Comrade, your ingredients are too complicated.

At the Oran Administrative Center, the meeting continues.

For traditional military men like Old Dai, strategic plans like Atlantropa, which involve cross-continental collaboration, large-scale engineering to transform natural geography, and even have a bit of technological utopianism, are pure fantasy on paper.

Instead of discussing some fantastic engineering drawings, it would be more practical to spend time thinking about how to restore our country.

However, although this plan seems unreliable, the joint signing of Xiaomouzi and Mo Bald Head is in black and white and cannot be faked.

This means that the two Axis powers will indeed increase their investment in the North African battlefield. The increase in troops alone is worth it for Free France to reach a temporary cooperation with Achou and Daiying.

Having thoughts reached this point, Lao Dai adjusted his state between several breaths. When his eyes were looking at Murphy, he had completed his role transition from a military to a politician.

"Dear Envoy, our free France has realized the urgency of the situation. But for this reason, I hope to reach a consensus on the right of way in the Strait of Gibraltar as soon as possible."

"After all, ensuring the Toulon Fleet's maritime mobility is of great significance to the overall strategic deployment of the Allied Forces."

"I don't know what plans your country and the British have in North Africa. As close comrades, I believe that intelligence sharing between us will help form more effective coordinated operations."

As soon as these words came out, Murphy's eyebrows slightly raised, and his knuckles paused on the oak table for a moment. He had originally prepared himself to deal with the other party for a whole day, but he never expected that the other party would be so direct.

However, the current situation is the best solution.

The German-Italian coalition forces are about to break out of the encirclement, so they don't have time to waste on negotiating.

"The general's foresight is admirable. We also attach great importance to the strategic value of the Toulon fleet. In this case, I will skip the polite part and get straight to the topic of today."

"The Allied Command hopes that the Free French can deploy military forces in the direction of Tunisia as soon as possible."

"If your Second Armored Division can cooperate with the main force in North Africa to form a pincer attack on the enemy forces currently surrounded, the British side will immediately lift the restrictions on passage through the Strait of Gibraltar and do its utmost to ensure the logistics and reinforcement channels for Free France."

Today, the German and Italian coalition forces are besieged in Tunisia by the large Commonwealth forces.

But with the reinforcement of armor and supplies, the Desert Fox was fully capable of breaking through the encirclement and pushing back to El Alamein to launch the third battle. It was not even a dream for them to reach Cairo.

There is no way. The British can't use the Seven Brothers coffin cart, the early model of Mantou, the M3 Stuart, the Crusader and the Valentine to fight against the ace combination of the Chang San, Chang Si and the Tiger and Leopard.

This room and weight are outrageous at first glance, and it is even more difficult than killing Tang Seng and his disciples.

In the current war situation with an obvious disadvantage in technological level, the desert upgraded version of T-3485 equipped by the nd Armored Division of Free France is particularly important.

As long as the numbers are made up, the French will definitely become the backbone of the North African battlefield, and even the savior of the entire Commonwealth.

As for what to do with tigers and leopards?

TG will not sit idly by and watch its allies being bullied. Huang Duoduo's 10 billion subsidies will use their actual actions to prove that advanced medium tanks and heavy tanks have never been weapons unique to the German III.

"Okay, Tunisia, right? No problem at all. After the meeting, I will immediately let Leclerc lead the Second Armored Division to attack and push the troops to the front line."

"As long as the Toulon fleet passes through Gibraltar smoothly, we will immediately launch an attack on the enemy."

After hearing the conditions offered by Murphy, Lao Dai nodded subconsciously.

For the Free French, sending troops to Tunisia was only a matter of time. To advance the march was nothing more than modifying the current strategic deployment.

Besides, if we can successfully win the last puzzle of North Africa, those colonies that are still waiting and watching will definitely be deeply inspired.

By then, unifying the west and the north will be much easier.

Seeing that he had resolved the century-old friendship between Britain and France in just a few words, Murphy could hardly believe that things would go so smoothly. Adhering to the principle of struck while the iron is hot, he decisively began to advance the second critical task of this trip.

"His Excellency General, as far as I know, the right to use the Toulon fleet seems to constitute an important clause in the recent mutual aid agreement reached with your Eastern allies."

"I wonder if you are willing to discuss the follow-up cooperation plan? If possible, the United States hopes to participate in it, or even promote more strategic tripartite cooperation."

"I believe that through candid dialogue, we will definitely find cooperation plans that are in line with the core interests of all parties."

Faced with the proposal of the special envoy of the Ugly Kingdom, Lao Dai did not immediately make a statement. After all, the current Toulon fleet is not just the asset of the Free French Navy.

After a little thought, he first gestured to Murphy to wait, and then moved to the small meeting room next door with Director Xiao.

As the oak door closed silently, the two immediately started an in-depth discussion on Chou's proposal.

"According to our previous plan, the main task of the Toulon fleet in the next stage is to conduct routine training in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. After the control of the Strait of Malacca is established, all ships will be moved to the coast of Shandong Province."

"Considering that your TG and Ugly Country are in a honeymoon period, Master Luo is likely to approve the fleet's request to return via the Panama Canal and the Pacific Ocean."

"From a strategic perspective, I think this is a diplomatic opportunity worth seizing, and I can talk to Murphy."

Although the current Pacific War situation is still in a stalemate, and Benzi and Chouguo are still fighting to death, their main combat zone is concentrated in the southern part of the ocean.

If the Toulon fleet could be led by a senior commander who was good at oceans and cooperated with the pre-deployed response plan of the Eighth Route Army Air Force, the entire fleet would have the chance to complete the transfer mission with the lowest risk.

But it was obvious that Director Xiao had different ideas. He raised his lips slightly and analyzed in a slightly exaggerated tone:

"The right of way to pass the Panama Canal? That's just a matter of one sentence. Lao Dai, have you underestimated the influence of the only Party A on Party B? They are now the one who asks for help."

"In my opinion, the Ugly People are planning to take over the Toulon Fleet. They may hope to transfer the entire fleet to the South Pacific theater through diplomatic negotiations."

"Under the current situation, the Free French Navy needs military exploits to wash away the shame, our North Sea Fleet needs to be trained into a strong army through actual combat, and the Ugly Chinese need a new force to break the balance of the war." "Each side takes what it needs, and achieves mutual benefit and win-win results, complementing each other's strengths. This should be the tripartite agreement proposed by Murphy."

As soon as these words were spoken, Old Dai's expression suddenly became solemn and he fell into deep thought.

If the original deployment is followed, the Toulon Fleet will at most perform escort, anti-submarine and training missions in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. For the fifth most powerful country in the world, this is more or less like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

But if the battle was switched to the Pacific battlefield and they faced the Japanese Combined Fleet directly, the situation would be completely different. The Japanese invaded Indochina and were the enemy of Free France.

If several large surface ships could be sunk, it would definitely be enough to revive the reputation of the Toulon fleet.

The only question now is whether the ugly Chinese can offer a price that satisfies him.

At this point, Old Dai suddenly looked up and happened to meet Director Xiao's meaningful gaze. The moment the two of them met, they both understood the unfinished words in each other's eyes:

Cooperation is possible, but it will cost extra!

A tacit smile appeared on both of their faces at the same time. They straightened their clothes and walked out of the meeting room side by side.

······
After a while, Old Dai and Director Xiao returned to the negotiation table. When Murphy saw the latter again, he was a little absent-minded for a moment.

This feeling is both dreamy and incredible.

After sweeping away the messy thoughts in his mind, the special envoy of the Ugly Kingdom entered his work again. It seemed that he had made some judgments through the other party's facial expressions, and he spoke first:
"Looking at the expressions of the two, we must have reached a consensus. Since this is the case, in order to show sincerity, we are willing to clarify the conditions for cooperation directly."

"The United States hopes that the Toulon Fleet can separate a task force and move to the Pacific theater to participate in the war against Japan. During the battle, your fleet is completely independent and can refuse any unreasonable deployment."

"In exchange, we promise to contribute fully to complete the follow-up construction of the two Richelieu-class battleships, and to provide modern modification and comprehensive maintenance for all participating ships."

"If the Special Mixed Fleet suffers losses due to intelligence, coordination and other issues in the war, we will make full compensation in the form of compensation after the war."

Hearing this, Old Dai and Director Xiao looked at each other, and both caught a flash of surprise in each other's eyes.

Although there were some estimates in advance, the conditions offered by the ugly people still exceeded their expectations.

That was the money needed to complete two Richelieu-class ships and modernize a dozen surface ships. Even if the Ugly Country's war god economy was used as a standard, it was equivalent to the investment in building two new Iowa-class battleships.

And that’s not even counting a lot of hidden expenses and possible subsequent compensation for war sinkings.

This offer is not a loss.

"Okay, your terms are very reasonable. But in addition to military and economic aspects, we in Free France have some other ideas. Please let the special envoy convey them to Peanut Village."

In the subsequent talks, Dai and special envoy Murphy engaged in a fierce confrontation over core issues such as political stance, post-war structure and military cooperation.

The two sides engaged in a heated argument, haggling over even the smallest terms.

The high-intensity negotiation lasted for two hours and forty-five minutes, and finally reached a preliminary consensus as twilight fell.

At this point, the Eighth Route Army North Sea Fleet, joined forces with the Free French Navy, is about to enter the Pacific battlefield!

······
A day later, the Strait of Gibraltar.

The leaden clouds were so low that they seemed to be brushing against the bridge of the battleship Dunkirk. This patched steel behemoth was cutting through the waves of the Mediterranean at a speed of 21 knots, heading towards the unknown other side of the ocean.

A dozen Free French Grievances fighter planes roared over the fleet, the tricolor circular emblem under their wings particularly eye-catching among the dark clouds.

These fighters had just dispersed a group of Spanish reconnaissance planes and were now waving their wings in greeting at the fleet.

Suddenly, there was a commotion on the deck of the battleship Dunkirk, and soon the lookout's voice reached the bridge.

"Bearing 055, distance 7700, battleship Jean Bart spotted!"

As soon as the words were finished, the commanders in the bridge immediately raised their telescopes.

On the distant sea, a 248-meter-long and 35.4-meter-wide giant was slowly sailing out of the port and gradually moving towards the predetermined meeting point.

On its exposed deck, the bare front turret looks like an animal's mouth with its fangs pulled off, and the base of the quadruple 380mm main gun is empty and open to the sky.

"Ah, what a great battleship, it's a pity that it wasn't completed before the surrender of the mainland."

"Liu, I heard that your Eighth Route Army has successfully copied the 380mm main gun and is planning to design a railway gun for attacking fortresses based on it. Is this true?"

When his name was suddenly mentioned by the captain, Liu Dacheng, who was assigned to the battleship Dunkirk, straightened his back instantly and gave a standard military salute.

"Captain, yes!"

“除了380毫米的主炮以外，我们八路军海军兵工厂还具备了制造330、203、152、138毫米舰炮的能力。”

Having said that, Liu Dacheng subconsciously looked back.

Behind the battleship Dunkirk, a single column consisting of a seaplane carrier, an Algeria-class, two La Galissonnière-class, two Mogador-class, and six Utopian-class ships was sailing out of the Strait of Gibraltar at fleet speed.

For a long time to come, this fleet will represent TG in the Pacific naval war and make the North Sea Fleet famous. (End of this chapter)