artillery arc

Chapter 598: Deep Attack

Apparently, the senior generals present at the meeting had already anticipated the goals of the summer campaign, so after Marshal Celtic finished speaking, everyone remained quite calm.

Marshal Maximilian von Goron, commander of the Southern Army Group, who rushed back from the front to attend the meeting, looked at the others, cleared his throat and said, "My Army Group does not have enough troops to encircle Rokossov's million-strong army."

(Marshal Goron was the former commander of Army Group B. After the destruction of Army Group A, his Army Group was reorganized into the new Army Group South.)
Emperor: "Of course, you will get reinforcements. The general mobilization has been going on for more than a month. It is expected that by June this year, we will add 50 new divisions, and you will get most of them!"

Marshal Goron frowned and said, "How is that possible? The training of new soldiers will take at least six months to complete."

"Not new recruits. New recruits will not graduate until September this year," Marshal Celtic took over the conversation. "These 50 divisions will be composed of retired soldiers aged 24 to 30. Some of them even participated in the Melania Campaign. Three months of recovery training is enough for them to recover to their pre-retirement level."

Marshal Goron nodded slightly, apparently accepting this statement, but he immediately added: "However, current intelligence shows that Rokossov has at least 50 million combatants. After three months of replenishment, there will definitely be more. If you only give me divisions, I'm afraid..."

The emperor stood up and said, "What are you afraid of? We have always had an advantage in individual soldier quality. In the first two years of the war, we always had a great advantage in the exchange ratio! Even though Rokossov annihilated so many troops last year, our exchange ratio was still superior!
"Based on our experience in the past two years, when our forces are equal to those of the Ants, we will be able to achieve very impressive results!"

Marshal Goron: “Your Majesty, the enemy is also learning about war. As people leading troops on the front lines, we do feel that the enemy’s combat effectiveness is increasing.

"I have read many combat experience summaries submitted by frontline troops. Frontline troops generally regard the Ante soldiers as brave and tenacious enemies. Please compare them with the reports from the previous year. Last year, the frontline officers only admired the courage of the Ante people."

The emperor hesitated for a moment, and finally sighed: "You will get more troops. We will make sure you have three times as many troops as Rokossov."

Marshal Goron still frowned: "Can the logistics keep up?"

Marshal Celtic: “Of course, we have been building roads and supporting road guard posts in Khazaria since September 914. The new road system has been built one after another, and the scattered guard posts have greatly reduced the frequency of guerrilla activities.

"That's why we chose the southern route as the direction of the strategic decisive battle. Although roads were built on the northern route, the advantages that the swamps and dense forests brought to the guerrillas could not be eradicated."

Marshal Goron's frown relaxed a little, but he still asked worriedly, "With so many troops assembled, Rokossov will definitely find out. What if he uses our trick against us?"

The emperor took over the conversation again: "In the past two years, Rokossov's victory took advantage of our long supply lines and the mud and severe winter. This time we will not fight him in the winter, nor will we move away from the supply center and disperse our forces. I just told you all this."

"Indeed, it was said, and it was said once before it was stated that the target of the summer campaign was Rokossov's front," said the new Army Commander, Field Marshal Rundstedt.

After the great failure of the winter campaign, Marshal Bryan "resigned".

Emperor: "We have learned from our experience and made targeted adjustments. This time Rokossov will not win easily! In addition, we have made more improvements, such as not attacking fortified cities. This time we will adopt the tactic of encircling but not attacking, and completely avoid Rokossov's carefully constructed fortifications!
"This time, we will fight Rokossov in the wilderness! Defeat him completely!"

As the emperor spoke, he clenched his fists and pounded them on the table.

----

March 916, 3, northwest of Yarvik.

The red Pe-3 reconnaissance plane was flying at an altitude of 3000 meters, passing over the plains of Khazaria.

Wang Zhong carefully observed the Proson unit highlighted on the ground.

Because he was too focused, he almost missed what Emilia said in the headphones.

Emilia: "Your wife invited me for tea."

Wang Zhong didn't pay attention at first, but he immediately caught the unusual part of this sentence: "What?"

"Your wife invited me to tea," Emilia repeated.

Wang Zhong: "Oh, probably to thank you for always protecting me. She said she wanted to thank you for saving my life in Baras."

"Oh, I just remembered this."

"Uh, she didn't mention it?"

"No, not at all."

Wang Zhong began to sweat on his back. Was it true that Lyudmila was jealous of him being alone with Emilia in a small space every few days?
Emilia: "I told her I was your only companion."

What did you say?! Don't say things that can be misunderstood! No, words that can be misunderstood!
Emilia: “She actually expressed understanding.”

What did she understand?
Emilia: "She's so calm. I thought a big argument was going to break out."

Wang Zhong: "Oh, good, as long as there is no dispute."

Emilia changed the subject: "So have you discovered any signs of the enemy's future actions?"

"No, it seems to be a normal rest and recuperation. Has the unit number been increased? I mean, it doesn't seem to have been increased."

Emilia: "You can even sense the number? Isn't that amazing?"

Fortunately, Emilia is a witch, so she was not particularly surprised. Wang Zhong: "It's just a vague feeling. If there is a new number, you will suddenly feel that 'Oh, there are new people stationed here'."

"I understand, I understand. Just like when Prosen and I have been fighting with the same ace for a long time, and suddenly a newcomer joins in, we feel, 'Who are you to dare to interfere in our battle?'" Emilia happily shared her experience.

Wang Zhong breathed a sigh of relief.

Emilia asked again: "So we still don't know where the enemy will attack?"

"Yes, if we can't determine where the enemy will attack, we can attack first." Wang Zhong said, "Our troops are much more elite than in the past two years, and our weapons, equipment and organization are much more mature. It's time to take back the initiative."

----

After Wang Zhong finished the reconnaissance flight and handed the photos to the Air Force, he and Emilia drove back to the headquarters' wooden house.

At the door he saw another Willys Jeep with five stars on it.

Isn't it a custom in the United States to put stars on jeeps? The jeep that a five-star general rides in has five stars on it.

Emilia also saw the jeep: "So many stars, isn't this the habit of the generals of the United States?"

Wang Zhong: "Yes, I wonder which general is visiting. Let's go in and take a look."

As he said this, he lifted the heavy door curtain and entered the headquarters.

Then General Gorky's voice was heard: "I was going to meet Rokossov in Yeburg, but he didn't come back. He didn't even go home to see his son!"

Wang Zhong: "Because I have been worried about the enemy's next main attack direction."

As he spoke, he walked towards General Gorky and held out his hand to him: "Long time no see, Gorky Davarishi."

Gorky also stood up and shook Wang Zhong's hand: "Long time no see. You worked hard last year. You fought well in the counterattack and wiped out a million enemies in one go! They should give you the Marshal's Medal! They should have given it to you when you captured the Marshal!"

Wang Zhong: "I was just promoted to general not long ago. Olga - His Majesty the Tsar wanted to send it to me, but was stopped by General Turgenev."

"Actually, this doesn't make sense. Who would have a problem with your promotion to marshal now?" General Gorky loosened his grip and spread his hands out. "Who would have a problem with that? You destroyed more Prosen troops in one winter than we did in two years!"

Wang Zhong: "You are too kind, General Davarish. So you are here just to congratulate me?"

"Of course not." General Gorky turned around, picked up the file bag on the table, and handed it to Wang Zhong. "This is the summer battle plan drawn up by my chief of staff. Last year we tried my new tactics and the results were pretty good. Although we didn't break the situation, it proved that my tactics are feasible!"

Wang Zhong: "Well, your attack last year greatly reduced our pressure. The Prosen people had no choice but to bring in two armies from Moravia to make up the numbers. As a result, these two armies were equipped with all ordinary weapons, and their fighting will and combat experience were far behind.

"We captured a great quantity of artillery, guns, and other equipment from them, and armed several divisions with it."

General Gorky smiled happily: "You really have been keeping an eye on the overall situation! This summer we plan to give the Prosen people an even more ruthless blow! During the offensive last year, we concentrated 20 heavy artillery pieces per kilometer on the front line. This year we plan to double that!"

Wang Zhong: "Are you planning to borrow the heavy breakthrough artillery division from me?"

General Gorky laughed, "How is that possible? The Reserve Front has formed three more artillery divisions like this. I came here to discuss this with you. I'm leaving with these three. You can take more of the remaining bulk artillery brigades or something."

Wang Zhong said jokingly, "Okay, you're here to steal my food! Are you also going to steal my food from the newly formed troops?"

Gorky waved his hand and said, "Don't worry. I won't move the troops that have retreated to the rear to rest. I only want the newly formed troops. If we start the attack, it will disrupt the enemy's deployment. Even if the enemy wants to attack you in the summer campaign, we can share your pressure."

Wang Zhong: "According to today's aerial reconnaissance, there is still no sign of the enemy on the southern front increasing its troops. Proson has been mobilized for two months, but the frontline troops have not increased. This is unusual. What if the enemy is preparing to try again in your direction?"

Gorky: "Then we will surely discover them when we attack, and then we can stop where we are and go on the defensive. Then you can show your skills! You are anxious to return to Shepetovka, right?"

Wang Zhong nodded: "Yes, I think the situation of our army at this moment is ripe for launching a pincer attack on Shepetovka."

“Hahaha,” General Gorky patted Wang Zhong’s shoulder vigorously. “You have completely learned Proson’s tactics, the pincer attack, the exquisite art of war! And I use the tactics of the Ants. I named this tactic: deep attack!”

Wang Zhong: "It's a great name. I have also benefited a lot from your tactics. And I think that as Proson mobilizes, the average quality of Proson's soldiers will definitely be dragged down by the mobilization and gradually decline. Your tactics will become more and more effective in the vast Ante Plains.

"But as we advance into Plossen, the battle line will shorten dramatically, the infrastructure level will improve dramatically, and the density of a large number of cities will continue to increase. The effectiveness of a deep offensive will continue to decrease."

General Gorky's smile froze. He lowered his eyes and thought for a few seconds, then cursed, "Sukabulie! Can't you let me show off a little longer? You're right! Bastard!"

After saying that, he slapped Wang Zhong's shoulder hard again.

"You're right! Sokabile!"

(End of this chapter)