Arc of Gunfire

While the neighboring troops were grinding meat frantically, Shostka was calm.

It cannot be said to be peaceful, as both sides greet each other with heavy artillery every day.

The artillery firepower of the 1st Guards Infantry Division is definitely not as good as the firepower of the enemy's corps. This corps is still the "rich army" that Emperor Prosen takes care of.

But Shostka's sturdy reinforced concrete buildings withstood it all.

On October 2, 914, Wang Zhong was observing the enemy's project progress when the phone suddenly rang.

Pavlov picked up: "This is the division headquarters. Wait a moment."

After speaking, he handed the receiver to Wang Zhong: "Lieutenant General Kirinenko."

Wang Zhong took the receiver and his first sentence was: "There is no problem on my side. Do you need me to deploy troops to support Kashukh?"

Kirinenko: "It seems that you also know the current situation. The enemy has launched successive fierce attacks on Kashuch's positions. Some surface positions have been blown up. Kashuch has lost its beachhead and was completely destroyed by artillery. The enemy's pontoon bridge prevented the enemy from continuing to advance.

"The air force at your airport also played a big role. It's the first time I know that our destroyers can also drop bombs."

Wang Zhong: "In fact, this is the first time I know about it. But they seem to like to carry out such missions. By the way, I also know about the situation in Kashukh through the Air Force."

Kirinenko: "I have sent all the reserve troops up, adjusted the defense areas of other troops, and abandoned some unimportant nodes. I have sent all the saved troops to Kashukh. "

"What did the front army say?" Wang Zhong asked.

"If you look at the situation in the north, you can probably guess what they will say, right?" Kirinenko's wry smile came along the phone line.

Wang Zhong looked at the map on the wall of the division headquarters.

A huge protrusion to the north penetrated the entire Western Front defense area.

By the way, on the front of the Western Front, the enemy's infantry units also launched an attack, holding other units of the Western Front firmly in place.

Therefore, the Western Front could only continuously mobilize follow-up troops to the north in an attempt to block the enemy's surging offensive.

In addition to defense, the Western Front also launched an offensive aimed at cutting off the roots of the enemy's "tusks". Unsurprisingly, it failed and a large number of troops were lost.

It seems that the current situation of the entire Ant army is not enough to launch an attack.

To defeat the Prosen army, you have to temper your troops with blood and fire.

Wang Zhong: "I can mobilize a battalion, no, a regiment!"

Kirinenko: "Come on, I called you to ask for your regiment? No, no, General Rokossov, now is the time to use your connections. I don't know that you should call Her Royal Highness, Still under the title of Patriarch, I don't know where I can get the troops.

"But you have to do something, send a telegram, make a phone call, or fly directly to Yebao and do something! You are the star of victory! Of course I will not leave everything to you. I will go to the headquarters of the Western Front now. "

The headquarters of the Western Front was not located in Yebao City, but in Tula.

It takes about a day to drive from Kirinenko's headquarters.

Yes, one day, Ant is so vast.

Wang Zhong: "I understand. I'll make the call, so do your best."

"Let's all work hard. If it really collapses, you can retreat to my headquarters. Your division is well equipped and should be able to withstand it for a while. If it starts to rain, you can still be saved. Hang up!"

After saying that, Kirinenko hung up the phone.

Wang Zhong put down the receiver and looked at Pavlov.

Pavlov: "Kashuch can't stand it anymore?"

Wang Zhong: "The reserves are almost exhausted, including Kirinenko's reserves. In the end, we should be allowed to guard the ferry below. We have strong firepower. But now we are playing a sit-down war with the enemy here, stuck. Shuhe's equipment is far inferior to that of our army in facing the enemy's heavy assault."

Pavlov shrugged: "Who can predict this?"

It is impossible to mobilize Wang Zhong's division now, because this parallel change of defense will cause huge chaos. The enemy can change before he is close. If the enemy does this in front of him, he is seeking death.

Therefore, the error in troop allocation can only be as it is now.

Of course, it was not him who deployed Wang Zhong here, but the Western Front Command.

Wang Zhong secretly thought that when he commanded large-scale troops in the future, he must do more reconnaissance and determine the enemy's main attack direction as accurately as possible.

At this time Popov said: "You can't say that. The reason why the enemy was engaged in earthworks was not because they were hit by the firepower of our division. They lost so many tanks on the first day. Replace Kashuch's army and come over. Maybe they are also taking turns to attack, and we are too bored to watch the enemy's soil work on the current position in Kashur."

It is indeed possible.

Wang Zhong: "In short, now Kirinenko has handed over the command to his chief of staff and went to Marshal Semyon of the Western Front to request troops.

"And I also want to make a call to the Patriarch. Can our phone call go directly to the capital?"

Pavlov: "Yes, we can use civilian long-distance lines. Military lines have to go to the front army switchboard first, which is very troublesome."

Wang Zhong: "Can I just ask our side to connect to the civil line?"

"Yes, the interfaces for all lines are now at our switchboard."

Wang Zhong picked up the receiver: "I'm Rokosov, pick up the civil line and go to Yebao."

The communications soldier at the switchboard asked: "Where is the Ye Fort?"

"The Great Cathedral of the Eastern Holy Church."

"OK."

Wang Zhong held the receiver and waited for the connection, looking back and forth between Pavlov and Popov.

Soon, the other side responded: "Great Holy Cathedral switchboard, who are you?"

Wang Zhong: "I am General Rokossov..."

"Is that Major General Alexei Konstantinovich Rokossov?"

"Yes."

"Are you looking for His Majesty Patriarch Belinsky?"

"Yes."

"Hold on."

The waiting time entered again. Wang Zhong looked at Pavlov and suddenly asked: "Why don't you speak?"

Pavlov and Popov looked at each other and said, "I'm afraid of disturbing you in moving reinforcements."

Popov: "Yes, it would be bad if we scare the reinforcements away by talking."

Wang Zhong wanted to complain about these two, but "that" voice came from over there: "Rokosov, what's the matter?"

Wang Zhong: "That's right. Our Kashuch tribe downstream has exhausted its reserves. Kirinenko's reserves have also moved up. Without new troop support, the situation on the southern front will be very dangerous."

Belinsky was silent for a few seconds and asked: "I only have the Skitarii here, is this okay? They have weapons, but they only have weapons. Do you understand?"

Wang Zhong: "I understand, I have fought side by side with them."

Belinsky: "I understand. Let's arrange for people to transport the Skitarii to the front line. I will send those with better quality among the Skitarii. After gaining combat experience, maybe these people can be compared to the fifth batch. The Shenske Regiment was reorganized into a regular force."

Wang Zhong: "Thank you very much."

"What's there to thank me for? I'm also fighting for the country, just in a different position. Just hang in there. Based on the observed information and records over the past forty years, the meteorological department believes that there will be another week or so. It will rain."

Wang Zhong: "Understood. I will convey this to Kasukh and Lieutenant General Kirinenko. Then..."

He originally wanted to say goodbye, but suddenly remembered and asked: "How is the situation at the headquarters? After Marshal Semyon went to the Western Front, only Chief of Staff Tukhachev was left..."

Patriarch: "Tukhachev has appeased His Majesty. At least for this period of time, we don't have to worry about him giving random orders. If the situation on the northern front is really bad, a retreat order will probably be issued."

Wang Zhong: "Even if a retreat order is issued, it should be after the rainy season. We are more adapted to the mud, and our supply lines are short. After the mud arrives, it is basically impossible for the enemy to pursue us, and we can retreat safely."

Belinsky: "I remember. But the high command didn't listen to me. Maybe you should talk to Her Royal Highness about this issue."

Wang Zhong: "Can she still interfere in this matter?"

Belinsky: "What I heard is that she cannot enter the war room and map room of the headquarters, but she has been staying with General Turgenev in the military headquarters and should be able to exert a certain influence."

Wang Zhong: "I understand. If necessary, just look for her."

At this time, the Patriarch said "Wait a moment" and put down the receiver to talk to others. After a while, his voice appeared again: "It's confirmed, the first batch of skitarii will leave tonight and will arrive tomorrow afternoon. How to use the station controlled by your army is up to your army."

Wang Zhong: "Thank you very much...ah, this is my personal gratitude."

Patriarch: "Then I accept your thanks."

After hanging up the phone, Wang Zhong breathed a sigh of relief, and then said to Pavlov: "Inform the Army Group that reinforcements of the Skitarii will arrive tomorrow. I don't know how many there will be, but I can use as many as they can."

Wang Zhong turned and looked out the observation window.

The enemy's soil engineering advance was far less fast than at the beginning, which was obviously due to the impact of Wang Zhong's assault.

Popov came to Wang Zhong, looked at the enemy and said: "The engineering troops estimate that the enemy will dig fifty meters away from the bridgehead on October 10. Before that, we must find the right opportunity to retreat and bomb." Bridge. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient for the enemy to install explosives when they reach the shore."

Wang Zhong: "We will install the explosives tonight. We will start installing them after dark. Now that the night has become longer, we should be able to install them before dawn tomorrow. Then we can retreat to the bridgehead at dawn when it is darkest."

Popov: "Okay. What a pity. With such a good anvil, the enemy won't take the bait after being hammered twice."

Wang Zhong sighed: "Yes. And we have to blow up the bridge across the Duwa River. Now look at this bridge, what a good bridge it is."

At this time, Wang Zhong truly understood this sentence in the famous movie "The Bridge".

Good night