Arc of Fire

Chapter 777: Chapter 31 Everyone Will Face Their Predetermined Ending (6K words)_3

Giles nodded: “Yes, in fact, we have adopted Rocossov’s defense ideology in the Central Army Group. The town defenses we set up caused huge casualties to Ante’s Western Front Army.”

Emperor: “Do you mean we can hold them off in Melania?”

"Yes, we can hold them off. By then, Rocossov’s—no, it should be Antean General Gorky’s (Xiplin is still unaware that Gorky has been promoted to Marshal) tactics will no longer be effective.” Xiplin said this with great confidence.

Actually, it could still be effective, but that would require the strongest light infantry troops in the world, which neither Prosen nor Ante can afford now.

Celtic Marshal took over the conversation: “We have been building defenses on the border with Ante in Melania since last year, and it is currently thirty percent complete.”

"Only thirty percent?” the Emperor exclaimed, “It’s been nine months!”

...

Celtic Marshal replied calmly: “The progress is slow because many young people who should have joined the national labor camp were directly recruited into the new recruits camp, causing a labor shortage.”

The Emperor was silent for a few seconds: “Let the prisoners of war work on it.”

Celtic Marshal: “That would violate the Geneva Convention.”

"What does it matter? The Anteans even let prisoners of war work in factories! They talk about ‘liberating prisoners of war,’ ‘realizing their mistakes and returning from their misguided ways with the Prosen Empire,’ huh, I don’t believe it!”

Celtic Marshal: “Understood, I’ll arrange for the transfer of prisoners of war to labor.”

Emperor: “Remember, give them less food, make them do heavy work so they don’t have the energy to escape from prison. It will reduce the management pressure!

"As for those who die during labor, our food supplies are already so tight, yet we still have to feed the prisoners of war, no, let them die, and give the saved rations to our people.

"Why did I capture so many prisoners of war in the first place? It was just to boast about our military victories! We should have just put them all in a pit and shot them at the time!”

The Emperor muttered, pounding the desk.

Everyone tactfully waited for the Emperor to calm down.

They didn’t wait too long.

Once calmer, the Emperor asked Xiplin: “Can you hold out till the muddy season arrives?”

Xiplin: “Yes, I personally estimate that Rocossov’s logistics are almost at their limit now. He can at most capture Ronied and then he will have to stop to rest.

"They have already advanced a long enough distance; their armored forces and vehicles need to stop for repairs, and they also need to resupply ammunition and fuel.”

Emperor: “We actually have to wait for the enemy’s logistics to naturally stop their advancement!”

"Rocossov’s first year was just like this, it wasn’t that his tactics were particularly strong, his only contribution was to sustain the Anteans’ will to resist, delaying us until our supplies couldn’t keep up.” Xiplin said, “This is part of the art of war.”

His words boiled down to: Rocossov did it too, so there’s no need to be shy.

Emperor: “Since it’s a matter of waiting for Rocossov to exhaust his supplies, if I replace you now, Marshal Xiplin, will it affect our military operations?”

Marshal Xiplin: “No, actually, it is already evident that the Anteans’ offensive is weakening, especially the Antean Cavalry Troops, who suffered significant casualties in continuous combat. Some cavalry units have even lost most of their horses and can only fight on foot now.

"Our entire retreat has been conducted in an orderly manner, as long as there are no major changes to the command structure of the Southern Army Group, just replacing me as commander will not affect the operations of the entire Army Group.”

After hearing this, the Emperor nodded to Marshal Celt.

Marshal Celt took an order from his briefcase: “Marshal Xiplin, this is your order; the position of commander of the Southern Army Group will be taken over by Marshal Mengde, who has shown outstanding performance in the Central Army Group.”

Marshal Xiplin: “Very well, Mengde is very skilled at organizing defenses, especially adept at integrating scattered troops; he’s the right choice.”

Emperor: “At this point, you don’t need to flatter me anymore.”

"I’m speaking from the heart.” Marshal Xiplin answered.

Emperor: “Don’t rejoice too soon; I won’t let you idle at home like the former Army Commander.”

Marshal Xiplin nodded, put on his military cap, saluted the Emperor, and then turned and left the room.

Just as he arrived at the vestibule, he saw his deputy officer having a pleasant chat with a strange Colonel.

"Who is this?” Marshal Xiplin came to the Deputy Officer’s side and asked.

Deputy Officer: “This is Colonel Belger from the Reserves Administration, he is

"Valkyrie Club.” Marshal Xiplin interrupted the Deputy Officer, “I heard Marshal Vilna is the head of your club.”

Colonel Belger: “Many Marshals have been in and out of our club, even including Marshal Rommel.”

Marshal Xiplin: “Oh, congratulations then, it seems your endeavor is thriving. I won’t disturb you further.”

Colonel Belger: “Aren’t you worried about the future of Prosen?”

Xiplin glanced at the reception room—it was primarily a place for Deputy Officers to wait and socialize. Theoretically, as long as the Emperor was in a meeting, there would be many Marshals’ Deputy Officers in the room.

But now the room was empty.

Xiplin said to his own Deputy Officer: “Next time I have the chance to enter the Eagle’s Nest, don’t wait here, go stroll somewhere else. The secretarial department has many beautiful typist ladies; you can go give them a flower.”

The Deputy Officer nodded in understanding.

Colonel Belger: “Marshal

"I still have many handover tasks to deal with, now I need to return to the front line.” Marshal Xiplin smiled at the Colonel and briskly left the room with his Deputy Officer.

Colonel Belger watched them leave.

September 23, at the Headquarters of the Southern Army Group of Prosen.

Marshal Xiplin deliberately returned a day late by plane, and upon entering the Headquarters, he saw Marshal Mengde chatting with the staff in front of a map.

"Marshal Mengde, I’ve long heard of your great reputation!” Xiplin approached and extended his hand.

Mengde Saluted: “The reputation is all yours. You are known as the creator of miracles on the battlefield.”

"Humph, whatever titles I had before are all gone now.” Marshal Xiplin said with a wry smile, “The vast Eastern Front, the real legend is only Rocossov. Future historians, no matter which side they stand on, cannot overlook him.”

Mengde: “I have never personally clashed with him; at the Central Army Group, my old adversary was General Gorky, who, aside from constantly exhausting his troops, did nothing impressive.”

Marshal Xiplin: “No, his tactics have led Rocossov to his great achievements today. He just didn’t employ them in the right place.”

Mengde: “When the front line shrinks to the border of Melania, things will get better. We can defend from Koenigsberg to Barachia along this line; there are rivers, mountains, all suitable terrains for defense, and lots of reinforced concrete buildings.”

Just then, Xiplin’s Deputy Officer interjected: “Isn’t this equivalent to giving up all the achievements since Barbarossa?”

The Marshal and General both turned to look at the Deputy Officer.

Deputy Officer: “Then what was the point of launching Barbarossa?”

"There was no point—I mean, discussing it now is pointless.” Marshal Xiplin looked at Marshal Mengde, “But I don’t think it will be easy persuading His Majesty to retreat to the national border. I also mentioned keeping parts of Western Kazarlia.”

Marshal Mengde: “Stop joking, it’s all plains; not even a wide river, how can we defend? The ‘Eastern Wall’ built by Celtic Marshal also used the structures from when the Anteans fought against us. Now you’re telling me to defend land east of the national border?

"You’ve been relieved of duty and are carefree; I am the one responsible for defense!”

Marshal Xiplin: “You could protest and insist on holding your ground, perhaps you might just skip all the complex phases and succeed in getting relieved.”

Mengde was silent.

After a long while, he said: “No, I will try to defend. I will not intentionally get myself relieved.”

Marshal Xiplin: “Then, as a soldier, you are more competent than I am. But listen to my advice, everyone will face their destined end, the Empire too.”

Mengde stared at Xiplin: “Yes, I think before that happens, struggling with all one’s might is what life is about.”

Xiplin looked at Mengde for a few seconds and said: “Salutations to you. But… perhaps the end will come faster than we imagine.”