Ludmila took Olga’s hand, “Let’s go.”
Olga replied, “Mm, okay.”
Wang Zhong took a step forward as if he were merely a butler leading two young ladies on a garden tour.
“This way, please.”
And so, the group consisting of the three of them, along with Nelly and a large contingent of royal guards, plus Sergeant Grigori, made their grand departure from the station.
————
At the same time, at St. Ye Katerina Fortress, a gunboat was stationed under the iron bridge. Naval Infantry and engineers were hoisting explosives from the gunboat using ropes.
To blow up the bridge would take twenty tons of explosives, which would require ten gas trucks for transport. Even if using the scarce three-ton gas trucks, seven would be needed.
But a single gunboat could deliver all the required explosives directly beneath the bridge.
The engineers were working diligently when, suddenly, several Judges wearing blue hats rushed onto the shore and apprehended a lady admiring the scenery from the bridge’s viewing platform.
“What are you doing!” the lady screamed. “I was just looking at the scenery!”
A Judge’s interrogation floated up to the bridge, “Watching the scenery in this kind of rainy weather? No, we need to search you!”
The woman’s screams intensified, “Judge, that’s indecent!”
She continued to shout for a minute until the Judge pulled out a miniature camera from her underwear.
“Ah,” the lead Judge carefully examined the camera, “Prosen-made device. Though small, it can clearly photograph all of our bridge’s explosive layout. Miss, you might want to explain why you have this in your underwear!”
With a sobbing tone, the woman said, “I confess everything! A person named Bolo told me that if I took these pictures, the Prosen Army wouldn’t kill us after they occupied Ye Fort! Kind Judge, I just wanted to find a way for my family to survive!”
The Judge remarked, “You seem sincere, but according to our experience, the enemy starts by acting sincere, using some unimportant information to conceal what’s truly important. No matter, we’ll figure it out.”
“You gang of men, you’re going to torture a woman?”
The Judge responded, “Of course not. We deeply respect women, so a woman will be in charge of your interrogation.”
No sooner had he spoken than a car stopped on the shore and four robust women in Judge uniforms stepped out.
The leading female Judge smiled, “We are much more merciful than men because we know how to coerce you into compliance with less violent but more effective methods.
“Of course, we guarantee that our methods will be as effective as those of male Judges.”
As if to complement the female Judge’s statement, the leading male Judge cracked a spherical decoration on the shore’s railing with his fist, his knuckles splitting and bleeding.
“Thank you for the demonstration,” the female Judge said with a smile.
————
Ye Fort City Defense Command Militia Headquarters.
The City Defense Command was entirely managed by the Ante Army, while the Militia Headquarters in the same courtyard was run by the Church.
As the mobilization capabilities of the Ante Army were much weaker than those of the Church, it was now the Church that continuously sent conscripts to the Ante Army’s training camps.
Men who were not suitable for immediate enlistment were all drafted into the militia – that is, the Guardian Army – while women of all ages were organized into Labor Camps.
The Militia Commander reported to Belinsky: “We’ve organized by city blocks. Every block in Yeborg has a church, plus related church stores, ration distribution centers, and so on.
“These churches have played a role in mobilization, and we’ve already formed 25 Guardian Army battalions. We plan to organize another 25 in the next two weeks.
“In addition, we’ve formed Priest strike teams composed of clergy over fifty. They will be responsible for blowing up enemy tanks that cross the anti-tank barriers. We plan to set up single-person shelters at the front lines where the strike teams can hide.”
Belinsky: “These strike teams should be deployed on the city’s last line of defense, inside the inner garden ring road. That’s our last line of defense.”
The Militia Commander agreed, “Yes.”
Belinsky: “How’s the situation with the City Defense Army?” Hosted by m_vl_em_p_yr
“The City Defense Army currently has twenty-five battalions, all deployed on the outer ring,” indicated the Militia Commander with his pointer on the map, drawing a circle. “Beyond that is the field army’s defensive line.”
Belinsky inquired, “Is there any difference between the City Defense Army and the field army?”
“The City Defense Army uses outdated equipment, while the field army includes new units and a large number of troops that were withdrawn from the encirclement in the west. Those units suffered great losses and were unable to receive sufficient reinforcements before the enemy assault, so they have been downsized.”
“Downsized?” Belinsky questioned.
“Yes, a division has been scaled down to a brigade, a regiment to a battalion. This way, the units remain at full strength, with weapons and equipment even more plentiful than before. The only unit not downsized is the elite 1st Guards Machine Infantry Division, also known as the ‘Red Banner’ Division. They’ve only lost a quarter of their combat troops.”
Belinsky: “Where have they deployed?”
“They are in Suhayaveli. From here, they are ten kilometers away from the outer ring. Once their positions are lost, the enemy’s heavy artillery will be able to reach the city.”
“Moreover, to their north in Karanskaya, the Imperial Guard is in charge of defense. There’s a fortress there, and from the highest point of the fortress, you can see the Summer Palace.”
“Once the enemy captures this place, they can conduct observed artillery fire on the Summer Palace.”
The Militia Commander’s expression was grave: “We believe that once the enemy bombards the Summer Palace, the situation in the capital will become very dangerous.”
Belinsky’s face showed a fierce glint: “So the surrender faction is going to take action, huh?”
The bishop in charge of the Tribunal, Ravkid, adjusted his glasses: “We have already wiped out five treasonous groups attempting to produce explosives. Additionally, we’ve taken down one underground church of the Sanctified faction.”
“We’ve also found a printing press and seized a large amount of propaganda, all calling for the nobles to rise up and reclaim their glory, saying the Prosen nobility is doing it… to help their noble compatriots.”
Belinsky: “Arrest these traitors. No need for a trial; after interrogating them until no more information can be extracted, execute them all.”
Ravkid smiled: “Understood. In fact, once we catch a traitor, we uproot their entire family. The effect has been very significant so far.”
“But there are still many traitors lurking in Yeborg.”
Belinsky: “Once we implement the curfew as planned, the crisis situation will be greatly alleviated.”
Ravkid: “Why not just kill all the nobles?”
“No, that won’t do. The enemy is less than two hundred kilometers from Ye Fort. At a time like this, we must unite all we can. Once the situation stabilizes, then we can do the reckoning. So only arrest those who have been exposed and have conclusive evidence.”
Ravkid: “But if Prosen’s cannons reach the Summer Palace, even His Majesty the Tsar might surrender.”
Belinsky: “What’s the situation with His Majesty the Tsar now?”
Ravkid: “When Shostka was still holding, His Majesty seemed very confident. But after the loss of Shostka, His Majesty began to look quite unsettled.”
“His Majesty the Tsar is a weak man,” Belinsky interjected. “That’s also why we chose him as a puppet in the first place. We just didn’t expect him to perform so well, especially those former centrists.”
Belinsky paused.
Ravkid: “What if His Majesty tries to flee Yeborg?”
Belinsky: “Let him run. As long as I don’t leave, that’s fine. As long as I’m here, the masses who believe in the Secular faction won’t panic. However, if His Majesty the Tsar flees, it will still trigger a series of side effects.”
Belinsky stood up and walked towards the giant city defense map on the wall: “November 10th is our National Founding Day—naturally, we should hold a parade. If the Royal Family runs off, the parade will turn into a farce without a royal review.”
“With the current situation, this will have negative impacts. No, whether His Majesty runs or not, we must ensure that a member of the Royal Family remains. How is Grand Duchess Olga?”
Ravkid pushed his round glasses: “She’s gone to inspect the front lines, the first stop being General Rocossov’s division. I think Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess will stay no matter what.”
“That’s good,” Belinsky said, looking at the city defense map. “Is there any chance the enemy will take Karanskaya by October 10?”
The Militia Commander took the cue: “It’s unlikely. At the moment, with the delay of the mud, the enemy’s advance speed is roughly ten kilometers a day. By November 10, the muddy season will have just ended; they won’t be able to advance to a point where they can shell Saint Ye Fortress. It’s a simple arithmetic problem.”
Belinsky nodded: “Then the issue is the air. We must ensure that on the day of the parade, there are no enemy aircraft.”
Militia Commander: “The Air Force, due to its close relationship with science, is still something we can talk to. We also invited the Air Force Commander, but it seems he has reservations and hasn’t come.”
Belinsky: “Why?”
The Militia Commander looked at Ravkid, who shrugged: “Because we arrested his daughter. She was actually filming our bridge bombing arrangements using a Prosen Army camera.”
“Then this commander isn’t trustworthy. Arrest him, but don’t be in a hurry to kill him. Just keep him under house arrest at the Command, so the pilots can see that their commander hasn’t been killed yet. Have the deputy commander come here.”
———
Two hours later, the Deputy Commander of the Air Force arrived at the Militia Command.
“I salute you, Your Eminence, the Grand Patriarch,” the Deputy Commander spoke loudly.
Belinsky: “On the morning of November 10th, can you guarantee that not a single Prosen aircraft enters the capital?”
The Deputy Commander frowned: “For that, I need another two hundred fighter planes. Currently, a significant portion of the capital’s fighters are under repair due to consecutive days of air battles.”
Belinsky: “Just the fighter planes? Do you have enough pilots?”
The Deputy Commander laughed: “We’re fighting in our own airspace, so as long as we can parachute, we can basically make it back.”
Belinsky nodded: “I’ll figure something out for the planes.”