Arc of Fire

Chapter 669: Chapter 7 Old Friends (Extra 40/84)

After roughly discerning the enemy’s intentions, on March 24th, after a three-day train journey, Wang Zhong’s private train entered St. Ye Katerina Fortress station.

Before even entering the station, Wang Zhong saw through the window that the tracks outside were full of people, as if everyone from the capital had gathered on both sides of the tracks.

Someone saw him through the window and started shouting loudly.

Wang Zhong drew the curtain and turned to Ludmila, “It’s precisely because I anticipated the crowds might be this enthusiastic that I wasn’t too keen on coming back.”

Ludmila said, “Alyosha, lifting the spirits of the people is also one of your duties. You’ve achieved such a brilliant victory; it should be used to motivate others.”

As she spoke, she walked forward, adjusted Wang Zhong’s military uniform, and tweaked the position of every medal, saying with a smile, “Look, with your handsome and charming attire, you’ll become the dream of all the young girls in Yeburg tonight.”

Wang Zhong laughed, “Is it appropriate for you to say that?”

Ludmila responded, “You’ve been the man of my dreams for a long time now.”

Caught off guard by her blunt confession, and even though they had been married for years, Wang Zhong was surprised to find himself blushing and could only hug her in an attempt to hide it.

"You know,” Ludmila complained from his embrace, “these medals are hard, they’re pressing against my face.”

"Oh, sorry.” Wang Zhong quickly pulled away, then noticed there indeed was a mark left by the Venus on Ludmila’s face.

How embarrassing.

Wang Zhong rubbed the mark away, and the gesture made Ludmila laugh, “Don’t worry, we’ll wait ten minutes before getting off, and it should be fine by then.”

Just as Wang Zhong was about to speak, the train began to slow down—indeed, it hadn’t slowed at all despite the crowds on either side of the tracks, and had simply passed straight through up to now.

Wang Zhong looked out the window; the train had entered the station, and the platform was filled with Court Guards in full dress. It seemed Olga had come out to welcome him personally.

Once the train came to a stop, the military band on the platform began to play.

Amidst the music, Wang Zhong heard the doors of the train open and someone speaking loudly, “Is it this carriage? Looks pretty plain, but it’s in keeping with the General’s usual style. Oh, I smell something delightful, must be the General’s Ceres chef!”

Wang Zhong turned around, opened the door of the private compartment, and addressed the burly man who was making a racket in the corridor, “Yegorov, are you healed?”

Yegorov, built like a bear, laughed heartily, “Healed! Though there’s still a bit of stiffness, hurts when it rains, but I’m basically fine!”

Wang Zhong said, “So you’re not quite back in shape yet? Continue your leave, take care of your injury; the big battle won’t come until June. Before that, you can hand over the can hand over relevant matters to your Chief of Staff.”

Yegorov frowned, “Not until June? The enemy hasn’t recovered yet; we should be on the offensive!”

Wang Zhong explained, “How do you attack during the mud season? A time when tanks can get stuck in the mud, and no cars are operational, how can logistics for the troops be guaranteed?”

Letting out a sigh, Yegorov said, “That’s true. I do miss the old days when we carried our food and ammo, broke through enemy lines, and could keep fighting for weeks. Now, well

Wang Zhong responded, “Times have changed, and you know this as well.”

"I know,” Yegorov scratched his scalp, “anyway, the Guard First Mechanized is always at your command, General.”

Wang Zhong nodded and changed the subject, “Alright, I’m going to get off now, can’t keep His Majesty waiting.”

Yegorov quickly stepped aside, but his large frame only allowed Wang Zhong to pass by sideways.

While Wang Zhong could manage to slip by, Ludmila might not have the same ease.

Suddenly realizing this, Yegorov turned around and opened a small door, darting into the compartment behind it.

Now the path was completely clear.

Wang Zhong, holding Ludmila’s hand, walked through the carriage and came to the door.

Dressed to the nines, Olga stood amid a crowd of guards and maids, smiling at Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong smiled back, stepped down the iron ladder at the door, and planted both feet on the platform.

Olga, looking like she wanted to run up and hug Wang Zhong, restrained herself and instead walked with a gait befitting the Tsar’s status, until she stood in front of him, “My greatest General, all of Yekaterinburg awaits your triumphant return!”

Wang Zhong responded, “I cannot claim to be the greatest General; we have many experienced leaders skilled in the art of war. Moreover, the victory is not solely my doing; it’s the credit of all our soldiers and of every citizen in Nan’ant. Even in the Occupied Area, the people are still resisting Prosen. Without them, my victory would not exist.”

Olga commented, “You are always so humble, my General.”

Wang Zhong replied, “This is not humility, I can tell you thousands of stories about ordinary people bravely fighting. Take for example the story of a child called Little Griff, who killed many Prosen Soldiers! My contribution is but a small effort; the victory belongs to the people of Ante.”

"Well said,” Belinsky’s voice came from behind the Tsar, maids and servants made way, and the Grand Patriarch came up to Wang Zhong, “Everyone is a Messiah, everyone a hero who saves the motherland.”

Belinsky extended his hand to Wang Zhong, “Comrade General, your awareness has already surpassed many of our bishops.”

Wang Zhong took Belinsky’s hand, “I’ve simply had some realizations through the war.”

Ever since Loktov was rescued by the people, Wang Zhong’s realizations had been growing more profound.

Belinsky, “Very good, excellent. Write down your thoughts and have it published on the front page of the Church’s official newspaper!”

Wang Zhong, “Of course, I will.”

Olga, “Before you publish it, could you let me have a look first? I would like to know what you have felt, after all, you are my god brother.”

Wang Zhong, “Of course, I will send a copy to the Summer Palace.”

"Good,” Olga’s tone shifted, “There’s also a ceremony that needs to be held. I’ve asked them to make it as simple as possible, but the Court Chamberlain said it would boost the capital’s morale, and the Grand Patriarch has agreed too.”

Belinsky, “I’ve indeed agreed.”

"Then let’s begin!” Olga said, naturally taking Wang Zhong’s hand.

The Court Chamberlain suddenly came out and whispered, “Your Majesty, you can’t hold the General’s hand. You can only review the Guards and the military band side by side.”

Only then did Olga reluctantly let go of Wang Zhong’s arm.

The Court Chamberlain, satisfied, stepped back.

The ceremony commenced immediately, with the military band playing “The Antean Women’s Farewell,” and the Guards all stood tall and focused on Wang Zhong.

Matching the Tsar’s pace, Wang Zhong walked past the Guards with her, while Ludmila and Yegorov, among others, stood by waiting for the ceremony to conclude.

At the end of the red carpet stood a small platform with a microphone on it. Guessing that it was his turn to speak, Wang Zhong was surprised to see Olga take the stage first, beginning her speech.

"Citizens of Yekaterinburg! The victor of the one million-strong Prosen Army, General Rocossovsky of the Grand Duchy, has triumphantly returned! You might have already learned from the newspapers that a month ago he was appointed as the Commander of the Kazarlia Front Army and will be leading our nation’s finest troops to liberate Kazarlia, which has been under occupation for two years!

"To convey our hopes for Rocossovsky, I have decided to bestow upon him the title of King of the Kazaria Kingdom.”

Wang Zhong furrowed his brows. When he first had the time to understand the background after traveling to this era, he knew that the crown of the Kazaria Kingdom had always been held by the Tsar, meaning Olga was not only the Tsar but also the King of the Kazaria Kingdom.

Now Olga was handing a crown to Wang Zhong—this move—

Wang Zhong looked towards Belinsky, who gently shook his head, as if to say, “I didn’t know about this.”

A sudden strike. Wang Zhong gazed at his god sister, momentarily unable to decide whether she had simply wanted to convey her expectations without careful thought, or if she was cunningly planning to pull the hot-topic General Rocossov into the chariot of nobility.

Regardless, Wang Zhong decided that it was time to clarify his position. So, after Olga finished speaking and stepped down, he went directly up to the podium, “I appreciate His Majesty the Tsar’s high regard. I am also willing to accept this crown, but all signs indicate that the age of the nobility has ended.

"I felt this particularly sharply during the Abawahan defense battle. It was the Antean people who fought to the death against the invader; it was the Antean people who braved the blizzard to repair the railway and ensure military supplies. The people are the protagonists of this great patriotic war.

"The nobility, too, are part of the Antean people. Like my father, and His Majesty the Tsar’s own brother, they both fought alongside ordinary soldiers and died on the battlefield.

"Therefore, once the war is over, I will donate the crown and the scepter to the Argesukov Historical Museum, keeping only the honorary title, and let these outdated things, unsuitable for the times, bow out gracefully.”

Wang Zhong spoke these words while staring at Olga.

And Olga maintained a smile the whole time, her true thoughts hidden.

Wang Zhong, “My speech is over.”

The nobles in attendance exchanged glances, while the common people cheered.

Olga suddenly led the applause with vigor, “Excellent! You spoke very well, brother!”

Directly calling him brother, huh? What was she doing?

Wang Zhong stepped down from the podium.

Olga rushed over and gave him a hug—a hug Wang Zhong had thought would come when they disembarked.

When they separated, Wang Zhong noticed that Olga’s face also bore the imprint of a medal.

But Wang Zhong hadn’t been forceful this time, so it was Olga herself who had pressed hard against him.

Of course, the people around them couldn’t see the imprint on Olga’s face; all they did was cry out excitedly, their thunderous cheers reaching the skies.

Olga, “Let’s go! I’ve prepared a welcome banquet at the Summer Palace! I’ve invited many people!”

Wang Zhong, “You know I’m not too fond of all those tedious nobility rituals.”

"Hey, ever since you won the battle, all the nobles in Yeburg have been studying your way of doing things, and suddenly none of them likes those tedious rituals anymore,” Olga said.

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