Arc of Fire

August 3, 915, the moment Wang Zhong’s boots hit the platform, the band started playing.

However, Wang Zhong’s attention wasn’t on the band at all; he was staring straight at Ludmila, who was visibly pregnant, and he rushed over in haste, longing to embrace his beloved.

But as he got close, he suddenly thought that such a tight embrace might hurt her, so he promptly changed his mind and stopped abruptly.

Ludmila: "I wouldn’t mind if you just hugged me."

Wang Zhong: "You might not mind, but I can’t ask the child’s opinion, can I? My dear, I’m back."

He said this as he seriously embraced his wife—well, technically fiancée, since they were only engaged.

When the hug ended, Wang Zhong was just about to let go, but Ludmila tightened her arms and kissed him actively.

Wang Zhong felt like his tongue was almost sucked off.

A minute later, Ludmila smacked her lips as she released her hold and backed away.

Wang Zhong: "That expression doesn’t look like you’ve just kissed your husband; it looks like you’ve just chewed on a pig’s head. How was the flavor? Well salted?"

Ludmila slightly furrowed her brow: "That’s what you said the first time I kissed you."

Wang Zhong surprised: "Really?"

Ludmila laughed without answering.

Damn, I’ve been through so much time travel, and yet the skit jokes from before still haunt me.

Wang Zhong, to hide his embarrassment, forcibly shifted the topic to their soon-to-be-born child, touching Ludmila’s belly and asking, "When is the due date?"

"In a few days," she smiled, "you really timed your return perfectly."

Wang Zhong: "Then you should thank Prosen; had they not been deceived by the ruse of war I proposed... or rather, the ruse implemented by Vasily, I’d probably still be retreating while fighting with the rear guards."

Ludmila smiled and interjected: "Kind of like last year, right?"

That instant, a flood of images from last year’s retreat flashed through Wang Zhong’s mind, with each memory featuring Ludmila.

As a child, Wang Zhong had studied a text titled "Wedding on the Execution Ground," where the teacher analyzed the enemy’s brutality, the hero’s courage, and optimism. Naive young Wang Zhong, however, envied the protagonist, thinking it was damn romantic for lovers to walk bravely to their death together, with the enemy’s gunfire serving as wedding fireworks.

Afterward, when assigned to write a reflection on the text, Wang Zhong wrote his heartfelt thoughts and failed.

Now, Wang Zhong suddenly realized that he possessed the bloody romance he had always longed for.

So he said, "I suddenly think, what if we delay our wedding a bit and use the cannonade aimed at Plowsonia as our wedding salvo? Wouldn’t that be incredibly romantic?"

Ludmila didn’t state her position, but the people around cheered loudly: "Great!"

Vasily added: "And capture the Plathen Emperor, have him shot in front of the church to boost the mood."

"Great!"

"This is perfect!"

"Ura!"

Those nearby knew what Wang Zhong had said; those further away heard only the shout of "Ura!" and the high spirits and joined in shouting "Ura!"

Wang Zhong quickly gestured to calm down the impromptu cheering; just when he had the situation under control, Ludmila said: "I disagree, I can’t wait that long. Unless you defeat Prosen quickly, we could advance into Plowsonia next year..."

Wang Zhong quickly covered her mouth: "No, don’t say that; tomorrow night in the tavern they’ll be saying I predicted victory for next year."

Vasily: "Tomorrow? Hah, you underestimate everyone; they’ll start saying that tonight!"

Wang Zhong frowned slightly, turning to Vasily: "It’s our reunion, why do you keep interrupting?"

"Because the person I’m supposed to reunite with hasn’t arrived," Vasily said seriously, looking at Wang Zhong. "I’m really anxious."

Wang Zhong initially wanted to joke, but Ludmila pulled on him.

Although Prosen had recently reduced their bombings of Yeburg, they still bombed occasionally just for the sake of it; perhaps Vasily’s girl had died in one of those bombings.

If that were the case, it wouldn’t be nice to tease Vasily about it.

Moreover, if the girl had cheated on Vasily, teasing him would also seem inappropriate.

So Wang Zhong patted Vasily’s shoulder: "She’ll come!"

Damn, that feels just like Gojo Satoru saying "We’ll win."

Holy crap, I actually still remember the name Gojo Satoru!

Wang Zhong’s sudden nostalgia was interrupted by a loud cry from afar:

"Vasily! My dear Vasily!"

Wang Zhong looked at Vasily: "Is that your mother?"

Ludmila pinched Wang Zhong’s arm fiercely.

Vasily glanced at Wang Zhong, unable to hide his smile: "It’s my Antean woman!"

He then took off his hat, raised it high, and waved it, shouting as he waved, "I’m here! I’m here!"

He shouted as he ran toward the girl.

Others, seeing this, stepped aside, and finally, the two collided like cannonballs and began to bite each other.

Wang Zhong pointed at Vasily and asked Ludmila, "Were we just like that earlier?"

"I think it was pretty similar," laughed Ludmila, then took Wang Zhong’s hand. "Let’s go home! You are not allowed to work today!"

Wang Zhong said, "Don’t worry, Pavlov has taken all the work! He’s still on his way to Abawahan, turning non-stop with the entire Headquarters.

"The fighters just need to rest; the staff and clerks have more to consider."

Ludmila thought for a while and said, "Should I prepare some gifts for them? The supplies in the capital are much better now than when you left; we can send them some good-quality underwear."

Previously, items like underwear, considered unimportant, were mass-produced from synthetic fibers. They provided no warmth in the winter, were suffocating in the summer, and were extremely uncomfortable when sweaty, sticking to your skin like a layer of water.

Wang Zhong said, "I think the logistics department will replenish these for them; you could better write handwritten thank you notes for Pavlov to read to them, or organize photos from their families back home to send to them."

Ludmila nodded gently, "Let’s not talk anymore; let’s go home."

She pulled Wang Zhong toward the train station’s main gate, and everyone hurriedly made way for them.

Suddenly, a wild photographer from the Federation appeared!

The flashbulb burst with a puff of smoke, and the peculiar smell immediately filled Wang Zhong’s nostrils.

"What a great photo!" muttered the photographer while Mike the reporter appeared: "General, welcome back from your triumph. I hear you’re about to head to Abawahan to prepare for the invasion of Balas?"

Wang Zhong said, "Our attack on Balas is to prevent Balas from turning to the evil Empire of Prosen; it is part of the World’s Righteous War, so using the word ’invasion’ is not accurate."

Mike the reporter said, "Of course, of course! My apologies. What do you think about this joint operation with the United Kingdom? I mean, do you trust the United Kingdom’s military forces?"

Wang Zhong said, "Certainly, I think the Royal Air Force performed quite well, and I look forward to working with them. And the Royal Navy, despite being severely beaten by the Empire of Fusang, recently sank the pride of the Prosen Navy, proving their strength to be very reliable."

"Are you deliberately not mentioning the United Kingdom’s Army?" Mike asked with a faint smile.

Wang Zhong said, "Of course not. I have heard that the Gurkha Infantry from Balaha will be involved this time, and I am very much looking forward to their performance."

The joint operation mainly involved the forces stationed in Balaha, aside from a small regular number from the United Kingdom’s Army, with the main force composed of local units from Balaha.

Wang Zhong was skeptical about the combat effectiveness of the local forces from Balaha, since on Earth one Earth battalion of over a hundred soldiers had been defeated by just five of our troops in a pincer movement, ultimately surrendering with the famous words: "Not only do the enemy not surrender to us, they have the audacity to fire back."

As a Ceresan, he indeed could not bring himself to respect Balaha.

Mike the reporter keenly observed Wang Zhong’s expression and said, "I can tell, you have utter contempt for Balaha and the United Kingdom’s Army from the bottom of your heart!"

"I didn’t say anything!" Wang Zhong raised his voice, "Don’t put words in my mouth!"

Mike the reporter ignored Wang Zhong’s remarks and continued asking, "What do you think about the Federation deploying its Army for this attack?"

Wang Zhong said, "I doubt whether the Federation can manage to send an army so far from their homeland..."

Ludmila interjected; "Isn’t it inappropriate to discuss this matter here? Wouldn’t it lead to a leak?"

Wang Zhong said, "No, it’s almost like an open secret; even if Prosen knows, they can’t send many troops to Balas, at most some light forces."

Mike the reporter shook his head, "I can’t understand the Balas high command; aren’t they courting death by leaning toward Prosen under these circumstances?"

Wang Zhong said, "Haven’t you read the internal report of Balas? Both the United Kingdom and our Secular faction are supporting local forces; we all want to eliminate the autocratic monarchy. They’re just struggling at the end."

Ludmila interrupted Wang Zhong again, "Let’s talk in the car; I can take another car and let you two have your fill of discussion all the way."

"That works." Wang Zhong nodded.

Meanwhile, within the territory of Prosen, at the Eagle’s Nest.

"Our Empire’s latest Battleship, the Navy’s pride, was sabotaged by an old biplane!" the Plathen Emperor pounded on the table, "Where was your anti-air defense?"

The Naval Marshal kept his head down, silent.

It was Giles who spoke up: "Before that, we also destroyed the pride of the United Kingdom’s Navy and heavily damaged the brand-new George V. I think..."

The Emperor sat down, his hand on his forehead, "We always proclaimed our science and technology to be the best in the world! And then? Our latest heavy tanks got crushed by the new tanks of the despised Anteans! Our newest Battleship had its rudder destroyed by a biplane!

"The public might start doubting whether we are truly the world’s superior race!"

The Propaganda Minister stepped forward, "Don’t worry; to the public, our Navy’s pride fought to the end, sinking five enemy battleships before going down. The public will sing praises of the Navy’s bravery and weep."

The Emperor was silent for a few seconds, then sighed, "That may be the only way. Have the Science Academy accelerate the research on anti-ship missiles; relying solely on traditional Navy, we may never have a chance to defeat the United Kingdom and the Federation."

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The Foreign Minister took a step forward, "Maybe we can rely on the Fusang Empire’s fleet."

The Emperor snorted, "The Navy assessed the data sent by Fusang Empire and concluded they are no match for the Federation’s Navy. If the war is to continue, we must push forward the Blue Plan, occupy Abawahan, seize the oil, and cut off the lifeblood feeding Ante."

The Emperor paused, "Of course, we also support the Balas Royal Family’s fight, and once we’ve occupied Abawahan, we can transport our Army there by sea."

Just then, the door suddenly opened, and the Valuable Secretary walked in with a telegram, "Urgent report! From Admiral Erwin."

"Read!" commanded the Emperor with a sweeping gesture.

The Valuable Secretary bowed his head and read aloud, "I have seen the Nile River."