The distance between Hamad Tsuk and Gabes was so close that the two sides were in a state of confrontation almost as soon as they went out. But both sides are currently very restrained, there is no sign of making a move, Xu Zhonglin has no authority, and Austria-Hungary is because the other party has a Xiaohang mother during the day, and he can only be abused by these bombs.

Just when Xu Zhonglin thought that the two sides would grin and blow up each other's hair and retreat, his current flagship Elena reported to him: "Admiral, Sfax in the north has found that the Austro-Hungarian fleet is out of port, and there are two battleships, two battle cruisers, and an aircraft carrier, which are heading towards our side. ”

The current capital ships of Haomait Suk are the same as those of the other party, but there are two more aircraft carriers. If reinforcements from the north come, the situation will be reversed.

Xu Zhonglin wanted to say: There is a kind of heads-up! But since the other party didn't give him a chance, then he must also find his teammates: "Inform Tripoli and the mainland, we need support, let Tripoli send more minelayers over." "Since the other party doesn't talk about morality and plays summoning flow, he can't let the crowd fight.

Tripoli's support was very fast, and after the plane climbed, it went out for a walk and reached the sky above the sea area where the two sides were facing each other, and at this time, Xu Zhonglin and the four capital ships of Austria-Hungary were all gathered in this sea area.

"Admiral, Austro-Hungarian Supreme Commander in Gabès, Lange Walter, has asked for a conversation with you."

"Then let him come to us." Obviously, the other party saw more planes with bombs hanging overhead, and they were a little intimidated.

Lange Walter was a strong man with long brown hair who looked very strong, and after entering the bridge, he pulled out a chair and made it down, with one foot still on the chair: "Boy, you are the oriental monkey who destroyed our eighteen cruisers?" ”

"It's me, the Germanic bastard, doesn't your official statement say that there was friction between the two sides in search of the missing sailors, but the losses were not great? Can I understand that you are changing direction to admit aggression? Xu Zhonglin rested his legs on the table, leaning back, looking at each other with a smile in his eyes.

The Italian public now has no idea that the Gellganai Islands have been lost, and Austria and Italy have downplayed the impact of the conflict for their own strategic purposes, saying only that there has been friction at sea.

Xu Zhonglin thought that the other party would be furious, but he didn't expect Lange Walter to seem to have not heard: "Why are you throwing mines in the waterway?!" I strongly condemn and seriously protest against this practice of yours, which I have already reported to the country, and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs will soon make public this ugly act of yours. ”

"It's a coincidence, I've already informed Taranto's side, your act of using submarines to mine last night is too hateful, and we will condemn you later." This kind of diplomatic tai chi, Xu Zhonglin still plays very smoothly.

Lange Walter glared at him fiercely: "Do you have any evidence?" ”

"Haha, do I need it? If you want, how about I get a German U-boat to take a picture for you when it gets dark at night? He didn't listen to the other party's words at all, this kind of thing doesn't need evidence at all, suspicion is enough. Moreover, Haomait Suke also has three submarines, although it is not the appearance of a U-boat, but it is very simple for Xu Zhonglin to go back and modify a shell.

The other party began to say cruel words: "Hmph! Wait until it gets dark and you'll be dead! ”

Who wouldn't know how to speak cannons? Someone also said: "Haha, my little Hang's mother can send you to the sea to feed the fish now!" ”

"You have to stop laying torpedoes! Otherwise we will randomly lay minefields in the same way on the Mediterranean, and if something goes wrong, it's all your responsibility! ”

it! Xu Zhonglin knew that the other party was strategically blackmailing, and if Austria-Hungary did this, Britain and France would not let them go. But he can't bet that if the other party really does this, even if it is just a tentative random throw of a few mines, then this pot must be his, who let him have no backstage?

Since you want to talk black, come on! Therefore, Xu Zhonglin immediately changed his righteous and awe-inspiring face: "I'm sorry, Your Excellency, it's our fault, we have six minesweepers that had mechanical failures when they were performing minesweeping operations at sea, all the mine guides were damaged, and several mines fell into the sea uncontrollably. We would like to express our deep apologies for this incident, and we will later send a note to the foreign ministries of each country, indicating the details of the sea area where the mine was falling, and asking passing ships of all countries to take shelter. ”

Lange Walter almost vomited blood, you are really from the Eastern Empire! You're so good at inventing diplomatic rhetoric! The minesweeper broke down and kept dropping mines into the sea? How can you say such shameless words as if they were true! If the other side really sent such a diplomatic note, he could be sure that Britain and France would have clapped their hands and laughed when they saw the location where the so-called mine had fallen due to mechanical failure, and wished they had dropped a little more.

His guess was very accurate, the Italian government really sent a note like this, and Britain and France reacted quickly, and in the afternoon they expressed their concern about the mechanical failure of the Italian navy, and expressed cordial condolences to the ship's mother who had the accident. After learning that the rudder of the minesweeper had also gone wrong and could not return to port, in the spirit of good-neighborliness and friendship between the two sides, each sent five large minesweepers to the sea area where the incident occurred as quickly as possible to participate in the rescue operation, and even Greece sent two of them.

Of course, Xu Zhonglin didn't know that he would have twelve more minelayers the next day, and he was just praising his witty reaction now.

Sure enough, Lange Walter was dumbfounded, he thought that the excuse of Austria-Hungary to find people was shameless enough, but he didn't expect that the other party would be able to play shamelessly and sublimate it to the level of art, the Bay of Gabes is so big, the opponent's planes are airdropped, surface and underwater ships are advancing simultaneously, and it will not take a few days to cover all the sea areas with mines, and then his fleet will not even be able to get out of the port. This made him secretly curse in his heart for the stupid decision of Prince Eugen.

Yes, last night's submarine mine was not presided over by Lange Walter, in fact he was against the whole plan from the very beginning. As the supreme governor of Gabès, Lange Walter has been here for three years. He knew very well that Italy had little interest in Tunisia. First, the other side has no real allies and cannot get much diplomatic support, and second, Libya and Algeria have already allowed each other to work as a whole country to barely run smoothly, and it is of little significance to offend a neighbor with one more Tunisia.

But it's useless for him to object, this time the plan was organized by Prince Eugen, as a ship girl, the other party likes politics very much, and if the ship mother wants to make a breakthrough in politics, first of all, there must be great military achievements to pave the way, such as the old Roosevelt, before running for president, he will take a group of 'family members' to Cuba Beach for a turn, roll twice on the beach, and return home to be a hero with outstanding achievements. This time to attack Ukraine, the Russian Black Sea Fleet did not give her a chance to play, so Prince Eugen did not hesitate to surrender his identity and personally came to a small place like Gabes to command the operation.

What is more shameless is that the Gellganai Islands were taken, but Djerba was lost. Although it is the same as the credit of the wise and martial prince's remote command, it is not won by himself in a bloody battle, and it always feels like something is missing. So Prince Eugen was very unwilling.