artillery arc

Chapter 602 Old Friends (Update 40/84)

After roughly determining the enemy's intentions, on March 3, after three days of train travel, Wang Zhong's special train arrived at St. Catherine's Castle Station.

Before entering the station, Wang Zhong saw through the window that the tracks outside were full of people, as if all the people in the capital had gathered on both sides of the tracks.

Someone saw him through the window and shouted loudly.

Wang Zhong lowered the curtains and looked back at Lyudmila: "It's because I anticipated that the public might be so enthusiastic that I didn't want to come back."

Lyudmila: "Alyosha, boosting the morale of the masses is also one of your tasks. You have achieved such a brilliant victory, you should use it to inspire others."

As she spoke, she walked forward, straightened Wang Zhong's uniform, adjusted the position of each medal, and said with a smile: "Look, with this handsome and beautiful outfit, you will become the dream man of all the girls in Yebao tonight."

Wang Zhong smiled: "Do you think this is appropriate?"

Lyudmila: "You have been the one in my dreams for a long time."

Wang Zhong was caught off guard by the direct ball. Although they were already an old couple, he was actually a little shy and could only hug the girl to cover it up.

"You," Lyudmila complained in his arms, "Do you know that the medal is very hard and it's hitting my face?"

"Oh, sorry." Wang Zhong quickly distanced himself, and then found that there was indeed a mark left by Venus on Lyudmila's face.

Embarrassed.

Wang Zhong rubbed the mark with his hand, which made Lyudmila laugh: "Don't worry, we will delay getting off the bus for ten minutes, and it should be fine."

Just when Wang Zhong was about to speak, the train began to slow down - yes, there were so many people on both sides of the railway, but the train did not slow down at all and passed directly in the middle.

Wang Zhong looked out the window. The train had already arrived at the station. The platform was full of palace guards in formal attire. It seemed that Olga had come out to greet him personally.

As soon as the train stopped, the military band on the platform began to play.

Amid the music, Wang Zhong heard the sound of the train door opening and someone talking loudly: "Is this the carriage? It looks really plain, but it fits the general's usual style. Oh, I smell something delicious, it's the general's chef, Seris!"

Wang Zhong turned around, opened the door of the private box, and said to the burly man who was making noises in the corridor, "Egorov, are you healed?"

Yegorov laughed like a bear: "It's done! Of course it's still a little uncomfortable, it hurts when it rains, but it's basically done!"

Wang Zhong: "That means you haven't recovered yet. You should continue to take leave and recuperate. The war won't start until June. Before then, you can leave relevant matters to your chief of staff."

Yegorov frowned: "Will it be June? The enemy hasn't recovered yet, we should attack aggressively!"

Wang Zhong: "How do we attack during muddy times? Even tanks can get stuck in the mud, and all vehicles cannot be used. How do we ensure the logistics of the troops?"

Yegorov sighed, "That's right. I still miss the days when we carried food and ammunition and broke into the enemy's defense line and could continue fighting for several weeks. Now it's different."

Wang Zhong: "Times have changed. You should know this."

"I know." Yegorov scratched his head. "Anyway, the First Mechanized Infantry Guards are ready for your deployment at any time, General."

Wang Zhong nodded and changed the subject: "Okay, I have to go downstairs. I can't keep Your Majesty waiting for too long."

Yegorov hurried to make way, but he was too big, so even after he made way, Wang Zhong could only pass sideways.

Wang Zhong can pass sideways, but Lyudmila may not be able to do so.

Yegorov suddenly realized this problem, turned around, opened a small door, and went into the small private room behind the door.

This road is completely given up.

Wang Zhong took Lyudmila's hand, walked through the carriage and came to the door.

Olga, dressed in her best clothes, stood among a group of guards and maids, looking at Wang Zhong with a smile.

Wang Zhong smiled, stepped onto the iron ladder at the door and got off the bus, standing on the platform with his feet.

Olga wanted to run up to give Wang Zhong a hug, but she restrained herself and walked up to Wang Zhong with a pace befitting of a Tsar: "My greatest general, the whole of Yekaterinburg is looking forward to your triumphant return!"

Wang Zhong: "I don't dare to be the greatest general. We still have many experienced generals who are proficient in the art of war. And my victory is not the credit of me alone, but the credit of all the soldiers and all the people of Nan'ant.

"Even in the occupied areas, the people persisted in fighting against Proson. Without them, there would be no victory for me."

Olga: "You are always so modest, my general."

Wang Zhong: "This is not modesty. I can tell you a million stories of ordinary people fighting bravely. For example, the story of a boy named Little Griff, who killed many Plossen soldiers!
"I have done only a small part, and victory belongs to the people of Ant."

"Well said." Belinsky's voice came from behind the Tsar. Maids and servants made way. The Patriarch walked through the crowd and came to Wang Zhong. "Everyone is the Messiah, everyone is a hero who saves the motherland."

After that, Belinsky extended his hand to Wang Zhong: "Comrade General, your awareness has surpassed many of our bishops." Wang Zhong held Belinsky's hand: "I just gained some insights during the war."

Ever since Loktov was rescued by the people, Wang Zhong had some insights, and they were increasing.

Belinsky: "Very good, very good. Write down your thoughts and publish them on the front page of the church's official newspaper!"

Wang Zhong: "Of course, I will."

Olga: "Can you show it to me before you publish it? I also want to know what you feel. After all, you are my brother."

Wang Zhong: "Of course, I will send a copy to the Summer Palace."

"Okay." Olga changed the subject, "There is still a ceremony to be performed. I have asked them to keep it as simple as possible, but the palace steward said that this would boost the morale of the capital, and the Patriarch agreed."

Belinsky: “I did agree.”

"Then let's start!" Olga said as she naturally took Wang Zhong's hand.

The palace steward suddenly came out and whispered, "Your Majesty, you cannot hold the general's hand. You can only review the guard of honor and the military band side by side."

Only then did Olga reluctantly let go of Wang Zhong's arm.

The palace steward then stepped back with satisfaction.

The ceremony began immediately. The music played by the military band changed to the farewell of the Ante woman. The guard of honor all raised their heads and chests, staring at Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong followed the Tsar's steps and walked with her in front of the guard of honor. Lyudmila, Yegorov and others stood by and waited for the ceremony to end.

At the end of the red carpet, there was a small platform with a microphone on it. Wang Zhong guessed that it was his turn to give a speech, but unexpectedly, it was Olga who stood up first and began her speech.

"All citizens of Yekaterinburg! Grand Duke Rokosov, who annihilated a million Prosom troops, has returned in triumph! You may have learned from the newspapers that he was appointed commander of the Khazaria Front a month ago and will lead our country's most elite troops to recover Khazaria, which has been occupied for two years!
"In order to express my expectations for Rokossov, I have decided to confer the title of King of the Kingdom of Khazaria on Grand Duke Rokossov."

Wang Zhong's brows were twisted into knots. When he had some free time for the first time after traveling through time, he took the time to learn some background knowledge. He knew that the crown of the Kingdom of Khazaria had always been held by the Tsar, which meant that in addition to being the Tsar, Olga was also the king of the Kingdom of Khazaria.

Now Olga directly gave one of the crowns to Wang Zhong. This operation——

Wang Zhong looked at Belinsky, who shook his head slightly, probably meaning "I don't know either."

It was a sudden attack. Wang Zhong looked at his sister and couldn't tell for a moment whether she just wanted to express her expectations without thinking too much about it, or whether she was shrewdly scheming to pull the now popular General Rokossov onto the chariot of the nobility?

No matter what, Wang Zhong decided to make his position clear at this time, so he waited for Olga to finish her speech and leave the stage, and then he went straight to the podium: "Thank you, His Majesty, the Tsar, for your respect for me. I am also happy to accept this crown, but all the signs now show that the era of the nobility is over.

"I felt it particularly clearly during the Battle of Abavakhan. It was the people of Ante who fought the invaders to the death, and it was the people of Ante who repaired the railway in the snowstorm to ensure the supply of the army. The people were the protagonists of this great patriotic war.

“And the nobles are also part of the people of Ant, such as my father and the Tsar’s brother. They all died on the battlefield along with the ordinary soldiers.

"So, when the war is over, I will hand over the crown and scepter to the Agsukov History Museum, retaining only the honorary title, and let these outdated and epoch-making things retire gracefully."

As he said this, Wang Zhong stared at Olga.

Olga kept smiling and it was impossible to tell what she was really thinking.

Wang Zhong: "My speech is over."

The nobles present looked at each other in bewilderment, while the common people cheered.

Olga suddenly took the lead and clapped loudly: "Good! That's very well said, brother!"

Are you just calling me brother? What are you doing?

Wang Zhong walked down from the podium.

Olga rushed up and gave him a hug - this was the hug Wang Zhong had thought he would get when he got off the bus.

When the two separated, Wang Zhong suddenly discovered that Olga's face was also marked with a medal.

But Wang Zhong didn't use any force this time, so Olga had to use all her strength to get close to him.

Of course, the people around could not see the marks on Olga’s face. They just cheered excitedly, and the deafening cheers reached the sky.

Olga: "Let's go! I've prepared a welcoming party at the Summer Palace! Many people have been invited!"

Wang Zhong: "You know I don't like the red tape of the nobles."

"Hey, ever since you won the battle, all the nobles in Yebao are learning your way of doing things. Suddenly, everyone doesn't like those red tapes anymore," said Olga.

(End of this chapter)