Arc of Fire

The church, Popov stepped out of the cathedral and said to the people gathered around, “The main force is now ready to break out! They will attract the enemy’s attention, and we, along with the choir, will push through from different directions and meet them at Shepetovka!”

“Those willing to follow the main force, head over to headquarters; you might catch the tail end. But under the current circumstances, even the main force may not be able to break out.”

“Separated, the enemy might ignore us because we’re militias and laborers!”

Someone in the crowd shouted, “What about the Guardian Army still fighting?”

Popov, “When it comes down to melee combat with the Prussian Infantry, their chances are slim. With the Guardian Army’s level of training and organization, there is virtually no chance of them retreating in an orderly manner from in front of the enemy.

“I’ve been through the same thing in Loktov. Once the Guardian Army makes contact with the Prussians in the city, there are only two outcomes: First, maintain the will to fight until the last moment. Second, lose the will to fight and flee en masse, only to be killed by the Prussians.

“Only a few will manage to escape.”

Popov paused, then continued, “If the situation is so bad that the Guardian Army must engage the enemy face to face, it means the regular army is nearly finished, and that is the current scenario. So we can only hope that the Guardian Army’s fighting spirit will hold until we break out of the encirclement, delaying the enemy as long as possible.

“Such is war. If anyone is dissatisfied, you can lay down your weapons and go back home—after all, you’re not in uniform. As for what the Prussians will do after they occupy this place, all I can say is good luck.

Popov drew his pistol, “Move out!”

Stroking his rosary, Su Fang silently prayed, “Saint Andrew protect us,” then followed in Popov’s footsteps with the choir.

————

August 6, 0230 hours, Shepetovka.

Duke Meishikin coughed violently.

An orderly quickly came to pat his back and meanwhile brought him a cup of hot coffee.

The Duke stopped coughing, took a sip of coffee, and then let out a long sigh of relief.

He then turned to Major General Skudzheski, commander of the Tenth Tank Corps, “General…Your Excellency, may I ask how is the preparation for your troops’ strike going?”

Duke Meishikin was polite to everyone, even to his subordinates, and everyone had become accustomed to it.

Skudzheski, “We started preparation for the offensive yesterday at 2020 hours, and now we are ready to depart at any time.”

“Very good,” the Duke of Meishikin coughed once again, but this time he didn’t continue relentlessly, “We have received a distress telegram from the 151st Infantry Division in Orachi, and we can now be sure that the enemy’s main forces from the Second Armored Group have moved southward.”

Skudzheski, delighted, said, “Then we strike straight ahead!”

“No, no,” the enemy has certainly prepared their defenses at the front. Although breaking through the enemy’s front lines and cutting off the Second Armored Group’s supply line seems very tempting, no, we cannot do that.

“It’s not possible, to be precise. I have fully experienced our tank army’s offensive capabilities… and I don’t wish to experience it again.”

Skudzheski frowned, “Then what do you mean?”

Duke Meishikin stepped up to the map, “Between us and Orachi, there are only a few enemy defense positions. Clearly, the enemy is more worried about their supply lines being cut off than us rescuing General Rokossovsky’s 151st Infantry Division.

“Look, three highways converge at Orachi into an inverted ‘Y’ shape. The enemy only has defenses on the vertical line, and although there are troops between us and Orachi, those troops have their attention solely on Orachi.

“If your tank army sets out now and speeds along the highway, you will strike the enemy unexpectedly.”

Skudzheski frowned, “You mean we should not deploy in an attack formation?”

“Yes, that’s exactly the point of surprise. You could even turn on your tank’s headlights, charge up to the enemy, and then fire flares before butchering them.”

“Would that work?” Skudzheski frowned, “If we were equipped with T34s, it would be okay; in the chaos, the enemy wouldn’t be able to penetrate our armor. But we have only BT series tanks!”

Duke Meishikin laughed, “That’s the beauty of BTs. T34s might not have such an element of surprise. This is a nighttime sprint, and I will assign you an infantry regiment to ride on the tanks.

“That way, you will look even more like a troop on the move, and in the pitch darkness, the enemy won’t be able to make out the contours of the tanks.”

Skudzheski: “But the enemy knows their troops wouldn’t be coming from this direction…”

Duke Meishikin interrupted him, “Their commanders might know, but what about the rank and file? Even the Prussian Army couldn’t possibly have every low-ranking officer clued in on the overall situation.

“Besides, the enemy has been rushing south these past few days; they’re all tired. Trust me, Skudzheski! In five minutes, I will order the artillery to fire, a bombardment that will last two hours. During that time, you have to hurry through. The artillery will only cover the enemy positions on both sides of the highway.

“Once you’re past, the infantry units will begin their attack.”

Skudzheski nodded, “Alright, I trust you. Then I’m off.”

Duke Meishikin: “Remember, whether in terms of training or equipment, you are no match for the Prussians’ armored units. This is merely a rescue mission, to extricate as many of the 151st Division’s survivors as possible. Once they’ve passed, return to Shepetovka.

“I will order the infantry units to advance along the highway to rendezvous with you—it’s a pick-up for the pick-up units. General Rokossovsky has managed to hold Orachi with so few troops for so long, he’s a true expert in defensive warfare. I believe he will be of great use in the future.

“We may have to conduct strategic defense for another year or even two, and he is of the utmost importance to us. Utmost!”

Skudzheski saluted, “I will ensure the mission is completed.”

Having said that, he turned and left the command post.

Perhaps it was due to relaxation, but Duke Meishikin began to cough violently again.

His Military Bishop said worriedly, “You should be careful with your health. After all, you have just returned from convalescing in Liechtenstein…”

Meishikin waved his hand dismissively, “The mountain air being effective for my condition is complete nonsense. I was there for two years, and there was no improvement. Of course, the air there is fresher and the scenery is pleasant, which did lift my spirits. But that’s about it, a lifted spirit.”

The Chief of Staff said, “Sometimes, a lifted spirit itself can improve one’s condition…”

“How can I feel cheerful in this situation? Since we’re bound to die, I choose to die on the battlefield,” Duke Meishikin coughed a few times, then glanced at the seat clock in the corner, “Time’s up, let the artillery begin.”

The Chief of Staff picked up the phone, “This is the Chief of Staff, start according to plan.”

————

The blast wave swept over everyone on top of Tank No. 422 the moment it fired.

Nelly pressed her boat-shaped hat down with her hand, practically hiding behind the turret.

Ludmila had already lost her hat, she was sitting half on the turret, her whole body leaning against Wang Zhong.

About a hundred meters away at the crossroads, the enemy’s tank caught fire, the tank operators popped open the hatches and scrambled out, rolling on the ground to extinguish the flames.

Wang Zhong manned the anti-aircraft machine gun, ending their agony.

“Machine gunner! Set up the machine gun at this crossroads, block it! Leave a traffic conductor to guide the main force!”

After issuing orders to the infantry unit beside him, Wang Zhong immediately pressed the microphone again, “Load high-explosive shells, let’s collapse the houses ahead and block the enemy’s path!”

Ludmila heard someone shout from inside the hatch, “High-explosive shell, okay!”

The next moment, the cannon fired, and the blast tore at Ludmila’s silver hair.

The half-building behind the destroyed tank was hit, and as the supporting pillars were blasted away, it collapsed sideways, immediately blocking most of the road.

The Prussians courageously crossed the intersection, only to be cut down by the tank and the newly set up machine gun.

The next moment, the enemy used their favorite smoke.

Wang Zhong, “Aim at the breakpoint in the smoke, the enemy is also human, they also feel fear!”

The infantry machine gunner immediately did as told, continuously firing short bursts into the smoke with the “big-pan chicken,” and indeed no new enemies came through.

Wang Zhong, “Beliyakov, turn left, we continue to clear the way!”

The tank turned around.

Seeing this, the other tanks hurriedly followed suit, and the column of tanks resumed its progress through the city.

Wang Zhong, “Turn left at the crossroads ahead.”

Ludmila looked at Wang Zhong in surprise, “Do you know this city so well?”

Wang Zhong, “I’m a commander, I know every road in this city.”

As the tank passed an apartment building, a woman with several children stood at the entrance, looking coldly at the tank column.

Wang Zhong, “Stop!”

Beliyakov immediately hit the brakes.

Wang Zhong, “Madam! Let the children get on! You can follow the troops!”

The woman held her head high, “My ancestors were Prussians!”

Nelly, “A spy! Why didn’t the Judge execute her?”

While the little boy also on the tank raised his submachine gun, “Let me kill her!”

Wang Zhong, “No, the Prussians won’t let him go, let her reap what she sows. Beliyakov, move forward!”

Tank No. 422 started moving again.

Tank after tank passed by the woman, followed by trucks, ox carts, and the marching infantry column.

Everyone looked at the family.

The woman held her head high, displaying the arrogance of a superior race looking down upon an inferior race.

No one knew whether her ancestors were Prussians, but she herself was probably a true Prussian.

————

After finally leaving the city, Ludmila breathed a sigh of relief and turned her head to Wang Zhong, “You don’t seem worried at all, as if you know whether or not there are enemies ahead!”

Wang Zhong, “Nonsense, how could I possibly know? I only have a hundred percent confidence in eliminating the enemy, that’s all. To be honest, if the enemy surrounds us and doesn’t attack, I’m not sure how we’d break out.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Infantry Group 31 hidden in the forest shouted, “The General! Is that the General?”

Wang Zhong, “It’s me! How are things?”

The next moment, a group of people stood up in the forest.

Beliyakov stopped advancing without waiting for Wang Zhong’s order.

A lieutenant-colonel ran up to the tank, saluted, “We’ve repelled the enemy’s night assault; over a hundred of us from our battalion are left, all here.”

Wang Zhong, “You’ve worked hard. I’ll lead the way, and you follow and retreat!”

The lieutenant-colonel saluted and turned away.

Wang Zhong, “Beliyakov, move forward!”

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