Chapter 586: Forward, Tanks!
October 24, at noon, at the 51st Army tank assembly point on the East Bank of the Valdai Hills River, corps commander Korodov was anxiously pacing back and forth.
The liaison officer from the engineering troops reassured him, "We’ll definitely have the pontoon bridge set up before the deadline, just be patient."
"I know you can. But I wish we could cross earlier! Prosen’s anti-tank units and tank units are highly elite. If we could attack earlier and catch them off guard! By the time they react and gather their tank units for a counterstrike, we... We would be..."
Korodov flung his arm in frustration. "Anyway, just earlier!"
He ended up not finishing his sentence.
In fact, all the tank officers present knew what was left unsaid: we would be annihilated by the Prosen tank operators.
The war had been going on for over a year, and Ante tank operators had accepted the reality that they would face severe losses against Prosen tank units.
They chose to go into battle with tanks that had no significant armor advantage, knowing this.
Before the enemy’s anti-tank units and tank units could react, their main task now was to inflict as many casualties as possible on the Prosens’ infantry, who lacked anti-tank means.
That’s why Korodov was so anxious; he knew the more time they could get across the river before the enemy armored troops reacted, the better.He continued to pace back and forth in front of the command vehicle, his boots already covered in mud.
Beside him was a large team headed to Abawahan, mainly consisting of various support staff—laborers, nurses, etc.—as precious transport resources were all used to transport soldiers.
Just as Korodov turned to retread this short stretch of road for who knew how many times, a group of nurses happened to pass by.
Of course, these weren’t the experienced nurses who had carried countless young men out of gunfire and explosions. Those nurses were probably also in shortage at the front lines, maybe getting a spot in a stuffy boxcar on a train.
These nurses looked like they had just finished their training, their young faces full of exhaustion, and it seemed like dropping their crutches would instantly rob them of the ability to walk.
Korodov glanced at the nurses and suddenly lamented, "Aren’t these all young girls? Even they have to go to the battlefield?"
The tired girls lifted their heads upon hearing his words, but no one responded to Korodov.
At that moment, from the back of the nurses’ line came a challenging question: "Vice Admiral Davarish, your tank soldiers are just a bunch of green boys, too."
Korodov looked towards the source of the voice and saw an elderly woman with white hair wearing a priest’s cloak; she might be the nanny accompanying the girls.
This nanny looked somewhat familiar, and combined with the Venus medal on her, Korodov thought he might have seen her in a newspaper receiving her medal.
"My warriors might look young," Korodov said, "but they’ve been baptized by fire."
The white-haired nanny replied, "The girls have been baptized by fire too. The day after we left Yeburg, they lost their best friends and sisters in an air raid. They were terrified, but they still decided to come to the front line. Their courage is no less than that of your boys, Vice Admiral Davarish."
Korodov touched his cheek: "You priests are good at this game. I can’t argue with you, but indeed, my earlier statement was inappropriate."
The white-haired nanny nodded, "I think the girls will accept your apology, Vice Admiral Davarish."
She looked towards the engineers setting up the bridge and asked, "Are you planning to cross here?"
"Yes, the naval infantry has secured the beachhead on the other side. Once the engineers’ pontoon bridge is ready, we’ll cross. The bridge is supposed to be one supported by the Federation, strong enough to hold the weight of a T34," Korodov explained.
The white-haired nanny paused for a few seconds before turning to the nurses and said, "Ladies, attention."
The nurses, who were slowly marching, stopped and looked curiously at the white-haired nanny.
"Nanny": "Ladies, take a break; it’s a good time to see these soldiers cross the river."
A puzzled girl asked, "Why? It’s just crossing the river..."
The nanny interrupted, "A good number of them won’t come back. A good number. So, I thought it would be nice to see them off as you all rest a bit. Is that alright, nanny?"
At that moment, the real leader of the nurses, a nanny with a wrinkled face, appeared: "Of course, Madame Vasilyevna."
Korodov suddenly gasped in surprise: "You are Ludmila Vasilyevna Rocossov! You’re the general’s wife!"
"More accurately, fiancée. We’re only engaged, and we have a child, but we haven’t had the official wedding yet. However, His Highness Belinsky seems to think that’s not an issue," Ludmila corrected with a smile.
Korodov was about to say something when he suddenly caught a glimpse of one of his tank operators casually leaning against the tank gun turret, drinking from a flat bottle, and he turned to scold, "What are you doing! You’re about to go into battle! Act like it!"
The tank operator, startled, dropped the bottle, which bounced off the tank’s body, spilling vodka in an arc.
Ludmila caught the bottle and, holding it out to the tank operator, said, "Hold on to this, drink less to keep your mind clear, and don’t drive the tank into the river."
The tank operator chuckled, "I’m the commander and gunner, not the driver."
Ludmila looked surprised, "Your tank still has a two-man turret? Aren’t those tanks known for low combat efficiency?"
Korodov, looking embarrassed, replied, "We don’t have many T34Ws."
Ludmila’s expression grew more complicated.
At that time, the engineer corps’ liaison officer rushed over to Korodov and saluted, "General, the engineering troops have repaired the bridge and are about to carry out a traffic test. As long as the T34 being tested makes it across, we can all get through."
"Okay, I’ll be right there," Korodov replied, then asked Ludmila, "Would you like to come and see the test?"
Ludmila gently shook her head, "I’ll just stay here and watch you all enter. Don’t worry about me, Vice Admiral Davarish."
Korodov nodded, gesturing to the engineer liaison officer with a "lead the way" gesture.
Moments later, Korodov reached the riverbank, just as the T34 being tested mounted the pontoon bridge. The pontoon bridge provided by the Federation sank a great deal, but ultimately it withstood the weight of the T34.
The tank moved slowly, gradually heading toward the opposite shore.
The navy’s ships had already moved downstream, and the sailors were all gathered on the deck, watching the test.
When the tank reached the other shore, a flare shot into the sky.
Korodov clenched his fist and exclaimed, "Good!"
He turned back to the messenger and said, "All forces, cross the river! Lower your speed, maintain spacing, and ensure only one tank is on each section of the pontoon bridge at a time! Anyone who makes a mistake that causes trouble with the pontoon bridge will be court-martialed!"
"Yes!"
Soon, Korodov’s orders were executed—the 51st Tank Corps was already ready to cross the river and had been specially arranged for the crossing, with the tank operators also assigned their crossing order.
A few minutes after the order was given, the first tank mounted the pontoon bridge.
Korodov stood beside the pontoon bridge, watching his warriors rush to the battlefield.
After the first regiment of T34s had completely passed, he turned and returned to his command tank, saluting Mrs. Rocossov, "I must depart too, ma’am."
Ludmila saluted back, saying, "You’re a Vice Admiral. I should be saluting you. I would like to wish you a pleasant hunt, but instead... I wish you a victorious return."
"A return," Korodov laughed, "Recently, there’s been a tradition in Abawahan where the commander invites officers headed to the front line for a meal. Unfortunately, as an old subordinate of the general, I don’t have that privilege."
Ludmila responded, "I only have a bit of dry food here. But Nelly brought some coffee, would you like some before you go?"
Korodov shook his head, "No, perhaps skipping a meal will bring better luck. Using the dual-gunner T34 against the Prosen tank troops will require a lot of luck to win."
After saying this, he climbed onto the tank, climbed into the turret, took off his general’s cap, replaced it with a crash-barred tank helmet, and put on his headphones.
He gave Ludmila one last look and nodded gently.
Then he pressed the microphone at his throat and loudly ordered, "Tanks, forward!"
The command tank took a sharp step forward before gradually accelerating, the clatter of the gearbox meshing and the roar of the engine together drowned out the drizzling rain.
Ludmila stood in place, watching Korodov depart.
At that moment, Nelly came over holding a coffee can, "Ma’am? I’ve brought the coffee."
"They don’t need it anymore," Ludmila said softly, continuing to watch the young tank operators drive their tanks towards the pontoon bridge.
Nelly also watched them, suddenly saying, "Their hearts are calling them to the tumultuous horizons."
"Yes," Ludmila agreed.
Then she softly started humming, "Hear the blizzard’s roar, see the shooting stars fly~"
At that moment, a nurse spoke up, "Isn’t this the time to sing ’Katyusha’?"
Ludmila looked at her, "Katyusha?"
The young girl with freckles nodded, "Yes, look, we are right by the riverbank."
Ludmila widened her eyes, glanced at the Valdai Hills River, then burst into laughter, "Yes, we are right by the riverbank. Come, let’s sing together."
She led them, "As the pear blossoms cover the ends of the earth, a delicate sheer drifts upon the river..."
The girls sang in unison, "Katyusha stands on the steep shore, her song bright as the spring light."
The soldiers on the tanks turned their heads back, looking at these young girls.
"Hey!" a young man shouted, "Are you singing to your beloved ones—that’s us? But we haven’t sent you letters of love yet!"
A girl shouted back, "I’m Tanya from the third reserve nurse group of the field hospital! Send me a letter!"
"Tanya! I’ve got it!" the young man said excitedly, waving his hand.
Ludmila just tenderly watched him and her.