Arc of Gunfire

At noon on July 24, in Melania, the headquarters of the First Front of Kosalia.

Wang Zhong looked at the huge arrow on the map with satisfaction.

Except for a small part that was divided and surrounded, most of the enemy's Southern Army Group troops retreated to the west of this huge arrow and regrouped along the Potsva River.

To explain it with the setting of the Heart of Iron game, these troops need to stay in place to restore their organization. If the organization is not restored to a certain level, they cannot act again.

The original setting of the organization in the game is to simulate the current situation where the troops are completely broken up and their weapons and equipment are seriously lost.

Pavlov stood beside Wang Zhong, crossed his arms and said: "If we attack westward, we can chase the enemy and liberate a large area of ​​Melania. The defeated soldiers of the Southern Army Group can't stop us at all."

Popov stood on the other side of Wang Zhong: "Leaving the retreating enemy alone and going north instead, the soldiers of the Melania People's Army are very dissatisfied."

Wang Zhong: "I understand their feelings. Who doesn't want to liberate their hometown as soon as possible? But now we are going north to encircle more enemies."

Vasily: "Think about it carefully. Our current situation is very similar to that of Prosen in 914. At that time, Prosen's Central Army Group rushed to Yebao. Maybe we had to retreat. Go to Charon to organize defense. "

Popov cursed: "Why don't you say something else? You have to say that we are very similar to the enemy in 914. What do you want to say? We have become invaders?"

"I didn't!" Vasily spread his hands, "God and heaven, I don't mean that!"

Wang Zhong: "He just said whatever he thought of. By the way, in 914, the Prosen people could not leave the heavy troops of Agsukov alone and attack directly to the east, otherwise their flanks would be in danger.

"You see, after we liberated Agsukov, the Central Army Group had to use most of its troops to guard against us. If they hadn't built a solid fortified area along the river, they would have been finished last year."

Pavlov: "Marshal Gorky suffered a bloody blow in the enemy's fortified area."

Wang Zhong: "Not only the fortified area, but also the swamp. There was a lot of rain last summer, and the area of ​​the swamp expanded a lot. ”

Pavlov: "The preparations Saint Andrew made to guard against the invasion of enemies from the west have become obstacles to our own advancement. If he knew this, he might not have insisted on cutting the country vertically along the direction of the river."

Saint Andrew's plan at the time was to put all the cities and industries on the east bank of the north-south rivers, so that if the enemy came from the west, they could be blocked along the river.

I don't know if he thought that the river would also block the counterattack of the Ants.

Wang Zhong couldn't ask. It took more than a hundred years for them to be canonized, and only a year for himself. He dared not question the decision of his predecessors. It must be that the Ants made a bad execution later.

Popov: "Now that we have completed this left hook, the one million Prosen troops will be completely finished. Combined with the situation we encountered during the attack, the Prosen people will no longer have any soldiers to fight. I suggest that we have a drink!"

Wang Zhong: "You just want to drink."

"It's not easy for me. As a bishop accompanying the army, I can only find this excuse to drink during the day. "Popov spread his hands.

Although the military bishop cannot drink excessively, it is too difficult for an Ant to say goodbye to alcohol.

Just then, several judges brought two ragged civilians into the headquarters.

Vassily was the first to notice them: "Wait a minute, you can't come in. This is a military stronghold. Civilians can't come in casually!"

Vassily stood in front of the newcomers and blocked their sight with his body, preventing them from seeing the map showing the current situation.

The judge said: "These two are messengers from the Melania Resistance Organization and the Melania National Army. They have important matters to report. We have detained them for a day and a night and carefully identified their identities."

Wang Zhong carefully confirmed the scars on the two men: "Vassily, you did a good job, but these two should be fine. "

As he spoke, Pavlov signaled his staff to cover the map.

After Vasily confirmed that the map would not be seen, he stepped aside.

The two messengers did not care about the map at all. They rushed directly to Wang Zhong and spoke anxiously in Melania.

Wang Zhong: "Vasily, translate it."

"They said that the national army has launched a large-scale uprising and urgently needs support from the Ant Army."

Wang Zhong couldn't help but hold his forehead.

He had seen this plot before.

This is how it was played on Earth, and even the time was not much different. The Warsaw Uprising on Earth started on August 3, and now it is July 24, a difference of ten days.

"Why? "He couldn't help asking.

There are all kinds of reasons for the early uprising on Earth.

But the Katyn Forest did not happen here, and Ante did not occupy Melania's land in advance.

The messenger took out a thick envelope and handed it to Vasily - they were quite conscious and did not hand the things directly to Wang Zhong, but had the adjutant pass it on.

Vasily weighed the envelope: "Photos, should I open them directly?"

Wang Zhong nodded.

So Vasily found a letter opener, skillfully opened the envelope, and took out the photos.

His face immediately became solemn.

Wang Zhong was very curious, so he took the initiative to step forward.

The photo brought Wang Zhong back to an afternoon before the time travel. He sat in front of the computer and looked at the tragic situation of the Gaza Hospital taken by the reporter.

The emotions he felt at that time surged through his heart again.

The letter said in very non-standard Ant language: "So we revolted in advance, in order to save the children, and to vent our anger on the Prosen people."

Wang Zhong did not answer, but took the photo from Vasily's hand and looked at it carefully.

"How was this picture taken," he said?

"Our warriors secretly photographed it." The letter said in halting Ant language.

Wang Zhong: "It was secretly photographed? At such a close distance?"

The messenger looked confused: "Yeah, what's wrong?"

Wang Zhong: "Look at this photo. It was obviously taken within the Puluo Sen people's cordon. And in this photo, there is a Pluo Sen guard in the corner of the photo, and the guard faces the photographer."

As he spoke, he placed the selected photos on the table for the messenger to look at.

Courier: "The guard was facing this way, but didn't notice the photographer, or -"

Wang Zhong: "Look at the shadows in the photos. The direction of the shadows can be used to determine the direction of the light source. All shadows want to be away from the photographer. This shows that a flash was used when these photos were taken, and the guard in the photos was facing towards the camera. How is it possible that the person didn’t notice the flash of the flashlight?”

The flashlight of this era was actually a flash bomb. When used, it would make an explosion sound and produce conspicuous smoke.

The messenger looked at the photo and seemed to be in a state of brain shutdown.

Vasily: "To put it simply, this is a photo taken by the Prosen people and then brought back by your 'warriors'. I suggest that the person who brought the photo be shot immediately."

The inquisitor who brought the messenger echoed: "We can provide professional guidance."

Messenger: "You mean these children were not killed and were faked?"

Wang Zhong looked at the messenger and found that he sincerely hoped that these were fake. He sighed: "No, the photos are probably real. It takes more time and effort to forge such photos than to take real ones. The enemy cannot do this.

"They used these photos to provoke you and make you revolt in advance, and then forced us to abandon the heavy troop group heading north to outflank the enemy and save you!"

Messenger: "No!"

Wang Zhong: “If my guess is correct, these photos will soon be sent to the capital of the United Kingdom and then published on the front pages of all newspapers.

"And the United States, soon the whole world will be chanting, 'Where is Rokossov and why doesn't he save Melania?'"

Pavlov scolded: "Sukabuli, this is a conspiracy. If you continue to go north, at least the United States will not be able to use your card to sell war bonds."

"But we must continue to go north," Wang Zhong said with determination. "We will not do what the enemy wants us to do."

Messenger: "What about Melania's children? What about us who have already revolted? Are you just going to sit back and watch us be suppressed by Proson?"

Wang Zhong: "Our troops are not strong enough to be divided into two groups. The enemy will definitely not sit still and wait for death. They can also draw forces from the Western Front, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Balkan Peninsula.

"We cannot underestimate the enemy. If we divide our forces now, only the enemy will be happy."

The messenger knelt on the ground with a thud: "Your Excellency, Marshal! Stars of victory! For the sake of Melania's people, please save us! For the sake of Melania and Marshal, who have fought side by side until now, pull us together. "Come on, Marshal!"

Wang Zhong looked at the messenger and hesitated for a moment, but in the end he turned around and put his hands behind his back.

The messenger, a grown man, burst into tears: "How many Melania mothers will lose their children! How many Melania women will lose their husbands! How many people will lose their loved ones!"

Wang Zhong: "Stop crying! Just a few days ago, my brother died in a Prossen mine! Who doesn't have a few blood feuds? It's good to have revenge. What does it look like crying?"

The messenger was stunned: "Your brother?"

"Yes. I was able to survive in Haute Penier because my brother managed to get a KV to support me. All the members of the KV died in Haute Penier. It was equivalent to using their lives to exchange for My life!

"Now the brother who deployed the KV has also left, and I am the only one left in the Rokosov family, so I swear that I will invade Prosenia in the future and question the dog emperor face to face why he launched a war of aggression!

"When the time comes, I will take revenge on you too!"

After saying this, Wang Zhong turned around fiercely, stared at the messenger, and said word by word:

"I promise!"

The messenger sat up, wiped his tears with his sleeve, and muttered as he wiped: "How should I report to the top brass of the national army? How should I report to Hellman?"

Wang Zhong: "Heilman?"

Popov explained: “The de facto leader of Melania’s resistance, you can think of it as the ‘Commander of Combat Operations.’”

Wang Zhong: "Combat Operations Commander? A resistance organization. In addition to the combat department, does it have other departments?"

"It seems so." Popov shrugged, "By the way, there are many factions within them, and they are fighting each other. Only Heilman listens to what all factions say."

Wang Zhong: "They actually rebelled under such circumstances? Isn't that doomed to failure?"

Popov: "In fact, we also sent people to tell Heilman not to revolt and wait for us to liberate Melania's country."

Wang Zhong was silent for a few seconds and shook his head: "The only way is to complete the left hook as soon as possible and then turn to the west."

Pavlov immediately objected: "No, we need to rest after completing the outflank."

It will take time for the enemy to retreat and completely destroy the organization. As the attacker, the Ant Army cannot keep its organization intact during the attack. In fact, as the battle progresses, the command and communication capabilities of all units will decline.

In order to express this situation, the concept of organization will be used in later strategy games. The attacker will also consume organization and need to find time to rest and recover.

Pavlov: "Such a huge army spans 450 kilometers! Four hundred and fifty kilometers! Even if our soldiers are all iron men, we must stop and rest! St. Andrew himself appeared as a saint, and we must Stop and rest!”

Vasily reminded in a low voice: "It is four hundred and eighty-five kilometers. Before we broke through the enemy's defense lines and advanced to Melania's land, we walked an average of thirty kilometers."

Pavlov: "Four hundred and eighty-five kilometers! Thank you!"

At this time, Emilia's voice suddenly appeared: "Perhaps we can let the Allied troops land in Melania? Or parachute? As long as it lasts until you complete your rest and resume your westward march."

Wang Zhong: "Amelia? When did you come?"

"You were here just now. Your liaison officer seems to be restless today. I asked and found out that Melania's messenger has arrived. Your liaison officer seems to be——"

Wang Zhong: "You seem to want us to go west?"

"I think so." Amelia nodded, "This is a bad idea, right?"

"Yes, this idea may allow Prosin to save at least a million fresh troops."

Emilia said "Oh": "Then your advancement speed will slow down, and the opportunity for the Allies will come."

Wang Zhong: "Yes."

Emilia sighed: "Then it seems that the allies can't save Melania."

Pavlov: "There is another way, to draw out Melania's People's Army and the auxiliary troops strengthened for them, and march westward. In this way, the number of troops marching north will be reduced by 200,000, and we can find ways to make up for it. ——”

"No, you expect 200,000 people to liberate Melania's capital? This is impossible. It will only make the sacrifices of the soldiers of Melania's People's Army in vain."

Wang Zhong pulled up his chair and sat down, tapping his fingers on the table, and said solemnly: "Melania can only rely on herself. At least until September."

————

Hellman held the already hot Sten submachine gun and fired at the Prossen defenders on the street.

In the end, after only ten shots were fired, the gunfire suddenly stopped.

Heilman lowered his head and saw a brass cartridge case stuck in the ejection window.

He immediately retreated into the bunker and yanked on the charging handle with his hand. The first time he didn't pull it, the second time he pulled the gun bolt all the way and the bullet casing slipped to the ground.

Hellman reset the bolt, loaded a new bullet, leaned forward and fired again.

The Prosin who wanted to take advantage of this gap in firepower to rush over took a hit from the front and fell in the middle.

It had just rained, and there was water everywhere on the road. The Prosin fell next to the pool, and bright red spread from his position to the entire pool.

When Hellman retracted the bunker to change the magazine, someone ran over to him and shouted:

"Heilmann! Tank!"

"Prepare the Molotov cocktail!"

"Heerman, we stole the Prosin's new weapons from the arsenal. They seem to be modeled after the Ants' new weapons."

The speaker came over carrying a rocket launcher.

Hellman glanced at the thing in his hand: "Be careful, the new weapons of the Prossens are always very troublesome to make, and even well-trained Prossin soldiers are very troublesome to use."

"Don't worry, this is absolutely simple. You see, this position is the electric spark plug. When the trigger is pulled, an electric spark is generated, and the rocket flies out! When aiming, just use this simple sight here."

At this time, the sound of the engine gradually became louder, and the walls began to vibrate with the clicking sound of the gearbox.

The window glass also made a sound that caused goosebumps all over because of the resonance.

When the tank turns, it will also make the sound of scraping the pot with an iron spoon.

Heilman: "Get ready and see if the new stuff works. If not, we'll use Molotov cocktails."

"It has been prepared for a long time." The hostess of the house climbed up the stairs carrying a box of Molotov cocktails. "Throw it away! Just throw it all away. My family has no more wine to drink, and it can save his life!"

"We saved his life by leaving a bottle!" the guerrillas joked.

Everyone laughed.

The lookout whistle shouted: "Tank!"

Hellman immediately went to the window and looked out, and sure enough he saw a new heavy tank with a long and narrow turret turning the corner.

"Come here!" He waved to the man holding the Prossen's new weapon. "This position is just right for you to see the tank's Tianling Cap. Give it a try!"

The shooter came over with a rocket launcher: "You have to get out of the way. You can't stand behind the rocket launcher. I saw with my own eyes that when the Proscenians were training to use this thing, someone stood behind it, and the result was the highest level of burns, which soon won't work anymore." ”

Hellman stepped aside and peered down from behind another window.

It happened in an instant. The rocket hit the tank's turret roof with a clear trajectory.

After the explosion, flames spurted out from the open hatch of the turret, and the Prossen tanker got out of the tank like a rat with its tail on fire, rolling on the ground.

But the Proson infantry accompanying the tank also discovered the location of the rocket launch, and bullets shot over like a storm.

The man who fired the rocket clutched his chest, rushed out of the window and fell downstairs with the rocket launcher.

The resistance fighters fought back desperately, and bullets fired a series of sparks on the street.

Someone threw a grenade and landed in the middle of the enemy group. After the explosion, three Prosen fell down.

Hermann emptied another magazine and shouted: "Move! Move quickly!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a rifle grenade passed through the window behind him.

He pounced and threw two guerrillas to the ground.

The rifle grenade exploded, and all the glass products in the house were blown to pieces.

Hermann got up and pulled up the guerrilla he had just rescued: "Go! Landlady, you go too, everyone go! The Prosen people will not let go of the living people in this room! Go through the hole in the house!"

The group quickly retreated from the hole between the houses.

Just as everyone left, a Prosen tank that no one had ever seen appeared.

The tank had a main gun as thick as a washbasin, and there was a circle of small holes for exhaust around the main gun.

The tank was aimed at the building where Hermann was before.

The next moment, a bright new star rose up and slowly fell on the building.

The explosion occurred, and the three-story building was engulfed in light.