artillery arc

Chapter 530 The Long Night
October 10, 27, Beachhead No. 0100.

Nellie was sleeping in a trench with two field nurses when she was suddenly awakened by footsteps.

Her first reaction was to check the enemy situation, but then she heard the voice of the old sergeant Malov: "Don't be nervous, the company commander asked me to take a few soldiers to catch the tongue. This weather and time are perfect. Zaitsev! Haven't you always wanted to touch the tongue? Here's your chance!"

Zaitsev appeared in high spirits: "Great! Can I get a medal after touching the tongue?"

"During the civil war, yes. But now, you should think about how to live to win the prize. Let's go."

As he spoke, Malov climbed out of the trench, hunched over and walked quickly, not looking like an elderly man.

Zaitsev immediately followed, asking as he walked: "Is it okay for just the two of us? Shouldn't we bring a few more people?"

"Too many people will make it easier to be discovered. And if we alert the enemy later, it will be easier for the two of us to sneak back. Just keep your mouth shut and follow us."

Nellie lay on the edge of the trench and watched them disappear into the night.

At this time, a nurse woke up and asked quietly: "What's wrong?"

Nellie: "Nothing, they went to catch tongues across the street. Did they wake you up?"

"No, I just had a nightmare." The nurse lowered her head and wiped away her tears with her hands. "I thought what I saw in the hospital was a nightmare for the rest of my life, but today..."

Nellie: "The enemy's attack today is not fierce. If you have a nightmare today, you will never have peace in the future."

The nurse looked at Nellie and said, "You are so good at comforting people."

"I'm just telling you the truth. Even if we can leave this position alive, none of us will be able to sleep peacefully again." Nellie said calmly.

"Have you ever experienced anything like this?"

"In Orachi, I went to the battlefield for the first time," Nellie raised her head and looked at the rainy night sky. "The kind uncle who gave me a little extra meat yesterday fell in a pool of blood today, with his intestines all over the ground. The kind woman was lying on the street, with her grandson who was still breastfeeding next to her. I'm tired of seeing such scenes."

The nurse kept wiping her tears: "Why would humans do such a thing? Why?"

"After you defeat the Prosen, you can question those who started the war," said Nellie.

"That's what I want to ask," the nurse nodded, "That's what I want to ask!"

She changed the subject: "Doesn't Miss Nellie have nightmares?"

"So I couldn't sleep every night during that period. I could only force myself to work continuously and drink coffee to stay awake. The general thought that I was awake every day when he woke up because I was a well-trained maid.

"The general sleeps soundly every night, even though he has seen more bloody and cruel scenes. He never has nightmares and falls asleep immediately. It seems that the whole family is like this."

Nellie paused and looked at the nurse, as if waiting for her to ask a question.

The nurse just sighed: "The general is really awesome, that's why he is the general."

Nellie nodded: "Yes, he is the general."

Nurse: "All these deaths are just numbers to the general, right?"

Nellie: "I don't know. I never asked him what he thought. Maybe the lady knows - no, the lady must know, but the lady is not here."

----

Wang Zhong yawned and stood up: "I'm going to rest."

Pavlov: "Have a good sleep."

Wang Zhong: "I will definitely be able to sleep well. I don't know if I still have a conscience. I sent so many people to the battlefield, but I can still sleep without any burden, even without dreaming."

"It's probably hereditary. Some people are able to sleep peacefully without any burden." Popov said, standing up. "I'm on duty tonight. Pavlov, you should go and rest as well. If both of you fall down, I'll be the only one left to command the troops, and we'll be doomed."

Pavlov thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay, I'll go and rest too. Actually, I haven't been able to sleep well recently. As soon as I close my eyes, I think about the marching plan, troop arrangements, and supply allocation... I've been to the doctor. It was Yegorov's lover who prescribed the medicine for me. Do you know? The female doctor Yegorov found..."

All of Yegorov's family members had passed away, so he and a female doctor supported and warmed each other, which was something that everyone who had escaped from Upper Penier knew.

Wang Zhong: "How about the female doctor? I mean her medical skills."

Pavlov: "I haven't eaten yet. I'll try it tonight. I hope the report format I see this time is correct, so I won't be so angry. Let's go."

Popov: "Slow down, gentlemen of the night shift, this is our home ground now. I hope the Prosen people don't suddenly gain the ability to attack at night."

Wang Zhong and Pavlov walked towards the gate side by side. Yakov and Pavlov's adjutant stepped forward and handed coats and military caps to the two.

There was still a drizzle outside. Because the Proson people had no habit of nighttime air raids, the lights in the hospital across the street were on, and the screams of the people undergoing surgery could be vaguely heard. Wang Zhong: "Why are they screaming so miserably? Are we short of anesthetics?"

"Well, we have more morphine than we can use up. The Allies give it to us as if it's free. But serious surgeries require anesthetics... Mainly because we have to do too many surgeries. You should go see the doctors. They are all so tired that they look like walking corpses."

Because of the lack of universal education and the severe shortage of doctors, Ant wishes all doctors could be converted into trauma surgeons.

It is said that even pediatricians are now treating gunshot wounds on the front lines, and the mortality rate among children in remote areas has increased significantly after becoming ill.

Wang Zhong: “By this time next year, the situation will have been greatly reversed.”

"I thought you were going to say that by this time next year we would have liberated Agsukov."

Wang Zhong smiled and whispered, "Eat your meal one bite at a time, my Pavlov Davarishi."

At this time, a small piece of ice crystal stuck to Wang Zhong's forehead.

He raised his hand in confusion and touched it, but he only touched water that had melted from the ice crystals.

Just when he thought it was an illusion, the second one landed on his forehead.

Pavlov felt it, too.

At this time, they were less than five meters away from their "dormitory", but they stopped together and looked up at the sky.

There was a drizzle of rain mixed with ice crystals, and a cold wind howled along the Valdai River.

Wang Zhong: "What? The cold front is coming so soon? Didn't the weather forecast say there are still ten days left?"

Pavlov: "Perhaps General Dong saw that our situation was too urgent and couldn't help it?"

At this time, Yakov took out his notebook and said, "I have seen the local climate records before. On average, winter comes a little earlier one year every ten years, and the mud ends at the end of October. So this is probably not abnormal climate?"

Wang Zhong opened his mouth wide and looked at the sky: "Damn it! Something bad has happened. The mud has ended early, and the supply to Proson is about to be restored!"

----

"Congratulations, General," said Chief of Staff of the Sixth Army, Plossen, to General von Frederick. "The mud has ended ahead of schedule and we can move again. This muddy period, which lasted less than a week, is a gift from God!"

General von Frederick scolded: "Is it time to be happy now? The mud will end early, and the enemy's transportation will be better. Their tank units scattered behind us will be more convenient and faster to maneuver! (In fact, the tank units responsible for the sabotage battle have been lost, but Frederick's headquarters has not yet grasped this information)"

After the scolding, Frederick changed to a more gentle tone: "Ensure smooth supply, eliminate the impact caused by the Ants, and resume the attack as soon as possible. We still have a week, at most two weeks, before the weather is too cold for everyone to move! We must capture Abawahan as quickly as possible!
"To ensure this is accomplished, the 41st Armored Corps should eliminate the Ante beachhead within a few days!"

The staff officers who had just gathered together to congratulate the admiral hurriedly dispersed and returned to work.

The admiral heaved a sigh of relief, unbuttoned his jacket, and waved to his adjutant: "Give me something to drink."

"How about vodka?"

"No, no wine. I want to stay awake. Have some coffee." Admiral Frederick said in a more gentle tone than before. "Next, we need to ensure the input of follow-up troops. Because of Rokossov's actions, I estimate that if we want to capture Abavahan, we will have to increase the strength of at least two armies."

Chief of Staff: “Isn’t that too conservative?”

"It's better to be conservative. This can prevent the people in the army group headquarters from talking nonsense in the safe headquarters more than a hundred kilometers away." After a brief thought, Admiral Frederick changed his words and said, "The telegram only says three armies. We need an additional three armies to capture Abavahan."

The chief of staff nodded: "Okay, I'll draft the telegram right away."

After saying that, he left.

Frederick looked at the map on the wall as if he was appreciating a work of art. There was a whole new area on the right side of the map, which was all the “results” of the Sixth Army.

Of course, Frederick knew that there was a large expanse of barren grassland between him and Army Group A, and both sides had only limited mobile forces to guard the area.

The unit that Plossen was on guard here was the 16th Panzer Grenadier Division belonging to Army Group B. The division's emblem was a greyhound, so it was also called the Greyhound Division.

This was a little-known unit, but its reliable combat capability won the respect of Field Marshal Maximian von Gollon, commander of Army Group B.

Frederick was looking at the map, recalling the appearance of the Greyhound Division Commander, when the adjutant came in with a tray of coffee.

Admiral Frederick took the coffee cup, took a sip, and then frowned: "Damn, this coffee is too delicate, don't use finely ground coffee beans, use the instant coffee we rationed!"

The adjutant was shocked: "That tastes like mud!"

"Yes, that's right!" said Admiral Frederick.

(End of this chapter)