Cannon Fire Arc

The incoming confidential secretary nodded: "Telegram from the Southern Army Group—"

Emperor: "Aren't they just creating trouble for me?"

The confidential secretary shut his mouth, his face pale.

The Emperor sighed: "What does the telegram say? Read it out loud!"

Confidential Secretary: "The Southern Army Group has lost contact with Livoric, it's speculated that the Ante Army has already occupied the city."

"Weren't there four divisions there?"

"But they were besieged by ten Ante Army divisions, all four were defeated."

The Emperor slammed his fist on the table: "Defeated? In Abawahan, the Anteans resisted to the last soldier! In the end, they were never defeated! And yet, our proud Prosen Army divisions were defeated?"

Celtic Marshal: "The enemy is defending their homeland, we are defending seized territory—"

"This is the Empire's territory now, our soldiers are also defending their homeland! The entire army needs to know this!"

Everyone present fell silent.

At this moment, the air raid alarm sounded.

The Emperor glanced at the ceiling, then looked at Duke Meyer: "Today's air raid is a bit late."

Grand Duke: "Perhaps the enemy's Air Force is bombing the Carolines Region. Because of the late bombing, today we launched our jets early, causing the enemy's bombers to suffer heavy losses."

General Moochi: "You said the same thing yesterday."

"Yesterday they indeed suffered heavy losses! Our pilots reported shooting down 300 bombers!"

Moochi: "But the army only reported 67 wrecks."

Duke Meyer: "They must have crashed into the sea!"

As the two argued, another confidential secretary came in.

The Emperor: "Is this a report from the west or the east this time?"

"It's from the east."

Emperor: "Read it, which city has fallen again?"

"It's Kanabri."

The Emperor nodded, suddenly waking up: "Wait a minute, isn't that Melania City?"

"Yes, the Southern Front Ante Army just captured Kanabri, less than three hundred kilometers from the Eagle's Nest." The confidential secretary replied.

The Plathen Emperor stood up, walked to the window, looking at the scenery of Mount Abes outside.

Celtic Marshal: "For the sake of safety, we should leave, besides, returning to the Capital would help boost the nation's confidence in this moment."

"What do you mean by this moment?" The Emperor turned around, glaring viciously at the Marshal, "The enemy is still a thousand kilometers from the Capital (actually no more)! When we attacked Ante, we advanced a thousand kilometers before they stopped us! They won't find it any more straightforward to penetrate a thousand kilometers into our territory! The issues we faced, they will face too! Supply difficulties, uncooperative locals, guerrillas, they will face them all!"

After a brief pause, the Emperor dejectedly added: "But they won't encounter mud."

Because Prosen's infrastructure is well-developed, all the roads are of high-standard highways.

Celtic Marshal: "Now can we start—"

"No! Until we've thwarted the enemy's landing, we're going nowhere. Moving the Headquarters would cause command chaos, you should know that, my Marshal!"

Everyone exchanged glances.

At this moment, the red phone on the table rang.

The Emperor personally picked up the phone: "I am the Prosen Emperor, who is this?"

"Your Majesty," Admiral Schmidt's voice came through, "We can't find Marshal Rommel, that's first, secondly, multiple breaches have occurred at our beachhead. Our troops have even seen tanks bearing the United Kingdom flag."

Emperor: "They can only transport fifty thousand men! There's no way there are tanks!"

Admiral Schmidt: "But our infantry indeed saw tanks, appearing north of Kalingdon."

"Impossible!" the Emperor roared.

————

North of Kalingdon.

The sound of Highland bagpipes echoed down the road.

The piper wore the signature tartan kilt of the Highlanders, striding proudly in the center of the road.

Behind him was the Wellington Mark 7 heavy tanks, relying on this flamethrower tank, the 404th Coastal Defense Division at the beachhead surrendered without much resistance.

Following the heavy tanks were the United Kingdom's 1st Armored Division's Centurion tanks and Firefly tank destroyers, all these tanks due to speed limiters, could only advance at human walking pace off-road.

United Kingdom infantry, wearing helmets resembling straw hats, walked on either side of the tanks.

There was a shout from some United Kingdom soldiers: "Carolingian! We are back!"

This scene was captured by reporters on the roadside.

The journalists deftly rolled the film in their cameras, removed the rolls, and said to their partner: "Have you finished writing? If so, send the article and the film back home together!"

"Finished." The print journalist, leaning against a tree and frantically writing, folded the letter and put it in the mail tube.

"Here!"

The two of them together opened the pigeon cage on the ground, took out the pigeons, one tied with the letter, the other with the film on their legs.