Chapter 93
On the enemy's side.
Major Franz of the 24th Armored Grenadier Division arrived early in the morning at Kalinnovka, where he saw the corpse of Major General Randolph, already somewhat swollen after a day, in the simple chapel set up by the regimental bishop.
"Poor Randolph," Franz slightly raised his head after a moment of silence, looking at Randolph's face, "I know he wanted to emulate that young Elvin who always charged at the front lines during the Carolingian Campaign, so he pushed the headquarters very close to the front line."
The Chief of Staff of the 15th Armored Division said: "My condolences. I heard you and the division commander were classmates at the military academy."
"I was three years ahead of him." Franz stopped there, not continuing about the past, and instead shifted the topic to today's battle, "I received a report*our troops are delayed by mines?"
Chief of Staff of the 15th Armored Division: "Yes, mines suddenly appeared just five kilometers from the city. They must have been laid last night."
Major Franz: "You didn't leave any units to monitor the enemy, which caused this problem. What*got scared by the enemy's new tanks?"
The Chief of Staff immediately looked flustered: "Uh..."
Major Franz: "I heard it was a special white-painted Type 34 tank?"
"No, I remember it wasn't. The color was just the standard Ant Army camouflage," the Chief of Staff raised his right hand, drawing circles in the air with his index finger as he recalled the scene, "The tactical number was 422, and next to the number was a white horse. Also, there was a dirty and tattered flag on the radio antenna."
"A dirty and tattered flag?" Major Franz repeated, "Is that a literal description or does it have a special meaning?"
Chief of Staff: "Literal. It was the flag of the Ante Empire, made filthy with lots of bloodstains on it."
Major Franz slapped his palm with a riding crop**many Junker noble officers carry a crop even without riding horses, as a substitute for a gentleman's cane.
It's said Junker nobles use this to distinguish themselves from the emerging industrial bourgeoisie.
Major Franz, still slapping his palm, muttered: "Bloodstains, a filthy flag... Tattered and dirty flags on tanks are understandable, but where did the blood come from? Do tanks bleed too?"
The Chief of Staff could only shake his head.
After thinking for a moment, Major Franz decided to let it go: "You got scared by the tank, retreated in panic to Kalinnovka, and didn't even leave units to monitor the enemy, letting them re-lay mines. You'll be held accountable afterward."
As he spoke, Franz made a gesture, and his adjutant immediately handed over a white flower.
Franz tossed the white flower into Randolph's coffin, then turned and walked out.
To the right of the chapel was the current headquarters of the 15th Armored Division, with a small door directly connecting it.
Franz entered the small door, came to the map, and tapped it with his riding crop: "Loktov! Now defended by the so-called White Horse General, whose reputation is soaring."
"This White Horse General had never appeared in any of our interactions with the Ant Army before, yet he's dealt our forces repeated heavy blows!"
"Intelligence can't even find his university ranking. Among the top hundred graduates from the Suvorov Military Academy in the past fifteen years, there's no such name! Has our elite officer corps been defeated by an underachiever?"
"It's absurd! As laughable as a Corporal ruling the entire Prossen Empire!"
After speaking, Major Franz struck the map a few more times with his riding crop.
All the staff officers in the map room, regardless of whether they were from the 15th Armored or the 24th Armored Grenadiers, remained silent with solemn expressions.
Major Franz sighed: "Next, our mission is to eliminate this so-called White Horse General and crush the Ante Empire's will to resist! Just like we must swiftly capture their capital, Saint Yekaterinburg!"
"Long live the Empire!" shouted Major Franz's adjutant.
"Long live!" the others quickly echoed.
"Alright!" The Major raised his riding crop, "What's the current progress on mine clearance?"
"The enemy minefield has no fire support. Engineers believe a safe passage will be cleared by 10:30."
Franz: "Good. Until then, continue artillery preparation against Loktov. The artillery shells have been stuck on the road long enough*it's time to use them!"
Previously, due to inadequate preparation for the Ante Empire's road conditions, the Prossenian forces faced traffic jams, and their artillery guns and shells couldn't keep up with the assault vanguard, so the armored units relied on accompanying self-propelled mortars for offensive operations.
But after sixteen days of war, the Prossenian army had captured several railway hubs, and with rail transport, the traffic congestion was finally relieved.
Now, Prossen had plenty of shells.
As soon as Major Franz gave the order, a staff officer went to call the artillery.
The Major continued studying the map, then suddenly struck the 513th Anti-Air Regiment symbol with his crop: "Is the anti-air artillery deployed right now?"
"Yes." The 15th Armored Chief of Staff replied, "Yesterday I had them deployed at a chosen blocking position."
"Too far*it's too far from the front line. Have them move into marching formation. I'll assign deployment positions after I personally scout the front line."
The 15th Armored Chief of Staff was shocked: "You're going to the front line yourself?"
"A competent commander must clearly*clearly understand the front-line terrain! If I were an Army Group commander, I could delegate terrain scouting to the division commanders. But I'm the division commander, and I'm responsible for my troops!"
The Major paused, then added: "Of course, I won't be as hasty and aggressive as Randolph. I'll stay with the division reserve. As for you*tank crews!"
Several armored officers in the room stood at attention, chins proudly raised.
The Prossenian armored uniform was darker than standard units, and their collar insignia had skull emblems instead of rank badges.
The Major: "Your mission today is to advance alone after a path through the minefield is cleared."
"Aren't the armored grenadiers supposed to advance into the city?" one armored Major asked in confusion.
The Major: "No, no. After being delayed by the mines, it's very hard for us to take the city in the morning. But we can try to kill that White Horse General!"
"He destroyed so many of our tanks yesterday. These inferior races get cocky easily! He must think they're invincible now!"
"Your mission is to retreat under smoke cover after losing ten percent of your tanks. The enemy will surely pursue! We'll ambush them right here!"
The Major struck Hill 120 on the map forcefully with his riding crop.
"I'll personally select the launch positions for the anti-air artillery! In Carolingian, we used the 88s to stop the armored counterattack and destroyed many B1 heavy tanks. We will*recreate that glory!"
****
July 8th, 11:30 hours.
The enemy's second artillery preparation finally ended.
The T34 crew members emerged from the bomb shelters and began inspecting their tank.
In heavy bombardment, shockwaves could cause the inner linings of tanks to collapse. Most of the time this doesn't damage the tank's machinery, but it's deadly to personnel inside.
So during shelling, crew members usually leave the tank*only hiding inside when there's no other choice**between two evils, the tank is still safer than lying outside.
The crew of Vehicle 213 inspected the tank while chatting.
Loader Alexei (a common name): "I don't get it*our new tanks absolutely crush the enemy, so why aren't we attacking? Their artillery is at most ten kilometers away*we could reach them in thirty minutes! No, fifteen!"
"Blow up the artillery and we won't get bombarded like this!"
"So many people have died from this shelling!"
The tank commander glared at him: "Watch your mouth! The General has his own plans!"
"What plans? The enemy can't even pierce us! We should be charging! Look, we've got 40 AP shells per tank. Say two shells per enemy tank*we could wipe out 20 of them!"
"We charge in, their 400 tanks are done! Then use HE shells to blow up their hundreds or thousands of trucks*we could relieve Bogdanovka!"
"Alyosha!" the commander raised his voice, "What are you saying! You think you know the enemy better than the General?"
The loader pursed his lips: "Well, he charged in himself. I heard from the mechanic of Vehicle 422*they killed a General! Why didn't he take us too?"
"Because at the time, you were screaming 'I've been hit aaahhh!'" the driver finally couldn't hold back and teased, "Every time the Prossenian shells hit, you start yelling. If I were the General, I wouldn't bring someone like you to charge either."
Loader Alexei defended himself: "I really thought I got hit! Felt like someone punched me in the gut!"
"Oh sure, the enemy's AP round pierced 60mm of sloped armor to hit you. You're also named Alexei, and so is the General*did he suck all your courage away too?"
"I..."
"Shh, the General's coming!"
With that, the commander stood upright on the tank, head held high, watching Vehicle 422 approach from afar.
Unlike standard T34s, the General's command tank had a larger turret and appeared more imposing.
Of course, the most imposing of all was the General himself, upper body out of the turret, one hand on the hatch, eyes forward.
A red flag fluttered in the wind from the tip of the communication antenna behind the General.
The crew of Vehicle 213 held their heads high, saluting the General like soldiers awaiting inspection.
After the General's tank passed, the loader spoke first: "I heard that when the General charges, he sticks his head out of the turret to feel the wind on his face!"
The commander cursed: "You idiot, that's to observe the enemy. Once you become a commander, you'll know*you can't see a damn thing without poking your head out. If I didn't have to aim, I'd stick my head out too!"
"The General doesn't have to aim?" the loader asked.
"His tank's a parade vehicle*Alexander Yefimovich from the Armored Training Corps is the gunner, so the General doesn't need to aim!"
"Oh, I see." The loader nodded, then asked, "Why does the General's tank fly a red flag? Wasn't it just a regular one yesterday?"
The driver laughed: "You've been listening to this and that*how come you don't know the important stuff? Let me tell you, that red flag was specially dyed*it represents every fallen soldier under the General's command."
"The General also said: 'One day, I too shall bleed on the battlefield*my blood will be part of that red flag!'"
The driver mimicked it so vividly, it was as if General Rokosov had actually said it.
"Really!" Loader Alexei looked toward the direction the General had gone. Vehicle 422 was already hidden by the shelter, but the red flag was still clearly visible.
Just then, their platoon leader ran over: "The monk heard enemy tank engines*combat alert! Get into cover!"
Vehicle 213 didn't have a radio*only the platoon command tank had one*so the platoon leader had to run over to inform them.
The commander shouted: "You all heard that! Quickly, pack up the toolbox! Get into position!"
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(End of Chapter)