The convoy stopped behind the Blue Army. Between the tanks and tents, Rommel led a group of officers to stand at attention to greet Her Majesty the Queen.
Amidst the rumbling sound of gunfire in the distance, Zhu Yourong and the big shots in the convoy got out of the car and personally introduced Rommel to Xiaoqiang. Zhu Yourong treated Rommel as a colonel equally and smiled kindly, just like he treated Major General Guderian.
Greetings in German. The reactions of Rommel and Guderian were obviously different. It could be seen that he cared about this honor very much. He took Zhu Yourong's hand, bowed and kissed it lightly.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was smiling next to him, but he was murmuring in his heart: This Rommel has always been the vanguard in battles. No matter where he fought, he would always be with the front-line troops. Now that the Blue Army is attacking, why didn't Rommel take command personally?
Troops attacking? Could it be that this guy just wants to get an audience with the Queen?
But Rommel looked at Zhu Yourong with a smile, and spoke slowly and respectfully in simple Chinese, saying that he should have personally led the troops on the front line of the attack at this time, but because the Blue Division had been "camping south and north" for a day,
The vehicle failure rate has reached 30%, and the officers and soldiers are exhausted. Therefore, the current attack is based on the Second Blue Division. As the commander-in-chief, he arranges the repair and recovery of the troops in the rear. Moreover, the commander of the Second Division, Colonel Hou Hekun,
, he is also a very outstanding military talent,
Xiang Xiaoqiang was relieved now. Rommel also knew how to leave some opportunities for his subordinates to perform. He had eaten three divisions (actually four), and he could still give the remaining two to Hou Hekun.
There are tanks, armored vehicles, and self-propelled artillery parked all around. Some of these are tied with red ribbons. They are counted as injured during the exercise. They have to park here to pretend to repair, and are supervised by the exercise referee. Each one must be
It will take a certain amount of man-hours to be repaired. But judging from the current progress of the exercise, these "injured" tanks and armored vehicles may not be able to return to the exercise battlefield in time.
Another part of the tanks and armored vehicles are really broken. Yesterday, they were engaged in mobile warfare, especially the Blue Division, which was running around and mostly driving in the fields. The failure rate was 30%, which had never been achieved before.
There has never been such a large-scale armored force fighting and running for a whole day. Now in a drill, all the problems have been exposed.
Xiang Xiaoqiang knew that based on the marching standards of armored forces in the early days of World War II, a 30% failure rate was not high. Moreover, it only lasted one day and did not exceed the maximum range of the tanks. If such a rapid attack lasted for a week,
More problems will be exposed, such as fuel logistics and so on.
Based on the reports sent back by pilots over the battlefield, Rommel and several staff officers marked the general area of the ongoing battle on a map in front of the Empress.
The nearest place is ten kilometers away from here.
"There are no highlands in that area that are convenient for observation," Xiang Xiaoqiang looked at the military map and muttered, "I'm afraid it's too late now. Your Majesty, why don't we just observe this battlefield from behind, and when we attack the Fifth Red Division next, we'll
Go to the battlefield in advance to make arrangements?"
As soon as this statement came out, everyone around him nodded in agreement. This was both reasonable and economical. Zhu Yourong, a man with a wealth of gold, was running around everywhere and was in danger.
Zhu Yourong stared at the map absentmindedly, his face pale.
She suddenly looked up at the roaring planes overhead, then looked around at the people in front of her, and finally her eyes rested on Xiang Xiaoqiang's face.
"That's right," she said with a pale face but a smile, "I want to fly over the battlefield... What do you think?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang was startled. Everyone was also startled.
Zhu Yourong's face was so scary. In addition, he asked to fly by plane with such a weird expression, which is really...
Zhu Yourong smiled sadly, looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang, and said softly:
"Hold on."
When Xiang Xiaoqiang was looked at by Zhu Yourong like this, he felt sad for some reason. Zhu Yourong was not like a queen giving orders at this moment, but like a good friend, pleading with herself.
He suddenly thought: Zhu Yourong is so pitiful. With such a small request, what reason is there for not satisfying her?
Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't care how the officers next to him looked at him, turned around and ordered in an unquestionable tone:
"Did you all hear it? Go and make arrangements!"
…
Her Majesty the Queen, who has always been very well-behaved, suddenly made a fuss about taking a plane today.
Most of the people present met the Queen for the first time, so it was nothing. However, Li Changgui and Xiang Xiaoqiang both felt that it was a bit abnormal. Especially looking at Zhu Yourong's appearance at that time, they had some guesses in their hearts. But guesses were guesses, Her Majesty the Queen's request,
No one can disobey. Besides, there is Xiang Xiaoqiang, the "current manager" who is determined to meet all Zhu Yourong's demands.
The telegram was immediately sent to the Liyang Military Airport fifteen kilometers to the west, asking them to tow out a suitable aircraft, check it carefully, fill it with fuel, and Her Majesty the Queen would take it. At the same time, the Queen's motorcade increased the accelerator and drove along the Nanjing-Hangzhou Highway.
Speeding westward.
Liyang Airport was shocked when they received the telegram and hurriedly called back saying that it was because they were a short-runway airport with no large aircraft, only single-engine aircraft. It used to be a fighter airport, but now because of exercises, it only has one more squadron of Osprey dives parked.
Just bombers.
Xiang Xiaoqiang, Zhu Yourong, and Wei Zijin were all in a command vehicle. Watching Wei Zijin translate the telegram, Xiang Xiaoqiang frowned and looked for it on the map.
The result is that the nearest airport with large aircraft, Changxing Airport in the southwest corner of Taihu Lake, is more than 40 kilometers away from here, and it is southwest and in the opposite direction.
Forty kilometers away, you can drive there in less than an hour.
But when Xiang Xiaoqiang told Zhu Yourong, Zhu Yourong objected very stubbornly and resolutely. The reason was that if he turned to the southeast and drove for an hour, it would be too late. The most worthwhile battle might be over.
Therefore, she had to go to the small airport in Liyang.
"Your Majesty," Xiang Xiaoqiang said a little anxiously, "There are no big planes there!"
"If there is no big plane, we will make a small plane."
Zhu Yourong said.
Xiang Xiaoqiang and Wei Zijin looked at each other, and then said:
"There are only two types of Osprey and Kingfisher there. Needless to say, the Kingfisher is a single-seater, and even the Osprey only has three seats. Your Majesty, how can you fly on such a small plane?"
"Why can't we sit in three seats?" Zhu Yourong lowered his head, his face was pale and his eye circles were a little red, and he said firmly, "One pilot will sit, one will sit with me, and there is still one left..."
Xiang Xiaoqiang and Wei Zijin looked at each other.
After a while, Wei Zijin asked tentatively:
"Your Majesty, who would be more suitable for the third seat?"
Zhu Yourong glanced at her, then at Xiang Xiaoqiang, and mustered up the courage to say:
"You don't dare to sit on such a small plane... Come on, you can take the third seat."