El Alamein: a vital transportation hub situated between Libya and Egypt. After the British forces in Egypt had been annihilated by the World People's Liberation Army (WPLA), they established a defensive line at El Alamein. Behind it lay Tobruk, followed by other major cities like Cyrenaica.

If the WPLA succeeded in liberating these cities, they would enter northern Tunisia—once known as Carthage—where they would stand across the sea from Sicily, the home of the Mafia in southern Italy.

The objective of the WPLA's North African campaign was to push into Tunisia and threaten Sicily. Professional Chinese soldiers within the WPLA General Staff viewed this plan as somewhat fantastical, noting that the understanding of logistics involved was rather rudimentary.

Still, having a strategic goal was better than having none at all. Viewed through the lens of European colonial warfare, the plan wasn't entirely without merit. Ultimately, the General Logistics Department approved the plan and provided the necessary supplies.

With adequate provisions, WPLA units marched directly toward El Alamein, colliding head-on with the combined British and Italian forces.

During the first three days, extensive minefields inflicted significant losses on the WPLA. Reading the reports sent back to headquarters, Cheng Ruofan felt the veins on his forehead bulge with frustration. When the WPLA had fought in South Africa, they had managed to demonstrate the effectiveness of their infantry. At the very least, when facing South African troops who fought at a World War I level, the WPLA had proven their worth in urban combat.

However, when confronted with a modern, layered defensive system, the WPLA’s shortcomings were laid bare. Despite receiving superior logistical support, this army had failed to elevate its combat capability from the standards of the Great War to those of the current conflict.

Cheng Ruofan rubbed his temples for a long time, forcing himself to accept the reality. The use of technical arms was now universal in the Second World War, and the intensity of combat far exceeded that of the first. Had a Chinese army been leading the assault, the engineers would have operated with an astounding sense of responsibility and high technical skill to clear paths through the minefields before the attack even began.

When the infantry followed, even under a deluge of enemy artillery fire, they would have maintained rigid discipline, advancing along the safe routes marked by small flags.

The WPLA units were clearly incapable of this. Their engineers lacked flexibility in the field, often triggering mines themselves and compromising their missions.

Furthermore, some mine-clearing units lacked a sense of duty, performing their tasks haphazardly and filing false reports. When the subsequent infantry waves attacked, they often charged into uncleared minefields, needlessly throwing away soldiers' lives.

Non-Chinese commanders within the WPLA noticed these issues but were powerless to solve them. They resorted to using tanks to probe for mines to reduce casualties, which led to the senseless destruction of equipment.

Equipment, however, was meant for the offensive. By the time the planned tank battalion reached the front, not even a full company remained. To expect a handful of tanks to exert the power of an entire battalion was pure fantasy. Even though the Chinese Type 59 tanks were exceptional, they could not overcome such overwhelming numerical odds to fight ten-to-one.

Cheng Ruofan had expected the initial phase of the campaign to go poorly, but he had to admit his expectations had been far too optimistic.

The Chinese military had never displayed such incompetence, and Cheng Ruofan had no experience in disciplining a force like this. Nevertheless, the basic principles of military management still applied: when a defeat occurred, those responsible must be punished. Courts-martial and the disbanding of units were standard operations. Identifying and purging unqualified officers and men was the only way to ensure better performance in the next engagement.

Cheng Ruofan waited several days but received no such news. A few days later, word arrived that Italian forces had bypassed the defensive lines and struck the WPLA’s southern flank. After a bitter struggle, the WPLA was driven from its positions and fell back in retreat. Had the Air Force not quickly seized air superiority and provided total cover, the WPLA might have collapsed into a rout.

Upon receiving this report, Cheng Ruofan felt as though he were on the verge of a breakdown. He had served for nearly forty years, starting from his days in the Junior Military Academy, and in his entire life, he had never seen "subordinates" like these.

For the first time, the Chinese officers in the General Logistics Department saw Cheng Ruofan kick over an empty stool and roar in a fit of rage, "A batch of them must be shot! They must be executed!"

Being a veteran soldier, however, he quickly regained his composure. Cheng Ruofan asked as calmly as possible, "Why is this intelligence only arriving now?"

The Chief of Communications, nearly fuming himself, barked back, "Reporting to the Chief! It's said the North African campaign commander knew how poorly he was performing and felt he would lose face. He deliberately cut off communications, hoping to launch a desperate, all-out assault to break the El Alamein line and redeem himself."

"That motherf—ing..." Cheng Ruofan finally couldn't help but curse the ancestors of the WPLA's North African commander.

The officers at the meeting were almost all Chinese. They were men who had, at minimum, graduated high school before joining the army, started as privates, and then attended military academies. Having passed through round after round of rigorous testing, these Chinese officers could not fathom witnessing a performance as wretched as that of the old Beiyang armies.

They shared Cheng Ruofan’s fury. Beyond the anger, however, was a growing concern: if the WPLA’s performance in modern warfare was this abysmal, they could no longer harbor any illusions about its effectiveness.

After his outburst, Cheng Ruofan’s emotions finally settled. He righted the chair he had kicked over and sat down to issue orders. "Order the troops to withdraw to Cairo. Begin a comprehensive internal review and discussion. Simultaneously, start drafting units from other regions in Africa to take over the North African campaign."

"Which units should we draft?" asked the Deputy Minister of the General Logistics Department.

Without hesitation, Cheng Ruofan replied, "Follow the model we used during Land Reform. Draft black officers and men who are politically reliable and steady in character. Specifically, look for those who have shown they can understand and follow procedural steps in agricultural planting."

These had been the recruitment standards in the Northeast twenty years ago, though they had since been refined into more systematic procedures. To the others, Cheng Ruofan’s request sounded almost crudely simplistic, unlike his usual self.

Sensing their hesitation, Cheng Ruofan explained, "Our understanding of the African masses isn't yet precise enough to grasp their psychological nuances. So, do exactly as I say. Also, telegraph the General Staff immediately and ask for our early regulatory standards. It’s been so many years; I can’t remember all the details."

As the WPLA General Logistics Department began cleaning up the mess of the North African defeat, the Allied powers began to celebrate the victory. Italy, in particular, was ecstatic. They had been thoroughly routed in Ethiopia by the WPLA units led by Chinese forces. This successful offensive and the defeat of the WPLA felt like a restoration of national honor. Mussolini publicly declared that the Italian army would redouble its efforts to reclaim Egypt from the "black armies." He announced that he would personally ride a white horse into Cairo, like an ancient Roman emperor.

In Beijing, the Central Military Commission (CMC) even debated whether to inform He Rui of the news. Since returning to work, He Rui had not taken any leave. Even when the smog was at its worst, he remained in the capital. The heavy smog had caused widespread respiratory illness among the public, and He Rui’s own health had worsened. The CMC members felt there was no need to upset He Rui with such a trivial, frustrating matter.

Li Runshi was also concerned about He Rui’s health, but he asked, "What organizational regulation allows us to withhold battle reports from the Chairman?"

At these words, the CMC members fell silent. Deliberately withholding reports was, at best, a failure of duty; at worst, it was an intentional infringement on the Chairman's right to know. If word of such an action got out, everyone involved would be dismissed.

Li Runshi didn't look at the officer whose face had gone pale. He continued, "If the comrades are worried about the Chairman's health, find someone specifically to report this matter to him."

The CMC members looked at each other and agreed that Li Runshi was the most suitable choice.

Li Runshi accepted the task. He worried for He Rui's health but did not believe He Rui would be truly angered by such news—though it was certainly an irritating affair. It was particularly a blow to He Rui’s insistence that the WPLA serve as the primary force for the liberation of Europe.

Just as Li Runshi expected, He Rui's expression turned serious upon hearing the news. After a moment of thought, He Rui asked, "What is the follow-up?"

Li Runshi immediately presented Cheng Ruofan’s plan. After reading it, He Rui relaxed slightly. Placing the document on the table, he pushed himself up from his chair and walked over to the map of Africa, standing there to study it.

"Chairman, I believe Marshal Cheng can resolve this," Li Runshi advised.

He Rui shook his head slightly. "We must maintain collective leadership within the WPLA. This concerns the casualty rates once we enter the European theater."

Li Runshi was taken aback, quickly realizing what casualties He Rui was referring to. Not entirely certain, he ventured, "Do you believe that if European units are the ones to enter Europe, it will lower the local population's will to resist?"

He Rui nodded. "I hope those in Europe who are loyal to White Supremacy are consumed in the North African campaign. At the very least, by the time the WPLA enters Europe on a large scale, the opposing forces should be driven primarily by a nationalism focused on defending their homes."

Hearing this, Li Runshi felt a sudden urge to make a small joke. He Rui had several times called Li Runshi too kind, unable to bear the suffering of the people during the intense domestic industrialization process. Teasing He Rui for being "too kind" to the European people might have offered Li Runshi a bit of internal balance.

Just as he was considering it, He Rui asked, "Runshi, do you think I am too concerned for the people of Europe?"

Having his thought voiced by He Rui made Li Runshi feel a bit embarrassed. But being who he was, he nodded. "The Chairman is indeed very concerned about the European people."

"Heh. If you think killing ten million European soldiers has no impact on Europe, then I suppose I am being 'overly concerned.'" He Rui finished speaking, and his body suddenly swayed.

Li Runshi rushed forward to support him. Upon making contact, Li Runshi was shocked to find that He Rui’s arm was much thinner than he had imagined. Before Li Runshi could recover from the shock, He Rui pushed his hand away and slowly walked to the sofa to sit down.

"Comrade Runshi, I have already stirred up the fires of racialism in Europe. Based on my understanding of Europe, the public is desperate. In their desperation, they will only become more frantic. Despite all our considerations, the war will be exceptionally cruel. From my perspective, if we kill ten million people in Europe, that hatred will persist for a very long time."

Li Runshi's attention had been primarily focused on domestic affairs. Hearing He Rui's words, he quickly drew connections between the massive casualties of the Anglo-French forces in North America—who nevertheless maintained their offensive—and the Italian army’s daring strike. If one set aside the differences in equipment and combat power between the Italians and the Anglo-Americans and looked at the deeper similarities, the only thing they shared was a commitment to Euro-American superiority.

Considering this innate fear, Li Runshi realized his own predictions regarding war casualties had been far too optimistic.

He Rui saw the change in Li Runshi's expression and sighed inwardly. However, seeing Li Runshi look so grave, He Rui didn't want him to carry too much psychological pressure. He explained, "At first, I had hoped the West would be as frank as they boast to be. I expected them to see that things were going wrong and decisively admit defeat, choosing a path that involved less sacrifice. But reality has proven that the West cannot voluntarily exit the war until their White Supremacy is thoroughly demolished by reality.

"This development isn't actually surprising. I have always believed the Chinese are the greatest nation in the world. I simply won't bet everything China has just to prove that point. But that is because I was educated by Chinese civilization. After seeing so many ups and downs in China's history, I finally admit that China's greatness lies in its more advanced internal logic and methodology.

"A civilization can only exist for thousands of years if it inherently possesses a concern and love for humanity itself. In the genes of Western civilization, the accumulation of this aspect is too thin. Therefore, they are destined to return to their rightful place in history. But the West is like a reckless youth who thinks he is invincible. In the 'jungle' of global society, such a youth is destined for a bad end. This is why Chinese civilization has endured for thousands of years while other civilizations from various historical periods no longer exist."

Li Runshi understood He Rui's words and felt a thick sense of killing intent beneath his compassionate tone. At that moment, Li Runshi suddenly regretted his earlier thought of making a joke; it had been too flippant. He Rui wasn't being "too kind"—he was simply weary of having to take tens of millions of lives and was trying to minimize the loss to human society.

"Chairman, you are trying to take responsibility even for your enemies," Li Runshi sighed.

Li Runshi’s insight comforted He Rui, who remarked, "I have my own malice as well. Heh. Most people's malice is about inflicting pain on those they hate; my malice is about destroying the world. I know very well that such malice is meaningless. It’s just a compensatory expectation born of my hatred for my own powerlessness."

Li Runshi could actually understand the idea of "destroying the world." A teenager might truly hope to save the world, but a fifty-year-old, upon hearing the world might end, would likely smile and ask, "There's actually such a good thing?"

Thinking of this, Li Runshi felt he understood why He Rui set seemingly pedantic bottom lines. Not invading the US mainland and striving to have European WPLA units liberate Europe wasn't due to cowardice; He Rui truly did not want to create deep-seated hatred that could not be resolved for a century.

To confirm He Rui's thoughts, Li Runshi asked, "Chairman, do you believe the colonial British Empire and Nazi Germany deserve their destruction?"

"Yes, they deserve it. But that is absolutely not a reason for us to carry out massacres. If every single person in the West were willing to die for White Supremacy, I wouldn't care about killing them all. But humans are not that purely spiritual. What drives people to madness is a total lack of identification with the other side—a total lack of any sense of security from them. They feel they must destroy the other just to feel at peace. I set these bottom lines to give the European people a sense of security; I don't want the spiral of hostility to keep rising. *Cough, cough*..." At this point, He Rui began to cough again.

Li Runshi wanted to say something, but He Rui felt a metallic taste in his throat. Suppressing the urge to cough, he ordered, "I need to rest. You should head back."

Once back in his office, Li Runshi read Cheng Ruofan’s report once more. Cheng Ruofan’s decision didn't look high-end or sophisticated, but it was very grounded. This put Li Runshi at ease. If European and African troops must be the ones to liberate Europe, they had to be built into effective fighting forces. Cheng Ruofan wasn't taking the long way around; he was solving the problem at its root.

Recalling He Rui's assessment of the war's brutality, Li Runshi felt that prolonging the war slightly might actually serve to break the West's will to fight.

This wasn't to say that if the war dragged on, the Westerners would reflect and repent. Currently, the North Atlantic economic circle had cut off trade with the rest of the world. Even the wealthiest economic circle could not withstand the drain of such high-intensity, high-magnitude warfare.

The inherent defect of White Supremacy lay in its binary nature. Win or lose, live or die. White Supremacy defined clear standards.

When everything was going well, White Supremacy acted like an aphrodisiac, exhilarating the people. But when things went poorly, they were forced to make a definitive choice between life and death. The human body is pragmatic; if one had to die for the sake of White Supremacy, the human instinct still chooses life.

Li Runshi did not believe for a second that the Westerners were so eager to die.