Arc of Gunfire

Jules at 1845 hours on July 24, 914.

Wang Zhong saw the town of Orachi through the telescope.

There are mountains near Aorachi. Although the altitude is not high, they are indeed mountains. The mark on the military map is Highland 153.

Although Wang Zhong had never taken a serious military theory class, he stood on the hill and looked around, and decided that he should build the final defensive position here.

If the enemy cannot be prevented from approaching Aolaqi, a final sniper operation will be carried out on this high ground.

It just so happens that this mountain has an altitude of 153 meters, which is not too short. It is barely enough to build fortifications on the reverse slope to withstand shelling.

Wang Zhong turned his head and looked due east of the highland. In addition to the highway they used when they came, there was also a vast plain to the east where the troops could pass.

But if the high ground is occupied, the enemy's artillery observers will turn the vast area to the east into the enemy's artillery fire coverage area. If you want to run out from here, you will have to retreat even if you can pass.

153 Highland must not be lost.

Wang Zhonggang thought this, and Popov took Lieutenant Colonel Eugene and the engineer second lieutenant of the 5th Beshensk Regiment to the bottom of the highland, got off the car and walked up.

Wang Zhong asked right away: "Where are the workers?"

"Don't worry. As soon as we arrived here yesterday, we asked the local church to recruit laborers. Five thousand laborers, including women, have been assembled." Popov said.

Wang Zhong frowned: "So few?"

At this time, the engineer of the 5th Beshensk Regiment said: "We did not ask them to include aunts and the elderly, otherwise there would be more. Now these 5,000 are women, and there are children who have not reached the age of mobilization."

Wang Zhong thought for a while and said: "Including the old man. The enemy is very strong and we need a lot of fortifications. We can let the old man take care of less heavy tasks, such as laying camouflage nets."

The engineer nodded.

Popov: "Are you going to set up a defensive position here?"

"No, this is the last line of defense. Here I need to build an artillery observation post, pull the telephone line to my front finger, and then build a bunker that can accommodate two tank platoons. The last thing is to dig a simple anti-artillery on the reverse slope. bunker."

Wang Zhong had already commanded the engineering troops of the division to build two tank bunkers in the Rokosov Manor, allowing the engineering troops to fully understand his "design" ideas.

Now, as long as the engineers direct the labor, the bunkers can be built.

The engineer asked: "Where are the trenches?"

Wang Zhong: "Complete the tank bunkers first, and the trenches can be dug by the boys of the 31st Guards Regiment themselves."

After all, the 31st Guards Regiment still had several hundred officer cadets who were originally warrant officers. It would be no problem for them to dig a simple trench with an engineer shovel.

At this time, Lieutenant Colonel Eugene asked: "So are we going to defend here?"

"No." Wang Zhong immediately replied, "This is the last position. If everything goes smoothly, we won't need the fortifications here, only the artillery observation post."

The view from this hilltop is so good. The artillery observation post is set up here, and the artillery can control almost half of the plain in front of it.

Popov: "What are you going to do?"

Wang Zhong: "I want to push forward the defense line and ambush the enemy. If the records on the military map are correct, there should be many places suitable for ambush here. It is too late today and there is no way to complete the investigation.

"Tomorrow I will carefully survey the surrounding terrain and find enough ambush positions. Before that, arm the high ground first and don't waste labor."

After speaking, Wang Zhong picked up the telescope again.

From the bird's-eye view, there is actually a very inconvenient point. He has no way of knowing the specific field of view at each point.

If you are playing games such as "War Game Red Dragon", "Steel Division" or "Warno", after pressing the shortcut key, the field of view of the point where the mouse pointer is located will be displayed, and you can easily select anti-tank gun positions and tanks. Defensive position and more.

But Wang Zhong's plug-in didn't have this function at all. He could only survey the terrain by himself - just like a real commander.

Wang Zhong has read many autobiographies and memoirs of World War II veterans, and many World War II veterans like to conduct their own investigations. Like the famous "Tiger King" Karius, he likes to ride a motorcycle on the front line and even touch places very close to Maozi's position.

Later, when he was injured, he rushed into the village occupied by Maozi while conducting reconnaissance on a motorcycle, and was caught off guard.

Now Wang Zhong is preparing to do the same thing, carefully surveying the battlefield, figuring out the firing range of each position, and then personally selecting an ambush position, digging bunkers, and surprising the enemy.

Unfortunately, it will get dark in two hours. When it is dark, the survey may cause some problems due to the darkness.

We can only wait until tomorrow morning to start again.

But the fortifications can be started overnight.

At this time, Wang Zhong heard singing coming from behind. Looking back, he found that the 31st Guards Regiment was driving along the road, singing as he walked.

The regimental flag was held by Zakayev, the flag bearer selected by Wang Zhong himself, and fluttered in the wind at the front of the entire team.

The two columns of the 31st Regiment only occupied both sides of the road. In the middle of the road, the 152mm heavy artillery of the 155th Heavy Artillery Regiment, pulled by packhorses, was passing through the formation of the infantry.

Behind each cannon was an ammunition wagon and a personnel wagon, as well as a number of spare horses.

There are hundreds of people in this group just for the full-time grooms who manage the horses. They are responsible for providing the horses with fodder, washing their bodies, repairing their saddles, and most importantly, "shoeing" the horses.

Wang Zhong looked at this scene and suddenly felt that the enemy was not scary, because his troops also showed a bit of the temperament of Huang Wei's regiment in "The Great Battle".

Of course only the 31st Guards Regiment.

The horses from the 155th Heavy Artillery Regiment also performed well and were very energetic!

The 31st regiment is coming up, so Yegorov should be arriving soon - Wang Zhonggang thought, a jeep drove over, Yegorov jumped out of the car, took three steps in two steps and rushed up to the mound.

"This high ground is very good!" Yegorov opened his mouth and said this, "Let the 31st Regiment guard here!"

Wang Zhong: "No, I only plan to place an artillery observation post here, plus a battalion reserve. I need the 31st Regiment to cover the tanks and anti-tank artillery units and ambush the enemy."

Yegorov: "Ah, what you said, ambush. Use the bunker you came up with to catch the enemy by surprise! But this can only be done once!"

Wang Zhong smiled: "Who said that? We will prepare more bunkers and scatter them in multiple ambush positions. Each ambush will be in a different location.

"This not only catches the enemy by surprise, but also consumes the enemy's heavy artillery shells and smoke bombs."

Wang Zhong could already imagine what the enemy would do after the first ambush inflicted pain on the enemy: covering the exposed ambush position with heavy artillery, then covering their faces with smoke grenades, and finally rushing forward to engage in an armored melee relying on experience.

He was prepared to take advantage of the situation.

Yegorov smiled and said: "I have seen you command armored troops. I am not worried about this. No, as long as you do not make yourself a prisoner of the enemy, I am not worried about this."

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene was shocked: "What? Charge into prisoner? Is the Major General going to charge into the battle himself?"

Yegorov: "Oh, he rushed so hard. He was still running a fever when he rushed for the first time. After he rushed, he fell off the tank and almost suffered a concussion. Fortunately, everyone rushed to catch him. "

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene looked puzzled, obviously unable to imagine the scene at that time.

Popov added: "He also personally commanded the tank to destroy the commander of the enemy's 15th Armored Division."

"Did it explode?" Eugene asked doubtfully.

"Ah, the problem I expressed was shot to death."

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene: "Was it the one I thought he killed?"

Yegorov smiled: "Can it be killed by other means?"

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene: "It's really awesome... But I heard someone say that it's because the T34 is a good tank?"

Yegorov: "You don't know this. When he commanded the BT-7 and the T28, he rushed very hard, and the results were gratifying."

Wang Zhong was finally overwhelmed by the praise and interrupted Yegorov: "Let's talk about something serious."

Yegorov nodded repeatedly: "I understand, I understand, Lieutenant Colonel Eugene, mine director, let's have two drinks tonight and explain it to you in private!"

Wang Zhong wondered whether Yegorov had become talkative after spending time with Vasily.

Yegorov turned his gaze to the northeast and picked up the telescope to observe carefully.

"Wait a minute," he maintained the posture of holding the telescope, "are you sure there is only one battalion here? What if the enemy bypasses our ambush and goes straight to this high ground?"

Wang Zhong pointed to the tree line: "Set a fire point there and cross fire with the high ground. Unless the enemy penetrates the woods to the north of us and sweeps away the defenses inside, they will not dare to attack the 153 high ground at our feet."

Yegorov: "What about smoking? Cover the entire plain with smoke, and then rush over!"

Wang Zhong: "That's why we have to consume the enemy's smoke bombs in the previous ambush. The enemy attacks us from the north in a roundabout way. It will be more difficult for them to supply, and the smoke bombs consumed will not be replaced so quickly."

"That makes sense." Yegorov nodded, "But this is a risky move. If the enemy occupies Highland 153, our actions between the hedges will be clear to the enemy, and your deployment of troops in the woods will be clearly visible. "Clearly."

Popov: "Even if the high ground is not lost, the enemy's aerial reconnaissance is still very deadly."

Wang Zhong: "That's why we choose the woods as a defensive position. If the enemy planes can't see it, there will be less of a huge threat."

Popov: "Then...where are you going to use the Divine Arrow Company?"

Wang Zhong: "It's still air defense. The anti-tank firepower we have now is enough, but it is obviously not enough to rely on only one battalion of 72K for air defense."

While he was talking, another jeep stopped on the reverse slope of Highland 153. Pavlov tried his best to drag himself out of the jeep and climbed up to the high ground: "What, are you having a small meeting here?"

Wang Zhong: "I'm admiring the heroic appearance of our troops advancing."

Pavlov snorted: "It looks mighty and majestic. In fact, according to preliminary reports, nearly 20% of the people have fallen behind. Especially the 5th Beshensk Regiment. Even if they fall behind, there are still a hundred people. It seems that he wanted to be a deserter and was caught by the inquisitor. "

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene looked embarrassed: "The main reason is that there are too few veterans in our army. The officers are all transferred from civilians like me. It is normal for the soldiers to feel unreliable. If they are replaced by more professional officers, they will not run away." Yes. Shall I go and intercede with the judge?"

Pavlov: "Forget it. If you are captured by the Tribunal, you usually can't come back. Your task is to restore the organization as much as possible tonight and put those who did not intentionally fall behind back into the company."

"I'll try my best." Lieutenant Colonel Eugene looked serious.

Wang Zhong couldn't help but said: "Don't you manage a mine with more than a thousand people? Just treat them as miners and train them how you want!"

Eugene said bitterly: "They have guns."

Yegorov: "This is also simple. As long as you are brave once in battle, everyone will respect you. It's a matter of experience."

"Forgive me," Pavlov said, "For a senior officer who likes to charge on the front line, our division only needs one commander!"