Arc of Fire

130 kilometers from St. Ye Katerina Fortress, at the Nameless Station.

Although it was a nameless station, it had crucial water and coal refilling facilities, so most military trains would stop here temporarily. To cover the stopped trains, anti-aircraft troops had been deployed, and a temporary airfield was established. Gradually, the small town also began to flourish.

The headquarters train Wang Zhong was on also made a temporary stop here.

The three big shots of the First Mobile Group Army had regrouped during the retreat to Yarvik.

After all, once the Army Group retracted, they could retreat for reorganization and recuperation and did not need to take on the defense task of the Suhayaweili River. Before boarding the train, it was natural to reorganize the entire combat sequence of the Army Group.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

After letting go of the heavily depleted First Mobile Group Army, General Gorky’s Front Army pulled in two fully equipped Army Groups from the reserve armies.

Only the wounded world of the Prosens was completed.

As soon as Pavlov and Popov got off the train, they began to puff on smoke. Wang Zhong, who didn’t smoke, silently distanced himself from them and strolled along the platform.

Just then, a communications staff officer jumped down from the carriage housing the radio and ran quickly towards Wang Zhong. "Report! A telegram from Yarvik."

Pavlov asked, "Any news?"

Wang Zhong replied, "Nothing much, the Cavalry Regiment that stayed behind to stoke stoves every day has all come back. Only a few dozen were killed during enemy plane strafing, which is acceptable."

Popov laughed and said, "Such a large-scale retreat, only a few dozen casualties, and then you say ’acceptable’? Don’t be too demanding. That’s not just acceptable, that deserves a cheer: ’That’s great!’"

Wang Zhong raised his hands, "That’s great!"

"Too perfunctory!" Popov said.

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Wang Zhong shrugged and handed the telegram to Pavlov, who had come over so that he could take care of filing it.

Pavlov skimmed the telegram, folded it neatly, and handed it to a staff officer behind him. Then, after extinguishing his cigarette, he asked, "What shall we do after we get back to St. Ye Katerina Fortress?"

Wang Zhong answered, "First, sort out the tanks. Get our elite tank operators into proper tanks. Look at the current state of the T34s, they are a mess. A two-man turret already ruined situational awareness, and now the engine and front armor are being made so shoddily. How many experienced tank operators have been killed because of these defects?

"First thing when we get back, execute those responsible for these issues.

"Then, see if we can get something suited for urban combat and for breaching permanent concrete fortifications. Like a 380mm rocket or something."

That’s right, Wang Zhong wanted something like a Tiger assault gun.

But simpler and cheaper.

Although using a B4 heavy howitzer at a range of 500 meters was also a solution, the B4 was too fragile, and there were problems using it in street battles.

Wang Zhong stood on the platform, looking down the railroad towards St. Ye Katerina Fortress, his thoughts already drifting to the not-too-distant future—winter of the year 915, on the banks of the Valdai Hills River, the Prosen Army, exhausted after being ground down, would be surrounded by a million-strong force...

At that moment, another staff officer came down from the radio carriage and hurried over.

This time it was Pavlov who took the telegram. Glancing at it, he said to Wang Zhong, "The Bolsk Front Army has also fully retreated to Mount Raoul pass and is now officially reorganized into the Raoul Mountain Front Army. It seems our operations have been completely successful."

Wang Zhong nodded, "Very good. Commend Vasily, put him in school for half a year, and promote him to Captain."

Vasily was nearby, listening, "Eh? I have to go to school? No way, I want to fight alongside you, General!"

Wang Zhong replied, "I shouldn’t have much else to do for this half year; my child is about to be born! I should be staying in Ekaterinburg Fortress for about half a year or so."

Just then, Wang Zhong saw several jeeps drive through the station’s gate.

Pavlov also noticed the jeep convoy and muttered, "Feels like they’re here for us. But there’s no headquarters in this small town that could bother us, right?"

Wang Zhong said, "But there is an airfield, maybe..."

He already knew through his cheat device who was coming in the jeep and what they were there for.

But he had to play along.

A group of officers and non-commissioned officers alighted from the jeep and strode purposefully towards Wang Zhong, led by a colonel.

The private following the colonel was holding a box that clearly contained military ranks and medals.

The group reached Wang Zhong and all saluted him in unison.

Wang Zhong returned the salute and asked, "What’s the matter?"

"Duke Aleksei Konstantinovich Rokossovsky," one of them said, "we’re here to convey the latest orders from the Military Command. You have been promoted to Admiral Rokossov."

Wang Zhong frowned. "I haven’t won any significant victories, have I?"

Pavlov replied, "It’s true that the current results might be much less than last year, but you have already been commanding a group of vice admirals and corps commanders, so continuing with a vice admiral rank is not suitable. The Military Command must have considered this."

Wang Zhong thought for a moment and realized that was true. Becoming an admiral wasn’t bad, and it was just a step away from becoming a general commanding a Front Army.

So, he said, "Understood, thank you for the trust of the Military Command."

The colonel looked at him, seemingly hesitant to say more.

Pavlov prompted, "And His Majesty the Tsar."

Wang Zhong, "Oh right, thank you for the trust of the Military Command and His Majesty the Tsar."

The colonel nodded, handed over the appointment to Wang Zhong, and stepped back to make space.

The private carrying the rank insignia came forward, and a master sergeant approached Wang Zhong, asking, "May I?"

Wang Zhong nodded.

Thus, the master sergeant removed Wang Zhong’s old rank insignia and attached the new one.

Wang Zhong straightened his clothes and smiled, "Very good, I can pretend a bit when I get back home with Liu Da!"

However, the colonel came forward again and spoke loudly, "Next, we convey the orders of the Military Command to the First Mobile Army Headquarters. Your unit should be immediately reorganized into the Balas Expeditionary Army Headquarters, proceeding to Abawahan to take over the Expeditionary Force troops, and prepare for a special military operation in Balas."

Wang Zhong’s eyebrows twisted in confusion. Now there’s a special military operation as well?

Wait a minute, there had indeed been news that the King of Balas was leaning towards Prosen, and the United Kingdom was planning to deal with Balas. Ante was going to dispatch an expeditionary force.

He hadn’t expected that he would be the one to lead this expeditionary force.

Wang Zhong, "May I go home to see my wife and soon-to-be-born son first?"

The colonel said, "The military situation is urgent, please understand."

Pavlov said, "Let’s go ahead; anyway, you wouldn’t be much help with the initial troop handover and planning. You go to Ekaterinburg Fortress to see your wife and then quickly join us."

Wang Zhong looked at Pavlov. "Aren’t you going home?"

The chief of staff shrugged his shoulders, "I’m looking after our distinguished commander, after all. Go and come back quickly. Also, if you accompany the troops to Saint Ekaterina Fortress, it will be good for the morale of the troops; otherwise, if you go to Balas to fight without the old troops, many warriors will feel disgruntled."

Vasily said, "I’d be disgruntled. Can’t I just not go to school? I think being a captain is pretty good already."

Wang Zhong looked at him, "Then come back to Yeburg with me, and then go to school."

"Do I still have to go?"

And so, the new journey continues.

(See the next volume for more.)