General Gorky: “I’ve heard your opinion, and I will consider it, I promise. But for now, I have to try to hold the line and see if we can deplete some of the Prosen’s living force, to alleviate the pressure on the Coastal Fortress.
“However, the situation at the Coastal Fortress might… no, any reduction in pressure is good.”
Wang Zhong nodded: “Yes.”
He understood what Gorky meant, the retreat from the Coastal Fortress had already begun, but the only route was under the enemy’s naval gunfire coverage, so they had no choice but to retreat under cover of darkness. Duke Meishikin was also striving to launch an attack, trying to break open a land corridor from Bolsk to the Coastal Fortress.
But just like the problem Gorky was facing, the Ante Army’s troop quality was too poor now, especially the level of lower-tier commanders, which led to a horribly disorganized offense.
And the incompetence of the commanders was partly because the half-year war last year had cost too many experienced commanders, and partly because the purge of the quick-victory faction and the surrender faction had removed many experienced commanders.
Now the Military Command is discussing reinstating a part of the quick-victory faction that has come to their senses, but this is being blocked by Belinsky.
Belinsky firmly believes that the officers trained in Wang Zhong’s crash course over the past six months will grow into competent officers after being tested in actual combat.
Moreover, the Suvorov Military Academy is about to graduate another batch of students who will first gain experience on the front lines as deputies, with the potential to become regimental and brigade-level officials within a year.
That means, before they come of age, the Ante Army will have to bleed a lot.
It seems like the tens of thousands of men at the Coastal Fortress will be the first wave to be sacrificed.
General Gorky suddenly asked: “If your First Mobile Army is sent over, could you rescue the troops from the Coastal Fortress?”
Wang Zhong: “I don’t know. Even if I can get my First Mobile Group Army over there right now, and even if logistics were not an issue, I still don’t know whether I can achieve any military results.
“You know, my first attack was a completely favorable situation—meaning sailing with the wind, riding the current downstream. I need to actually fight to know if my offense is effective.”
General Gorky: “I always feel like you’re saying this to spare my feelings.”
Wang Zhong: “If you don’t want me to steal the laurels of the most offensive-minded person, then you better reflect on your experiences, Georgiy.”
Here Wang Zhong deliberately used Gorky’s nickname to address him.
The general responded: “You also be careful, don’t let me take the title of the Empire’s Iron Wall! I’m getting a bit of a grasp on defense now.”
Wang Zhong: “The fire brigade leader says he has a bit of a grasp on defense? Alright, let’s stop here, see you in July.”
—-
On June 29, 915, General Erik von Xiplin, Commander of the Prosen 11th Army Group, ascended the most central battery of Peter the Great at the fortress.
Standing at the top of the battery, he looked down into the vast craters left by the armor-piercing shells and exclaimed, “It’s bottomless, as if leading straight to hell.”
The commander of the 191st Infantry Division, who accompanied him, said: “We are in hell, General.”
The 191st Infantry Division had been reduced to a skeleton after the fierce close-quarters combat, so his words were understandable.
General Erik von Xiplin patted the shoulder of the commander of the 191st and said nothing more but turned to look towards the fortress town.
Just like the Fortress of the Scorching Sun, the Coastal Fortress also had a town, where 150,000 civilians lived, most of whom worked at the fortress’s shipyard and associated factories.
At this moment, the fight was still raging in the city, with the sound of intense gunfire audible.
Looking down at the town from atop Peter the Great’s fortress, one could only see black columns of smoke everywhere, as if the entire city were ablaze.
Xiplin pulled a postcard from his pocket and looked at the peaceful image of the Coastal Fortress town: “I wonder how long it will take for this city to return to the beauty on this postcard.”
The commander of the 191st, clearly irritated by the high casualties, bluntly said: “Such words from the mouth of the man who destroyed this city only seem hypocritical.”
Xiplin looked at the postcard and nodded: “Indeed.”
The communication staff officer came over with a signalman carrying a radio: “Report to the commander, the 1st Battalion of the 222nd Infantry Regiment of the 65th Division has captured the headquarters of the Coastal Fortress garrison.”
Xiplin: “Very good, excellent.”
The Army Group Chief of Staff asked, “Shall we enter the city to spend the night?”
Xiplin shook his head: “No, let’s find a house near the battery to stay overnight, as long as it’s inconspicuous. The Ante people are now too fond of bombing our headquarters.”
“This way, please.” His adjutant immediately made a welcoming gesture.
“Oh? Have we found one already? Good, take me there.”
Shortly after, a group of people arrived at a small wooden hut, but the people who should have been living there were nowhere to be found.
From the decorations, this seemed to be a cottage that had belonged to Tatars for generations.
Xiplin entered the hut and, satisfied with the decor, said: “Good, very good, we will set up the headquarters here. Set up the antennas quickly, I can’t wait to send the victory message to His Majesty.”
————
On July 2nd, 915, Xiplin and his staff were drinking coffee in the room when suddenly a staff officer walked in, stood at attention, and saluted: “Your Excellency the General, I request permission to turn on the radio!”
Xiplin raised an eyebrow: “Oh? Turn it on.”
The radio was immediately turned on, and the staff officer skillfully adjusted the frequency until soon, the voice of Reinhard, the Imperial Emperor of the Prosen Empire, filled the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am eager to share with you a splendid piece of news, the Coastal Fortress that has been thwarting our nation’s advances since last year has been entirely under our control since yesterday! The Ante Empire has faced another great defeat, meaning they have completely lost their command over the White Sea!”
“Last year, we failed to force them into a Carolingian-like surrender, but this year, we still have the hope to end the war! Ante is at the end of its strength; over the past year, they have lost five million troops! They are soon to have no soldiers left to fight!” Continue your journey with empire
The broadcast continued, but the expressions of the senior officers of the 11th Army Group in the room were very solemn.
They could no longer be as optimistic as before. Although last year it was mainly General Mud, General Winter, and the overly long supply line that defeated the Prosen Army before Ye Fort, even now, the Ante Army was still unable to stop the Prosen advance, but…
The officers could sense that this year, there was a world of difference in the level and fighting spirit of the Ante Army.
Everyone was quietly listening to the Emperor’s speech, but it wasn’t out of reverence for the Emperor.
At last, when the Emperor spoke about the Ante people being in dire straits, Xiplin picked up a can on the table used as an ashtray, turned it to the front, and looked at the word “spam” spelt out in Onsa language on it.
Obviously, the notion that Ante was starving only existed in His Imperial Majesty’s imagination.
After the speech ended, Xiplin waved his hand: “Continue with our plans. Capturing the fortress is not the end. About ninety thousand men are compressed into that small area by the seaside, still stubbornly resisting…”
The confidential secretary came in with a telegram: “Report, General, His Imperial Majesty has sent an urgent message.”
“Read it.”
“Admirable Erik von Xiplin, General, your victory undoubtedly marks a good start to our offensive in the year 915, making a sweep through the entire southern Ante possible. In view of your consistently outstanding performance, I have decided to promote you to the rank of Marshal! Imperial Emperor Reinhard von Hohenzollern.”
Xiplin frowned: “Promoted by two ranks at once, this is creating a rift between me and the other generals.”
He kept shaking his head, yet couldn’t conceal the smile on his lips.
The Chief of Staff suggested: “On this joyful day, let us hold a banquet tonight and invite all the officers currently in the city and the Iron Cross recipients to dine together.”
Xiplin nodded: “Good! Moreover, there’s no need to wait until evening, let’s have a drink now to celebrate the victory! Bring the wine!”
Thus, the Coastal Fortress, after a year of battle, finally fell into enemy hands.
Incidentally, the evening banquet had to be stopped midway because twelve Bo-2 bombers bombed the city at night, choosing the only place in the entire city without blackout restrictions, resulting in the death of five junior officers.