“Just giving it a try shouldn’t do any harm,” he said.
So he said to Belinsky, “Perhaps I could have a chat with them.”
Belinsky was overjoyed, “Prosen officers have a good impression of you, having a chat with them could indeed be a possible way to sway them to our side.”
Wang Zhong said, “No, most officers are probably nobles, right? They wouldn’t betray their country for various reasons. I can have a talk with Prosen soldiers, especially those from the lower-class civilians.”
Belinsky raised his eyebrows, intrigued, “First of all, I am not doubting your abilities, I’m just quite curious as to how you’re going to begin.”
Olga was also listening with anticipation on the side, she really wanted to know how Wang Zhong intended to proceed.
Wang Zhong said, “I plan to start from two directions. First, I have already witnessed many atrocities committed by the Prosen army, and anyone with a conscience would surely find it agonizing to be part of that force. I intend to find these people.
“Second, the spoils of Prosen’s expansion have undoubtedly mostly gone to the upper echelons. As long as we help the lower-level soldiers realize that the benefits they’ve fought so hard for on the battlefield have been swallowed up by the higher-ups, that should be sufficient.
“We need to make them understand that surrendering is not betraying the country. The real traitors are the generals who started this war and traded the blood of Prosen’s people for their own lavish lifestyles.
“They should organize a Prosen People’s Army, return to their homeland, and bring the Tsar to the guillotine.”
Even with his broad experience, Belinsky gaped after hearing Wang Zhong’s plan, “This… I just asked you to find a way to reassure the Prosen people to work in our factories, and you’re thinking about forming a Prosen People’s Army?”
Wang Zhong said, “I only mentioned the possibility. Prosen would definitely also try to organize a puppet army to use as cannon fodder.”
Bishop Ravkid, who had been listening to the conversation all along, suddenly spoke up, “They have indeed begun to do so. According to the intelligence we’ve acquired, many Ante people have become puppet soldiers and police in large occupied cities such as Argesukov and Ronied.”
“Moreover, our mole in the POW camp has sent intelligence that a Kazarlian goes to the place where Kazarlian POWs are held every day, urging them to join the Kazarlian Freedom Army.
“There is also intelligence indicating that the enemy has recruited from our surrendered forces 15 battalions of a puppet army, named the Eastern Battalion.”
Wang Zhong said, “See, since the Prosen can form the Eastern Battalion, we too can establish such a unit. Of course, we can’t rule out the possibility of some feigning allegiance and then turning on us on the battlefield, so we must be careful in our selection.
“Also, we can rely on establishing a collective sense of honor to prevent such individual acts of defection.”
Belinsky looked Wang Zhong up and down again, “You make sense. Popov had earlier submitted a very detailed report titled ‘Observations on General Rokossovsky’s Working Methods’, which introduces your methods in detail and believes they are more effective than ten thousand sermons.
“Having read the description of your working methods in the report, I find them very good. I have already ordered that the report be used as an official document distributed to every Military Bishop to fully implement.
“And now you’re planning to turn over Prosen prisoners and form a Prosen People’s Army?”
Wang Zhong said, “It’s just an idea; it’s not certain it can be achieved.”
Belinsky clicked his tongue, “Fine. Tomorrow, I’ll write you a pass. Go to the POW camp and try to your heart’s content, even if it fails it’s no problem; this wasn’t something we expected to succeed in anyway.”
He paused for a moment, then changed the subject, “Let’s discuss your engagement ceremony now. Everything here is ready.”
Wang Zhong said, “Then let’s start right away.”
Belinsky asked, “Aren’t you going to wait for any guests?”
No sooner had he spoken than a military vehicle drove up along the internal road of the estate.
Belinsky said, “Look!”
Olga craned her neck to see the approaching car and asked, “Whose car do you think that is?”
Having already used his “cheat” to see who was in the approaching car, Wang Zhong confidently said, “It’s Tugenev and his adjutant.”
As the car drew closer, Olga spotted the person in the back before Ludmila did, “It really is Tugenev! Are your eyes that good?”
No, I just cheated.
Wang Zhong said, “Of course, how else could I spot the enemy’s generals from so far away?”
In fact, what Wang Zhong referred to here was the first time he commanded the T34W tank in a counterattack in Loktov.
But Belinsky took it as a joke and laughed heartily.
Wang Zhong also laughed along, after all, he couldn’t explain the “cheat” openly.
The Grand Patriarch had not finished laughing when another jeep arrived, filled with Air Force pilots.
The driver was Delachenko Grigoyevich, commander of the fourth attack aircraft regiment, and the jeep’s back seats were crammed with pilots, as if they were stuffed in like Indians.
Wang Zhong quickly shouted, “Delachenko! If you flip the car, a whole regiment’s pilots will be gone, and you’ll be responsible!”
Delachenko replied, “By that time, I’ll be dead too; how can I be responsible?”
Wang Zhong said, “I’m not joking. Stop fooling around, be serious! Stop the car, get out, and pay attention to traffic safety! If you’re going to die, you should die in the sky! Don’t waste your lives in a car crash!”
Delachenko turned to the pilots and relayed, “Did you hear that! General Rokossovsky says we should die in the sky! Remember that! If you get shot down by Prosen bullets and find yourself over enemy territory, don’t bother with the parachute, just dive straight into a tank collision! Remember to empty your bullets before crashing!”
The pilots were roused, “That was the plan anyway!”
“Better dead than captured!”
Belinsky added, “That’s not good, you should still try to come back. Even in a POW camp, you can escape!”
Wang Zhong continued, “Moreover, even if you’re going to crash, don’t crash into a tank. You might be able to wreck the tank, but the Prosen are capable of repairing it quickly, and it’ll be back in action in a few days.”
“No, don’t target the tanks, you should crash into the fuel, that’s more likely to catch fire, more likely to explode big. The ammunition depot is also a good choice.”
Delachenko: “The General thinks our targets aren’t well-chosen! What do you say?”
“Then don’t hit the tanks, the General is the expert in this area after all!”
“Right, right, hit the fuel!”
Wang Zhong: “But remember, you only do this if you’re sure you can’t parachute into friendly territory. Survival is still the priority.”
The pilots exchanged glances, and finally, Delachenko spoke on everyone’s behalf: “Understood, General!”
Wang Zhong: “Speaking of which, how did you all know I was getting engaged today?”
“Vasily told us, it was yesterday at the officers’ club in the city area, next to the grand theater,” Delachenko said.
Wang Zhong turned to look for Vasily, only to find that the rascal had already slipped away.
Delachenko: “General, please forgive Vasily, he was just trying to make the girl happy!”
Clever boy, using my story to amuse the girl, wait and see!
Wang Zhong opened the book of grudges and made an entry for Vasily—someday, he promised himself he’d make Vasily pay.
At that moment, more vehicles arrived and entered the estate.
Wang Zhong looked down from his bird’s eye view to see a swarm of military personnel with name tags heading his way, just like monsters spawning when the time is right in a tower defense game.
Indeed, with the Grand Patriarch and the Tsar showing up, now the whole city of Ye Fort knew Rokossovsky was getting engaged.
The high-ranking officials who weren’t heading to the Rokossovsky Estate now were either those who had to be on duty at crucial posts, or those who had something to be guilty about.
Seeing the situation, Wang Zhong sought Ludmila’s opinion: “Shall we delay by an hour? That way there won’t be anyone embarrassed for not making it on time.”
Ludmila nodded: “That works. You go greet the gentlemen, and I will entertain their ladies.”
Wang Zhong gave a thumbs up.
————
An hour later, the engagement ceremony finally began. The originally prepared venue was not nearly big enough, so it was moved to the grand ballroom of the estate—because ever since Wang Zhong took over the estate, there really hadn’t been any balls, and so the ballroom had been neglected for quite some time.
Since the number of maids had been reduced and unused areas generally were left uncleaned, this ballroom too had gathered dust over a long period, and only now had it been cleaned in haste.
Though the ceremony was moved to the ballroom at the last minute, the Secular faction priests who came with the Grand Patriarch were professionals, and they quickly set up a very formal altar inside the ballroom.
The ceremony personnel were also assembled at the highest standard, with four bell-ringing priests stationed at the four corners of the altar.
Belinsky donned a solemn robe and stood at the altar, looking over the guests.
Even the unruly pilots bowed their heads.
Since it was only an engagement, there was no entrance procession, so Wang Zhong and Ludmila simply stood in front of the altar.
Belinsky began the prayer: “Today, under everyone’s watchful eyes, another couple has come together because of shared interests. I have witnessed the budding and growth of their love, and I am aware that this is not merely an illusion caused by the joy of procreation!”
Wang Zhong thought to himself that this sermon seemed a bit off.
God? Not a single mention of God in the sermon?
You, of the Secular faction, are you perhaps too secular?
“Now, under the witness and blessings of us all, they make their sacred vows!”
As he spoke, a priest brought forth a velvet-covered platter with two rings on it.
Since Wang Zhong was from Ceres, when it came to engagement, he instinctively thought of red; the sight of the blue velvet was somewhat disconcerting to him.
Belinsky came forward to both individuals, placing the engagement rings on the ring fingers of their right hands.
In the Eastern Holy Church, engagement rings were worn on the right ring finger for both men and women.
Belinsky: “May everyone bless you!”
It was everyone, not God.
In a world of miracles, a church prayer doesn’t mention God once—what kind of person was Saint Andrew, the founder of the Secular faction?
Could he have been a fellow countryman?
Wang Zhong wondered to himself.
At this moment, Belinsky completed the final step, dabbing both Wang Zhong and Ludmila’s foreheads with Holy Water.
Belinsky: “I am very much looking forward to the day when I can baptize your child.”
On hearing ‘baptism,’ Wang Zhong immediately thought of the classic montage from “The Godfather,” where a child’s baptism is intercut with the solemn oaths taken by Al Pacino’s character, the new Don, during the hymns; simultaneously, the clean strikes of hitmen eliminate all of the Corleone family’s enemies.
Wang Zhong: “I am looking forward to it as well.”