Cannon Fire Arc

The letter, written in very non-standard Antenese, said: "So we rebelled early to save the children and to vent our anger at the Prosens."

Wang Zhong didn't respond but took the photo from Vasily's hand and examined it closely.

"This photo," he said, "how was it taken?"

"Our warriors secretly took it." The letter said in stuttering Antenese.

Wang Zhong: "Secretly took it? At such a close distance?"

The messenger looked bewildered: "Yeah, what's the matter?"

Wang Zhong: "Look at this photo, it's clearly taken inside the Prosens' guarded area. And this one, there's a Prosen guard in the corner, facing the photographer."

As he spoke, he laid out the selected photos on the table for the messenger to see.

Messenger: "The guard is facing this way, but didn't notice the photographer, or—"

Wang Zhong: "Look at the shadows in the photo, the direction of the shadows can determine the direction of the light source. All the shadows seem to be moving away from the photographer. This indicates that a flash was used while taking these photos, and yet the guard in the photo facing the photographer didn't notice the flash, how is that possible?"

In this era, a flash was essentially an explosive flare, making a loud sound and emitting noticeable smoke when used.

The messenger looked at the photos, seemingly in a state of mental breakdown.

Vasily: "In simple terms, these are photos taken by the Prosens, then let your 'warrior' bring them back. I suggest immediately executing the person who brought back the photos."

The Judge, who brought the messenger, echoed: "We can provide professional guidance."

Messenger: "You mean, these children haven't been killed, it's fabricated?"

Wang Zhong looked at the messenger, realizing he truly hoped it was fake, sighed: "No, the photos are likely real, fabricating such photos is more time-consuming and labor-intensive than taking real ones, the enemy wouldn't bother doing that.

"They used these photos to anger you, provoke an early uprising, then force us to abandon the encircling maneuver on the enemy's main force to rescue you!"

Messenger: "No!"

Wang Zhong: "If my guess is right, these photos will soon be sent to the United Kingdom's capital and then published on the front page of all newspapers.

"And the Federation, soon the whole world will cry, 'Where is Rocossov, why isn't he rescuing Melania quickly?"

Pavlov cursed: "Sukabule, this time it's an open scheme, if you continue north, at least the Federation can't use your card to sell War Bonds anymore."

"But we must continue north," Wang Zhong said resolutely, "We must not do what the enemy wants us to do."

Messenger: "Then what about the children of Melania? What about us who have already rebelled? Are you just going to watch us get suppressed by the Prosens?"

Wang Zhong: "Our forces aren't sufficient to be split in two, the enemy surely won't sit still, they can still mobilize forces from the Western Front, and also from the Kingdom of Sardinia, Balkan Peninsula.

"We cannot underestimate the enemy, dividing forces now only makes them happy."

The messenger fell to his knees with a thud: "Marshal! Star of victory! For the people of Melania, please save us! For the sake of the Melianians who have fought alongside you until now, lend us a hand, Marshal!"

Wang Zhong looked at the messenger, hesitating for a moment, but then he turned away, hands clasped behind his back.

The messenger, a grown man, burst into tears: "How many Melanian mothers will lose their children! How many Melanian women will lose their husbands! How many people will lose their loved ones!"

Wang Zhong: "Stop crying! Just a few days ago, my own brother died from a Prosen landmine! Who doesn't have a few blood debts on them? Avenge them if you have grudges, what is the point of all this crying?"

The messenger was stunned: "Your brother?"

"Yes. I survived in Upper Penie because my brother found a way to get a KV to support, all the crew of the KV died in Upper Penie, in a way they exchanged their lives for mine!

"Now, the brother who coordinated the KV is also gone, leaving me as the only descendant of the Rokossovsky family, so I've sworn, in the future, to storm into Prosenia, to face the damn Emperor and question him on why he waged this war of aggression!

"At that time, I'll settle your debts along with mine!"

Having said that, Wang Zhong spun around sharply, gazed at the messenger, and said word by word:

"I promise!"

The messenger sat up, wiping tears with his sleeve, mumbling as he wiped: "How am I supposed to report to the national army high command? How do I report to Helman?"

Wang Zhong: "Helman?"

Popov explained: "The de facto leader of the Melania Resistance Organization, you could consider him the 'Commander of Operations'."

Wang Zhong: "Commander of Operations? A resistance organization with departments other than combat?"

"Seems so." Popov shrugged, "Also, there are many factions within them, each fighting its own battle, only this Helman's words are listened to by all factions."

Wang Zhong: "They actually rebelled under such circumstances? Isn't that destined to fail?"

Popov: "In fact, we also sent people to tell this Helman not to rebel, to wait for us to liberate Melania's territory."

Wang Zhong was silent for a few seconds and then shook his head: "Then we can only quickly complete the left hook and then turn west."

Pavlov immediately opposed: "No, we need to rest after encircling."

The enemy, retreating, needs time to reorganize, and the Ante Army, as the attacking side, cannot maintain complete organization during the attack, in fact, as the battle continues, command and communication capabilities of all troops will decrease.