Chapter 116
Jule 914, early morning of July 23rd.
Senior officers of the 151st Temporary Infantry Division gathered at the division headquarters entrance to see off the first departing vanguard unit.
This unit's primary task was to requisition houses in Olga, prepare accommodations for the arriving troops, and coordinate with the local church and municipal authorities.
Wang Zhong reminded Popov, who was leading the team: "Make sure to establish good relations with the church! We only have a little over ten thousand non-combatants, that won't be enough. My defense plan needs a lot of laborers*have the church organize enough of them!"
Wang Zhong had already realized that mobilizing the lower classes in the Ante Empire relied on the church, which had already penetrated every corner of the empire through discount food shops and various service organizations.
By comparison, the imperial nobles were truly unreliable.
Popov: "You're planning to implement that kind of tank emplacement? That sure will need a lot of laborers."
After all, the tank emplacements Wang Zhong wanted to dig could fit an entire tank inside*the amount of earthwork was no small feat.
Wang Zhong: "We're counting on you. With only this few tanks, we need this setup to hold off an entire armored cluster."
Popov gave a thumbs-up: "Got it, leave it to me."
After saying that, he made a gesture to the driver: "Move out!"
Thus, the vanguard unit*five jeeps and trucks in total*set off.
The last truck was loaded with a large pile of wooden signs, all to be used for directions along the road.
Wang Zhong watched them disappear into the distance, then turned to see the troops preparing to depart.
A major troop movement wasn't like the small vanguard unit of five vehicles*it required organizing marching order, distributing movement maps, assigning personnel at intersections where it was easy to take wrong turns, forming small squads to help stragglers on the road, and so on and so on.
Moreover, the armored units this time were moving on tracks, and there was a chance that vehicles would break down en route, so truck-mounted mobile repair teams were needed.
In short, ensuring that a large division like the 151st, counted as a reinforced division by Ante standards, could advance a hundred kilometers into an unfamiliar city was truly a technical undertaking.
This job was a real test of Chief of Staff Pavlov and the division headquarters under his command.
Wang Zhong, as the division commander, could instead take a hands-off approach*once the troops set out, his job was to ride Bucephalus through the marching column to boost morale.
Thinking of Bucephalus, Wang Zhong decided to visit the stable to see his beloved horse.
****
The 151st Temporary Infantry Division's designation didn't include the term "mechanized," so its logistics were relatively flexible, with both trucks and pack animals available.
But if "mechanized" were added, making it a mechanized infantry division, then under the current rigid doctrines of the Ante Empire, the entire division's supply would have to rely solely on trucks*because you're a mechanized unit!
For the Ante Empire, whose overall industry was still quite weak, this would be a disaster*there simply wouldn't be enough trucks.
Currently, the 151st Division had about 4,000 mules and nearly the same number of wagons. There were 3,000 drivers, and several hundred logistics personnel responsible for caring for the animals, such as veterinarians and blacksmiths who shod the animals.
The stable was bustling and packed with horses. Fortunately, the Duke bred horses himself, so the stable was large*otherwise, the horses would have had to sleep outdoors at night.
Seeing Wang Zhong enter, Bucephalus became excited*it probably sensed the atmosphere of departure, constantly lifting its hooves and forcefully pushing against the stall.
While stroking the base of the horse's neck, Wang Zhong gently said: "Easy there, today you'll get to run to your heart's content*we've got a hundred kilometers to go! Two days!"
Another issue with marching was the matter of camping overnight. That was a huge hassle. Just thinking about it, Wang Zhong felt a bit sympathetic toward Pavlov*he wondered if the reinforcements of staff officers and clerks were enough.
In any case, Wang Zhong had decided to be a hands-off commander*oh wait, that's called "leaving professional matters to professionals."
At that moment, under Wang Zhong's strokes, Bucephalus calmed down, then grabbed Wang Zhong's peaked cap with its teeth and tossed it aside, then started nibbling on Wang Zhong's hair.
What the hell is wrong with this horse?
Previously, I hadn't washed my hair for a long time due to combat, so maybe there was some smell horses liked. But now my hair has been washed by Lyudmila*it only has the scent of perfume! After washing, Lyudmila even styled it with hair wax!
Do horses like perfume and hair wax?
Just as Wang Zhong thought that, Bucephalus suddenly shook its head, spat on the ground twice, and backed away from his hair.
Haha! Tasted the perfume and hair wax, didn't you? Serves you right!
Wang Zhong bent down, picked up his peaked cap, dusted it off, and put it back on. Just then, the air raid siren sounded.
"So they're finally bombing Agsukov..." Wang Zhong muttered, taking three steps out of the stable and looking up at the sky.
Switching to a bird's-eye view, one could clearly see about thirty bombers and roughly the same number of escort fighters.
Judging by the direction the formation was flying, Wang Zhong deduced the bombers' targets were again the train station, the engine repair station, and the dispatch station. They clearly hoped to cripple the Ante army's will to resist by striking its logistics and transport.
Unfortunately, on such a vast land as Ante, relying solely on the air force to completely cut off rail transport was nearly impossible.
In such a vast space, a Prossenian attack aircraft might finally find a train, attack it, record the results, and then look at the fuel gauge*uh-oh!
While Wang Zhong was pondering and watching the sky, a messenger came galloping toward him on horseback, shouting from afar: "General Rokosov! The Chief of Staff told me to notify you*it's time to depart!"
At that moment, the sound of enemy bombs hitting the ground came from afar.
Wang Zhong: "We're departing already? No oath ceremony or anything?"
The messenger looked baffled: "What oath ceremony?"
Well then, apparently they didn't have that tradition here.
He had thought that since they had real "divine power" here, there would be some splendidly dressed archbishop performing a mass before they set out to slay heretics or something.
Then a sister would chant imperial scriptures while purifying all heresy with flame.
Wang Zhong collected his thoughts and said to the messenger: "I'll head over right away."
The messenger saluted, turned his horse around, and left*the special nature of messengers allowed them to ignore some military formalities, like dismounting before saluting superiors on foot.
After watching the messenger leave, Wang Zhong looked back at his old partner and suddenly had an idea: "How about I saddle you up myself this time?"
Bucephalus immediately shook its head vigorously, clearly expressing refusal. It clearly knew Wang Zhong had no idea how to saddle a horse and would mess it up if he tried.
Wang Zhong: "Alright, alright. Grigori! You saddle him up!"
Hearing Grigori's name, Bucephalus calmed down.
Grigori stepped forward: "General, saddling a horse is actually quite easy*I can teach you."
Wang Zhong: "Alright, alright, teach me quickly."
****
At 1210 hours on July 23rd, Jule 914, Wang Zhong rode Bucephalus and set out with his troops from the temporary base of the 151st Division.
Count Rokosov stood at the estate gate with several maids to see them off*most of the maids had already been sent to the rear. The Duke had another estate far east of the Raul Mountains, and the maids had been sent there for agricultural labor.
As he passed the Grand Duke, Wang Zhong saluted him.
The old man happily returned the salute, then made a "victory sign"*a creation of the United Kingdom's war chancellor in this world.
Wang Zhong smiled too and made the same "victory sign."
Later, after walking a long way, he looked back and could still see the Grand Duke standing at the gate, gazing in his direction.
Finally, Wang Zhong and Bucephalus rounded a corner*the estate's iron gate and the old father standing at the entrance were now out of sight.
But someone up ahead was calling out to him: "Alyosha!"
Wang Zhong turned and saw the Crown Prince standing on a ridiculously luxurious imported sports car, cupping his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and shouting: "Alyosha! Safe travels!"
To be honest, though the Crown Prince was a playboy, he truly treated his brothers well. So Wang Zhong shouted back: "Take care, Your Highness!"
He thought about it and felt that wasn't clear enough, so he spelled it out: "Hurry back to Saint Yekaterinburg!"
Crown Prince: "Why are you fighting while I'm told to go back to Yekaterinburg?! No! I was appointed by Father to oversee the military!"
Wang Zhong: "Your Highness!"
This place would soon be surrounded*that kind of comment, which might shake morale, Wang Zhong couldn't bring himself to say. At least not in public.
While he hesitated, the Crown Prince shouted: "This is for you!"
As he spoke, the Crown Prince threw something toward Wang Zhong. It gleamed gold in the sunlight.
Wang Zhong barely caught it and realized it was the signet ring he had used once before. Red ink still lingered in the crevice on the ring's face.
Wang Zhong: "I can't take this!"
"Take care of Olga!" the Crown Prince shouted back nonsensically.
While Wang Zhong was still pondering those words, he noticed the Crown Prince had stopped waving. He stood on the rear seat of the luxury car, looking both lonely and resolute.
The summer sunlight shone down from above his head.
Originally, this chapter was going to be called "Farewell," but after some thought, let's name it "Departure" instead.
(End of Chapter)