Although General Tugenev expressed his concern at the royal meeting on May 19 that the fall of the Coastal Fortress would force Duke Meishikin to abandon Bolsk, it was not until June that the Coastal Fortress remained in the hands of the Independent Army Group.
The fortress reported that it suffered bombardment by 8 to 12 super-heavy artillery shells daily, and most of the outer peripheral defense supports had been destroyed by this heavy artillery, greatly reducing the coastal artillery’s support for the fortress garrison.
However, the fortress defense forces relied on their fighting spirit to stand firm against the assaults, holding on for more than ten days against the enemy’s super-heavy railway artillery and battleships’ fire on the sea, managing to keep most of their positions in hand.
Therefore, the battlefield is a stage of unpredictable destiny, and Wang Zhong understood this once again.
Because the Coastal Fortress held, the possibility of Bolsk being encircled greatly decreased, and thus Duke Meishikin also held back the Prussian attack, and the front temporarily fell into a stalemate.
However, the Independent Army Group of the fortress reported huge casualties under enemy heavy artillery attack and requested reinforcements.
Aerial photography reconnaissance of the fortress indicated that Prussian heavy artillery had destroyed the core parts of the perimeter support points of the fortress.
The Prussian Navy completely blockaded the sea outside the Coastal Fortress and could block the coastal road to the southeast of the fortress.
And the Prussian Army’s artillery observation posts established on the forward positions covered the inland transportation lines of the Coastal Fortress.
On June 3, the High Command concluded that the Coastal Fortress should not continue to be defended and ordered the fortress garrison to begin a breakout.
Once the Coastal Fortress fell, the flank of the Bolsk Front Army commanded by Duke Meishikin would be exposed, and the High Command estimated that by early July, it would have to order the Bolsk Front Army to retreat in the southeast direction.
Wang Zhong also attended the royal meeting that made this decision. After the meeting, General Tugenev stopped Wang Zhong, who was leaving, “Rocossov, wait a moment. I thought you would raise a strong objection.”
Wang Zhong was somewhat surprised, “Objection to what?”
“Letting Meishikin retreat in the southeast direction,” General Tugenev stared at Wang Zhong’s face, “Bolsk is the last important Kazarlian city under our control, with coal and iron mines. Giving it up, would mean that only vast grasslands would remain under our control in Kazarlia.”
Wang Zhong, “Isn’t the Suhaya Weili River still in our hands? My friend Kashuk’s army is still conducting defensive operations there.”
Tugenev, “You are calmer than I imagined.”
Wang Zhong, “Does getting emotional prevent my homeland from falling? No, there is no such good thing, General Davarish. One day in the future, I will liberate my homeland, and by then I guarantee I will be much, much more emotional than you can imagine.”
General Tugenev showed an approving expression, “Good, I was also worried that your emotions would get the better of you because you are young.”
Wang Zhong only then realized that his current body was quite young, possibly younger than Su Xunzong on Earth, who fought obscurely against the Sturmtiger.
So it was normal for Tugenev to worry that he might act emotionally like the young.”
Wang Zhong, “Don’t worry, General Davarish.”
“Is this a new popular term? I’ve heard the young staff officers from the Military Orders Department calling each other this too.”
Wang Zhong, “It started as a sailors’ term, referring to comrades who fight together for the same goal. I thought it was good and used it to address the comrades of the Melania People’s Army, they seem to like it. By the way, my troops also like it, it may have gradually spread, you know, I and my troops are kind of big stars in Ye Fort.”
Tugenev laughed heartily, “Quite a ‘kind of’. So how is the mood of your troops now?”
Wang Zhong, “When I left Kubinka yesterday, they barricaded me and questioned why they hadn’t been sent to the front line. Rather than firing practice rounds on the training field, they would much rather use their new weapons to give the Prussians a good thrashing.
“I think the troops are ideologically mobilized and ready to enter the battlefield at any time.”
When Wang Zhong spoke, Cardinal Ravkid, who sat in on the meeting as an intelligence officer, also came over and listened intently with a serious face.
General Tugenev glanced at the cardinal before saying to Wang Zhong, “I have discussed with His Majesty the Tsar, the deployment of your troops needs to be cautious. She hopes that when you move out, you will achieve immediate results, not just filling gaps on the front lines as a fire brigade.
“So we need to wait for the right opportunity.”
Wang Zhong, “Necessary opportunities can also be created.”
Tugenev, “Where do you think the first battle will take place?”
Wang Zhong, “I’m not an astrologer, I don’t know how to predict the future. But if you’re asking where I hope to fight, I’ll tell you it’s on the west bank of the Valdai Hills River.”
Tugenev, “Why there? Because supply lines would be better with the backing of the great river?”
Wang Zhong, “Yes, and we would also get support from the Inland Sea Fleet. A pity we don’t have shallow draft gunboats. The shallow draft gunboats used by the United Kingdom in the canal zone can’t be transported by land to the Inland Sea.”
After all, the United Kingdom is not Rome; it can’t make boats travel on dry land.
Tugenev, “The United Kingdom’s Mediterranean Fleet seems to plan to pass through the Dardanelles Strait and engage in a fleet battle with the Prussian fleet, but the neutral countries refuse to allow passage. The neutral countries, to express their neutrality, also prohibit Prussian ships from going through the strait.
“Additionally, the United Kingdom’s fleet in the Aegean Sea and the Prussian fleet fought a major battle; the United Kingdom’s HMS Warspite hit the Prussian Empire’s Aegean Sea fleet flagship Black Prince, and now the Aegean Sea is under the control of the United Kingdom. The Emperor Friedrich must have no chance to return to port for the time being.
“The good news is, naval officers from the United Kingdom estimate that the Emperor Friedrich must soon undergo major repairs, and the Prussians don’t have a dry dock on the White Sea coast that can repair this thing.
“The bad news, even if it doesn’t undergo major repairs, it can last for a while. As long as we operate near the coast, we’ll suffer its 381 mm main gun barrages.”
When Wang Zhong heard the 381 mm main guns, his head throbbed with phantom pain, since he had been hit by a barrage soon after crossing over and had miraculously survived.
Another survivor was the duchess’s male favorite.
Where had that guy gone, Wang Zhong wondered? He had been at Ye Fort for more than half a year but never once seen him.
As Wang Zhong’s mind wandered, General Tugenev spoke again, “The United Kingdom’s Air Force is planning an operation that involves their Lancaster Bombers dropping a special type of bomb. They are hoping we can provide a large airfield close enough to this ship, yet also safe enough to launch an attack.”
Wang Zhong recalled the operating radius of the Lancaster Bomber and, after glancing at the map, remarked with a click of his tongue, “Then we currently don’t have any airfields that meet their requirements. How about we make do and have them refuel at a frontline airfield?”
General Tugenev said, “They estimate that a single round of attacks is unlikely to succeed, so they need us to hold the airport and its surrounding ground for twenty days and ensure logistics support.”
Wang Zhong said, “You’re bringing this up on purpose because you’re planning to deploy my mobile army group for this, aren’t you?”
General Tugenev said, “No, you misunderstand. In my view, there’s no need to worry about this battleship for now, as we’ve decided to abandon the Coastal Fortress and won’t engage in battle within range of the ship’s guns for the time being.
“If this ship dares to sail south and bombard our ports in the Caucasus Mountains, then they’ll enter the attack range of our permanent airfields in the mountains. We can coordinate with the United Kingdom then.”
As he said this, General Tugenev circled areas on the map with a pencil.
Wang Zhong asked, “Can’t we use submarines to sneak attack this huge ship?”
“We’ve tried that. Torpedoes hit the battleship, but the effect was poor. This battleship’s anti-torpedo bulge is too thick. However, based on aerial reconnaissance, the battleship, having consumed a significant amount of ammunition, fuel, and supplies, now sits deeper in the water. We suspect it has taken on water, though not enough to sink it yet,” Tugenev shrugged.
Wang Zhong nodded his head.
The Black Sea’s control had always been in the hands of the Russians on Earth, which is why the Coastal Fortress held out for so long. With Jude holding maritime supremacy here, the Coastal Fortress could not endure for long.
However, since the Navy of Ante had lost sea control, did that mean more Naval Infantry could be transferred under his command?
Wang Zhong pondered this.
Just then, the door suddenly opened, and the Chief of the Secretariat from High Command quickly approached General Tugenev, about to whisper in his ear, but Tugenev stopped him, “There’s no need, General Rocossov and Cardinal Ravkid are both absolutely trustworthy persons.”
The Chief of the Secretariat nodded, “Understood. The Western Front Army launched an attack today, aiming to envelop Shostka from the flank. The assault is going well so far.”
Wang Zhong asked, “Shostka? Are the Asgard Knights still defending there?”
“No, according to our intelligence, the Asgard Knights withdrew when the muddy conditions improved at the end of March. They were replaced by three Infantry Divisions of the Ninth Army Group. The 197th Infantry Division is stationed in the city, with the 206th and 246th on the left and right wings.
“The 337th Infantry Division is defending the crossing, and currently, our vanguard has broken through the defenses on the eastern bank of the crossing and has reached it. The spearhead forces have already crossed the river.”
Wang Zhong asked, “Is the 337th Infantry Division a new unit? It seems they had their defensive line cut through quite easily?”
The Chief of the Secretariat shook his head, “I don’t know, we may have to wait for the interrogation reports from the front to determine when this division was formed.”
Wang Zhong said, “I’ll just give General Gorky a call and ask.”
With that, Wang Zhong picked up the telephone on the desk, “Operator, connect me to the headquarters of the Western Front Army.”
After a moment, an unfamiliar voice from the other end of the line said, “Headquarters of the Commander of the Western Front Army.”
Wang Zhong said, “This is General Rocossov, get your commander on the line.”
Another ten seconds passed, and the voice of General Gorky came through, “Are you calling me after receiving the initial assault battle report?”
Wang Zhong said, “You’ve broken through the crossing faster than I had imagined.”
“That’s because this 337th Division was converted from a national guard division; most of the personnel were fighting guerillas a few months ago. Not all Prosen soldiers are elite; there are also weak links. In the future, we can launch attacks along the entire line to probe the enemy’s defense and locate vulnerabilities, then commit the second wave of troops at those weak points.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhong realized this was the Soviet combat method from later on—attack along the entire front, identify where the weak soldiers were, and then break through and advance rapidly behind them.
And the elite units of Sturmtiger were to be completely surrounded and avoided; if encountering Sturmtiger’s armored units, they also were to be surrounded without engaging.
The Eastern Front was vast, with plenty of places to break through; it made no sense for a handful of elite units to fight for a high exchange ratio.
Wang Zhong said, “I wish you success.”
General Gorky was pleased, “In the future, you will be the Empire’s Iron Wall, and I will be the Empire’s Sword!”
Wang Zhong replied, “Great! That really makes us the Empire’s Twin Jewels.”
As he offered these well-wishes, Wang Zhong was sincere, yet he vaguely remembered that on Earth, the Ninth Army Group had a story to it. Later on emerged Modol, the strongest defensive master from Sturmtiger, nicknamed by military enthusiasts as Modol “The Untouched”—in a somewhat more animated way of speaking, “because he was too afraid of pain, he allocated all his points into defense.”
The commander of the Ninth Army Group in this world seemed to be named Mendel, sharing the name with the man who studied peas.
Could it be that he could grow pea shooters and wall-nuts to withstand General Gorky’s offensive?