Even as artillery fire raged in the port of Oran, Reinhardt and Mussolini were still staring at each other at the negotiation table.
Of course, Reinhard can afford to delay, or in other words, he is deliberately delaying.
Once Mussolini left, Italy's military arrangements fell to Mussolini's most trusted deputy prime minister, Rossi.
This is the same intention as Mussolini sent officials to send troops. They want to create a perfect feeling that Italian politicians are both civil and military and can command the army at any time.
Normally, this would be nothing.
But once during the war, or when the war is about to break out, this arrangement becomes inappropriate.
However, what Reinhard took advantage of was Mussolini's inappropriateness.
After all, Rossi, the deputy prime minister of Italy, had already been ordered by Reinhardt to win over the hearts of the Gestapo when he was wanted by Mussolini's men.
Regardless of Rossi's current position of power, his status in Italy is second only to Mussolini.
But he knew very well in his heart that what could really protect him for a long time was not Mussolini's trust, but the protection of the German Gestapo!
The last time he was wanted across Italy, Mussolini did not distrust himself.
At that time, just to take the blame, Mussolini did not hesitate to sell Rossi to the Italian top brass as a scapegoat.
If it weren't for the protection of the Gestapo, Rossi might be a cold corpse now.
Since Rossi had placed his personal safety under the protection of the Germans, the Italian branch of the German Gestapo also valued Rossi very much and gave him the power to command the Italian Gestapo.
Then Rossi himself has no reason not to serve his real master, Reinhardt.
At least for now, everything is under Reinhard's control.
Given Mussolini's character of sacrificing his own life for great things, Reinhardt must have thought that this leader would not necessarily dare to order the Italian Navy to attack the British fleet from behind.
Historically, the Italian Navy missed this opportunity that could have made it famous.
In the original time and space, when the entanglement between the British fleet and the French fleet had ended, and some battleships were sunk and some battleships were damaged, the Italian Navy, which had clearly discovered traces of the British fleet, stopped moving forward and carefully avoided it.
encounter.
At the same time, it also avoids the opportunity to defeat the British navy and avoid the opportunity to dominate the Mediterranean!
But it's different now.
Mussolini took the initiative to come to Berlin (actually, Mussolini’s visit schedule was arranged by Reinhardt and Rossi.)
The one left in Rome now is Reinhardt's man, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Rossi, who is following Germany's orders.
In other words, as long as Mussolini does not go back, when the Italian fleet is faced with the choice between war and peace, it can be guided by Rossi for a short time and choose war over peace!
Of course, this battle will be of great benefit to Italy.
There are six destroyers in the British special operations fleet, all of which were transferred from the British Mediterranean H Fleet.
In other words, defeating this British fleet will also weaken the strength of the British Fleet H and create favorable conditions for Italy to become the overlord of the Mediterranean!
"Report!" In Rome, a well-dressed naval captain came to report the situation to Rossi.
"Deputy Prime Minister, the submarine we were scouting outside the port of Oran sent a telegram saying that a large number of British warships were found." The colonel took out a copy of the telegram and slowly spoke to Rossi word for word.
In the eyes of this naval colonel, this kind of thing is discovered as soon as it is discovered, and it is nothing more than reporting the situation.
You know, Deputy Prime Minister Rossi is well-known as a good gentleman in Italy.
It is easy for him to do something, but it is difficult to expect this middle-aged man who is a little overweight and bald to make any big decisions by himself.
Although Mussolini also entrusted domestic work to Rossi during his previous interviews abroad.
But in the past few times, Rossi had almost always been by the rules, only doing monotonous and simple things. So much so that even when the train departure time in Rome was changed, he didn't dare to make his own decision and had to wait for Mussolini to come back to make a decision.
Such a cautious deputy prime minister, no matter how powerful he is, may not dare to make any big moves, the colonel thought.
It's a pity that the colonel who knows how to dress himself up completely made a mistake!
"That's right, we need to pay attention to that. The French warships in Oran Port have always been what the leader wants to get. Now the leader personally goes to Germany to get these warships." Rossi nodded his
The round, fat head said thoughtfully.
"What? What the Deputy Prime Minister means..." The colonel, who was sent by the Navy to report, obviously did not expect that the Deputy Prime Minister would say this.
The leader in Rossi's words naturally refers to Prime Minister Mussolini. So, when Rossi moved Mussolini out at this time, it was obviously not just a matter of emotion.
Since Rossi dares to say that he should pay attention to it, then this matter is not simple.
Sure enough, Rossi quickly went on to say: "We can't let the leader go in vain. If the Germans promised to give us French battleships, but the British took away these battleships under our noses, wouldn't they have failed the leader?"
Running back and forth?!”
It's over now! The navy captain's eyes widened.
The generals above him said when they called him here that Deputy Prime Minister Rossi was a softie and would not issue military missions.
But now, isn't it true that Rossi's words mean something is going on?
"Forget it, I, Rossi, am also the leader's deputy after all. I can't just shirk and dodge every time." Rossi's fleshy face showed a perseverance that was inconsistent with his body type: "Today, I will
You must share the worries of the leader and shoulder this heavy responsibility!”
Pointing at the naval colonel, Rossi rarely raised his voice and shouted in a commanding tone: "You leave and go back to convey my order. Let your commander immediately gather all the warships that can be dispatched, including gathering the ships that are hunting at sea.
."
Under the colonel's incredible gaze, Rossi finally issued this order with great responsibility: "As the leader's agent, I order the Italian Navy to intercept the British fleet and strive to completely eliminate them!"
"Deputy Prime Minister, this..." The colonel took two steps forward, trying to persuade Rossi to take back his life.
"There is no need to persuade me." Rossi, who had already received the order to kill Reinhardt, could not give in. He pretended to be righteous and awe-inspiring: "If this battle is won, the credit will naturally go to your navy and the navy.
Mr. Leader. If you lose, then put all the responsibility on me!"
"Execute the order!" The leader waved his hand towards the colonel: "You rush back first. After a while, I will personally call your commander to explain."