Cannon Fire Arc

Chapter 75: Chapter 6: Even in Such Hell, the Flower of Love Blossoms

The result of this “assault” was a line of people jubilantly hauling the big guns back to base.

Generally, the Ante Army artillerists would use mules and horses to tow these cannons, but with none to be found in the entire factory, they had to borrow three trucks used for transporting parts and materials to pull all three guns back to base.

The gunners, finally with cannons, were overjoyed, standing in the truck beds with a proud and spirited demeanor, as if with these few guns they could drive all the invaders out of their homeland.

After driving into base and coming to a stop, Wang Zhong jumped down from the jeep and shouted to the men disembarking from the third truck, “Hurry up and unload the guns, and we’ve got to return the trucks to the factory!”

“You guys push the guns under that tree over there, and chop some branches to cover them up! Don’t let the enemy planes spot them!”

The Prosen Army’s planes had been bombing Loktov these past few days, but they mainly focused on the railway stations, paying little attention to this empty base.

However, today this base had over a thousand people, more than enough to catch the attention of Prosen pilots.

Wang Zhong’s orders were quickly carried out. The trucks left the base, the gunners pushed the guns into the shade of the trees, and then climbed up to chop down branches with machetes.

These kids seemed to be playing rather than working as they climbed the trees, their laughter audible across the whole parade ground, distracting the infantry who were training with the veterans.

Wang Zhong had no choice but to scold, “Stop messing around! Act your age! You veterans should keep them in line as well!”

A former veteran of the Amur Group, now a squad leader, immediately took a serious tone, scolding the new recruits and giving their backsides a few kicks for good measure.

The work was quickly done, and Dimitri came over to Wang Zhong and saluted, “Your Excellency General, where are the shells?”

Wang Zhong turned to Pavlov, “Where are the shells?”

“I’ll go write the request now, don’t rush me.”

Wang Zhong, “While you’re at it, request some military trucks too, or mules if necessary.”

At the start of Operation Barbarossa on Earth, the level of mechanization on both sides was not as high as one might think; a considerable number of Soviet artillery units relied entirely on mules and horses for transport, and logistics, apart from trains, also depended heavily on these animals.

Not only were a significant portion of the German logistics reliant on mules and horses, but many of the non-armored and non-grenadier units also maneuvered by marching and with the aid of mules and horses.

The only army in World War II that was essentially free of mules and horses, fully mechanized, was the US Army, with its vast fleets of ten-wheel trucks and Willis jeeps, making them a force that truly operated on wheels.

The Ante Army wasn’t the American Army. The number of GAZ trucks was quite limited, and now, in this state of collapse, Wang Zhong wasn’t really expecting Pavlov to find enough GAZ trucks.

It would be fine just to make do with mules and horses for towing.

In response to Wang Zhong’s request, Pavlov looked troubled and complained, “General, you only need to move your lips, but it’s me who’s running around until my legs break. Not to mention, I have to prepare a pile of paperwork. At least get the staff at brigade headquarters to work with me.”

Wang Zhong raised an eyebrow and pointed to the cadets before him, “Aren’t they military academy students? Can’t we get a few to act as staff officers?”

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“No, what they’ve mainly learned is how to be warrant officers, only knowing how to handle the paperwork a platoon leader might come across,” Pavlov shook his head, “I need civilians with at least the rank of a level-nine civil official, level ten would do as well. Or students who have completed the staff officer course—even those who haven’t completed it, but at least they should have studied it.”

Wang Zhong, “Is that so? Maybe we could find a few with weaker constitutions and start from scratch?”

“I’m already running myself ragged just getting around, and now you want me to teach students? And those with only a little bit of foundation?” Pavlov retorted.

Wang Zhong also felt that seemed to be the case.

However, Pavlov added, “Still, we can consider finding a few who are better at cartography to update the maps daily, so that I don’t have to do it myself.

“Copying the signs from the command headquarters’ map exactly as they are is something even newbies can do.”

Wang Zhong clapped his hands, “That settles it. Vasily, who among you is good at drawing maps?”

Vasily pointed to the third company of the artillery academy, “They have to learn surveying and mapping, after all, they may lead artillery observation teams in the future, while we just report coordinates based on the map.”

Wang Zhong nodded, then turned to Dmitri and said, “Recruit two volunteers to come to the headquarters to draw maps. Anyway, we don’t need so many people for just three guns.”

“Yes!”

Just as Dmitri left, the sound of engines came from the gate, and Wang Zhong turned his head to see one GAZ truck after another driving into the encampment.

Wang Zhong muttered, “What’s going on? Has the command finally gone mad? The supplies they’ve given us before have always been measly…”

Then he saw Popov sitting in the lead truck, whose task should have been to go to the station to receive the supply train that was due today for Rocossov’s battle group.

It seemed that the trucks were loaded with supplies for the battle group, but where did the trucks come from?

The truck Popov was in drove up to Wang Zhong and stopped in front of him.

The bishop jumped out of the door and blinked at the perplexed brigadier, “Do you have a question to ask, Aleksei Konstantinovich?”

Wang Zhong, “Yes, where did these trucks come from? Borrowed from the command headquarters? Can I keep the trucks?”

“Don’t worry, these trucks are for us.” Popov turned to shout at the convoy, “Quick, unload the trucks, stack the weapons on the side, and take the ammo to the storage. Those messing with the artillery over there, hurry up and come help—artillery?”

It was only then that Popov realized that what was covered by branches under the tree was artillery, and he quickly asked, “Where did this artillery come from? You didn’t snatch it from a brotherly unit, did you? I won’t support you if you break military discipline!”

Wang Zhong, “Don’t worry, this is something the mechanics from the auto repair shop assembled from scrap guns. Absolutely no rules were broken!”

Popov raised an eyebrow, “If it were before, I definitely wouldn’t believe you. Now, well, I’ll trust the White Horse General of Peniye for the time being.”

“How come you’ve started using that nickname too!”

Popov shrugged, “Everyone at the station is talking about it, and they know we’re the troops of the White Horse General. Don’t let everyone down in the next battle.”

After speaking, he turned towards the soldiers, “Quickly unload, hurry up, otherwise we might be hit by enemy air raids! It wouldn’t be good if the hard-earned ammo got blown up!”

Actually, the soldiers were already unloading, and Popov’s urging only made everyone move a bit faster.

The bishop turned back, took out a thick stack of registration forms from his briefcase, and handed them to Pavlov, “This is the inventory list.”

Pavlov sighed and turned to his driver, “Go call the accountant!”

Wang Zhong asked, “Are all these GAZ trucks sent along with the military train?”

“Yes, the trucks are loaded with supplies, fastened directly onto the train, it seems His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had given strict instructions to the Imperial Logistics Department.” Popov crossed his arms and watched everyone bustling, “Just Tokarev alone sent us three thousand pieces, we couldn’t possibly use all of them. There’s also a heap of heavy machine guns and anti-tank rifles.”

Wang Zhong: “So, can we swap our surplus weapons with the supply depot for other things?”

“It seems there isn’t such a system in place,” Popov said, seemingly unsure, and then turned to look at Pavlov.

Pavlov handed the checklist to the accountant who had hurried over: “Go and verify the quantities against the list.”

After passing his look of worry to the accountant, Pavlov replied to the two men, his face relaxing, “Indeed, there is no such system. However, I think the command of the supply depot won’t mind taking the Tokarevs back. My suggestion is to barter with neighboring units for what we need.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than one of the unloading cadets shouted, “Look, cloaks! The Imperial Guard’s cloaks!”

The cadet who yelled snatched a cloak, draped it over his shoulders, and stood in the bed of the truck, primping.

The others crowded around, each eager to try on a cloak.

Popov yelled, “Don’t touch anything! Wait for the quartermaster to issue them! If anyone takes one now, they’ll be locked up!”

The first scallywag who grabbed a cloak could only reluctantly put it back.

Wang Zhong heard someone say, “Alyosha, better wait until you have your cloak before you bring flowers!”

Since Wang Zhong’s nickname was also Alyosha, his first reaction was to think he was being called, but he soon realized it wasn’t for him.

Russian names often coincided—a whole bunch of “Alekseis,” and Wang Zhong even suspected that Russians unfamiliar with each other would use both the first name and patronymic to avoid confusion.

Clearly, this “Alyosha” was referring to another soldier named Aleksei.

From his vantage point, Wang Zhong quickly spotted this “Alyosha”: Aleksei Balfionovich.

So Wang Zhong called out loudly, “Aleksei Balfionovich! Who are you giving flowers to?”

The cadets going for the cannon and those heading to the station to receive supplies all stopped in their tracks and stared at Wang Zhong, surprised.

Aleksei Balfionovich said with excitement, “You remembered my name?”

Wang Zhong nodded, “Don’t be so surprised every time. I’ve said I would remember all your names. As long as I’m alive, you will not become ‘nameless’ heroes. Aleksei, who are you giving flowers to?”

A sharp-tongued scallywag blurted out, “It’s the laundry squad’s Natalia, Your Excellency!”

Wang Zhong: “Then I wish you a successful mission. To the west of the encampment, in front of the perimeter wall, there’s a lawn where starflowers are blooming beautifully.”

In fact, Ludmila was the one who had discovered this, and she immediately told Wang Zhong, even making him a wreath.

Aleksei Balfionovich’s face lit up with joy, “Really, Your Excellency?”

“Really. You can pick them during the rest time after dinner tonight, and present them to your lady as the sun sets,” Wang Zhong advised.

Popov chimed in, “As expected from the Casanova of Yekaterinburg, always understanding the way of love.”

Wang Zhong shrugged; in truth, he had zero experience with romance, but he had read two hundred romance comics!

Not two hundred issues, but two hundred series!

Popov: “Alright, enough! Let’s continue with the orders!”

As the soldiers resumed the orderly transfer of ammunition, Popov turned to Wang Zhong: “Actually, there’s some good news.”

Wang Zhong: “Oh?”

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince plans to send over those troops from the capital that are specialized in parades. Those units are under the management of the court’s ceremonial service, and the Crown Prince can direct them.”

Upon hearing this, Pavlov frowned: “You mean the ceremonial troops equipped with T35s? What good are those besides serving as a royal parade vehicle? The thickest part of their armor is only 30 millimeters, and the thinnest is just 10 millimeters!”

Wang Zhong: “You’re quite well-informed about this, huh?”

Pavlov with a deadpan expression: “I’ve seen those things during the Winter War; they’re absolutely terrible. Whoever ordered them to be taken into battle should be shot.”

Popov: “But you can’t deny they look very imposing and majestic, perfect for parades.”

Wang Zhong recalled and indeed, they did.

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Damn it, before they equip me with T34s, am I supposed to try out all the Soviet Union’s quirky machines?

Just as he finished his thought, the air raid siren sounded.

Wang Zhong shouted, “Stop loading, get away from the trucks, stay clear of the ammunition, and find cover!”

Usually there was a bit of time to find shelter before the enemy planes arrived when the air raid sirens went off.

Wang Zhong, Pavlov, and Popov quickly took cover in a nearby bunker, craning their necks to watch the sky.

From the direction of the supply depot came the sounds of explosions and anti-aircraft gunfire.

Pavlov breathed a sigh of relief: “They’re hitting the supply depot again.”

Just then, the sound of engines approaching rapidly from the direction of the depot could be heard, and soon two Stukas that had just dropped their payloads appeared.

Noticing the Gas trucks parked in the encampment that had not yet been concealed, they took the opportunity to strafe them.

One of the Gas trucks in the middle of the line immediately exploded into flames, and several more caught fire.

The enemy planes’ engine noise gradually faded into the distance.

Wang Zhong, peeking through his overhead view to confirm the enemy planes had left, climbed out of the bunker and looked at the burning trucks: “Damn it, the mechanics at the repair shop have got their work cut out for them again. Anyone hurt? Any casualties speak up now!”

Wang Zhong’s typical humor immediately triggered laughter among the younger soldiers.

The solemn atmosphere brought on by the enemy air raid was thus somewhat lightened.

“Stop laughing!” Popov yelled angrily, “Get the fire extinguishers! If you’re artillery cadets, you should’ve learned firefighting! Put it out quickly! Don’t let it spread to other vehicles!”