Section 10 is better off going to other war zones for morale boosting

  The next day, the Führer left Nevel for the headquarters of 4th Tank Army in Volkhov. The commander, Hube, warmly embraced the Führer. A little later, Field Marshal Küchler, Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army Group, General Lindemann, Commander of the 18th Army, General Busse, Commander of the 16th Army, and some corps commanders all gathered in the large hall of the Volkhov Aluminum Factory to celebrate New Year's Day and listen to the Führer's New Year's address.

  The factory is a scene of bustling activity, with the electrolytic aluminum workshop producing 3 million tons per year. Flames shoot up to the sky, and molten aluminum splashes everywhere, flowing into molds where it cools into long rectangular blocks of aluminum ingots. Before long, they are shipped off to Germany, where they are transformed into airplanes and other weapons.

  In 1886, American Charles Martin Hall and Frenchman Paul Héroult independently discovered the process of smelting alumina (aluminum oxide) to produce aluminum metal.

  These high-energy, high-pollution industries are essentially selling electricity. Not far from the Volkhov aluminum plant is the 1926-built Volkhov hydroelectric station, where the massive water energy of the Volkhov River is converted into electrical energy, transmitted to the aluminum plant through a substation, and then turned into aluminum products. The alumina needed by the aluminum plant comes from Tikhvin. This was also the reason why the leader spared no effort to recover Tikhvin at all costs.

  Under the powerful push of Li De, the 4th Tank Army captured the above-mentioned area in late November, not only completely blocking Leningrad's land and water transportation but also alleviating Germany's energy supply. Just half a month later, the Volkhov aluminum plant resumed production, producing 100,000 tons of aluminum ingots in the remaining half-month of December.

  Li De gazed at the production diagram hanging in the aluminum plant auditorium and sighed, "I saw a propaganda booklet of the Party Guards, with a portrait of Soviet prisoners of war on the cover. Underneath it was written 'Look, this is an incomplete person from the East.' In my opinion, damn it, the one who wrote this book is the real incomplete person."

  "From now on, anyone who says that Russians are immature and incomplete people will be sent to the North Pole."

  Everyone was present, and Khleborol spoke a opening speech about the leader's busy schedule to come to the Northern Army Group, which is our intimate care and great encouragement. After that, the leader stood up, looked around at everyone, and waited for the applause to stop before asking himself: "Comrades, why did I come to the North and not to the Central or Southern Army Groups? Because a month ago, the Northern Army Group occupied 50,000 square kilometers of land for us and seized factories and mines, laying the foundation for our next action goal. This goal will be achieved soon, you tell me, what is this goal?"

  "Capture Leningrad!" The auditorium was in a ferment, and under the reflection of the sparks from the workshop, Li De saw that everyone's eyes were also flashing with sparks.

  Lee's fist shook violently: "Yes, this is the main goal of the Northern Group Army, and it has been the only goal since the start of the war. But think about it, if we don't occupy the area east of Lake Ladoga, the Russians will transport weapons, ammunition, and food to Leningrad through Lake Ladoga, and occupying it may come at a great cost."

  "Russians resisted extremely bravely, in September last year I saw Soviet troops blow themselves up with German tanks more than once. What I mean to say is that if the Führer hadn't urged us to capture the area east of Lake Ladoga and take Leningrad, it would have been very difficult."

  Li De gave him a glance: "Please don't interrupt when I'm speaking, because this is my speech to the whole of Germany, not just to the Northern Group Army"

  。”

  Keitel's face turned bright red, he was slapping his thigh so hard that he almost hit the horse's hoof. Only then did he notice that the tape recorder in front of the Führer was still running and Schmundt was taking notes on paper to emphasize the importance of the Führer's speech. Bormann deliberately shouted loudly at Schmundt, who was doing his job conscientiously: "You make sure you get it all down accurately, then the Führer's speech will be broadcast in Berlin tonight."

  The head of state nodded at Bowman and continued his speech. Everyone noticed that although he scanned them, his gaze seemed to pass through them, staring at a very distant place:

  "Looking back, we achieved the greatest victory in German history, we crushed the hostile forces of the Balkans, forced the British to stage another Dunkirk evacuation and showed the world the British army's skillful retreat."

  The head of state took a sip of water and continued his speech:

  "We have launched the greatest offensive in history, from Murmansk on the Arctic Ocean to Odessa on the Black Sea, with German soldiers advancing triumphantly along a 3,000-kilometer front line. By yesterday alone, we had captured 3.8 million Soviet Red Army prisoners."

  "In the past year, our workers, peasants, intellectuals and other citizens have been breathing the same breath as the soldiers on the front lines, sharing weal and woe, putting public interests first and making their own contributions in their respective positions."

  "Here I would also like to thank the friendly allied powers and the military and civilian populations of the occupied territories for their understanding and support of the German troops."

  The Fuehrer stretched out his hands to the heavens as if in prayer: "May the year 1942 bring us victory. Whatever the circumstances, this result will be a greater victory for the German Empire."

  Bao Man led the applause and hastily gestured for everyone to clap along, finally a thunderous round of applause filled the auditorium.

  After the speech, the Fuehrer immediately went into a conference with the Army Group North, demanding that preparations for the attack on Leningrad be completed as soon as possible: "Since we have occupied the area east of the city, Leningrad is completely cut off from land and water communications, their planes have to fly six hundred kilometers to make one round trip, and they suffer heavy losses when landing, so now hunger has taken effect, Keitel?"

  Keitel reported: "At present, 8,000 soldiers and civilians are dying of hunger every day. In our opinion, in order to minimize the casualties of the German army as much as possible, it would be better to attack after a month."

  Li De hesitated for a moment, then made up his mind: "Half a month, don't wait until the whole city starves to death. That way, the whole world will condemn us, and some American congressmen will seize the opportunity to declare war on us. Once again urge surrender, also, airdrop an open letter to Zhdanov, Secretary of the Leningrad City Committee, stating that if he surrenders, the German side will still let him be the mayor of this city."

  "Bowman suddenly interjected: 'It's no use, he's a hard-boiled Bolshevik.'"

  Li De said in a low and angry tone: "Even if he doesn't surrender, Stalin will still be suspicious, idiot."

  "What was the name of the most difficult high ground to take last year?"

  Someone replied: "The Pulkovo Heights are defended by three Soviet divisions of the 42nd Army, which repelled our attacks 25 times last year."

  The leader sneered: "25 times? Like a fly hitting a wall, the more it fails, the more persistent it becomes."

  Everyone looked at each other in dismay and indignation: How could the leader compare brave warriors to flies?

  Li De saw through their minds and explained: "I'm not referring to the warriors, they just followed orders. I'm referring to the commander who ordered the attack on this high ground. The Soviet army has dug out the entire high ground, with countless visible and hidden fortifications. Knowing it's impossible but doing it anyway, what is that if not a fly?"

  Everyone lowered their heads. Sharl whispered to Daniel: "The Commander-in-Chief would be better off visiting other war zones"

  。”

  The commander let out a loud shout and they lifted their heads as if waking from a dream. Li De yelled at them, "Dig holes! Bury the explosives! Blow the heights to kingdom come!"

  ……

  The army group held a simple banquet, and Lide Zheng proudly demonstrated his new discovery to Bao Man: "The aluminum plates and bowls here are all magnetic, I found them this morning." At this time, a lieutenant general came in, blushing and saluting the leader before walking to Tank 41 Model, whispering something in his ear. Lide's ears perked up suddenly because he heard a word: "Kalmuk".

  Li De's curiosity was piqued and he asked: "Colonel Walter, what's the story behind that long name you mentioned earlier?"

  The superior officer raised his head, which was shaped like a mantis's: "Oh, I see, Your Excellency. Someone has accused the defector of mistreating and killing German soldiers, and intentionally putting rescued German prisoners of war in harm's way."

  Li De immediately thought of Rang Niya: "I heard that you also summoned the female staff members from the Eastern Foreign Affairs Office, I wonder what it means?"

  The superior officer replied: "This is the idea of that Kalmyk defector, he insists on letting that girl help train his assault team, if we don't agree, he won't accept trial."

  "It seems they have a very close relationship." The teacher added, Li De's heart which had just relaxed tightened up again.

  Li De stood up impatiently, with his hands in his pockets pacing around the room. He said again reluctantly: "Is the evidence conclusive?"

  "The court investigation has been going on for half a month, and the trial is held this afternoon. Originally we wanted to talk about it after New Year's Day, but an important witness will be transferred after New Year's Day, so..."

  The commander of the Northern Group of Forces glanced at the leader: "A minor case, if the leader is interested, this afternoon we will visit the Volkhov Hydroelectric Power Plant."

  "Get out of my sight, you hydroelectric piece of crap." Li De suddenly became impulsive, but he immediately restrained himself and smiled apologetically at the astonished General Qu Xier.

  After all, as his personal secretary, Bormann knew what he was thinking and came up with the idea of letting the Führer also eavesdrop: "Just arrange a small room for the Führer to secretly listen in."

  Li De hastily added: "Just eavesdrop, I just want to know what crime they committed, it was Heppner and I who sent him to the front line."

  The trial took place in the former Small Opera House, with a side box on the second floor.

  "Good." Li De and Bao Man simultaneously slapped their thighs in approval, then looked at each other in surprise before bursting out laughing, one voice louder than the other, finally breaking into hearty laughter.

  Küller also joined in the laughter, but he didn't understand what was so funny.