Arc of Fire

Chapter 17

After the jeep reached the hilltop, Wang Zhong said to Yegorov: "Stand in a conspicuous spot. Su Fang, unfurl the banner and make sure people can clearly see it's our military banner."

Su Fang looked puzzled, as if she didn't understand why Wang Zhong emphasized the military banner, but she still unfurled it.

Wang Zhong jumped off the vehicle, took the binoculars and came to Yegorov's side, raising the binoculars to look into the distance.

The enemy's supply depot was barely visible from the hilltop, but even at maximum magnification, Wang Zhong couldn't see clearly. However, this didn't trouble him - with a simple switch, everything became clear.

But Wang Zhong wasn't focusing on the supply depot. Instead, he first looked at a moving field of vision not far from their hill.

These were the scouts returning from reconnoitering the supply depot. Wang Zhong had ordered the banner unfurled and Yegorov to stand conspicuously to avoid being mistaken for Prossenian officers by the scouting team.

Dying at friendly hands would be the most worthless death in this war.

The scouting team should be able to see the military banner by now. Wang Zhong switched back to normal vision and patted Yegorov's shoulder: "The scouts are returning. Greet them."

Yegorov was also holding binoculars. Hearing Wang Zhong's words, he looked confused. He glanced at the distance, then at the binoculars: "You saw the scouts?"

I did, from God's perspective.

Wang Zhong could only bluff: "Their concealment skills need improvement."

Yegorov's brows furrowed like twisted hemp rope. Just then, a large man wielding a Prossen-standard submachine gun emerged from the woods ahead: "Don't move! Hands up!"

Yegorov: "Grigori, lower your gun."

The big man raised his eyebrows, carefully examined Yegorov's face, then lowered his weapon: "What's going on? Why are you here?"

Yegorov: "Forward reconnaissance. Also, the Count spotted you from hundreds of meters away and criticized your camouflage!"

Wang Zhong felt awkward - he'd just made up an excuse, never expecting Yegorov to take it seriously.

The big man called Grigori muttered: "Count? Which Count?"

He scrutinized Wang Zhong: "Don't know him. Aren't we under the Duke's command?"

Wang Zhong: "The Duke died in enemy naval bombardment. I'm taking command now. Report your reconnaissance findings."

Grigori: "The Prossenian devils are completely unprepared. We took out two sentries on the perimeter - they never noticed."

Wang Zhong switched to overhead view, only to find the supply depot shrouded in fog of war. Apparently, he needed to actually raise the binoculars to his eyes to dispel the fog at this distance.

Switching back to normal vision, he was about to raise the binoculars when several Ant Army soldiers emerged from the grass, standing behind Grigori.

Grigori seemed to be waiting, so Wang Zhong asked: "Did you bring back the two sentries?"

"No. We wanted to interrogate them, but they tried to shout, so we slit their throats." Grigori made a cutting motion at his neck - apparently this gesture was universal across the multiverse.

Wang Zhong nodded, raised the binoculars and switched views again. This time the enemy supply depot was "illuminated," still appearing completely peaceful, with no one even noticing the Ant Army banner on the hill.

Wang Zhong lowered the binoculars and turned to Su Fang: "Roll up the banner. No need to keep it unfurled."

He turned to Yegorov: "We'll raid this supply depot. Have the troops halt on the reverse slope behind the hill. Select a hundred experienced veterans and concentrate as many submachine guns and grenades as possible among them."

Yegorov nodded and immediately went to issue orders. Wang Zhong looked at Grigori: "You're the scout leader?"

"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel-Count."

Wang Zhong: "When the assault team assembles, lead them to attack the supply depot. Confident?"

Grigori smiled: "A hundred men is too many - easy to be spotted. Ten men with submachine guns and grenades would suffice. I've got five here with two submachine guns. Find me five more - eight submachine guns will be enough."

Wang Zhong: "What if I order you not to destroy the vehicles and fuel? We'll need enemy vehicles for our retreat."

Grigori: "Retreat? I thought we were attacking to disrupt the enemy."

Wang Zhong: "No, we can die, but our deaths should be more meaningful. In our current situation, continuing to attack with these few men would be like soap bubbles in sunlight - vanishing instantly without affecting the bigger picture."

Grigori: "But launching an attack just to retreat would make your staff officers scream."

Wang Zhong: "All my staff officers are dead."

Yegorov, having just finished giving orders, chimed in: "Staff Officer Pavlov did scream."

He paused, then said sternly: "I request to lead this assault team."

Wang Zhong: "Denied."

It wasn't that Wang Zhong valued his commanders too much - mainly because with Yegorov nearby he could "expand his vision." If Yegorov died and command transferred to Pavlov in the rear, Wang Zhong would only see what was immediately around him, drastically reducing his battlefield awareness.

Yegorov frowned, about to protest, when Grigori said: "The Regiment Commander just wants to kill enemies himself. Actually, I know the terrain better and could do better than him. Count, I suggest not changing."

Wang Zhong: "Yegorov, stay here."

Yegorov was indignant. Suddenly remembering Wang Zhong's earlier question, he demanded: "You haven't answered the Count's question! Can you avoid destroying the vehicles and fuel?"

"Yes, but it'll take more time since we can't use explosives. We'll need to quietly eliminate several sentries and position men to take out the enemy in one go. No big problem." Grigori said confidently.

Wang Zhong: "Good. Then take ten men, all veteran sergeants with Winter War or Civil War experience."

By now, Yegorov's orders had been carried out. A group of soldiers carrying submachine guns climbed the hill. The leading captain saluted: "Report - we don't have that many submachine guns. Too many sergeants carrying them died in our heavy casualties."

Yegorov: "Change of plans. Sergeant Major Grigori says only ten submachine guns are needed, plus five brave souls. Volunteers step forward."

These men climbing the hill were already volunteers. Hearing this, they all stepped forward in unison.

Wang Zhong told Sergeant Major Grigori: "Pick your men and weapons. You have ten minutes, then move out."

"Five minutes is enough!" Grigori said, then walked before the volunteers.

A sergeant spoke up: "I'll go, Corporal Grigori."

Grigori: "Hmph, you're still alive."

Wang Zhong looked confused at Grigori's rank: "Corporal?"

"I was his corporal during basic training," Sergeant Major Grigori explained.

Then a young corporal shouted: "Sergeant Major, I'll go!"

"Not you." Grigori shook his head. "You're unmarried - your life needs preserving."

As if to prevent more volunteers, Grigori quickly picked the remaining men: "That's enough. The rest are dismissed! Go home!"

Wang Zhong: "No, the others will be the second wave. If you fail, they'll go in. If you succeed in taking the supply depot, fire a flare. Give him a flare gun."

Grigori took the flare gun and waved at his selected assault team: "Grab weapons, quick!"

One of Grigori's original scouts asked: "What about us, Sergeant Major?"

Petro, you stay - someone who knows the situation should lead the second wave. The rest come with me. Also, leave your grenades. The Count fears detonating the fuel and ammo inside, so we can't use them. Might as well lighten our load.

"Don't carry too much ammo either - two magazines are enough. If two magazines can't do it, more probably won't help."

Saying this, Grigori threw down his grenade pouch and took two magazines from his ammo pouch, handing them to a nearby soldier.

Then Grigori led this lightly-equipped team into the bushes.

Wang Zhong stood on the hilltop, again raising his binoculars.

Switching to overhead view, he could clearly see Grigori's special ops team moving - it was exactly like a real-time strategy game, except he couldn't control them.

He watched Grigori's team approach the supply depot, but soon his arms ached from holding the binoculars.

Damn, holding them up too long really makes your arms sore!

He had to lower the binoculars, and the "illuminated" area of his overhead view immediately shrank.

But he could see Grigori team's visible range moving toward the enemy.

Wang Zhong waited patiently.

**

To those around Wang Zhong, he appeared to be staring blankly into the distance.

Su Fang sat in the jeep's back, watching Wang Zhong curiously. She couldn't help poking Sergei in the driver's seat: "Captain, does the Count often space out like this?"

Sergei: "I don't know. Before today, I'd only met him at a ball. He..."

Sergei hesitated.

Su Fang: "What about him?"

"Well..." Sergei weighed his words, then whispered: "Uncultured. The Duchess particularly hated him, said he was like a rutting monkey who only spoke monkey language."

After a pause, he added: "Today on the battlefield he wet his pants, then forcibly took mine to wear."

Su Fang was shocked: "What? But when I found you with the hymn monks, all I heard was praise - how the Count commanded brilliantly with unexpected moves."

"Lyudmila from the Divine Arrow squad said he was extremely brave, crossing enemy territory with just her, even saving her life!"

Sergei shrugged: "Maybe... that's human complexity?"

(End of Chapter)