On the afternoon of December 7, Wang Zhong had just arrived at the school when he saw a tractor towing a tank stopped in front of the main school building.
Wang Zhong’s office was at the rooftop of the main building, so his motorcade could only stop next to the tractor and the tank.
After getting out of his car, Wang Zhong looked carefully and recognized it as a Panzer IV Type F tank; once the Type F with the long-barreled gun, the Panzer IV F2, had come out, the Type F would be renamed as Type F1.
Wang Zhong reached out to touch the additional armor plates welded onto the front of the tank and clicked his tongue— the armor plates were 50 millimeters thick, and it was unclear whether this was a battlefield modification or if it was standard issue for the Prosen version of the Panzer IV Type F.
The Panzer IV Type F already had its hull’s front main armor and turret’s front main armor thickened to 50 millimeters. With such a thick piece welded on, it was likely that the main anti-tank firepower of the Ante Army was no match for it from the front.
After all, this was 100 millimeters of armor, not even entirely vertical; the Panzer IV had a very slight frontal slope. Though minimal, it certainly was there.
Wang Zhong had thought that once the Panzer IV Type F reached the front line, the 45mm anti-tank rifle would probably be ineffective, and now even the 76mm anti-tank rifles wouldn’t do much from a distance.
If it ended up like this against armor-piercing shells, the situation could only be worse if it couldn’t win against those shells; one could imagine how bad it would be.
Wang Zhong walked several circles around the Panzer IV Type F, his eyebrows twisted into knots.
At that moment, someone suddenly called out to him, “General Rokossovsky, it’s just a tank, no need for such an unsightly expression. We haven’t captured as many as you, and you’ve taken more prisoners than us.”
Wang Zhong looked towards the direction of the voice with some confusion, “What?”
The person speaking was a colonel with an adjutant insignia on his uniform. Seeing Wang Zhong’s clueless expression, he made himself clear, “Aren’t you frowning because we’ve also captured enemy tanks?”
“Of course, you’ll capture tanks; I’m frowning because our existing anti-tank firepower will have a hard time dealing with this thing. Especially when we’re largely equipped with 45mm anti-tank rifles and Buffalo Anti-Tank Rifles, we can basically only aim for the observation ports and machine-gun muzzle from the front.”
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Wang Zhong said, once again running his hand over the front of the tank where the additional armor was attached.
“Did you capture only one? Did you send any spares to the Ordnance Department for cannon fire testing?”
Faced with Wang Zhong’s question, the colonel adjutant looked troubled, “This… We only captured one…”
Wang Zhong, “Then why did you bring it here? Send it to the Ordnance Department to test the attack effectiveness of our anti-tank weapons on it. I am certain this is the enemy’s latest modified model, and we need to immediately get a clear understanding of its defensive capabilities.
Drag it to the Ordnance Department and have them conduct the test immediately, and send a copy of the results to the Ordnance Review Committee.”
The colonel adjutant was at a loss for words, “This…”
Wang Zhong, “What are you standing around for! Get it over there! Demand that the Ordnance Department complete a detailed test within three days, and say it’s at the request of Committee Chairman Rokossovsky of the Review Committee! Move it!”
The colonel adjutant stuttered, “We thought you might want to be the first to know about the performance of the enemy’s new tank…”
Wang Zhong, “Right, I do, that’s why you should drag it to the Ordnance Department to test its defensive capability! How will I test it here? Am I supposed to do it by hand?”
I can’t rotate magnetic fields; I really am powerless against this nearly 100mm thick frontal armor!
At that moment, Vasily said, “They wanted to show off to you, General. ‘See, we can also capture the enemy’s new tanks,’ and once they’ve caught you, they will surely show it to you first at Suvorov Military Academy before parading it through Ye Fort.”
Wang Zhong sighed, “Vasily, I deliberately didn’t point it out; how am I supposed to act now?”
“Sorry,” Vasily shrugged, “My bad.”
The bell for the end of classes rang at that time, and the students rushed out en masse to see the Prosen Tank.
Those in the tank command specialty spotted something, “This doesn’t seem like the model we have on the training field!”
Wang Zhong, “Indeed, this is the latest modified model; thanks to the Western Front Army for sending it to us immediately after capture. But this tank will soon be sent to the Ordnance Department for defensive testing. Because this matter is urgent, I cannot allow you to go up for a visit.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Bayev said loudly, “It looks like this tank has had a thick layer of additional armor welded onto its front, hasn’t it? Has its original armor not changed?”
Wang Zhong, “It should be similar to the Type E, I estimate the front armor of this tank to be close to 100 millimeters thick.”
The students in the tank specialty gasped, “One hundred millimeters! Isn’t that thicker than the T34?”
“But the enemy’s tank doesn’t have a slope, so in terms of protection the T34 is still a bit better, right?”
“I’ve seen the head of the KV2, it’s also vertical, chances are the frontal defense of this thing is even better than the head of the KV2!”
Wang Zhong ignored the students and said to the colonel adjutant, “Hurry and take it to the Ordnance Department for testing.”
At that moment, Duke Valkov chuckled, “Why are you in such a rush to drag the tank away? Is it because it’s damaging your illustrious image?”
Wang Zhong, “If you wish to think that way, you’re free to do so. In fact, I want to defeat the Prussians more quickly than anyone else; you see the soil at my waist? This is the soil of my homeland, I carry it to remind myself that as long as my home is not liberated, I must keep striving.
“I would be happier than any of you if Prosen were defeated. But my brain tells me a swift victory is impossible.”
Duke Valkov, “Don’t worry, General Tukhachev’s Western Front Army will prove that you are the one without a brain! You’re good at defense, that’s true, but when it comes to offense, His Excellency Tukhachev is far more proficient. After all, our military has always been built on the premise of offense!”
Wang Zhong, “I hope so. If he defeats Prosen, I will personally kiss his boots.”
Knowing it was impossible, Wang Zhong easily uttered those words.
Duke Valkov and a group of noble students immediately became excited, “It’s a deal!”
“This is going to be quite the spectacle to witness!”
Wang Zhong ignored them, turning to the colonel’s aide and said, “Hurry up and move the tank away.”
The colonel’s aide said, “Are you aware that I am Tukhachev’s aide and said this on purpose?”
Wang Zhong was surprised, “Ah? You’re Tukhachev’s aide?”
He glanced down, indeed spotting the words “Tukhachev Aide” below the man’s rank insignia.
Wang Zhong had been preoccupied with examining the tank and hadn’t switched to his external view.
Wang Zhong said, “Then please convey to General Tukhachev my anticipation for his victorious return.”
The colonel’s aide clenched his teeth and forced out, “We will.”
————
Prussian Army, Central Army Corps Headquarters.
Siegfried Gilais, commander of the first army of the Asgard Knights, entered the headquarters and saluted Marshal Von Bock, “Marshal, the first army of the Asgard Knights has entered the Bokost-Shostka defensive line.”
Von Bock nodded, “Good. General Walter Mendel of the Ninth Army Group will assist you in defense. General Mendel’s troops have been building defensive positions on the line for half a month, his infantry is well-preserved, and will undoubtedly provide you with strong support.”
Gilais said, “I’ve already inspected the entire defensive line, setting up solid positions relying on the numerous reinforced concrete buildings in the city. I even wonder how these lines could have been breached at the end of September.”
Marshal Von Bock smiled, “After all, not every Ante general can be an empire’s iron wall. Major General Rocossov’s troops are unparalleled throughout the Ante Empire’s military.”
Gilais nodded and changed the subject, “How much time do we have to organize our defense?”
Marshal Von Bock picked up a pointer, gesturing on a map as he spoke, “The enemy has spent over ten days planning their attack, and during these days, we basically have been retreating. The units responsible for delaying the enemy have provided determined and effective resistance.
“This has meant the enemy’s advance has been slower than we expected. We estimate contact with the enemy around December 10th; you have ample time to stock up on ammunition and construct fortifications.”
Gilais said, “Excellent, convey my respects to the rearguard troops.”
Marshal Von Bock said, “They will all receive the Plathen Emperor’s commendations—if they can return alive.”
Gilais said, “That’s good to know. If you’ll excuse me.”
After the Asgard Knights had left, Marshal Von Bock’s chief of staff said, “The Asgard Knights took all the latest tanks and anti-tank guns. I heard they have the latest model PAK40 anti-tank guns, an experimental type that can penetrate T34 and KV tanks from a great distance.”
Marshal Von Bock chuckled bitterly, “Just think about the speed with which Duke Meyer’s Air Force gets new equipment. The air force’s Armored Divisions, equipped more advanced than our own Land Army’s Armored Divisions—can you believe it?”
The Prosen Emperor was well-known for his preference for technologically advanced military branches, and he liked to use branches like the Air Force and Armored Troops, which required high technical expertise, to counterbalance the traditional Junker officer corps.
The Asgard Knights were akin to the Emperor’s own Imperial Guards.
It was no surprise that they would receive new equipment.
Marshal Von Bock gazed at the map, “As long as they can hold back the enemy, anything goes!”
————
Once Gilais got in the car, he said to his aide, “We are going to use the latest equipment to set up an ambush.”
The aide asked, “Will we directly copy Rocossov’s tactics?”
“Of course, we should certainly learn from effective tactics. In a moment, I want to personally select the ambush site and have the engineers dig tank hides. The hull armor on our prototypes of the Panzer IV F2 isn’t too reliable; we need to conceal the bodies and then one by one use our long-barreled 75mm guns to crack open enemy tanks like cans,” said Gilais.
The aide smiled wryly, “First we have to fix those prototypes.”
Being experimental models and due to the harsh environment in Ante, more than half of the Panzer IV F2s allotted to the first army of the Asgard Knights malfunctioned upon arrival at the front line.
The good news was, in the Bokost-Shostka defensive line, the Prosen logistics situation had greatly improved, and they had sufficient maintenance resources to repair these tanks.
Gilais said, “Other nations think the Prussians are rigid, now let the Ante People see how we implement what we’ve learned.”
He paused, asking, “By the way, what did Rabowell say about where Rocossov went?”
The aide replied, “Rabowell said he has fallen out of favor in the political strifes and stripped of his military power. This is credible information from the Krat Bureau.”
Gilais frowned, “Why though? Never mind, it doesn’t matter.”