"You can sell anything, no matter what it is, as long as you are willing to sell it, we are willing to buy it." Rommel was tempting, like a cunning fox.
"Excuse me, what exactly are you referring to?" The special envoy seemed not to understand Rommel's words particularly and asked in doubt.
"Special envoy, maybe you don't know that our Head of State Reinhard likes you very much, and many of our businessmen also like you. You can sell navigation rights, including in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf." Rommel continued.
Rommel's request almost made the envoy break into a cold sweat, because by obtaining the navigation rights of the Red Sea, German submarines can enter and exit the Indian Ocean. This will save a lot of trouble in transporting goods from Asia to Europe, and Germany will be able to directly transport goods to Europe.
Transport troops to South Asia.
In addition, what Germany also wants is the land passage rights to the north of Saudi Arabia. After all, Rommel has now begun to think about attacking Iraq.
If he could obtain a safe ground corridor, he would have at least a little more confidence in crossing Jordan and other areas to attack the British troops in Iraq.
Some of the miscellaneous British troops there got into trouble and nervously announced that they would follow the British government in exile in the United States.
Not even Indians dare to be so promiscuous!
Therefore, Rommel had already received the news that Reinhard wanted him to teach the commanders of the British troops in the Middle East how to behave?
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is certainly very aware of the importance of the Red Sea.
But Saudi Arabia knew at this time that if it agreed to Germany's conditions, it would be tantamount to betraying the British government-in-exile.
There is nothing wrong with betraying the British government in exile. I am just afraid that the United States behind the British government will find an opportunity to turn its back on Saudi Arabia in the future.
But Saudi Arabia itself also knows that it would rather offend the United States than offend Germany.
If you don't have long-term worries, you must have immediate worries. The United States is far enough away, but the German Afrika Korps is very close!
Saudi Arabia has sold its navigation rights in the Red Sea to many countries before, so there is no reason to reject the German proposal.
However, asking Saudi Arabia to give up the northern land passage made the Saudi envoy somewhat reluctant.
It can be said that the reason for giving up navigation rights in the Red Sea is because it does not have a navy, so if it hands over its maritime interests, it will hand over its maritime interests. But Saudi Arabia has its own army, so how can it just give up land at will?
You have to know that if a piece of land is given up for Germany to use at this time, then after the war is over, will it be clear who owns this land?
Obviously it's not clear. Besides, with Germany's army strength, is there any reason to get back the land that was given away?
Suppose that time comes, which country is still confident, or in other words, which country has the courage to discuss territorial issues with the Germans and the devil Reinhardt?
The Saudi envoy was silent for a long time and finally spoke.
"We are deeply grateful to your country and Head of State Reinhard for your tolerance and support for us... We are also willing to provide convenience for the use of German ships in the Red Sea area."
The Saudi envoy first found an easy-to-negotiate aspect and made his promise: "As long as your country is willing to provide assistance, we are willing to give up the Red Sea for your country's use."
The German diplomat next to Rommel nodded and responded with a smile: "I know that your country is full of smart people. I believe that your country will be able to flourish in the future because your country has a smart mind."
"But we still need to discuss the matter of the northern passage." The Saudi envoy said without confidence.
Upon hearing this, the faces of the German negotiators suddenly darkened again.
Rommel, who had been smiling just now, now had a completely different face.
Who the hell did you learn this skill from?!
Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, the Saudi envoy added: "It is not impossible, but we need to discuss it carefully to see the specific areas to be ceded."
"Hahahahahaha! I know you are a smart man." When the German negotiators heard this, they laughed happily again.
The negotiations continued, and everything seemed to be moving in favor of Germany.
…
"No! Absolutely not! Oil exploration rights around the Red Sea! We want at least 80%! If we can't agree, there will be no negotiation." The Saudi envoy waved his hand and said forcefully to the German diplomats.
"Mr. Special Envoy, you have to understand that we are talking about the oil in Iraq! Now those things are still in the hands of the British! You can't even get a drop of it!"
The German diplomat gritted his teeth and said.
"Now is the time. Cooperation between both parties must be based on win-win results. Do you understand this?"
"We want to get Iraq's share of oil, and this cannot be changed." The Saudi envoy said uncompromisingly.
"Are you kidding me? The most we can give you is one-tenth of Iraq's oil share! This is the most concession you can make!"
The German diplomat slapped the table with his hand and said coldly, seemingly without any room for maneuver.
There are serious differences between the two sides in competing for regional interests. Germany wants too many things, while Saudi Arabia wants to give too little.
The only headache for the Germans is that Saudi Arabia actually does not have that much dominance in this region. They have to negotiate with many tribal leaders to ensure that they can get what they want.
The Saudi envoy at that time seemed to suddenly understand something.
"Your Excellency..." Only then did he remember that what he was bargaining with was a more ferocious and powerful country that had defeated the British Empire.
And this country led by Reinhard has swept across France, defeated England, and is on its way to an expedition against the Soviet Union!
Faced with such a country, these small Middle Eastern countries don't know how to accept it as soon as it's done, and they even plan to extort a large amount of things that don't belong to them.
They obviously don't understand that if they fall behind, they will be beaten.
The other party obviously did not intend to waste any more time. The German diplomat waved his hand and said with a sneer: "Let's wait a few days and talk again. I don't think there will be any results here."
Hearing what the other party said, the Saudi envoy could only shut up. They finally knew that in order to get the Germans to compromise, they probably had to get the country's powerful military to compromise first.
As for their military strength, it is basically impossible for the German army to make compromises.
Soon, the German diplomats left the conference room, and they immediately walked into Rommel's office with a pile of records of the negotiations they had just negotiated.
"Who has time to talk to them about useless things?" In his office, Rommel looked at the negotiation documents, threw them aside, and said to the diplomats in charge of the negotiations.
At this moment, he was absent-minded, because he had been imagining how to cross the desert and attack Iraq recently, and was a little distracted from other things.
Seeing this, the diplomat smiled and continued.
"Your Majesty the General will definitely be interested in what follows." The diplomat then smiled and placed a document in front of Rommel.
Rommel looked at the documents on the table with bright eyes, imagining what kind of things were contained in this document.
He let go, and Rommel finally saw the words written on the document: "Middle East Operation Plan."
Seeing this plan, Rommel's eyes lit up, he raised his head and looked at the diplomat in front of him, extremely excited.
Such a task is much better than asking him to go to the pyramids to dig out mummies...
For a general, the happiest thing is to have the opportunity to continue directing battles on the battlefield. Moreover, Rommel has been resting for too long recently and has not been able to fight for too long. He has long been sick from idleness.
"The head of state asked Italy to allocate some supplies and asked Prime Minister Rossi to give you enough resources... He needs you to capture Jerusalem, the holy city of the Middle East, in the shortest possible time!"
"Great! I'll gather my troops right now! I want to see who can stop or stop my Afrika Korps attack!" Rommel said.
"Your Majesty General, in order to be more relevant, your army will be renamed the German Expeditionary Force Middle East Corps from now on!" the diplomat added with a smile.
