Chapter 109
Just as Wang Zhong was about to leave headquarters, he saw from afar that the 31st Guards Infantry Regiment and the remnants of the Fifth Beshensk Regiment were gathering, while the armored units were crowding around to watch the commotion.
So Wang Zhong decided to go over and watch too.
He couldn't help it*he had never commanded so many troops before. Right now, he felt a bit like playing a simulation management game, strolling around his territory with satisfaction after a long effort**that was probably how it felt.
By the time he reached the edge of the drill ground, the remaining infantry of the Rokosov Battle Group had already assembled, standing opposite the newly arrived Protectorate Army.
Popov stood between the two groups, holding a metal megaphone and shouting, "These in front of you are the remaining infantry of the Rokosov Battle Group*they will be your instructors. For now, you will train according to your current unit assignments!"
"After all, division command doesn't have the time to compile a new roster yet. We don't know who will be reassigned to which company, so we'll just train like this for now."
"If you go to the front line now, you'll quickly become fertilizer! You're completely useless! The instructors will teach you basic tactical maneuvers and fundamental skills!"
Wang Zhong thought to himself, So they're being made into instructors. Come to think of it, that's actually not a bad idea. First of all, if the troops are just being split up to act as instructors, then there's no need to compile a new roster**Pavlov's division command is still busy absorbing new members*it might be a few days before they can get to that task.
Secondly, an instructor only needs one gun to demonstrate all the operations. With five guns, the rookies can take turns practicing. It puts less strain on supplies.
Just goes to show that Popov has experience.
Popov began assigning instructors to each Protectorate Army platoon using the roster.
At that moment, the surrounding tank crews who were spectating noticed Wang Zhong and hastily straightened their uniforms and formed ranks.
Wang Zhong waved his hand: "Alright, there's no need to line up every time you see me."
As everyone relaxed, Alexander Yefimovich, the gunner of Vehicle 422, asked, "We heard you got promoted to Major General. Why are you still wearing Brigadier General insignia?"
Wang Zhong: "Haven't had time to change. You all know I don't have any orderlies right now*I still have to go back to the dorm and change myself."
Alexander asked again, "I heard the new unit you're commanding is an infantry division. So what about us? You're not planning to hand us over to some other general, are you? Let me be clear*the Crown Prince ordered us to stay with you. Even if you hand over other troops, you shouldn't hand us over."
"I heard that in Prossenian units, division command has a tank platoon. I think we could learn from the enemy's advanced practices."
The other crew members got anxious:
"One platoon isn't enough!"
"Yeah, yeah*an armored company is the minimum we need to be effective against the enemy!"
"Don't abandon us, General!"
Wang Zhong: "You don't need to worry*no one's taking my troops away from me! No one! I, Alexei, only take in, never let go! Not only are you staying*I'm definitely going to organize an armored battalion too."
An infantry division having an armored battalion is perfectly normal, right? If this were a game, mixing an armored battalion into an infantry division would give all sorts of bonuses!
The tank crews looked much more reassured.
"That's good. Other generals would just send us to our deaths."
"Exactly. The generals above us only know how to order us to 'attack'*they don't know anything else. I feel like they don't even understand how to deploy armored units."
"Right! Our original 23rd Tank Corps*the entire corps is gone, and we didn't even get any decent results. One ambush from the General got better results than our whole corps combined."
Wang Zhong frowned: "Seriously? The 23rd Corps didn't get any results?"
Several tank crew members who had transferred from the 23rd Corps' BT tanks shook their heads together: "Most of them were wiped out by the Prossenian air force. When we finally encountered enemy armor, we were destroyed at ranges over 1,000 meters. We couldn't even get close."
Wang Zhong sighed. Although the BT series tanks were technically outdated compared to the enemy's Type 3 and Type 4 tanks, it was still heartbreaking to hear that an entire tank corps had been wiped out just like that.
Just let me command them*at least I could get some results**that's what he was thinking.
At that moment, a former tank crew from the 23rd Corps said, "Please request more tank forces. At least they'll be more effective under your command! They won't die in vain!"
The other tank crew members all agreed: "Yeah! General!"
Wang Zhong couldn't take any more of their flattery and waved his hand as he fled.
He still had a realistic sense of his own capabilities. Maybe one day in the future, he'd be able to accept such praise without flinching.
But right now, Wang Zhong didn't dare. He felt ashamed*it was too much for him.
****
When Wang Zhong returned to the suite in the east wing of the estate, Lyudmila had already ironed his new general's uniform and even sprayed it with lavender essence.
Wang Zhong frowned and said, "I'm a general*lavender scent doesn't really suit me, does it?"
Lyudmila: "You don't get it. When you smoke, the smell of the smoke mixed with this essence will smell amazing. It's a little trick my father taught me personally."
Wang Zhong: "When did he teach you that?"
"Before we went to Saint Yekaterinburg. He figured I'd definitely meet some men over there and needed to know these things. Too bad I never got to use it."
Wang Zhong let out an "Oh."
"Come here!" Lyudmila said in a tone that brooked no refusal as she picked up the coat.
Wang Zhong had no choice but to go over and let his fiancée fuss over him.
About fifteen minutes later, he was standing in front of the uniform mirror in his brand-new uniform.
Lyudmila: "Too few medals. Look at the other generals*they at least have some ribbons. You look so plain!"
She gestured at Wang Zhong's chest.
Wang Zhong shrugged: "I don't fight wars for medals."
"I know." Lyudmila gently kissed Wang Zhong on the cheek. "Alright! Now you can go do your work!"
Wang Zhong: "Grigori!"
His bodyguard immediately entered, still carrying that captured Prossenian submachine gun**he really seemed to like that weapon.
Wang Zhong: "Get the jeep ready*we're going to the supply depot headquarters."
Grigori clicked his heels together in lieu of a salute and closed the door as he left.
Lyudmila: "Didn't Dad say he'd help you reassign troops?"
Wang Zhong: "You're already calling him Dad? Isn't that a bit fast?"
Lyudmila: "Fine then. Didn't Uncle Konstantin say he'd help reassign your troops?"
Wang Zhong: "The old man's retired*his reassignments might not be that practical."
At that moment, the Crown Prince's voice came from outside the door: "Alyosha, my friend!"
Wang Zhong turned and stepped out, seeing the Crown Prince in the corridor. "Your Highness, good morning. How did you sleep?"
The Crown Prince gave a thumbs-up: "Too bad you weren't there*it was missing a bit of flair!"
So my role in the Crown Prince's group was to provide flair?
The Crown Prince: "Let's go to the salon today. I heard Madame Catherine is hosting one this afternoon*all the girls in the city will be there!"
Wang Zhong: "No, I'm a commander. I need to go fight for supplies and equipment for my troops."
"Ahahahaha!" The Crown Prince laughed. "You're a commander! Hmm? You're really a commander now? Shouldn't you be managing a warehouse? You did talk back to General Skorobog yesterday!"
Wang Zhong: "Look at my stars*two beans."
The Crown Prince blinked: "Is that real? Damn, they really are five-pointed stars! From a distance, I thought they were just star-shaped designs*like the fake ranks. That means you really should go to Madame Catherine's salon. War hero! The girls will swoon for you!"
Honestly, Wang Zhong was kind of curious to see what that swooning looked like*but getting equipment was more urgent.
Wang Zhong: "So, sorry, Your Highness. I have work to do."
The Crown Prince stepped back and looked Wang Zhong up and down: "What's going on with you? This isn't like you!"
Wang Zhong: "I got hit by the 381mm guns of an enemy battleship. Over a hundred people in the church*all dead except Sergei and me. So my brain's a little messed up."
The Crown Prince shook his head: "I went to see Sergei*he seemed totally fine! He even said that you pissed yourself in battle and begged him to swap pants!"
**F*ck me. Can I go have Sergei executed?
Lyudmila looked off to the side.
Wang Zhong: "Which hospital is Sergei staying at?"
The Crown Prince: "He's staying at Duke Vladimir's house."
Wang Zhong remembered*Sergei Nikolaevich Romanov was the Duchess's lover. Now that the Duchess was a widow, it made sense she brought him home.
The Crown Prince: "Want to visit him? The Duchess really wants to meet the man who survived that disaster too. She's hosting a ball tonight..."
Wang Zhong: "No, I don't have time. Besides equipment, I have other places to be*today's a busy day."
Today, he had another job*being a mailman.
Agsukov, 43 Krugen Street, Alekseyevna*deliver a letter to this old woman**probably an old woman.
The Crown Prince shook his head: "You've changed. You're not Alyosha. Who are you?"
Lyudmila stepped forward: "Who else could he be? He's Alyosha!"
The Crown Prince suddenly grew a little hysterical: "How could that be?! Alyosha was a playboy just like me! We were supposed to live in debauchery together! I can't accept this outstanding soldier! I can't accept it!"
Seeing that the Crown Prince was about to break down, Wang Zhong quickly comforted him: "Your Highness, look*when you graduated from military school, your scores were higher than mine. If I can do this, so can you. There's no need to doubt yourself!"
The Crown Prince didn't respond. After a few seconds of silence, he turned and walked away: "I'll tell Madame Catherine that the war hero is busy and doesn't want to show his face. Go do your work."
Wang Zhong: "Your Highness, could I borrow your seal or something?"
The Crown Prince stopped and looked back at Wang Zhong: "What?"
Wang Zhong: "Your seal! Look, Her Highness the Grand Princess used your seal to give me tanks and heavy artillery, didn't she? So... can I use the seal too?"
Lyudmila frantically tugged at Wang Zhong's sleeve.
The Crown Prince laughed: "Ah, I see now*you're in cahoots with her! How did I not notice before? Fine, take it!"
With that, the Crown Prince took off his signet ring, which had his personal seal on the front, and tossed it to Wang Zhong.
Wang Zhong caught the ring and saluted the junior officer that was the Crown Prince: "Salute to you, Your Highness!"
"Oh please!" The Crown Prince waved and turned to leave.
(End of Chapter)