Arc of Fire

Jules, July 24, 914, 18:45.

Wang Zhong looked through his binoculars and saw the town of Orachi.

The area around Orachi was mountainous, and although not very high, they were indeed mountains, marked as 153 highland on the military map.

Without having taken any formal military theory classes, Wang Zhong stood on the knoll and decided that this was where he should construct the final defensive position.

If nothing could stop the enemy from approaching Orachi, they would have to make their last stand sniper combat at this highland.

This mountain had an elevation of 153 meters, which couldn’t exactly be called low. It was just barely enough to build fortifications on the reverse slope to withstand artillery fire.

Wang Zhong turned his head to look directly east of the highland. Apart from the road they had used to get there, there was a vast plain to the east, which could allow troops to pass through.

But if the highland were occupied, the enemy’s artillery observers would turn the entire eastern region into a zone covered by enemy fire. By then, even if one could get out, it would mean losing a layer of skin.

The 153 highland absolutely could not be lost.

Just as Wang Zhong thought this, Popov arrived at the foot of the highlands with Colonel Eugene and the engineer lieutenant from the Fifth Bieshensk Regiment, getting out of their vehicles and walking up.

Wang Zhong blurted out, “What about the laborers?”

Don’t worry, as soon as we got here yesterday, we had the local church requisition laborers. Five thousand laborers, including women, are already assembled,” Popov said.

Wang Zhong frowned. “Is that all?”

The engineer from the Fifth Bieshensk Regiment then said, “We didn’t count the old ladies and the elderly, otherwise there could have been more. These 5000 include women and children not of conscription age.”

Wang Zhong thought for a moment and said, “Count the elderly as well. The enemy is strong, and we need a lot of fortifications. The elderly can take on lighter work, such as laying camouflage nets.”

The engineer nodded his head.

Popov asked, “Are you planning to set up defensive positions here?”

No, this is the last defense line. Here, I need to build an artillery observation post, stretch telephone lines to my forward command post, and construct shelters that can accommodate two tank platoons. Finally, I need to dig simple artillery shelters on the reverse slope,” Wang Zhong replied.

Wang Zhong had already overseen the construction of two tank shelters on the Rokossovsky Estate by the engineer troops of his division, and they were completely familiar with his “design” philosophy.

Now, he just needed the engineer troops to direct the laborers to build the shelters.

The engineer asked, “What about the trenches?”

Wang Zhong replied, “First, complete the tank shelters. Trenches can be dug by the lads of the 31st Guard Regiment themselves.”

The 31st Guard Regiment, after all, still had several hundred former cadets who were warrant officers, and it was no problem for them to dig simple combat trenches with engineer shovels.

At this point, Colonel Eugene asked, “So we are to hold our ground here to the death?”

“No,” Wang Zhong immediately replied, “This is the last position. If things go well, we won’t need to use the fortifications here, just the artillery observation post.”

The view from this hilltop was excellent. With the artillery observation post set here, the artillery could effectively control most of the plain in front.

Popov asked, “What are your plans?”

Wang Zhong replied, “I plan to advance the defense line and ambush the enemy. If the records on the military map are correct, there should be quite a few suitable places for ambushing around here. It’s too late today to conduct a reconnaissance.

“Tomorrow I’ll carefully survey the terrain surrounding us and find enough ambush positions. Before that, let’s arm the highland first without wasting labor.”

After speaking, Wang Zhong picked up the binoculars again.

From this overlooking perspective, there was actually an inconvenience; he couldn’t determine the specific field of view at each point.

If this were a game like “Wargame: Red Dragon,” “Steel Division,” or “warno,” you could simply press a hotkey to show the field of view for the point where the mouse cursor is located, making it quite convenient to choose positions for anti-tank gun emplacements and tank defensive positions, and so on.

But Wang Zhong’s cheats had no such function. He had to survey the terrain by himself—like a real commander would.

Wang Zhong had read many memoirs of old WWII veterans, and many of these old hands preferred to conduct their own reconnaissance. The famous “Tiger King,” Carius, liked to ride motorcycles at high speeds on the front lines, even approaching very close to the Russian positions.

His injury later on also occurred while riding a motorcycle for reconnaissance when he rushed into a village occupied by Russians, caught by surprise.

Now, Wang Zhong was prepared to do the same, to carefully survey the battlefield, to get a clear understanding of the range of fire for each position, and then personally choose ambush positions and dig shelters to give the enemy a nasty surprise.

Unfortunately, there were just two hours left until darkness; surveying in the dark could lead to issues due to the lack of light.

It would have to wait until tomorrow morning to begin.

But the fortifications could be started overnight.

At that moment, Wang Zhong heard a chorus of singing behind him. Turning around, he saw the 31st Guard Regiment coming along the road, singing as they marched.

The regimental flag, personally selected by Wang Zhong and borne by Zakayev, fluttered in the wind at the very front of the column.

The two columns of the 31st Regiment took up the sides of the road, while in the middle, the 155th Heavy Artillery Regiment’s 152mm heavy guns, pulled by draft horses, passed through the ranks of the infantry.

Behind each gun followed an ammunition cart and a personnel cart, along with plenty of spare horses.

Just managing the horses, this regiment had hundreds of coachmen specialized in providing fodder, grooming, repairing saddlery, and most importantly, shoeing the horses.

Watching the scene, Wang Zhong suddenly felt the enemy wasn’t so terrifying, for his own troops also showed a bit of the aura of the Huang Wei Corps from “The Grand Battle.”

Of course, it was limited to the 31st Guards Regiment.

The horses of the 155th Heavy Artillery Regiment also performed well, full of vigor!

As soon as the 31st Regiment was up, Wang Zhong had just thought that Yegorov should be arriving soon—when a jeep drove over, and Yegorov jumped out, rushing up the earthen mound in three strides.

“This high ground is excellent!” Yegorov blurted out as soon as he arrived, “Let the 31st Regiment defend it!”

Wang Zhong: “No, I only plan to place an artillery observation post here, plus a battalion as reserve. I need the 31st Regiment to cover the tanks and antitank guns for the ambush.”

Yegorov: “Ah, you mentioned the ambush. Use those shelters you came up with to catch the enemy off guard! But we can only do this once, right?”

Wang Zhong smiled, “Who says so? We will prepare more shelters, scattered across multiple ambush sites, each ambush being at a different spot.

“That way, we can not only surprise the enemy but also deplete their heavy artillery shells and Smoke Bombs.”

Wang Zhong could already imagine what the enemy would do after being hurt in the first ambush: they would cover the revealed ambush positions with heavy artillery and then confuse us with Smoke Bombs, finally charging in relying on experience for an armored melee.

He was prepared to turn the tables on them.

Yegorov laughed, “I’ve seen you command armored units; I’m not worried about that. No, as long as you don’t get yourself captured by the enemy, I’m not worried.”

Major Eugene exclaimed in shock, “What? Captured? Is the Major General going to charge personally?”

Yegorov: “Oh, he charges fiercely. The first time he charged, he was running a fever, and after the charge, he fell off the tank, nearly getting a concussion. Luckily, everyone rushed to catch him.”

Major Eugene looked puzzled, clearly unable to imagine the scene.

Popov added, “He also personally directed a tank to blow up the commander of the enemy’s 15th Armored Division.”

“Blew up?” Eugene asked with confusion.

“Ah, my mistake in phrasing, killed.”

Major Eugene: “The kind of ‘killed’ I’m thinking of?”

Yegorov laughed, “Could it be any other kind?”

Major Eugene: “That’s amazing… But I heard someone say that it was because the T34 is a good tank?”

Yegorov: “That’s where you’re mistaken. He was just as fierce when commanding the BT-7 and the T28, with gratifying results.”

Finally, Wang Zhong, overwhelmed by the praise, cut off Yegorov, “Let’s talk about something serious.”

Yegorov nodded repeatedly, “Understood, understood. Major Eugene, Coachman, let’s have a couple of drinks tonight and I’ll tell you all about it, privately!”

Wang Zhong thought to himself that Yegorov, perhaps after spending too much time with Vasily, had also become chatty.

Yegorov’s gaze turned to the northeast, and he carefully observed through binoculars.

“Wait a minute,” he said, maintaining his posture with the binoculars, “Are you sure you’re only putting one battalion here? What if the enemy bypasses our ambushes and heads straight for this high ground?”

Wang Zhong pointed at the treeline: “Set up fire positions there, with crossfire covering the high ground. Without breaking through the woods to our north and clearing the defenses inside, they wouldn’t dare attack our position on Hill 153 at our feet.”

Yegorov: “What about smoke? Cover the entire plain in smoke and then charge over!”

Wang Zhong: “That’s why we need to deplete the enemy’s Smoke Bombs in the initial ambushes. If the enemy attacks us from the north in a flanking move, their supply difficulties will increase, and they won’t be able to replenish their Smoke Bombs that quickly.”

“Makes sense,” Yegorov nodded, “but this is a risky move. If the enemy captures Hill 153, our movement among the hedgerows will be completely exposed, and the troop deployment in the woods will be crystal clear to them.”

Popov: “Even if we don’t lose the high ground, the enemy’s aerial reconnaissance is still deadly.”

Wang Zhong: “That’s why we are choosing the woods as our defensive positions. If the enemy’s planes can’t see us, that eliminates a huge threat.”

Popov: “Then… where do you plan to use God’s Arrow Company?”

Wang Zhong: “Still on air defense. We have enough antitank firepower in our hands, but for air defense, relying on a single battalion of 72Ks is obviously not enough.”

While they were talking, another jeep stopped on the reverse slope of Hill 153. Pavlov struggled to pull himself out of the jeep’s bed and climbed the high ground: “What, having a little meeting here?”

Wang Zhong: “Admiring the impressive advance of our forces.”

Pavlov snorted, “It looks pretty majestic, but according to the preliminary reports, nearly twenty percent have fallen behind. Especially the 5th Byeshensk Regiment; not only did they fall behind, but about a hundred seemed to want to desert, and they were caught by the Judge.”

Major Eugene awkwardly said, “Our main issue is that we have too few veterans, and all the officers are like me, civilians converted over, so it’s normal for the soldiers to feel it’s not reliable. If we had more professional officers, they wouldn’t run. Should I go and speak to the Judge for them?”

Pavlov: “Forget it, once the Tribunal catches them, they usually don’t come back. Your task is to restore order as much as possible tonight, and cram those who didn’t deliberately fall behind back into their units.”

“I’ll try my best,” Major Eugene said solemnly.

Unable to help himself, Wang Zhong spoke up, “Aren’t you managing a mine with over a thousand people? Just treat them like miners, and train them however you need to!”

Eugene grimaced, “They’ve got guns.”

Yegorov: “That’s simple, just show bravery once in battle, and everyone will respect you. Speaking from experience.”

“Spare me,” Pavlov said, “We’ve got enough high-ranking officers who like to take the lead on the frontline; one division commander is enough!”