artillery arc

Chapter 651 Cavalry Attacks
July 7, Khazaria Front Headquarters.

Wang Zhong looked at the three Generals Proson who were brought into the room and asked loudly, "You are the ones who wanted to see me?"

The three generals looked at each other, and finally the lowest-ranking major general spoke up and answered in a slightly stiff Ant language: "We want to meet the legendary General Rokossov."

Wang Zhong: “Then you saw it.”

Major General Plossen asked again: "Have you... been to the front line? I mean this offensive..."

The other two Plosson generals interrupted him in Plosson language, saying a lot of gibberish.

Vasily's thoughtful translation: "They say that since the beginning of the offensive until now, the front has always reported Rokossov's presence at the front, and the Antes are like crazy."

Wang Zhong looked at Pavlov: "Have I been to the front so many times?"

Pavlov shrugged. "I don't know. Only Ms. Vasilyevna (Lyudmila's father's name) can confirm whether it is you in the headquarters, General Davarich."

Wang Zhong: "I think Ms. Nellie can do it too, Nellie! Have I left the headquarters these days?"

Nellie, who was making coffee, looked up and said, "You and Ms. Emilia have left together three times."

Wang Zhong: "Ah, that was reconnaissance on the Pei 3. Vasily, please tell these Generals Proson that I have never left the headquarters except for reconnaissance in the sky."

Vasily immediately began to translate.

The Plossons looked at each other.

The major general who understood the Ant language exclaimed: "Are you really investigating it yourself?"

Wang Zhong: "Of course, a good commander must always be aware of the situation on the front line. I just did my part."

Popov suddenly said, "Because you conduct personal reconnaissance all day, the death rate of senior officers in our army has increased recently. Last week, General Vatutin was shot down while conducting personal reconnaissance by plane. I think the High Command will soon order that senior officers are not allowed to fly in planes over enemy-occupied areas."

Wang Zhong: "How can this be possible? If we can't personally conduct reconnaissance, how can we achieve precise strikes against the enemy? Have you forgotten that we sent airborne troops and Komanda to attack the enemy headquarters? That was the intelligence obtained by the cavalry, and I personally flew over the headquarters to confirm it."

Pavlov: "You came back and drew a diagram of the enemy headquarters. I don't deny the effectiveness of your personal reconnaissance, but if the higher-ups ask for this, I can't do anything about it, right? I can't make an exception for you alone."

Vasily: "The Chief of Staff looks very happy."

"Do I look happy?" Pavlov glanced at Vasily. "Oh no, no, you are talking nonsense! I fully support General Rokossov's personal reconnaissance of the enemy. I fully trust the ground crew to ensure the plane is in good condition. I also fully trust Miss Emilia's driving skills."

Wang Zhong was about to make some jokes when Popov spoke up: "Come on, the prisoner Prosen is still here, hurry up and satisfy his wishes, and then hand him over to the judge."

Everyone's eyes returned to the Plossom prisoners.

The major general who understood the Ant language listened to the entire conversation between Wang Zhong and others and was speechless. He looked at Wang Zhong with admiration on his face.

The two men who didn't understand Ant language were desperately poking the major general's back.

Vasily said in Proson, "Well, you can go to the cell and ask the major general about us. Anyway, your wish to see General Rokossov has been fulfilled. You can go down."

After saying this, Vasily gestured to the guards.

The guards immediately stepped forward and poked General Plosson's waist with their Boboshas: "Go!"

The three General Plosson were taken away.

Wang Zhong breathed a sigh of relief and asked Pavlov, "So have the tanks we requested been delivered? We don't really have to use cavalry to launch the attack, do we?"

Pavlov: "A new tank corps has been added, but this corps does not have the title of Guards and has not participated in combat. I looked at the roster and found that only 15% of the crews in the entire army have combat experience. And this 15% is not a lot, not all the crews have experience, but only some of them have experienced members."

Wang Zhong: "How many tanks does this army have?"

"180 T34Ws."

Wang Zhong: "Together with the 8th Guards Armored Corps, which suffered relatively few losses in previous battles, we now have 300 tanks, which can barely be considered an assault force."

Pavlov: "Indeed. Colonel-General Kirinenko has been suggesting that we attack with pure cavalry. He will come to the front headquarters today."

"Yes, I'm here." A hearty voice came from the direction of the door.

Wang Zhong turned around and saw that it was indeed Kirinenko.

The cavalry general walked in wearing a very traditional cavalry uniform, and said as he walked: "I heard that you will be promoted to marshal, together with Gorky." Wang Zhong: "I haven't received the news yet. Generally speaking, senior generals will not be promoted or awarded medals until the battle is over."

Kirinenko came to Wang Zhong and sat on the edge of the map table: "Is the battle not over yet? The Prosen people seem to be planning to escape. Not only us commanders can see it, but all the soldiers below can see it too.

"Now the whole army is filled with joy. You may not know that some guys in the cavalry said that this time we will rush directly across the border and gallop on Melania's territory."

Wang Zhong: "Nonsense, the supplies can't keep up. My plan is to recover Agsukov this winter."

Kirinenko glanced at the map and said, "So you plan to cross the Tiber River in autumn? Or in winter? It will be easier to cross the river after it freezes, but the ice on the Tiber River is not as thick as that on the Valdai River. Be careful that the enemy may use artillery to break the ice and cause unnecessary casualties to us."

Wang Zhong: "I plan to launch the attack in the fall. We have a month to transport the boat to the river using a dragon trailer."

Kirinenko: "It's like sailing on dry land. What kind of monster products have the United States made?"

Wang Zhong: "Before the muddy season arrives, try to bring Agsukov within the artillery range."

Kirinenko sighed: "We are going to fire on our own city, which is the capital of your kingdom."

Wang Zhong then remembered that he still had the title of King of Khazaria. He shook his head and said, "I said I would return the title to the people. Please don't mention this matter again."

"I see." Kirinenko nodded and suddenly smiled. "Remember two years ago? In Loktov, you were a major general? Or a brigadier general? And I was a lieutenant general, commanding an army. Now I command an army group, and you have commanded a front, and you will be promoted to marshal soon."

Wang Zhong smiled slightly: "I just... happened to be standing at the forefront of history."

"You are as modest as the newspapers say." Kirinenko patted Wang Zhong on the shoulder. "Oh, by the way, I forgot the purpose of my visit to the headquarters. I applied for my cavalry to attack Orachi before the main force attacks."

Wang Zhong: "You have to convince me. What's the reason for doing this?"

"Do you need a reason? My boys all want to gallop on the land of their homeland. Half of my troops are Cossacks!"

Wang Zhong: "This reason is not sufficient. No one wants to return to my hometown more than me, but I am still sitting here. I am not driving a small tank on the grasslands of my hometown, right?"

Kirinenko: "The reason is that speed is of the essence! If the enemy wants to escape now, it is impossible for them to all run to the Center Army Group. I think their more likely route is to retreat to Agsukov via this road. Use cavalry to cut off the road and destroy their transport vehicles. Isn't this what you did during the counterattack in the Abavakhan Campaign?

"The infrastructure in Nanant Grassland was too poor, and it was winter, so we had a very hard time fighting. Many horses starved to death, and the cavalry became infantry.

"But look at the grasslands of my hometown. Everywhere you go, there is good grass for the horses to eat. We can feed ourselves by shooting some game every day.

"Is there any stage more suitable for cavalry to gallop than this? Alyosha, forget the tanks, let us cavalry run. The Prosen people are now like frightened birds, and we can destroy them all if we run!"

Wang Zhong: "You've persuaded me, but we need to have a plan..."

Pavlov: "We do have a plan to cut off the enemy's connection with Agsukov with pure cavalry and disrupt the enemy's movement to the Tiber River defense line."

Wang Zhong: “Have you made a plan?”

"I did."

Kirinenko: "Because I asked my wife to send a lot of food and milk powder to his wife."

Pavlov: "It has nothing to do with that. I just think based on past combat experience that deploying cavalry at this time will be very effective. Especially when neither side has many tanks.

“We still have so many jeeps that can deliver supplies to the cavalry.

"So I ordered the staff to make a plan. The key is to use the mobility of the cavalry to bypass the village fortified by the Prosen rear guard and go deep into the enemy's rear."

Wang Zhong looked back and forth between Kirinenko and Pavlov: "Okay, you two are teaming up to plot against me. Kirinenko, tell me the truth, how confident are you? Will it lead to a waste of manpower and our people being sacrificed in vain?"

Kirinenko: "No! The enemy's tanks and half-tracks have suffered heavy losses. According to our reconnaissance reports, many enemy troops are retreating on foot. Let us go."

Wang Zhong thought about it and made a firm decision: "Okay! I'll give you one day to prepare. We'll set out tomorrow, July 7th. Remember, the armored forces and mechanized infantry won't set out until July 20th. Before that, you horsemen can only rely on yourselves."

Kirinenko was overjoyed: "Don't worry! Then, can you answer my call? I need to give the troops an order so that they can be ready to attack tonight!"

"Don't worry," Pavlov said, "First read the plan I made for you carefully, and don't make the mistake of meeting the supply convoy. I think you should set out at 3 pm tomorrow. There are still a lot of daylight hours left, so you can be more fully prepared."

"Yes!" Kirinenko saluted Pavlov, who was of the same rank as him, "See you in Proshenya!"

(End of this chapter)