Chapter 221 Visit

The armored division’s headquarters was located in a sparse pine forest. Under a large pine tree in the middle of the forest, the headquarters was built using branches and camouflage nets. From a distance, there was almost no trace of unnaturalness.

General Karl opened the curtains and was greeted by a detachable table and an industrial display screen suspended by a bracket. Sitting on a folding chair in the middle was a tall and strong major general wearing a dusty military uniform with sweat dripping down his neck and face.

This is the commander of the 7th Armored Division.

After learning that Raphael and Lingyin were equipment suppliers, the division commander sighed deeply for some reason and said that it was not appropriate for his troops to come now as they were all accumulating experience, and any problems they had could be resolved through the channels of the resident technicians.

Raphael came here at this time, but he couldn’t get a summarized technical report, and he had to waste his working time to accompany him.

“… I have too much to do!” The division commander complained with a headache. In the past, he disliked those old T-72A tanks, thinking they were broken and rotten, and could only be used for work on the training ground.

The war was approaching, and the military expansion was urgent and heavy, and he had to adapt and improve the existing organization during this period. What made him even more headache was that due to the limitation of production capacity, he had to receive two heavy equipments of different models and non-interchangeable parts.

Even the vehicle the infantry rides in is a mixture of BMP3 and Weasel infantry fighting vehicle, which can torture him to death.

Raphael couldn’t say anything about this. This was a difficult problem that the other party had to face, and it was not a situation that could be significantly improved by her saying a few nice words.

What’s more, she cannot produce the production capacity to replace these two types of infantry fighting vehicles in a short period of time.

Today, the company’s production has been stretched to its limit. In addition to regularly delivering tanks to the Wehrmacht and the Polish Army, it also has to meet the equipment replacement needs of the East German NVA army.

They are people who want to “rebel” and are very pragmatic in everything they do.

The staff officers of the headquarters seemed overly relaxed when faced with the bad news shown on the real-time military map on the wall, as if they were not the ones facing difficulties.

Many of the battlefields marked on the map were breached and riddled with holes, with no decent defensive lines to be found.

Raphael took a quick look and found that these combat staff officers were quite capable. They had managed to hold out for 46 hours despite the heavy bombing by NATO fighter jets, and they also had a combat group that could be put to use.

However, the situation remains pessimistic.

You have to know that this kind of combat group is made up of the remnants of defeated soldiers who retreated from the front line. It is a temporary force that is reassembled by sorting out the command chain.

Although a combat group is essentially a grassroots combat force with a flexible combination of arms, in most cases it is a combat force temporarily formed when the organization is in disarray and the situation is chaotic.

The battle group can be seen as a major factor in why the German army’s grassroots combat effectiveness was always superior to that of its opponents.

Because the grassroots have such flexible command and initiative, even if some mistakes are made in strategic decision-making, grassroots units can rely on flexible deployment and quality advantages to gain local advantages in combat losses.

But at the end of the war, after years of losses and the restriction of initiative, the composition of the German battle groups became more complicated.

Due to the addition of a large number of air force, navy and even logistics personnel units, the German battle group could no longer play its unique advantages.

Of course, there were occasional flashes of brilliance, such as in Operation Market Garden, when Model used a sea of ​​battle groups to continuously attack the British army’s fragile supply lines, ultimately causing the British army to fail in the operation;

In the “North Wind” operation launched in Alsace-Lorraine in early 1945, a Luke battle group of the 88st Armored Division defeated the th Infantry Division of the US Army and captured a battalion of infantry. This was also the last victory of the German army on the Western Front.

However, in terms of the current simulated situation, even if the staff of the 7th Tank Division put this cobbled-together combat group into the battlefield, the best result would be to make some progress locally, which would not be of any benefit to the overall situation.

Fortunately, it is just a simulation and the situation has not reached its worst point.

Raphael no longer paid attention to the situation on the board. She looked at her watch and it was already 12 o’clock.

The two generals stood in front of the large map and talked nonstop, while the staff officers of the headquarters took notes. Occasionally, one of the staff officers picked out some content related to vehicles for Raphael and Lingyin to listen to.

But these are not important. The shortcomings and areas for improvement of the two existing models will be submitted to the company’s design team through specialists.

In other words, this was just to prevent Raphael and Suzune from feeling that they were deliberately ignoring them, after all, they were partners in the true sense.

This situation made Raphael feel that she seemed to be guilty of a heinous crime, just like Anaheim, or even worse than Anaheim.

The same product was sold directly to the two hostile parties without even changing its paint.

In particular, for the Leopard 2 tanks with reduced crew and equipped with intelligent AI, the Bundeswehr promised that as long as it meets expectations, there will be orders for electronic system upgrades for the A6/A7 models, with the number of no less than 300 vehicles.

As for the East German army, it was necessary to expand by at least six armored divisions, deployed in the direction of West Germany and Poland.

Well, this can be considered as Germany’s traditional ability – the East and West lines run in parallel. I just don’t know whether this season will turn out to be the East line winning and the West line losing in Season 1, or the East and West lines collapsing completely in Season 2.

Of course, she hopes that both the East and West lines will win in Season 3, because if this continues, her profits will be infinitely doubled.

Suddenly the orderly brought lunch.

General Karl finally got away from the discussion, and his face didn’t look very good.

The general who will be promoted to army commander after the expansion of the army looked normal. In his opinion, it was normal for the two sides to have a gap. If they were invincible right from the start, why would they bother to study tactics and strategies? They could just use F2A to level the score.

Surviving from death and accumulating small victories into a big one is what they should do. Only fools would fight a fair battle with the enemy.

He was like this, and so were the generals of the opposing Wehrmacht.

If things go wrong, even the French army might engage in hand-to-hand combat under the pretext of “accumulating experience.”

In the first 40 years, everyone present was a military that followed the US military and turned security warfare into a stupid war. Only the Russians outside the European circle have rich field combat experience, including the five Eastern European countries, Ukraine, and Syria…

Who says Russians are not Europeans? They are Soviets.

Just thinking about this made people laugh. The general shook his head slightly, suppressed the evil taste that was gradually emerging, and turned to Raphael and said, “The conditions are limited. This is all I can use to entertain you here.”

“Thank you.” Raphael patted his messenger bag with his hand, “I have everything here.”

Indeed, in addition to the magazines, her messenger bag also contained Class C canned rations and bread. This was not a field combat environment, and emergency rations of canned food and bread were enough to cope with most situations.

Chapter 222: Together

The sound of artillery fire continued in the woods around the headquarters, but by 5 p.m. it had become less frequent. About the time they left, the whole area fell silent.

At this time, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of the car engine turning and the low voices of the two MfS officers.

Lingyin lowered the car window and heard the chirping of birds and katydids. These chirping sounds of insects and birds from nature are the sounds that best represent peaceful life in the world.

The driver turned on the car radio, and the beautiful sound of the violin flowed out, gradually drowning out the chirping of birds, animals and insects outside.

Lingyin said, “Beethoven, String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131-6.”

The driver turned around in surprise and glanced at Ling Yin who was sitting in the passenger seat. He nodded and said, “Yes, that’s right. I didn’t realize you were familiar with classical music.”

“My sister was a member of the wind band club when she was a student. She would either practice or listen to these songs every day when she came home.”

Raphael raised his hand and tapped Lingyin’s head, lowering his eyes awkwardly: “It happened many years ago. Now I almost forgot how to play the flute.”

Lingyin grabbed Raphael’s wrist to stop the evil hand that was harming her hair.

She complained in her heart, what “old story”? Just yesterday at noon she saw Raphael carefully taking care of the sterling silver flute, and he even played the first movement of “Daphne and Chloe” – Dawn.

This movement was an extreme torture for the entire flute section. Raphael played well as usual, but the emotion was a little weak.

It just happened yesterday, how can it be considered “old news”?

However, she only complained in her heart. It was normal to tear down Raphael at home, but in front of outsiders, tearing down her would be interpreted by the other party as “discord” – “discord” equals “there is a possibility of division.”

What Lingyin thinks is not important to others, what is important is her actions.

In foreign affairs, there can be only one will and one voice.

After Raphael made clear moves, Lingyin made an inappropriate move to sabotage him. Although it was probably just a daily fight between sisters, it sent a message: she was dissatisfied in some aspects.

This dissatisfaction could be interpreted as internal disagreement, among other possibilities.

Don’t let outsiders know what you are thinking, don’t let outsiders know what you are trying to grab with your five fingers stretched out. This is the fundamental rule for their survival in groups.

Whether dealing with an enemy, you must never let him see through your intentions, and you must always keep a trump card in mind; when dealing with a friend, you must be cautious when speaking. A friend wishes the best for you, but he or she may not necessarily want you to live better than him or her.

Therefore, Lingyin could only fight back with small actions, silently accusing Raphael of lying.

But Raphael didn’t buy it and continued to tickle Lingyin’s palm with his fingers.

This is a fair duel!

Lingyin looked at Raphael’s face again. His smiling face made her feel angry. She sat in the front row and Raphael sat in the back row. No matter what, she had the advantage.

How shameless of him to say with a clear conscience that this was a fair duel.

Raphael nodded abruptly, confirming Lingyin’s idea that being aboveboard does not mean being fair and equal. Her eyes narrowed into an arc, wantonly enjoying the pleasure of bullying her sister.

General Karl and Hans stopped talking and turned to watch Raphael and Lingyin’s fight. They could only see deep family affection and no other negative emotions.

Raphael noticed all their body movements and changes in expressions, and the effect was quite good.

Going further, the narrow muddy road turns into a country road that can accommodate two cars traveling in opposite directions.

Occasionally, chicks would call and wander around, or kittens of different colors would hop around silently. The road stretched into the woods, and the sun cast yellow-green beams of light through the leaves.

It was just like the days when we were high school students in Japan, walking together in the woods in the spring fields, where the scent of flowers drifted in the air. The road was full of blue and light pink fallen flowers, birds chirped non-stop, and there was a wonderful chirping of katydids all around.

Most of the passers-by walked in groups of three or five, with happy smiles on their faces.

But it is different here, the air is heavy, all weighing on the shoulders of passers-by. The farmers working in the fields are also listless, with little confidence in the future.

Back in the city, Lingyin bit Raphael’s ear and said, “Are you missing it?”

“It’s over now. I don’t know why, but when I see similar occasions, I always feel like I’m dreaming.”

“It’s a dream,” Lingyin said, “It should just be a dream.”

She grabbed Raphael’s arm and said:

“At our 10 o’clock position, the officer in the Wehrmacht uniform and his entourage are walking towards us.”

The officer was a young man with fair hair and an unnaturally friendly smile on his face. He walked towards them and said slowly and accurately in a very pleasant voice:

“Your superior told me that you are a naval attaché sent by the U.S. Navy to conduct academic exchanges at the Karl Marx University in Leipzig.”

“Yes,” Raphael glanced at the dark blue double Roman column collar badge on his collar and the four silver stars dotted on the epaulettes, “Captain, what can I do for you?”

He turned a blind eye to the looks of disgust and disdain from the passers-by around him, and continued to release the passion of a young man as hot as the sun.

“I’m from Leipzig, and my father works in the Frankfurt municipal government,” he naturally rolled up his sleeves and glanced at his Patek Philippe watch.

The senior captain’s behavior was not like that of a soldier; he even looked like a nobleman from an aristocratic family.

“I had the pleasure of meeting you at the test track in March, I think.”

“I think so. I was there to introduce the combat performance of the tank.”

“An impressive two-man crew,” he laughed, introducing himself: “Paul Simmel,” and standing at attention.

Seriously speaking, he had the same military rank as Raphael, but his salary and benefits were at the level of a major in the Wehrmacht, so there was no need for him to salute Raphael.

Moreover, the two parties are not in the same system and there is no hierarchical relationship.

“Raphael, the family name is…”

“Ah, I understand.” Paul looked knowledgeable and took the initiative to change the subject, saying, “Captain? I’d rather call you professor. You work mainly at the university, how about that?”

“It’s up to you. I don’t mind.”

“Oh, by the way, I came to you this time with a mission.”

“What mission?”

“It’s like this. When the receiving troops put forward suggestions for improvement and the vehicles are returned to the factory for processing, various problems always arise. Therefore, I will enter the armored vehicle production and maintenance company as a liaison officer.”

Raphael nodded and agreed to give her an extra office, but she was sure that the senior captain’s purpose was more than that.

Chapter 223: Holding a grudge

Raphael also seemed enthusiastic when talking to Paul. Since she decided to support East Germany, she could still chat so politely with a Wehrmacht officer, which she herself found very strange.

Raphael said to Lingyin, “Call the HR department and ask them to find a suitable office.”

Lingyin nodded and did as she was told, then immediately called Asuka’s cell phone.

After a while of mumbling, she said to Captain Paul, “Your office is already preparing it, and you will receive a reply tomorrow.”

“Thank you very much.” Paul said exaggeratedly, and his smile became even bigger. He glanced at Lingyin, and then said to Raphael: “Your sister is really charming.”

“Thank you.”

Raphael unnoticeably distanced them. To be honest, her figure was designed to be immature. If anyone felt that such a figure and appearance were “charming”, they would have some unusual fantasies in their hearts.

Two tractor-trailers drove by nearby, and the combined noise of their diesel engines and turbochargers drowned out Paul’s words.

He frowned and smiled.

“How is the design team doing now? Can they complete the adjustments before the third batch of tanks are delivered?”

“They said that most of the problems you raised were innate symptoms of the Leopard 2 chassis when it was designed, and some were the effects of AI adaptation. This takes time. Adjusting the production line is never something that can be seen immediately after giving an order.”

Paul said half to Raphael and half to the development team he hadn’t met yet:

“Congenital defects are indeed a problem. In the past few years, no one has pointed out the defects clearly. No matter the manufacturer or the military commander, no one wants to take responsibility. Modifying the design will cost a lot. Now no one wants to take responsibility. It is not like before when problems were raised directly.”