Arc of Fire

Chapter 26

The perspective temporarily leaves Wang Zhong.

After settling into the firing position arranged by Yegorov, Brother Yatsemenko glared at Lyudmila: "Captain Melekhovna, your boyfriend is really looking out for you."

Lyudmila's full name is Lyudmila Vasilyevna Melekhovna.

The girl frowned: "In Ronezh, we only fired one Divine Arrow before our vision was blocked by smoke. He wasn't wrong."

Yatsemenko: "I heard he wet himself when the battle started! How could someone like that have the tactical awareness to point out problems? No no, he just doesn't want you in danger!"

Lyudmila: "But he led us out of the encirclement, didn't he? Though he's usually quite uneducated, still..."

How could a spoiled, uneducated brat suddenly become a military genius? No, absolutely impossible! I'll record all his commands today in the combat log, I swear!

"If we fail our mission at Upper Peniye, he'll be held accountable!"

Actually, the mission to defend Upper Peniye for 38 hours was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 31st Tank Regiment, 4th Tank Corps. The 3rd Rear Amur Regiment and Yatsemenko's Divine Arrow squad had no obligation to hold this position.

But Wang Zhong still gave the order to defend, making it the entire unit's mission.

No one objected, not even those who knew the order was meant for the 31st Regiment's 2nd Battalion. Perhaps after witnessing the Prossenians' atrocities during the retreat, everyone was burning with rage.

***

As for Wang Zhong, his fever had addled his brain, leaving him capable of only single-track thinking.

Back in the distillery's manager's office, Wang Zhong gulped down a large glass of water but still felt parched.

"Water!" he shouted.

One of the two privates who had carried him on a stretcher immediately took on orderly duties, bringing Wang Zhong another large glass of water.

Just then, Chief of Staff Pavlov entered with his men. Seeing Wang Zhong's condition, he said: "Perhaps you should retreat with the field hospital?"

Wang Zhong: "The field hospital is here?"

"They've arrived."

Wang Zhong: "Have them give me penicillin and fever reducers! Also, tell them not to retreat using enemy trucks - use local peasants' ox carts instead. Hire as many locals as possible!"

By the time the peasants delivered the field hospital to the rear, Upper Peniye would likely be occupied, forcing even reluctant peasants to retreat with the troops.

Staff Officer Pavlov: "I'll have the clerk check how many rubles we have left..."

"Can't you just issue IOUs? You idiot!" Wang Zhong was feeling terrible and short-tempered.

Pavlov, seeing this, said "I'll arrange it" and made himself scarce, leaving only a few staff officers to keep Wang Zhong company.

Wang Zhong: "Get me a radio! Find out the call signs for all our tanks!"

The staff officers exchanged glances before the communications officer said: "I'll go find Captain Lubokov from the tank unit."

Shortly after, Lubokov arrived. Hearing Wang Zhong's question, he frowned: "The enemy tanks probably all have radios, but we only have one in my command vehicle."

Wang Zhong looked skyward and sighed: "Fine, give me your call sign. I'll direct you via radio."

Though Wang Zhong had no actual tank combat experience, his gaming experience made him realize how massive his advantage was with the Overhead Perspective in urban close-quarters combat.

For one thing, he could see which direction enemy tank barrels were pointing - anyone who'd played Tank World and learned the hard way about barrel direction knew what that meant.

Lubokov: "My call sign is tactical number 420."

Wang Zhong: "Got it. I'll use that to direct you."

Lubokov looked around puzzled: "You... will command from here?"

Wang Zhong: "Of course not. When the battle starts, I'll move somewhere with a clear view. Just follow my orders when you hear them. Dismissed."

Lubokov saluted and left.

As he exited, a tall bespectacled man wearing a Red Cross armband entered: "I heard someone needed antibiotics?"

Wang Zhong: "I do. And you are?"

"I'm Dr. Raskolnikov, Count. We've actually met at a salon before."

Wang Zhong: "Ah, right. Hello, Dr. Ras."

"Raskolnikov," the doctor corrected as he approached Wang Zhong. "Pardon me," he said, placing a hand on Wang Zhong's forehead. "Your condition is quite serious. You should be evacuated to the rear immediately - why not retreat with the field hospital?"

Wang Zhong: "No! I won't abandon my troops!"

Actually, based on Wang Zhong's original goal - survival - he should choose to retreat now. But in his feverish state, all he wanted was to stay and fight the German no, the Prossenian devils alongside his men.

The doctor seemed moved: "I... apologize, I didn't know you had this side to you."

"You thought I was some spoiled brat who'd wet himself in battle?" Wang Zhong fumed.

His single-track mind had only one thought now: "It wasn't me who wet myself! Why does everyone blame me for that? So annoying!"

So he exploded: "No! I'm not some coward! I'll prove it! Anyone who suggests sending me to the rear again is aiding the enemy! You just know I'll crush them here, so you're trying to get rid of me!"

The doctor recoiled from Wang Zhong's sudden outburst: "Please, don't execute me."

Word had spread about Wang Zhong executing a local noble's steward, plus a fake bishop and fake inquisitor earlier. The troops were saying "Count Rokosov executes anyone remotely suspicious."

Wang Zhong: "Medicine! Then get the hell out on those peasant carts!"

The doctor immediately opened his bag and placed several bottles of medicine on the table.

Without asking about dosage, Wang Zhong grabbed a bottle, twisted it open, tossed several pills into his mouth, and gulped them down with water.

Then a gunshot rang out in the distance.

Wang Zhong immediately switched to Overhead Perspective, focusing on the small hill to the west - where Lubokov's tank had originally been stationed.

The observation post left by Sergeant Major Grigori was firing.

Through their view, Prossenian armored units could be seen advancing down the road.

Wang Zhong counted at least twenty Type III tanks and an equal number of half-tracks, rolling right past the wrecked truck he'd left behind.

The engine roars were clearly audible even from above.

The lead tank had more antennas than the others. Zooming in, Wang Zhong clearly saw its tactical number: 141, with an eagle emblem beside it.

No other tanks bore this emblem. Wang Zhong guessed it marked the commander's vehicle.

Looking closer at the officer sticking out of 141's turret, Wang Zhong could see gold-embroidered red collar decorations on his uniform.

Looking even closer, the officer was actually a one-eyed man!

So German. Very German.

The one-eyed commander's mouth moved, and 141 halted, its turret beginning to rotate.

The next moment, Wang Zhong seemed to hear the German word "FIRE" as the tank's muzzle flashed with flame and smoke.

Almost simultaneously, Wang Zhong lost all visual - neither tanks nor half-tracks were visible anymore.

He quickly pulled back the view to see a dust cloud erupting on the hill, completely engulfing the two scouts.

What the hell? Did he see the warning shots from our scouts?

Wang Zhong suddenly had a bad feeling.

Switching back to normal view, he shouted at the doctor: "Go! The enemy's about to attack, get out now!"

(End of chapter)