Arc of Fire

Knowing that reinforcements had arrived, Wang Zhong hurriedly commanded the tank to go meet them, but just as they started moving, the tank engine suddenly made a series of sounds as if it had an upset stomach, and then it broke down.

The driver, Beliyakov, climbed out of the cabin while muttering, “It finally crapped out, I had a feeling it would crap out.”

Wang Zhong was speechless, “Does this engine break down often?”

Beliyakov replied, “It’s all small issues, can be fixed quickly, sometimes even a kick can do the trick.”

As he spoke, Beliyakov opened the repair hatch and swung his hammer down on the engine, but this time the “Mao-style Repair” did not work.

Beliyakov shook his head, “Looks like it’s really going to take some time now, General. Why don’t you ride a horse over? Shouldn’t you be handing over command with the commanders of the 63rd Army Group?”

Wang Zhong, “Where am I going to find a horse right now? It’s not like I can just whistle and have one come to me.”

As he said this, he blew a whistle.

A horse’s whinny came from afar.

Hey?

Could it be that the game mechanic where a horse comes running at a whistle is based on reality?

Then Wang Zhong realized that Bucephalus didn’t have any saddlery, not even a bridle, and couldn’t be ridden at all.

This beast probably came because the stables were bombed by enemy artillery, and it came out unscathed, rushing over to Wang Zhong when it heard the whistle.

The white horse stopped in front of the tank, looked at the white horse painted on the tank’s tactical number, neighed, and shook its head while panting heavily, continuously pawing with its front hooves.

What, are you jealous of the horse painted here?

Wang Zhong pushed himself out of the turret hatch and jumped to the ground, “Then you guys fix the tank, and once it’s done, head back to the brigade’s location and regroup with the other tanks. I’ll meet with the commanders of the 63rd Army Group.”

The gunner, Alexandria, turned to the loader and said, “Follow the General, act as a guard for now.”

The loader nodded, pulled a submachine gun from inside the tank and slung it over his shoulder.

Alexandria then said to Wang Zhong, “General, you should still be careful, there could still be separated Prosen soldiers in the city.”

Wang Zhong waved his hand and walked towards the train station, with Bucephalus trotting faithfully behind him, constantly trying to nibble his hair.

————

By the time Wang Zhong was nearing the square of the train station, his hands were already filled with eggs and pickles given by the locals.

Do Russians really like pickles this much?

Entering the square, he saw numerous trucks parked in front of the train station, and stretcher teams were moving the wounded from the trucks into the train station.

Wang Zhong, with his keen eyes, spotted the chief of the field hospital, Losonov, and called out loudly, “Doctor, what’s happening here?”

The doctor looked up at Wang Zhong and said, “General, the station command is arranging for the hospital to retreat, and empty boxcars will be coming into the station soon.”

Wang Zhong, “What will happen to the wounded generated in combat after you retreat?”

Losonov glanced at the sky, “This city is about to become rubble. The hospital is full of patients who were saved using our medical supplies and resources, we cannot let them perish here. Once they recover, they will become the backbone of our fighting force.”

That was indeed the truth.

Losonov continued, “As for the wounded from future battles, the medical posts of the 63rd Army Group will do basic treatment and then wait for train evacuation. There is no better solution under the current circumstances. I personally will stay behind to help the group army’s medical posts with the wounded, this is all I can do.”

Wang Zhong, “You intend to stay?”

“Yes,” the chief of the field hospital, Losonov, smiled faintly, “I’ll hold my post.”

Wang Zhong nodded, unable to find the words to reply.

Just then, a young man riding a chestnut horse and wearing the standard cap of a military courier stopped beside Wang Zhong and saluted, “May I ask if this is Brigadier General Rocossov?”

“That’s me.”

“Our army commander is looking for you.”

“Lead the way!”

The courier looked doubtfully at Bucephalus, which had no tack at all, seemingly wondering how one would ride such a horse.

Wang Zhong, “I’ll walk there. Is it far?”

“No, it’s just next to the station command office, our commander has temporarily taken over the map room.”

Wang Zhong nodded, then handed the eggs and pickles to the chief, “These are for the wounded. I have to go.”

After all, one cannot possibly meet the commander of the cavalry army, that had come to the rescue, carrying eggs and pickles, right?

Seeing this, the courier also dismounted and, leading the horse by the reins, walked ahead to show Wang Zhong the way.

Wang Zhong laughed, “I’ve been to the station command office many times, I can get there on my own, you can go back and report.”

The courier nodded, mounted the horse, and galloped away.

————

The map room in the station command office looked several times more crowded than before.

As soon as Wang Zhong entered, everyone turned to look at him.

The major general of the 7th Cavalry Army, Kiriyenko, took two steps forward, removed his cavalry gloves, and saluted Wang Zhong, “Brigadier General, your troops fought very well. We have confirmed a large number of enemy corpses and remnants of tank armored vehicles in the city.”

A major general taking the initiative to salute Wang Zhong, a brigadier general, was a great sign of respect.

Wang Zhong returned the salute, “It’s not my credit, it was our soldiers, together with the Guardian Army soldiers, who bought this victory with their lives and blood.”

“You are very modest,” Kiriyenko praised.

Wang Zhong thought to himself that he wasn’t being modest; it was the people of this city who truly achieved victory—they had defended themselves.

But he didn’t say that out loud.

Kiriyenko continued, “The headquarters of Army Group 63 is still on the way; currently, the troops entering the city are under my command. We are engaging in the handover of the defensive positions, and tonight, the remaining men of your troop will be able to return to their barracks for a good night’s sleep.

“I’ve also asked the quartermaster to prepare supplies for you all, so tonight you can have a meal of potatoes stewed with beef.”

Hearing what was for dinner, Wang Zhong’s interest perked up.

Having been in this world for more than ten days, he still couldn’t get used to the local cuisine, and having eaten far too many pickles, he, as a Chinese person, unimaginably looked forward to meals with little anticipation, merely considering eating as a necessary job to sustain life.

But he did like potatoes stewed with beef.

Generally, with potatoes and beef, the dish couldn’t taste too bad—at least that’s what Wang Zhong subjectively thought.

However, his interest in food only lasted for a few seconds before he asked, “Since you can provide potatoes stewed with beef, does that mean you can also provide us with anti-tank guns?”

Major General Kiriyenko and the Quartermaster General (a brigadier general) exchanged glances, then both started to laugh.

Wang Zhong: “What’s so funny?”

Kiriyenko: “The Quartermaster General said you are an outstanding officer who only thinks about how to win. I see that now. Those rumors about you, obviously, all were wrong!”

No, those rumors were right, it’s just that “I” have changed.

Wang Zhong: “That’s not important, I need anti-tank guns…”

“Your battle has ended, tonight after completing the hospital and transportation, your soldiers can board the trains and retreat.”

Wang Zhong was taken aback and immediately asked, “What about my equipment? My 203 artillery, and the T34!”

Kiriyenko: “Theoretically, we need all the technological weaponry that can help us hold this city, but most of your unit’s technical weapons were specifically assigned to your unit by the Crown Prince. So these technical weapons will retreat with your combat group.

“As for the God’s Arrow Company, we already have a fully equipped Divine Arrow Company; adding one more prayer soldier only slightly increases our combat strength, so they will also continue to stay within your unit’s composition.”

Wang Zhong: “Oh, that’s good then…”

Suddenly, he hesitated; these technical weapons could undoubtedly greatly improve Army Group 63’s efficiency in defense. Should he really take them with him?

I am defending the homeland, not managing my own private army…

At that moment, Major General Kiriyenko said, “You truly are a person of integrity. I know what you’re thinking, but I earnestly request you to take these units with you.”

Wang Zhong: “What do you mean?”

Kiriyenko, with a smile, said, “I’m also a military professional, always on the frontline. The fools above have been deceived, but I haven’t. I’m aware that we’re currently in a stage of strategic defense, or even strategic retreat. Precious technical weaponry should be pulled back; what should be left to cover the rear are ‘grey beasts’ like us.”

Wang Zhong started to speak, then stopped. Suddenly he felt that words were too pale to express his thoughts, and actions would better convey his feelings.

So he stepped forward, grasped the major general’s shoulder, then embraced him warmly, “It’s a regret, comrade.”

“No need for regrets. I don’t plan on dying here; after we’ve completed our defense mission, we’ll break out. See you in Plowsonia!”

Plowsonia, the capital of the Prosen Empire.

Wang Zhong patted the major general’s shoulder, “See you in Plowsonia!”

Having said that he released his hold, stepped back, his heels clicked sharply together, and he saluted the major general, “Farewell!”

“Farewell!”

Wang Zhong turned around and left without looking back.

Watching his departing figure, Kiriyenko suddenly said to the Quartermaster General, “Is that a dandy? The difference from the rumors is too great, he is clearly an exemplary soldier!”

The Quartermaster General replied, “You don’t know? The soldiers call him ‘the Star of Victory.’ It’s said to come from a song he hums, ‘The star of victory will shine upon us.’”

————

When Wang Zhong returned to the base leading Bucephalus, he found that Tank 422 had already arrived—clearly, Beliyakov had quickly eliminated any malfunctions.

The driver and Gunner were now loading shells into the tank on the side while the electromechanical operator continuously fished out spent shell casings and machine gun bullet casings from the cabin to place in a large wooden box.

Clearly, this tank crew planned to continue the fight.

Wang Zhong: “We are retreating.”

Alexandria: “Ah? But we can still fight.”

The other tank crews maintaining and resupplying the tanks also stopped and stared straight at Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong: “There will be plenty of opportunities to hit the Prussians hard in the future, but today we are retreating, and not just us, but also the 203 Heavy Artillery Regiment. We withdraw by night on the evening train.”

Everyone looked at each other.

Just then, songs were heard from outside the base.

The relieved Guard 31st Infantry Regiment, marching in orderly rows and singing, entered the base.

The young soldiers all looked beaten and weary, but the expressions on their faces were spirited, their marching steps synchronized and forceful, the bayonets on their rifles swaying, like the wind blowing through a cypress forest.

They sang out loud, “Tanya Tanieusha, my Takiyanne, do you still remember that fiery summer? I can’t forget those days, that time spent in passionate love!”

That time spent in passionate love!