Arc of Fire

Chapter 24

Yegorov, as soon as he entered, said his first words: "Why place the headquarters on the front line? It's too dangerous. Better move it to the middle of the village. I saw a three-story building outside."

Wang Zhong was drinking water when he saw Yegorov come in. He directly handed the cup back to the house's female landlord, wiped his mouth, and said: "Don't worry about that for now. Do you know how to make simple incendiary bombs? The kind using strong liquor, with the bottle stopper replaced by a cloth soaked in alcohol, and you light the cloth before throwing it."

Yegorov: "Of course, I've seen them. During the Winter War, the Manaheimers used these things against us."

Wang Zhong: "Then why didn't I see you use them in Ronezh?"

Yegorov: "Because we couldn't find suitable alcohol. The homebrew the locals drink has too low a proof and too many impurities; it won't ignite. To make them, we'd need gasoline, but we're an infantry unit, not even a motorized one. We don't have gasoline, though they did allocate plenty of fodder for the mules and horses."

Wang Zhong: "I don't believe you couldn't find strong liquor!"

"There is strong liquor, in the cellars of the nobles."

At this moment, the female landlord who had just given water to Wang Zhong spoke up: "In town, Lord Boye has a distillery. Every year, they brew vodka from wheat and transport it to Agsukov to sell."

Wang Zhong: "Did you hear that? Go requisition that distillery."

Yegorov showed a troubled expression: "I've already sent people over, but they were stopped by Lord Boye's steward."

Wang Zhong: "Steward?"

He gritted his teeth and stood up: "I'll go see what's going on."

He took two steps, then turned back to the female landlord: "Miss Natasha, you should hurry and run. These Prossenians are worse than beasts."

The female landlord smiled: "I heard what you said to old Mrs. Irinichna next door. But their whole family hasn't left. Look at me, a widow, I have even less reason to go. The Prossenians can't kill us all, can they? If they kill everyone, who will farm this vast land and grow the wheat?"

Wang Zhong: "But I've seen them slaughter indiscriminately! The village square is piled with the bodies of the murdered!"

The female landlord: "Then I can only ask you to avenge us."

Wang Zhong understood that unless people saw it with their own eyes, no one would believe the enemy could be so brutal.

He wanted to persuade her further, but there were more urgent matters at hand, so he had to let it go.

He turned around, stumbled after a couple of steps, and then shouted to Yegorov: "Get a stretcher! I'm feverish and don't have the strength to walk!"

Yegorov immediately shouted to his subordinates: "Stretcher!"

Just then, Chief of Staff Pavlov entered and, seeing Wang Zhong's condition, said: "In this state, Count Rokosov is unfit to command troops. He should move back with the field hospital."

Wang Zhong: "You intend to strip me of my command? How dare you!"

At this moment, he felt terrible. In such a state, people's tempers are often bad, and they become particularly stubborn.

Wang Zhong had no intention of retreating; he just wanted to give those damn Prossenians a good beating right here.

Apart from that, he didn't want to do anything else. Whoever suggested otherwise, he would get angry with them.

Once his fever subsided, he would probably be shocked by the decisions he was making now.

Wang Zhong: "I think you're a spy, just like that fake Bishop, trying to throw our command system into chaos! Someone, come here! Execute him by firing squad!"

Pavlov immediately backed down: "No, I didn't mean that!"

A Corporal had already stepped forward with a gun. It seemed that Chief of Staff Pavlov's reputation among the regular soldiers wasn't very good.

Pavlov raised his voice: "I'm just worried about your health! Spare me!"

Wang Zhong: "Say one more nonsense word, and I'll have your head!"

At this time, the stretcher came in. The two stretcher bearers looked confused because they didn't see any wounded.

Wang Zhong pointed in front of him: "Put it here!"

The stretcher bearers hurriedly placed the stretcher in front of him.

He unceremoniously sat on the stretcher and waved his hand grandly: "To the distillery! Yegorov, come with me!"

----

The distillery was right next to the Tractor Station that Wang Zhong had seen earlier. It seemed this whole area belonged to the local lord, Lord Boye.

In front of the ornate iron gate, several thugs were already on guard with shotguns.

Wang Zhong, carried by the two stretcher bearers, headed straight for the gate.

One of the thugs raised his right hand in a "stop" gesture: "Ahead is Lord Boye's private property. Stop, soldier!"

Wang Zhong: "We're requisitioning this place, including the distillery and the liquor inside."

The thug shouted back: "Mr. Korshuv!"

Immediately, a man dressed as a clerk, with a big belly, came out of a small house by the gate, yawning and staggering over: "What's going on?"

"This Lieutenant Colonel says he wants to requisition the distillery."

Korshuv: "Do you have the paperwork for requisition?"

Wang Zhong: "The Prossenian devils are only twenty miles from here! We need strong liquor to make incendiary bottles."

"Is that so? What does that have to do with us?" Korshuv spread his hands, "Before Lord Boye retreated, he entrusted this place to me. If you want to requisition it, you need the proper paperwork."

Wang Zhong, already in a bad mood due to his illness, shouted: "Obstructing military preparations, I suspect you're a Prossenian spy!"

Korshuv: "Then you should take it up with the Tribunal..."

Wang Zhong drew Yegorov's gun from beside him and shot Korshuv in the stomach.

The thugs with shotguns were stunned. Clearly, they hadn't expected Wang Zhong to actually open fire.

Wang Zhong: "They're enemies! Spies! Open fire!"

Yegorov raised his submachine gun and fired a burst, rat-a-tat-tat.

A few seconds later, it was quiet in front of the gate.

A platoon of infantry came running over, their squad leader shouting from a distance: "Regiment Commander! What's going on?"

Yegorov: "Discovered a few spies. Nothing major."

Wang Zhong: "Take their keys, open the gate, and requisition all the liquor inside. Arrange for a veteran who knows how to make incendiary bottles to lead a team in making them."

The remaining veterans who know how to use incendiary bottles should split up, one leading two rookies. The rookies carry the bottles, and the veterans throw them. Occupy the second-floor buildings on both sides of the street!

"Yegorov, choose a good spot to set up the machine guns. Try to cut off the enemy tank-accompanying infantry, creating opportunities for the throwers!"

Yegorov nodded: "Understood. Additionally, I suggest you set up headquarters in the distillery."

Wang Zhong looked at the distillery building in front of him.

Yegorov: "This building is clearly made of reinforced concrete. Even if the enemy uses heavy artillery, they won't be able to destroy it. It can also serve as our last stronghold."

Wang Zhong wasn't concerned about that. His gaze was entirely on the distillery's water tower: "That water tower, is it the tallest building in the village?"

Yegorov: "Yes, it's a little taller than the church bell tower."

Wang Zhong: "Good. Then headquarters will be here."

Yegorov: "And about Captain Lubokov's tank unit, what do you think..."

Wang Zhong: "These tanks are crucial mobile support forces. I will personally decide their positions."

(End of chapter)