Chapter 262

Everyone present fell silent.

This exercise is of great significance; it is an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the Eastern forces!

Since we want to show military strength, we naturally need others to see it; originally we planned to broadcast a segment on television, including this high-tech electronic sand table, which was what we had promised Qin Miao, but now… it turns out we are going to invite Western observers instead?

"The Russians hold such grand maneuvers and still invite Western observers; our Eastern military's modernization achievements can also be displayed to Western observers. The senior leaders keep urging us to be bolder, to take bigger steps—this kind of exchange activity…"

After Qin Miao's remarks, Old Qin finally nodded: "That's right, we do need to be more open. I will submit this suggestion to our superiors and await their decision……"

NATO.

The eight-day military exercise finally ended. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; after all that effort, the Russians were just flexing their muscles, not actually going to war, and they all felt a sense of surviving a disaster.

"This exercise set a world record, the largest in human history." Jones said emotionally: "Fortunately, it was just an exercise."

"Yeah, this exercise once again made everyone realize how strong the Soviets are." James took a deep breath: "If we fight a conventional war, we really can't beat the Russians; we need entirely new military theory, entirely new strategy and tactics……"

"This exercise shows that the Soviets' deep battle tactic is already the strongest of this era; what new military theory or strategy could there be?" said the British Royal Air Force staff officer Stirling, shaking his head helplessly.

"Yeah, we thought our Leopard 2 was strong enough, but against the Soviets' rolling tide of armor, our Leopard 2 can't play any role at all—it just becomes a stepping stone for them; we simply have too few vehicles!"

The Russians' strength lies in their huge numbers; since WWII they have known that quantity is their trump card for defeating the enemy, whereas Germany, since WWII, has relied on quality—tanks like the Tiger and King Tiger could take on many opponents, but on the battlefield, even if you destroyed a hundred T-34s, there would still be a 101st to flank them or fire from behind……

In the Cold War era, the West still relies on quality; superior sights and more powerful tank guns allow them to hit Soviet tanks accurately from two kilometers away, but… what good is that? The Soviets, relying on their vast numbers, can still close in!

West German officer Wittmann was also unwilling to accept this; they knew where the gap lay but could not fill it—even if they spent no expense producing more tanks, where would they find the tank crews? It would still be pointless!

Ding ding ding…

"Report, the East has announced that it will hold a military exercise in two days!"

The Soviets have finished their exercise, and now the East is holding one too?

Everyone's eyes lit up.

If Europe alone had to bear the Soviet assault, it would definitely be insufficient; therefore they have always dreamed of pulling the East into their camp, the biggest benefit being that the East could draw fire—even if it only took on one-third of the Soviet offensive, it would greatly ease the pressure on Europe.

Jones immediately nodded: "Not bad, the East is indeed our good friend; although their equipment is somewhat lacking, their fighting spirit remains strong! This time they are standing toe-to-toe with the Russians, which is also a gesture of goodwill toward us—we must publicize it heavily!"

"Mr. Secretary-General, the East has also invited us to observe……"

"What? The East has become this open? Good, good, excellent—we'll definitely go show our support!" Jones exclaimed excitedly: "We'll send our finest attachés! James, Stirling, Wittmann—you all go! Remember, when you go to the East, no matter how backward their equipment is, don't look down on them; encourage them!"

The East's weapons are backward—everyone knows that!

As for the army's main battle tank, the East's mainstay Type 59 is merely a copy of the Soviet post-war first-generation T-54 tank, used from the 1950s all the way to the 1980s! Although numbers are huge, the quality is mediocre and not worth mentioning.

Even if they have recently worked on projects like the Truck Cannon and even opened exports, the advancement of a single weapon cannot change the overall backwardness of the East's armaments.

"Well, Mr. Jones, rest assured, we will encourage them, and we also happen to be in a position to sell them our weapons." Stirling said.

"That's right; if needed, we can sell our most advanced Challenger tank to the East!" Wittmann said.

"The most advanced is our Leopard 2!"

"Challenger!"

"Leopard 2!"

"Enough!" Jones said, exasperated by their shamelessness: "Remember, when you go to the East, you must remain composed and elegant, and don't let our own people start arguing—otherwise those Eastern yokels will laugh at us!"

James said nothing, merely looking contemptuously at his colleagues, while thinking to himself, "The most advanced tank in the world is our M1! We simply disdain to compare ourselves with you, and furthermore, we have no intention of selling our M1 to the East—we originally planned to give it away, but unfortunately these Easterners have no taste!"

However, this time going there, perhaps there will be an opportunity……

The next day, NATO's attachés boarded the plane to the East, and on board they also encountered Frenchmen.

The French are independent; when Western nations banded together in a rope to oppose the Russians, the French decided to go it alone, withdrawing from NATO and bearing all defense responsibilities themselves!

Naturally, precisely because of that, when Western countries blockaded the East, the French were doing business with the East; this time, since the East is inviting people to observe the exercise, the French naturally will go as well—and they even sent a dozen or more!

The leader is General Alfred, who counts as military personnel; he has a few aides, but the rest probably have nothing to do with the military? That guy in a suit is likely Claude, the overseas sales representative of Dassault Company? And the bearded one is probably Gabriel of the French Aerospace Company?

"What you're doing isn't observing in the East at all—it's practically going there to sell!" These damned Frenchmen, thinking about having to jointly observe with them later, make the other NATO personnel feel waves of discomfort.

"If only France were to Germany's east! Let the rolling tide of armor flatten France first, then talk! See if you can still be so leisurely!"