Chapter 86: Incompatible as Water and Fire

After dinner, the senior officers of the Rocossov combat group met again, with a defense map of Lokotov City laid out on the table they gathered around.

Yegorov was the first to speak, “I’ve placed both the first and third companies in the chemical plant. To be honest, it’s fairly sturdy there. When it comes to withstanding enemy heavy artillery fire, the casualties should be lower than in the garrison.”

"Another location that is quite suitable for artillery defense is here.”

He pointed behind the fertilizer plant.

"The warehouse district, which is also made of very strong concrete buildings, where we can station the reserve troops, meaning the second company.”

"Lokotov is half an industrial city, with many concrete structures, which is one of the few pieces of good news.”

Yegorov paused, then added, “By the way, the logistics command has allocated one of their communications companies to us, and they have been busy all afternoon getting the telephone lines up.”

As he spoke, Yegorov picked up the telephone on the table and continued, “This is finally no longer just for show. We can now call the main position at the fertilizer plant, the hidden B4 howitzer battalion, the position of God’s Arrow Company, and the Lokotov Defense Brigade.”

After finishing, he put the handset back in place.

Wang Zhong: “There seem to be too few places that we can reach.”

"After all, the lines were just laid this afternoon.”

Pavlov frowned, “Why is there a phone line to the defense brigade? It isn’t under our command.”

"Now it is,” Popov answered, “We’ve established contact with Argesukov’s Front Army headquarters. The Front Army has ordered us to unify command of the combat troops in Lokotov, to hold off enemy raids by small units, and to support General Anton’s counter-attack.”

Wang Zhong was shocked; was this what it was like to be a playboy immersed in the game of romance? I’d like to know too!

Inserting himself into the conversation, Pavlov said, “None of this matters, whether it’s mathematicians or corsets, they’re not what we need to worry about right now. Whether the higher-ups believe it or not, we know an Armored Division is advancing on us.”

"It’s said that Prosen has only committed 20 Armored Divisions in total, and one of them is coming right at us! And against them, all our anti-tank weapons consist of only ten Divine Arrows and three anti-tank guns!”

"Regarding the Divine Arrow,” Wang Zhong interrupted Pavlov, “where is it currently deployed?”

Yegorov: “At the fertilizer plant, the second floor of the factory building provides a good vantage point, suitable for launching the Divine Arrows, and after firing, they can move to a safe new position swiftly. Yeca Neiko is very pleased with the new firing position.”

Wang Zhong: “They should be pulled back.”

"What?” Yegorov frowned, “Pulled back?”

Wang Zhong: “I plan to use the Divine Arrow for anti-air defense.”

"You intend to use the Divine Arrow to protect our 203 mm gun position?” Yegorov was amazed, “That’s quite suitable, indeed. If the 203s survive an extra air raid, the damage they could inflict on the enemy would be far greater than destroying ten tanks!”

"No,” Wang Zhong shook his head, “I captured a motorized reconnaissance company in Karlinovka today; they are part of the enemy Air Force’s ground guidance unit, which inspired me. The Air Force needs to know where the targets are to bomb them. Do you get my drift?”

Yegorov shook his head: “I don’t follow.”

Wang Zhong: “Lokotov is a reasonably sized city, full of buildings, and the surrounding terrain lacks any high mountains. I saw it clearly when I went out reconnoitering—the highest observation point the enemy can find is the barn outside the city.”