Chapter 259: The Battlefield Everywhere
Churchill had only just stepped off the plane when bad news struck him head-on.
"Prime Minister, sir, we can preliminarily confirm that this is a new type of weapon developed by Germany."
The military staff officer's face was tense.
"The Weapons Research Department has temporarily named this weapon a missile."
Churchill looked at the images of attacks from various regions, then at the reports of factory stoppages caused by public panic.
The good mood he had brought back from the United States vanished completely.
"So this German weapon, this missile, can cross the English Channel and directly strike the mainland?"
The military staff officer nodded.
"Yes, Prime Minister. But based on the density of the missile impacts, we roughly estimate that this new German weapon cannot yet achieve precise guidance. Its margin of error is very high."
"Can it be intercepted with air defense measures?"
The staff officer hesitated for a moment.
Considering the difficulty of using anti-aircraft guns to shoot down a missile, he first shook his head, then nodded again.
"Perhaps… it can."
"What do you mean, perhaps?"
Churchill's roar echoed through the room.
"Does the military have the ability to shoot down this weapon or not? I want a definite answer, not perhaps."
His voice grew heavier.
"A very high margin of error, is that important?"
"It is not important at all."
"Germany has mastered an offensive method capable of directly striking the British mainland without using the Air Force."
"That is what matters."
"One or two attacks can still be covered up as German air raids. But after several, or even dozens of missile attacks, do you think the public will remain foolish?"
"They will clearly understand that Germany now possesses a method to easily slaughter hundreds of British lives without sacrificing a single German soldier."
"What will they think then?"
His eyes were cold.
"Will our soldiers still have the resolve to attack?"
After venting the anger in his chest, Churchill fell into a long silence.
Several minutes passed before he finally gave his orders.
"Send a telegram to MI6."
"Tell them that no matter the cost, no matter how many intelligence networks inside Germany are paralyzed, they must find out the intelligence behind this weapon."
"Its production location. Its specific method of attack. Everything."
"Notify the Propaganda Department as well. They are to immediately launch a comprehensive propaganda campaign regarding this matter."
"Germany attacking residential areas and civilians is a bloody fact."
"We need a victory now."
Churchill's fingers pressed against the table.
"An urgent victory."
"It is time to break the deadlock in the Middle East. Order the colonial troops in Egypt, Oman, and Sudan to formulate an oil attack plan around Saudi Arabia."
Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "Oh, and what is the progress of the support troops sent to Portugal?"
At this question, the staff officer immediately replied after a moment of silence.
"The battle reports from the Portuguese region are quite good."
"Perhaps out of concern for international opinion, the Germans have not directly intervened in the Spanish-Portuguese War. We have also noticed that the quality of the troops deployed on the Spanish mainland is not high."
"It seems Spain sent a large number of elite troops to Germany, and they have not yet returned."
Hearing this, Churchill sighed with emotion.
"Spain is indeed an excellent lapdog."
"That diplomatic and military idiot, José, only knows how to follow at Jörg von Roman's heels."
Churchill's tone carried undisguised contempt.
"To make the Spanish people fight for Germany's cause, how loyal."
The next day, new headlines appeared in Britain's major newspapers.
[Germany, the Despicable Butcher! The Bombing of Civilians Is a Shame Etched Deep into Britain's Flesh and Blood!]
From [The England Morning Post].
[East Asian Storm Rises Again. Uniting with Japan Is Beneficial for Maintaining East Asian Interests!]
From [The Internationalist].
[Enlist. Protect Your Family!]
From [The Times].
Berlin.
Scanning the headlines, Jörg could not help sighing.
Things left unused were indeed gradually forgotten.
His English had even regressed somewhat from not using it for too long.
He continued reading down the article.
[Yesterday, Germany launched inhumane bombings against several cities, including London, Brighton, and Reading.]
[These crimes are heinous massacres, another act of ethnic cleansing organized by the German dictatorial ruling group led by Jörg von Roman.]
[We must remain vigilant. The English people must remain vigilant.]
[We must realize that there is no possibility of retreat in this war.]
[All we can do is attack.]
[Only resist.]
It had to be said that the editor of [The Times] remained as high-caliber as ever.
There was not a single word about the advance warning Germany had issued before the bombing, yet the emotional manipulation afterward was perfectly measured.
Smiling faintly, Jörg took a sip of coffee.
He opened the window, and rare sunlight spilled into the office.
A staff officer stood by the door, quietly awaiting his orders.
"Instruct Heinz Guderian to immediately prepare for the second round of missile attacks."
Jörg placed the newspaper down.
"Only prepare. No launch without my direct order."
After a moment of thought, he continued, "Hold a press conference and inform reporters from all countries that the British government deliberately concealed Germany's bombing notice."
"The bombing was not an air raid. It was a new type of weapon used by Germany."
"If the British government remains stubborn, we will continue periodic missile bombardments, and Air Force bombing will follow closely behind."
"Does Churchill not enjoy stirring up national sentiment by claiming that we carried out inhumane massacres against prisoners of war?"
Jörg's eyes grew calm.
"Then release ten thousand British prisoners of war."
"I want to see whether Churchill dares to accept them."
After recording these orders word for word, the staff officer reminded him, "Commander in Chief, Britain is likely to block the information."
"They cannot block it."
Jörg's answer was flat.
"Order the Air Force to conduct information drops at night after the press conference."
"War is not merely tank against tank or aircraft against aircraft."
"It is also a confrontation of psychology and public opinion."
"The more they block it, the more panicked the public will become."
After issuing the notice, Jörg drank the slightly cooled coffee and picked up the document at hand.
The draft of the Swedish mineral cooperation agreement had been initially completed.
The [Several Agreements on the Comprehensive Veto of the Treaty of Versailles], which would be issued to European countries, was also ready.
However, Jörg believed that relying solely on Sweden for iron ore might not keep up with Germany's enormous demand.
The Brazilian line still could not be abandoned.
He needed to find a way to have American cargo ships transport the iron ore he required.
Jörg pursed his lips.
He felt that he was thinking too far ahead.
The United States still had a more important operation that required his attention.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Jörg was about to call Heydrich and ask about the execution of the Island Plan when the telephone suddenly rang.
He picked up the receiver.
Leah's clear voice came through from the other end.
"President, Mr. José, Führer of the Spanish Forward Party, wishes to hold a diplomatic meeting with you regarding the Portuguese issue."
There was a reason why the Portuguese issue had been delayed.
Only when Britain sent troops first would Germany and Spain obtain legitimate grounds to act.
Considering the feelings of neutral countries was also part of diplomatic strategy.
"I understand."
Jörg leaned back slightly.
"Any other news?"
The receiver was silent for a moment.
Then Leah continued, "There is also a piece of news from Asia…"
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