispered, "They've made a good deal this time." ”

Zhang Cheng had no doubt about the final victory of the Ming Dynasty, because he believed that he could single-handedly save the empire and the Chinese nation! And Greece, which chose to stand on the side of China during the war, will naturally get some profit sharing after the war is over. Although it is just something insignificant in the eyes of the Ming Dynasty, for Greece, which is small and weak, this is already a shocking gift package in exchange for gambling on national fortune.

"You don't have to worry about this matter, Shousuke-sama will never allow you to get involved in Greek affairs. You are the most important military commander in the hands of Shousuke-sama. Anything that might tarnish your reputation will be nipped in the bud. Wang Fan smiled and turned back to the rattan chair next to the coffee table and sat down, looking at Zhang Cheng, "Before I came, someone wanted to attack you with the loss of Benghazi." But all of them were forcefully suppressed by Lord Shousuke.。 Do not worry. ”

Zhang Cheng smiled and nodded, "I've never worried about this kind of thing. ”

Picking up the cigarette case from the coffee table, taking out a cigarette and lighting it, Zhang Cheng spit out the smoke ring and said with a smile: "I will do the things on the battlefield, and you will do other things." Although you are now a confidant and heir to the government affairs of Lord Shousuke, you must understand your position. After speaking, Zhang Cheng stared at Wang Fan with burning eyes.

Zhang Cheng can hand over government affairs to Wang Fan, and he can just grasp the military power himself. However, he would never allow Wang Fan to have other ideas. There can always be only one leader.

Wang Fan's body paused slightly, looked at Zhang Cheng with a complicated face, pursed the corners of his mouth and did not speak.

"You should understand without me saying more." Zhang Cheng suddenly laughed, took out a cigarette from the cigarette case and handed it to Wang Fan, "Lord Shoufu is already old, how long can he still be in power?" And you, do you have the ability and skill of Shousuke-sama? I hold the military power in my hands, and without my support, do you think you can smoothly take over the political position of Lord Shousuke? ”

Zhang Cheng raised his hand and waved his hand, stopping what Wang Fan wanted to say, "Don't mention the matter of defecting to the family consortium." Don't say they have their own spokesperson, will they accept you. Even if I do accept you, do you think I'll let it all go once Shousuke-sama can't hold power? ”

"......" Wang Fan lowered his head silently, lit a cigarette and was silent.

Everyone has ambitions, everyone has their own ideas. Wang Fan is no exception. It's just that the strength in his hands can't match his ambition. Don't say anything about taking refuge in the family consortium, even if he Wang Fan is a member of the Wang family, how can this kind of thing involving huge interests be done easily? The alliance of the family consortium is not the final say of the Wang family!

What's more, his status today is entirely because of Zhang Cheng's strong support and Shoufu's appreciation. The family consortium also has its own spokesperson for interests, why should they push him? Besides, after getting along for so long, what kind of person Zhang Cheng is, he Wang Fan knows very well.

Be decisive and resolute!

Zhang Cheng was extremely bold, and there seemed to be nothing he didn't dare to do. And although Zhang Cheng is very low-key on weekdays, Wang Fan knows that it is just him lurking in the bushes and calmly observing his prey. Once Lord Shoufu can no longer hold power, Zhang Cheng will inevitably set off a bloody storm in the empire. He has this guts, and even more so strength and ambition! (To be continued.) )