“`
The situation on the battlefield was indeed unpredictable.
The Coastal Fortress had resisted for eighteen days, consistently reporting “not much pressure” and “Rocossov-style defensive positions performing well,” but on the morning of May 19, the Coastal Fortress suddenly reported that its outer defense ring had been breached.
Of course, the Coastal Fortress still had two other lines of defense that could hold out for some time, but the expressions of everyone at the imperial council meeting were not good.
————
May 19, Ye Fort, Summer Palace, Imperial Council Meeting.
General Tugenev was presenting the Air Force reconnaissance results: “Our PE-2 improved high-altitude reconnaissance planes were constantly intercepted by the Ploson Air Force during their missions, so we couldn’t get a clear picture of the surroundings of the fortress.
“However, the IL-2s flying low-level penetration missions reported that the enemy has a large number of anti-aircraft guns in this position.”
The general drew a circle on the map.
“Also, the penetration reconnaissance troops of the defense forces reported an increased patrol density in this area, and they are equipped with military dogs, making it really impossible to infiltrate.
“Combining this with the survey of craters left by the enemy’s heavy artillery, we conjecture that this might be a heavy railway gun. At first, the fortress command thought it was fire from the enemy’s battleships, but even naval artillery couldn’t leave such terrifying craters, let alone penetrate the thirty-meter thick cover of the underground ammunition depot.”
Wang Zhong: “Are there any intelligence reports from the Allied Forces?”
“No,” Cardinal Ravkid shook his head, “We’ve been maintaining intelligence exchange with the Allied Forces, and they haven’t mentioned this super cannon either.”
Wang Zhong: “In short, it means that what was previously a good defense is now suddenly breached through the ammunition depot, and the explosion was so loud that the front line couldn’t stabilize the troops in time, leading to the loss of some defensive positions, right?”
“Exactly,” General Tugenev nodded, “Moreover, there’s a practical problem, the fortress’s artillery firepower is basically provided by the Naval Coastal Artillery Group, which chiefly operates the fortress’s coastal guns, and the artillery support for the area that is now breached was supplied by the underground ammunition depot that was destroyed.”
Wang Zhong: “So the destruction of one underground ammunition depot cut off the ammunition supply?”
An engineering brigadier general in attendance explained: “Not cut off, the coastal artillery can still receive ammunition from other depots.
“The approach to the Coastal Fortress ammunition depots is that each supplies a battery, connected to the gun positions via an underground rail track, allowing the transportation of ammunition to the gun positions by ammunition trains.
“Transporting it from other depots is not so convenient; the ammunition must first be carried to the surface and then transported by truck. The enemy air force is currently launching heavy air strikes, rendering truck transport impossible.”
After the engineering brigadier general finished his explanation, General Tugenev quickly took over: “Previously, we believed the Coastal Fortress, utilizing new defensive tactics, could withstand for a longer time. Now it seems we must prepare for the loss of the Coastal Fortress.
“After the fortress is breached, Meishikin’s troops may be flanked, and we might have to abandon Bolsk.”
Wang Zhong: “Then retreat to where? The steppes are not suitable for defense.”
General Tugenev answered: “There are still options, the Suhaya Weili River can provide the necessary barrier for defense, as we have been fortifying along its banks since January this year.
“To ensure their logistics, the enemy will definitely try to break through the Suhaya Weili River to the east first, before advancing toward the Valdai Hill River.
“There are numerous industrial zones along the Valdai Hill River, and we rely extensively on river transport from Ye Fort southward for the supply of goods.
“As soon as the enemy pushes the front line to the banks of the Valdai Hill River, our supply transport to the south to the Front Army can only depend on the Inland Sea routes.”
Wang Zhong added, “Transporting fuel from Kuba would also have to rely solely on Inland Sea routes.”
“Yes,” General Tugenev nodded, “Therefore, the defense of the Suhaya Weili River is critical. We have dispatched Major General Kashuk’s 51st Army Group, which was expanded based on the 51st Army, and the 52nd and 54th Army Groups have also been sent to the banks of the Suhaya Weili River.”
Wang Zhong: “I remember these army groups were involved in the fighting from September to October last year, and Kashuk’s army suffered significant losses.”
General Tugenev: “They have completed their reorganization and are now fully staffed.”
“That being said, my First Mobile Group Army isn’t needed to defend the Suhaya Weili River?” Wang Zhong asked.
“Yes, you can get more training time.”
General Tugenev continued explaining with the map: “Of course, the defense of the Suhaya Weili River is not as reliable as that of the Duva River, because both banks of the river are open steppes, lacking large cities as support points. Last year we were successively breached by the Prosen people in similar terrain.
“The good news is that these army groups have been strengthened with heavy tanks. Following the recommendations of General Rocossov, we organized the heavy tanks into battalions of 21 tanks, reinforcing the necessary infantry divisions as a kind of ‘mobile support point.’
Wang Zhong, hearing his own name, immediately puffed out his chest and held his head high.
In fact, he had copied this arrangement from the Soviet military organization on Earth. In the latter stages of the war, the Soviet Army didn’t use large numbers of heavy tanks because their maintenance support was really bad; a unit of 21 heavy tanks was the largest unit they could sustain.
The maintenance support capabilities of the Ante Army were just as bad; heavy tanks, being heavier, naturally had a higher rate of breakdowns than medium tanks, so it made sense to disperse the use of heavy tanks to reduce the difficulty of maintenance.
What Wang Zhong did was to simply point out in advance the experience that the Ante Army itself would have eventually concluded, and then he took credit for it.
“`
General Tugenev continued, “Additionally, in accordance with our new field defense manual, we have dug many tank entrenchments by the riverbank, which only expose the turrets.”
This new field defense manual was also concocted by Wang Zhong.
The entire Ante Army is currently utilizing the combat doctrines Wang Zhong borrowed from Earth.
General Tugenev, “Judging from the defense battles at the Coastal Fortress and Bolsk, the new defense system performed well. Personally, I expect it to do well at the Suhayaveli River.
“That’s about it for now.”
Wang Zhong, “Is there no attacking action from the enemy on the central and northern fronts?”
“None. However, we have received many intelligence reports indicating that the Prussian’s target this summer remains Ye Fort.” General Tugenev looked at Wang Zhong.
Wang Zhong, “That’s a feint. The enemy’s target is the oil fields, General Golikov and I have both come to this conclusion.”
“The High Command thinks so as well. That’s why I just mentioned it in passing.” General Tugenev said, “So that’s the situation, Your Majesty, I have finished speaking.”
Olga, who had been holding back, immediately spoke up, “Alyosha…”
Wang Zhong, “Use military ranks in a work setting.”
Olga pouted, but immediately composed herself, “Lieutenant General Rocossov, the operations department has submitted a proposal for an offensive on the southern front aimed at recapturing Shepetovka. What do you think?”
Wang Zhong, “Sounds feasible, what forces are being prepared for the operation?”
“Mainly the newly formed tank brigades, planning to commit five brigades, plus two infantry divisions.”
Wang Zhong’s eyebrows knitted into twists.
The Soviet forces on Earth saw some rather abstract formations in the second year of the war, such as the creation of vast tank army groups with six hundred tanks, which turned out disastrous because commanders had no experience leading such large-scale armored forces.
Additionally, this tank army group had very few support units and was thoroughly outmaneuvered by the highly combined Sturmtiger.
In the end, even the commander of the tank army group was directly killed by the Sturmtiger.
Starting from the mid-stage, the Soviet forces came to understand that tank forces required a large number of support units, and a tank army was reorganized to include a lot of self-propelled artillery and infantry, reducing the number of tanks to around 200, though they stubbornly continued to be called tank armies.
The Ante people, fortunately, took a shortcut with the help of Wang Zhong.
But this does not mean that the tank brigades formed by the Ante Army were without issues.
These brigades indeed combined infantry and artillery, but in very small numbers, giving the impression that resolving the issue of quantity could lead to a sudden jump in strength.
Moreover, these brigades still suffered from a severe lack of support capabilities, having only a few maintenance personnel.
Not every commander has the clout to borrow a large number of technical workers from the Church and the Navy to form support units. Of course, not every tank battalion can afford to distribute tractor recovery vehicles to the companies like Wang Zhong did.
Wang Zhong had strongly recommended reducing the number of these tank brigades, but General Tugenev had convinced him.
At that time, General Tugenev said, “You are special, able to create luxuriously equipped and highly combined forces, but that does not mean the Military Command can do the same. I’ve done my utmost to provide them with support units. Let’s first create the tank brigades and fill the lines, after all, we have produced so many tanks.
“Seeing tanks gives the infantry a significant boost in fighting spirit, at least they won’t throw away their positions and flee at the sight of Prussian tanks advancing to within a hundred meters of their lines.”
Wang Zhong’s own forces had been tested through blood and fire and were able to endure over half casualties without collapsing.
However, most of the Ante Army still lacked such fighting will and needed another year of tempering.
It was the same with the Soviet forces on Earth, even by ’43, units still fled before the enemy reached their lines. Even the post-war film “Liberation,” which covers the events of ’43 at Kursk, depicted scenes of fleeing Soviet soldiers—focusing on Kursk in ’43.
Now, to launch an offensive against the Prussians with these tank brigades lacking support capabilities, having a low degree of combined arms integration, and infantry that flees at the sight of enemy tanks, aiming to recapture the important town of Shepetovka, seems overly optimistic.
Therefore, Wang Zhong said, “Shepetovka is a city with numerous reinforced concrete structures in the vicinity. Deploying such a large number of tank forces and so few infantry units—what was the operations department thinking? No, it won’t do.”
Olga, “But didn’t you support General Golikov’s offensive plan?”
Wang Zhong, “General Golikov’s offensive plan relies mainly on infantry and artillery; the Armored Troops are only performing a supporting role. The goal is just to tie down the enemy forces on the front and, by the way, train our troops’ offensive capabilities.
“That’s different from confidently wanting to recapture an important town. I oppose this rash offensive plan, I oppose wasting precious equipment and the lives of soldiers on such a venture.”
Olga nodded, “Alright, I won’t approve this plan!”
Wang Zhong nodded and offhandedly praised, “Very good,” and then realized that wasn’t right—it appeared as if the Tsar were just my puppet! No, no, no, you’ve got it all wrong!