Arc of Gunfire

At 0800 hours on November 23, the Abawahan Front troops established a blocking position outside the encirclement circle.

The commander of the 11th Guards Infantry Division uses a telescope at the forward observation post to observe the snowfield in front of the position.

Just then, a roaring sound came from the sky, and Proson's bombardment began.

The division commander put down the telescope, listened for a few seconds, and asked the staff officer: "Did you hear the explosion of the 210mm gun shell?"

"It seems not," the staff officer replied, "only a 150mm gun."

The division commander listened for a while and shook his head: "The firepower density is not very high. It feels like only the artillery attached to one division is bombarding us. They also look down on the anti-artillery bunkers we dug on the frozen soil. This level of artillery bombardment has no impact." effect."

At this time, the brigade commander of the 2nd Guards Tank Destroyer Brigade, who was defending this area with the 11th Guards Division, got into the bunker: "The artillery bombardment is coming, why do I feel that the firepower density is not enough?"

"Indeed." The division commander smiled. "The enemy probably doesn't have many artillery shells in stock. Wait until we show them what fire preparation means."

After saying that, he picked up the phone: "Hello, artillery reception group. This is the division commander Liao Kolov. Has the heavy artillery that the group army said was going to be strengthened for us arrived? Is it here? Very good. Prepare for counter-artillery fire according to the previously measured coordinates. . What? How much ammunition to shoot? One-third of the current inventory, and the rest is for spare.

"You said one-third can be fought for four hours? Then fight for four hours. If the enemy wants to attack, they must wait four hours, or go through the barrage and let them choose. That's it."

After finishing speaking, Lyokolov hung up the phone and looked at the commander of the tank destroyer brigade: "I want to see if the Prosins are the Iron Warriors they claim to be."

The brigade commander smiled: "That will definitely not work. When I was in the Western Front, I had a head-on confrontation with the enemy's tank troops. After they determined that they could not fight the vortex head-on, they were defeated. They were also afraid of death and were human beings like us."

As soon as he finished speaking, the roar of artillery shells piercing the air came from overhead, in stark contrast to the enemy artillery shells that kept falling on the position.

————

At the new headquarters of Shipling's temporary cluster, Admiral Shipling looked at the breakfast served by the orderlies and frowned: "Is this all there is for breakfast?"

Orderly: "We've done our best."

Shipling was silent for a few seconds and said: "I want to eat the same food as the soldiers. Let's distribute these to the soldiers in the guard force. From today on, all officers must eat the same as the soldiers."

The senior officers in the room looked at each other, and a few quickly wiped the corners of their mouths, fearing that there would be something left in their mouths from today's breakfast.

"Yes." The orderly paused, "I can't share this little food with the soldiers, so you might as well eat it. I'll make the same meal as the soldiers from the next meal on."

Shiplin nodded, picked up the bread and put it in his mouth. While chewing, he asked: "How is the attack of the 15th Army?"

"Currently they are preparing artillery fire, but the enemy responded with doubled firepower density. Fortunately, the 15th Armored Corps has experience and did not launch at our army's regular offensive starting point." The chief of staff reported, "Currently they report that the troops There is a very dense fire net in front of the deployment area.”

Shipling: "The fire network will not last forever, just let them wait patiently. What did the Sixth Army say? We alone cannot attack, they also have to attack on the other side!"

The chief of staff looked troubled: "The Sixth Army... said it did not have enough ammunition and tanks and could not attack."

Shiplin raised his head: "What?"

"They have no ammunition and tanks and cannot attack."

Shipling sighed: "Send a telegram to the headquarters and ask for a solution to the Sixth Army's supply problem."

————

Heart of Prosin, Eagle's Nest.

"Why was there no airdrop yesterday?" Emperor Prossen asked Air Marshal Grand Duke Meyer, "You said you could airdrop yesterday, why did you delay it for a day?"

Grand Duke Meyer: "We need to dispatch transport planes from various places first. In addition, the Ant Air Force has been conducting frequent air raids on airports recently, and the airports on the front lines are at full capacity."

"You always have a reason! Yesterday, you said that aviation lubricants are not useful in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. Last year you were affected by the low temperature of minus 40 degrees Celsius! It's still the same this year!"

Grand Duke Meyer: "The Academy of Sciences has developed an antifreeze lubricant, but... that lubricant will also freeze. This year's low temperature exceeded last year's lowest recorded temperature. Even Prosonia has been freezing in the past few days. Death record..."

The emperor was shocked: "Is Prosonia freezing to death?"

He turned to look at the only person present who was not wearing a military uniform.

The Imperial Minister of the Interior hurriedly shook his head: "No, the people who froze to death were drunk and fell on the street at night. There are such people every winter. There are a little more this year. We think it is because of the national treatment this year. Improve it again, let everyone rejoice and have a good time drinking and talking..."

Emperor Prosen stared at the Minister of the Interior: "Is this the truth?"

The minister opened his mouth, but finally chose to remain silent.

Emperor: "The current difficulties are temporary and will be alleviated after Ant is defeated! In fact, the grain, meat and dairy products collected from Khazalia this year have greatly improved domestic life and weakened the enemy's blockade influence.

"Once we capture the oil fields in Kuba, our dependence on synthetic oil will be reduced, and the raw materials released can further improve people's living standards."

All the generals dared not speak.

The emperor looked at them: "Why are you keeping silent? Do you think there is no way to obtain Kuba's oil fields now?"

The generals looked at each other.

Meyer, who was the fattest, took out a handkerchief and kept wiping his sweat.

The emperor glanced at the generals over and over again, and finally sat down dejectedly: "Okay, as long as we can rescue the Sixth Army. No matter what, we can't let the Ants capture so many of our troops! No!"

Marshal Celtic and Marshal Brian looked at each other.

"What?" The emperor looked at the two of them keenly, "Do you think you can't even save the Sixth Army?"

Marshal Celtic looked embarrassed: "Our supply line is too long, and it is also affected by the guerrillas."

"I don't understand. Didn't we destroy everything in October? Can't we just destroy it again now?"

Celtic Marshal: “We faced Ant’s supplementary forces in October. At that time, Ant’s veterans were either resting after the summer campaign or lying in the hospital.

"Now that the enemies in front of the Shipling cluster have finished their rest, they have begun to return to the front line in large numbers. These troops are not so easy to shake."

The corners of the emperor's mouth twitched.

"Everyone except Giles, go out."

The generals were relieved and left the war room.

The young emperor looked at his best friend: "If I give you command, can you rescue the Sixth Army?"

Giles: "If all the armored units of the Western Front Command are transferred to me, there is still some hope."

The emperor shook his head: "I can't do this until we complete the anti-ship missile defense line, you know."

Giles said with a gloomy face: "Then I can't do it either."

The emperor was silent.

Giles waited for a long time before speaking: "I have read the pamphlet written by Rokossov sent by the intelligence department. It is full of conspiracy on the surface. We must mobilize in general to have a certain degree of success." May break his 'prophecy'."

Emperor: "Didn't you see the expression on the Minister of the Interior's face just now? We are mobilizing now, and the people's confidence that we have finally built up will be ruined."

"That is better than losing the war." Giles said, "This defeat is an opportunity. We can take the opportunity to announce the true situation on the front line to the people and start general mobilization. Next year we still hope to win a decent armistice."

The emperor stared at the globe and said softly: "I want to think about it."

————

New headquarters for the Shipling Cluster.

"Why hasn't there been an attack yet?" Admiral Shipling glanced at the wall clock, "It's almost 12 o'clock now!"

Chief of Staff: "The enemy's barrage has not stopped, and the 15th Armored Corps has judged that forcing through the fire blockade will suffer heavy casualties."

Admiral Shipling: "Not stopped yet? Damn, how many shells do they have?"

"I don't know." The chief of staff immediately replied, "Our aerial reconnaissance found several suspected ammunition dumps, but because the opponent is General Rokossov, we don't know whether these dumps are real ammunition dumps. Still a false target.”

Admiral Shipling: "It's okay to wait a little longer. They are wasting ammunition like this. When we actually attack, we won't have enough ammunition."

As soon as he finished speaking, the communications staff walked in and reported loudly: "The old headquarters was attacked by the Ant Air Force. The anti-aircraft artillery unit that stayed at the original location shot down five Ant dive bombers."

"Look!" Admiral Shipling raised his voice. "This Rokossov is not as infallible as your legends say. He can still be calculated. Don't demonize him or scare yourself."

Chief of Staff: "But his men are now using excess artillery shells to hinder our attack. We don't seem to have any good way to deal with it."

Admiral Shipling: "I said, let's waste his artillery shells. I don't believe his supply is really good enough to support such extravagance and waste."

————

Abavahan Front Army Headquarters.

Pavlov: "After the intensity of enemy air raids was reduced, the number of arms trains arriving every day increased by 20% compared to October. In addition, more supplies came from the direction of Balas. It seems that because The Fuso Empire in the South Pacific suffered a defeat, and its ability to harass the South Pacific transportation lines was reduced. "

Wang Zhong picked up the report that Pavlov had just put in front of him and looked directly at the final summary: "Good guy, I have never fought such a rich battle. It seems that the night bombardment of the enemy every night will also resume, so many If the shells are not used up, it will be a big loss if it is blown up by an enemy air strike. "

Popov: "Indeed, a firepower plan can be formulated to ensure that 30% of the inventory is available for emergency use every day, and the rest are fired out."

Wang Zhong: "By the end of October, if we have so many cannons, the sacrifice will not be so great."

Pavlov: "The most difficult time has passed. It depends on General Frederick of the Sixth Army - oh, General, how long he can support it."

Wang Zhong: "Strengthen the psychological offensive. Have all the loudspeakers I asked for been set up?"

"Sixty percent completed." Psychological offensive is Popov's "professional field," so he is also responsible for this aspect. "The broadcast will start today."