Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 743 - 81 Liberation Day

Chapter 743: Chapter 81 Liberation Day

Pavlov’s advance team had already found a suitable headquarters in Agreskov City.

Thus, Wang Zhong who had arrived in the city earlier prepared to stay there overnight.

As soon as the colonel leading the advance team saw Wang Zhong, he handed him a document, “This is the program for tomorrow’s Liberation Celebration.”

Wang Zhong, “Liberation Celebration? I thought it was just a simple entry-into-the-city ceremony.”

“Of course, it includes the entry-into-the-city ceremony. The troops scheduled to participate in tomorrow’s ceremony are currently resting at three middle schools outside the city. By dawn tomorrow, they will have tidied up their quarters, put on their shiny medals, just like in Shepetovka.”

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Wang Zhong, “Is it necessary…”

“It was requested by the local church.”

The local parish that had been operating underground had transformed into the official local church after the liberation, and in Shepetovka, this practice allowed the city’s production and life order to be quickly restored.

Wang Zhong, “They requested it?”

“Yes, they said it would boost morale. The local church’s liaison officer is already here, you can ask him.”

The colonel motioned toward a cleric nearby.

“I am the liaison officer for the local church,” the priest stepped forward, “Although the Prosen’s plot to raze the city was thwarted, we suffered heavy casualties. Soon the citizens will realize that those who died won’t be revived by liberation, and the destroyed homes won’t be immediately rebuilt because of liberation.”

After a brief pause, the priest continued, “Moreover, you may also be aware that the railway transportation in Agreskov cannot be resumed anytime soon. The army’s logistics department needs to supply the troops, so the available transportation capacity is very limited. In the short term, the supply of sausages and cheese in the city will be tight, and even pickles will start to be rationed.”

Upon hearing this, Vasily immediately remarked, “Pickles are being rationed? Then the situation is indeed very bad!”

Priest, “Yes, and there’s also a severe shortage of fish and meat—but one thing, there’s enough Spam cans, but that stuff—”

Spam cans were very tasty at the beginning of the war, but after the recipe changed to increase production, they were deemed pig feed by the United States Army.

Of course, the United Kingdom Army would still consider the altered Spam cans a delicacy.

But in Ante, these cans were not so popular, after all, every Antean had enjoyed the delicious, plentiful, and unlimited “Doctor Sausage” before the war.

Wang Zhong, “So, the people need such a celebration to temporarily forget the troubles of reality.”

Vasily, “I think that everyone won’t be troubled as long as there’s enough booze.”

“That’s exactly the problem,” the priest said helplessly, “There’s not enough alcohol either. And because a lot of high-proof homemade liquor has been turned into incendiary bottles to throw at Prosen’s armored vehicles, the alcohol is especially scarce.”

Wang Zhong, “I see. Liberation Celebration, a grand entry-into-the-city ceremony, I’ll go make a speech.”

“Just like what you did in Shepetovka,” the priest added.

Wang Zhong, “Understood. So, can I just revise the speech I gave in Shepetovka?”

Priest, “Of course you can, the key is that you will be giving the speech. You have a deep connection with our city, you are the dear friend of the Crown Prince who was sacrificed at the outskirts, you are the son of the old Duke. While the Prosen held control for these two years, from time to time, people would go to the suburban cemetery to lay flowers in the middle of the night.

“The Prosen Constitutional Guards and Imperial Ministry agents caught many of our comrades by tracking these people—and also wronged many innocent people who simply went to express their grief.

“Tomorrow, you just need to go and speak, even if it’s only to shout slogans.”

Wang Zhong took a deep breath, “Then I can’t just do a half-hearted job, Vasily—no, Nelly, go get some coffee, just a little. I need to finish writing the speech tonight.”

Nelly, “Alright, I will also prepare some late-night snacks since the chef Ceres didn’t follow us this time, I’ll do the cooking.”

Wang Zhong, “No problem. Uh, just don’t put Prosen eyeballs in the sour cream.”

Nelly looked at Wang Zhong silently without speaking.

Wang Zhong was at a loss, “Uh, you know I was joking, right?”

Nelly, “Ceres once said in a poem: ‘With a vow to eat the flesh of the foes, one can laugh over a drink of their blood,’ so if you wish to imitate Ceres, I can do the same—”

Wang Zhong, “That’s a metaphor! A metaphor!”

Nelly, “I know, I was joking.”

Wang Zhong stared at Nelly for a few seconds, then said, “Nelly, people usually laugh when they make a joke.”

Nelly cracked a smile.

Vasily, “It’s a smile without joy.”

Grigori hurriedly pulled him back, “You, if you make her angry, I really can’t protect you, she has a poker face, can’t see it coming!”

Nelly ignored Vasily and Grigori and turned to leave.

Wang Zhong patted the table where the typewriter was, “Vasily, come and take dictation, I’m going to write the speech.”

————

August 8th, Agreskov, on the day of the Liberation Festival.

The local church mobilized to give the main road a new look—the primary “makeup” involved pushing the wreckage of vehicles into the alleyways on the side of the road.

The neatly dressed Ante Troops, adorned with their medals, formed four columns and marched into the city with high spirits to the sound of the military band—although many troops had already entered the city yesterday.

The citizens of Agreskov gathered by the roadside, waving paper Red Flags hastily made by the church, cheering for the troops.

The final destination for the entering troops was the Municipal Square, where the podium for the Liberation Festival was set up in front of the Municipal Building, now ruins due to Ulban’s bombing.

Wang Zhong stood beside the review stand next to the podium, saluting the incoming troops.

Once the entire square was filled with troops and crowds, the master of ceremonies announced loudly, “Now, please welcome General Aleksei Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, the symbol of victory, King of the Kazaria Kingdom, the Commander of the Sarria Army Group, to the stage to declare the liberation of Agreskov!”

Wang Zhong muttered, “Why mention the title of King,” as he stood up with his speech in hand, walked up to the podium, and saluted everyone.

The troops shouted in unison, “Hurrah!”

Three rounds of hurrahs, each louder than the last.

After the cheering, the entire venue fell silent.

Wang Zhong looked at his speech, then folded the paper and stuffed it into his pocket. Freeing his hands, he held onto the small lectern on the podium, looking out at the soldiers and crowd filling the square.

“Fellow countrymen! Two years ago, I was but a Major General, leading my only division away from here towards Orachi to construct defensive positions. I was prepared to make a stand at Orachi with the strength of one division against the Second Armored Group of Prosen.

“It was an incredibly powerful armored group, with forces more than ten times my own. At that time, I was ready to sacrifice myself at Orachi.

“However, my father and my dear friend, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, both seemed to believe I would survive. The day I left, they held my arms, looking at me as if to say, ‘I know you can fight your way back.’

“Later on, I successfully held off the enemy at Orachi for several days, then led the remaining troops out of the encirclement and reached Shepetovka.

“Duke Meishikin sent troops to our aid and had us sent to the rear for rest and reorganization.

“It was only later that I learned, on the very day I left Kazarlian territory, my dear friend Crown Prince Ivan and my father had died in battle on the outskirts of Agreskov City.”

Wang Zhong paused, scanning the venue.

“I survived, and to remind myself of everything that happened here, I filled my mess tin with the black soil of my homeland, carrying it with me at all times.

“At the beginning of this year, before the muddy season arrived, I once again stood on the black soil of my homeland. I returned the black soil I had borrowed from Mother Kazarlia to her!

“Yesterday, I laid flowers in the cemetery built by the Prosens for my dear friend and my father.

“The unit I led away from here has been expanded into the First Mobile Group Army. Two-thirds of this army is composed of Kazarlians, who long every moment to return to their homeland, to reunite with their relatives who stayed behind, and to see once more the beech trees where they had their dates with their girls!”

Wang Zhong paused again, looking into all those pairs of eyes, and finally, his gaze rested on the banner of Melania’s First Army.

“But there are many who have not returned home. Some are from the western border of Brest, some from Ronied, from Bogdanovka, from Upper Penie! And our comrades from Melania, their homeland still under the iron heel of the Prosen Empire!

“Today, as we celebrate, this is merely a rehearsal! Such celebrations will continue to be held on the soil of Kazarlia! After we liberate each city, there will be such ceremonies! We will declare to the Empire of Prosen that our victory is unstoppable!

“In the near future, we will cross the Dibo River, reclaim Bogdanovka, and before winter arrives, we will sweep across the entirety of western Kazarlia!

“We have already shed enough blood and made enough sacrifices! Now it’s time for the Prosens to bleed and to sacrifice, for them to use their flesh and blood to block our tanks!

“We will use their blood to wash the tracks of our tanks! This is just the beginning, comrades! Just the beginning, I assure you!”

After his words, Wang Zhong took a step back and saluted everyone.

A tidal wave of hurrahs soared to the heavens.

————

Wang Zhong had just returned to Headquarters when he saw Pavlov’s bald head.

“You’ve arrived so quickly?” he said, somewhat surprised, “I thought you had a lot of arrangements to make.”

“Everything was arranged long ago.” Pavlov shrugged, “Following you in battle, I’m used to being prepared for the Headquarters to move at any moment. Also, I’ve left Popov behind; he can handle many unfinished matters. After all, a large part of logistics is secured by the Church.”

Just as Wang Zhong was about to answer, a group of officers entered the room.

Pavlov glanced at the officers and said, “The airport on the outskirts of the city resumed operations at four o’clock this morning. These must be from Yeburg.”

The leading Colonel saluted Wang Zhong, “Your Excellency—”

Wang Zhong said, “We call it ‘Davarish’ here.”

The Colonel stated, “Commander Davarish, I salute you. We are tasked with conveying orders from High Command.”

With that, the Colonel handed over the orders to Wang Zhong, “General Aleksei Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, in consideration of your meritorious service, you are hereby promoted to Marshal and also appointed as the overall Commander-in-Chief of the Ante Armed Forces.”