Chapter 100
July 9th, 1050 hours.
At this moment, the train window**well, boxcars don't have windows**outside the door, the landscape no longer bore visible scars of war.
Under the radiance of the morning sun, the fields of the Kingdom of Kosalia showcased their beauty to the fullest.
Before crossing over, Wang Zhong had watched a certain famous director's Korean War film, and the most memorable scene was when the protagonist opened the train door on the way to the border and saw the magnificent scenery of the motherland.
Although that scene had rather cheap special effects due to budget constraints and hiring big-name celebrities, the land itself truly was picturesque.
Now, gazing upon the grasslands of Kosalia, Wang Zhong thought of that scene again.
Just as he was thinking about it, Yegorov said, "Only now do I realize, this grassland really isn't suitable for defense. Once our strength grows, fighting over this area might turn into an armored tug-of-war. By then, wrecked tanks will be everywhere."
Wang Zhong admitted he was right.
Yegorov continued, "General, what rank do you think you'll be promoted to when we return? Maybe jump two levels and become a Lieutenant General?"
Wang Zhong was currently a Brigadier General, also called a brigade-level general. One more star would make him a Major General with command over a division.
The next step up would be a Lieutenant General with three stars, commanding a corps, or perhaps transferred to an army group as a deputy, or even head of a military region in the rear with no active battles*a possible candidate for commanding a smaller strategic Front.
Wang Zhong wasn't familiar with the Ante Empire's promotion system, but he was well-versed in the Soviet promotion system on the Eastern Front during World War II.
There were plenty of officers promoted to Major General on the front lines, but it was very difficult to reach Lieutenant General*usually only achieved by the war's third year.
So he said, "They'll probably make me a Major General and then keep dumping misfit units on me."
Lyudmila joined the conversation: "Why do you think that? Maybe they'll give Alyosha a reorganized division."
Wang Zhong said, "No, no. I'd rather they didn't give me a reorganized division. The 31st Guards Infantry Regiment and... the Parade Tank Regiment and the Parade Heavy Artillery Regiment are all veteran units. I know them well. With new units, I'd have to spend time getting them to accept me."
What Wang Zhong meant wasn't that he couldn't command new troops*military hierarchy is strict, and even new commanders' orders would still be followed. That's just the nature of the military.
What Wang Zhong meant was his cheat*if the troops didn't 'accept' him, didn't genuinely respect him, then his ability to gather intel would be severely limited.
Of course, if the White Horse General became famous enough that any new unit would gladly follow his lead, then that'd be a different story.
"No matter what rank you're promoted to, I think you should get an orderly to take care of your daily life. I've noticed your clothes from the laundry team are always left in a pile! You need an orderly to take care of you!" said Lyudmila.
Wang Zhong: "Isn't that what you're here for?"
"I can't cling to you all day, you know!"
Wait, she can't? Disappointed.
"Don't look so disappointed! I'll stay with you as much as I can!"
Su Fang looked at the two of them and said, "If the General becomes a division commander as a Major General, then as a hymn monk, I must stay by his side. Why don't I double as your orderly? I'm really good at household chores!"
Wang Zhong: "Sure, why not. But is that allowed? Won't Popov have objections?"
Yegorov and Lyudmila replied in unison, "Definitely."
Oh, definitely, huh! Then I'll switch to someone bustier, and she has to wear a maid outfit.
Lyudmila: "Don't you dare try bringing a maid into the unit! Even if she comes, she'll have to wear an orderly's uniform."
What? That's such a shame!
But honestly, Wang Zhong was just kidding. What he really cared about was the war situation.
After watching the scenery outside long enough, Wang Zhong returned to the map.
From this map, one could clearly see the situation across the Kingdom of Kosalia. As part of the Ante Empire, one-third of it had already been occupied by the Prossenians.
It was said that telegrams could still be received from Bogdanovka, emphasizing that the city was still fighting and needed to be relieved.
But every junior officer knew that in this situation, relieving it was basically impossible*Bogdanovka's forces being wiped out was only a matter of time.
Based on the enemy arrows' locations and numbers on the map, Wang Zhong judged that Agsukov was the enemy's next target for a pincer attack.
The enemy's Second Armored Cluster was engaged north of Agsukov and didn't seem to be turning to encircle it yet.
But with his knowledge of history, Wang Zhong felt that armored spearhead would soon swing south and begin the encirclement.
That's how the Third Reich did it on Earth. Although they achieved brilliant results, it delayed their push toward Moscow by a month*they got stuck waiting for General Mud.
The Third Reich's armored units got bogged down in the mud, barely maintaining momentum.
Just as General Mud left, General Winter arrived. In the first year of the offensive, their tanks and planes lacked antifreeze lubricant and froze right into the ground.
Back then, they even had to light fires under the tanks before starting them to melt the oil frozen in the engine.
Of course, the terrain in this timeline is different, and the Prossen Empire isn't the Third Reich, so they might not replicate that approach.
At that moment, Lyudmila said, "Look! That's Agsukov over there!"
Following the girl's slender index finger, Wang Zhong saw a row of chimneys on the horizon, many of which were still belching thick smoke.
Agsukov was actually an industrial city?
Wait a second. Why hasn't this industrial city, so close to the front lines, been dismantled and relocated?
That way, the Prossenians wouldn't be able to seize Ante's factories, and once relocated, the factories could resume production and continue supporting the Ante Empire's resistance.
Why haven't the factories been evacuated yet?
Looks like there's yet another thing to complain to the Crown Prince about.
But who knows whether the Crown Prince has that much sway over the war?
After all, the Crown Prince had only sent over parade specialists under his direct royal control, which barely reflected any real influence over the military system.
What kind of person is the Crown Prince, really?
Wang Zhong pondered, trying to dig up any memories of the Crown Prince from his mind**after all, since this body belonged to the original host, some residual memory should be reasonable, right?
Unfortunately, after trying for a long while, he still couldn't recall a thing.
So Wang Zhong tried to bluff, "Honestly, I don't know if it was the heavy artillery blast or a high fever that fried my brain, but I can't remember what His Highness the Crown Prince is like at all."
Lyudmila: "I can tell. You were about to ask if he's a man or a woman."
Wang Zhong could definitely hear the teasing in Lyudmila's voice, but he still shamelessly asked, "So help me remember, will you?"
Lyudmila shook her head: "You both entered the reserve infantry officer academy the same year, then studied together at the Suvorov Military Academy. One ranked dead last, the other second-to-last."
The Crown Prince was that hopeless?
Now that Wang Zhong had become a frontline ace of the Ant Army, he felt a bit above it all*even though his success was thanks to the Crown Prince, the 'logistics chief,' sending him supplies.
At that moment, Wang Zhong noticed more and more parallel tracks outside, and soon the train sped past an unmanned small station.
Yegorov: "We've reached Weixiaolei. It'll start slowing down soon."
Wang Zhong: "You sure know the railways around Agsukov well!"
"Of course. Back during the Civil War, I fought many battles nearby. There weren't this many railways yet, but Weixiaolei already had one."
"The devout faction's army held Weixiaolei, trying to launch attacks on Agsukov. We'd deploy along both sides of the tracks, even brought in armored trains for fire support."
Yegorov recounted it with practiced ease.
"Back then, I was under..."
Just then, the train whistle blew, announcing it was about to enter the station.
Pavlov countered with his deep snoring.
Looking at the fields outside the train door, Wang Zhong suddenly remembered something.
He turned to the table, picked up his small personal bag, and took out a blood-stained letter.
Agsukov, 43 Krugen Street, Alekseyevna.
Wang Zhong quickly asked Yegorov, "Since you fought in Agsukov for so long, you must know Krugen Street, right?"
Yegorov: "Of course I do. What, you really plan to deliver the letter yourself? Wouldn't it be easier to use the military mail system?"
"No," Wang Zhong said with conviction, "I want to deliver it myself, and talk to this old lady named Alekseyevna. Tell her how brave her son was."
Yegorov: "But... he's already dead..."
Wang Zhong stubbornly said, "No! I'm going."
Actually, this wasn't just for the deceased's sake*it was also to strengthen Wang Zhong himself, to make him braver.
So that one day, he could give the order "I don't want casualty numbers, I want XX" with a clear conscience.
Lyudmila looked at Wang Zhong's profile and suddenly smiled: "Alyosha, I never knew you had such a gentle side*just like I never knew you were an orator!"
Su Fang: "So you didn't know either?"
Lyudmila: "Now I do! I also know which way he leans..."
Wang Zhong: "No need to elaborate on that!"
But Yegorov curiously asked, "General, do you lean left or right? I personally prefer..."
"You shut up too!" Wang Zhong assumed a general's tone. "Back to the letter!"
Yegorov: "43 Krugen Street, huh? Yeah, I know the place. Once the unit settles in, I'll take you there*on your iconic white horse."
Suddenly, Wang Zhong had a hallucination. He thought he heard the horse's whinny*but that couldn't be. Bucephalus was with the cargo horses and mules in Car No. 11. Its neighing couldn't possibly carry upwind to here.
At this point, the train began to slow down, and the idyllic rural scenery quickly gave way to a cityscape of black and red.
Everywhere were stationed troops and assembling Protectorate Army soldiers.
As long as they weren't in formation, they all stared in unison at the train.
Yegorov said, "I bet they're looking at the red flag on your tank. After all, the Ante Empire has never had a red flag before."
The train continued to slow, eventually reaching walking speed.
The locomotive sounded its whistle.
Pavlov suddenly shouted, "I can't handle this! Where's my staff team?!"
Then he sat up, eyes wide, staring at everyone in Car No. 1.
Wang Zhong: "Don't worry! This time we'll definitely get you a full staff team!"
Pavlov was clearly still dazed, his brain not fully functioning yet. He looked at Wang Zhong: "Really? Then I want a level-nine civil officer! At least level nine!"
Wang Zhong: "You'll get a level-six one!"
In truth, he wasn't familiar with civil service ranks. He just counted upward in threes*three, six, nine*and picked the next level.
Pavlov finally came to: "Cut it out, General, a level-six civil officer can already serve as a university board member! They can boss around professors!"
R-Really?
At that moment, the platform outside the door suddenly came into view.
Immediately, the sound of a military band began playing*it was 'Farewell of Slavianka'. Clearly, the train station had prepared a welcome ceremony for the Rokosov Battle Group.
(End of Chapter)