Chapter 118
Jule 914, July 24th, 1845 hours.
Wang Zhong spotted the town of Olachi through his binoculars.
There were mountains near Olachi. Although not very high in elevation, they were indeed mountains. The military map marked them as Hill 153.
Even though Wang Zhong had never taken formal military theory classes, standing atop the hill and surveying the surroundings, he decided that this was where the final defensive position should be built.
If they couldn't stop the enemy from approaching Olachi, they would carry out their final sniper operations on this hill.
This mountain happened to be 153 meters above sea level*not particularly low*and building fortifications on the reverse slope to withstand shelling would barely suffice.
Wang Zhong turned his head to look directly east of the hill. Aside from the highway they had used to arrive, there was a vast plain to the east that could allow troops to pass.
But if the hill was occupied, enemy artillery observers would turn the entire eastern area into a kill zone. Even if they could still escape, it would cost dearly.
Hill 153 absolutely could not be lost.
Just as Wang Zhong was thinking this, Popov arrived at the base of the hill with Lieutenant Colonel Eugene and a lieutenant engineer from the Fifth Beshensk Regiment, then dismounted and walked up.
Wang Zhong immediately asked, "Where are the laborers?"
"Don't worry," said Popov. "As soon as we arrived yesterday, we had the local church requisition laborers. Five thousand laborers, including women, are now assembled."
Wang Zhong frowned. "Only that many?"
At that moment, the engineer from the Fifth Beshensk Regiment spoke up: "We didn't count the older women and elderly, otherwise there'd be more. These 5,000 are women and children under the mobilization age."
Wang Zhong thought for a moment and said, "Count the elderly too. The enemy is strong, we need a lot of fortifications. Let the elderly handle lighter tasks, like laying camouflage nets."
The engineer nodded.
Popov asked, "You plan to set up a defensive position here?"
"No, this is the final line of defense. Here, I need to build an artillery observation post, extend a phone line to my forward command, and construct emplacements that can accommodate two tank platoons. Finally, we'll dig simple anti-artillery shelters on the reverse slope."
Wang Zhong had already directed the engineers under his division to construct two tank emplacements at the Rokosov estate, giving them full understanding of his 'design' philosophy.
Now, as long as the engineers directed the laborers, the emplacements could be built.
The engineer asked, "What about trenches?"
Wang Zhong replied, "Finish the tank emplacements first. The trenches can be dug by the young men of the 31st Guards Infantry Regiment themselves."
After all, the 31st Guards Infantry Regiment still had a few hundred former warrant officer cadets. Digging simple foxholes with engineer shovels wouldn't be a problem for them.
At that moment, Lieutenant Colonel Eugene asked, "So we're going to make a last stand here?"
"No," Wang Zhong replied immediately. "This is the last position. If things go smoothly, we won't need these fortifications, just the artillery observation post."
This hill had excellent visibility. With an observation post here, the artillery could control most of the plain in front.
Popov asked, "So what's your plan?"
Wang Zhong said, "I want to push the defensive line forward and ambush the enemy. If the military map is accurate, there should be several suitable ambush spots here. It's too late to complete reconnaissance today."
"Tomorrow I'll thoroughly survey the terrain and locate enough ambush positions. Until then, arm the hill*don't waste the labor force."
After speaking, Wang Zhong picked up his binoculars again.
From a top-down view, there was one inconvenience*he couldn't determine the exact field of vision at each point.
In games like 'Wargame: Red Dragon,' 'Steel Division,' or 'Warno,' pressing a hotkey would show the line of sight at the mouse pointer, making it easy to choose anti-tank gun positions and tank defenses.
But Wang Zhong's cheat had no such function. He had to survey the terrain himself*just like a real commander.
Wang Zhong had read many autobiographies and memoirs from WWII veterans. Many old soldiers liked to personally scout. The famous "Tiger King" Otto Carius loved speeding along the frontlines on motorcycles, sometimes even sneaking close to enemy positions.
He was later wounded while scouting on a motorcycle and accidentally charged into a village held by the enemy, getting caught off guard.
Now Wang Zhong planned to do the same*carefully recon the battlefield, determine the firing arcs for each location, then personally pick ambush sites, dig emplacements, and give the enemy a nasty surprise.
Unfortunately, only two hours remained before nightfall, and scouting in the dark might cause problems.
He'd have to wait until morning to begin.
But construction could start overnight.
Just then, Wang Zhong heard singing behind him. Turning around, he saw the 31st Guards Infantry Regiment marching along the main road, singing as they advanced.
The regimental flag, personally assigned by Wang Zhong, was held aloft by the flag bearer Zakayev, flying proudly at the front of the formation.
The 31st Regiment's two columns occupied only the sides of the road. In the center, the 152mm heavy guns of the 155th Artillery Regiment were being pulled by pack horses through the infantry ranks.
Each cannon was followed by an ammo truck and a personnel vehicle, along with many spare horses.
The regiment had hundreds of dedicated mule handlers just for the horses. They had to feed them, groom them, repair saddles, and most importantly*shoe them.
Watching the scene, Wang Zhong suddenly felt the enemy wasn't so scary after all, because his own troops carried the spirit of Huang Wei's corps from the movie 'The Final Decisive Battle.'
Of course, this applied only to the 31st Guards Infantry Regiment.
And the horses of the 155th Artillery Regiment performed well too*full of spirit!
The 31st Regiment had arrived, so Yegorov should be coming soon too*just as Wang Zhong thought that, a jeep drove up, and Yegorov leaped out and dashed up the hill in three big strides.
"This hill is great!" Yegorov blurted out the moment he reached the top. "Let the 31st Regiment defend this place!"
Wang Zhong said, "No, I'm only planning to place an artillery observation post here, along with one battalion of reserve forces. I need the 31st Regiment to cover the tanks and anti-tank gun units and ambush the enemy."
Yegorov said, "Ah, right, you mentioned ambushes. Using those emplacements you came up with to catch the enemy off guard! But that only works once!"
Wang Zhong smiled. "Who said that? We'll build more emplacements, spread across multiple ambush sites. Every ambush will be in a different location."
"That way, not only can we surprise the enemy, but we'll also drain their heavy artillery shells and smoke grenades."
Wang Zhong could already imagine how the enemy would respond after getting badly hit the first time: heavy artillery covering the exposed ambush sites, then smoke grenades everywhere, followed by a full-on armored assault.
He planned to turn their plan against them.
Yegorov laughed, "I've seen you command armored units*I'm not worried. No wait, as long as you don't get yourself captured, I'm not worried."
Lieutenant Colonel Eugene was shocked. "What? Captured? Is the Major General planning to charge personally?"
Yegorov said, "Oh, he charges like a madman. The first time he charged, he had a fever. After the assault, he collapsed from the tank and nearly got a concussion. Luckily everyone rushed up to catch him."
Lieutenant Colonel Eugene looked bewildered, clearly unable to imagine the scene.
Popov added, "He also personally commanded a tank that killed the commander of the enemy's 15th Armored Division."
"Killed?" Eugene asked in confusion.
"Ah, poor phrasing*eliminated."
Lieutenant Colonel Eugene: "Is it the kind of 'eliminated' I'm thinking of?"
Yegorov laughed, "What else could it be?"
Lieutenant Colonel Eugene: "Impressive... but I heard people say it was because the T34 tank was good?"
Yegorov: "You're missing the point. He charged just as fiercely when commanding BT-7s and T28s, and achieved great results."
Wang Zhong finally couldn't take all the praise and interrupted Yegorov, "Let's get back to the point."
Yegorov nodded repeatedly, "Got it, got it. Lieutenant Colonel Eugene, mine boss, let's have a drink tonight and I'll tell you all about it*off the record!"
Wang Zhong thought to himself that maybe Yegorov had spent too much time with Vasily and was becoming talkative too.
Yegorov turned his gaze toward the northeast and raised his binoculars to examine the area carefully.
"Wait," he said, maintaining his pose. "Are you sure you'll only place one battalion here? What if the enemy bypasses our ambushes and heads straight for this hill?"
Wang Zhong pointed at the tree line. "We'll set up firepoints there to create crossfire with the hill. If the enemy doesn't break through our northern woods and clear the defenses inside, they won't dare attack Hill 153 under our feet."
Yegorov said, "What if they use smoke? Fill the whole plain with it and charge through!"
Wang Zhong replied, "That's why we need to exhaust their smoke grenades in the earlier ambushes. If they flank us from the north, their supply lines will be even more strained, and they won't replenish their smoke grenades quickly enough."
"Fair point." Yegorov nodded. "But this is a risky move. If the enemy takes Hill 153, they'll see all our movements between the hedgerows. Your troop deployment in the woods will be completely exposed."
Popov said, "Even if we hold the hill, enemy aerial recon is deadly."
Wang Zhong said, "That's exactly why we choose woods for our defensive positions. If enemy planes can't see us, one huge threat is removed."
Popov asked, "Then... where are you planning to use the Divine Arrow company?"
Wang Zhong replied, "Still for anti-air. We have enough anti-tank firepower for now, but relying on just one battalion's worth of 72K guns for anti-air is obviously not enough."
As they spoke, another jeep pulled up on the reverse slope of Hill 153. Pavlov struggled out of the truck bed and climbed up the hill. "What's this, a little meeting?"
Wang Zhong said, "Admiring our army's majestic entrance."
Pavlov snorted, "Looks mighty impressive, but according to preliminary reports, nearly twenty percent of the troops fell behind. Especially the Fifth Beshensk Regiment*not only did they straggle, but about a hundred even seemed like they wanted to desert. They were caught by the Inquisitors."
Lieutenant Colonel Eugene looked embarrassed. "Mainly because we have too few veterans. All our officers were civil officials like me. The soldiers don't trust us*it's understandable. If we had more professional officers, they wouldn't run. Should I go talk to the Inquisitors?"
Pavlov said, "Forget it. Once they're caught by the Tribunal, they usually don't come back. Your task tonight is to restore the units as much as possible and stuff those who didn't fall behind on purpose back into their companies."
"I'll do my best," Lieutenant Colonel Eugene said seriously.
Wang Zhong couldn't help but say, "Don't you manage a mine with over a thousand workers? Just treat them like miners*train them the same way!"
Eugene grimaced. "They're armed."
Yegorov said, "That's simple too. Just be brave once in battle and they'll respect you. Speaking from experience."
"Spare me," Pavlov said. "One senior officer charging on the front lines is enough for our division*we already have the commander!"
(End of Chapter)