Arc of Gunfire

Chapter 649 Marshal Goron is good at escaping (Update 45/84)

At 2300 on July 11, the headquarters of the Antekosalia Front.

After reading today's briefing, Pavlov spoke first: "It is now certain that the enemy is in total retreat."

Wang Zhong: "We launched the attack before the encirclement was completed because we were afraid that they would escape. So how long will it take for the two pincers to close?"

"The encirclement should be completed after tomorrow, but the enemy's resistance is very fierce. In addition, aerial reconnaissance shows that there are a large number of troops in the gap of the encirclement and they are running towards Shepetovka."

Pavlov picked a photo from the table and stuffed it into Wang Zhong's hand.

Wang Zhong took a look and threw the photo on the table: "Send the air force to bomb as much as possible and delay the enemy as much as possible."

On Earth, Sandezi's troops can often jump out of the encirclement. Even in large-scale encirclement operations like Bagration, many of Sandezi's troops broke through the siege.

Wang Zhong's feeling after reading the war history is that the Allied Forces always underestimated Sandezi's combat power, thinking that the encirclement was successful and they could close the net, but they were careless and were taken advantage of by Sandezi.

Would Proson in this time and space also be like this?

Wang Zhong: "Can't the armored forces speed up? We will strive to complete the encirclement by victoriously joining forces at noon tomorrow."

Pavlov shook his head: "Objectively, it cannot be completed. Although the troops have rested for a few days, the equipment and personnel losses have not been replenished. For example, the First Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment, which has made great contributions, still has only three heavy tanks that can fight in today's report."

Popov: "The main reason is that the losses in the confrontation with the enemy's armored forces are too great, and our spears have become blunt."

Vasily comforted Wang Zhong: "It's good to be able to encircle so many. Although it is a bit dwarfed by the victory last winter, it has great strategic significance! You see, we will be able to encircle Shepetovka soon!"

Wang Zhong: "That's right."

He came to the map, picked up the map stick and gestured on the map: "After completing the encirclement, we can attack in this direction-"

The map stick crossed a familiar place name, asking Wang Zhong to stop.

Pavlov asked in confusion: "What's wrong?"

Wang Zhong: "Nothing, I saw a familiar city name."

Pavlov looked at the map: "Let me guess, it's Orachi, right?"

Wang Zhong: "You obviously guessed it because you saw where my map stick stopped!"

Pavlov: "Orachi is the city with the deepest roots in this area. Even if you don't look at the location where your map stick stopped, you can probably guess it. If Orachi is reoccupied, the enemy's troops in Shepetovka will have to retreat to the direction of the Central Army Group.

"The enemy's 11th Army guarding the Primorsky Fortress will also be isolated by us, and the situation in the entire Eastern Khasalia will become favorable to us."

Wang Zhong: "Yes, and retaking Orachi has great symbolic significance for me and us."

Pavlov: "The plan I made for the next stage includes a version of capturing Orachi. Will we use this version as the next stage of the battle plan?"

Wang Zhong: "It's feasible. It is estimated that it will take fourteen days to annihilate the surrounded enemy troops, as well as to rest and replenish after the battle. How about launching the next stage of the offensive on July 25th? "

Pavlov: "Considering the losses of our armored forces, a half-month rest is reasonable. But is it possible for the enemy to voluntarily give up Shepetovka?"

Pavlov took the map stick from Wang Zhong and gestured on the map.

"Giving up Shepetovka actually has little impact on the enemy's central front, and for the southern front, they can shrink the defense line and rely on the river to defend on the Tiber River."

Vassily: "Impossible, how could Emperor Prosen allow the Prosen Imperial Army to give up so many occupied areas at once? No, no! I can make a judgment without the general coming."

Wang Zhong shook his head: "We should be lenient in anticipation of the enemy. Emperor Prosen has lost so many troops because of his stubbornness. We should assume that he can draw lessons from past failures."

Vassily was very surprised: "You actually said that, I really didn't expect it."

Wang Zhong: "We should be lenient in anticipation of the enemy. Of course, it would be great to be able to surround the enemy's heavy troops in Shepetovka. Even if we can't surround them and let them run to the defense zone of the Central Army Group, it will be very beneficial for us to strengthen the Tiber River - because these troops will not be able to return to the southern front for a while. "

Pavlov: "The only problem is that the Tiber River is in its flood season this season, and it is very difficult to strengthen the Tiber River. If the attack losses are too great, I would suggest waiting until the Tiber River freezes in winter before launching the attack.

"It's good enough to recapture such a large area of ​​Eastern Khazaria in the summer campaign."

Wang Zhong was silent for a while and then shook his head: "No, we can't just stop here. The Tiber River is indeed difficult during the flood season, but the enemy did it two years ago, there is no reason why we can't do it!"

Pavlov: "What if the enemy destroys all the ships on the east bank when they retreat?"

Wang Zhong: "We can use the Dragon trailer sent by the United States to transport the boats directly from the rear to the front line. Before the muddy period comes, we should advance to the vicinity of Agsukov and then stop to survive the muddy period.

"When winter comes, we will return to Agsukov and complete the operations for the whole year."

Pavlov: "Very good, then I will make plans according to this schedule."

————

Marshal Gron's barrel truck stopped in front of the Agsukov City Defense Headquarters. The general got off the barrel truck, looked up at the sky, and then breathed a long sigh of relief.

The two people who came to greet him happened to come out of the gate of the city defense headquarters at this time. When they saw the marshal sighing to the sky, they hurriedly asked: "What does the marshal mean by this?"

Marshal Gron looked at the two of them: "Don't worry, I'm just sleepy and yawning, it looks like I'm sighing."

The two looked at each other, and finally decided to let it be.

"I see. We thought the war situation was so bad that even the marshal would sigh."

Marshal Gron smiled bitterly and did not answer.

Seeing this, the two people who greeted him quickly changed the subject: "Your Excellency Marshal, His Majesty the Emperor just called and asked you to immediately board the plane sent by him and return to the Eagle's Nest to report to him."

Marshal Gron nodded: "I understand."

After speaking, he turned back to his new chief of staff and said: "You should also be prepared to welcome the new commander. I guess it is General Eric von Shipling who is currently commanding the 11th Army to defend the coastal fortress."

New Chief of Staff: "Huh? Is that so? It's not a good idea to change generals on the spot, isn't it?"

Marshal Gron: "The empire needs someone to take the responsibility for the failure. Naturally, I should be responsible for this disastrous defeat. Don't worry, in order not to anger the old Juncker officer, your majesty will probably not embarrass me, but just let me Just retire and plant flowers.

"Just like Marshal Bryan, the former Army Commander-in-Chief."

"This, that's it!" The new chief of staff obviously didn't know how to respond to the general's words.

Marshal Gron looked at him and smiled, turned around and asked the person greeting him: "Has the plane arrived at the airport?"

"Yes, there is a special correspondent coming to greet you. The airport ground staff has filled the plane with fuel. You can fly with confidence."

Marshal Gron turned around and climbed onto the barrel truck and said to the driver: "Go to the airport."

————

Sure enough, as the greeter said, the three-engine Junkers transport plane nicknamed "Steel Annie" was already waiting at the airport.

As soon as Marshal Gron boarded the plane, he saw a strange-looking colonel sitting on a chair near the door of the plane.

Marshal: "Are you the special commissioner?"

"Yes." The colonel stood up and saluted the marshal.

"Okay, don't worry about this. The cabin of the aircraft is very short, so there is no need to stand up and salute. But as far as I know, this kind of aircraft that takes over the scapegoat rarely sends any special agents, and they are still colonel-ranked special agents!" Goron! The marshal looked at the colonel, took out the cigarette case, opened it, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

Colonel: "Actually, I'm not—let's wait until the plane takes off."

Marshal Gron made a surprising statement: "You are here on behalf of the Valkyrie Club, right?"

Colonel: "We'll wait until the plane takes off."

At this time, the crew opened the door of the cab and entered the cabin, saluted Marshal Gron and loudly reported: "We are ready to take off, please give instructions!"

Marshal Gron: "Let's take off when the tower tells us to take off. There's no need to ask me one by one."

"yes!"

After the pilot returned, Marshal Goron lit his cigarette and took a long puff.

At this time, the roar of the engine came through the cabin wall, and the plane trembled with the roar.

Then the plane began to taxi, and the inertia caused the people on the plane to sway back and forth a few times.

Marshal Gron glanced at the colonel, just smoking and waiting for him to speak.

The colonel was also very patient. He waited until the plane left the ground and flew up to 3,000 meters in the air before he said: "Your Majesty Marshal, the crew are all our people, and they have indeed been ordered to take you back to take the blame.

"But we all know that the loss of the war is not your responsibility."

"It is my responsibility." Marshal Gron interrupted the colonel. "I could have reduced the defense earlier. In that case, Army Group South would not have lost so much combat power at once, and the enemy's encirclement would not have been completed so well. Quick! No, if I shrink the defense line, I might as well abandon Shepetovka and rely on the Tiber River..."

The colonel interrupted the marshal: "Your Excellency! We all know that you are a glorious Prosin soldier, and you will not blame others for your failure! It is precisely because of this that we came to you!"

"Your Excellency! The most effective way to save Proson now is to hand over the culprit who started the war! Hand over His Majesty the Emperor!"

"No!" Marshal Gron shouted, "I know better than you! The ones who most hope to launch Barbarossa are actually us generals! Because if you don't continue to launch the attack... Of course, His Majesty also wants to win meritorious service and complete the mission. It can only be said that we are all at fault for what the conqueror did not accomplish, and it would be wrong for His Majesty to bear the burden alone.”