Cannon Fire Arc

Wang Zhong stared at General Tukhachev.

At first, Tukhachev seemed like a rabbit under the gaze of an eagle, but he probably had a sudden realization that if he was going to die either way, he might as well put on a fearless front.

He stood tall and faced Wang Zhong, "I always thought that I was the person in the Ante Army who understood modern warfare the most. I was the one who demanded the formation of armored troops, I was the one who demanded expansion of the army..."

Wang Zhong, "You still have the nerve to mention expanding the army? Do those watered-down Armored Divisions you came up with serve any purpose other than being target practice for the ace tank operators of the Prussians?

"Your understanding of modern warfare is merely superficial! You haven't even grasped the key aspects of modern warfare! No, you are utterly clueless!"

Just as Tukhachev's face was showing resignation, anger surged within him the moment Wang Zhong said he had no clue about modern warfare.

Fueled by anger, it seemed as if the defeat and the humiliation no longer mattered; he just wanted to argue with Wang Zhong on an academic level!

Tukhachev, "Then explain, where is it that I've failed to understand?"

Wang Zhong, "You've failed to understand everything! There are indeed those within the entire Ante Army who truly understand modern warfare, but you are certainly not one of them! Neither is that traitor, General Skorobo!"

Tukhachev, "The key to modern warfare is breakthrough, deep penetration of the enemy's defense lines and encircling and annihilating them in maneuver warfare! Is there a problem with this understanding?"

Wang Zhong, "That's just the superficial aspect! You have not grasped the truly powerful elements of the Prussian army!"

Tukhachev, holding his head high, "Then enlighten me, the 41st headmaster of the Suvorov Military Academy! I, as the 38th headmaster, am challenging you!"

Wang Zhong didn't even know that Tukhachev had once been his "predecessor." Thinking it over, this armchair strategist attitude might very well have been cultivated through teaching.

Just like some perpetual motion machine expert who speaks with great authority.

If it had been Wang Zhong shortly after he had initially crossed over, he might have cowered, as back in his original world he was just an ordinary university graduate who would nod and bow in front of his newly appointed associate professor thesis advisor.

Now, however, things were different. He was Rocossov returned from hell. The military theory books which he once read as an enthusiast had now been transformed into an understanding of warfare.

The theories, like top-quality steel, had been refined and summarized by so many military theorists, then forged countless times by death wielding a massive hammer called "sacrifice" in the fiery crucible of war, finally casting them into a treasured sword.

Wielding that sharp sword, why would Wang Zhong be afraid of a paper tiger!

Wang Zhong, "Let me tell you what truly makes the Prussians powerful. Do you think their strength lies in their tanks? No, during the battle of Melania, most of their tank divisions were equipped with Type 1 and Type 2 tanks, which are on the same level as our BT tanks! No, our BT tanks were even stronger as they had a 45mm cannon.

"But the Prussians executed a blitzkrieg. This is a completely different kind of warfare from the past. Their troops suddenly broke through to the depths of the enemy lines, turning the logistics and command centers into chaos.

"Was this feat accomplished by tanks alone? Was it only achieved by tanks?"

Tukhachev sneered contemptuously, "Then tell me what was it? Your series of rhetorical questions can't hide the fact that you actually haven't said anything!"

Wang Zhong, "I'm getting there! The enemy relied on three things."

He raised three fingers and looked around the whole courtroom, deliberately ignoring Olga who had purposely opened the one-way glass overlooking the venue.

"First, advances in communication technology. More powerful and portable radios, as well as widely equipped wireless sets, allowed the Prussian battle headquarters to have a clearer understanding of the frontline situation.

"If the Prussian commanders wished, they could even communicate directly with a command vehicle on the front line! The innovation in radio technology enabled distributed Prussian forces on the battlefield to coordinate like living cells!

"Second, comprehensive combined arms cooperation. The coordination between different arms of service in Prussian units is far better than ours. Their Armored Divisions have many support units, with the firepower of their accompanying infantry battalions even exceeding that of our Infantry Divisions!

"Additionally, they have Air Force support. The Stuka bombers hit targets according to instructions from ground troops, even coordinating with ground tanks marking targets with smoke for the Air Force to bomb!

"Our Air Force can only rely on their own reconnaissance, as most ground units lack radios.

"Third, the superior quality of their troops. I felt this especially clearly when commanding the Naval Infantry.

"A significant portion of the Naval Infantry were high-school students. They knew what they were fighting for, what needed to be done, and what their tactical objectives were. Even if they temporarily lost contact with superiors, the Naval Infantry maintained a high initiative.

"And at least the Prussian army's non-commissioned officers at the grassroots level have a similar initiative. A sergeant could command a combat team and contend with us!

"During the skirmishes with the Prussian forces, this was particularly apparent; as long as they still had a non-commissioned officer alive, they could keep their fighting spirit!

"My troops were able to hold their ground in close combat against the Prussians under such a huge disadvantage in Loktov because the core strength of my troops was made up of military academy students."

Wang Zhong paused, mainly because saying so much in one breath made him a little thirsty. He said to someone at the side, "Water!"

The Judge immediately handed Wang Zhong a bottle of Coke.

Wang Zhong finished his drink before realizing he might have gotten it wrong: It was General Golikov who liked cola. Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore.

Tukhachev had a pensive look, unexpectedly abstaining from defending himself while Wang Zhong was drinking. He was clearly contemplating Wang Zhong's words—he was truly contemplating them.

Unable to resist teasing, Wang Zhong said, "Now you start to think about what I'm saying? Too late! Just like what happened to General Skorobo, too late!"

Tukhachev pursed his lips and did not retort.

Wang Zhong continued, "And look at what you've done. Was it under your authorization that radios were only provided to leader's vehicles?"

Tukhachev: "It wasn't me... but I do want to quibble a bit here. Our radio production was too low, and the vacuum tube factories are in Saint Andrew Fort because our best universities are there..."

Wang Zhong: "Then why didn't you reduce the output to a quarter? In the first eighteen days of the war, we lost eighteen thousand tanks, while the enemy committed only four thousand tanks to the attack! What's the use of such an unwieldy tank force?

"You saw the Prussian success in Melania and Carolingian and expanded our original 18 tank divisions to 96! The result was these divisions had absolutely no support units, not enough radios or wireless equipment!

"The expansion of the army also compromised the quality of the personnel, and it affected other arms as well. A tank operator needs at least a tenth-grade education, and there are only so many graduates each year!

"Because all the tenth-grade graduates were crammed into tank divisions, there weren't enough personnel for other technical arms. And the infantry—pitiful—more than half of them only attended church-run Sunday schools.

"So it wasn't just the tank divisions that disappeared like bubbles, the infantry units did too! You've wreaked havoc for generations!"

Wang Zhong paused, glaring at Tukhachev. He knew he should give an example now, but he couldn't recall a specific instance, only that in exchanges with surviving tank division officers he heard about extravagant tank divisions being annihilated by enemy infantry divisions.

Unable to remember the specifics, he could only say, "Some tank divisions, even though they had advanced T34s and KVs, were devoured by enemy infantry divisions! All because inexperienced commanders mistook the enemy's infantry division's assault guns for tanks and halted to fire.

"As a result, they were surrounded by enemy infantry troops. That division's accompanying infantry consisted of only one battalion! And they were far outgunned, with a total of only four infantry guns.

"Once the accompanying infantry was routed, the tanks were easy prey for the infantry. A tank division was defeated by an infantry division in the open! Disgraceful!"

After Wang Zhong finished, Tugenev interjected, "That should be the 27th Tank Division. Indeed, this division had only one battalion of accompanying infantry and no accompanying artillery, engineers, anti-tank, or anti-air units, with just a cavalry battalion for reconnaissance."

Bolstered by the information from Tugenev, Wang Zhong's arrogance intensified, "Hear that? It was your blind expansion of the army that doomed them!"

Tukhachev hung his head.

Suddenly he said, "Yes, perhaps you have a point."

Wang Zhong: "Perhaps? Are you still being stubborn at this point?"

Tukhachev: "No, I say 'perhaps' because the performance of your combined arms division is still uncertain, isn't it? The number of auxiliary units you plan for your mobile forces is unprecedented. Do you realize that the support troops you're asking for are the equivalent of several army groups?

"If such elite forces suffer severe losses, how will you explain to His Majesty the Tsar?"

Wang Zhong: "My troops need not answer to the Tsar, only to the Ante motherland."

Tukhachev: "What if such forces are decimated, how will you explain to the Ante motherland?"

Wang Zhong placed his hands on the railing of the witness stand, leaning forward, looking at Tukhachev, "When the time comes, I will take responsibility, just like you."

Tukhachev hesitated, then sighed, "Then I'll wait and see—although I'd like to say that, but I can't see it coming to fruition. Major General Rocossov, your words have convinced me. I've always wondered why our troops were cut through like butter by the enemy.

"I hope your troops can withstand the Prussian onslaught."

Wang Zhong: "They will."

Tukhachev stared at Wang Zhong for a long time, so long that the presiding judge was about to remind him, before he finally said, "I've been mistaken about you, just as I was about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Then he turned to the judge: "Your Honor, I am ready to accept responsibility for my mistakes."

Wang Zhong: "You're not going to argue anymore?"

"The facts are before me, I have no choice but to acknowledge them."

The judge looked toward the jury box: "Does the jury wish to make a statement?"

The current Chief of General Staff, Marshal Boris, said, "There's nothing more to say. The speech of Major General Rocossov was very enlightening. If it had been put forth before the war... no matter, never mind."

The judge looked again at His Majesty the Tsar, who was listening by the window, and after confirming her nod, said, "General Tukhachev, your incorrect military direction has caused great losses to the Ante Empire's army, as well as to the Ante motherland. This court sentences you to death!"

The judge lifted the gavel and slammed it down hard.

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