Arc of Fire

Chapter 618: Chapter 61 “It’s over, it’s over

November 9th, at the Headquarters of the Western Front Army.

Pavlov stuffed a document to Wang Zhong, “The heavy snow is still severely disrupting our troop assembly and ammunition stockpiling, despite mobilizing a million civilians to clear the snow along the railway lines, trains are still severely delayed.”

Wang Zhong, “What about other means of transport?”

"We’ve mobilized three million civilians for transport; just in the heavy snow, over two thousand people have died, but it’s still delayed. If the time of attack is set on the 10th, we really won’t make it.” Pavlov returned to his position, picked up a cup of hot coffee, warming his hands on it.

Wang Zhong, “There are still 11 days.”

Popov suddenly slammed the table, “Damn it, I was just in a local church looking at the collected heroic deeds; I really want to counterattack today, rush up and kill those Prosens!”

"It’s snowing heavily,” Wang Zhong consoled, “If you really think that, you should’ve ridden in the little tanks with me the other day.”

Pavlov, “No! Our Front Army already has you as the high-ranking general taking risks on the battlefield! Oh right, today I arranged for the Guard First Mechanized to rotate, the enemies won’t respond in this heavy snow.”

"Losses are still less than half,” boomed a voice from the door.

Wang Zhong turned his head and saw a polar bear.

"Shake off the snow first,” he said, “And don’t shake it off inside Headquarters; it’s cold enough in here already, and when the snow melts, it’ll turn this place into an ice cave.”

The polar bear nodded, “Alright, I’ll be right back.”

After shaking off outside for a while, Yegorov entered Headquarters, sporting a conspicuous bandage, “The snow is really coming down hard. If a person faints in the snowfield, they’ll be buried without a trace in seconds.”

Wang Zhong, “Which unit did the rotation?”

"The 515th Infantry Division; they’re a bunch of young lads who dream of having the title of Guards. Don’t worry, they’ll hold the Nameless Highlands.”

Wang Zhong, “We have lost so many brave warriors; the Nameless Highlands should have a name by now. After the war ends, I want to build a statue there.” ɽàΝо₿Ès

"A group statue of soldiers?” Popov nodded, “Sure, that can be done when the war’s over.”

Wang Zhong, “No, that’s the starting point of the counterattack. I want to build a statue of the Motherland Mother clutching a raised sword, one hand with the sword, the other pointing to Plowsonia. The counterattack starts from here!”

Yegorov laughed, “Hahaha, that’s great! In the future, when I bring my son or daughter under the statue, I can say that their old dad was stationed here, here where we exceeded our mission!”

Pavlov, “What about making the statue from steel? Use the helmets, weapons, and tanks abandoned by the enemy on the hills to make it, melted down and recast into a statue!”

Wang Zhong shook his head, “No, a metal statue is too troublesome to maintain and it won’t last long enough. If human civilization perishes in the future, it will gradually disappear.

"I think those pieces of steel should be cast into farming tools, to till the land and restore homes. As for the statue, it’s better to make it from marble.”

Turning swords into plowshares; this is just too romantic, so fitting of Wang Zhong, the man from Ceres.

Popov, “This is a great idea! When the war is over, I’ll apply to come here, specifically to supervise this matter.”

At the end of the war, everyone in Headquarters stopped when they heard Popov speak.

The end of the war, these words weren’t merely a wishful thinking for the first time, but a certainty that would happen.

Yegorov slapped his thigh, “The Prosens said that this assault will end the war, but they didn’t expect they’d actually be right. This battle will indeed end the war, but not in the way they imagined!”

Wang Zhong, “Now is not the time to relax, ‘With remaining courage chase the retreating brigands; do not seek fame like a braggart king.'”

Everyone was stunned, as the translator and chef that Wang Zhong had brought back from the Federation were not present, no one understood this phrase in the Ceres language.

This was the effect Wang Zhong wanted.

He looked at Yegorov and changed the subject, “Your mission is complete, you and the soldiers of the Guard First Mechanized can now rest. Take care of your injuries.”

Yegorov stood at attention, saluting Wang Zhong, “Front Army Commander Comrade Alexei Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, the Guard First ‘Red Flag’ Mechanized Infantry Division is requesting to end combat duty, Division Commander Yegorov!”

Wang Zhong stood up and saluted him in return, “Approved, thank you for your fierce battle.”

Yegorov lowered his hand, turned to leave.

Wang Zhong, “Wait! Eat before you go. Signalman, let the mess hall cook some noodles.”

Yegorov scratched his nose, “That’s unnecessary. There’s plenty of hot food and hot meals in the rear, and we’re not heading to the front lines.”

"Finish what you started. You’re the first commander who ate my food and came back alive,” Wang Zhong restrained his expression, “Finally, someone has come back; otherwise, this meal of mine would really become what they call ‘a parting meal.’ It’s actually so delicious.”

Yegorov: “That really does taste good. Alright, let’s have it again. So, what is it today? Did you just say noodles? Are Ceres noodles different from ours?”

"That’s right, they are different. My cook, although he’s from the southern part of Ceres, can also make noodles in gravy. You have to try it.”

November 12th, Prosen Sixth Army Group Headquarters.

General Frederick looked out the window and noticed the snow had finally stopped.

He said to the orderly, “The snow has stopped, and at least General Winter will not hinder our retreat now.”

The orderly replied, “I’m more concerned about whether our supplies can be restored after the snow stops. I don’t want to keep eating compressed biscuits with Antean pickles.”

General Frederick said, “After we retreat to Shepetovka, not only will we have delicious food, but also Prosen sausages, and everyone will be able to get plump—every single one of us!”

Having said that, he left the room in high spirits and headed straight for the headquarters. His first question upon entering was, “Has the High Command’s response come? Has our request to retreat been approved?”

The Chief of Staff, holding a telephone receiver, looked seriously at General Frederick, “General, it’s a call from the Emperor.”

Frederick frowned slightly and slowed his pace.

But he couldn’t really refuse to take a call from the Emperor, so he reluctantly approached the phone and took the receiver, “I am Frederick.”

"Is the new offensive ready? I see the weather forecast predicts clear skies today,” said the Plathen Emperor on the other end of the phone.

Frederick glanced at the window; it was indeed clear outside, and the winter sun was even shining through the glass.

He had no time to enjoy the view and answered cautiously, “Our supplies haven’t been brought up yet. The troops have been starving for days and freezing terribly. Many have died directly in the icy wilderness.”

In the severe cold, the human body naturally consumes stored fat to maintain body temperature, and, unfortunately, at such times, the entire Sixth Army Group had no food to eat.

As a result, many soldiers had starved to death.

Among those who didn’t die, many suffered from frostbite.

Furthermore, many were suffering from colds and fevers, some simply had gastrointestinal problems due to not eating properly, which also induced high fever.

Now Frederick’s Sixth Army Group was filled with sick soldiers, and even if the weather warmed up immediately, they had little strength to launch an attack.

Moreover, the temperature was still around minus 40 degrees—sunshine or not, it hardly made a difference.

Everything Frederick was saying was the truth; it was simply not possible to launch an offensive at such a time.

However, the Emperor on the other end was pounding on the table—or perhaps something else; he was hitting something hard, yelling loudly, “You’re freezing, the enemy too! It’s a battle for the last breath! I’m sending the Armored Army your way, as soon as they arrive, you’ll launch an attack!”

At that moment, the Air Force liaison officer came in and placed a bag on the table in front of Frederick, right beside the telephone.

The Chief of Staff considerately picked up the bag, broke the seal, and took out photos from inside, turning pale after flipping through a few.

Frederick listened to the Emperor’s rant from the other end of the phone while he took a photograph from the staff officer’s hand.

It was an aerial reconnaissance photo showing neatly lined tanks. The pencil notes on the photo indicated that this was the situation across the Valdai Hills River.

Frederick asked the Air Force liaison officer, “How many tanks were photographed?”

"A lot, the entire opposite bank is covered. And because of the previous snow disaster, they seem to have overlooked aerial concealment. Our intelligence believes there’s at least 600,000 troops gathered across the Valdai Hills River.”

Frederick interrupted the Emperor, “Your Majesty! I have some latest information here—the enemy has gathered six hundred thousand troops on the east bank of the Valdai Hills River; they might be counterattacking! I must retreat immediately, or it will be too late!”

The Emperor cursed, “The Anteans have just deployed several hundred thousand reserve troops on the Western Front Army side; they can’t possibly have six hundred thousand men, impossible! You should know, your opponent is that Rocossov; he made a bunch of fake tanks at Yeisk and fooled us!

"This must be his deception plan! You’ll be falling right into his trap if you believe it! He’s vulnerable right now; you must attack, attack!”

Frederick was silent for a few seconds, then replied, “I’ll try my best.”

"Not ‘try your best’! You need a decisive attitude to attack, to seize victory! Among all the generals, you are the closest to defeating Rocossov! Attack!”

Frederick sighed softly, then answered with a stern face, “I will carry out your orders!”

"Good, if you need anything, just ask. The Air Force will support you to the fullest.”

Frederick forced an excited tone, “Really? That’s wonderful.”

"Looking forward to your good news,” said the Imperial Emperor before hanging up.

Frederick slowly placed the receiver down, “No knowledge of the authority of the three forces, but sharing the responsibility of the three forces, every critical juncture, always direct intervention and command! It’s over, all over!”

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