Arc of Fire

Chapter 733 -71: The Masterminds

General Sheeplin had just entered the Eagle’s Nest and asked Vice Admiral Grish immediately, “How is the Emperor’s mood?”

"His mood is good,” the Vice Admiral glanced inside and lowered his voice, “thanks to Giles, the Emperor has now come to terms with reality and has reverted to the leader who initially led us to constant victories.”

General Sheeplin breathed a sigh of relief.

Grish said, “Go ahead, boldly propose your ideas. Just yesterday, the Emperor praised you for allowing Rocossov to kill only one hundred thousand men.”

General Sheeplin said, “Isn’t that irony?”

Grish replied, “Of course not. The Emperor even said that if it had been someone else, most of the troops from the Southern Army Group would have retreated to the defense area of the Central Army Group, and then no one in the entire Western Kazarlia could have stopped Rocossov. You preserved the possibility for us to cease fire across the Dibo River.”

"Cease fire?” General Sheeplin widened his eyes, “Is the Emperor really considering this? Impossible! Rocossov would only cease fire when he needs time to resupply and regroup—once he’s ready, he will continue his assault!”

Vice Admiral Grish said, “Then how do you think this war should end? We can’t possibly defeat the Anteans now! We can only bleed the enemy dry and force them to accept a ceasefire!”

"So how should this war end?” Grish countered, “Is the Empire of Prosen to be destroyed?”

Sheeplin didn’t answer but pushed past Vice Admiral Grish and walked down the lavishly decorated corridor.

Vice Admiral Grish, hands in his pockets, watched his retreating figure then sighed deeply, turned around, opened a cabinet under his desk, took out a bottle of whiskey, and from a drawer a glass, poured himself a drink, and downed it in one gulp.

—

General Sheeplin entered the room and saw the Emperor gesticulating over a map.

Hearing the door open, the Emperor turned and met Sheeplin’s gaze and said, “You’ve arrived just in time, General Sheeplin. I urgently need to know something, can Argesukov hold out?”

"No,” General Sheeplin decisively replied, “Our Eleventh Army Group from the Coastal Fortress pulled out quite completely, but just one Army Group cannot hold off Rocossov’s forces. Besides, I must remind you, the Armored Fifth Army, part of the Eleventh Army Group, has also suffered severe tank losses. About a hundred tanks are left in the repair factories, and currently, only one hundred tanks in the whole group are operational.”

The Emperor added, “I’m already aware of the heavy losses to the Armored Troops. But what if we defend using the fortifications left by the Anteans around Argesukov? Is it possible to hold the city with just infantry troops?” Ȑ𝘢ΝőBΕS

General Sheeplin said, “Your Majesty, Rocossov has extremely terrifying siege weapons, and currently, we haven’t found an effective way to counter it.”

"We have found one now,” said Celtic Marshal Kyle, “Based on various reports, this siege weapon, named the Ulban, has its rocket launcher exposed on its back. So, we can cover it with artillery fire, directly destroying its launching capabilities, and even detonating unlaunched rockets.”

General Sheeplin nodded, “Okay, I guess the Science Academy has developed a new artillery weapon that can precisely hit a moving Ulban?”

"In fact, our Land Stuka rocket launchers are up to the task. We have already conducted tests,” Celtic Marshal Kyle answered.

General Sheeplin said, “But we haven’t captured an Ulban, have we? How did you test it?”

Celtic Marshal Kyle responded, “Based on intelligence gathered from the front lines, we created a replica of an Ulban, made the back launch rails much sturdier and heavier than in normal conditions, but it was still destroyed by the Land Stuka.”

Grand Duke Marshal Mayer interjected, “Actually, the Air Force’s new attack aircraft can also destroy the Ulban mega cannon.”

"It must!” the Emperor declared loudly, “So, General Sheeplin, tell me, can Argesukov hold out?”@@novelbin@@

"No,” General Sheeplin replied with even more determination than before, “Pulling back the Eleventh Army Group across the Dibo River can effectively strengthen the river’s defenses. Although other units of the Southern Army Group haven’t been entirely wiped out, they’ve been thoroughly routed and need time to regroup.”

Marshal Rundstedt asked, “If we don’t defend Argesukov and Rocossov crosses the river, what then?”

"He won’t make it across; his forces have swept through half of Kazarlia and also need to stop to resupply and reinforce. We might only have 100 operational tanks left, but Rocossov won’t have many operable tanks either!”

General Sheeplin walked to the map and drew two lines between the Dibo River and Rocossov’s summer offensive starting point.

"Look at this distance!”

After a few seconds of silence, the Emperor asked, “Then, as you said, let’s abandon Argesukov. How much time do we have? Can we turn this city into ruins before we leave?”

The military leaders at National Defense looked at one another.

General Sheeplin said, “If we are to cease fire, shouldn’t we avoid further provoking the Anteans?”

The Emperor asked, “Do you think a ceasefire is possible?”

"No,” General Sheeplin answered decisively.

The Emperor nodded, “You possess a quality our senior officers greatly lack at this moment! Coupled with the successful retreat, I have decided to promote you to Imperial Marshal!”

General Sheeplin stood to attention, chest out, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

"But I demand that you hold the Dibo River line and save Bogdanovka!” the Emperor paused, staring intently into Sheeplin’s eyes, “Can you do that?”

General Xiplin opened his mouth but ultimately swallowed the word “impossible” and said, “I will do my best!”

His Majesty suddenly raised his voice, “Do your best! Every time my generals tell me this, they fail to achieve it! You incompetents, at the military academy you only learned how to use knives and forks!”

Marshal Xiplin replied, “Your Majesty, if I am given control of all the newly formed armored divisions, I can at least maintain the Dibo River defensive line until next year!”

The Emperor declared, “You will get two new armored divisions!”

Marshal Xiplin said, “Two? As far as I know, the High Command has newly formed

"The High Command has indeed newly formed six armored divisions, and also a heavy tank battalion comprised of brand-new, just-off-the-line Tank No. 6. However, these troops will be sent to Sardin.”

Marshal Xiplin frowned, “The Allied Forces have landed on that boot?”

"Not yet, but we all know they are coming,” the Celtic Marshal answered for the Emperor. “The troops just withdrawn from Sicily suffered huge losses and will certainly withstand the Allies’ subsequent offensive, and we are transferring the armored divisions to the south of Sardin.”

The Emperor took up the conversation again, “Due to Rocossov’s rapid advance, we can expect the Allied Forces to make significant moves on the Western Front as well, and they do not want to share the glory of defeating us with the Anteans.”

"Perhaps this is our opportunity, we may be able to stall the Anteans for the Allied Forces. I have already dispatched a secret envoy and may meet with the President of the Federation in a few weeks.”

The Emperor grinned, showing a smile, “This is the solution I have found for the Empire to end the war! As long as the Federation stops supporting the Anteans, we may be able to bring about a stalemate with the Anteans, causing the Allied Nations to crumble and every man for himself!”

General Xiplin looked towards the Celtic Marshal and Marshal Rundstedt.

Neither of them seemed to notice his gaze.

The Emperor continued, “So, we must destroy Argesukov! For this, I have mobilized a national police force of one hundred thousand men and about five thousand combat engineers, and we will reduce Argesukov to ashes before Rocossov can redraw its map!”

At the same time, at the First Mobile Army Headquarters.

The entire Corps Command convoy was on the move, Yegorov sat in the jeep, looking at the surrounding scenery.

"Wait, are we almost at Orachi?” he suddenly exclaimed, slapping the back of the driver’s seat, “Stop the car! Stop the car! I want to look at the terrain around here!”

The driver hit the brakes hard, causing Yegorov’s head to nearly bump against the seat back.

He stood up, taking out binoculars to observe the surroundings.

"Yes, yes, it’s here! This is the forest where my troop ambushed the enemy! Our position was inside this forest! Eugene’s old buddy’s troop was on the high ground to the southwest! We just need to cross the hill ahead, and we’ll see the city!”

Yegorov put down the binoculars and told his new guard, “I tell you, half of Orachi’s people work in the dairy farms, and the milk and sausages they produce are very popular in Argesukov! Signal the order! All units speed up and move into the city for sausages!”

The command echoed down the line immediately.

Yegorov remained standing on the seat, urging the driver, “Drive! Drive! Don’t worry about me, I’m standing steady!”

The jeep started up, possibly because Yegorov, the bear-like figure, had stood up, making the vehicle’s center of gravity higher and causing it to sway terribly, as if drunk.

The vehicle thus charged up the dirt hill.

Then the driver subconsciously let go of the gas.

The jeep that had just climbed the hill immediately stopped.

Yegorov, clutching the driver’s seat backrest, stared blankly ahead.

There was nothing but ruins.

Yegorov’s fingers tightened on the backrest until his knuckles turned white.

"Orachi he muttered softly, “Is this… Orachi? Are we mistaken? The terrain around here—after two years, there should have been some changes, right? This unchanged terrain, it’s unreasonable!”

At that moment, the vanguard of the First Guard “Red Flag” Mechanized Infantry Division also crossed the hill and seeing this, the leading battalion commander shouted, “Attention—halt!”

The entire formation came to a sudden stop.

The battalion commander jogged to Yegorov’s vehicle, “General, something is amiss, let’s send out a reconnaissance team to look around first!”

Yegorov replied, “No, you see that red flag; our forward units have already passed through, leaving a liaison officer behind. Orachi… has been destroyed by the Prosens.”

With that, he twisted the binoculars out of shape.

"Suka! The Prosens must pay a blood debt!”