Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 653 - 95 General Sheeplin’s Decision

Chapter 653: Chapter 95 General Sheeplin’s Decision

January 12, 916, at 01005 hours, at the Eleventh Army Group Headquarters of Prosen under blackout.

General Xiplin, holding a candlestick, used the dim light to look at the map.

“What kind of enchanting soup did we drink to think such a large-scale assault was a feint?” the general said in a self-mocking tone. “I can’t say whether Rocossov is a master of war, but he certainly understands the human heart, having completely outmaneuvered us.”

“What should we do then? Hold our ground?” the Chief of Staff asked.

The General: “We tried counterattacks before, and the results were not good, were they? Even with two tank divisions from Army Group A supporting us, we still have too few tanks.

“Rocossov hasn’t deployed his Whirlwind yet, and our counterattacking forces have been going back and forth with the Anteans’ anti-tank and tank units. Although we claim to have inflicted losses five times our own, what use is that?

“We might have destroyed only a fifth of the enemy tanks deployed, and we have to contend with the remaining four-fifths with our infantry and anti-tank units.”

General Xiplin paced back and forth in front of the map holding the candlestick, then continued his previous thought: “It’s the numerical advantage again, always the numerical advantage! The Anteans receive dozens of T34s every day.

“They suffer higher losses than us, have weaker repair capabilities, and often after a battle, the battlefield is under our control. Yet their tanks seem endless, while ours are ever dwindling.”

Typically, damaged tanks are scavenged from the battlefield after the battle is won. This means that the victorious side can reclaim numerous tanks from the field and theoretically should continue to grow stronger.

During the summer offensive of 915, the Prosen were victorious in most of the tank battles, allowing the Ordnance Department of Prosen to recover a significant number of tanks and even repair some T34s, painting crosses on them for use by the Prosen Armored Troops.

However, the Prosen Armored Troops were not fond of the T34’s two-man turret and, concerned about friendly fire, these refurbished T34s were not deployed en masse.

Under such circumstances, the Anteans still managed an overwhelming numerical advantage, which seemed unfathomable from the Prosen perspective.

Xiplin continued his monologue: “The year before last, the Anteans needed a fivefold advantage in manpower to capture our positions, last year it dropped to threefold—and these couldn’t be just freshly drafted troops either. I predict this year they won’t even need that threefold advantage.

“Rocossov has just assembled the force disparity needed to defeat us! Many troops are worried about Rocossov’s new weapons, but those are few and our front is long. The real threat is this manpower disparity.

“Last year, the Antean Western Front Army initiated a full-scale assault utilizing this disparity, called ‘torrent flooding’ disdainfully by High Command, and made certain advancements.

“And that’s exactly the best strategy to employ when you have superior forces against an ample battlefield. If I were in their shoes, I’d do the same.”

At this point, Xiplin sighed and did not continue.

His deputy officer tentatively asked, “So, sir, does this mean we are not defending Bolsk anymore?”

The General waved his hand: “How could that be possible! But we can’t just stubbornly defend it; we have to implement flexible defensive tactics, avoid a straight fight with the enemy, and make good use of our artillery and armor, along with our combat experience.

“After all, High Command instructed us to delay the enemy until Army Group A has completed its retreat. We’re not meant to hold Bolsk at all costs; we could even cede Bolsk to the enemy and plant plenty of landmines in the city before doing so.

“As long as the mines are cunningly placed and widespread, enemy artillery won’t be able to clear them all.”

Typically, pre-assault bombardments aim to clear enemy minefields. The shockwave from the explosion of heavy artillery shells can detonate mines in a large area.

But if mines are placed in locations less susceptible to shock waves, or use tripwire-like fuses that are not easily triggered by shock waves, they can continue to inflict casualties on the enemy after the artillery has done its job.

General Xiplin laughed: “Rocossov likes to play with booby traps too; let him have a taste of trepidation when entering the city.”

The Eleventh Army Group’s Chief of Staff chimed in: “According to your orders, General, we’ve already placed a substantial number of booby traps in the city, and several pressure mines are scattered at various intersections, hidden under the pavement.”

“Good, have the engineer troops redouble their efforts and try to bury double the amount of mines before the retreat. Let’s deploy all our mine supplies into the city.”

Having said that, the General looked at the map again.

“If anyone has any more ideas on how to delay the enemy, feel free to share them.”

————

At the Antean Abawahan Front Army Headquarters, 0120 hours.

Pavlov waved the latest report: “The advance has started to hit tough resistance, all from the Eleventh Army Group. The enemy is undermanned, but their fighting spirit and combat experience are formidable; it’s starting to get tricky.”

Popov: “Could we continue with the previous strategy, isolating and surrounding without engaging?”

Before Pavlov could respond, Wang Zhong interjected: “We’re approaching Bolsk, the density of towns suddenly increased—it’s an important industrial city after all. Now it’s time to test the capacities for tough, direct assaults. Has the Ordnance Department sent any new Ulbans over?”

“Not yet.”

Wang Zhong: “Then let’s not wait. The B4’s direct firing efficiency isn’t bad either, though it can’t boost morale.”

This meant that the noise from the B4 bombarding bunkers wasn’t impactful enough.

Pavlov: “Tomorrow we will attack Bolsk’s first satellite city, Prinka, to test the enemy’s defense strength. The main assault will be handled by the Guards 33rd Infantry Division, and in addition to their divisional artillery, I’ve also reinforced them with a breaching heavy artillery division and two Guards rocket artillery brigades.”

“Before the assault begins, the gun artillery—referring to 152mm and 203mm artillery—will carry out two hours of firepower preparation. The rocket artillery units will provide cover after the infantry line advances so that just as the rocket artillery coverage ends, the infantry line will be right in front of us.”

“The Guards 21st Tank Brigade and Guards 12th Breach Tank Regiment will coordinate with the 33rd Infantry Division’s attack.”

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Popov laughed, “Well, deploying so many units with ‘Guards’ in their names all at once.”

Wang Zhong: “We need to test the enemy’s mettle. If such a configuration of our troops can’t take it down, then it means we still lack the capability to forcefully breach hard defenses. We’ll need to think of other methods if that happens.”

When surrounding the Sixth Army Group, the strategy Wang Zhong adopted was to bypass firmly held enemy positions, encircle them, and then bombard them relentlessly.

Now, having reached the developed areas of Kazarlia where city density was higher, that approach was no longer viable.

Moreover, future offensives in Shepetovka, Argesukov, or even Plowsonia would be sieges in concrete jungles, so it was appropriate to train our troops for breach capabilities in advance.

Wang Zhong glanced at his watch: “Alright, I’m going to rest for a bit. Have my wife wake me up before the artillery starts firing tomorrow morning.”

Both Pavlov and Popov said in unison, “Go ahead.”

————

January 13th, Wang Zhong was woken up early by Ludmila.

“Today’s the assault, aren’t you supposed to be at the headquarters?” Ludmila said as she threw the already-warmed clothes from the stove onto the bed.

Wang Zhong, while dressing, replied, “That’s right. However, I anticipate that there shouldn’t be too many problems. In Abawahan, we fought with a resolve to fight the enemy to the death. The Prosenians lack such resolve—after all, this is not their homeland, not their soil. They will waver, shrink back, and run.”

As they spoke, he got out of bed and dressed.

Ludmila picked up a scarf, a memento from Yakov, and gently wrapped it around Wang Zhong’s neck: “This scarf has some stitches that are wrong— the girl who knitted it wasn’t very skilled at knitting.”

Wang Zhong: “But I think, this must have been Yakov’s favorite scarf. He just gave it to me like that.”

Ludmila: “After the winter campaign is completely over, let’s visit that widow in Yeburg.”

Wang Zhong: “Mhm.”

Even if Ludmila hadn’t said it, Wang Zhong would have gone anyway.

He wanted to personally tell Yakov’s wife that Yakov had behaved very well, very bravely.

But now, Wang Zhong’s primary task was to shatter the Prosenian Army Group in front of him and close the encirclement.

He kissed his wife on the lips, turned around, opened the door, and walked into the winter sunlight.

————

Prinka, 13th January, 0700 hours.

The howling sound came from the sky. Before the defending Prosenians had time to react, intensive artillery fire rained down from above.

Over 400 heavy artillery pieces, along with an even greater number of 122mm guns, were brutally pounding this Prosenian defensive stronghold.

Inside the city defense headquarters, the infantry division commander, holding a telephone, shouted, “We are under heavy bombardment! Heavy bombardment!”

Echoing his words, the ceiling continuously dropped small stones and dust.

Suddenly, a heavy shell exploded next to the headquarters, a whole chunk of plaster fell from the ceiling, smacking down onto the desk where the phone lay.

Division Commander: “We are under heavy bombardment! Heavy bombardment!”

The person on the other end of the phone was quite calm: “Offer appropriate resistance, and if you can’t hold, then withdraw from the city, trade space for time! Understand? Trade space for time!”

Division Commander: “We’re an infantry division! You want us to leave our shelters for the open field, to be slaughtered by armored troops and cavalry?”

The other end: “Then hold fast, no matter what, just hinder and wear down the enemy, the Army Group will mount a counterattack when appropriate! We will—”

The Division Commander slammed the handset down onto the desk: “Damn it!”

Before he could continue cursing, a 152mm heavy shell hit the division headquarters building, causing such severe trembling that the Division Commander fell to his knees.

Then, the chandelier finally fell, smashing the map table to smithereens, and its crystal glasses shattered all over the floor.