Arc of Gunfire

Less than an hour after Wang Zhong finished speaking, the confidential secretary came in with a decoded message: "Urgent message from the headquarters."

He took it directly from the confidential secretary and looked at it. There was a line on it: "Agree, I wish the attack a smooth one, Turgenev."

"No wonder the telegram was sent so quickly. It turned out to be so short." Wang Zhong said and handed the telegram to Pavlov.

Pavlov: "In this way, we can legitimately convey the battle determination to each unit."

Wang Zhong: "What's the plan?"

"It was a ready-made plan, and I have already revised it." Pavlov spread his hands. "The plan I made was based on the premise that the enemy did not suffer heavy losses during the offensive operations. It was an estimate of the enemy's number. According to the previous information, it should be easier now that the enemy has been mobilized a lot."

Vasily: "The only thing I'm worried about now is whether the enemy's Eleventh Army in the coastal fortress will make any moves after we launch a pincer offensive and cut off the enemy's Southern Army Group in the middle. At the beginning of this year, this army has never Bolsk escaped unscathed."

Wang Zhong: "General Xipling, the commander of this group army, is very powerful. He even fled back from the outskirts of Abawahan with his troops. We left the strongest group army to deal with them. First Mobile Army."

Pavlov: "It is true that the old troops are more at ease, and Yegorov is also very reliable. That's it. So when will the attack be scheduled?"

Wang Zhong looked at the calendar on the wall: "How about June 30th? It should be enough for you to convey your new battle plan and battle determination to each battalion, right?"

"It's more than enough. Even if the field mice dig up all the phone lines, it will still be enough." Pavlov said confidently, "I will directly send messengers on motorcycles to deliver the order!"

————

Headquarters of the 63rd Army of the 1st Kesalia Front.

The commander of the group army, Lieutenant General Eugene, was studying with his staff how to continue to strengthen the group's defenses. The messenger in leather clothes rushed into the room: "Report!"

Lieutenant General Eugene raised his head: "Who is it?"

Leather-clad messenger: "The communication group of the Front Army Headquarters has been ordered to convey the new battle plan to you!"

After speaking, the orderly soldier opened the leather bag he carried and took out the brown paper envelope. The handle of this leather bag was handcuffed to the orderer's belt.

"New plan!"

Lieutenant General Eugene picked up the envelope, quickly opened it and took out the documents inside, looked at the summary and handed it to the Chief of Staff.

It's not that Lieutenant General Eugene doesn't care about the details of the plan, it's that he learned all the knowledge in this area in a crash course. It's not as solid as the Chief of Staff's mastery, so he simply doesn't do every trick, and waits until the Chief of Staff understands it thoroughly before telling him that it will be more efficient. high.

This is the experience he summed up in the past two years of war.

Andrei, the chief of staff of the 63rd Army, turned over the battle plan and was speechless: "Attack? It seems that our three front armies' attacks on the enemy's Central Army Group are very effective. The front army headquarters must have grasped the enemy's plan to transfer a large number of troops to the Central Army Group. intelligence.

"The attack time is June 30? Then the attack plan must be distributed to all units as soon as possible. I suggest convening a meeting of military chiefs immediately!"

After Andre finished speaking, he noticed that Lieutenant General Eugene was looking outside through the window of the headquarters bunker, looking thoughtful.

"General?" he asked.

Lieutenant General Eugene: "My hometown, the mine where I work, is dozens of kilometers in front of us. It is a small town born for the mines. Half of the people in the city work directly related to the mines, and the remaining half are engaged in For indirectly related jobs such as transportation, the one with the least connection to the mine is the canteen cook.

"In our small town, there are 20 public canteens. They were basically built together when the mines were established. They are managed by the church. There is a library corner in the canteen, and there are various secular works on the shelves, as well as secular newspapers. ”

The staff officers in the headquarters looked at each other, but no one interrupted the commander's monologue.

After all, the commander is a veteran who fought with "that" Rokosov all the way. Like Yegorov, he mentioned that Rokosov would call him "division commander."

Lieutenant General Eugene continued to recall: "I often go to the No. 10 Canteen, not because it is closest to the mining area office building, but because the pickled cucumbers there are the best and have a flavor that is not found in other canteens!"

Finally, one of the staff couldn't help it anymore: "Can there be good or bad pickles? Don't they all have the same taste?"

Lieutenant General Eugene shook his head: "You think so because all you eat are pickles produced in batches by the factory. Personal pickled pickles are just different! It's like handmade sausages, although there are no factory-produced pickles. It’s as filling as doctor’s sausage, but it also has a unique flavor!”

After Lieutenant General Eugene finished speaking, he was silent for a long time before turning around and scanning everyone.

"Sorry, I suddenly realized that I was about to go home. I was a little sentimental. Send the battle plan immediately and start mobilizing! Has the front army strengthened the artillery fire for us?"

Andre looked down at the plan in his hand: "No, we are not in the main direction of attack. Our mission is to stick to the enemy on the front. Even the tanks only strengthened one brigade for us."

Lieutenant General Eugene sighed: "It seems that I won't be able to go home for a while, but it doesn't matter. I have been waiting for more than two years, and it will be okay to wait for a few more months."

Andre nodded and asked casually: "How is the person in the cafeteria doing?"

Lieutenant General Eugene: "All the young cooks and helpers have joined the army, and the old cook has been recruited to join the cooking team. Before I led the infantry regiment formed by the miners, I went to have a look. There was only one old lady in the huge canteen. In making gruel, she was the last employee.

"It seemed like... I forgot her name, she was right there, stirring the porridge in the pot with a broken spoon, looking at us.

"I asked her: Madam, where are your children? Let them take you to retreat together!

"She glanced at me and said: I don't know where they are, so I'm going to wait here for them to come back. No matter how cruel the Plosans are, they won't do anything to me, an old woman."

Lieutenant General Eugene paused and was silent for a while before continuing: "I realized almost immediately that the aunt's child was either in the Prosen prisoner of war camp, or somewhere face down and buried in the mud.

"Sooner or later, I and the boys I lead will do the same."

"But you carried it through." Andre said, "I have been partnered with you since the Aorachi Blockade. I know how many difficulties and obstacles we have experienced."

Lieutenant General Eugene: "Then you also know how many good young men are face down and buried in the dirt."

Andre nodded but did not answer.

Lieutenant General Eugene: "In Aorachi, we left in such a hurry and in an awkward manner that we had no time to bury our comrades."

He paused and suddenly changed his tone: "Now it's the turn of the damn Prosen people who don't have time to bury their comrades! Suka is not included!"

Andre: "Yeah, it's finally our turn!"

————

First Mobile Army Headquarters.

Yegorov was furious: "Why is our task to defend? We should be the division commander's sharp sword! No, I have to go to the front army headquarters and ask the division commander what he means!"

The chief of staff of the group army and the army bishop stopped Yegorov: "No! Our mission is also very important! General Shiplin of the Marina Fortress is the person who escaped from General Rokossov several times. Let us guard against him to show that we value him!"

Yegorov tried to break free several times, but failed. He could only sigh: "I know this is an important task entrusted to us, but... this is the first time we have not conducted defensive operations. Take the initiative to attack! I am also a Khazalia! My wife and children died here! "

After saying that, he tried to break free with even greater strength, causing all the staff officers in the headquarters to gather around him, fearing that the beast would be let go.

At this moment, a shout came from the door: "It's so ugly, Yegorov!"

Everyone fell silent and looked towards the door.

Yegorov's current wife, Dr. Katya from the field hospital, was standing at the door.

"Uh," Yegorov seemed to have regained his self-control all of a sudden, "Why are you here?"

"I came to the logistics department to report the current stockpile of medical equipment, and then I heard someone yelling." Dr. Katya sighed, "Everyone here has lost relatives and friends in the war, and you are not the only one. Revenge must be avenged.”

Yegorov smiled awkwardly and said, "You sound like a military bishop."

Katya: "Now is the critical stage of planning the attack. Don't cause trouble for General Rokossov. Stay here and carry out the tasks assigned to you. I will hand over this task to you and the First Mobile Army. Explaining is an important task.”

"Yes, yes! It must be important." Yegorov nodded repeatedly.

Doctor Katya turned to look outside and turned the back of his head towards Yegorov: "However, I don't hate the desire for revenge. After you finish your work tonight, tell me how you plan to take revenge."

"How are you going to take revenge? Of course, use cannons and... Oh!" Yegorov suddenly realized, "I understand! I will tell you tonight! I must tell you!"

Dr. Katya flipped her hair: "There are still many things to do in the hospital, so I'm leaving first. Stop making trouble! Also, it's more important these days, don't drink!"

Yegorov shook his head repeatedly: "No more, no more! Hehe!"

Dr. Katya left.

Everyone else in the room was embarrassed.

The military bishop first let go of Yegorov's waist: "It's so embarrassing. We actually need Dr. Katya's help to stop the commander from going crazy."

Chief of Staff: "This aspect of him is quite popular among the soldiers."

Yegorov: "That's a long way to go! As long as I'm not bad at fighting! Look, I didn't miss my tactics! I learned this from my division commander! What's the name of the enemy general? Show me his information!"