Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 850 - 5 But you know, XXXXX is not that fragile_2

Chapter 850 -5 But you know, XXXXX is not that fragile_2

Hans: “Sounds like it’s coming from the direction of Fortress 153.”

The Prosens had built a series of fortifications on the way to Kitok Village, where the 500th Division headquarters was located, in the marshlands, naming them after the heights of the small hillocks where they were situated.

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Of course, given the pitifully scant engineering materials received by the 500th Division, the so-called fortresses were basically without concrete, made only of brick structures with wooden roofs.

The Prosens simply didn’t believe that fortifications and strongholds behind the marshland needed to be that robust; they thought it was enough for these strongpoints to fend off the Anteans’ infiltration troops.

Now it seemed the Prosens had made a huge mistake.

Sweat beads the size of soybeans fell from the battalion commander’s forehead.

Assistant Gunner: “Commander? This isn’t your command spot, is it?”

“But this is where the most experienced non-commissioned officers are, plus the machine gun,” the battalion commander said, glancing at Hans.

Hans felt his scalp tingle; indeed, he was the most veteran NCO in the battalion, but that seniority came solely from being long in service, and he was always in the second or third line of troops!

He was just about to clarify this point when a guitar sound came from outside.

No, there was also the noise of engines and tank gearboxes, but none were as striking as the sound of the guitar.

Hans looked nervously outside the bunker, just as the guitarist began to strum.

A flock of birds burst from the woods, as though startled by the strumming.

The next moment, Anteans in green capes leaped out of the bushes, their submachine guns spitting fire continuously, bullets pitter-pattering around Hans.

The devil of it was, all these bullets missed Hans but hit the assistant gunner and the battalion commander.

Hans immediately manned the machine gun, shouting at the same time: “Enemy! Enemy attack! Someone fetch the ammo belt!”

As he shouted, he began to spray fire. The heavy machine gun used by the 500th Division was the outdated Maxim, which had long been replaced by the first-line troops. The good news was that it didn’t need to have its barrel changed as frequently as the MG34 or MG42, which made it more suitable for a poorly trained unit like the 500th Division.

The bad news was its slow rate of fire, lacking the suppressive capabilities of the MG series.

Moreover, it was incredibly cumbersome and not as easy to reposition as the MG series.

After a few seconds of continuous firing, Hans saw a pot-lid tank emerge from the woods, its barrel aiming this way.

Just then, a recruit who came to carry the ammo belt burst in.

Hans pushed the recruit away: “Go away!”

The next moment, the shockwave hit from behind, lifting him up and slamming him against the wall of the machine gun bunker.

Hans passed out on the spot, and after who knew how long, he regained consciousness. Even before opening his eyes, he could hear the guitar, along with someone singing something in Antenese.

He opened his eyes to see the Anteans had entered the machine gun bunker, using pistols to finish off the Prosen Soldiers lying on the ground.

Hans tried to struggle, reaching for his pistol, only to find his right hand was gone.

Following his gaze, all that was left of his right arm was half of it, everything below the elbow had disappeared.

At that moment, an Antean noticed him, walked up in front of him, and raised his pistol.

Right then, the guitarist who seemed to be playing a demonic tune entered the chorus section, the fierce strumming riling up the melody.

The gunshot rang out.

———

Platoon Leader Ivan fired his last pistol round, and his gun clicked empty.

“Was he trying to surrender just now?” asked the Corporal who was following the platoon leader.

“He didn’t raise both hands; that doesn’t count as surrender,” the platoon leader said while reloading.

The Corporal looked at the slain Prosen: “It seems like he didn’t have hands left?”

The platoon leader: “Then he should find new hands first, then try surrendering. Don’t talk to me about international law; I’ve been fighting since the Great Retreat, and I’ve never seen the Prosens apply international law to our wounded and prisoners.”

When he finished, the platoon leader slipped the reloaded pistol into its holster and began to insert rounds into an empty magazine.

Sunlight streamed in through the hole blasted by the tank gun, falling onto the platoon leader’s Gold Star Medal.

Outside the bunker, Cidroc continued to play and sing: “Damn, I still have one last grenade, let’s give them a taste of our strength.”

The boiler maker played the Marshal’s famous song with great fervor.

———

Empire of Prosen Northern Army Group Headquarters.

Marshal von Lerr was sweating when he heard the telephone ring.

He knew it had to be the Plathen Emperor calling.

Because it was the Emperor, he had no choice but to answer.

After picking up the receiver, the voice of the Emperor came from the other end: “What the hell is going on?”

Marshal von Lerr: “The enemy has completely defied military logic! Their tank forces came through the swamps, such a reckless advance, logistics simply cannot keep up! Their tank units will soon run out of fuel and ammunition, breaking down on the road and turning into targets!”

The Emperor was pleased: “Then you must have already prepared for a counterattack, ready to annihilate the forces that have broken through!”

Marshal von Lerr swallowed.

Emperor: “What’s wrong? Don’t you have confidence?”

“Your Majesty, this… In the area where the enemy has broken through, we only have a few divisions with very poor combat effectiveness and readiness.”

“Don’t you have the outstanding 502 Heavy Armored Battalion?”

Marshal von Lerr: “The 502 Battalion has now been split into multiple two-tank teams on the northern front, resisting the Saint Andrew Regional Army with high intensity. Moreover, most of their tanks have suffered severe damage and are close to their limits.”

Tiger King tanks equipped by the 502 Battalion rarely have issues if they are well-maintained, but maintenance takes a very long time.

And once they have not been well-maintained, their excessive weight and complex drivetrain would cause them to be stranded in Ante’s bad terrains.

The Emperor fell silent for a few seconds, then said: “So let me summarize the situation, Marshal von Lerr. The enemy has breached your defense line, and you are powerless to do anything, right?”

The Marshal hesitated briefly before answering: “Yes, my Army Group is facing the risk of encirclement. I am prepared to abandon all current positions and withdraw.”

Emperor: “You’re going to give up our Bridgehead Fort Saint Andrew in the north, which is a threat to Ante?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you realize this will put us in a very passive position in armistice negotiations?”

Marshal von Lerr was shocked: “Peace negotiations have already started?”

“Not yet, but we’re preparing to start after we hold off the enemy’s attack and carry out a counteroffensive! The Anteans will have to come to the negotiating table! If they don’t come, we will talk to the United Kingdom! As long as we show that we can compete with Ante on equal footing, the United Kingdom will be interested in our proposal!”

Marshal von Lerr couldn’t help but hold his forehead.

“Your Majesty, if we don’t retreat now, our entire Army Group will be surrounded in the narrow region between the swamp and the sea, in front of Saint Andrew Fort.”

“You are relieved from your command!” the Emperor interrupted the Marshal, “I will send a Commander who can complete the mission!”

Although changing commanders in the midst of battle is a significant military taboo, Marshal von Lerr felt as though a great weight had been lifted.

It’s good, not having to watch his own troops be annihilated.

————

Ante Capital Saint Ekaterina Fortress, High Command main conference room.

Wang Zhong looked at the battle reports with a smile: “Good! Very good, the concept of breaking through the swamp has been realized, this punch hit right at the enemy’s vital point!”

“Vital point?” Olga asked curiously, “What does that mean?”

Wang Zhong: “Seven inches behind a snake’s head—inch is a unit of length in Ceres, if you hit a snake there, it will become paralyzed. This move of ours has hit the vital point of Prosen, they did not anticipate it, they have no way to resist.

“Now they can only retreat. In order to ensure that the Northern Army Group can withdraw smoothly from the encirclement, they need to mobilize troops to delay us. They must draw forces from the Southern Army Group and the Central Army Group.”

Olga clapped her hands with force: “I see, our Western Front Army is also attacking, so Prosen can only draw forces from the south.”

“Yes, and thus our series of attacks begins the real drama. A pocket never before seen, more terrifying than Prosen’s glorious victory from June to September of 914—”

Olga: “And for the first time, our troops will enter the territory of Prosen!”

Wang Zhong corrected her: “It’s Melianian territory, Your Majesty.”

Olga: “But they’ve been ruled by the Prosens for five years, they should have become Prosens by now, right?”

Marshal Gorky: “How could it be, look at Moravia, didn’t they defect decisively?”

“Moravia after all joined the Empire of Prosen as a kingdom. Melania was occupied.” Olga said.

Wang Zhong: “Your Majesty, indeed the Melianians have been directly governed and transformed by Prosen for five years, but as you know, the Melianians are not so fragile.”