"Look at the C area, their soldiers have an assault rifle, vest-type bulletproof vest, air defense combat vehicles, and a wide range of weapons... Tsk tsk, it's really enviable!"

"Wow, this is just their standard equipment! Think about those expensive individual night vision equipment, advanced jet aircraft, and first-class heavy aircraft carriers, that's really enviable!"

"There is no way, who will let them have a great king?"

"Shhh... don't say anything like this. If the military police hear it, you might be punished for treason!"

"Well, I know, don't you just say this casually!"

"Disaster comes from the mouth, be careful of everything! If something goes wrong, no one will plead for a soldier like us!"

"Oh, be cautious in everything and always be careful, just like Spain's international situation. The more cautious and cautious you are, the more you are bullied! Look at Ireland, there has been no big or small wars in the past few decades, and the more you fight, the stronger you become, even an old-fashioned power like Italy can easily fall down!"

"Hi, don't discuss state affairs, don't discuss state affairs..."

The two sentries, wearing the standard costumes of the Spanish Navy 6 warriors, each carrying a 7.92mm caliber m1916 rifle. They were on duty on a sentry tower at the Cartagena Naval Base in southeastern Spain. In this position that overlooks the harbor, including "area C", the entire naval base is in sight.

In sight, the "C Zone" in a highly alert state looks no different from the surrounding environment at first sight. If you observe carefully, you will find that this area is separated from the surrounding area by a barbed wire wall. Although the soldiers inside are wearing Spanish naval uniforms, both individual equipment and combat vehicles do not belong to the Spanish installation system.

The reason why this strange "C Zone" exists at the Cartagena Naval Base is also traced back to the secret military agreement signed between Spain and Ireland in the early 30s. According to this secret agreement, Spain set up a secret stronghold of "Hong Kong, China and Hong Kong" in the local area of ​​Ireland in La Cruña and Cartagena in Spain. Any side is involved in the war, and the other side has an obligation to ensure the security and smoothness of "Hong Kong, China and Hong Kong" during the war. That is to say, as long as the two countries are not in opposing camps in a certain war, they will provide a special guarantee for the other side's maritime operations.

Based on this military agreement that was prepared for the future, when the New United Kingdom and the Austro-Hungarian Empire jointly started war against Italy, Cartagena became the strategic fulcrum of the New United Kingdom Navy in the Mediterranean. Not only were hundreds of well-trained Navy 6 members stationed here, but there were also a large amount of fuel, ammunition, maintenance accessories for ships and aircraft, loading and unloading facilities and maintenance equipment next to the docks. The news of the war came that the "C Zone" of the Cartagena Naval Base was fully raised, and sentries carrying guns and ammunition could be seen everywhere within the barbed wire walls. On the tops and open areas of various buildings, the anti-aircraft guns and cannons wrapped in waterproof canvas showed a ferocious face...

In the afternoon, in the corridor of the Cartagena Naval Base Command, a Spanish officer with a captain rank lowered his voice and said to his companions: "Oh, the latest news confirmed that the coalition forces sank more than forty Italian ships, including two heavy aircraft carriers, one day yesterday, and most of the results were obtained by the New United Kingdom Navy Fleet!"

Another young lieutenant officer laughed and said, "So, your bet with Captain Vallejo is very good! Alas, what is the bet? 2ooo Bisetta?"

The square-faced captain officer shook his head and stretched out five fingers.

In this time and space where the world economy dominated by Germany, Spain's overall economic situation has been rising steadily, and the exchange rate of Bisetas against Mark has also stabilized at a long time at 2.4 to 1. In 1949, a Spanish naval captain's monthly salary was about 15oo-2oooo Pesetas, and 5oo Pesetas is equivalent to two or three months' salary, which is a considerable bet. However, seeing the five fingers of the captain's officer, the officers next to them did not show surprise. Judging from their daily expenses of food, clothing, housing and transportation, it is obviously not the one who points to the salary of soldiers to live a life.

Among these officers of similar age, the highest rank was a naval major with a lip and tall figure. His style, shape and appearance were quite similar to Alfonso Thirteen when he was young, so his colleagues secretly called him the king's illegitimate son. In fact, this major was born in a noble family in the north who was qualified to enter and exit the royal family event, and it was not completely impossible for him to have some connection with the royal family members.

After Captain Square Face showed his bet, the major said with some slightest remarks: "Will this war be delayed for a month or longer? It is still difficult to say now. However, the suspense of whether we will participate in the war or not should be revealed soon."

The lieutenant glared at the sight and said, "Suspense? How strong is the new United Kingdom naval and air force, how weak is the combat power of the Italian navy and air force. We will definitely make sure to make a profit when we participate in the war!"

The major glanced at the lieutenant, and then analyzed slowly: "Considering the close relationship between Germany and the New United Kingdom, even if Germany does not participate in the war directly, it will not sit idly by and watch the Italians turn the tables. Therefore, from the short-term interests, we are sure to make a profit when we participate in the war, but don't forget that we are across the sea from the Italians, while the New United Kingdom and the Italians are across the European 6. If we participate in the war at this time, it is tantamount to taking advantage of the situation for the Italians, and they will definitely find ways to retaliate in the future."

Captain Fangfang smiled and said, "Who knows whether Italy can continue to exist in the form of a country after this battle?"

The major refuted: "If a great power like Italy dies out, the League of Nations will lose its meaning of existence!"

Captain Fangfang looked at the other people and suggested: "Since the opinions are against each other, why not bet on a game?"

The major was about to respond, but saw a staff officer hurried over from the corridor. He walked near and shook his eyes at the officers and said, "They will be here soon!"

The "they" he mentioned refers to the new United Kingdom naval staff who are about to come to coordinate military affairs and deploy operations. A group of people flew to Madrid from Limerick in the morning, headed to the Spanish General Staff and Naval Command to dock various matters, and then flew directly from Madrid to Cartagena.

If nothing unexpected happens, this staff team will stay in Cartagena until the end of the war.

Hearing that those special guests were about to arrive and another Spanish naval captain who had not spoken just now, he said: "Okay, gentlemen, maybe our argument has no practical significance. If you join the war, it is believed that the Madrid Palace has made a conclusion, so we should prepare early!"

The officers dispersed, and soon after, they followed Major General Cebaros, the commander of the Cartagena Naval Base, to welcome visitors from afar at the commander's office. These new United Kingdom naval officers wore dark blue uniforms with their military logos, showing the hard posture of the soldiers in their every move. It can be seen that the outstanding performance of the Mediterranean Task Force the day before made the officers confident about the prospects of the war. Perhaps in their view, the next action was like a marching journey, and it was only a matter of time to reach the end of victory.

The one who led the team to Spain this time was Lieutenant General William Waters, the Minister of Operations of the New United Kingdom Naval Staff. At the age of 44, he looked energetic and extraordinary in front of Major General Cebaros, 59. Major General Cebaros can be said to be a microcosm of the Spanish generals, aged, bloated, calm and slow.

After sitting in the conference room, Lieutenant General Waters, who is of three quarters of German descent, told Major General Cebaros straight to the point that the Spanish General Staff and Naval Command had signed a special authorization to allow him to recruit all supplies and manpower from Cartagena during the war. Now, he needs the base command to requisition as many barges as possible, repair ships and floating docks in case of emergency.

"I can't understand!" Major General Cebaros responded tepidly, "As far as I know, your fleet not only defeated the Italians yesterday, but also did not lose much. What is the purpose of recruiting barges, repairing ships, and floating docks?"

Lieutenant General Waters replied: "War is composed of various predictable and unpredictable factors, so we must be as fully prepared as possible."

Major General Cebaros did not question the other party's request, but asked: "If the civilian ships we recruited were filled with the port, how should your country's subsequent fleet be resettled after the arrival of the port?"

“This is not a problem.”

Waters paused: "In fact, according to the provisions of international neutral legislation, our fleets cannot stay in your port for a long time during the war, so a considerable portion of the repair and supply work needs to be carried out outside the port."

Major General Cebaros thought for a while: "If this is the case, there is no reason for the Italians to attack us!"

"It's better not to have such a lucky mentality, respected General Cebaros!" Waters blinked, "Before the end of the war, anything is possible."

This made Major General Cebaros feel unhappy. He moved his body in the chair slightly: "I wonder if there is any conclusion on the maritime and air defense of the Port of Cartagena during the war?"

"This is a sensitive question," Waters replied. "We are not convenient to intervene in your defense until Spain has confirmed its participation in the war, but we can take on some of the defense if you think it is necessary."

Major General Cebaros put his hands on his belly and his thumbs circled each other. He then thought about it for a while: "What should I do if the specific defense allocation is discussed after your fleet arrives?"

Waters raised his hand and looked at the watch: "Our Mediterranean fleet arrives in about 7 to 8 hours."

Hearing this answer, the Spanish officers present were in an uproar, and then they whispered in their unique words. After a while, Major General Cebaros coughed twice and signaled his officers to stop.

"I thought your country's Mediterranean fleet would stay in the waters of the Balearic Islands, observe the enemy's reaction before proceeding with follow-up operations." Major General Cebaros said.

Waters smiled indifferently: "If the Italian Navy had the courage to send the main fleet to chase him, the Austro-Hungarian fleet would break out of the Adriatic Sea in one fell swoop, turning the southern part of Italy upside down. We would use a sumptuous banquet to retain most of the Italian fleet's ships so that they would never see Taranto's lighthouse again!"

(End of this chapter)
Chapter completed!