Chapter 23: The Longest Day

July 7th, at 4:30 in the morning.

Wang Zhong was suddenly awakened by the "thunder."

"Is it thundering?" he asked Yegorov, who was in the bed next to him, as he sat up. "Does it thunder so violently in this season?"

"It's an artillery barrage, General," Yegorov stood by the window, peering outside from the edge.

Wang Zhong hurried to his feet and joined Yegorov at the other side of the window.

Outside, on the plain, numerous plumes of dust had risen, forming large flowers, with new "flowers" blooming every second.

Wang Zhong: "The caliber seems quite large."

"It's 152 mm heavy artillery," Yegorov said, "The enemy's heavy artillery has come into play. At Peniye, the enemy's curved fire support at most had 75 mm infantry guns. If they had heavy artillery then, we would not have been able to hold it at all."

Wang Zhong nodded and then asked, "Are they clearing our 'minefields'?"

"Yes, I expect they will start advancing after the bombardment."