Chapter 19: Rommel's Decision

  On 23 October 1942, Montgomery launched the attack. As intense artillery and bombing fell on the head of Stumme, who had just taken over from Rommel as temporary commander of the Afrika Korps for a month, Stumme was somewhat dazed.

  As a commander, Sodenstern was actually competent. However, facing an attack that could not be resisted at all, it is estimated that no one would have been able to do anything about it. Fortunately, at this time, a big rainstorm that had not been encountered in North Africa for decades saved the fate of Sodenstern and Rommel.

  On October 24, Rommel was urgently summoned by Hitler, who had by then recovered from his illness. When he saw Rommel again, Hitler did not rant and rave at him as before but calmly asked him to stop his treatment and return to the North African front to command his Afrika Korps. Rommel said nothing more, and that same day he flew back to Egypt in a plane sent by Hitler, to resume command of his troops.

  As soon as Rommel arrived at the headquarters, he was busy understanding the situation and arranging defenses. Just after stopping to rest for a while, he was found by Liu Qi's steward Philip, who handed him a letter.

  Long Mei'er opened the letter and took a leap of fright. In his heart, he couldn't help but scold Liu Qi: "You little rabbit, why didn't you just stay in prison honestly? How did you end up with the British, and even claim to be going to their military headquarters? Do you think that's your home, where you can come and go as you please? That's the 8th Group Army Command of the heavily guarded British army. At least there's a battalion with armored guards, and many British intelligence personnel. Isn't this just asking for death?"

  That's great, you go and get yourself killed, and drag me down with you. That Hitler is a madman. Thinking about it again, Rommel couldn't help but feel another wave of sadness. Secretly, he blamed Hitler again, thinking to himself: I've been working tirelessly for you, fighting on all fronts, achieving great victories, yet when I ask you for some reinforcements and supplies, you don't give me any. And then you send me this young whippersnapper, as if I'm running a nursery school. I'm busy fighting the British day and night, how am I supposed to deal with this young master's nonsense?

  If something happens to Andre, his parents will never let me off the hook, especially his mother, a powerful figure. If her precious son is done for, I'll be finished too.

  Romel couldn't help but read the letter again. When he saw that Andri's family might be able to persuade Hitler to provide him with supplies and equipment, his eyes lit up. If Andri could get his family to help him obtain supplies and troops, it was possible that he really could do it.

  When I first took over as the commander of the 7th Armored Division, tanks and armored vehicles were precious back then. So many high-ranking generals couldn't get their hands on a few, but I was fully equipped with all the troops directly from the factory's warehouse. On one hand, it was because of Hitler's favoritism, and on the other hand, more importantly, I was Andrey's superior officer. I took care of him normally, and his wife was grateful to me, which was a thank you for taking care of Andrey. This allowed me to have an easy time during the invasion of France, otherwise, I wouldn't have become as famous as General Guderian.

  André can't have anything to do with it. But facing the Mongols' hundreds of thousands of troops, Rommel felt a bit down. With just over a dozen people and seven or eight guns now, how can we compare? Rommel was in a dilemma. Originally, Rommel had already learned through spies lurking in Egypt that the British army on the opposite side had made preparations. They had men and guns, and their planes and tanks were several times more than theirs.

  In this vast desert, it is a good place for tanks to be used. If Rommel had enough tanks and planes, although he was outnumbered, he would not have been particularly afraid. But with an empty stomach, one's heart is anxious. Rommel was still very clear about the bottom line of the German-Italian army. Although there were 80,000 people, only three non-full-strength German divisions were among them. The rest were Italian troops.

  The Italian army was despised by Rommel, and although the soldiers were very brave during battles, the quality of the commanders was really too low. The combat ideology was basically still in World War I era. They didn't understand what Blitzkrieg meant at all, and tanks could only be used as defensive fortresses for them.

  Rommel had originally intended to retreat, planning to pretend to shrink his defensive line and make the British think he was going to die defending it. Then, under the cover of night, he would withdraw his main force and launch a surprise attack on the British supply lines when their front line was stretched out. Finally, in the chaos, he would bite the British again. This was also Rommel's usual tactic, which had been used to defeat the British several times before. But now all this has become an illusion, as Andrei has gone over to the British side. Now here it is impossible to run or fight back.

  Long Mei'er couldn't help but secretly blame herself, why did she put Andre in prison in the first place. If she had kept him by her side, although it would have been a bit of trouble, things wouldn't have gotten so out of hand.

  But things are already like this, and it's too late to regret. I can only follow Andrey's words and press the troops against the British, taking it one step at a time. Hopefully, nothing will happen to Andrey, even if he is captured by the British. I have many British military prisoners in my hands, so if Andrey is really captured, we can secretly exchange him back. At worst, we can trade a major general for a lieutenant colonel, and the British will definitely agree.

  But it's just a hard fight, and this number of people can't hold on for much longer. Rommel shook his head helplessly. However, if everyone dies, I'm sure the Andre family will have nothing to say either. I, Rommel, sacrificed my troops to save your son without retreating, so even if you're powerful, you should be reasonable too. It's best if I get a little injured again, then Hitler and the Andre family won't have anything to say either.

  Long Mei'er was lost in thought when Philip spoke up, "Marshal, may I be so bold as to ask a question. What did our young masters say to you? Also, our young master instructed me to contact the old master to supplement some supplies and materials for you. May I ask what you need?"

  Philip, as a butler of the Babary family with unswerving loyalty, has a relatively high cultural level and moral cultivation. Philip's family has been serving as butlers for the Hans family for generations. Andrei, the old patriarch who holds the secrets of the Babary family, has had Philip carry out many unsavory tasks on his behalf.

  It can be said that Philip was just like a high-ranking member within the Barbaria, only outsiders wouldn't know. In his early years, Philip had studied at Cambridge University in England, majoring in European culture. Where most British students looked down on this unassuming young man, thinking he was a country bumpkin from southern Germany. But one day when the King of England visited Cambridge, he said to Philip "Please give my regards to your father and Mr. Hans".

  All the voices below fell silent, the king - who was that, a high and lofty existence, the highest existence in the entire England (the English thought that England was already a very large continent). How could he be familiar with this little rustic fellow and treat him with such kindness?

  This made Philip the center of attention. However, until Philip graduated, no one knew the identity of this young man from southern Germany. The reason is simple, Philip was influenced by his parents' low-key, humble and steady personality since childhood. This also allowed Philip to develop a good character since childhood. After graduating from Cambridge, Philip went to the Vatican again. There he received several years of religious cultural education.

  After Philip's old man passed away, Philip returned to the castle of Barbary. He took over his father's job and continued to work as a butler in the castle. However, this butler was not responsible for daily life, nor did he take care of daily eating, drinking, and defecation. Instead, he was an executor of the dark side of the Barbary family. It can be said that Philip had some direct or indirect influence on the culture, economy, and military of various European countries. When Andri was born, Philip was 30 years old. Most people who came to congratulate would not have thought that the unassuming butler in front of them was actually one of the underground power brokers of Europe.

  Andrei as the sole heir of Babaria. The task of taking care of Andrei and teaching him about the world fell to Phillip from a young age. Phillip tirelessly instilled in Andrei knowledge of lineage, culture, rights, and truth. However, Andrei was not a diligent student, his greatest pleasure lay in how to strip girls of their clothes. Phillip followed behind Andrei's buttocks, often wiping his butt for him.

  As such a person, Philip would not have peeked at the letter Liu Qi gave to Rommel. So he asked Rommel what Liu Qi's letter said. Originally, Philip wouldn't have asked Rommel this kind of question. But since it concerned his young master's life safety, Philip had no choice but to ask.

  Longmei would not let Philip know that Liu Qi had run to the British to launch a surprise attack on the Legion headquarters. So he said to Philip, "Nothing, Andre just mentioned in his letter that he arranged for you to come and prepare supplies for me. You can use my legion's telegraph room. I will have my deputy give you a list of urgently needed materials."

  Philip looked at Rommel with suspicion, but didn't say anything and went to the telegraph room to send a telegram. Rommel also had his deputy compile a detailed list of military supplies, including 500 tanks, 1,000 aircraft, 3-5 armored divisions, 3-5 infantry divisions, 5,000 tons of fuel consumption per month, as well as a large number of artillery pieces, which left his deputy, Schmundt, amazed. Schmundt thought to himself that in the year and a half he had been in North Africa, he had never seen Rommel be so bold as to ask Hitler for so many war supplies. How did Rommel's courage suddenly grow? Wasn't this just a crazy dream?

  Rommel looked at Schmundt with a puzzled expression, and Rommel chuckled and said, "You have to give people a chance to haggle over prices. If you ask for too little, it's like we're not sincere." Rommel knew that Hitler didn't really have much to offer himself. But wanting the horse to run without giving it grass to eat was impossible.

  To be honest, the reason why Rommel can still give the British a hard time in North Africa is largely due to the supplies left behind by the British at 'Benghazi' and 'Tobruk'. What Rommel did was just repainting and renumbering them.

  "Ah, you are truly a paragon of learning. Not only is your military prowess awe-inspiring, but your political skills are also remarkably refined. Your achievements..." A stream of flattering words poured out of Schtdenm's mouth, revealing that his ability to become the temporary commander of the African corps at 37 was not just due to his military talent, but also his eloquence.

  Just as Rommel was listening with relish, his intelligence chief knocked on the door and came in. He said to Rommel, "That man used some cipher signals that weren't ours and even sent a telegram himself."

  "Ah?…… Never mind, the telegram he sent is absolutely safe." Rommel didn't expect that Philip would personally go to send the telegram, and it was even in secret code. Not even his own intelligence chief knew what had been sent. He couldn't help but look at this unassuming Philip with newfound respect. However, he still handed the military supplies table on the desk to the intelligence chief and said "You go to Philip now and give this to him, he'll know what to do. Also, you report this plan to the Imperial Military Supplies Headquarters, and present it to the Imperial General Staff and the Prime Minister's Office."

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  Labor Day holiday for three days, three shifts a day, no arrears. However, with some recommendations and collections, the pipe will work harder.