In Jules Year 914, on September 9th, at Shostka, the headquarters of the Ante Army’s First Guard Mechanized Division, it was 2300 hours.
Pavlov lifted his wristwatch and glanced at it, “There probably won’t be any telegrams tonight. It looks like Argesukov has finally fallen.”
The telegrams Pavlov referred to were the open-code ones from Argesukov that had been nonstop since early August―Argesukov’s codebooks had all been destroyed, leaving them no choice but to send messages in the clear.
The content of the telegrams was very brief, essentially “This is Argesukov, we are still fighting.” For a while, Argesukov’s radio station also repeatedly broadcasted this sentence over shortwave, and it could be picked up by all radios in Ante.
But this broadcast had been interrupted for almost half a month now.
Wang Zhong stood in front of a map, looking at the entire defensive posture of the Western Front Army, and said, “Argesukov’s resistance lasted long enough, which is good. The enemy’s armored troops have been resting for almost a month, but the infantry has been continuously fighting.”
Popov interjected, “The infantry of the Ninth Army Group we are facing head-on along with Kashuk has also been resting for quite some time―I mean, if you don’t count being shelled by us every night.”
At that moment, the sound of tearing through the air came from the sky.
Wang Zhong, like an old soldier, didn’t instinctively hit the deck when he heard the whistling. However, he still couldn’t judge the falling points by sound alone; he could only switch his perspective and physically look at the place being bombed.
“Sounds like the train station is being bombed,” he said like an experienced veteran.
Pavlov replied, “It should be. The main buildings of the city have all been reinforced, and they know bombing them won’t do much good. It’s better to take a chance on hitting our locomotives and the stuff that hasn’t been moved out in time.”
After saying that, Pavlov laughed, “Too bad we don’t have a single locomotive at the station, as they all come and go within the day. Tell me, why don’t these Prussian people change their tactics and bomb during the day instead?”
Wang Zhong spread his hands, “Maybe it’s because we bomb at night?”
Vasily interjected, “Sometimes I really think the Prussians are terrifyingly rigid.”
“It’s these rigid guys who have got us to the point of losing our homeland,” Wang Zhong responded, “Don’t underestimate them just because of their stiff style.”
Just then, the phone rang and Pavlov picked it up, “Division headquarters. Can’t you wait any longer?”
Holding the receiver, he turned to Wang Zhong, “The artillery battalion is asking if they should return fire.”
Wang Zhong replied, “Return fire. But take it easy, we need to save some shells for the future battles.”
As Pavlov gave the order, Popov remarked, “It’s obvious that the enemy’s supplies have improved, and they don’t seem as tightfisted with their shells as before. It looks like they’ve finally adapted to our domestic road system.”
Wang Zhong observed, “It could also be that they’ve restored our railway system. Such a rapid recovery of the railway system can’t possibly all rely on railway workers from within Prosen, at least not without them being subjected to a large-scale massacre.”
Popov clicked his tongue, “How should I put it, railway workers are the closest to the Secular faction of the Eastern Holy Church. They’ve incited the people’s rage by slaughtering peasants and then left the railway workers…”
Wang Zhong could already imagine how the hidden believers of the Eastern Holy Church’s Secular faction among the railway workers were causing trouble.
Should we make a peasant’s banjo and send it over as a Sacred Object? In this world, something powerful might descend, like a steel knife plunging into the heart of the Prosen Empire.
At this time, the communications officer came over from the next room, “General, a telegram from Kashuk’s 51st Army.”
Wang Zhong commanded, “Read it.”
“According to our reconnaissance, the composition of the enemy forces directly ahead has changed. We suspect that the enemy’s 5th and 9th Armored Divisions have been transferred to face our front.”
Wang Zhong looked towards the wall map, “Finally, armored units have been moved over, huh?”
Pavlov added, “Yesterday’s aerial reconnaissance also spotted the enemy’s field repair factories, and the Air Force even carried out an attack. Although we didn’t see any tanks, but… the repair factories have moved up, right?”
Wang Zhong nodded, “That’s right. It’s a pity that since our last surprise attack, the enemy has beefed up their defenses.”
Pavlov mentioned, “Since then, the highest-ranked captured enemy officer has been a captain, and none have been caught with briefcases anymore. You’ve really given the enemy a long-lasting lesson.”
Popov said, “Right, and you’ve made the enemy afraid to stay in buildings. As long as they’re within range of our artillery, all the villagers’ houses are empty, and the Prussian Army doesn’t even dare to pitch tents by the roadside. I heard Kashuk took a leaf out of your book, and on the enemy side of the military demarcation line for 20 kilometers, the rooms are all empty.”
Wang Zhong laughed heartily, “That’s mainly because there aren’t any sturdy reinforced concrete buildings within range, at most brick houses. Look at us living in the big city; we’re not that afraid of the enemy’s shelling, right?”
Pavlov said, “We’re now guarding against the rain, with this advantage it’s not surprising. But when we go on the offensive… will we also be afraid to stay in buildings?”
Wang Zhong elaborated, “The enemy’s firepower is different from ours, their heavy artillery only goes up to the Army Group level; they don’t have campaign-level heavy artillery clusters. In fact, at the Army Group level, our firepower is much stronger than theirs.”
“How do you solve that? Of course, with numbers. Concentrate the use of campaign-level heavy firepower clusters, send all the enemy’s key nodes sky-high, and then you don’t have to worry about the enemy’s routine shelling.”
Pavlov asked, “You’re already thinking about campaign-level issues, are you preparing to become a Front Army commander?”
Wang Zhong replied, “As long as the Ante people need, I can command a division, an army, an army group, a front army. My personal honor or disgrace isn’t important, what’s important is to defeat those damn Prussians.”
At that moment, the phone rang again, and Pavlov answered it, “Division headquarters. Uh-huh. Engine sounds? Right now? Okay.”
After hanging up, Pavlov said to Wang Zhong, “Brother Peter has heard engine sounds coming from the east, resembling a small plane. We haven’t received any notifications from the Air Force, have we?”
Wang Zhong shook his head, “Don’t worry, it’s our night bombers. Tell the troops not to be alarmed.”
Pavlov and Popov exchanged glances before picking up the phone, “Connect to the anti-aircraft battalion.”
After passing down the message, Pavlov turned back to Wang Zhong, “How did you know they were night bombers?”
Wang Zhong said, “Vasily told me.”
“Was it something I said again?” Vasily sighed, “Don’t be like that, it’s not fun.”
Wang Zhong: “A friend from the capital told me.”
Actually, this was knowledge that transcended time and space.
Pavlov: “This friend of yours, she’s a woman, right?”
“A man,” Wang Zhong corrected seriously, “Don’t make it sound like I can only be friends with women.”
At that moment, the sound of engines came from the sky, and Wang Zhong stood up, went to the window, and looked up.
Actually, if one changed the perspective, they could see six Po-2 Biplanes slowly flying over the city.
The others also went to the window but saw no planes.
Suddenly, the roar of the engines got softer.
Pavlov: “What’s going on?”
“That way they can glide quietly over the enemy’s heads to attack,” Wang Zhong explained. As soon as he actually saw the planes with his naked eye, he pointed up and shouted, “Look!”
Vasily: “Really? Why biplanes? Are we so desperate that we have to use such outdated things?”
Wang Zhong: “It’s called making the best of what you have. What’s wrong with biplanes? The bombs dropped from biplanes are just as deadly. Prosen’s battleships can even be sunk by biplanes!”
You’re right, aren’t you, Bismarck?
Vasily shook his head repeatedly: “Impossible, you’re bluffing me! Sometimes, General, you’re as unguarded with your words as I am.”
… You know you’re unguarded with your words too!
————
Jules 914, the evening of September 9. The second Armored Cluster Command of the Prosen Army.
The red-haired Major General Zigfried stepped out of the car and furrowed his brows at the sight of the brightly lit command center.
“Isn’t there a blackout?”
The staff officer from the Armored Cluster Command who came to welcome him laughed, “Why enforce a blackout? The Ante People have no more forces to attack us with, and today we captured the Southwestern Front Army Headquarters of the Ante Army. Argesukov’s organized resistance is over; the whole army is celebrating the event.”
“Celebrating and blackout control aren’t mutually exclusive,” Major General Zigfried questioned, “Whose order was it?”
“General Von Maqi.”
Zigfried could only sigh, “Alright, take me to the general.”
The staff officer immediately gestured invitingly.
Zigfried followed him deep into the command center, to the presence of the general.
“Your Excellency, Von Maqi, from today onwards, my forces will fight under your command,” Zigfried stated.
Von Maqi glanced at Zigfried and smiled, “I don’t deserve such courtesy; we are all but troops under the Tsar’s command, merely fighting side by side.”
Major General Zigfried: “A unified command helps avoid missing strategic opportunities. Please command me as you do the other army commanders under you.”
“Don’t worry, I will,” the general said as he approached the map. “We already have two armored divisions deployed downstream of the Duva River, with four infantry divisions supporting those two. Of course, the battlefield front isn’t expansive enough for such a large force, so the infantry will have to wait for the armored divisions to break through the crossing point before following up.”
Zigfried: “Are the modifications for the stealth crossing of these two divisions complete?”
General Maqi: “We are expediting the process, and it’s expected to be completely done by September 19. Taking account of other supplies, and the accumulation of ammunition, we plan to launch the attack on September 20.”
Zigfried nodded, “My forces will deploy at the Shostka front. My armored grenadier division is equipped with the latest amphibious tanks. Additionally, the Brandenburg troops will be parachuting behind enemy lines, along with Duke Mayer’s 100th Airborne Division.”
Just as General Maqi was about to respond, a “stone” crashed through the command center’s window.
Everyone turned their heads to look at the broken window, and the next moment, an explosion occurred.
The staff officers nearest the window were instantly hit by shrapnel.
Everyone else dropped to the floor at once, except for General Maqi and Major General Zigfried.
At that moment, the anti-aircraft guns began firing outside, and the alarm sounded.
General Maqi exclaimed angrily, “What’s happening?”
“Air raid, Commander,” someone responded.
Major General Zigfried: “It seems, General, that the Ante People have found a way to attack your headquarters. It might be wise to practice blackout control after all.”
The general shook his head, “No, this attack precisely shows that the enemy is at their last gasp. We should meet them with heads high, and secure our victory. Major General Zigfried, in two months’ time, we shall be at the Tsar’s Summer Palace, accepting his surrender!”