Arc of Gunfire

Agsukov, at 2010 pm on August 7.

When the communications officer entered the door, Crown Prince Ivan Nikolayev Antonov immediately stood up: "Is it approved?"

The communications staff officer shook his head: "The headquarters called back and said that our retreat plan had too many losses and His Majesty did not approve it. A better plan was needed."

Standing in front of the map, General Skorobo let out a long sigh: "Send another telegram to tell His Majesty that this is the best plan we can come up with. If launched now, at least 300,000 people can be sent out.

"The reason why so many people can be sent out is because General Rokossov helped us fight for two days, two precious days. If we don't start, even these two days will be wasted. General Rokossov - The efforts of General Rokossov and Prince Myshkin were in vain."

The communications officer completed the shorthand and then read it out again—basically a written version of General Skorobo's words.

General Skorobo nodded: "Just send this."

"Wait a minute!" Just as the communications staff officer was about to leave, the front army's chief of staff called out to him, "Additionally, it's an urgent matter."

The staff officer made a note, turned and left.

Crown Prince Ivan: "I don't think it will work."

"This is not a question of whether it is useful. We must do our best to make His Majesty realize the seriousness of the situation." The chief of staff sighed, "Although it may be useless."

After the words fell, the entire map room fell into silence.

Everyone looked preoccupied.

At this moment, the Crown Prince gritted his teeth and finally stood up: "How about we kill first and then tell the story later? I will take the lead. The whole army began to retreat and tried its best to break out. Then I admitted my mistake in front of my father. .

"The most my father can do is kill me, the crown prince."

Everyone in the room looked at the Crown Prince with expressions of surprise on their faces.

The Crown Prince frowned: "Why do you look at me like this? Can't I do something more heroic? My best friend Rokossov could hold on for two days in Orachi and break out on the third day, so I should do something too What to save the front army, isn’t it?”

The chief of staff spoke: "However, your decision is not legally valid. You have no power to approve this plan. In fact, no one in this room has the power to approve this plan.

"The chief of general staff of the headquarters had the power to approve this plan, but he did not approve it."

The Crown Prince looked puzzled: "Don't you, a front-line army, have the right to make your own decisions on how to fight?"

"Yes, but such a strategic-level plan is beyond our decision-making scope."

The Crown Prince sat down slumped: "Is there nothing I can do?"

"Yes." General Skorobo said.

"Hurry up!" The Crown Prince stood up again, patting the table and urging.

General Skorobo: "Fly back to St. Yekaterinburg and persuade His Majesty."

The crown prince immediately became discouraged: "No, my father will definitely be furious because I didn't supervise the troops at the front line and went back without notifying him. Even if I can coax his father back, it will be a few days later."

"Sometimes I always feel that my father is still a child, fragile, sensitive and suspicious."

With so many people present, only the Crown Prince dared to say this.

The crown prince continued: "However, my father's love for us brothers and sisters is true, so we can persuade him, but it takes time. And we don't have time!

"Unless we can take advantage of our father's feelings for us immediately!"

The crown prince suddenly stopped: "Huh?"

He looked at the others and said, "I have thought of a highly feasible method. Maybe my father will immediately agree to your breakout plan."

Others in the room looked at each other, and General Skorobo asked on behalf of everyone: "What can we do?"

Crown Prince: "I sent a telegram to my father, saying, 'Since my father wants me to die here, the child can only fulfill his father's wish.'

"Then I commanded a unit and died in battle, while you guys continued to secretly prepare to break out."

Because the Crown Prince said the words "I will die in battle" very lightly, no one could react at once. Then the chief of staff knocked on the table and shouted: "No, this won't work! You can't predict His Majesty the Tsar's reaction later!"

The Crown Prince smiled and said: "I can. I know my father best. He will calm down after crying and use the most direct method to prevent the situation from getting worse. As long as I die, I don't even need to die or be seriously injured. One, Father will calm down."

Everyone looked at each other.

No one dared to agree to letting the crown prince die.

General Skorobo also advised: "Your Highness, it's getting late, you'd better go and rest."

Crown Prince: "I want an army - no, just a division to accompany me in the attack! The direction of the attack is Lebedyan. As long as we penetrate there, we can run out."

"Of course, Orach is also good. After breaking through, you can rush to Shepetovka and meet up with Rokosov!"

Everyone continued to look at each other.

The crown prince was unhappy and slammed the table: "What are you hesitating about? Or just ignore the opinions of St. Catherine Castle and break through first. It will be difficult for the foreign king to follow his orders."

"Or let me die and shock my father!"

These powerful words echoed in the huge map room.

————

Old Duke Rokosov put down the phone and looked at the old butler Mikhail who had been on call: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is prepared to die generously to stimulate His Majesty and make His Majesty understand the situation clearly."

Mikhail was very surprised: "Him? Are you mistaken? How could he have such consciousness and ability to act?"

"This is growth." Old Duke Rokossov said, "Think about it, the problem child in our family has become a warrior in his own right. Is it any wonder that the crown prince has made such progress? And he also has a role model. Isn't it?"

The role model, of course, refers to the Crown Prince’s friend who ranked last, Alexei Konstantinovich Rokosov, the original problem child of the Rokosov family.

Mikhail: "That's true. The growth in the young master is obvious."

"This is not an obvious thing." Old Rokosov stood up, came to the window, and looked at the gradually fuller crescent moon outside.

After a brief reflection, Old Rokosov said: "It's not that I can't help the Crown Prince."

Mikhail: "You no longer have command authority. You can't command any troops."

"Hahaha," Old Rokosov laughed a few times, "To say that I can't command the troops is a bit contemptuous. Maybe I can't command the air force, navy, but I can still command the army if I want. Yes, it just needs to be covered with a layer of skin that looks very powerful.”

Mikhail: "Your Excellency! This is no joke. If you are held accountable afterwards, you will have to..."

Old Rokosov interrupted the old butler: "Mikhail, how many years have you served me?"

"For more than seventy years, I have lived in your manor almost since I was born. I have been doing something within my ability since I was six years old."

Old Rokosov nodded: "Then you should be able to understand my intention?"

"Please clarify." Mikhail said.

Old Rokosov sighed: "Mikhail, Misha, can't you see? The Ant Empire may not lose this war, but if the Ant Empire wins, the power of the church will definitely be at its peak.

"Then the secular priests will no longer need us nobles. Never again!"

"But..." Mikhail seemed to want to express a different opinion.

"Nothing is wrong! The day the war ends, the church's plan to cleanse us old nobles will begin to count down.

"At that time, the noble status will become a stumbling block for Alyosha, and may even lead to death.

“But if I die in battle together with the crown prince, or if only I die in battle and the crown prince lives, then the situation will be different!

"The nobles will make me a national hero to fight against the rapidly expanding church in this war.

"But that's not the point. The point is that Alyosha will become the son of a national hero! Coupled with his own military exploits, he will gain a lofty status in the new empire! Do you understand? Mikhail! "

The old housekeeper thought for a while and could only admit: "I am ashamed of your foresight."

Old Rokosov smiled: "Anyway, I'm almost eighty, and it's an age where it's not surprising to die at any time. Just let me die a heroic death."

Mikhail: "I would like to die with you."

"No, no, no, Mikhail. If you are going to die, how can I pass on my connections to Alyosha? No, you can't die, and you will get on a plane tonight and fly directly to St. Yekaterinburg."

The old housekeeper was silent for a few seconds and said: "Then I should also ask the eldest young master..."

"He is a staff officer, and he has his own duties to perform." Old Rokosov waved his hand, "Besides, even if he stays in the encirclement, the staff officer will not necessarily die."

The old butler Mikhail hesitated to speak.

Old Rokosov asked: "What's wrong? Just say what you want to say."

Mikhail: "No, there's nothing more to say."

Old Rokosov: "Then contact my old troops for me, and I will personally command them——"

See you tomorrow