Arc of Fire

Chapter 716: Chapter 54: Marshal Geron is Skilled at Escaping (Supplement 45/84)

July 11th, 2300 hours, at the Ante Kazarlia Front Army Headquarters.

After circulating the situation briefing for the day, Pavlov was the first to speak, “We can now confirm that the enemy is in full retreat.”

Wang Zhong, “We attacked before the encirclement was completed because we were afraid they would run. So how much longer until the two clamps close?”

"The encirclement should be completed by tomorrow, but the enemy’s resistance is fierce. Moreover, aerial reconnaissance indicates that a large number of troops are now rushing towards Shepetovka through the gap in the encirclement.”

As he spoke, Pavlov picked a photo from the table and handed it to Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong glanced at the photo and then threw it back on the table, “Deploy the Air Force to bomb as much as possible and delay the enemy as much as possible.”

On Earth, Sturmtiger troops often managed to break out of encirclements. Even during large-scale encirclements like Bagration, several Sturmtiger units breached the blockade.

Wang Zhong’s impression from reading military history was that the Allied Forces always underestimated the combat power of the Sturmtigers, thinking that the encirclement was successful, and that they could begin mopping up the enemy, which led to oversights that the Sturmtigers exploited.

Surely the Prosen of this timeline wouldn’t make the same mistake?

Wang Zhong, “Can’t the armored troops speed up? Strive to complete the encirclement by tomorrow noon.”

Pavlov shook his head, “Objectively, it’s impossible to complete. Although the troops have rested for a few days in the middle, neither equipment nor personnel losses have been replenished. The Guard Heavy Breakthrough Tank Group that has had significant achievements only has three heavy tanks operational in today’s report.”

Popov, “The main issue is the heavy losses from tank-on-tank engagements with the enemy. Our spears have become blunted.”

Vasily tried to comfort Wang Zhong, “It’s good that we can encircle so many, though compared to last winter’s victory, it seems minor, but it has great strategic significance! Look, we’re about to encircle Shepetovka soon!”

Wang Zhong, “That’s true.”

He approached the map and picked up a pointer stick, tracing a path on it, “After completing the encirclement, we can strike in this direction

The pointer stick stopped at a familiar place name, causing Wang Zhong to pause.

Pavlov asked with curiosity, “What’s wrong?”

Wang Zhong, “Nothing, I just saw a familiar city name.”

Pavlov glanced at the map, “Let me guess, it’s Orachi, right?”

Wang Zhong, “You obviously guessed because you saw where my pointer stick stopped!”

Pavlov, “Orachi is the city in this region that has the deepest connection with us. Even if I hadn’t seen where your pointer stick rested, I could have guessed. If we retake Orachi, the enemy’s troops at Shepetovka will have to retreat towards the Central Army Group.

"The enemy’s 11th Army Group defending the Coastal Fortress will also be isolated from us, and the situation across all of East Kasalia will turn in our favor.”

Wang Zhong, “Yes, and recapturing Orachi holds great symbolic significance, both for me and for all of us.”

Pavlov, “One of the preplanned options for the next phase involves taking Orachi. Shall we use this version for our next combat plan?”

Wang Zhong, “Feasible. Anticipating the annihilation of the surrounded enemy troops as well as the rest and replenishment after battle will take fourteen days. How about launching the next phase of the offensive on July 25th?”

Pavlov, “Considering the losses of our armored troops, half a month of rest seems reasonable. But is there a chance the enemy might abandon Shepetovka on their own initiative?”

While speaking, Pavlov took the pointer stick from Wang Zhong’s hand and gestured on the map.

"If they abandon Shepetovka, the impact on the enemy’s central front would be negligible, and for the southern front, they could shorten their defensive line and hold out along the Dibo River.”

Vasily, “Impossible, how could the Plathen Emperor allow the Prosen Army to give up so much occupied territory just like that? No way! You don’t need a general to make that judgment; I can decide.”

Wang Zhong shook his head, “We should expect the enemy to have a wide array of tactics. The Plathen Emperor has already lost so many troops due to his stubbornness. We must assume that he can learn from past failures.”

Vasily was very surprised, “I didn’t expect you to say something like that.”

Wang Zhong, “Expect the enemy to have a wide array of tactics. Of course, it’s nice to be able to encircle the enemy’s main forces at Shepetovka. Even if we can’t encircle them and they run to the Central Army Group’s defensive area, that would still be greatly advantageous for us along the Dibo River—because these troops won’t be able to return to the southern front for a while.”

Pavlov, “The only problem is, the Dibo River is in its high-water season, and crossing it with a full force will be difficult. If the assault costs us too much, I would recommend waiting for winter when the river freezes before launching the attack.

"Having recaptured such a vast area of East Kasalia in the summer campaign is already an achievement.”

Wang Zhong, after a brief silence, shook his head, “No, we can’t just stop there. Crossing the Dibo River during the high-water season is indeed difficult, but the enemy did it two years ago, and there’s no reason we can’t do the same!”

Pavlov, “What if the enemy destroys all the boats on the eastern shore during their retreat?”

Wang Zhong, “We’ll use the Federation-provided Dragon-type tractors to haul small boats from the rear directly to the front line. We should advance near Agreskov City before the muddy season arrives and then halt to get through the period.

"When winter comes, we will return to Agreskov City, completing a full year of combat operations.”

Pavlov, “Very well, I’ll plan according to this schedule.”

Marshal Geron’s barrel car stopped in front of the Agreskov City Defense Command, and the general got out of the barrel car, looked up at the sky, and then let out a long sigh.

The two people who came to meet him just came out of the City Defense Command’s gate at that moment. Seeing the marshal sighing at the sky, they hurriedly asked, “Marshal, what does this mean?”

Marshal Geron looked at the two men, “Don’t mind it. I’m just tired and yawning; it looks like a sigh.”

The two men looked at each other and finally decided to take it as such.

"So that’s it. We thought the situation was so bad that even the marshal had to sigh.”

Marshal Geron showed a bitter smile but did not answer.

Seeing this, the two people who came to meet hurriedly changed the subject, “Your Excellency, Marshal, the Emperor just called and asked you to immediately take the plane he sent and return to the Eagle’s Nest to report to him.”

Marshal Geron nodded, “I am aware.”

After speaking, he turned to his new Chief of Staff and said, “You all should also prepare to welcome the new commander. I estimate it is General Erik von Xiplin who is now commanding the 11th Army Group to hold the Coastal Fortress.”

The new Chief of Staff, “Eh? Is that so? Isn’t it bad to change commanders in the midst of battle?”

Marshal Geron, “The Empire needs someone to take responsibility for the failure. Naturally, I should bear the responsibility for this disastrous defeat. Rest assured, to avoid angering the old Junker officers, His Majesty probably won’t give me a hard time but will just allow me to retire and tend to my flowers. Like former Army Commander Marshal Bryan.”

"That, that’s so!” The new Chief of Staff obviously had no idea how to respond to the general’s words.

Marshal Geron looked at him with a smile, turned his head to the people who came to meet him, and asked, “Is the plane already at the airport?”

"Yes, there is a Special Envoy on board to meet you, and the ground crew at the airport has already fueled the plane, so you can fly with confidence.”

Marshal Geron turned and climbed back into the barrel car, saying to the driver, “To the airport.”

Indeed, just as the people who came to meet him said, the three-engine Junker transport plane nicknamed “Iron Annie” was already waiting at the airport.

As soon as Marshal Geron boarded the plane, he saw a colonel with an unfamiliar face sitting in the seat by the door.

Marshal, “Are you the Special Envoy?”

"Yes,” the colonel stood up and saluted the marshal.

"Alright, don’t get hung up on that, the aircraft cabin is strangely low, no need to stand up to salute. But as far as I know, planes returning the scapegoat rarely send a Special Envoy, especially one with a colonel’s rank!” Marshal Geron looked at the colonel, took out a cigarette case, opened it, and put a cigarette in his mouth.

Colonel, “Actually, I am not—let’s wait until the plane has taken off.”

Marshal Geron said something astonishing, “You represent the Valkyrie Club, right?”

Colonel, “Let’s wait until the plane has taken off.”

At this moment, the crew opened the cockpit door and entered the cabin, saluting Marshal Geron and loudly reporting, “We are ready to take off, awaiting your orders!”

Marshal Geron, “Take off when the tower gives clearance; you don’t have to ask me one by one.”

"Yes!”

After the pilot returned, Marshal Geron nonchalantly lit his cigarette and took a big drag.

At this time, the roar of the engines came through the cabin walls, and the plane trembled with the roar.

Then the plane began to taxi, inertia causing everyone on board to sway back and forth a few times.

Marshal Geron looked at the colonel, just smoking and waiting for him to speak.

The colonel was patient, waiting until the plane was off the ground and flying at 3000 meters in the air before he spoke, “Your Excellency, Marshal, the crew is all our people, and they did indeed get orders to take you back to take the fall.

"But we all know that the defeat in the war is not your fault.”

"It’s my responsibility,” Marshal Geron interrupted the colonel, “I could have contracted the defense earlier. If I had, the Southern Army Group wouldn’t have lost so much fighting power all at once, and the enemy’s encirclement wouldn’t have been completed so quickly! No, if I had contracted the lines, simply giving up Shepetovka and relying on the Dibo River

The colonel interrupted the marshal, “Your Excellency! We all know that you are a glorious Prosen soldier, and you wouldn’t cast the blame for defeat onto others! It’s precisely because of this that we have come to you!

"Your Excellency! The most effective way to save Prosen now is to hand over the chief culprit who started the war! Hand over His Majesty, the Emperor!”

"No!” Marshal Geron shouted, “I’m clearer than all of you! The ones who most wanted to launch Barbarossa were us generals! Because if we didn’t continue the offensive… of course, His Majesty also wanted to earn merits and complete what that Conqueror did not finish. It can only be said that we were all wrong, it is not right to let His Majesty bear it alone.”