artillery arc

Chapter 610 Old Friends Toast

In front of Oriel, the position of the Kosalia Front Army.

Lieutenant General Eugene got out of the Willys jeep and strode towards the bunker under construction.

The colonel who had been waiting at the entrance of the bunker came forward and said, "Lieutenant General, the bunker is already..."

Lieutenant General Eugene raised his right hand to stop the colonel: "I can see it myself. Although I am a miner and my main job is to dig holes, I also know a little about concrete. After all, concrete is used from time to time to reinforce some mines that will not expand to the sides in the mine."

As he said this, he walked past the colonel and patted him on the shoulder.

The lieutenant general walked to the bunker, observed it carefully for a few seconds, and waved his hand, saying, "The soil pile in front should be higher. There should be a thick enough soil layer in front of the concrete, and the defense will be greatly improved."

"Yes, Lieutenant General." The colonel immediately turned around and gestured to his entourage, "I heard the Lieutenant General's order, move!"

Lieutenant General Eugene walked around the bunker and nodded, "Very good, the construction technique is very skilled. Did the person in charge do related work before the war broke out?"

"Report to the General, I was the construction team leader before the war broke out." The colonel replied.

Eugene: "Oh? Then how did you become a colonel?"

"I took the crash course and became a major after completing it. But last year during General Gorky's offensive, all the officers with higher ranks than me were killed, so I became a colonel."

Eugene patted the colonel's shoulder again and said, "I'm worse than you. I haven't even been to a crash course. I just took night classes during my rest period to cram a lot of basic knowledge. Now I'm a lieutenant general."

Colonel: "You are different. You have been through so many fierce battles, following that Rokossov all the way from Orachi."

Lieutenant General Eugene: "Don't say these words with envy. I didn't know what I would face at the time. I just joined the army with passion and got the rank of lieutenant colonel because of my position in the mine. But I was still complacent. I wore the military uniform home to show my wife, and happily displayed the lieutenant colonel's shoulder straps."

Eugene stopped and looked into the distance - it was more like looking at himself in the distant past rather than into the distance.

Eugene: “None of us were prepared for the brutality of this war, and we all thought we would soon be able to drive the Plossans out of their homes and storm their lands.

"Everyone thought this was an easy war, even the parish priests.

"Now, of all the good friends who joined the army with me, I am the only one who is still alive. My wife successfully evacuated to the rear, but many of my neighbors did not have time to evacuate and stayed in the enemy-occupied area. I wonder how they are doing now."

Colonel: "We will fight back this year. That's what everyone says."

Eugene: "I hope so. In fact, my hometown is very close. One hundred kilometers in this direction is the coal mine where I am the mine manager. I have also been the mine manager of the iron mine next door. I am familiar with both mines. Going to the mine is like strolling in my own garden."

The lieutenant general pointed in the direction where the enemy was stationed.

Colonel: "Then maybe you can go home before this battle is over."

Eugene smiled. "I hope so."

Then he changed the subject and pointed to the communication trench next to the bunker and said, "The communication trench is not deep enough. Dig 15 centimeters deeper."

Colonel: "We dug according to the latest fortification construction manual."

Eugene said firmly, "Dig 15 centimeters more. You will thank me when the fight starts."

The colonel nodded: "Okay, let's start right away."

When the colonel gave the order, Lieutenant General Eugene walked to the highest point next to the trench, put his hands behind his back, looked into the distance, and it was unknown what he was thinking.

The Gold Star Medal on his chest was shining brightly in the rising sun.

----

The First Khazaria Front Headquarters.

"report!"

Pavlov turned his head and looked at the person who made the sound. "Oh, you guys are here. I haven't matched your names with your faces yet. After all, the new profile cards don't have photos. Please introduce yourselves."

"Yes." The leading major general answered loudly, "I'll start first. I'm Nikolai Petrovich Kamanin, the second commander of the 1st Guards Red Banner Mechanized Infantry Division."

"Well, he seems much more reliable than Yegorov. Did you know that I used to be his chief of staff?" Pavlov said, "Later, I became the chief of staff of the general's headquarters. Because of my good performance, I was promoted along with the general. Yegorov is still on the front line..."

Popov: "In fact, he was injured and went to the back for half a year to recover from the injury. Otherwise, he might not be slower than you in promotion."

Pavlov: "That's right. In this damn war, as long as you can survive, you will be promoted quickly... I would rather not be promoted so quickly."

Rapid promotion means heavy casualties among senior officers, which is actually not a good thing.

Pavlov pointed to the second major general and said, "What about you?" "Yes, I am Vasily Alexandrovich Levanevsky, the new commander of the 8th Guards Mechanized Infantry Division."

After completing the defense mission of Abavakhan, the 225th Division withdrew and was given the title of Guards and reorganized into the th Guards Mechanized Infantry Division.

Pavlov: "Where did Venus come from?"

"In the battle against Prosen at Dalvenkovo, I destroyed six of Prosen's tanks by myself." Major General Levanevsky held his head high and said with great pride.

"Very good." Popov clapped his hands. "We need anti-tank experts."

Levanevsky looked at Popov and said, "Bishop Davarich, my subordinates asked me to ask you why our division has no title? You see, we are all mechanized infantry divisions, and we are all Rokossov's direct troops. The title of the First Guards Mechanized Infantry is 'Red Banner', so we should have one too, right?"

Popov: "The former commander of your division, Major General Eugene, was very good at earthwork. Why not call your nickname Groundhog?"

Levanev looked embarrassed.

Pavlov: "Don't think it's an insult to be good at fortifications. This skill is very important!

"Lieutenant General Eugene has gone to command the 63rd Infantry Army and is now busy building fortifications. When the enemy starts to attack, his troops will be the first to bear the brunt. I believe he will make the Prosen people suffer greatly.

"If he knew you were frowning because of the title, he would come over and knock you on the head! I think the groundhog is pretty good."

Popov changed his mind, "We should also take the soldiers' feelings into consideration. Comrade Vasily Alexandrovich, go back and call a general meeting of the soldiers to discuss the name, vote for one that everyone can accept, and have your military bishop submit it."

"Yes."

At this time, the third major general said, "Shouldn't our division also have a cool name?"

Pavlov: "Although we already know who you are by process of elimination, please introduce yourself."

"Yes! The commander of the 1st Melania Division of the Melania People's Army, Janeme Vishilyovitsky."

Pavlov: "I'm sorry about your predecessor."

In the brutal battle of Abavahan, the commander of the Melania 1st Division did not survive.

Vishilyovitsky: "He and countless compatriots are buried in a foreign land. Since the fall of Melania, countless compatriots have been buried in a foreign country, but as long as the motherland can be restored, they will not regret it, General."

Pavlov nodded.

Popov: "Melania's troops have proven themselves. Rokossov himself said that Melania's troops have become one of the most reliable troops."

"Thank you very much!" Janeme Vishilyovitsky held his head high, his face full of pride.

Pavlov: "We all know the three of you. Where is Yegorov? He is the commander of the army group. He sent you three here. Where is he hiding?"

"I'm here right now!" A loud voice like a bell came from the door. Yegorov walked in with a basket of buns in his hand. "Ever since the last time the division commander invited me to a last meal, I have been thinking about the cooking skills of Seris's chef! So when I came, I went to the kitchen first, but it turned out that the chef had followed the division commander to Yebao! Only the chef's apprentice was busy in the kitchen!"

As he said this, Yegorov stuffed another bun into his mouth: "Fortunately, the cooking skills are not bad, it's delicious."

"Humph." Pavlov stood up, walked to Yegorov, and stretched out his hand. "Long time no see."

"Long time no see." Yegorov held Pavlov's hand. "Don't be so proud. I will be promoted to general soon. I will be promoted to general after this battle! You are a staff officer, and it is difficult for a staff officer to be promoted to general. It's different for me. After the war is over, I may even be promoted to marshal!"

Popov also came over: "You are beginning to think about promotion, which means you have gotten over the grief of losing your wife."

Yegorov's expression froze, but he relaxed immediately: "People can't always live in the past, and I killed so many Proshen devils, which can be regarded as revenge for them. The rest is to fight into Proshennia. This matter can't be rushed. The division commander has said that we will eventually get in if we take it slowly. I will listen to the division commander!"

Popov came up and patted Yegorov on the shoulder: "Okay, that's good! But you have to be nice to the doctor, too."

"Don't worry." Yegorov's expression softened visibly. "When the war is over, I'll have plenty of time to treat her well."

Pavlov looked empathetic and said, "When the war is over, we have to treat them well. I'm fine. I've been in the General Staff all the time. I'm afraid you who have been on the front line will need some time to adapt to peaceful life."

Popov: "You'll have plenty of time to adjust. Don't worry! Come on, it's rare for us to get together when we're not fighting. Orderly! Bring some wine!"

Soon the orderly came over with wine and complained to Popov: "Is it really okay for the military bishop to take the lead in drinking? The soldiers will follow suit!"

Popov: "Do you think they won't drink if I don't? The most troublesome thing for the chaplains is drinking secretly! Who cares? Come on, cheers!"

Yegorov raised his glass high: "You don't even want to say a toast? I'm here to help defeat the Prosen devils as soon as possible! Cheers!"

"To victory!" Pavlov added.

(End of this chapter)