Arc of Gunfire

Second Lieutenant Henry Scaritz rushed to the yard and saw a Rokosov I tank with eye-catching slogans on the turret.

He read out the slogan: "Avenge your heroic brother?"

The commander of the tank, half of his body exposed on the turret, turned his head when he heard Henry's words: "Yes, revenge for the heroic brother! This is a slogan painted by Marshal Rokossov himself! I didn't even say who my brother was at the time , he said that he was the recipient of the Ante Hero Medal from the 51st Tank Army. Guess what, the marshal immediately remembered my brother’s name!

"The marshal asked me at that time: 'Is your brother's name Alexei Podolkov right?'

"I was shocked and speechless! Then the marshal patted me on the shoulder and said: 'All the orders for the posthumous Gold Star Medal were issued by me personally. I remembered it as soon as you mentioned the 51st Tank Army!'"

The commander said all this proudly, his upper body straightened up, and the gold star hanging on his chest was unusually eye-catching.

After speaking, the driver changed the topic: "You are from Melania, right?"

Second Lieutenant Henry was surprised: "Don't you know which unit is being strengthened?"

"Of course I know, but I have to ask, maybe you are a Melania born in Ant? There is one in our army. My grandfather came to Ant during the time of Peter I. He is already a complete Ant people."

Lieutenant Henry's expression was serious: "I am a real Melania. I was born during the period of Melania's independence. I fled to Antlai after the Prosin invasion."

"Is that so, you've been away from home for five years?"

Henry nodded: "It will be six years this September."

The captain said "Oh" and looked up at the western sky: "Then you are finally going home. Congratulations."

Henry also looked to the west and suddenly said: "I still remember that on the morning when the Proscenians started to attack, I was sent by my father to the village to buy charcoal. I was lazy and played hide-and-seek with Teresa in the farmhouse. I deliberately let Looking at her, she immediately found me——

"Then I heard the sound of an engine. In our countryside, many people have never seen a tractor in their lives, and rarely see a car.

"So everyone thought it was thunder. Many people looked at the cloudless blue sky in wonder and said how could thunder be possible in this weather.

"Then Proson's black-painted tanks drove into the village. I remember that the only ones who entered the village at that time were the No. 2 tanks and 38T tanks, as well as their half-tracks."

Henry sighed: "My country was actually defeated by the No. 2 tank. It's incredible to think about it."

The commander smiled, jumped out of the car, and stretched out his hand to Henry: "Podolkov!"

Henry held the commander's hand: "Henry, Henry Scaritz, Scaritz is the name of my hometown. After I escaped from the iron heel of Prosen, I changed my surname to this."

The driver looked surprised: "Changed to this? Did your parents actually agree?"

"They are all dead." Henry said calmly, "Killed by the Prossens."

"Sorry." Podolkov squeezed Henry's hand hard, "We will fight back to Prosen's territory soon. Then whatever they did in our hometown, they will pay back tenfold!"

Henry smiled and did not answer, but looked to the west sky.

————

On July 15, Wang Zhong returned to Ronezh.

When entering the headquarters of the First Front of Khazalia, he sighed: "It's my own headquarters that makes me feel comfortable."

"Why, do you think Yebao's headquarters is too luxurious?" Pavlov asked.

"Yes, those luxurious chairs hurt your butt when you sit on them." Wang Zhong said, pulling out his favorite wooden chair and sitting down. "This one is still more comfortable and breathable. When the weather is hot, sit on Yebao's leather chair. I have prickly heat on my butt."

Popov laughed loudly, then patted Wang Zhong on the shoulder: "You are obviously a noble, but you have a disease that prevents you from living a noble life!"

Wang Zhong: "Yes. How are the preparations for the attack going?"

"Completely prepared. The intelligence given to us by Melania's resistance organization has been analyzed. Combined with the intelligence from aerial reconnaissance, we have identified fourteen breakthrough points and will launch attacks on these breakthrough points at the same time. Six of the breakthrough points are composed of Melania’s People’s Army is in charge.”

After Pavlov finished speaking, Popov said: "The morale of Melania's People's Army is high, and they can't wait to fight back home."

Wang Zhong: "They will be able to do so tomorrow, but our first target is still the heavy troop group surrounding Prosen."

Although the offensive starting tomorrow will enter Melania's homeland, it will only pass through Melania's northeastern part. It is mainly to encircle and annihilate the Prosen Central and Northern Army Groups.

Melania’s capital is not on the offensive route, and not even Melania’s mother river, the Vistula, is on the offensive route.

The Vistula River is 1,100 kilometers long and runs almost through the entire Melania. Generally speaking, as long as you fight in Melania, you will encounter the tributaries of the Vistula River.

However, Wang Zhong's battle plan this time did not touch the Vistula River, so it may cause dissatisfaction with Melania's People's Army.

In the end, the staff included a tributary of the Vistula River in the battle plan, and asked the Melania People's Army to solemnly recover a medium-sized city on this tributary, which was also an explanation to the Melania people.

After the summer campaign is over, during the winter offensive in October, the front of the 1st Kesalia Front will point towards the Vistula River.

However, no specific battle plan has yet been formulated because no one knows the outcome of the summer campaign.

If the Central and Northern Army Groups of Prosen can be successfully eliminated, then the First Front of Kozaria will take advantage of Prosen's empty troops to march straight in, directly liberate Melania's capital, and directly penetrate into the area where Prosen's capital is located. Northeast of Prosen.

If the battle to eliminate the Prosen-heavy cluster does not go smoothly, drags on for a long time, and even allows the opponent to partially break through to the north and central part of Melania, then the battle will probably be postponed until next year.

No matter what the situation is, we will know it soon after the attack is launched tomorrow.

Pavlov: "This is the final version of the attack plan starting tomorrow. Do you want to take a look?"

Wang Zhong: "The plan should have been distributed to all units, right?"

"Yes, the specific plan has been distributed to the battalion and company level, so it is too late for you to change it now. I just let you take a look at the plan." Pavlov said.

Wang Zhong pushed away the thick plan: "Then no need, we'll see what happens tomorrow!"

————

In the early morning of July 16, Pavlov looked at his watch and turned his attention to Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong was also looking at his watch. The moment he raised his head, he caught Pavlov's gaze and nodded: "Let's get started."

Pavlov picked up the receiver: "I am Pavlov, Chief of Staff of the Front Army, artillery commander Davarich, fire the artillery."

Popov: "Although the scene of giving orders is the same as before, our headquarters has not heard the sound of artillery shelling for a long time, whether it is the enemy's or ours."

Wang Zhong: "Our headquarters is getting further and further away from the front line, which is not necessarily a good thing."

Pavlov had just put down the phone and returned to his seat. When he heard Wang Zhong's words, he became alert: "What do you mean? You are going to fight tanks on the front line again, right?"

Wang Zhong: "I didn't say that!"

"Let me tell you, the defense of the Rokosov I is not as reliable as before. At least three new vehicles of Prosen can penetrate the armor of the Rokosov I. In this case, it is impossible for me to continue I agree that you can fight tanks on the front line!" Pavlov raised his voice.

Wang Zhong: "I didn't say that! Besides, we will soon put into use the Rokosov Type 1 equipped with a new engine. Correspondingly, we will strengthen the defense and weld new additional armor to the turret."

"When these new cars arrive, I will allow you to go to the front line in person." Pavlov said.

Vasily: "Now the Marshal has another reason to urge the rear to strengthen tank defenses."

Popov: "That's a good thing for our tankers, isn't it?"

————

Push the time forward five minutes.

Fritz Kraus, commander of the 25th Army of Plossen's Army Group South, is inspecting the frontline bunkers with his pet dog.

He entered the command bunker of the 54th Division of the Army Group and nodded to the saluting division commander: "Good morning, general."

"Good morning, Your Excellency, Commander." The division commander replied respectfully, "The patrol we sent last night captured two prisoners. They have been laughing at us and saying that they want us to look good today!"

Fritz looked at the division commander: "Really? Did they really say that?"

"Yes, but both of them were handed over to the military police, so we don't know the results of the subsequent interrogation."

Fritz said to his adjutant: "Go to the military police headquarters and ask what's going on."

The adjutant nodded, turned around and ran out of the bunker.

Fritz's pet dog turned to look in the direction the adjutant left.

Fritz came to the observation window of the bunker, looked out, and then patted the second lieutenant on duty in front of the artillery mirror: "Here, let me take a look."

The second lieutenant immediately gave up his position: "Please."

Fritz put his eyes on the artillery mirror: "Let me see, the enemy's side... looks very calm. Of course, they have dug communication trenches and starting positions for so long. Even if they really want to attack, our side will not be able to attack." Can't see it."

Commander of the 54th Division: "Recently, the enemy's reconnaissance activities in front of us have been very frequent, and it looks like they are about to launch an attack."

Fritz: "The high command believes that this is a trick by Rokossov to prevent us from sending troops to the north."

The division commander looked worried: "Really? If Rokossov attacks now, do we really have enough troops to resist them?"

Fritz straightened up and returned the observation position of the artillery mirror to the second lieutenant on duty. He turned and looked at the division commander: "Don't worry about things that haven't happened yet. We have indeed had a lot of troops taken away and are seriously under-strength, but As long as the enemy doesn't attack, it's not a big deal.

"And we also have strong permanent fortifications!"

Fritz stretched out his hand and touched the concrete wall of the bunker: "Look at this wall, it is solid and reliable. This fortification alone is comparable to an army of five hundred thousand! Do you understand five hundred thousand?"

The division commander asked: "What if Rokossov dispatches 1.3 million troops to attack?"

Army Group South currently has 660,000 troops, plus fortifications equivalent to 500,000 troops, equivalent to 1.16 million troops.

If Rokossov dispatches 1.3 million troops——

"The headquarters thinks he doesn't have that many troops anymore." Fritz waved his hand, "What else can we do besides trusting the judgment of the headquarters?"

Then the phone rang.

The staff officer of the 54th Division picked up the phone: "54th Division. Yes, the general is here with us. Do you want to talk to him?"

Fritz looked at the staff officer: "Are you looking for me?"

The staff officer nodded: "Yes, Marshal Mendel, the commander of the army group."

Fritz reached out and took the receiver: "I am Fritz Kraus, I am in the bunker of the 54th Division."

Marshal Mendel asked on the other end: "Fritz, we just received a report from the gendarmerie that Rokossov's front may launch an attack today. Did you find any signs of an attack in the front-line bunker?"

"No." Fritz answered truthfully, "But the enemy has been operating on the opposite side for half a year and has already built a starting position. Even if they really want to attack, we can only know after the artillery preparation."

Marshal Mendel: "Has the artillery preparation started?"

"No." Fritz changed his tone to teasing, "If the artillery preparation begins, you will hear it."

"Is there anything else to report?"

Fritz was about to say no, but suddenly remembered the report from the commander of the 54th Division, and said: "One thing, the 54th Division organized a patrol last night and captured two Ante prisoners. They all said that we will know how powerful they are today."

"Really? Are the two prisoners in front of you now?"

"No, not anymore. The commander handed them over to the military police. I sent my adjutant to inquire about the situation."

"Understood, report immediately if there is any news--"

Fritz suddenly heard a scream in the sky.

His first reaction was to lower his body, hold the phone and lean against the wall of the bunker-the supporting effect of the wall made it less likely for people leaning against the wall to be buried directly.

Then the ground shook.

The overpressure of the explosion almost instantly took away Fritz's hearing.

He shouted into the receiver, but he couldn't hear his own voice at all, not even the sound of bone conduction.

After shouting several times, Fritz finally realized that his hearing was gone. He touched his ear and felt only blood.

He shouted into the receiver in the midst of the earthquake: "Marshal, did you hear that? Ant's attack has begun! The judgment of the command is bullshit! Repeat, bullshit!"

Just at this time, a large piece of cement on the ceiling was shaken off and hit Fritz's head, knocking him unconscious.

The commander of the 54th Division rushed over and protected the commander of the army group with his body. At the same time, he picked up the receiver and shouted: "Marshal, the enemy has begun to attack!"

Then he suddenly found that the telephone line had been torn off at some point.

"Fuck!" the division commander cursed.

At this time, the ceiling of the bunker fell down.

The solid fortifications that Prossen was proud of were defeated by Ant's artillery fire.