Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 657 - 99 "I Severed Rocossov’s Main Artery" (Supplement 37/81)

Chapter 657: Chapter 99 “I Severed Rocossov’s Main Artery” (Supplement 37/81)

January 16, 1916, at Zaykin Village by the Suhayaweili River.

Admiral Bock of the Prosen Tenth Army Group stepped down from the bucket carriage and climbed up to the railway platform. He stood in front of the signboard of Zaykin Station, turned around, and looked at the military journalists.

“General, can you strike a pose?” asked a photographer.

Admiral Bock, “My posture is not important, the important thing is the place name on the station sign behind me! I’ve cut off Rocossov’s main artery! Just make sure to get a clear shot of this station sign!”

The military journalists quickly grabbed their cameras and began taking pictures, the flash illuminating the surrounding snowy area.

Once the photos were nearly done being taken, Admiral Bock left the signboard and said to his deputy officer, “Destroy the railway and the station’s water tower and maintenance factories and lay mines. Once everything is done, we retreat.”

Deputy Officer, “Retreat?”

“Yes, we’ve come to cross the river upstream. Logistics can’t possibly keep up. If we really want to leave troops to defend, we can only leave a suicide squad.”

Admiral Bock sighed, “We were prepared to withstand Rocossov’s offense, and we were prepared. We cut Rocossov’s main artery—but got pushed back because our supplies couldn’t keep up. No one can fault us for that.”

The deputy officer looked at the reporters, “Even if this is all true, shouldn’t it be avoided in front of the reporters?”

Admiral Bock, “They are all journalists who adapt to the times. They know how to write their reports. After all, they don’t want to get on the wrong side of the Imperial Ministry, do they?”

The reporters nodded repeatedly, “Yes, we will ‘report truthfully.’”

Admiral Bock patted the deputy officer’s shoulder, “See, these journalists are all loyal subjects of the Empire!”

————

At the Ante Abawahan Front Army Headquarters.

Vasily, “We prepared for one table of guests, and now two tables have arrived. What are we going to do?”

Wang Zhong, “Look at what you’re saying. Admiral Bock just deployed a few elite troops to give us a surprise attack from upstream. His logistics situation definitely won’t support a long-term hold at Zaykin. Just let Kashuk figure out a solution.”

Pavlov, “When we drew up the supply plan, we already took such situations into account, so our Front Army’s supplies have two routes besides the railway leading to Yeburg.”

The Chief of Staff picked up a map stick, approached the full situation map of the Southern Front, and started gesturing on the map, “The first one comes from the railway hub on the east bank of the Valdai Hills River, to our Front Army’s land corridor.

“This route has limited capacity due to poor infrastructure, but it’s passable after all and can bear thirty percent of our consumption.

“The second route starts from Mount Raoul, bypasses the enemy-occupied area, and heads north directly connecting our main forces attacking Bolsk. This route is more difficult to travel, so it can only bear twenty percent of our consumption.

“Together, we still have half of our supply lines, plus the supplies stockpiled before the attack began. Even if Zaykin is occupied by the enemy for a week or two, our offensive will not halt.”

Wang Zhong, “They won’t hold it for two weeks. It should be retaken in a few days. Counting the time to repair the destroyed facilities and tracks, a week at most.”

At this moment, Amelia entered the room with Major Worcester, the commander of the Federation naval aviators, and headed straight for Wang Zhong, “General Rocossov, when can the Federation’s aviators launch an attack on the Prosen White Sea fleet?”

Wang Zhong, “We have actually occupied the airport already, which can cover a 200-kilometer radius from the shore. But the problem is that the enemy forces around the airport have not been cleared, so we dare not allow the Federation’s naval elite to transfer there.”

After Amelia translated, Major Worcester spoke with considerable emotion.

Amelia, “They say they don’t mind these issues and just hope to join the attack on the Prosen navy as soon as possible. Moreover, they don’t understand your easy-going attitude. The enemy is already retreating from the sea. Aren’t you worried about letting a victory slip away?”

Wang Zhong, “Indeed, I wish to annihilate as much of Prosen’s living force as possible, especially their veterans. Once Prosen’s veterans are gone, they’ll lose the advantage in troop quality, and we’ll overwhelm them with numbers.

“But you can’t rush things. Around Bolsk, there are many permanent fortifications overseen by Duke Meishikin. Although we have the blueprints of these fortifications and know their positions, it takes time to take them down.”

Popov, “There is also a practical reason—we are not prepared to handle hundreds of thousands of prisoners. The sheer number of prisoners taken by the Sixth Army Group has already been a headache for our rear areas. After all, we did not have a good recovery in agricultural production last year. We rely mainly on wheat, corn, and soybeans transported from the Federation.”

Amelia frowned, “You let the enemy escape just because you’re not prepared to take prisoners of war?”

Wang Zhong, “No, no, that’s just an additional reason. The real reason is that we can’t advance so quickly. In a couple more days, we’ll be able to clear the enemy around the airport. Then, the gentlemen of the Federation can transfer and do what you’re best at: bombing ships!”

After Amelia finished translating, Major Worcester shook his head repeatedly and said something fervently.

“He says,” Amelia looked at Wang Zhong, “they’ve recently witnessed many heroic actions of the Ante military and civilians, and are deeply moved. He does not accept the idea of not launching because of safety concerns. War is about taking risks and making sacrifices.”

Just as Amelia had finished speaking, Worcester spoke again, not even allowing Wang Zhong time to plan a response.

Miss Witch had no choice but to interpret simultaneously, “At Midway Island, our Torpedo Squadron, escort fighters, and dive bombers became disjointed. According to the manual, they should have launched a coordinated attack with the dive bombers and fighters.

“Under those circumstances, they wouldn’t have been blamed even if they had returned to base. But they chose to continue the attack and then were all shot down by Empire of Fusang aircraft, with none managing to launch their torpedoes.

“But I think, if they were given another chance, they would still choose to attack. The commander of the Torpedo Squadron, Major Lynch, is a friend of mine. He’s exceptionally smart and fully aware of the dangers ahead, but he would never retreat.”

Wang Zhong thought for a moment and said, “Give me one day, and my Armored Troops will eliminate the scattered enemy forces near the airport by the end of today. Meanwhile, the Engineer Troops will rush to repair the runway. Is that alright?”

Major Worcester stood at attention, saluted Wang Zhong, and said in broken Antenese, “No problem.”

————

Thirty kilometers northwest of Bolsk, Bolsk field airport.

Uncle Kamala got down from the disabled bulldozer and kicked the engine, “Damn it! To break down right now!”

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

The battalion commander of the Engineers, riding on horseback from a distance, asked loudly, “Uncle! What happened?”

“It’s broken down! All my three hours of daily maintenance wasted on nothing—three hours!” Uncle Kamala grumbled as he took a toolbox out of the storage box behind the bulldozer, “Don’t panic, commander, I’ll have it fixed in no time! This old buddy is just like my old horse; though it’s aged, it’s still usable!”

The anxious commander glanced at his watch, “We’re running out of time. In a few hours, planes will be landing. They’re from the Federation Allies, and they’re here to bomb the Prosen fleet!”

Uncle Kamala said, “Rest assured! Any time lost fixing this machine, I’ll make it up to you later! I’ve been driving bulldozers for years! I started at this unit right after my tenth-grade graduation and have been at it ever since!

“Those Prosens listened to the traitor’s words, even wanted to conscript me. I hid in the sewers for over half a year, but finally, I managed to wait for you all! Watch and see! By dawn tomorrow, the runway will be ready!”

The battalion commander had more to say, but the parish priest came riding over, “Commander Davarish, don’t worry. If anyone drops the ball, Uncle Kamala certainly won’t.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the sound of submachine gun fire broke out from afar, and the commander turned his head to see the flickering gunfire in the night.

“Let’s go, take a look!” the commander whipped his horse, and the steed shot into the night, vanishing quickly from sight.

Uncle Kamala continued to curse as he repaired the engine, turning a deaf ear to the increasingly nearby gunfire.

Ten minutes later, as the gunfire subsided, Uncle Kamala finished an initial inspection, “Damn it, it doesn’t seem to have any major issues, eh? You old thing, not feeling like moving, huh?”

Changing to the largest wrench, he swung it and hit the engine. The sound was so loud that one might mistake it for an engine blowout.

After striking the hit, the uncle climbed into the cabin, attempting to start the vehicle.

However, the engine remained still.

He jumped out from the cabin again, wielding the wrench—suddenly, he stopped, put the wrench down, grabbed the spark plug he’d forgotten to put back in, shoved it into the engine, and twisted it tight.

The uncle climbed into the cabin for the third time and ignited it.

The engine rumbled to life.

“Sukabule!” The uncle slapped his head forcefully, then drove the bulldozer into the night.

————

On the morning of January 17th, at Bolsk military airport (under Antenese control).

An SBD Dauntless dive bomber from the Federation Navy landed smoothly, decelerated after sliding a distance, and then glided towards the parking area on the side.

As soon as the plane stopped, the ground crew that had arrived early swarmed around, placing the stairs beside the cockpit and helping the pilot to open the canopy.

The pilot rattled off, and the interpreter, busy at his side, translated, “The runway is a bit uneven, and he’s worried that taking off with the bombs later might jolt the bombs loose.”

Ground crew: “What? That can happen?”

The pilot spoke rapidly again.

Interpreter: “At Midway Island, the leader of their squadron shook off the bombs, and in the end, the leader dove first just to draw enemy anti-air fire. So, we must make sure the runway is smooth!”

Head of the ground crew: “Alright, I’ll go talk to the Engineer battalion commander.”

At this moment, the second and third dive bombers were landing, while the torpedo planes and fighters from the same carrier air group were circling in the sky.

The wind from the Pacific had begun to blow across this snowy field.