Arc of Gunfire

Jules 914, at 2030 hours on August 2, Orachi, the headquarters of the 151st Provisional Infantry Division of the Ant Army.

Wang Zhong stared at the war zone situation map on the wall and pondered.

Next to the map, the staff officer is setting up new candlesticks - there is still sunlight outside, but it has weakened a lot, so the division headquarters uses candlesticks for supplementary lighting.

Orage has electricity, but lights are turned off at night. If you use candlesticks, you can block out the light by closing the curtains.

Wang Zhong sighed: "The battle has already begun, why am I still doing nothing today?"

Popov walked up to him: "Isn't this a good thing? We strengthened the fortifications for another day, and today we laid 1,000 more mines!"

The mine positions Wang Zhong chose this time were all in places that were unlikely to be covered by enemy artillery fire, and they were far apart from each other. The main purpose was to "attack the heart first."

Use engineers to clear mines. The mines are so far apart that only a dozen mines can be cleared in a long time. It is even more wasteful to use demining tools such as explosive cords. One explosive cord cannot explode a few mines.

There is no need for an engineer platoon, there are people flying in by ground planes every now and then.

Just ask you if it bothers you!

Wang Zhong is still very confident when it comes to disgusting enemies.

At this time Yegorov came in, and Wang Zhong asked: "Why did you come back from your front finger?"

"Let's take a look at the overall situation now. It's getting dark soon, and the enemy will most likely not be able to reach us today. So what's the situation now?" Yegorov said and went straight to the kettle in the room, picked it up and poured it into his mouth.

Wang Zhong pointed at the map: "Look at it for yourself. The enemy's general attack direction is consistent with my prediction. Duke Meishkin's group army in the northeast is fighting fiercely with the enemy. I originally thought that we should be able to defeat the enemy in this direction. Master, it turns out that I’ve had a very busy day today.”

Pavlov temporarily put down his pen, picked up the cold coffee on the table, walked over, and joined in the chat: "It should be the counterattacks of the 5th, 6th and 11th armies that have achieved results. They may not necessarily have destroyed many enemies. strength, but it definitely disrupted the enemy's attack sequence.

"Regrouping and stuff, a few hours passed, and it was dark before we could go far before we started again."

Wang Zhong had mixed feelings at this time. The friendly troops had died in vain. He should obviously feel sad, but when he thought that the friendly troops' method of delaying the enemy was to force the enemy to reorganize, he found it very funny.

The soldiers of Ant's army are all good, but I don't know how many more will be killed by these pig-headed generals.

At this time, Vasily, who was guarding the captured walkie-talkie in the corner, suddenly shouted: "I heard the Prosin radio!"

Wang Zhong and others immediately gathered around, and even the staff officers who were doing other things in the room stopped and looked at Vasily.

Vasily pressed his hands on the earphones and listened carefully: "The radio call sign was not spoken, maybe I missed it. What it said was... our army is moving unimpeded, unimpeded!"

Wang Zhong had unreasonable associations when he heard this unimpeded statement, but he still refrained from complaining.

Vasily: "There is a new location call sign! 'Berry Park', I don't know where it refers. But a unit has arrived at Berry Park."

Wang Zhong: "It's a pity. If we could capture another enemy's call sign book, we might know where to shoot."

Wang Zhong now has 4 B4 heavy artillery pieces and 24 152 heavy artillery pieces. Knowing where the enemy spends the night can give the enemy a little surprise.

Yegorov: "Didn't you personally investigate the villages to the north of us? You might be able to catch them if you just call them."

Wang Zhong: "No, we must use our firepower carefully to ensure that every time we fire, we can effectively kill the enemy."

At this time, there was the sound of horse hooves outside and the sound of the division's security forces.

Soon a captain was brought in by the guards: "The mounted reconnaissance team has returned from reconnaissance!"

Wang Zhong: "How is the situation?"

The captain reported: "General, we discovered the enemy's leading reconnaissance team in Kireyev Village, but the enemy had a No. 2 tank. We touched a sentry and ran away without daring to fight."

Wang Zhong immediately went to the table with an accurate map of the nearby area and found the village of Kireyev.

Yegorov: "The reconnaissance has arrived, so we will take fire tomorrow no matter what!"

At this time, Vasily, who had been listening carefully, said: "Why tomorrow? Send out T34 today, kill them, and return with a call sign book!"

Wang Zhong: "No, I have seen the road conditions to Kireyev. The T34 attack may break down halfway. Captain, how long will it take for your cavalry to return to Kireyev?"

The captain immediately replied: "Half an hour, Your Excellency General."

Wang Zhong: "In half an hour, we will cover Kireyev with heavy artillery. After the bombing, you can find a way to do something. Try to find the briefcase of the officer leading this armored reconnaissance detachment, and the map bag will also work!"

The captain smiled: "General, I will try to get both."

Wang Zhong snapped his fingers: "Okay! Go!"

The captain saluted, turned and left.

Yegorov was surprised: "You don't lead the team yourself?"

It seems that in Yegorov's eyes, Wang Zhong is already a reckless man who likes to lead the charge himself.

However, Wang Zhong was not. He just chose the method that was most suitable for him to use his golden fingers. He personally commanded a tank as Lao Liu and was able to destroy a large number of enemy tanks.

But the results he can achieve by commanding an infantry or cavalry - that is, himself - are quite limited.

He had already tried it in Ronezh. At that time, he was commanding more than one person, including his fiancée Liuda. As a result, the injuries he suffered at that time are not fully healed now.

Wang Zhong: "I just choose the method that maximizes the effect. As an infantry or cavalry, my combat effectiveness is very limited.

"Pavlov, order the artillery to..."

He looked at his watch.

"At 2100 hours, fire artillery fire on the village of Kireyev! One shot from each cannon is enough."

4 rounds of 203 plus 24 rounds of 152, the small village of Kireyev will probably be turned upside down.

Pavlov immediately picked up the phone and started giving orders.

At this time Nellie came in pushing the dining cart: "It's time to eat!"

All the staff officers, handymen, and clerks in the room turned to look at Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong: "Eat!"

The next moment, the entire headquarters rushed over like pigs rushing to the food trough and lined up in a long queue in front of Nellie's dining car.

Vasily: "It smells like Calcio soup. Were the cows killed on the ranch?"

Nellie: "In order to boost morale, the factory director killed eight cows and said that instead of being robbed by the Prosens, we should eat them ourselves."

“Oh, beef bisque!”

The staff members were all excited.

"The sausages produced by the Church Meat Factory are also good, but I still prefer beef!"

Wang Zhong also had a great appetite after smelling the fragrance. He was about to compete with his subordinates for food when the phone rang.

He could only turn his head to answer the phone: "Hello? This is Rokosov, what's wrong?"

"This is the 153rd Highland Artillery Observation Post. We saw tanks approaching us on the plain to the north."

Wang Zhong frowned.

Pavlov immediately said: "Get in position, there's a situation!"

The young people who were crowded in front of Nellie's car just now returned to their seats with a crash.

Wang Zhong: "Be patient. Have you seen clearly which side of the tank is on it? The one with sloping armor is ours. The enemy's tank is relatively square."

"The light is not very good now, and the distance is too far, so we can't see clearly." the Artillery Observation Station replied.

Wang Zhong held down the microphone and exchanged opinions with others: "153 said they saw tanks in the north. But just now the cavalry reconnaissance team reported that the enemy's armored lead arrived in Kireyev?"

Popov: "Could it be the collapsed troops of the 5th, 6th or 11th Tank Corps?"

"Um……"

Vasily said: "Shall I call on the frequency of our armored forces?"

"Okay." As soon as Wang Zhong finished speaking, another phone rang.

Pavlov picked up: "I'm Pavlov. What? Don't shoot yet!"

After speaking, Pavlov covered the microphone and looked at Wang Zhong: "The anti-tank gun positions also saw these tanks and asked if they wanted to fire."

Yegorov: "Fire a flare and you might be able to see clearly. Let the infantry units fight and don't expose the anti-tank gun positions."

"Can."

After Wang Zhong nodded, Pavlov immediately ordered the anti-tank gun position: "Stay steady and stay hidden. Wait for orders."

Then he pressed the hang-up button on the phone several times: "Operator, pick up the 3rd Infantry Battalion."

At this time Vasily shouted: "I called them!"

Wang Zhong hurriedly leaned over: "What do you say?"

Vasily: "Our teacher is telling you."

After speaking, he handed both the earphones and microphone to Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong imitated the posture in the movie, holding an earphone in one hand and pressing it on one ear, and holding a microphone in the other hand.

"I am Major General Rokossov of the 151st Division. Reporting to your unit, we almost opened fire on you!"

The other side was shocked: "Rokossov? Is that the White Horse General Rokossov?"

Wang Zhong's first thought was: He was not General Rokossov. That was acceptable.

Wang Zhong: "It's me. Which part are you in?"

"We are the 13th Armored Battalion of the Fifth Tank Corps. Our organization remains relatively intact and we have sufficient ammunition. We can still fight."

Wang Zhong: "What kind of tanks are you equipped with?"

"T26, we have 30 intact T26s!"

Wang Zhong thought to himself, he really couldn't escape the fate of using all the junk equipment from the early days of the war, but he couldn't complain much about the current situation. This light tank still has a 45mm cannon and two machine guns. Use If used properly, it can effectively kill enemy infantry.

Wang Zhong: "If you go south, you should be able to see a high ground. We will have the infantry light flares to direct you, and have the infantry lead you through minefields and anti-tank obstacle areas. You are welcome to join."

Pavlov immediately converted what Wang Zhong had just promised into an order to the infantry battalion and issued it over the phone.

At this moment, when the time reached 2100 hours, a roar like rolling thunder came from the direction of the artillery position.

Wang Zhong: "Don't be afraid, we are attacking the enemy's vanguard."

The other person was silent for a second before he gritted his teeth and responded: "Okay! Hit me hard!"

Update completed, see you in the evening