Arc of Fire

At 2330 on October 30, the headquarters of the Prosen Thirty-First Army.

The corps commander was scolding his subordinates when suddenly, gunshots from a submachine gun rang out in front of the military department’s doors. The commander, a sly old fox, immediately hit the ground and shouted, "Check the situation, quickly!"

Following that, the sound of machine gun fire and explosions erupted outside.

After much commotion, the nearby gunfire finally subsided, and the Guard Corps commander personally came in to report, "It was Antean deserters wandering nearby! We’ve killed them all."

The corps commander stood up, brushing the dust from his clothes, and retorted, "Would deserters attack a military department protected by an entire Guard Corps? This is their combat team! What are the casualties for the Guard Corps?"

The commander reported truthfully, "Five killed, five wounded."

The corps commander: "They were in three-man teams, weren’t they? Then they’ve profited. A simple numbers game, they had no intention of leaving the city alive, only cared about how many of us they could take down with them. Who knows how many of our men this combat team has already killed."

Everyone in the headquarters was grim-faced, and the Chief of Staff cursed on behalf of everyone, "Such a despicable tactic! Absolutely without honor!"

"How is there no honor, warriors who face death with equanimity are always worthy of respect." The corps commander leaned on the desk with both hands, "When I accepted my task from General Frederick over there, I didn’t expect to be waiting for such a rotten fight."

He stared at the city map on the table for a few seconds, then asked, "Do we have enough poison gas? Faced with resistance that melts away and fires from every corner, only poison gas can do the job."

The military Chief of Staff shook his head, "No."

"Then, can we poison the water supply?" asked the corps commander.

The Chief of Staff reminded him somewhat awkwardly, "The Valdai Hills River is a freshwater river, General."

"My apologies, I shouldn’t have asked that question." The corps commander stared at the city map, silent for a very long time, before finally sighing, "It’s over, unless we have much more manpower than the Anteans, we won’t be able to take this city."

Everyone in the headquarters exchanged glances.

Everyone knew it was impossible to have more manpower than the Anteans, and with each passing day, the enemy grew stronger, with train lines on the East Bank and ships transporting troops across the river.

After a silence of a full five minutes, the corps commander spoke again, "Unless, we can break the enemy’s will to fight. Where’s Rocossov’s headquarters? On the other bank?"

The military Chief of Staff answered, "We haven’t captured any complete city defense maps, and most of our prisoners were determined to face death. So, we don’t know where Rocossov’s headquarters are."

"That’s impossible." The corps commander shook his head, "If he’s on this side, on the West Bank, he would certainly let his soldiers know he’s here to boost morale. You simply caught some particularly brave prisoners; there must be cowards who would reveal Rocossov’s headquarters."

At this point, the corps commander’s Deputy Officer said, "Actually, we don’t need to strike at Rocossov’s headquarters right now. The Army Group’s artillery has been continuously bombarding the ferry point across the bank.

"The Anteans are still able to constantly receive supplies and reinforcements because there’s a tunnel under the river. We can launch a raid at the tunnel entrance and shut down this major supply artery. Then the enemy will be completely crippled.

"This riverbed tunnel, our spies have already gathered relevant information, even photographed blueprints. The exit on the West Bank is at this location."

The Deputy Officer pointed to a spot on the map, "Look, it’s also marked on the city defense map."

The corps commander nodded, "Immediately devise a plan, organize a combat group, and launch an attack targeting the tunnel entrance. Don’t mind the scattered enemy forces or casualties, charge straight to the objective."

Speaking, he looked up at the time, "Complete the formation tonight, set out first thing tomorrow morning!"

At the same time, Wang Zhong was also looking at a map.

Popov’s voice was filled with joy: "The enemy’s attack speed is much slower than we thought. It seems that the tactic of melting away is working very well."

Wang Zhong: "No, it’s the collective will of the warriors that deserves the credit. Without such strong fighting will, they wouldn’t be able to maintain such tactics.

"If it were the fighting will of the Moravian troops attacking Beachhead One, as soon as the leading officers died, the soldiers would scatter."

Pavlov: "Yes, in our Ante military textbooks, there’s no such tactic. Maybe it’s because in the past, we never had an army where even if the officers and non-coms were sacrificed, the soldiers would continue to fight."

Wang Zhong stood up, slapped the map, and looked back at everyone: "This war is turning our army into steel. One day, this army will crumble the evil Empire of Prosen like rotting wood."

As soon as he finished speaking, two senior military officers and a Military Chaplain were brought into the headquarters.

They spotted Wang Zhong at first glance and saluted in unison: "General Rocossov! We are the corps commander, Chief of Staff, and Military Bishop of the Sixty-Second Army Group."

Wang Zhong returned the salute: "Hello, if you want to understand the current situation, look at this map. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask Chief of Staff Pavlov."

"There’s nothing we don’t understand, we’ve studied the situation before coming here. Commander Rocossov, please give your orders."

Wang Zhong: "How’s the morale of your troops? Can they withstand each warrior engaging the enemy alone in the city?"

The Sixty-Second Army Group’s Commander and Chief of Staff looked at each other, then both turned to the Military Bishop.

The Bishop answered: "I believe they can. They are determined warriors, many have family who have sacrificed in the war. They will fight the Prosens to the last moment."

Wang Zhong: "Very well, I order you to split the entire army group into combat teams, each company responsible for one block, with the sole objective of inflicting maximum casualties on the Prosens before we are sacrificed."

The senior officers of the Army Group exchanged glances once more, and then the commander replied, "Yes, we guarantee to complete the mission."

Wang Zhong turned to ask Yakov, "Is the kitchen still able to cook hot meals?"

"It can’t, didn’t you eat canned food yesterday?"

Wang Zhong: "Then bring some vodka, I’ll have a drink with a few commanders."

"Yes." Yakov turned and ran off.

After sending off the senior officers of the sixty-second, Wang Zhong sat down and said, "How many more excellent commanders do I have to send off? Has Panfilov’s headquarters been contacted?"

The headquarters of the Sixteenth Army Group had been out of contact since yesterday. No matter how many signalmen Wang Zhong dispatched to check the lines, telephone communication had not been restored.

They also didn’t respond to the radio calls from the Front Army Headquarters, and the radio was completely silent.

In fact, Wang Zhong had a faint sense the headquarters of the Sixteenth at least had been destroyed. But aerial reconnaissance showed that the Train Dispatch Yard was still in combat, and the enemy had not taken control of this support point for the first line of defense.

So, Wang Zhong still harbored a sliver of hope.

But that flower of hope was gradually withering.

Pavlov: "We haven’t made contact with them. But the Train Dispatch Yard is still fighting."

Wang Zhong nodded his head.

Pavlov continued, "Considering the enemy’s rate of advance, I think we can stop sending troops into the city. The enemy is no longer pushing forward. We should start gathering forces for a counterattack. In fact, I’ve already ordered the tank units and Cavalry Troops, unsuited for urban meat grinders, to stay on the opposite bank of the river, preparing for the upcoming counterattack."

Wang Zhong: "You did right, stuffing more tanks into the city center makes no sense. What are the casualties for the enemy’s 41st Armored Army besieging our first beachhead?"

Pavlov: "Using the most conservative estimates, we think they have lost seventy percent of their tank and armored vehicles, eighty percent of their troops."

Wang Zhong: "Can they withstand our attack?"

"If there’s enough artillery, they can’t withstand it," Pavlov said.

Wang Zhong crossed his arms and stared at the war zone map for a while before asking, "How many troops do you estimate are needed to completely encircle our current Sixth Army Group?"

"At least six hundred thousand," Pavlov replied instantly, obviously having considered it already.

Wang Zhong: "How long would it take to assemble one million troops on the opposite bank?" Experience more on

Pavlov: "Just assembling the troops, ten days would suffice, but I think setting the counterattack date for November 20th is more prudent. By that time, the enemy will be more fatigued, their supply situation worse, and maybe General Winter will lend a hand.

"Our preparations will be more thorough, with more heavy artillery, more ample ammunition."

Wang Zhong maintained a pensive posture and only after a long time did he sigh, saying, "Let’s set it for November 20th. Based on this premise, we should formulate the operation plan. We want to land a big blow, to breathe out a heavy sigh of relief."

Pavlov turned to the staff officers and said, "You’ve all heard him, let’s get moving!"

Popov patted Wang Zhong on the shoulder, "Although I don’t think High Command will hold back our troop reinforcements, shouldn’t we make a call? To your foster sister?"

Wang Zhong thought for a moment and went directly to the telephone, lifting the receiver, "Connect me to the Summer Palace, the office of His Majesty the Tsar."

"Alright," the operator replied immediately.

A series of transfers followed and at last, Olga’s voice came through on the other end—the Empress herself had actually picked up the phone.

Wang Zhong: "Olga..."

"Is that Alyosha? What’s wrong? Has the front been breached? Tell me, what do you need me to do?" Olga’s voice was a bit panicky.

Wang Zhong: "No, the front seems to have stabilized for now, I’m planning our counterattack. Listen, I need about a million troops."

"Okay!" Olga answered immediately, "Is a million enough? I’ve just authorized four Army Groups as reinforcements for General Gorky of the Western Front Army. Do I need to come back?"

"No, no, they are attacking over there, they need troops too. There are still troops in the reserve Front Armies, just send them over."

"Will cavalry do?" Olga asked again.

Wang Zhong: "That’ll work, the situation here is actually very suitable for cavalry."

"Oh right," Olga suddenly remembered something, "since you’re not on the committee, they can’t find anyone to assess new equipment, so I went to check it out, and they’ve made the kind of city warfare gear you wanted for demolition. Should I send it along? It’s just a few rail cars’ worth."

Wang Zhong was taken aback for a second: "Uh, sure, okay."

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