Arc of Gunfire

After the motorcyclist finished speaking, everyone turned to look at Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong's feelings were very complicated at this time. In fact, he had not spent much time with his good brother Ivan and his "old father" Duke Rokosov. After all, he was a time traveler who had taken over the magpie's nest.

But this short time together did establish a bond, and two years later, the bond did not weaken with the death of the two, but became stronger and stronger.

Perhaps now, in addition to Wang Zhong from another world, the soul in this body also has a part of the real Alexei Konstantinovich Rokosov.

Because of this, Wang Zhong's inner emotions were surging, and he had to spend all his strength to maintain the calm on the surface.

Wang Zhong turned around and said to Nellie in the jeep behind: "Nellie, find me two bouquets of flowers, one should be dignified and steady, and the other should be more flashy."

"Okay, General. I'll catch up with you when I prepare the flowers." Nellie said as she jumped out of the car and ran to the side of the road.

There is never a lack of blooming flowers in the summer of the Khasalia grassland.

Wang Zhong looked at the motorcyclist again: "Lead the way, let's see what the cemetery built by the Proson people is like."

"Yes, General."

The motorcycle immediately turned around and returned to the original route. Wang Zhong's driver stepped on the accelerator to catch up.

About fifteen minutes later, the motorcycle stopped in front of a cemetery in the wilderness.

The reconnaissance platoon sent by Wang Zhong to find the cemetery of his best friend and his father had already set up a cordon around the cemetery, and several half-track vehicles occupied the four corners of the cemetery wall.

The reconnaissance platoon leader and an old man stood at the gate of the cemetery.

"General!" The platoon leader saluted, "The engineers assigned to our platoon have checked the cemetery. There are no mines or booby traps."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man next to him spoke: "I look after this cemetery every day. If the Prosen people planted mines, I would know for sure. But I told this officer, and he didn't believe it!"

Wang Zhong: "Uncle, my troops are all Davarish. Even without the officer, I eat and live with the soldiers."

There is nothing false about this. Wang Zhong's Seris cook also cooks for the headquarters canteen every day. The whole headquarters, including the attached guard regiment and anti-aircraft regiment, can eat. Whether they can eat depends on how fast they rush.

Wang Zhong can eat every time because Nellie is the first one in line every day. Only in very special circumstances will the Seris cook cook specifically for Wang Zhong, such as when entertaining the commanders of various troops going to the front line.

And when Nellie goes to the canteen, ordinary soldiers dare not compete with her.

If a new soldier is blind, an old soldier will come over and tell him a story with a cigarette in his mouth, telling him how Ms. Nellie killed two hundred Proson soldiers with a dagger on a frozen beach.

Yes, now according to everyone's word of mouth, Nellie killed almost as many Proson soldiers with a dagger as Wang Zhong chopped tanks with a saber.

The old man was shocked: "You are the King of Kosalia, how can you do this? Only those soldiers with outstanding merits can have the honor of sitting at the same table with you, it has to be this way."

Wang Zhong: "When the war is over, I will donate the crown and scepter to the museum. Times have changed, and the time has come when kings are no longer needed, old man."

The old man didn't seem to understand all this. He stared at Wang Zhong and kept uttering the first syllable of the word "but".

Wang Zhong: "Thank you for leading the way, and thank you for taking care of this cemetery all these years."

"Well, this is what I should do." The old man bowed hurriedly.

Wang Zhong walked past him and headed toward the inside of the mausoleum. He could vaguely hear the old man muttering behind him: "There is no king anymore, days without a king..."

The voice gradually faded.

On a high pedestal in the center of the mausoleum, there was a destroyed tank.

Wang Zhong immediately remembered that this tank was the one in the headline photo of the Proson newspaper two years ago. According to the headline article, this was the last tank that Crown Prince Ivan Nikolayevich Antonov rode.

Standing in front of the tank, Wang Zhong recalled the last time he met Ivan when he led his troops to leave Agsukov and go to Orachi to stop the enemy two years ago.

Ivan's face in his memory was a little blurry, but his words were still clear.

"Take good care of Olga."

This was Ivan's last request.

In this situation, have you taken good care of Olga?

Wang Zhong asked himself.

It should be considered that her crown was saved and she was prevented from becoming a prisoner.

The problem is the future.

When the war is over, if Olga abdicates, then I will protect her as her brother and take her to my manor. Then she can grow flowers, create some art, or become a biographer to recall the life of the last tsar.

If Olga does not abdicate, then I will persuade her to abdicate and then place her in the manor. Then she can still grow flowers, create some art, or write a book to recall the last tsar.

In this way, I will have completed the entrustment of my old friend.

Wang Zhong stopped looking at the tank and walked around the marble base to the empty cemetery behind.

There are only two tombstones in the entire cemetery. The larger tombstone is engraved with the double-headed eagle, the symbol of the Ante royal family. That should be Ivan's tomb.

Wang Zhong came to the tombstone, which was written in Prosen and Ante: Crown Prince Ivan Nikolayevich Antonov died here in battle. Although he was an enemy, his courage still impressed us.

Sergeant Major Gregory whispered in Wang Zhong's ear: "I will arrange for someone to remove the words of the Proson people--"

Wang Zhong raised his hand and waved: "No, that's good. Nothing can better demonstrate Ivan's courage than the enemy's recognition. We must protect this monument and the tank behind it."

Vasily stepped forward: "But, it would be bad if you don't leave some traces, right? After all, he is your close friend."

Wang Zhong did not speak, but walked to the second tombstone.

The inscription written by the Proson people is: The loyal old duke wore the military uniform of the old era and was buried for the country that is about to become history.

Gregory: "Should this be changed?"

Wang Zhong shook his head: "No, the Proson people did not say which country is about to become history."

Vasily: "I wrote this sentence down, and it will be the front page headline of all newspapers in Yebao tomorrow."

Wang Zhong did not answer, but stared at the tombstone.

In fact, compared with his good brother Ivan, the impression left by his "father" in this time and space is much shallower. Wang Zhong can't even remember the last words the old duke said to him.

But he vaguely remembered that the old duke invited him to drink before leaving. At that time, the old duke should have realized that his "son" was no longer the original one.

But the old man still hugged him like a father.

Now, Wang Zhong stared at the tombstone, trying to remember the feeling of that hug and the smell of tobacco at that time.

Then Vasily's voice interrupted his recollection.

"General? You have been silent for ten minutes." Vasily said.

Wang Zhong: "I'm fine, I just have a lot of thoughts at once."

Vasily: "General, you only took two years to fight back, and you definitely did not disappoint their expectations."

Wang Zhong: "I know."

Just then, footsteps were heard, and Nellie took the flowers around the tank monument and entered the cemetery.

Nellie: "The flowers are here, this one is more dignified and majestic--"

Before she finished speaking, Wang Zhong took the bouquet and placed it in front of the old duke's tombstone.

Nellie: "The other one, I made with the Prosen medals collected on the battlefield and baby's breath, it's more fancy."

Wang Zhong took the "bouquet" and shook it slightly to make a "ding-dong" sound.

"He will like this."

As he said, Wang Zhong placed this weird "flower" in front of Ivan's tombstone.

This scene reminded Wang Zhong of the Yugoslav movie "The Bridge" that he liked very much when he was a child. The theme song of the movie "Goodbye, Friend" was adapted from the Italian guerrillas' war song "Bella Ciao".

He could sing this song when he was very young.

Now he hummed it subconsciously.

Vassily raised his eyebrows: "Isn't this a song that the Komandas often sing? It seems that when they were carrying out sabotage activities in the Apennines, the local guerrillas sang it to commemorate their fallen comrades and the civilians who covered their own sacrifices."

Wang Zhong: "Yes. The lyrics seem to be like this: 'Guerrillas~Take me away quickly, I can't stand it anymore.'"

Vassily took out the harmonica and played it.

As the harmonica played, Wang Zhong walked forward and gently stroked Ivan's tombstone.

In his mind, a voice was singing along with the harmonica: "If I die in battle, you must bury me~"

The harmonica melody was coming to an end, and Wang Zhong said the lines from the movie in a voice that only he could hear:

"Good luck, Ivan. Don't be afraid, Ivan."

When the harmonica melody came to the end, Vasily asked: "Do you want to play it again from the beginning?"

Wang Zhong shook his head: "No, no. Where is the old man just now?"

"Here! General!" The old man took two steps forward, "Any instructions?"

Wang Zhong: "I appoint you as the manager of the cemetery. When the local church is reestablished, I will approve funds for you. Hire people to plant flowers around here, and control the flowering period to ensure that flowers bloom all year round. "

"Okay, General, although I am not familiar with flowers, I can let my grandson learn - I mean, if he can come back."

Wang Zhong patted the old man on the shoulder: "Leave it to you."

The old man: "But, General, is this enough? You should also build a monument or write something, right?"

Wang Zhong: "No, they are all in my mind, as long as I am alive, I will definitely remember them. I asked you to plant flowers because I want people to say how beautiful the flowers are every time they pass by here after the war."

After that, he strode away from the cemetery.

The flowers he left behind bloomed in the early summer sunshine.