Arc of Fire

Chapter 666: Chapter 4 “Those are All Rumors

Vasily interjected, “But we need some time to counterattack back into Prosen territory, right?”

Wang Zhong replied, “Indeed, that’s why General Gorky will have about a year left to utilize the advantage of a deep penetration attack.”

Vasily was startled, “Eh? So we are going to fight within Prosen territory next year? Isn’t that a bit soon?”

At that time, the room was full of staff officers, and none could focus on their work anymore. All of them lifted their heads, unable to suppress their smiles.

Who could contain it? The star of victory meant we’d fight back in Prosen territory next year!

Wang Zhong said, “I didn’t say that, but… by the end of this year, we might be able to reach near Mount Kalba, and next year we will be able to climb Mount Kalba!”

General Gorky, originally lost in thought, immediately looked up upon hearing Wang Zhong’s words, “You are going to Moravia? I thought you would head straight to Plowsonia.”

Wang Zhong responded, “Of course, I will head directly to Plowsonia; the Melania People’s Army under my command also hopes to reclaim their homeland. But given the fighting capability of the Moravian troops, attacking Moravia is much simpler. Once Moravia is conquered, the Prosens will completely lose access to the oil fields.”

Of course, Wang Zhong knew that Earth’s Sturmtigers relied on synthetic oil after the Romanian oil fields were bombed and destroyed, yet still maintained the operation of their war machine.

But the enemy having synthetic oil didn’t mean they had no need for natural oil, and besides serving as fuel, petroleum had many uses in chemical industries. Cutting off the oil supply was not as simple as just making the enemy’s tanks run out of fuel.

General Gorky laughed loudly, “Good, last year the enemy wanted to cut off our oil supply, and now you reverse their methods! Moreover, taking a detour through Moravia might indeed be a strategy to avoid the enemy’s heavy forces.”

While talking, he approached the map and stared at vast Kazarlia for a while and said, “But if you truly reclaim Argesukov and advance to the foothills of Mount Kalba, there is an even more attractive direction for attack! I suspect this is your real intention!”

Gorky tapped on Argesukov with a map stick and then drew a line north, “Straight to the Baltic Sea, encircling both the Central Army Group and the Northern Army Group!”

Wang Zhong grinned, “You’ve discovered it.”

General Gorky laughed heartily, “Taking the oil indeed could end the war, annihilating the enemy’s living forces could do the same! Knowing your nature, you would definitely choose to annihilate the enemy’s living forces! And by doing so, you also fulfill your promise to the Melanians!”

Wang Zhong said, “Yes, the Melania People’s Army suffered a loss of seventeen thousand killed and about eleven thousand permanently disabled. And the first division of the Melania People’s Army that joined us had only fifteen thousand fighters.

"The entire Melania People’s Army lost one-tenth of all its fighters, they shed their blood on our land defending our country. I must repay them!”

General Gorky said, “I understand, I understand completely.”

The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, looking at the map, silently in perfect accord for quite some time.

However, Gorky changed the subject, “If you don’t return to Yeburg, how will you handle the development of new weapons? I’ve already heard about the two new weapons used in the winter battle. The other Front Armies are also waiting for them.

"When I was in Yeburg, General Ivan Stepanovich (Shepetovka Front Army Commander) specifically complained to me that the chairman of the Equipment Committee isn’t working properly, not pushing for the mass production of new equipment, only caring about his own enjoyment.”

Wang Zhong said, “I’ve said it many times, I won’t return to Yeburg without knowing the enemy’s movements. Once I have a clear understanding of the enemy’s main direction of attack this summer, I’ll go back and take care of everything all at once.”

Especially now, without Earth’s history to draw upon, Wang Zhong was unsure of the next developments.

The enemy’s defeat was inevitable, but the process of this defeat could vary greatly. A small misstep could mean a lost battle and bring many unforeseen losses.

General Gorky said, “I’m quite surprised that you’re so worried about the enemy’s next move. I always thought you had everything well under control.”

That was because I had Earth’s history to reference, you know, but now everything has deviated from that path.

General Gorky said, “I don’t believe you have no foresight into the future!”

Wang Zhong said, “I do have a little idea. A minute, immature conjecture.”

He had always been a strategic game player, played a lot of games like ‘Hearts of Iron’, and after crossing over, he had accumulated so much experience. It would be false to say he had no clue about the possible directions of the enemy’s attacks.

He took the map stick from General Gorky and began to gesture along the battle lines, “For the past two years during the summer battles, the Prosens have gained the upper hand. No, to put it conservatively, they achieved amazing victories, which emboldened the Prosen-favorable faction within the Federation.

"I believe that the Prosen High Command might use these past two summer campaigns as a template to formulate their battle plans, avoiding the winter campaigns.”

General Gorky said, “Hmm, it makes sense.”

Wang Zhong said, “Analyzing the past two summer campaigns allows us to predict their plan this year. Look, the first year, their greatest victory was the encirclement at Abawahan, then they pushed Duke Meishikin back from Shepetovka to Bolsk, almost encircling the Duke.”

"In the autumn, the Western Front Army almost got surrounded by the enemy, but I blocked their offensive fist.

"The next year, they surrounded the heavy troops of our Coastal Fortress and almost encircled Duke Meishikin’s Bolsk Front Army.

"Their most splendid victories were achieved on the Southern Front, the vast plains, suitable for their armored troops to charge. But in comparison, their progress in both the north and the central sectors was minimal.

"Last year, the Northern Army Group’s greatest achievement was annihilating two of our armies, not even a hundred thousand men. The Central Army Group

General Gorky said, “I was always on the offensive, just without any tangible results.”

"Yes,” Wang Zhong nodded, “Actually, in the northern and central lines, they made no progress, and it was for objective reasons that the Prosen High Command could not have failed to notice. Therefore, I presume that they would again launch an attack on the Southern Front. The targets could be only two, one being General Ivan Stepanovich’s Shepetovka Front Army.”

The Shepetovka Front Army had not occupied Shepetovka, but they were always preparing to recapture the crucial industrial city.

Once Shepetovka was retaken, the Front Army could launch a flank attack on the enemy’s Central Army Group.

Pavlov joined the conversation, “Unlikely, the position of the Shepetovka Front Army is not suitable for the Prosens who prefer pincer movements and encirclement battles to unfold.”

Wang Zhong replied, “My Chief of Staff is right, so the only remaining option is to target me, cut off our communication with Yarvik, attack my flanks, and surround my main forces in Bolsk.”

General Gorky, looking at the map, said, “The logic is clear; I have no counterarguments. But if they do this, what benefit would it bring to ending the war? For the past two years, Prosen has been launching attacks with the goal of ending the war.

"And this plan, even if they annihilate you, won’t end the war, will it?”

Wang Zhong replied, “Exactly. But I ask you, do they have a way to end the war with just one successful attack now?”

General Gorky shook his head. “At least I can’t think of one.”

Wang Zhong noted, “So capturing me and then using me as a hostage to negotiate a ceasefire isn’t so unimaginable.”

General Gorky responded, “Too naive! How could that work? At this point in the war, no matter who is lost, the war will continue until Prosen is destroyed.”

Wang Zhong agreed, “Exactly.”

Silence once again descended.

After several seconds, General Gorky asked, “If they really do come at you, how do you plan to respond? Continue to rely on fortified positions?”

Wang Zhong replied, “Considering last year and the year before, the enemy might bypass the cities I’m defending and use their armored troops for an encirclement to cut off our supply. My plan is simple, deploy enough Whirlwinds combined with our tank troops on the plains to defeat them.”

General Gorky paused for a few seconds, then asked, “Can your new tanks be deployed on a large scale?”

Wang Zhong replied, “Probably not. By June, assembling a few heavy tank regiments will be about it; I plan to commit these heavy tank regiments entirely to the tank battle.”

General Gorky remarked, “The tank operators are going to make sacrifices again. The Prosen Armored Troops are really tough; last year when I launched an attack, I had to specifically order my troops to avoid direct confrontation with Prosen armored units—just report and not engage.

"The troops were quite displeased about this, wanting to clash with Prosen armored units, but I clearly knew they couldn’t handle it and would just end up as decorations on Prosen tankers’ Iron Crosses.

"Get your new tanks mass-produced!”

Wang Zhong shared, “At least by June your Whirlwinds will suffice; there are already several factories switching from old T34s to producing Whirlwinds.”

General Gorky added, “Before the winter offensive ends, my units reported spotting a new type of tank destroyer, it’s got a hefty barrel; I wonder if it’s meant to counter the Whirlwind.”

Wang Zhong noted, “The situation from the High Command also mentioned it; I even specially requested aerial photographs. The enemy’s technological progress is fast indeed.”

General Gorky concluded, “After all, they’ve always boasted about being first in science and technology. Anyway, if the enemy’s real target is you, I’ll wish you luck, but you’ve been through these situations enough to always bloody the enemy’s nose.”

"Yes,” Wang Zhong laughed, “I also look forward to your offensive achieving results. If you break through the lines of the Central Army Group, the enemy’s attack will disintegrate before it even begins.”

General Gorky stated, “I hope so. I’ve got a good grasp of the overall situation; if I head back to Bolsk now, I can still catch tonight’s train to Yeburg.”

Wang Zhong commented, “Wait a second, don’t rush, have dinner before you leave.”

General Gorky remarked, “I’ve heard about your dinners, only Yegorov came back alright, right?”

Wang Zhong replied, “That’s all rumors; my Ceres chef is really great, everyone finds the meal delicious!”

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