artillery arc

Chapter 677 Canonization
August 8, the Central Cathedral of the Secular Church in Catherine the Great, the capital of Ant.

Amid the solemn sound of the organ, Wang Zhong knelt on one knee in front of the altar and drew the gestures with his hands that Lyudmila had taught him many times last night.

Belinsky held up the scepter in one hand and tapped Wang Zhong's shoulder with the other hand: "Alexei Konstantinovich Rokossov, are you willing to follow the teachings of Saint Andrew for the rest of your life and uphold fairness and justice on earth?"

Wang Zhong: “I do.”

Belinsky: "Are you willing to treat all people equally, regardless of skin color, race and culture?"

Wang Zhong: “I do.”

Belinsky: "Would you like to..."

The questions that Belinsky asked now are all the contents of the ten questions left by St. Andrew, which are the most basic program of the secularists.

Before the ceremony, Belinsky's confidant Cardinal Lavkid came to remind Wang Zhong specifically to nod his head and say yes and not to say anything else.

Lafkid is in charge of the Inquisition. Although Wang Zhong is not afraid of the Inquisition, he does not want to offend the cardinal for no reason.

In addition, St. Andrew's Ten Questions are quite consistent with Wang Zhong's values, and he is indeed willing to abide by them.

After the ten questions were asked, the choir began to sing Latin hymns, and warm light fell on Wang Zhong from the ceiling.

This is physically warm light because it comes from the big searchlight on the roof. Wang Zhong now feels warm all over, just like taking a shower in winter with a heater on.

Even though it's summer now.

Patriarch Belinsky: "I hereby declare Prince Alexei Konstantinovich Rokossov a living saint and give him the title of Saint Rokossov."

As he spoke, Belinsky hung the sash representing sainthood on Wang Zhong’s brand new marshal’s uniform, and then drew the Eastern Saint Church’s symbol on his chest: “Amen!”

Wang Zhong followed the procedure and shouted: "Amen!"

Then Wang Zhong stood up, turned around, and looked at his wife Lyudmila at first sight.

Lyudmila was suppressing her smile. After all, as a clergyman, she had to remain solemn on this occasion.

Miss Emilia, who was sitting in the row behind Lyudmila, was much more relaxed. She watched Wang Zhong gesturing with his hands and opening and closing his mouth, as if he was lip-reading something.

Wang Zhong thought, Miss, aren’t you a new human? Please use telepathy to talk to me. I can’t read lips, so I won’t understand you even if you try for a long time.

The ceremony that followed was simple, and less than 20 minutes later, Wang Zhong met with his relatives and friends in the church preparation room.

As soon as Emilia saw Wang Zhong, she said, "Now you are an officially certified person with special abilities. How is it? Did you see an angel or Saint Andrew?"

Wang Zhong: "No, I was a little dizzy from the searchlight above my head."

"These ceremonies," Belinsky said as he entered the preparation room, "are necessary."

Wang Zhong suddenly remembered a famous line from his favorite game before he traveled through time, and said, "If there were no such solemn ceremony, how would the world know that we are saving the world and all living beings?"

Belinsky smiled and said, "That's about it. We have found in long-term practice that the masses are more likely to accept these seemingly solemn rituals and doctor sausages than doctrines."

Wang Zhong couldn't help but repeat: "And the doctor sausage?"

Belinsky: "Yes, doctor sausage is very important, just as important as the ceremony. Now you are a living saint, but canonization happens every 20 to 30 years. You don't have to pay too much attention to it. Just regard it as the church's recognition of you.

"Also, this saint's ribbon is very nice, right? But it's also very troublesome, so you don't need to wear the ribbon normally. We have prepared a badge."

Belinsky made a gesture, and a priest came forward and presented the box with the seal in both hands.

Wang Zhong: “That’s great.”

Vasily took the box and looked at it carefully. His mouth moved and he made a sharp comment. But even Vasily did not dare to say dirty words in front of Belinsky and Cardinal Lavkid.

Belinsky: "Let's get down to business. With your recapture of Agsukov, the Allied forces have reacted strongly, and diplomats have expressed their desire to hold a summit meeting with us."

Wang Zhong immediately thought of three famous conferences in the history of the Earth. Judging from the time, it should be the Tehran Conference?
If it opens in August, it will be about half a year earlier.

This shows that their counterattack was effective and progressed faster than that of the Earth.

Wang Zhong asked quietly, "So where should we hold the meeting? Considering the geographical location, maybe Barras would be a good place?"

Belinsky's eyes widened. "Did you receive information from other sources?"

Wang Zhong: "No, I am just considering it from a purely geographical perspective. Obviously, this meeting needs to be held in a place that is nominally neutral but actually completely controlled by the Allies. Geographically, it should be as close to the middle as possible. Barras is just the right place."

Belinsky: "It is normal for you to make such an assumption. You are familiar with the situation in Baras, and you have many Baras soldiers under your command who are "training". If these troops form a guard to take charge of the protection work, the safety of His Majesty the Tsar will definitely be guaranteed."

Wang Zhong: "Uh, Olga is going? Shouldn't you go?" Belinsky laughed: "I am only the Patriarch, not the leader of the country of Ant. This meeting is obviously not suitable for me to attend."

Wang Zhong: "But what Olga decided——"

Belinsky: "If you go with her, no one will question her decision."

Wang Zhong’s brows were twisted into knots. If he went with her, the proposals Olga put forward at the meeting would most likely be regarded as his own.

What do you mean? Do you want me to be the first ruler? Don't make me suffer.

Belinsky: “After the war there will be a very good opportunity. We will realize all the visions that were not realized at the end of the civil war due to too much resistance. Everything now is planned for this purpose.

"Some cardinals are worried that after defeating Plossom, you will take over the military power and imitate the conqueror. But I don't think you will do that. After two years of war, you have become a staunch secular fighter."

Belinsky's words reminded Wang Zhong of Loktov again. Countless hands pulled him out from under the tank and pushed him forward.

Those big, calloused hands were warm and powerful.

Wang Zhong: "Yes, the people are the greatest. I am just a lucky person who was pushed to the forefront."

Belinsky smiled and said, "I know you will answer like this. Anyway, you should be prepared. Your wife should also go with you. Sometimes she cannot be absent in diplomatic occasions. As for the next stage of the operation, your loyal chief of staff should be able to handle it, right?"

Wang Zhong: "I have a plan to break through the Tiber River, and Pavlov is putting it into practice. I plan to use airborne troops--"

Belinsky raised his hand and made a gesture to stop him. "Don't tell me the specific plan. I completely trust you in military matters. Your military success at this stage has given us a big enough advantage at the negotiation table."

Wang Zhong: "That's also because the Allied Kingdom of Sardinia is not making good progress."

The Allies only had Sherman tanks equipped with 75mm guns, which encountered the thickly armored Panther IV long-barreled tanks, as well as the King Tiger and Panther, so they were naturally severely defeated.

By this calculation, the main reason why the Allies were not doing well was that the Prosens also "evolved" in the purgatory on the Eastern Front.

Wang Zhong felt quite guilty about it, after all, those who died were his comrades who were fighting against the enemy on the same front.

"I will share as much of my experience in fighting the Prosons as possible with the Allied commanders at the meeting," he said, "and we can also provide the Allies with our captured Proson tanks so that they can study ways to deal with them."

Belinsky nodded. "That's great. We can use these captured tanks to exchange for more production licenses. We need engines, radars, more trucks, and advanced machine tools."

Wang Zhong: "I will have a good talk with the allies, so when do we set off?"

"On the 15th, before that you can focus on your own affairs, such as finalizing the new tank and summarizing combat experience. Many senior generals who have returned to Yebao also want to see you." Belinsky patted Wang Zhong on the shoulder and said, "Bring them all together and unite under the front-line headquarters you are about to establish."

Wang Zhong: "You want me to bypass..."

"No, I didn't say that. General Turgenev has always played an important role, but he is very old and is about to retire. After he retires, the position of Chief of the General Staff will need a marshal who can convince the people."

Wang Zhong: “I understand.”

Just then, the sound of leather boots was heard at the door.

Wang Zhong looked towards the door and saw General Gorky pushing the door and entering the preparation room.

"Marshal Davarishi, salutations." The general stood at attention and saluted.

Wang Zhong: "Greetings to you, General Davarish. When I returned to Yebao, I heard that you strongly opposed your promotion to marshal in March this year?"

"The generals are still the ones with the most outstanding military achievements. It's hard for them to convince me to be promoted to marshal." General Gorky smiled and said, "Before I took off and came back, I heard that my promotion order would also be issued."

Belinsky: "Humph, Turgenev, that old fox."

General Gorky saluted Belinsky and said, "Your Majesty, I didn't notice you were here."

Belinsky: "Huh, you are also an old fox."

At this time, the ceremonial officer outside announced loudly: "His Majesty the Tsar has arrived!"

Wang Zhong said to Belinsky, "I was just thinking about this. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for Your Majesty not to be present at such an occasion?"

Belinsky: "This is our statement, you don't have to worry about it."

As Belinsky said this, Cardinal Lavkid adjusted his round glasses.

At this time, the door opened and Olga rushed in with her skirt lifted up: "Brother!"

Just as Wang Zhong was about to salute, Olga rushed into his arms: "Brother! You are finally back! His Majesty Belinsky has told you, right? We are going to Balas together!"

(End of this chapter)