Chapter 47: Acting First and Reporting Later
"Yes!" Qin Chuan replied. "We could launch an attack on Tobruk Port!"
"You're crazy!" Lucas, who had been silent until now, interjected. "We can't possibly succeed. That's even more dangerous than holding Tengger Tel!"
"I don't think so!" Qin Chuan argued. "First of all, nothing could be more dangerous than staying at Tengger Tel because the British know our location. They might even know our strength and firepower. They can calmly and systematically gather their forces to attack us, and we have nothing to stop them."
Colonel Slyne nodded in agreement.
Although the German forces had recently repelled the British, causing them heavy losses, the German situation was even worse: they had lost more than half of their artillery, half of Tengger Tel had been flattened by the British, and, worst of all, the British had learned the layout of the German firepower during the battle. As Qin Chuan had said, the British could now calmly organize their next attack.
"If we attack Tobruk Port, we would have at least two advantages!" Qin Chuan continued. "First, we could avoid the strong points and target the weak ones. As I mentioned earlier, the main British forces are concentrated in the Mechili direction, leaving Tobruk relatively undefended. We could catch them off guard."
"That's just your speculation, Sergeant!" Major Lucas objected. "We can't risk the entire force based on a guess!"
"What other choice do we have?" Qin Chuan countered. "As for the risk... if staying at Tengger Tel could lead to our annihilation, what risk isn't worth taking?"
Lucas was stunned by this argument.
Qin Chuan's point was irrefutable. One path was a known dead end, while the other was a risky but unknown route. Anyone with a clear mind would choose the risky route, as it at least offered a glimmer of hope.
"And the second advantage, Sergeant?" Colonel Slyne asked.
"The second advantage is that we could wear down the main British forces!" Qin Chuan answered.
"How is that possible?" Lucas retorted. "You may not know this, but the British main force numbers over 100,000, with more than 900 tanks. They're not just for show!"
"Their large numbers and many tanks are precisely their weakness!" Qin Chuan replied.
Lucas was about to argue, but Colonel Slyne raised his hand to stop him.
"Go on, Sergeant!" Colonel Slyne said.
"This is the desert!" Qin Chuan explained. "In the desert, the most important thing is supply. People need supplies, and so do tanks. Without them, they can't move an inch. We've already experienced this during our desert crossing. So we can imagine that their supply consumption, especially during combat, would be astronomical. This is one of the reasons they're eager to eliminate us and secure their supply lines!"
Colonel Slyne interjected, "If we attack Tobruk Port, we could destroy their supply line along the way!"
"Exactly!" Qin Chuan nodded. "As I mentioned earlier, the British have set up strongholds like Tengger Tel along their supply route to store fuel and supplies. If we stay at Tengger Tel, the British only need to retake it to reopen their supply line. But if we advance along the entire route... with the British unprepared and their forces spread thin, we might be able to make significant progress, encountering mostly supply units along the way. This would allow us to destroy the fuel, parts, and supplies they've stockpiled. After that..."
Colonel Slyne nodded thoughtfully, "After that, their tanks and vehicles would be immobilized due to a lack of fuel and parts, rendering them unable to pursue us, and even making it difficult for them to retreat."
"Yes!" Qin Chuan said. "But for this scenario to occur, there's a prerequisite... we must capture and hold Tobruk Port!"
"Because it's a port!" Colonel Slyne agreed. "Fuel and supplies would continue to arrive by sea. If we don't capture and hold it, the British can resupply as soon as they reach it!"
"So what's the difference between holding Tobruk and holding Tengger Tel?" Lucas couldn't help but ask.
"The difference is..." Colonel Slyne answered on behalf of Qin Chuan, "The British don't have many vehicles or tanks that can make it to Tobruk, so we would face far fewer tanks. The British combat effectiveness would also significantly diminish due to lack of ammunition, and they would be under immense psychological pressure... if they fail to retake Tobruk, their entire force would collapse!"
"But... Tobruk is not easy to capture!" Lucas said. "It's the best port east of Benghazi, and the British have built strong defenses there!"
"Precisely why we must capture it!" Colonel Slyne replied. "Only by utilizing the geographical advantage and defensive fortifications there do we stand a chance of surviving amidst overwhelming enemy forces. And even if we ultimately fail to hold Tobruk or capture it, what we accomplish will still be far better than staying at Tengger Tel!"
This point was clear: holding Tengger Tel was akin to blocking the British supply line... the supplies weren't destroyed; they were just temporarily unable to pass. Once Tengger Tel was recaptured by the British, they could once again receive a large amount of supplies.
But if they followed Qin Chuan's plan, they would destroy the British supplies along the way while extending the British main force's supply line in reverse... the British main force, following behind the regiment, would never be able to receive supplies.
"But Colonel!" Lucas asked, "General Rommel's orders... shouldn't we report to the General and get his approval?"
Qin Chuan couldn't help but feel nervous because he knew the British could decipher all intercepted German codes. If the British learned of this operation in advance... it would not only fail but also become a trap.
Colonel Slyne was silent for a moment before saying, "No, I don't think we need the General's approval, because he would do the same. I'm confident he would agree!"
Colonel Slyne was referring to Rommel's own defiance of Hitler's orders... if Rommel could do it, why couldn't Colonel Slyne?
Just like Rommel, although defying Hitler's orders, he had achieved victory and received praise instead of punishment.
But this was merely Colonel Slyne's excuse. The real reason he didn't want to ask Rommel for permission... was that if Rommel refused, he and his troops would have no way out, so he decided to act first and report later.
Of course, if the operation failed, Colonel Slyne would have to bear all the responsibility... but if they didn't survive, what was the point of worrying about anything else?
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