Arc of Gunfire

While the Plosen Army was trapped in the mud, the 1st "Red Flag" Mechanized Infantry Division of the Guards was conducting regular training.

Suhayaveli itself is part of the new fortification area around Yebao, but it has recently been in a hurry to repair anti-tank piles and anti-tank gun emplacements, and has not paid much attention to repairing bunkers.

As soon as the 1st Guards Motorized Infantry Division arrived, an engineering unit was immediately sent to repair bunkers and trenches, and the construction of fortifications was not left to the combat troops.

So Wang Zhong ordered to intensify training.

Most of the new recruits in the division have not experienced complete infantry training. They only practiced throwing mines and operating firearms in a hurry. They are not proficient in these. Some of them jammed on the battlefield because they were not professional in cleaning and oiling their guns.

It's a good time to practice while you don't have to dig fortifications now.

Wang Zhong also took this opportunity to learn from Alexander Yefimovich, the gunner of No. 422, how to be a gunner of a T34 tank.

What if it comes in handy in the future?

In this way, Wang Zhong studied to be a gunner during the day, and wrote his own materials at night to summarize the experience accumulated since the war started. His life was full and fast.

The only thing that Wang Zhong did not do as he wished during this period was that the naval infantry that had withdrawn with his division was transferred back to Yebao.

There is also a large river in Yeburg that runs through the city, flowing southward to merge into the Valdaichu River and eventually into the inland sea.

Since there is a river that can be used for navigation, there is a river fleet, so the naval infantry who withdrew with Wang Zhong joined the river fleet headquarters in Yebao and became a force to defend the river banks.

Wang Zhong was reluctant to part with the elite naval infantry, but he was a navy and accepted the command of the navy.

He originally wanted to take the path of the Patriarch, but the Patriarch told him this: "If you are the commander of the front army, the naval infantry in the theater will also be under your command, and even the air force will be yours!"

Belinsky said so, so Wang Zhong had no choice but to give up.

October 24th is 10 days away from Ant’s founding anniversary. On this day, Wang Zhong came to the division headquarters to see the latest situation on the front before going to the training ground to practice tank operations as usual.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw Popov. It has become a routine at the division headquarters that Popov is on night shift and Wang Zhong and Pavlov are here during the day.

Wang Zhong: "Good morning, Bishop, how is the battle line?"

Popov: "Yesterday the Second Armored Group on the southern front broke through our defense line and advanced about ten kilometers before stopping. I feel that the enemy is not moving forward now, but to prevent us from establishing a particularly solid defense line. "

Wang Zhong nodded, and it would be easier to understand if he switched to the P Club game "Hearts of Iron". The longer the troops in Hearts of Iron stay in one place, the higher the "trench level" will be.

The enemy's approach of clustering on the southern front is like preventing Ant's army from accumulating trench levels.

Wang Zhong stared at the map: "Not to mention, the enemy's second armored group's tortoise-like advance actually pushed down some places after eight days of pushing. In total, it has advanced nearly 100 kilometers."

Popov: "In the process of being continuously pushed back, our troops lost construction machinery, concrete and many other things. The new defense line is definitely not as well repaired as the old defense line.

"In fact, after we retreated from the Duwa River line, the defense line in our rear should be relatively complete. But the enemy broke through at once. It makes our defense on the Duwa River successful is a miracle.

"I think the enemy may know that there is a gap between the freeze and the arrival of the cold wave, and they plan to take advantage of that time to launch a desperate attack."

Wang Zhong nodded: "It seems that the danger is not over yet. Although I personally feel that if the enemy can break into the Ye Fort, the enemy's losses will be greater."

Popov: "I don't know much about military affairs. Do you think this loss is greater because after General Winter arrives, all the troops who rushed into Ye Fort will be annihilated?"

"Yes," Wang Zhong replied, "but after the enemy rushes into the leaf castle, some people will think of surrendering. It's better not to let the enemy into the leaf castle, we will stop the enemy here."

Wang Zhong said as he came to the window of the division headquarters facing the direction of Ye Fort. Although the location of the division headquarters was very low, the chimney at the edge of Ye Fort could be barely seen outside the window.

"It's really interesting," he said, "These chimneys are obviously twenty kilometers away, but I can see them clearly."

Popov came to the window: "It's just a factory on the edge. Our place is thirty kilometers away from the center of Yebao. However, if the enemy takes over our place and advances ten kilometers, the artillery can penetrate Yebao.

"To the north of us is Kalanskaya, the satellite city of Yebao. There is a very high castle there on the hillside. If you climb the tower of the castle, you can see Yebao's iconic iron bridge."

Wang Zhong: "To be honest, I also want to defend the city. The city is good and they are all solid fortresses. Unfortunately, the real guards are guarding there now."

Although the unit led by Wang Zhong is also the first division, it is the first division limited to mechanized infantry. The real First Guards Infantry Division consists of the 1st to 5th Guards Infantry Regiments and is the real Royal Guards Army.

These troops were arranged to defend Kalanskaya, where the iron bridge in the center of the castle could be seen from the castle tower.

Wang Zhong: "After all, there are so many concrete buildings in Kalanskaya, so it is quite difficult to lose them. The enemy may bypass it, in which case we will be the focus of the enemy's attack. This place must not be lost. Never! The moment it is lost. Everything will be in vain.”

At this time Pavlov came in: "Hey, I saw the train pulling into the station on the way here. The winter clothes are here."

There are countless railways radiating from Yebao to the surrounding area. Suhayaveli has a branch line. In addition to connecting Yebao, this branch line can also connect to Shostka. They came here through this branch line before.

Wang Zhong: "Winter clothes?"

He lowered his head and looked at the clothes on his body. For a southerner from Seris, this thick long woolen coat was considered winter clothing.

The weight of the coat already exceeded all the clothes Wang Zhong had ever worn.

By the way, this dress is an autumn dress that was replenished in autumn. Wang Zhong has been wearing it for almost a season. It was just too hot to wear at first, so he often left the front buttons open. But now he always fastens the buttons in accordance with military discipline. .

Pavlov frowned: "Don't be like this, General Rokossov, act like a southerner. How can you withstand the winter in this single coat?"

At this time, several soldiers came in carrying boxes.

Pavlov opened the cardboard box with the word "general" written on it, took out the general's coat, and gave it to Wang Zhong.

This coat is so heavy!

Moreover, it felt very thick when pinched. Wang Zhong even thought that if two of these coats were poured with water and soil was put between the coats, they could be used as earthen tanks - yes, the earthen tanks used when the turrets were blown up in Xiaobing Zhang Ga.

Wang Zhong unfolded his coat and found that the large lapel was made of the fur of an unknown animal.

It seems that the Anters also like to wear leather.

Wang Zhong took off his woolen coat and put on this thicker coat. The first thing he felt was that it was heavy, as if he was wearing a full-body armor.

The second feeling is warmth, as if the fur coat can generate heat on its own. I feel hot as soon as I put it on.

"Damn it," Wang Zhong sighed, "I'm not afraid of no matter how low the temperature is when this thing is worn!"

Popov also took one himself. When he heard what Wang Zhong said, he looked at Wang Zhong doubtfully: "Why do you need a fireplace if this is really the case?"

……Um?

Isn’t it said that northerners are so hot in the room that they are all shirtless and don’t wear coats until they go out?

Could it be that the technology in this era is underdeveloped and there is no such awesome heating method?

Wang Zhongzheng was confused, and Pavlov said: "If you live in the central area of ​​Yebao, you may really only need these thick clothes when going out. But in a place like this, it is better to dress warmly."

"After all, if we fight, we will spend the night in the bunker every day, and there will be no room for heating with the stove."

Wang Zhong nodded, and at this time Lyudmila entered the bunker wearing a brand new coat: "Ah, you have already changed into it."

"Yeah, you're wearing it too?" Wang Zhong looked at his fiancée and found that this coat could even cover her figure.

That would be terrible.

At this time Nelly also came in. She also wore a coat like this.

Wang Zhong: "Is there a children's version of this military coat?"

Neli stared at Wang Zhong with contempt.

At this time, the phone rang suddenly, and Pavlov picked up the phone: "Hello? This is the division headquarters. Huh? Special train? Special train to transport what? Didn't say? Okay, I'll inform the general."

Pavlov hung up the phone: "The train station said that the dispatch center said that a special special train was temporarily added to come to us. The contents were not mentioned."

Wang Zhong: "What can't you inform me at this time?"

Vasily came in just in time, heard the last conversation, and said, "Secret weapon?"

Wang Zhong: "No, I don't think so. Based on the elimination method, I speculate that it may be someone who came to our place to express condolences. I just don't know if it is the Patriarch or His Majesty the Tsar. In any case, it's okay to wait at the station. wrong."

————

The senior officers of the Imperial Guard wearing brand new winter clothes all gathered on the platform, waiting for the arrival of the special train.

Pavlov suddenly laughed and said: "It's a bit like the scene when we were waiting for Popov to come in Loktov."

Wang Zhong: "Indeed, but compared with that time, we are now considered to have good soldiers and sufficient food - well, the soldiers are not necessarily good, only the will to fight is good."

Lyudmila: "That's why we need to use artillery to eliminate the technical and tactical gap with the enemy."

Wang Zhong: "You still remember..."

"My fiancé wrote a tactical book! I must read it!"

Before Wang Zhong could reply, a whistle sounded in the distance.

The special train entered the station and stopped slowly in front of the platform.

The special train was filled with stuffed tank cars like other troop transport trains, and there was no sign that any dignitaries were on board.

However, when Car No. 1 opened, Wang Zhong couldn't help but squint his eyes.

The imperial concubine Olga stood in the open door of the stuffy tank car and showed a bright smile to Wang Zhong.

Good morning