Chapter 108
After finishing his meal in the mess hall, Wang Zhong had just stepped out the door when he ran into Popov.
Popov: "You got the orders too?"
As he spoke, he saw Vasily coming out with Wang Zhong's uniform and new insignia, and curled his lip: "Looks like you did. Then I shall fulfill my duties as the regimental bishop of the 151st Division. I suggest we assemble every morning before breakfast, and tidy up our quarters after eating."
Vasily frowned: "Do we have to polish our leather shoes again?"
Popov: "Not just polish shoes. I took a walk through the dorms today*some people didn't even fold their blankets! It's understandable during wartime, and I can tolerate slack discipline, but now that we're back in reorganization, all of this must be enforced. It can help reduce casualties in the next battle."
"Shiny shoes reduce casualties?" Vasily played the troublemaker as usual.
Wang Zhong: "You're really making it hard for me not to find you annoying."
"Sorry, General."
After shutting Vasily up, Wang Zhong said to Popov, "Do whatever you have to do. The Grand Patriarch told me yesterday that our replacements would arrive today. He should be sending you enough priests so you'll finally have the manpower to manage them."
"Today? You sure? I haven't received any notice." Popov looked a bit skeptical.
Wang Zhong: "We'll know soon enough. I'm heading to find Pavlov*do you know where he is?"
Popov turned and pointed to a two-story building facing the U-shaped dorms: "He seems to have set up headquarters there. I'm not sure. I slept in the local church's dorm yesterday."
Wang Zhong: "You didn't drag back any capable monks with you?"
"There's a shortage of monks everywhere these days*even someone like Monk Petro is a hot commodity. Everyone wants them to serve as anti-air sentries." Popov looked helpless. "Don't worry, the Grand Patriarch assured me personally that our Divine Arrow company will be fully staffed."
Just as Wang Zhong opened his mouth, a row of GAZ trucks flying church flags drove into the drill ground.
He pointed at the trucks and asked, "Could it be them?"
Popov turned around: "Uh... I don't know either. Let's just go check it out."
At that moment, the first GAZ truck stopped, and a large group of civilians jumped out.
Wang Zhong: "Bishop, care to explain why a truck flying church flags is unloading a bunch of civilians?"
Popov looked like a fish out of water, opening and closing his mouth helplessly, unable to give a proper explanation.
The "old" warriors who had finished eating also noticed the newcomers and all stopped to curiously watch.
People dressed like priests began organizing the civilians, trying their best to line them up into army-like formations.
Wang Zhong had a bad feeling: "Don't tell me these are the replacements for the Protectorate Army?"
Popov clicked his tongue: "A platoon with one low-ranking priest*that's definitely the Protectorate Army. They didn't even issue equipment?"
Wang Zhong: "Forget equipment, they don't even have uniforms. Is the Grand Patriarch screwing me over?"
"You better not say that in front of the Inquisitor." Popov reminded him.
The GAZ trucks kept coming in line, dropping people off and then driving away. Soon, the drill ground was packed with people. They barely managed to form loose platoon formations, and despite the priests' best efforts, many still chatted away.
Standing at the mess hall entrance, Wang Zhong felt like he was back in college, watching freshman military training formations from the spectators' platform during the final drill.
Is my next mission seriously to lead this bunch into a brutal battlefield?
Vasily: "Although I'm just a warrant officer who hasn't finished officer training, even I can tell these people need at least six months of training to become dependable soldiers."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yegorov suddenly appeared and added, "These rookies*when they get to the battlefield, they'll only manage to fire the first shot, then forget to hold the trigger down for continuous fire. Instead, they'll keep cycling the bolt and pulling out unfired rounds from the chamber."
"I've seen enough of such rookies already. Why are we being reinforced with troops like this?"
Wang Zhong turned to Yegorov: "Did you get promoted?"
Yegorov: "Nope. The higher-ups probably think a civilian like me needs to study further at the military academy before I can get promoted. Even though the army's best current commander graduated at the bottom of his class."
"Uh," Wang Zhong looked a bit awkward, "I'm the best commander in the Southwestern Front."
Yegorov: "Same difference. I think you should go find Pavlov and get equipment for these people. Then we can start teaching them how to shoot. That way, at least when the fighting starts, they can fire into the air for morale."
Wang Zhong: "I was just about to go find Pavlov. I'll leave these rookies to you guys."
****
Wang Zhong found Pavlov in the empty map room of the headquarters, directing two cadets assigned to him to update the map.
"Did you see the... replacements outside?"
Pavlov glanced out the window: "I see them now."
He seemed to be trying to avoid reality.
Wang Zhong: "These people need guns, ammo, and uniforms."
Pavlov: "There's a legend that a witch lives outside Agsukov. She can grant any wish if you offer her a part of your body. You should try it."
Wang Zhong thought, since there are God-guided missiles, a witch like that doesn't seem too far-fetched, so he replied, "Alright, where can I find her?"
Pavlov immediately rolled his eyes in frustration: "I'm being sarcastic! Do you understand sarcasm? There's no such witch, and I'm not a magician!"
Trembling, he took off his round glasses and slammed his pencil on the map: "I'm furious! Where are my staff officers? My clerks? My accountants? Do you even know a division HQ needs hundreds of personnel to function properly?"
"No, you don't! All you do is drive your little tank around the battlefield beating up Prossenians!"
"I came to Agsukov because there are so many support personnel here*I thought I could finally have a properly functioning HQ! And now, I still have to personally direct map updates!"
Ant language usually sounds soft, but because of Pavlov's tone, Wang Zhong felt like he was hearing Prossenian*Prossenian is full of plosive sounds, so normal speech always sounds like arguing.
Wang Zhong was overwhelmed and instinctively said, "Uh... sorry, please calm down..."
Just then, the sound of brakes came from outside*it seemed a car had stopped in front of HQ.
But from where he stood, he couldn't see the vehicle.
Pavlov glanced out the window and asked suspiciously, "What now? Why are there so many girls?"
"Girls?" Wang Zhong suddenly perked up and walked to the window to look outside.
Sure enough, a lot of girls were getting off the trucks, curiously looking around the HQ.
They saw the red flag flying at HQ*yes, the same one Wang Zhong had hung on Vehicle 422's antenna earlier.
"This is the place, right?"
"Yes, the red flag."
Wang Zhong and the Chief of Staff exchanged confused glances.
Wang Zhong: "Forget it, let's go ask them."
He headed out first, and Pavlov followed immediately.
Once they reached the door, Wang Zhong raised his voice: "Ladies, what brings you here?"
The girls, who had been curiously looking around, all turned to Wang Zhong.
One of them bravely asked, "Are you Major General Rokosov?"
Wang Zhong: "Though I haven't had time to change into my Major General insignia, yes, that's me. And you are?"
"We're typists and clerks. The church's recruitment office sent us, saying we were needed here."
Wang Zhong immediately turned to Pavlov: "Your clerks are here!"
The Chief of Staff frowned: "Why are they all women?"
The same girl replied, "Because all the men are out fighting."
Makes perfect sense!
Pavlov scratched his head: "Alright, anyone with storeroom inventory experience, stand over here. Anyone who studied accounting, stand here..."
"I'm a student at Agsukov University," one girl raised her hand. "A few of us are. We don't have much experience, but we can learn. We're pretty good at it."
Pavlov nodded: "Hmm, good. That's the best news I've heard all morning."
Wang Zhong felt like this guy suddenly looked a lot younger, and the anxiety that had been clinging to him seemed to ease.
Pavlov: "I'll assign you all to your tasks..."
Just then, two more GAZ trucks pulled up and stopped in front of HQ.
This time, older men got off.
A bearded man was the first to step up the stairs and salute Wang Zhong with an awkward gesture: "Greetings, General, sir. Is this the HQ of the 151st Temporary Infantry Division?"
Wang Zhong: "Yes, and you are?"
"Ah, I'm the academic affairs officer from Agsukov University. The university has been evacuated*only the professors and enrolled students were sent to the rear. We stayed behind to serve the nation."
Wang Zhong raised an eyebrow: "You... you're a level-six clerk?"
"Formally, I'm an Imperial Grade Six Civil Official. Yes, that's my rank. Why?"
Wang Zhong excitedly pointed at the old man and said to Pavlov: "Your level-six clerk is here!"
Pavlov frowned as he examined the old man: "Sir, we're a field unit."
"Is that so? But if these ladies can serve in a field unit, I think I can too," the old academic officer said.
Wang Zhong: "Come on, Pavlov, my Chief of Staff. You've got people now*hurry and get me uniforms and gear for the recruits! If we hand out equipment this morning, we can start teaching them to shoot by the afternoon. Time's tight!"
Pavlov: "Even with people, I can't magically conjure up equipment that fast.
"Instead of pestering me, why don't you go rob*request some from the local supply depot. If you do, remember to ask for some GAZ trucks. Without them, mules and wagons will do.
"Also, we need civilian laborers*two per combatant. Got it?"
Wang Zhong nodded: "Got it! Huh? Wait, I'm your superior! Why are you ordering me around?"
"I'm merely making suggestions. A Chief of Staff's job is to advise*the commander decides whether to follow them. But I also have to let you know the consequences of ignoring them..."
Another truck pulled up in front of HQ, and a group of lieutenants with staff armbands got off.
"Red flag," Wang Zhong heard someone say, "this is the place."
Wang Zhong said to Pavlov: "Now you've got people, so stop taking it out on me! I'm off to the supply depot to rob*request supplies!"
(End of Chapter)