Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 665 - 3: Deep Battle Offensive

Chapter 665: Chapter 3: Deep Battle Offensive

Clearly, the senior officers present had anticipated the objectives of the summer campaign, so after Celtic Marshal finished speaking, everyone remained quite calm.

Marshal Geron of the Southern Group Army, who had rushed back from the front to attend the meeting, glanced at the others, cleared his throat, and said, “My Army Group does not have enough forces to encircle Rocossov’s army of a million.”

(Marshal Geron was the original commander of Army Group B. After the annihilation of Army Group A, his Army Group was reorganized into the new Southern Group Army.)

The Emperor: “Of course, you will receive reinforcements. Now that over a month has passed since total mobilization began, by this June, we are expected to add 50 entirely new divisions, of which you will receive the majority!”

Marshal Geron frowned tightly: “How is that possible? It takes at least six months just to complete the training of new recruits.”

“It’s not new recruits. New recruits won’t graduate until September,” Celtic Marshal cut in, “These 50 divisions will be made up of soldiers aged 24 to 30 who have already been discharged. Some of them even participated in the Melania campaign. Three months of refresher training should be enough to restore them to their pre-discharge levels.”

Marshal Geron nodded slightly, seeming to accept this explanation, but then immediately said, “However, current intelligence indicates that Rocossov has at least 1.2 million combatants, and after three months of replenishment, there will certainly be more. Giving me just 50 divisions, I’m afraid…”

The Emperor stood up: “What are you afraid of? We have always had an advantage in individual soldier quality. In the first two years of the war, we always maintained a significant advantage in the casualty exchange rate! Even if Rocossov annihilated so many of our troops last year, we still held the upper hand!

“Based on our experience from the past two years, when our forces are equal to the Anteans, we can achieve very impressive results!”

Marshal Geron: “Your Majesty, the enemy is also learning from the war. As those of us commanding troops at the front can attest, we indeed feel the enemy’s combat strength is growing.

“I have reviewed many summaries of combat experience submitted by frontline units. Frontline troops universally regard Antean soldiers as brave and tenacious adversaries. Compare this with reports from two years ago when frontline officers merely admired the Anteans’ courage.”

The Emperor hesitated before speaking and ultimately sighed: “You will receive more troops. We will ensure you have three times the number of troops Rocossov has.”

Marshal Geron’s frown remained tight: “But can logistics keep up?”

Celtic Marshal: “Of course, they can. Since September of 914, we’ve been building roads and accompanying guard posts in Kazarlia. The new road system is progressively being completed, and a widespread network of guard posts has significantly reduced guerrilla activities.

“This is also why we chose the Southern Front as the strategic decisive direction. The Northern Front has its roads as well, but swamps and dense forests offer advantages to guerrillas that we cannot completely eliminate.”

Marshal Geron’s brow relaxed slightly, but he still asked with much concern: “Assembling so many troops, Rocossov will certainly notice. What if he lays a trap?”

The Emperor took over the conversation again: “In the past two years, Rocossov’s victories have exploited our overextended supply lines, in addition to taking advantage of mud and harsh winters. This time we’re not battling him in winter and we won’t be far from our supply centers, nor dispersing our forces—all of which I’ve told you before.”

“Indeed, that was said. And it was mentioned even before the summer campaign’s objective of targeting Rocossov’s Front Army was revealed,” said Marshal Rundstedt, the new Army Commander.

After the disastrous winter campaign, Marshal Bryan had “resigned to take responsibility.”

The Emperor: “We have reviewed our experiences and made targeted adjustments. This time Rocossov won’t win so easily! Besides, we have more improvements, such as not attacking fortified cities. This time we will employ a strategy of encirclement without assault, completely avoiding Rocossov’s meticulously constructed defenses!

“This time, we will battle Rocossov in the wilderness! Completely crushing him!”

As he spoke, the Emperor clenched his fists and pounded on the table.

————

March 18, 916, Northwest airspace of Yarvik.

The red Pe-3 reconnaissance plane was flying at an altitude of 3000 meters, sweeping across the fields of Kazarlia.

Wang Zhong was intently observing the Prosens units highlighted on the ground.

In his focus, he almost missed hearing Amelia’s words in his earphones.

Amelia: “Your wife, she invited me for tea.”

Wang Zhong hadn’t been paying attention, but suddenly caught the unusual nuance in her words: “What?”

“Your wife, she invited me for tea,” Amelia repeated.

Wang Zhong: “Oh, she’s probably just grateful you’ve been protecting me. She mentioned she wanted to thank you for saving my life in Balas.”

“Oh, I just remembered that,” Amelia blurted out.

“Uh, she didn’t mention it?”

“Not at all, absolutely not.”

Wang Zhong began to sweat behind his back; every few days he and Amelia were alone together in a confined space, had Ludmila grown jealous?

Amelia: “I told her I’m now your only partner.”

What on earth are you saying!? Don’t say things that can be so easily misunderstood! No, it’s words that can be easily misunderstood!

Amelia: “She actually expressed understanding.”

What does she understand?

Amelia: “She was so composed. I thought there was going to be a fierce argument.”

Wang Zhong: “Oh, good, it’s nice that there were no disputes.”

Amelia changed the subject: “So, have you spotted any signs of the enemy’s future moves?”

“No, it currently just looks like normal rest and reorganization, and the unit designations don’t seem to have increased—I mean, it doesn’t look like they have.”

Amelia: “You can even get a feel for the unit designations? That’s pretty magical isn’t it?”

It was fortunate Amelia was a Witch; she didn’t seem particularly surprised.

Wang Zhong: “It’s just a vague feeling. If there are new designations, suddenly I get this sense of ‘Oh, there are newcomers stationed here.’”

“I get it, I get it. It’s like when I’ve been dueling with the same ace from Prosen for a long time and suddenly a newbie joins in, I’d feel like ‘Who are you to meddle in our fight?’” Amelia shared her experiences cheerily.

Wang Zhong breathed a sigh of relief.

Amelia asked again: “So, we still don’t know where the enemy plans to attack?”

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“Yeah, we can’t definitively determine where the enemy will attack, so let’s make our move instead,” said Wang Zhong. “Our troops are much more elite compared to two years ago, and our weaponry and organization have matured a lot. It’s time to take back the initiative.”

————

Wang Zhong concluded the reconnaissance flight and handed the photos over to the Air Force, then he and Amelia took a car back to the Headquarters’ log cabin.

At the entrance, he saw another Willys Jeep with five stars.

Stars on a Jeep wasn’t that a Federation custom? A Jeep for an admiral would have five stars.

Amelia also saw the Jeep: “So many stars, isn’t that a custom of Federation generals?”

Wang Zhong: “Yes, I wonder which general has come to visit. Let’s go in and see.”

Saying this, he lifted the heavy door curtain and entered the Headquarters.

Then he heard General Gorky’s voice: “I was planning to meet with Rocossov at Yeburg, but he didn’t return. He actually didn’t go back to see his son!”

Wang Zhong: “Because I’ve been constantly worried about the enemy’s next main thrust.”

As he spoke, he walked toward General Gorky, extending his hand: “It’s been a while, Gorky Davarish.”

Gorky stood up and took Wang Zhong’s hand: “It’s been a while. You had a tough time last year, but the counterattack went well, eliminating one million of the enemy! They should give you a marshal’s medal! You should have received it when you captured the marshal!”

Wang Zhong: “I was only recently promoted to general, Olga—His Majesty the Tsar probably wanted to give it to me, but General Tugenev stopped it.”

“Actually, that’s nonsense. Who would object to your promotion to marshal now?” General Gorky let go of the hand and spread both of his arms. “Who would object? Over one winter, you eliminated more Prosen troops than we did in two years!”

Wang Zhong: “You flatter me, General Davarish. So you’re just here to congratulate me?”

“Of course not.” General Gorky turned around, picked up a file bag from the table, and handed it to Wang Zhong. “This is my Chief of Staff’s plan for the summer campaign. Last year we tried out my new tactic, and the results were quite good. While we didn’t break the deadlock, it proved that my tactic worked!”

Wang Zhong: “Yes, your attack last year greatly relieved our pressure. The Prosens had no choice but to pull in two Army Groups from Moravia to bolster their numbers, but the equipment of these two Army Groups was all standard Prosen, and they lacked both the will and experience for combat.

“We captured a large number of cannons, guns, and other equipment from them and used these to equip several divisions.”

General Gorky laughed happily: “You’ve always kept an eye on the big picture! This summer, we plan to give the Prosens an even tougher time! Last year during the offensive, we concentrated 20 heavy artillery pieces per kilometer along the front line. This year we’re planning to double that!”

Wang Zhong: “Are you planning to borrow heavy breakthrough artillery divisions from me?”

General Gorky laughed: “How could I? The reserve Army Group has put together three such artillery divisions. I’ve come to discuss with you taking those three away, and the remaining assortment of artillery brigades and such, you can take more of them.”

Wang Zhong in a joking tone: “Alright then, you’re stealing my food! Are you going to compete with me for the newly formed units too?”

General Gorky waved his hand dismissively: “Don’t worry, I won’t touch the units you’ve pulled back for rest. I just want the newly formed units. When we start the offensive, it’ll naturally disrupt the enemy’s arrangement. Even if the enemy’s summer campaign aims to attack you, we’ll be able to share some of the pressure.”

Wang Zhong: “Today’s aerial reconnaissance shows no signs of enemy reinforcements on the Southern Front. Prosen has been on total mobilization for two months, yet the front line troops have not increased, which is unusual. What if the enemy plans to try again in your direction?”

Gorky: “Once we attack, we’re bound to notice. Then we’ll just stop and transition to defense. Then you can step up to the plate! You’re itching to return to Shepetovka, right?”

Wang Zhong nodded: “Yes, I believe that our military’s momentum has now matured enough to launch a pincer attack on Shepetovka.”

“Ha ha ha,” General Gorky laughed heartily, slapping Wang Zhong on the shoulder, “you’ve fully learned the Prosen’s ways, pincer attacks, the exquisite art of war! What I’m using is completely the Antean tactic, and I’ve named this tactic: Deep Battle!”

Wang Zhong: “That’s a good name, and I’ve learned a lot from your tactics. However, I believe as Prosen mobilizes, the average quality of Prosen troops will inevitably decline due to the conscription and gradually fall. Your tactic will become increasingly effective on the vast Antean plains.

“But as we advance into Prosen territory, the frontline will drastically shorten, the level of infrastructure will rapidly improve, and city density will increase, lessening the effectiveness of deep battle.”

General Gorky’s smile froze; he looked down in thought for a few seconds, then cursed: “Damn Sukabule! Can’t you let me boast a little longer! You’re right! Bastard!”

After saying that, he slapped Wang Zhong on the shoulder again.

“You’re right, damn Sukabule!”