Arc of Gunfire

Wang Zhong then inspected the entire Shostka.

This city is larger than Loktov and Orachi. It can be said to be the largest city that Wang Zhong has defended so far, but this size is also relative.

I have to say that this place is used for defense, which is much better than Aolaqi on the plains. There are rivers, woods, and highlands that can monitor the opposite side.

When Wang Zhong first traveled through time, he was a fake player who had only played war games, but now he has mastered it. Sometimes, he doesn't even need to switch to a bird's-eye view to see which place is suitable for defense and which cafe can block two blocks.

After going around in a circle, Wang Zhong already had a good idea of ​​the entire combat area.

"The only thing left is to run around the area that our army's artillery can cover." He said to Popov who was following him on the patrol.

Popov: "Look at the time. You leave the city today and don't come back before tomorrow morning. You still have to take a plane to the capital."

Wang Zhong looked at the setting sun in the west and sighed: "We can only wait until we come back from the capital."

He paused and suddenly smiled: "But it is certain that naval infantry will join the battle. This is good news."

Popov asked doubtfully: "Isn't it just a group of infantry?"

At this time, the reputation of naval infantry has not yet been established, so Popov will find it strange.

Wang Zhong didn't bother to explain, so he pinched Busifaras' belly and made him run: "Let's go back to the headquarters. Pavlov should have already set up the stall."

————

St. Catherine's Castle, Summer Palace, August 9, 2000 hours.

When Olga Nikolayevna Antonovna, who had been prohibited from entering the map room of the Operations Department, opened the door and came in, all the generals in the room stood up.

Chief of General Staff Tukhachev asked with concern: "How is His Majesty's situation?"

Princess Olga—should be called the Crown Princess now—Crown Princess Olga shook her head: "He still locked himself in the study."

The generals looked at each other.

Chief of General Staff Tukhachev was speechless: "This is terrible. Many orders cannot be executed without His Majesty's approval..."

Crown Princess Olga showed the seal on her hand: "My father asked me to approve the battle plan on his behalf. He shouted through the gate, 'The generals just want a responsible person anyway.'"

The atmosphere was a little awkward for a while.

Semyon Konstantinovich and Chief of Staff Tukhachev looked at each other before asking: "Is Patriarch Belinsky still waiting in the reception room?"

Olga: "Yes, the Patriarch is still waiting and asks the kitchen to serve him kebabs and champagne."

Tukhachev: "He is a patriarch, with meat skewers and champagne? Does he still want to toast the death of the crown prince?"

Olga suddenly said: "I think from the perspective of the Patriarch, my brother's death is bad news. My brother's death inspired the breakout troops, and presumably other Ante soldiers and civilians. For the secularists, this Isn’t that a good thing?”

"I'm heartbroken that you would come to such a conclusion." A calm and cold voice came from the door, and you knew who said it without even looking.

Patriarch Belinsky entered the room, accompanied by two knights of the bodyguard.

"Of course I am very saddened by the death of the Crown Prince. At the same time, I am very inspired by the morale of our country's military and civilians that his death has inspired. I came here just to talk to His Majesty about holding a state funeral for the Crown Prince."

Olga was a little surprised: "State funeral?"

"Yes, at this time, we want everyone to forget our huge failure - oh, it's too early to say this now," the Patriarch waved his hand, "and let everyone forget the huge failure we are about to encounter, wouldn't a state funeral be appropriate? ?”

The generals looked at each other.

Belinsky: "You should understand the importance of morale better than me, a pastor, right? Moreover, the martyrdom of the Crown Prince can just cover up the royal family's mistakes in decision-making, making everyone forget that it was His Majesty the Tsar's mistakes that cost millions. Big army, isn’t it?”

The Patriarch's words made many people feel relaxed.

But then the Patriarch said: "Of course, the military status of the Crown Prince and the general rank of Prince Rokossov, who also died for the country, will make the people forget that it was the incompetence of the High Command that led to His Majesty the Tsar's mistake. Judgment.”

Tukhachev said: "No, let's start from the beginning..."

"You pushed Gorky Konstantinovich to the St. Andrew's Fort Front. You thought that this way he would not be able to show his commanding abilities. But the enemy advanced very quickly, and the St. Andrew's Fort Front had already exchanged fire with them. "

The Patriarch stared at Chief of General Staff Tukhachev.

The Chief of General Staff was speechless by the Patriarch's gaze and could only turn to look at Marshal Semyon.

Marshal: "The headquarters admits that it made a strategic misjudgment. But Your Majesty the Patriarch, do you want to interfere with the military system? Let us put..."

"No, no, no, Fort St. Andrew is very important, both to the Eastern Holy Church and to the secularists. If you let other losers - sorry, other generals - guard it, we are not at ease."

The Patriarch looked at Marshal An Xiemiao, and finally his eyes returned to the Crown Princess.

"Not only does your brother deserve a state funeral, but so does Prince Konstantin Alexandrovich Rokosov, who died for his country. We also plan to hold a collective memorial service to pay homage to the warriors who have died since the beginning of the war.

"Such a ceremony requires a bravest of warriors to swear an oath on behalf of the living servicemen. I happen to know such a brave man."

As he spoke, the Patriarch glanced around the room.

In fact, everyone was aware of the name that Damushi was talking about, but everyone tacitly agreed not to speak.

Patriarch: "He is a close friend of the Crown Prince, and the son of Duke Rokosov who died for his country as well. He is also a fierce general who is deeply loved by the frontline soldiers, and he also achieved extremely beautiful results!

"There is no more suitable candidate than him, Your Highness the Crown Princess."

Princess Olga: "You should tell your father..."

"He doesn't see me, and don't you have his seal? You can also seal the order to hold the ceremony." The patriarch made a gesture, and a cardinal immediately came over with the document.

Olga pursed her lips.

The Patriarch leaned forward slightly: "Your Highness, I have always thought that you are the smartest person in the Antonov family. At this time, I hope you will make a choice that is beneficial to the entire Ant."

Olga picked up the seal.

The cardinal immediately handed over the ink pad.

A second later, the seal of the Tsar was affixed to the order for a state funeral and a collective memorial service.

The Patriarch smiled: "Very good. As a layman who doesn't understand military affairs, I won't interfere with your decision-making. I hope you can save as many troops in the encirclement as possible."

With that said, the Patriarch left with a group of people.

No one spoke in the map room for three full minutes.

Then Tukhachev slapped the table and cursed: "He actually directly said that we are losers!"

Olga looked at the Chief of General Staff and said nothing.

Marshal Xie Miao exclaimed: "Many of the mid-level and lower-level commanders are already familiar with the military chaplains, and intelligence shows that many outstanding commanders have been recorded by the church.

"In addition, many officers have also discovered that if they want to achieve good results in defensive battles, they must establish a good cooperative relationship with the church's skitarii and labor battalions. This is the case with Major General Rokossov. He served in Loktov and Orachidu works closely with local churches.”

The senior officers present looked at each other. What Marshal Xie Miao said was basically a clear statement: all the officers who fought well were having an affair with the church.

"Can they still interfere with the personnel affairs of the army?" Tukhachev said disdainfully.

Marshal Xie Miao: "They don't need to interfere. Those who fight well will be promoted. Moreover, generally only those who fight well will survive."

Tukhachev fell silent and held it in for a few minutes before cursing: "The most important thing is that in order to win, we must promote these officers with good performance."

Marshal Semyon: "The most important thing is that if this situation is to continue, the church must play its role."

Tukhachev was silent for a few seconds, then changed the topic: "That Major General Rokossov is a dude, right? He should be more like an old officer, right? Maybe we can win him over?"

At this time, Admiral Turgenev, who had been sitting silently in the corner, said: "He has arrived at Shostka. The special plane will land at the airport outside Shostka tonight. After completing the maintenance, he will send it to the airport tomorrow." He brought it back."

Tukhachev: "What are the arrangements after bringing him back?"

"First arrange a place to stay, and then mainly rest. After all, the journey is tiring..."

"No, no," Tukhachev interrupted General Turgenev, "arrange a war experience summary meeting tomorrow night to gather all officers with combat experience currently in the capital. It just so happens that we explore their After all, we can’t always let the church get involved with them.”

Olga frowned slightly: "Can I attend this meeting?"

Marshal Semyon: "If your Majesty is still in the same situation tomorrow, I'm afraid you will have to participate."

Tukhachev smiled: "The officers will be happy to have you."

————

Shostka, headquarters of the 151st Provisional Infantry Division.

Wang Zhong looked at the map and frowned: "I will go to the capital tomorrow. What if I find that the capital is singing and dancing and the nobles are dancing and dancing and running around?"

He could already imagine that his blood pressure would explode when he saw that situation. If he had a weapon at hand, it might be like "How can we defeat Prosen with these insects?"

Pavlov responded with a guilty conscience: "This... shouldn't be possible, right? A full-scale war has broken out, and it is impossible for the capital to still have such sufficient supplies."

Wang Zhong: "Do you think you are not so outrageous because you don't have supplies, rather than because you have confidence in the nobles?"

At this time, a staff officer led two officers in Air Force uniforms into the map room. After standing at attention, he reported: "Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Harlamov, and Captain Ivan Feodoroch."

The two airmen saluted Wang Zhong together.

"Your Excellency, General," Lieutenant Colonel Harlamov said, "I will lead the destroyer fleet to escort your plane."

Wang Zhong: "What kind of aircraft is your squadron equipped with?"

Lieutenant Colonel Kharlamov: "Yakk 1, a very good low-altitude fighter, but it's a pity that the enemy attacks the capital from high altitude! I don't know why our fleet equipped with Yak 1 is placed in the capital."

The air force lieutenant colonel should have just made a casual complaint.

But Wang Zhong, the listener, was interested: "Then are you willing to come and fight here? We have a lot of low-altitude battles here. The enemy's Stuka will run away at low altitude after dropping bombs. This is the time for you to show off."

The lieutenant colonel looked at Wang Zhong's epaulettes: "You are a major general. We all know that only generals in the army can command the air force."

Wang Zhong: "Ah, oh, let me try my best. When can we arrive in the capital tomorrow?"

The person who answered Wang Zhong was Captain Ivan Feodoroch: "We will arrive around four o'clock in the afternoon."