Arc of Fire

October 22, 0830 hours, Antean Abawahan Front Army Headquarters.

Wang Zhong stared at the second hand on his watch, and after it passed the number 12, he looked up and asked, "Has the enemy attacked yet?"

Pavlov: "At least for now, no troops have reported coming under artillery fire."

Wang Zhong snapped his fingers: "Good! The enemy really is out of shells! Today, we’ll take the time to adjust the defensive line, and swap out as many of the wounded as possible, sending them to the rear to recover. When they return after healing, they will all be combat backbones.

"We’re in the greatest need of combat backbones."

Pavlov: "Don’t worry, we’ve summarized last year’s experiences and also took a look at the practices of the Allied Forces. The number of aid stations and field hospitals has increased a lot compared to before, and the arrangements are also more logical.

"Although we can’t reach the casualty evacuation rate of the Federation troops, it’s still much better than last year."

Popov: "The Church is also organizing a large number of stretcher teams, formed by uncles between forty and fifty years old as well as women who want to contribute, and we’ve even organized ox-cart teams that specifically transport the wounded."

After a brief pause, the Military Bishop from the Front Army added: "As well as bodies. Since all the large bags were used to fill sandbags for rebuilding the barricades, we now don’t have enough body bags. It’s only by the Church’s utmost efforts that we can ensure each corpse cart gets a piece of tarpaulin to cover up."

Wang Zhong: "No need to worry, even if the new soldiers who come here can’t see the dead bodies, they’ll learn through other ways that this place is Purgatory."

Popov: "That’s the plain truth. The closed transport cars that bring the new soldiers, on their return journeys, carry the wounded. I made a round at the train station yesterday; all the cars inside were covered in blood and various types of vomit. When the soldiers boarded in Yeburg, they knew what kind of Hell this place was."

At this moment, Yakov changed the subject: "Now that the enemy is out of ammunition, can we counter-attack a bit?"

Wang Zhong: "Indeed, we could try if we had the troops, but right now, all the forces we haven’t committed to battle are preparing for the upcoming landing operation. That’s the main event. If successful, we can transport many troops and supplies down the river before the Valdai Hills River freezes."

Yakov nodded: "I see, I’ve learned something new."

Popov: "Learn more, your predecessor Vasily has already finished learning, and he’s now studying at the military academy. When he comes out, he’ll be a battalion commander, and he might even make General after the war."

Yakov laughed: "I’m good as a staff officer, but let’s leave commanding aside."

At that moment, a gust of wind suddenly blew in from the direction of the doorway, scattering many papers on the table. A bunch of staff officers started clamoring to pick them up.

Wang Zhong turned his head to see a burly figure standing at the entrance.

"Yegorov!" He exclaimed with delight, "You’ve finally arrived! Where is my Guard First Mechanized?"

Yegorov, while slapping the rainwater off his body, walked towards Wang Zhong: "They’re on their way, they’re on their way. They said the frontline is in desperate need of infantry, so they sent the infantry regiment over first. And let me tell you, they wanted to break up your regiment, saying it was a waste to concentrate so many combat backbones in one unit, and they should break it up into several regiments.

"I said sure, but all new regiments that are formed would be under Rokossov’s command. Otherwise, I’d write to the Royal Palace and let the Admiral’s sister weigh in on it! In the end, they broke off four regiments and formed a new 230th Division, also under the name of the Guard First Mobile Group Army."

Wang Zhong: "I’ve got another division now?"

Pavlov shook his head: "Yes, the 230th Division. It doesn’t have a temporary designation, but it’s lacking in artillery and various support units; only the infantry regiments are at full strength. According to the plan, this division was to continue training and become a composite division that meets your standards before being moved to the frontline.

"But given the current situation, I’ve ordered the 230th Division to head to the frontline as well."

Wang Zhong: "Who is the Division Commander? Do I know him?"

Yegorov: "You might not. He’s an old guy who’s great at drinking. The mobilization hadn’t reached his age yet, but he came running anyway. He should be on one of the later trains."

The bear-like Yegorov stopped and looked around, asking: "Is there any water?"

Yakov immediately brought over a glass: "Here."

Yegorov took the glass, not drinking it right away, and after sizing up Yakov said: "Not bad, you look more like a real Deputy Officer than that hothead Vasily. Our distinguished Admiral finally has a proper Deputy Officer!"

Wang Zhong: "We were just talking about him, saying that if he learns a bit more here, he can go back to the academy for further training and become a battalion commander when he gets out."

"Good, learning from the Admiral is definitely right!" Yegorov patted Yakov on the shoulder and drained the glass of water, "But back to business, where should I go? We have one regiment of infantry that’s arrived; Whirlwinds and tanks are on the way. Oh right, I brought your vehicle number 422 over."

Pavlov: "That was not necessary; our Commander now has a new ride, the tactical number 422 is a Pe-3 reconnaissance plane."

"Switched to planes?" Yegorov looked puzzled, "Isn’t that thing very fragile? What if it’s shot down?"

"You don’t have to worry about that." Amelia’s voice came from behind Yegorov.

Yegorov turned around, and immediately clicked his tongue, "Tsk, this... might not be good, Vasilyevna is on the way, might arrive at any moment. I hear she’s letting military vehicles pass and is currently on her way here on foot?"

Wang Zhong: "Yes, that was at my direction, hoping she’d arrive at this Purgatory later, better if she stays on the opposite side of the river."

Yegorov glanced at Amelia: "Is that true?"

Amelia sighed: "Of course it’s true, my relationship with Admiral Rokossovsky is completely platonic, everyone knows that. To avoid the spread of rumors, I even moved my quarters to the airfield. When he’s not scouting, I fly my Spitfire into battle."

Wang Zhong: "These past two days, she’s shot down another four Prosen fighters, and a bomber."

"Two," Amelia corrected, "Two bombers."

Yegorov’s eyes bulged in amazement, "That impressive? Shot down six planes in two days? Even more remarkable than ’White Lily’ Liliya who made the newspapers!"

Wang Zhong, "She’s a Witch, remember? She took out my Falconer from three kilometers away who was trying to assassinate me."

Yegorov scratched his head, "True, I thought she was just a good shot, like those female snipers with talent."

Wang Zhong, "If it hadn’t been for her escort, my flight back home would have been sent to the bottom of the Inland Sea by Prosen’s twin-engine heavy fighters." Experience tales at

Yegorov immediately showed his respect to Amelia, "That’s quite something. On behalf of the whole Army Group, thank you, Pilot Davarish."

"It’s what I should do," Amelia said with a smile.

It was then that Pavlov approached, holding an order and handed it to Yegorov, "This is your mission. We have a salient on the front line that is currently surrounded by the enemy on three sides, which we’ve named Nameless Highlands. Naval Infantry Brigade 393 and anti-tank battalion from Division 225 took over defense last night and have been battling the enemy for a day.

"Your job is to replace them. Also, the enemy should be running low on ammunition by now, so see if you can launch a small-scale counterattack to relieve the situation around the Nameless Highlands a bit."

Yegorov flipped through the orders, pausing on the attached map, and after looking at it for a few seconds said, "Possible. I’ll do some reconnaissance on site, and if I come up with a plan, I’ll launch the counterattack immediately and ask Front Army Headquarters for artillery support then."

Wang Zhong, "Just ask, we have plenty of artillery. Our allies have sent us more shells than we can use. I need you to hold the Nameless Highlands for at least two days."

Yegorov snapped to attention and saluted, "Mission will be accomplished!"

After he finished, he suddenly laughed, "Feels like we’re back to last year, when the war just started, and this time the defense duration is even longer."

Wang Zhong also laughed, "Yeah, last year under my command we held the line—well, mainly due to the timely arrival of KV tanks. Now you have to hold out longer, and there are no KVs."

"I have the Whirlwind," Yegorov said confidently, "This is much more reliable than the KV heavy tanks, one of the great things you’ve introduced, General. Well, I’m off!"

"Wait!" Wang Zhong called out to him, "Eat before you go. I’ll join you for a meal."

He stood up, patted Yegorov’s shoulder, and walked out.

Pavlov, "If there’s any trouble, I’ll send someone to the mess hall to call you."

Yegorov followed Wang Zhong out, talking as they walked, "Is this a last meal?"

Wang Zhong, "Don’t talk such nonsense. However, you’re not wrong; this time could be different, and this may well be your last hot meal."

Yegorov, "Why are you suddenly getting sentimental? Are you still the same man who came back from Hell?"

Wang Zhong, "I’m just inviting you for a meal. Why are you reading so much into it?"

Yegorov burst out laughing and changed the subject, "I heard your Ceres cook is quite skilled?"

Wang Zhong, "Yeah, everyone who tries his food says it’s delicious."

At this point, the two arrived at the mess hall, which was next to the Headquarters, where the burly Ceres cook was busy. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, saw Wang Zhong, and let out a hearty laugh, "Good morning!"

Wang Zhong responded in the "just learned" Cantonese, "Good morning, what are we having today?"

The cook answered, "I’ve got something different today! But definitely to the taste of the Anteans!"

Wang Zhong, despite understanding directly, still pretended to look at the translator for a translation.

The translator gave the response straightforwardly, "Today’s meal is a dish from the north of Ceres, pork and vermicelli stew."

The cook scooped out a portion directly from a pot—or more like a bucket.

Wang Zhong swallowed, his mouth watering.

Yegorov was already rubbing his hands in anticipation, "Ooh, this looks too good, it smells delicious! Reminds me of the stew from my hometown! What’s that transparent thing?"

Wang Zhong, "Vermicelli, a kind of... uh, Ceres noodle dish, I guess it’s a noodle dish."

Yegorov picked up an empty bowl from the table, "Fill it up, a dish that smells this good can’t be bad. Come on, fill it up!"

Wang Zhong, watching the excited Yegorov, asked the cook, "How much did you make? Enough to feed the entire battalion?"

The cook turned to the translator, who conveyed the question, then he looked troubled, "That’s... difficult. The main issue is we don’t have enough spices, though we have enough pork—oh right, and not enough vermicelli either."

While waiting for the translation, Yegorov had already started to eat heartily, like a bear with honey.

Yakov also came over, "This... looks really delicious, can I have a bowl too?"

"You bet!" Yegorov gestured to the bucket, "There’s a whole bucket’s worth; I can’t finish it all by myself!"

You actually thought of finishing it?

Wang Zhong suppressed the urge to comment and watched as the two Anteans, one plump and one skinny, feasted heartily.

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