Chapter 12: Lethal Friction (Part 2)

  2.

  "Major Carl Waldemar Ziegler, your papers are in order. You may proceed." Major Ziegler of the 77th Tank Battalion, a mixed German-French unit of the European Legion, sat in his Mercedes-Benz waiting to clear customs at Aachen, an important border town between France and Germany.

  Although the process of European economic integration had made the journey from the French military base back to his headquarters in Mülheim, Germany relatively smooth, even this routine check was making Ziegler feel uneasy.

  "Are we really going to send troops to South America?" The current situation is confusing, and the top brass seems interested in sending an army to South America. "We shouldn't just follow behind the Americans wiping their backsides, our soldiers are bleeding for international duty in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, now it's time to independently defend Europe's dignity."

  The voice of Hans Joachim von Zieten, the proud chief of staff of the European Legion, sounded again in Siegler's ear.

  The car quickly drove onto the German autobahn, with a unified Germany having a population of 82 million, making it the largest country in Europe after Russia, and its infrastructure is among the best in Europe.

  But the German economy has not been doing well since entering the 21st century. On the one hand, this is because after reunification, the German government had to invest a large amount of funds in the construction of the eastern region. On the other hand, it was also due to the adverse effects of European economic integration. After the circulation of the euro, the price level of Germany, which was originally relatively low, gradually rose, causing a sharp decline in the living standards of ordinary citizens and severe unemployment.

  "Our commander isn't a neo-Nazi, is he?" The murmurs had already started in the barracks. "They shouldn't be deploying the army, should they? The European United Fleet should be able to handle it, right?"

  Zigler's eyes seemed to have already seen the towering masts of a massive European ocean-going fleet.

  "What kind of person is Ren Lingyu after all? Are we still not making it clear for him by creating momentum like this?" In a brand new siheyuan in Beijing, China, a huge screen was playing the live recording of the "New Era Tropical Regional Warfare Seminar" recently organized by the General Staff Department and hosted by Ren Lingyu. An elderly voice with a questioning tone asked Cao Yang, the Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army.

  "Hehe, men are all the same, putting on a good face but still being scoundrels at heart." A pair of gentle jade hands softly wrapped around the owner's pale neck, and the delicate voice continued: "I heard that when Ren Lingyu went to conquer Java, he even brought his girlfriend along, it seems that he was also young and reckless, as long as..."

  "That cold purple wing is a heroine of the Chinese Navy's Marine Corps, and she's about to get married to Ren Lingyu." Cao Yang hastily added. "Heh heh, a man who doesn't know the difference between marriage and love proves that he's still not very mature. Then please trouble Director Cao to arrange something, let him reveal his true nature properly." The old voice coldly laughed and said.

  The lanterns had just been lit, and Ren Lingyu was a bit tired after rubbing his eyes. The people who came to this seminar were all big shots from the four general departments and eight major military regions of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, whose level was beyond Ren Lingyu's expectation. However, it was strange that the Ministry of National Defense seemed to have maintained a indifferent attitude towards the entire seminar.

  "The seminar was very successful, and in two days the leaders of each military region will be leaving."

  Lieutenant General Lin Taiping, Assistant Chief of Staff of the General Staff Headquarters, gently knocked on the door of the office opened by Ren Lianying and said.

  "Really?! I feel like we haven't talked enough yet!"

  Ren Lianyu raised his head and in front of him appeared the gradually aging face of his former mentor, General Zhang Ling, Commander of the Chengdu Military Region.

  "It's indeed like this, so tonight Beijing Military Region comrades want to fulfill their obligations as hosts."

  Lin Taiping smiled and said. Although he originally wanted to invite Leng Ziyun, who had not been seen for a long time, but at this moment, he could only give up. Ren Lingyu picked up his own military uniform and followed Lin Taiping out of the General Staff's office building.

  It was said that the Beijing Military Region was hosting a dinner, but in fact it was led by Lieutenant General Li Zhi-long, the young deputy commander of the Beijing Military Region, and some young senior officers from the Beijing Military Region who were having a private dinner with the General Staff. Unexpectedly, Lieutenant General Hu Weifeng, the deputy commander of the Jinan Military Region, was also among the invited guests.

  The venue for the banquet was not a luxurious hotel suite, but an ordinary Beijing siheyuan. The various dishes were also authentic Beijing cuisine, with a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere of official banquets from days gone by.

  "Although Director Ren has been in Beijing for many years, he is busy with work and probably doesn't know much about our old Beijing food culture." After a few cups of white wine, everyone relaxed. General Li Zhi Long patted Ren Ling Yu's shoulder and said, then lightly clapped his hands a few times. A bamboo curtain slowly fell from the side hall next to the banquet, and more than ten young girls in cheongsam dresses walked out slowly, taking out various musical instruments. At the same time, a waiter brought up a music program.

  "Let's start with 'Ambush from Ten Sides'!"

  Li Zhi Long spread his hands and said, "The silver bottle bursts, the water flows in, the iron cavalry rushes out, the knives and guns ring. The song ends with a stroke of the heart, the four strings sound like tearing silk." From time to time, a melancholic tune of "Ambush from Ten Sides" floated over from the side hall, possibly because it was played by a woman's hand. This "Ambush from Ten Sides" was more sorrowful than heroic. After Ren Ling Yu had drunk a few cups of shallow wine, he took over the score and vaguely saw that the women playing behind the bamboo curtain were all delicate-faced and slender-bodied. He couldn't help but draw a hook under the pipa solo "The Girl from Changsha".

  "Why do the Americans seem to be in no hurry to enter this time?" In a conference room of the General Staff Headquarters of the Chinese People's National Defense Forces, far away from the battlefield in Beijing, China, 5 young Chinese soldiers were discussing the future development of the situation in Argentina.

  "It's hard to explain why, since the Monroe Doctrine, South America has been considered by the US as its own backyard, and after WWII, the US was even more firmly opposed to European defense autonomy, but this time it allowed a large-scale military deployment of European troops overseas." This was pointed out by Lieutenant General Lin Taiping, Deputy Chief of Staff of the General Staff Headquarters. Lin Taiping is an unusual figure among the younger generation of Chinese military leaders, with many people believing that his humility and prudence have reached the point of being somewhat timid.

  "Haha, Assistant Lin is joking! What's not understandable about this? After the 911 incident, the US has gone through anti-terrorism wars and the Iraq War, and it's already at its weakest point. Not only are they struggling with military strength, but also the national sentiment against war is unprecedentedly high. The correct choice for the White House would be to either enter cautiously or simply stay out of it and watch from the sidelines." General Hu Weifeng, the deputy commander of the Jinan Military Region, who has always been proud, responded coldly with a sarcastic tone, making Lin Taiping's face turn bright red.

  "I'm afraid Hu Zhong is being a bit too rash in saying that! The US is absolutely not just standing by, they know more about the European military's strengths and weaknesses than anyone else. Although the conventional weapons of Britain, France, Germany and other European countries are not inferior to those of the US military, they are mainly focused on homeland defense and far from meeting the requirements for global deployment. In terms of weapon systems, information sharing and other aspects, there is a huge gap with the US military. It's impossible for the European military to win a war against Argentina independently now. However, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the EU countries led by France and Germany have been promoting Europe's overall autonomous defense, excluding American influence, and this voice has grown louder day by day. Since the Iraq War, this division has become more apparent. So, knowing that the road ahead is fraught with danger, the European military still wants to prove its strength this time. And the US would be happy to see the European military and Argentina fight each other to exhaustion, and then come out to clean up the mess." Ren Lingyu couldn't help but say, looking at Hu Weifeng's invincible expression.