artillery arc

Chapter 621: Thousands of Cannons Fired
After finishing his midnight snack, Wang Zhongdi looked at the clock on the wall countless times, and then urged, "It's time, let's get started."

Pavlov was about to pick up the phone when he suddenly remembered something. He turned to look at the artillery commander of the front and made a gesture of invitation.

The major general artillery commander came to the phone, picked up the receiver, and took a deep breath: "This is artillery commander Andrew, connecting to the artillery headquarters."

After a moment, he looked at Wang Zhong holding the receiver.

Wang Zhong: "Let's get started. No need to ask me for instructions again."

Andrew then said loudly: "I am Andrew, the artillery commander. Fire! I repeat, fire!"

Wang Zhong switched perspectives while he gave the order. Sure enough, all the artillery positions were now under his direct command, so they shared the field of view.

The roar of thousands of cannons fired at the same time woke up the birds that were still sleeping at night.

But the flock of birds was not overly frightened. Instead, they flew around the artillery group in the air, and occasionally swooped down to catch the insects that were frightened by the sound of the artillery and had no choice but to flee.

Wang Zhong looked down at the scene and suddenly recalled a scene from his favorite war movie "The Decisive Battle" when he was a child. He remembered the dialogue in that scene was like this: Only not long ago, it was rare for a unit to get a cannon, but now thousands of cannons can be concentrated, and the density of the artillery group exceeds the regulations of the drill manual.

At that time, Wang Zhong often fantasized that one day he would be able to command so many cannons.

This can be considered as the realization of a childhood dream.

By the way, Wang Zhong often confuses this scene of thousands of cannons firing at the same time with another scene in the same series. That set of shots mainly captured the flocks of birds in the sky that had become accustomed to the artillery fire when thousands of cannons were fired at the same time.

The bird flocks are used to show the impact of the long war on people and imply the hope for peace. In Wang Zhong's mind, it is one of the best war film shots.

If someone wants to make a war movie with himself as the protagonist in the future, he must include such shots.

Wang Zhong thought so.

He stared at the scene of thousands of artillery fire for a while, and when he got tired of it, he switched back to the headquarters' perspective, and then he met Pavlov's eyes.

Wang Zhong: "What's wrong?"

Pavlov: "I'm a little surprised that you didn't personally drive your Type 422 heavy tank into battle."

Wang Zhong: "If I personally charge into battle to kill any small fry, wouldn't it seem like my presence on the front lines is a cheap and common thing?"

Vasily: "I see. The general is doing this to preserve the value of his actions! In the future, when our people don't see the general on the front line, they will say, 'This is definitely not a tough battle, we can handle it!' In this way, the general won't have to go to the front line in person in the future!"

Wang Zhong shook his head repeatedly: "No, no, no, Vasily, you don't understand! If I don't go to the front line and hold up this red flag, how can the world know that I am invincible and invincible?"

Pavlov sighed, "So you're going to continue taking risks in the future, right? You won't go if it's not dangerous, right? Don't be like that. You had to take risks before, but the current situation doesn't require you to go to the front line."

Wang Zhong: "I thought you were already desensitized to my presence on the front line."

Pavlov: "I am giving up. I know it is useless to stop you. But you want me to agree with your approach. That is impossible! The commander of the front should stay in the headquarters honestly!"

Wang Zhong: "Okay, I get it. You see, I'll just stay here quietly now."

----

At the same time, Plossen Southern Army Group Headquarters.

Marshal Maximilian von Goron walked into the headquarters with a tired look on his face: "So why did you wake me up?"

"The enemy has begun artillery preparation!" said the army group's chief of staff with a stern look.

Marshal Goron's expression suddenly lost all his sleepiness: "Is the artillery ready? Where is it?"

The chief of staff pointed to the map and said, "All the marked places are being bombed!"

Marshal Goron took out his glasses, put them on hastily, and looked at the map: "Oh my God, has Rokossov learned the tactics of General Gorky? Bombard the entire front?"

Chief of Staff: "Yes, and all front-line troops reported that they were subjected to unusually fierce bombardment." Marshal Goron waved his hand: "Don't worry about this. Our officers will try to exaggerate the attacks they suffered. After all, this is what the professors at the Military Academy taught them, so as to attract the attention of the superior command organs.

"The latest enemy briefing!"

The chief of staff gave an order and immediately a staff officer came over with a thick stack of documents.

The document was handed over to the Chief of Staff and then passed on to Marshal Goron.

The marshal quickly flipped through it and said, "If the enemy deployment information we have is true, Rokossov intends to break through in these two places."

He put down the thick document, picked up the map stick and tapped the map twice.

The location where the photo was taken is exactly at the two ends of Olier.

Goron: "He may want to launch a pincer attack to eat up our heavy troops concentrated in Oril and prepare to break through his defense line."

After a brief pause, Marshal Goron continued, "Of course, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that he wants to march westward and encircle the 11th Army of the Coastal Fortress. In terms of execution difficulty, encircling the 11th Army is easier.

"I just don't know what Rokossov will choose."

At this time, the red phone on the Marshal's desk rang. He hurried over and picked up the receiver: "I am Marshal Goron of the Southern Army Group."

The Emperor's voice came through the receiver: "Marshal Goron, I heard that Rokossov attacked you?"

The marshal glanced at the chief of staff, who whispered, "It wasn't me. It should be a senior officer of the Asgard Knights who reported to the emperor."

The marshal's face showed "damn it", but he spoke very humbly: "Your Majesty, you are right, Rokossov did start the attack."

The emperor was very excited: "Very good. Although you have transferred some troops to the Central Army Group, the remaining forces are still very strong. Give Rokossov a heavy blow! He actually dared to attack when our troops are not tired, our equipment is not damaged, and our supplies are sufficient. Let him know how powerful we are!"

Marshal Goron: "Okay, I will immediately deploy elite armored forces to launch a counterattack!"

"No, no, no! Use your positions to consume them! Pure infantry units are useless in counterattacks, but they can come in handy in defensive battles! Use infantry and positions to consume Rokossov! Just like he consumed us!"

Marshal Goron looked a little embarrassed.

He glanced at the chief of staff and decided to tell the truth: "We only received the order to start digging trenches on June 6, and we have only completed a little bit of the fortifications so far. We rely on the fortifications to hold off Rokossov... Moreover, Rokossov's artillery fire is very fierce. I doubt how much of the fortifications we rushed out in the past few days will be left after the artillery fire."

"Aren't there cities and towns?" the emperor questioned. "But Salia is not a desolate area like Nanant. The density of cities and villages is very high. We rely on cities for defense, and there are also forests! Rokossov conducted a brilliant defensive battle in Orachi, and at that time he only dug fortifications for a few days!"

Marshal Goron: "They have the help of local residents. Rokossov can organize hundreds of thousands of civilian workers to help them build fortifications, but we can't do that! We requisitioned the civilian workers, and they would be lucky if they don't sabotage!

"Your Majesty, let's send our armored forces to fight Rokossov's troops in a decisive battle on the plains! I have confidence in our armored troop lads!"

The emperor was silent for a long time before he answered: "If Rokossov breaks through the infantry's defense line and there is really no way to resist, I agree that you should use the armored forces to confront the enemy. No matter what, Rokossov must suffer! The Air Force will also fully assist you!"

After saying this, the emperor hung up the phone.

Chief of Staff: "What does your Majesty say?"

Marshal Goron smiled bitterly and said, "We are going to use infantry to delay and consume Rokossov's troops, just like he consumed us."

Chief of Staff: "There is nothing wrong with this tactic. It is indeed the right way to go. But we have only been digging trenches for four days. The strongest bunkers on the front line are made of wood and bricks. With the firepower and armor strength of Rokossov's troops, such fortifications are of no use, right?

"From a practical point of view, the best response is to deploy armored forces and infantry forces to coordinate counterattacks."

Marshal Goron: "His Majesty said that if the infantry can't hold the enemy and is quickly broken through, we will be allowed to use armored forces to counterattack. What a joke! If the infantry can hold the enemy, why would we bother with this effort?"

Chief of Staff: “Any other orders?”

"No, oh, by the way, His Majesty said that the Air Force will do its best to help us." The marshal smiled helplessly.

(End of this chapter)