Cannon Fire Arc

Chapter 720: Chapter 58: The Prosens’ Response

On July 20 at 1100 hours, one hour before the Ante Cavalry began their assault, Marshal Geron saw General Xiplin enter the Headquarters of the Southern Army Group.

“My old friend,” he greeted immediately, “you should know why I have called you here to the Army Group Command, right?”

Xiplin replied, “Is it to clean up this mess we’re currently in?”

Marshal Geron countered, “How can you call it cleaning up a mess! The High Command and His Majesty the Emperor are wisely assigning each Prosen general to a stage where their talents can be fully utilized.

“You are extremely skilled at conducting retreats. Last winter, you led the B Army Group out of Rocossov’s million-strong army and the fiercely cruel General Winter.

“Now the Empire needs your talent to rescue our warriors from the perilous Shepetovka. But you were slow in arriving from the Coastal Fortress, taking several days!”

Xiplin hurriedly explained, “I didn’t purposely delay. There were many defense issues at the Coastal Fortress that needed to be addressed, which caused the delay.”

“Don’t worry about these,” Marshal Geron waved his hand dismissively, then gestured for Xiplin to follow him and walked over to the map, “All the signs indicate that Rocossov, who obliterated our rear guard left at Oborony, will soon outflank our forces in this direction.”

Xiplin, squinting at the map where Prosen and Ante forces met, suddenly interrupted the Marshal, “Why don’t I see the sawtooth line that represents defensive positions on the frontline between the two armies?”

The so-called sawtooth line, a nickname for the map legend representing defensive positions, looked like a smoothed saw blade.

Marshal Geron explained, “Because a continuous defensive line doesn’t exist yet; our troops have only had time to fortify the defenses at each village. Before I returned from the Eagle’s Nest, the 52nd Army reported that along the control zone boundary, there’s a series of discontinuous wooded areas where defensive lines could be positioned.”

Xiplin asked, “And the defensive line?”

“The 52nd Army reported that the Anteans’ observation posts have been directing artillery fire to disrupt the establishment of defenses, and currently, only 30 percent of the wooded area is fortified.”

Xiplin found the 52nd Army’s defensive area on the map, his mouth agape, “So you’re saying there are gaps everywhere?”

Marshal Geron confirmed, “We control the highways. Even if the enemy forces infiltrate through these gaps, they won’t likely get supplies.”

Xiplin retorted, “Are you serious, Marshal?”

Marshal Geron sighed, “What can I say? Of course, I know that the Ante Cavalry, once infiltrated, can resupply locally with food, as the Antean civilians are eagerly awaiting liberation and would rather starve themselves to aid their army.

“As for weapons, they could obtain them from guerrillas or even capture our supply depots. I know the situation is terrible! But how can I say that? It would only worsen morale if the others heard.”

Xiplin queried further, “What about the Armored Troops?”

Marshal Geron continued, “The 48th Armored Army has been requested from the Central Army, although they have been battered since the fierce battles which started in June.

“Their best condition unit is the 8th ‘Ghost’ Armored Division, which served as an army reserve. This morning, they reported their combat readiness: 4 Type Three command tanks, 7 short-barreled Type Threes, 32 long-barreled Type Threes, and 22 long-barreled Fours.”

Xiplin raised his eyebrows, “Not bad indeed. Based on past experience, such a unit could destroy at least 300 Ante tanks.”

Marshal Geron added, “As long as they don’t face Ante’s new tanks. Currently, only our new tank destroyers equipped with 105 mm anti-tank guns can handle these new tanks.”

Xiplin inquired, “How many of these tank destroyers do we have?”

“21,” Marshal Geron responded promptly, “I have reinforced the 8th Armored Division with all of them. Make good use of this armored power.”

Xiplin paused, “Wait, the new tank destroyers are the ones of 70 tons I’m familiar with?”

“No, the 70-ton machines could indeed face the enemy’s new tanks, either scratching them or penetrating them. Yet, these bulky items are now trophies of the Anteans.

“What we currently are dealing with, which I’m telling you about, is hastily made in the rear: thin-skinned, big-stuffed machines—essentially just artillery carriers. They may not penetrate the enemy’s tanks, and if spotted, they’re easily destroyed with a single shot!”

Marshal Geron paused, took a deep breath, “But the good news is a report from the Krat Bureau in Rabowell stated that the production of Ante’s new tanks is deficient, with only Rocossov’s forces equipped with a certain number.”

“We are facing Rocossov’s troops,” Xiplin reminded solemnly, word by word.

Marshal Geron continued, “But the last confirmation of these tanks was ten days ago; we have reason to believe all new tanks are either malfunctioned or destroyed. Anteans have poor repair capabilities; we might not see these formidable machines for another half a month.

“Before then, the 8th Armored Division will be the bane of all Ante armored troops, annihilating them all!”

Xiplin concluded, “I understand. I will make good use of the 8th Armored Division. But it’s really poignant that a division with fewer than 100 tanks has become the savior of the entire Army Group.”

Marshal Geron stated, “The other divisions of the 48th Armored Army put together still have 100 tanks, plus it was transferred from the Central Army Group, which controlled most of the tanker battles and thus the battlefield, hence many tanks are being recycled and repaired.

“Theoretically, the longer we wait, the more armored troops we will have.”

Xiplin: “Do you think Rocossov will wait?”

“No,” Marshal Geron shook his head, “he won’t miss the opportunity.”

As if echoing Marshal Geron’s words, a tense communications staff member entered the headquarters and whispered a few words into the ear of the Chief of Staff of the Second Army Group.

Because the original staff of the Southern Army Group was nearly wiped out, the staff now mainly came from the Second Army Group.

The organization of the Prosen Army Group was relatively large, sometimes comprising three to four hundred thousand people, so the staff team managed the operations of the entire army group adequately.

Marshal Geron, who originally served as the Commander of the Second Army Group, managed everything logically.

As for the temporarily promoted acting Chief of Staff of the Army Group, he was naturally sidelined to gain experience.

The Marshal looked at the Chief of Staff of the Second Army Group: “What happened?”

“Just now, Ante’s Cavalry Troops crossed our defense line.”

General Sheeplin: “It seems that the seventy percent undefended area has been exploited.”

Marshal Geron: “Even if we defended all of the forests, cavalry could still slip through gaps. This is a grassland; to form a stable front line, we need to build trenches in the vast plains, and we simply don’t have the time.”

Sheeplin: “So, was the cavalry assault expected? What’s the countermeasure?”

Marshal Geron: “Scorched earth, hold the strongpoints.”

Sheeplin: “Do we have enough troops?”

“Not enough,” Marshal Geron admitted frankly. “And even if the enemy ignores our well-defended villages, they can still wipe out our supply convoys. The only solution is to armor our supply convoys, equipping each retreating convoy with at least 20 half-track vehicles and a corresponding number of Armored Grenadiers.”

After saying this, Marshal Geron and General Sheeplin stared at each other.

Both clearly recognized the biggest problem with this “solution.”

General Sheeplin: “How many more troops would that require?”

“We’ve calculated it; it needs at least four Armored Grenadier Divisions so that we have enough armored vehicles and Grenadiers to protect all the convoys.”

General Sheeplin: “Four Armored Grenadier Divisions, not strengthening the front lines, not joining the counterattack, just purely escorting truck convoys. Then these divisions will also consume fuel supplies, and the vehicles will wear out… I feel like we’re in a deadlock.”

“No!” Marshal Geron countered, “The root of the problem lies in the vastness of the Kazralian plains, our troops being too spread out, and the supply lines being too long. If we retreat to the Dibo River, our troop concentration will increase, our supply lines will shorten, and then we’ll have a continuous defensive line, solving all the problems.”

Sheeplin: “It seems so.”

Marshal Geron: “This is now your responsibility. I’m returning from Eagle’s Nest and have brought your appointment letter. The Emperor has also entrusted me with a message that if you successfully complete the retreat, the Marshal’s Scepter will be yours.”

Sheeplin gave a wry smile: “You’re really putting me on the hot seat.”

Marshal Geron: “How can you say that? This is the trust of the Empire and the Emperor. Well, I must take my leave now. My Chief of Staff and the staff members are all trustworthy, and of course, you can also transfer people from the Eleventh Army Group.”

Sheeplin shook his head: “No, it’s too late for that now. The enemy cavalry has already broken through. We cannot allow the command system to fall into chaos now. Chief of Staff, show me the current retreat plan. Also, how many Armored Grenadiers do we have?”

“We have six Armored Grenadier Divisions, but sixty percent of their half-track vehicles have been lost. Moreover, we do not have control over the battlefield, so the lost vehicles can be considered total losses,” the Chief of Staff swiftly reported a series of figures.

Marshal Geron was drinking coffee nearby.

Sheeplin: “Which of the six divisions is the most elite? The 16th Armored Grenadier Division?”

“It’s hard to define ‘most elite,’ theoretically speaking…”

As the Chief of Staff hesitated, Marshal Geron interjected, “The 16th Armored Grenadier Division is the best, and you are quite familiar with them.”

Sheeplin: “Greyhound Division it is then. We’ll form a battle group based around the Greyhound Division to counter the enemy attacking from the east— I mean, the predicted pursuing forces.

“Other than the 16th Division, break up the remaining Armored Grenadier Divisions into squads and disperse them along the entire retreat route to deal with Ante’s cavalry.

“Additionally, center it around the 8th Armored Division— wait, the Division Commander of the 8th Armored Division, isn’t that Adel?”

“Yes, ‘Armored Schultz,’” the Chief of Staff answered.

Sheeplin: “I want to meet him, now, immediately.”