Chapter 323 Cooperation

But these are not important. What is important is that Qin Chuan heard the meaning of Darlan's words: "You have changed the war situation in Africa." Another meaning of this is that Darlan saw that Germany would have lost Africa, but now But it is developing in a direction beneficial to Germany.

"I don't know what you mean, general!" Qin Chuan replied: "I don't have the ability to set up such a big situation..."

"Tell me, Lieutenant!" Darlan asked, "What are you going to do next?"

"Sorry, General!" Qin Chuan replied: "I don't have any plans!"

After saying that, Qin Chuan planned to leave. He didn't want to waste too much time on Darlan.

"You should convince me!" Darlan said, "Because I am Darlan!"

Qin Chuan couldn't help but stop after hearing this. He suddenly understood what Darlan was thinking and why Darlan wanted to know his next plan.

Darlan can be said to be a patriot or a traitor. It depends on your attitude towards this problem.

If you look at it from the perspective of a literary young man... Darlan is undoubtedly a traitor, because he worked with the Vichy government to compromise with France's enemy, Germany.

But if you look at it from the perspective of "only interests matter between countries", Darlan is also a patriot, because he has always tried his best to safeguard the interests of France, including traveling among the major powers of Germany, Britain and the United States. The same is true in China.

Therefore, if Darlan had thought that Germany would lose on the North African battlefield, he would have sided with the Allies and prepared to join the Allies... Algeria would have developed like this, and it would have been enough to have a Matre line of defense. Proved this.

But if Darlan believes that Germany will achieve final victory on the North African battlefield, and that the Germans are able to prevent the Allies from liberating France, then Wanjia Darlan will side with Germany and strive for more benefits for France.

"I think you already know my plan!" Qin Chuan said: "We will defend Tunisia and Morocco with Algeria as the center. You know, as long as we hold these two places, the Allied forces will not be able to cross the Mediterranean and land in Europe. ”

Darlan nodded and said: "However, there is still a big gap between you and the Allies in terms of strength and equipment!"

"No!" Qin Chuan replied: "Algeria has sufficient troops!"

"You are right!" Darlan replied: "But it is difficult for them to become qualified soldiers, including the Zoav Corps!"

This is true. The Zoav Corps can be considered an excellent source of troops in Africa, but they are still more suitable for infantry combat. If you want to cooperate with tanks, etc.... due to differences in culture, language, tactics, etc., That would be a nightmare.

"General Darlan, what are your thoughts..." Qin Chuan simply asked Darlan directly about his intentions.

"So, you need to win the support of France!" Darlan said: "Even if the situation is developing in Germany's favor, even you... are not sure that Germany will win in the end, so you need France!"

"You mean..."

"I can form an Algiers government!" Darlan said: "Recruit French volunteers in the name of the Algiers government, just like you train French battalions!"

Darlan made it very clear that he was forming a German-controlled puppet government in Darlan's name and using Darlan's prestige to form the French army.

This is very important to Germany, because the French battalion trained by Qin Chuan has such a problem... No matter what Qin Chuan says, or whether they are threatened by survival, they will always have the feeling of doing it for Germany, that is, for themselves. The idea of ​​fighting the enemy.

Of course, establishing a puppet government will not change this fact.

But at least on the surface of this government, Darlan is in charge of the overall situation, and Darlan will also do some political propaganda, which will be recognized by French soldiers to a certain extent.

"But!" Qin Chuan asked, "What good will this do to you?"

Qinchuan knew Darlan. If it was not beneficial to France, Darlan would not do it, just like he had previously hoped that French warships would be sunk by the British Air Force.

"Twenty percent tax!" said Darlan, "and independence like Egypt, Greece, Libya and Algeria!"

Then Qin Chuan understood.

Darlan knew that if this continued, France would one day fall completely, especially after the Toulon fleet was captured by Germany, Germany no longer had any scruples about France.

So, instead of waiting for France to fall, it is better to achieve a certain degree of cooperation with Germany... On the one hand, this may reduce the burden on the French people, and on the other hand, it can maintain France's quasi-independence status. Why not?

"This is not something I can decide!" Qin Chuan said with a smile.

"I know!" Darlan replied: "But I also know that you will convince them, right?"

Darlan is right, this is a great temptation for Qinchuan, because with Darlan's help, the French camp will quickly expand and become a large scale, and then just like Qinchuan's plan, the relationship between Britain and France will The hatred stirred up by the "Ballista Project" will make Yu play Yu Lie... National sentiment is often like this. As long as we grasp one point, even a trivial matter can evolve into a national confrontation, not to mention that the "Ballista Project" is not a trivial matter.

"I will try!" Qin Chuan said, "But I can't guarantee that I can convince them!"

"I believe you can do it!" Darlan stretched out his hand and said, "Then, maybe we will be allies in the future!"

Qin Chuan responded, but at the same time, Qin Chuan also realized something... Darlan might be in danger of being assassinated again, but he didn't realize it.

After Qin Chuan returned to the headquarters, Colonel Slain asked in a low voice: "What did the Frenchman talk to you about?"

Qin Chuan did not hide anything and told Colonel Slain everything. Of course, Qin Chuan's layout in North Africa was automatically ignored.

"This is a good thing for us!" Colonel Slain nodded as he listened, which was consistent with their original intention of training the French battalion.

"Of course!" Qin Chuan replied: "But we..."

Qin Chuan glanced at Redel and continued: "Don't let other people know!"

Colonel Slain nodded slightly in agreement.

Although Redel was also a German soldier, he was a navy after all, and a naval marshal. If he knew that Darlan still had this intention, he would cooperate with Darlan before the army... That would not be a good thing for the African Corps headed by Rommel.