artillery arc

Chapter 535 Quenching
On October 915, 10, at 29 hours, Abavakhan Front Command.

When Pavlov heard the phone ringing, he said to Wang Zhong, "It's probably because the front line is under bombardment."

Without waiting for Wang Zhong to answer, he picked up the receiver and said, "Front Army Headquarters, OK, got it. Stay calm."

After hanging up the receiver, Pavlov looked at Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong: "Have you started preparing for the artillery fire?"

"Correct."

Wang Zhong: "According to Proson's analysis, this means their troops are already at the assembly point. Let's start our counter-artillery preparations, and open fire. They moved their assembly point forward a little bit before, avoiding our counter-artillery preparations. I bet they'll set the assembly point according to the standard from last time this time."

Popov: "It doesn't matter if we miss. We have enough shells now, so we can waste them at will."

Wang Zhong nodded: "Yes, our current situation is that if wasting shells can reduce the loss of manpower, then waste as much as you can. The Prosens broke through too quickly before, and the previous commander of the front was incompetent, which has led to our current manpower constraints, but as long as we can hold on, we will have sufficient manpower, and we will always have sufficient manpower."

Yakov: "And General Winter."

Wang Zhong nodded: "And General Dong."

----

Two kilometers west of the train dispatching yard is the vanguard company of the 29st Battalion, st Regiment, th Infantry Division, th Infantry Army of Plossen's starting position.

The company commander, Captain Hansen, could tell something was wrong with the whistling sound flying overhead.

He looked up in confusion.

Many veterans in the company also heard something was wrong and all looked up at the sky.

The deputy company commander ran over and said to Captain Hansen, "This is not right. It sounds like there are shells fired back at us. Are the Ants firing back at us?"

Captain Hansen looked at the rear of the troops: "The enemy behind us may be the regiment's supply center, or the assembly point for the second and third attack waves."

The deputy company commander asked: "Are we still going to attack? Will there be follow-up troops after we attack?"

Captain Hansen: "We will attack if the orders have not changed. We have taken it before, but it was taken back by the Ants because we were out of ammunition. Now we have enough ammunition, so it will be easy to take it back."

The deputy company commander nodded and said, "Then I'll go inspect the departure column and set off once the firepower preparation is complete. Let's go all out!"

Captain Hansen nodded and watched the deputy company commander run away along the skirmish line.

He looked at his watch and saw that the artillery preparation would last another twenty minutes, so he took out his diary from his pocket and opened the page with the bookmark.

On the bookmark is a portrait of his wife, which he copied from a photograph.

Captain Hansen stared at his wife for a few seconds before writing down in his diary: “My dear, I don’t know if this diary can pass the strict scrutiny and be sent to the rear after I write it down.

"The fighting spirit of the Ants is getting stronger and stronger. During the fight with them, I felt their determination to recover their homeland. Perhaps the propaganda of the Imperial Propaganda Department that they are inferior is wrong.

"At least on our front lines, no one would underestimate these brave warriors who are ready to die and as strong as bulls. After so many years of war, they are the most terrifying opponents I have ever seen...

"Honestly, dear, I don't know if I can ever return to you, and I don't know if this war can ever be won. Last year they said they would end it, but as you can see, I'm still on the front lines, and the Ants are still resisting.

"They said it again this year and asked the military police to keep an eye on anyone who doubted it, which gave me a bad feeling.

"My dear, I feel more and more that this diary will never return to you, but... I have to write it down. Maybe in the future there will be a kind-hearted officer named Ant who will bring the diary to you.

"I wrote our home address on the title page, dear. Five years ago, I joined the army with a passion because I believed we needed a place to live, but now I just want to be back with you."

After writing the last letter, Captain Hansen raised his head and looked at the city recaptured by the Ants in the distance.

The city was burning because of the bombardment, and at least five huge columns of smoke were slowly rising.

It can be seen that the shells are still falling. It is said that 210mm heavy artillery was used this time. One shell can bring down the entire three-story brick and stone building.

Hansen heard the messenger beside him whisper: "No one will have the will to resist under such artillery fire."

Captain Hansen glanced at the messenger and said, "Don't underestimate the enemy."

At this time, the whistling sound overhead gradually decreased, and finally only the whistling sound coming from the enemy side remained - the enemy's anti-artillery preparation was still continuing, as if the artillery shells were free.

Captain Hansen had a serious expression on his face. He knew that this meant that his company - or the entire battalion - would not receive follow-up support for a period of time after going up.

He also hopes to pause the offense if possible.

Yet the whistle blew.

Captain Hansen also took out his whistle, put it in his mouth and blew a long note, then turned around and waved to his men: "Forward!"

After saying that, he took his submachine gun and was the first to leave the starting position.

His men followed him closely, and skirmish lines appeared on the ground that had been charred by artillery fire.

Ahead, the city was burning, with thick smoke rising everywhere.

Hansen's company encountered no resistance at all, and they walked safely across the open ground and into the burning city.

The ruins blocked the defenders' firing line. According to Captain Hansen's military common sense, the Ants had lost their best chance of defense.

Captain Hansen felt a little relieved.

However, he always felt that something was watching him. His infantrymen began to clear each room one by one, looking for the Ante soldiers, and the entire company was divided into countless groups.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out.

The sound of the PPSh's firing tickled Captain Hansen's nerves.

Someone was yelling, an sergeant was yelling, "Grenade! He's hiding around the corner, grenade!"

The grenade exploded and Poposha fell silent.

Suddenly the street was silent except for the crackling of branches in the flames.

Someone shouted: "Sanita (medic)! Sanita!"

Captain Hansen patted the messenger on the shoulder and said, "Go and see who is dead. Also, search the body of the dead Ant man to find out which unit he is from. Is he a straggler or..."

The sound of Poposha was heard again, along with the sound of a grenade exploding.

This time there was an immediate return fire from the squad's machine guns, and the sound of tearing canvas instantly suppressed the PPSh.

After a few seconds, everything became quiet.

Captain Hansen: "Where is the firefight? Where is the enemy?"

The deputy company commander replied from a distance: "It seems that they are just two stragglers. The enemy has probably retreated, and there are only a few left—"

The popping sound started again, this time there were two of them, coming from two directions at the same time.

Captain Hansen's scalp tingled: "They have broken up into small groups! They are hiding in the ruins! What are they doing--"

They are exchanging their lives for the lives of the Proson soldiers!
These are the suicide squads. The moment they hid in the ruins, they didn't want to go back alive. Their only goal is to kill as many Prosen people as possible.

These people will not collapse, will not be afraid, as long as they have bullets, as long as they have breath, they will fire at the Prosen people.

Captain Hansen's breathing was extremely rapid. He had heard that in the fortress that was captured in the first week of the war, there was an Ant man who fought until the beginning of this year. Before he was shot, he killed a Proson man with a knife.

He looked at the burning city before him.

This is purgatory, the nightmare of every Prosentian.

In shock, the captain heard the sound of a manhole cover being pushed open nearby.

He turned his head and saw an Ant soldier half-sticking his body out of the sewer, holding a Bopsa.

The Poposha opened fire, and the Ant soldiers fired bullets at will, hitting Captain Hansen, his messenger, and the Plossen soldier who was caught off guard beside him.

The well-trained Prosens immediately fought back. The bullets from their MP40s pierced through the body of the Ant warrior but were unable to stop his strafing.

The bullet pierced through the Ant's head, killing him completely, but his tense muscles allowed Bobosha to continue firing, and the flying bullet hit the shoulder of Sergeant Proson.

Finally, Poposha ran out of bullets, and the Ant warrior fell backwards and fell back into the sewer.

A Sergeant Plosson ran over to Captain Hansen's body, touched his nose, and closed his eyes.

The sergeant wanted to touch the captain's pocket, but a PPSh gun opened fire across the street. The shooter was a newcomer, and the bullets fell aimlessly within an area of ​​several meters square.

The sergeant half-crouched in the hail of bullets, raised his MP40, and fired several bursts at the shooter.

The shooter was shot and rolled down from the second floor and fell on the road.

The sergeant stood up, forgetting to take the captain's diary, and gestured to the surviving Plosson soldiers -

There was the sound of PPSh firing again.

It seems that the fight will not stop until one side is completely dead.

A literal meat-mincing battle.

Now every Plosson soldier knew that he was in hell.

----

On the evening of the 29th, Abawakhan Front Command.

Pavlov: "Today's battle situation has been summarized. The nameless hill has been held, the agricultural machinery station that is in a corner with the nameless hill has been held, and the train dispatching yard has also been held. Except for these three places, the whole line has been defeated. The enemy has embedded in our second line of defense, and some of the offensive troops have reached the third line of defense."

Wang Zhong: "It's good that the temporary infantry division can hold out for one day."

Yakov: "Should we tell the temporary troops not to resist outside? They are indeed a bit powerless in the face of the enemy's armored forces. It would be better for them to retreat into the city..."

Wang Zhong: "Do you think they can beat them in the city? No, no, close combat requires too much morale and fighting will. Let the elite troops do it."

Pavlov: "The good news is that the 225th Division and Melania's st Division are already in place. They are deployed along the line from the unnamed hill to the city center, responsible for guarding the river beach. Once the river freezes, the troops on the other side will be able to come directly over."

Wang Zhong: "Weather forecast! I want to know how many days of freezing weather will last."

"November 11th at the latest," Yakov reported.

Wang Zhong was silent for a few seconds, then cursed, "Sukabulie."

(End of this chapter)