Arc of Fire

Chapter 32

Major Schlieffen frowned, watching the defeated soldiers retreating from the still-lingering white smoke, his brow twisted into a knot.

All Prossenian tanks were equipped with radios, so he had just listened to the radio communications of the last four crews in their entirety.

"The enemy is behind us! Behind us!"

"Let's flank it!"

"It's gone!"

"Number 187! Number 187, can you hear us?"

"Everyone, pay attention, it's just us left!"

...And then there was no more information, clearly indicating that all the accompanying Type IV tanks in the assault had been taken out.

It sounded like an enemy tank had circled around for a surprise attack?

Did the enemy also have such experienced tank operators now?

At this moment, Schlieffen's top ace, Captain Hoffman, spoke over the radio: "Major, let's launch another attack! I'll take on the enemy's ace!"

"No." Schlieffen coldly refused, "Type III tanks are not suited for supporting infantry combat. The 50mm high-explosive shells are too weak and have little effect on villages with so many brick and stone buildings."

"But..."

"Do you want to eat the enemy's incendiary bottles?"

Armored Company Two, which had been on the offensive, had already reported that the enemy was heavily using incendiary bottles. Every building over two stories in the village posed a danger to tanks.

No, if the accompanying infantry were cut off by firepower, any building would be dangerous for tanks.

The Schlieffen Battle Group had originally been assigned two companies of Type IV tanks, but half of them were lost in the past few days of offensive operations-most due to mechanical failures that forced temporary abandonment.

The empire's military industrial department's much-vaunted double-row road wheels had already shown numerous issues during the Carolingian Campaign, and the terrible road conditions of the Ante Empire magnified these flaws infinitely.

Just moments ago, the Schlieffen Battle Group lost all its Type IV tanks, leaving only Type III tanks, which were designed to counter enemy tanks.

Beyond this, the losses of infantry and half-tracks were also concerning. The Schlieffen Battle Group was formed with the goal of swiftly penetrating areas with no or minimal enemy defenses to disrupt their deployments.

However, Major Schlieffen had no intention of giving up the attack. He turned to the artillery staff officer: "How many high-explosive shells do we have left for our vehicle-mounted mortars?"

"Ten rounds per gun, Major, sir," the staff officer replied respectfully.

Schlieffen pursed his lips: "And smoke shells?"

"Only two rounds per gun."

Schlieffen thought for a few seconds before asking, "How long until the 351st Armored Grenadier Regiment behind us can catch up?"

The Chief of Staff shrugged: "Depends on the traffic jam. If it's not too bad, they'll be here by afternoon. Actually, many thought the unit that passed by at midnight was the 351st Armored Grenadier Regiment."

The 351st Armored Grenadier Regiment was also reinforced to the Schlieffen Battle Group, but Schlieffen, prioritizing speed of advance, had left them behind due to their slightly lower motorization level.

The 351st Regiment was equipped with the 18-year model 75mm infantry cannon, whose high-explosive shells could effectively compensate for the lack of infantry tanks.

At the same time, this was a howitzer, capable of using indirect fire to first cover and destroy the enemy's living forces and fortifications.

Additionally, the 351st Regiment had combat engineers whose flamethrowers and explosive charges could give the enemy a hard time.

After a brief moment of thought, Schlieffen made his decision: "Gather the defeated soldiers, understand the situation inside, including the enemy's defensive layout and firepower allocation. Recruit volunteers from the defeated soldiers to serve as the vanguard for the next attack."

Over the radio, Hoffman asked in a very regretful tone: "Are we not attacking anymore?"

"Of course, we will continue the attack, but only when we are more confident. At the very least, we need to wait for the supply vehicles to arrive and replenish the mortar ammunition."

After saying this, Schlieffen added a reassuring word to Hoffman: "Don't worry, the enemy's ace will definitely be yours to deal with."

After speaking, he turned off the radio's transmission function and muttered: "Damn it, Upper Peniye isn't even an important village. Why is there such determined resistance?"

Chief of Staff: "Maybe it's the hometown of some noble, so they're covering the transfer of assets? Inferior races can burst out with fighting spirit, isn't that all there is to it?"

Schlieffen: "Hmph. But I have to admit, the enemy's commander is doing a good job. They must have learned a few things from interactions with our forces."

Before the Prossen Empire tore up the non-aggression treaty, there was considerable interaction between the nobility of the two countries, naturally including military exchanges.

After the Ante Empire's defeat in the Winter War, they even sent some military trainees to Prossen for learning.

Perhaps the one commanding the defense of Upper Peniye was one of those trainees.

Schlieffen thought confidently.

----

When Lyudmila ran to the hospital entrance, she came face-to-face with hymn monk Su Fang Batu Wendusu.

Both stopped in their tracks, looking at each other.

Su Fang: "Uh, are you here to see him?"

"You too?"

"I... received a new hymn, so I came to report to the highest commander."

Lyudmila: "Oh. Then let's go in together. Do you know which bed he's in?"

"He's the commander, so of course, he's in the best-conditioned bed."

Su Fang said as she entered the hospital first, only to be hit by the smell of blood, causing her to furrow her brow.

On a bed near the door, an amputation surgery was underway. A bald doctor shouted: "Hold on! There's no anesthetic left! Grit your teeth! Otherwise, you might bite your tongue off!"

What followed was a scream, muffled as if covered by a cloth because the person was clenching their teeth.

Su Fang glanced at the bucket beside the operating table, filled with severed limbs.

She covered her mouth, trying hard not to vomit.

At this moment, a burly female nurse appeared in front of Su Fang: "What are you two young ladies here for? You look uninjured, not like you need bandaging."

Lyudmila, having been on the front line and seen death, was much calmer than Su Fang and answered loudly: "We're looking for Count Rokosov!"

"Over there!" The nurse pointed to a side door.

Su Fang ran over as if fleeing, but as soon as she entered, she saw another nurse sorting blood-soaked gauze. The gauze had completely lost its original color, looking as if it had been stirred in mud-except this mud was red.

The nurse, without looking up, said: "The Count is inside."

Su Fang nodded and dashed through the inner door as if flying.

Count Rokosov (also known as Wang Zhong) lay on a bed by the window, with the field hospital's director standing beside him.

Lyudmila stepped forward first and asked: "How is he?"

Director: "Stress combined with a fever caused him to sweat excessively, leading to severe dehydration and shock. We've used an IV to rehydrate him and administered some fever-reducing medication. There's no major issue."

Both girls let out a long sigh of relief, then glanced at each other.

Su Fang suddenly remembered her task and hurriedly asked: "When will he wake up? I have the latest broadcast from the Agsukov Choir."

Director: "His injuries aren't severe, but with a high fever, how long he'll be out depends on the person. I can't tell you. Is it very important news?"

Su Fang spread her hands: "Well... it's just some typical combat broadcasts, telling everyone that the enemy is not invincible..."

"We already know that," Lyudmila interrupted Su Fang, walking to the Count's bedside and gently stroking his hair, "He has already shown us that in action."

(End of Chapter)