Cannon Fire Arc

Chapter 853: Chapter 7 Starting with Artillery Fire

Lieutenant Henry Scaritz rushed to the yard, only to see a Rokossovsky Type tank with a striking slogan painted on its turret.

He read the slogan aloud, “Vengeance for a heroic brother?”

The tank commander, halfway out of the turret, turned his head upon hearing Henry’s words: “Yes, vengeance for a heroic brother! This slogan was personally painted by Marshal Rokossov himself! At the time, I didn’t even mention who my brother was, just that he was a recipient of the Antean Hero Medal from the Tank 51st Army. Guess what, the Marshal immediately remembered my brother’s name!

“The Marshal asked me at the time, ‘Your brother is Aleksei Podoliskov, right?’

“I was so shocked, I couldn’t speak! Then the Marshal patted me on the shoulder and said, ‘All the posthumously awarded Venus medals are personally issued by me. As soon as you mentioned Tank 51st Army, I remembered!'”

The commander spoke with pride, his upper body erect, the Venus medal on his chest exceptionally conspicuous.

After finishing, the commander’s tone changed: “You are Melianians, right?”

Lieutenant Henry was surprised: “Don’t you know which unit is being reinforced?”

“Of course, I know. But I always have to ask, maybe you are a Melianian born in Ante? We have someone like that in our unit, whose grandfather came to Ante during the reign of Peter the Great, and has completely become an Antean.”

Lieutenant Henry’s expression was serious: “I am a true Melianian, born during the time of Melania’s independence, and only fled to Ante after the Prosen invasion.”

“Oh, so you’ve been away from home for five years?”

Henry nodded: “By this September, it will be six years.”

The commander ‘oh’-ed, then looked up at the western sky: “Then you are finally going home, congratulations.”

Henry also looked westward, then suddenly said: “I still remember, on the morning the Prosens began their attack, my father sent me to the village to buy charcoal. I slacked off, playing hide and seek with Teresa in the farmhouse. I let her win easily, and she found me in no time—

“Then I heard the sound of engines. In our countryside, many people haven’t seen a tractor in their lifetime, much less cars.

“So everyone thought it was thundering, with some people strangely looking at the clear blue sky, wondering how it could possibly thunder in such weather.

“Then Prosen tanks with black paint drove into the village. I remember the vehicles entering the village were No. 2 tanks, 38Ts, and their half-track vehicles.”

Henry sighed: “My country, to be defeated by No. 2 tanks, it’s really unbelievable when you think about it.”

The commander smiled, hopped down from the tank, and extended his hand to Henry: “Podoliskov!”

Henry shook the commander’s hand: “Henry, Henry Scaritz. Scaritz is the name of my hometown. After I escaped from under Prosen’s iron hoof, I changed my last name to this.”

The commander, looking surprised: “You changed it to this? Did your parents agree?”

“They are all dead.” Henry’s face was calm, “Killed by the Prosens.”

“Sorry.” Podoliskov squeezed Henry’s hand firmly, “We will soon be striking back into Prosen territory, and when we do, whatever they did in our homeland will be repaid tenfold!”

Henry smiled, said nothing, and instead gazed at the western sky.

————

On July 15th, Wang Zhong returned to Ronied.

Upon entering the First Front Army Headquarters of Kazarlia, he sighed, “It feels more comfortable being in my own headquarters.”

“How so, you find the Yeburg Headquarters too luxurious?” Pavlov asked.

“Yes, those luxurious chairs make my butt sore.” Wang Zhong said as he pulled out his favorite wooden chair and sat down, “This is more comfortable, it’s breathable. It’s hot, and sitting on the leather chairs in Yeburg gave me a heat rash.”

Popov laughed loudly, then patted Wang Zhong’s shoulder: “You’re clearly a noble, yet you suffer from ailments unsuited for noble life!”

Wang Zhong: “Indeed. How’s the preparation for the offensive?”

“Fully ready. We’ve finished analyzing the intelligence provided by the Melania Resistance Organization, and combined with aerial reconnaissance information, we’ve identified fourteen breakthrough points, and will launch simultaneous attacks on these points. Six of them will be handled by the Melania People’s Army.”

After Pavlov finished, Popov added: “The morale of the Melania People’s Army is high; they can’t wait to fight their way back to their homeland.”

Wang Zhong: “They will get their wish tomorrow, but our first objective is still to encircle the heavy Prosen forces.”

Although tomorrow’s offensive will enter Melanian territory, it’s just passing through the northeastern part of Melania, mainly to encircle the Prosen Central and Northern Army Groups.

The Capital of Melania is not on the route of the offensive, and not even the mother river of Melania, the Vistula River, is on the route.

The Vistula River is 1,100 kilometers long, almost cutting through the entirety of Melania, and generally, operations within Melania would meet one of its tributaries.

However, Wang Zhong’s operation plan did not touch the Vistula River, which might cause dissatisfaction among the Melania People’s Army.

Ultimately, the staff included one of the tributaries of the Vistula River in the operation plan, allowing the Melania People’s Army to solemnly liberate a medium-sized city along the tributary, giving the Melianians an explanation.

After the end of the summer campaign, in October’s winter offensive, Kazarlia’s First Front Army will finally point its spear towards the Vistula River.