Burning Moscow

I have not seen what the banks in Zhytomyr are like, so Trafkin and the others are like the protagonists in "Mission Impossible" disguised as Russian generals and swaggering into the Kremlin, disguised as senior commanders of the German army. Enter the bank head-on; or sneak in from the skylight of the bank like a flying thief? I don't know all of this, but in order to stabilize Kirilov's emotions, I deliberately said the words so high-sounding.

Hearing what I said to Kirilov, Bezikov suddenly gave me a bold suggestion: "Comrade Commander, if we send a column of fast tanks to Lutsk along the road. Then at the latest. Tomorrow morning, our troops will be able to rush out of Lutsk. The Germans would have never thought that we would take such a risky action, and we would definitely be caught off guard."

"Then, Comrade Chief of Staff." After listening to Bezikov's words, I asked in a mocking tone: "As soon as our tank column arrived in Lutsk, it rushed directly into the bank and robbed the cultural relics stored in it. Withdraw it?"

"Yes, that's how I thought about it." Bezikov did not hear the sarcasm in my words, but replied solemnly: "If we plan carefully, this action can achieve the desired effect."

I really didn't expect that a commander of Bezikov's level would be able to counter simple, low-level mistakes. He simply regarded the Germans as idiots and idiots. Our tank troops traveled westward along the road for more than two hundred kilometers. If the Germans are really weak to this level, will it take us a few months to advance from Kursk to here?

As soon as he finished speaking, I immediately retorted: "No, Comrade Chief of Staff, your whole plan will not work at all. Do you know how many German troops the column will encounter on the road of more than two hundred kilometers? Maybe the troops haven't yet. Arriving in Lutsk, they will be consumed by the German troops along the way. Take a step back and say, even if our troops successfully reach Lutsk, have you considered whether they have the ability to break through the defenses of the defenders and rush to the city? To your bank?"

"I think Comrade Commander is right." Kistyakov echoed: "Chief of Staff, even if our fast column can successfully reach Lutsk and successfully enter the cover. But you have considered. No, how can the troops with so many cultural relics withdraw safely from behind the enemy?"

"We can send someone to meet him." Bezikov retorted with some reluctance: "We have controlled Zhitomir. It shouldn't be difficult to send people to meet this convoy of cultural relics."

"Chief of Staff, please be blunt." Kistyakov said somewhat unceremoniously: "Although we occupied Zhytomyr, I don't think the Germans will give up. They will definitely gather troops. In the short term Counterattack the city. Our main task at present is not to go to Lutsk to **** cultural relics, but to find ways to strengthen Zhytomyr’s defenses so as not to let the city fall into German hands."

"Comrade Deputy Commander is right. The German army may counterattack Zhytomyr in the near future. Our current task is to improve the city's defense system to resist German attacks." I am afraid that the two will continue to do this. After arguing about the boring issue, he interrupted and said, “Because of fear that the troops holding Kiev will be encircled by our army, Manstein ordered his men to voluntarily give up Kiev. But he is definitely not willing to let our army gain a foothold in Kiev. Therefore, for a long period of time, the German attack on Kiev will not weaken, on the contrary, it will become stronger and stronger. And our capture of Zhitomir completely disrupted the German attack plan, in order to prevent the attack In Kiev, when they were attacked from the back and the belly, they would definitely mobilize heavy troops to pull out the thorny thorn in Zhitomir. So I think we will face a bad battle in the coming days."

Although my words are so clear, Bezikov is still a bit skeptical. After all, the recent battle of our army has gone too smoothly, and the people below can't help but think of underestimating the enemy.

I paused for a moment and told Bezikov: "The chief of staff, immediately call the divisions and ask them to immediately send a reconnaissance team to the nearby area to conduct reconnaissance and figure out the actions of the Germans." See Bezikov. Preparing to leave, I added another sentence behind him: "Also, notify Major Basmanov and ask him to send no less than ten reconnaissance teams to conduct detailed reconnaissance around the base."

After Bezikov left, Kistyakov asked me unexpectedly: "Comrade Commander, since all divisions will dispatch reconnaissance teams, is it a bit too much for us to send ten more reconnaissance teams?"

I looked at Kistyakov and said with a serious expression: "Comrade Deputy Commander, there are not many at all. Compared with our current defense area, ten reconnaissance teams look quite large, but they must be deployed in this vast expanse. Within the region, it is still far from enough."

"Do you really think that the Germans will launch a big counterattack against us?" After listening to me, Kistyakov asked cautiously: "You know, they just suffered such a big defeat in Kiev. It is estimated that the officers and soldiers Morale has been low and unwilling to fight."

"The enemy is unwilling to be defeated by us. They will definitely make the final dying struggle." After I said this, I waved my hand at Kistyakov and said, "Comrade Deputy Commander, I haven't had it all night. I’ve rested, and now I’ll go back and lie down for a while. You will be responsible for everything here. If you have anything, you can send someone to call me."

"You go to rest." Kistyakov said understandingly: "You are supervising the battle at the front. You have not rested all day and night. You must be exhausted. Hurry up and take time to rest. If there is anything, I will send someone. Go call you."

Because I was too tired, I went back to my lounge and fell asleep unconsciously when I lay on the bed. I thought Kistyakov would send someone to call me soon, but no one would knock on my door until I woke up naturally. I sat up from the bed, raised my hand and looked at my watch. The time has already pointed to nine o'clock. It seems that I haven't slept for a long time, but why is my stomach so hungry?

After a brief wash, I walked out of the room and met a staff officer who came over. When he saw me, he immediately stopped and stood at attention, raised his hand to salute me, and said, "Good morning, Comrade Commander."

Good morning? ! When the staff officer said this, I couldn't help being stunned, saying that I slept until the next morning. My God, I actually slept for such a long time, I hope I haven't delayed any business affairs.

I walked into the headquarters quickly and saw that Kistyakov and the others were busy, so I greeted them a little embarrassedly: "Hello, comrades commanders!"

After I walked to the table, I looked at the telegrams on the table, and asked casually: "Are there any information students this evening?"

"No, Comrade Commander." Akhromeyev who stood next to me replied loudly: "We received reconnaissance reports from the divisions an hour ago, and none of them showed signs of large-scale German mobilization. ."

I heard that there is no sign of the German army mobilizing, and my heart is a little more at ease, so that we have more time for preparation. I picked up the telegram on the table and flipped through it, and then asked, "Major, is there a report from our reconnaissance battalion?"

Akhromeyev pointed to the telegram in my hand and said: "So far, seven groups have returned the phone, saying that there is no action by the Germans."

"What, only seven groups responded to the telegram?" I put the telegram on the table and asked with a serious expression: "What about the remaining three groups? In which direction are they responsible for the reconnaissance operations?"

Akhromeyev looked at the map on the table sideways, then pointed with his hand, and said, "Comrade Commander, the reconnaissance position of these three groups is Berkichev, south of Zhytomyr. If the Germans If the main force of the country wants to go north from Vinnytsia, it must pass through this city."

I saw a trace of doubt in Akhromeyev's eyes, maybe he thought I was too nervous. I picked up the telegram on the table and read it again, feeling that the peace around me was too weird. After thinking for a while, I asked again: "Did the Germans increase their forces to Fastiv?"

Hearing this question, Akhromeyev raised his eyebrows and said quickly, "Comrade Commander, I will call the 77th Guards Division and ask them how they are doing there."

Standing in front of the big map, Kistyakov and Bezikov chatted a few words in a low voice, and walked to my side. With a smile, he said, "Comrade Commander, according to the reports of the divisions, within their reconnaissance range, there is no sign of the assembly of German troops. Are you too nervous? You must know that after the Battle of Kiev, the German troops can be said to be morale The low army is distracted, and without two or three months of rest, I don't think they dare to launch a large-scale attack on us."

Akhromeyev who called on the phone came back quickly and reported to me: "The commander of the 77th Guards Division reported that the Germans in Fastiv had added two armored divisions and an infantry division this morning. , The specific number has not been figured out yet."

"What, Fastiv's German troops have increased?" When Kistyakov heard the news, he rushed to the map hanging on the wall, stared at it for a while, and then turned to me worriedly. Said: "Comrade Commander, if the German army increases its troops, our situation will be a bit bad."

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Bezikov, who had been standing by the wall, stared at the map and said: "Even if they only dispatched one armored division and attacked from the east facing Koroslav, our Guards Neither the 77th Division nor the Tank Brigade can stop them. I suggest that the two tank brigades deployed in the north of the city be immediately transferred to the east to participate in the defense."

"This situation must be reported to the front army headquarters immediately." After I finished speaking, I grabbed the phone on the desk and called the headquarters. As soon as I heard Vatutin's voice, I could not wait to say: "Comrade General, I have important information to report to you."

Vatutin might have misunderstood what I meant, and he smiled and said, "Comrade Oshanina, is there good news from the major and their reconnaissance team? How is it, are they looking for something now? "

"Comrade General, I do not have the latest situation of the reconnaissance squad here for the time being." I said to myself: "The German army sent two more armored divisions and an infantry division to Fastif this morning. It seems that they have Big action.” I said this to remind Vatutin that one armored division defeated the 38th Army steadily. Now two more have been added. If you don’t want to take countermeasures, then the Army may be There is a danger of being defeated or annihilated.

After listening to my report, Vatutin was silent for a while, and then cautiously asked: "Comrade Oshanina, is the news you said reliable?"

"Absolutely reliable, Comrade General." I said confidently: "Although we haven't figured out the number of the new German army, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this information."

"I understand, I sent someone to verify." Vatutin hung up the phone after speaking.

Seeing that Vatutin did not say how to deal with the Germans, I was a little disappointed. After sighing, he put down the phone, and then instructed Akhromeyev: "Major, continue to contact the three reconnaissance teams, and find out as soon as possible whether the Germans have made any major moves in the direction of Vinnitsa."

Watching Akhromeyev’s back disappear from the door of the headquarters, I said to Kistyakov and Bezikov: "The tank brigade deployed in the forest north of Korostviv, don’t need it for the time being. Using ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ Our current task is to figure out where the Germans will attack after they have assembled a large number of troops in Fastiv? Should they continue to attack Kiev or attack us from the east? "

Kistyakov turned his head and looked at the map, then walked in front of me, and asked in a deep voice: "Comrade Commander, I want to ask you a question, if the German army of Fastif sends out an armored division to attack us. , How many troops do we need to use to stop them?"

"At least two infantry divisions plus two tank brigades and a part of artillery are needed." I answered his question carefully: "Only this kind of force can stop the fierce German attack."

After hearing what I said, Kistyakov nodded, and then said: "Since this is the case, then I suggest that the Zhytomyr forces be transferred to one or two divisions to participate in the defense in Korostviv."

"No, resolutely not." As soon as his suggestion was uttered, it was rebutted by me: "Zhytomyr is our next defensive focus. No soldier in the city can be transferred."

As soon as I finished speaking, Akhromeev hurried in from outside, waved a telegram in his hand, and reported to me loudly: "Comrade Commander, we have just received telegrams from three other reconnaissance teams. To be continued.) 8