Arc of Fire

Chapter 105: Bloodbath in Loktov_3

At that moment, the telephone rang.

Wang Zhong was startled, “It’s fixed?”

Yegorov had already picked up the phone, “This is the front command. What? Alright.”

He covered the receiver and said to Wang Zhong, “The defense regiment reports no enemy attacks and is asking if we need support, they can spare a battalion.”

“We need it,” Wang Zhong replied decisively, “Order them to come immediately. We are going to drive out all the enemies who have penetrated the factory area!”

Actually, the situation had already become clear at this point.

The enemy had committed only two battalions reinforced with tanks, which had been severely depleted by a single battalion of their own relying on the terrain. With another fresh battalion arriving, the enemy should be retreating, and one might even capture an intact Panzer IV tank.

The tank that was taken out by the grenade should still be operable once the mashed flesh on the dashboard is scraped off.

————

Major General Randolph observed the front lines, “The enemy appears well-prepared; with so few forces, it’s unlikely that they’ll break through.”

The Chief of Staff agreed, “Our artillery barrage might not have been very effective. Tomorrow we should focus our firepower for artillery preparation, to inflict maximum casualties and destroy their fortifications.”

“Tomorrow? No, let’s do it today. Have the troops release smoke and fall back! Then continue the artillery bombardment, as they haven’t used much ammunition on the way here.”

After all, many times the artillery combat was over before it could even commence.

At this moment, a communications staff officer came running, “General, the 223rd Grenadier Regiment has taken Sorinni village, and they can soon start encircling Loktov from there.”

Randolph, “Is the information confirmed?”

“Confirmed.”

“Hmm, then let’s postpone the artillery preparation until the 223rd Regiment arrives. Estimated to be—” Randolph looked at his pocket watch, “at three o’clock this afternoon. At that time, deploy all units on the front arc and begin the artillery preparation. After two hours of preparation, launch a full-scale attack! Coordinate with the Air Force as much as possible, though it doesn’t matter if they’re not available.”

————

When Wang Zhong saw the enemy releasing smoke, he immediately realized that they were retreating.

“Yegorov! Have the boys charge, remember not to rush out of the smoke, inflict as many casualties as possible within the smoke!”

Yegorov promptly turned, “Sergeant, blow the whistle to attack.”

After giving the order he asked Wang Zhong, “Do we need the artillery to fire? There shouldn’t be any reconnaissance planes in the sky, and firing from Position B shouldn’t be detected.”

Wang Zhong, “No, I’d like to keep this secret for a bit longer, give the enemy a little surprise when it really matters.”

No sooner had he spoken than the phone rang again.

Wang Zhong picked up the receiver, “This is Major General Rocossov.”

Pavlov’s voice came through, “General, we have some new developments here; you should come to the brigade command. The telephone lines might be tapped by spies.”

Wang Zhong nodded, “Alright, I’m on my way.”

After hanging up, he shouted to Grigori, “Prepare the car! Is there still one available?”

Grigori nodded and walked away.

————

As Wang Zhong came out from the front command, he saw Aleksei Balfyonovich, nicknamed “Star Boy,” receiving first aid and said, “You should go to the hospital if you’re wounded. You’ve done your duty.”

The young man looked at Wang Zhong, “General, aren’t you wounded too? Why are you still on the front line?”

Wang Zhong glanced at his shoulder and suddenly realized he had been supporting himself in a static position for two hours while wounded, chalking it up to nothing more than sturdy Russian constitution.

As Wang Zhong was lost in thought, the young man asked again, “General?”

Wang Zhong, “Ah, it’s a light wound.”

“So is mine, the bullet went right through without causing much damage, it didn’t even hit the bone,” Aleksei Balfyonovich said proudly, “That’s why I want to stay on the frontline, with my artillery crew!”

At this, his loader shouted, “Actually, he just wants to show off, so he can brag about it to his girl later!”

Everyone started to laugh, including Aleksei himself.

Wang Zhong laughed too; despite the city being bombed and shelled, surely Natalia in the laundry unit was much safer than being on the front line.

As the banter continued, someone started singing, not knowing who led the way:

I remember a small town in another province,

Lonely, remote, heartbreakingly sad.

The town’s shaded avenues, marketplaces and churches,

And the lingering mist over the water that echoed back.

I saw—

Dear familiar figures,

Blue berets,

Blue overcoats;

Dark skirts, the silhouette of a young girl,

My love that blossomed then withered away!

Tanya, Tanusha, my Tatiana,

Do you remember that sweltering summer?

I cannot forget those times,

That passionate time!

Wang Zhong stood by until they finished the song then turned to get into the car driven by Grigori.

Perhaps it was because death and destruction were so near, but love on the battlefield held a unique kind of beauty. Wang Zhong sincerely wished the couple well.

It was only when he reached the regiment headquarters that he learned of Natalia’s death in an air raid.

Because he didn’t know how to face the young Alyosha with such news, he never got the chance to tell him before he died in battle.

————

“All in all, I have three pieces of good news, and one bad news,” Pavlov looked even more haggard than the last time Wang Zhong saw him, and he had even less hair.

It wouldn’t be long before Wang Zhong had a bald chief of staff.

Wang Zhong, “Let’s hear the bad news first. I wonder how bad it can be.”

Pavlov, “The enemy’s armored grenadiers have taken over Nizhne village, driving out our forces that were resting there. Now they can flank us from Nizhne. We must dispatch troops to defend the city’s southeast.”

Wang Zhong immediately frowned deeply.

This meant that the defensive line had just doubled in size, and if his limited forces were spread out over such a broad front, it would be as thin as paper.

“Then tell me the good news,” he changed the subject.

“First, our orders have changed.”

Pavlov paused, as if waiting for Wang Zhong to ask a question.

Wang Zhong, “Changed how? We don’t have to hold out until July 11 anymore?”

“That’s right, it’s changed to holding out until the 63rd Army Group arrives to take over defense.”

This might as well be worse than holding out until the 11th! At least that had a specific time. What if the 63rd Army Group doesn’t move if their allies are in trouble? Wouldn’t that be awful?

Wang Zhong, “What’s the second piece of good news?”

“The remnants of the 23rd Tank Army have entered the city and will soon be here. They still have about 20 BT7 tanks.”

Wang Zhong “oh”ed, which barely counted as good news.

Although the BT-7 had almost no defense, it was fast, and its guns could penetrate the sides and rear of a Panzer IV. According to War Thunder standards, “this is a good vehicle”; as long as it’s fast and can shoot through, it’s good!

“And the third?” Wang Zhong continued to ask.

Pavlov, “The railway is expected to be repaired by nightfall. The reinforcement train allocated to us by the Crown Prince is already waiting. Once the railway is fixed, it will come over immediately.”

Wang Zhong frowned, “Are they sending us more parade specialists? It wouldn’t be T35s, would it?”

Though he said this, in their current situation, even T35s had to be used. After all, the guns on that thing weren’t just for show; they could still be put to use.

Pavlov shrugged.