Burning Moscow

A new round of German offensive began in the evening. In order to capture the position of our regiment, the enemy used a large-scale artillery group. The shells fell on the line of defense like raindrops, and our army's position suddenly fell into a sea of ​​flames.

As both lines of defense were shrouded in gunpowder smoke, the situation in the forward positions was simply indistinguishable. I frowned and told Lu Jin: "Comrade Lieutenant, please contact the first and second battalions by phone to see how the situation is on the ground?"

After Lu Jin picked up the phone and yelled a few times, he raised his head and told him: "Comrade head, the frontline cannot be contacted. It may be that the phone line has been blown up."

I stared at him, and said in a stern tone: "Then what are you doing here, send someone to repair it immediately, and you must restore contact with the frontier in the shortest possible time."

Lu Jin promised to run to the door of the observation post and shouted twice. Soon a second lieutenant ran over to salute him and asked, "Hello, comrade lieutenant, do you have any instructions?"

Because the sound of the artillery was too loud, Lu Jin had to shout loudly: "Comrade Lieutenant, the telephone line from the observation post to the forward position may have been broken by a cannonball. You immediately send someone to check the line. It must be in the shortest possible time. Inside, resume communication with the cutting edge. Go ahead."

After the ensign left, Lu Jin came to me and said, "Comrade commander, I have already given an order to the platoon leader of the communications platoon to immediately send someone to repair the line and restore communication with the forward position as soon as possible. ."

Two minutes later, a communications soldier ran into the observation post and reported to Lu Jin: "Comrade Lieutenant, the second lieutenant asked me to report to you that the telephone line has been repaired and we can talk to the forward commander."

After Lu Jin dialed the phone, he shouted loudly: "A battalion commander? I'm Captain Lu Jin, report the situation of your battalion?"

A battalion commander shouted hoarsely: "Report to Comrade Lieutenant, the situation is very bad. The enemy's artillery fire is too fierce. Several hidden parts have been destroyed. Although the statistics are temporarily unavailable, I think the casualties are still high."

"Tell the soldiers. Pay attention to concealment and minimize unnecessary casualties. Hey! Hey!" Lu Jingang said a few words. There was no sound in the microphone again, and I shouted repeatedly: "Hey, one battalion commander, one battalion commander, can you hear me?"

Seeing this situation, I couldn't help frowning, and said displeased: "What's the matter. Has the phone line been blown off again?" Lu Jin quickly put down the phone, rushed to the door of the observation post again, and directed outside. Shouted: "Come here, go and check the line quickly. See if the phone line is blown off again."

At this moment, an enemy shell fell near the observation post and exploded. The air wave shook the dust on the roof like rain, so that I had to close my eyes so as not to be fascinated by the dust. Before I opened my eyes. I heard someone yelling: "Comrade Captain, what's the matter with you? Where are you injured?"

I shook my head quickly, shaking off the dust on my face a lot, and then I opened my eyes and looked towards the door, just in time to see a soldier supporting Lu Jin from the ground. I walked over. Seeing the bleeding on Lu Jin’s face, I quickly asked with concern: "Comrade Captain, are you injured?" The soldier and I helped him to sit down in the corner, and then yelled at the soldier: "Comrade soldier, go call the hygienist. Come."

After the soldier left, I asked again with concern: "Lu Jin, are you okay?"

Lu Jin waved his hand and said laboriously, "Comrade Commander, I'm fine, but I was wiped off by shrapnel and can't die. The soldiers in the communications platoon have gone to overhaul the lines, and I believe they will soon be able to recover and the cutting edge. communication."

There was a voice calling for a report at the door. I looked up. It turned out to be a male hygienist. He quickly raised his hand and greeted him: "Come here, Comrade Soldier. The captain is injured. Give him a bandage quickly."

The hygienist squatted down in front of Lu Jin, opened the medicine box, and took out a pile of bottles and jars and a roll of bandages from it. When he cleaned the wound with alcohol, Lu Jin gritted his teeth in pain, and scared me nervously to remind the hygienist: "Be gentle, don't hurt Comrade Lieutenant."

The hygienist who was cleaning the wound heard what I said and couldn't help but stop his work. Lu Jin saw him look nervous and comforted him: "Comrade hygienist, don't worry, I can hold it, you can go on."

The hygienist cleaned the wound and applied iodine before wrapping Lu Jin's forehead with a bandage. As a result of all this, he stood up and reported to me: "Comrade commander, the captain's head was only scratched by shrapnel. After treatment, he is fine."

I nodded in satisfaction, waved at him, and said, "Thank you, Comrade Soldier. There is nothing for you here. Go back first."

When I connected to the front line again, I asked a battalion commander: "A battalion commander, is there any movement from the enemy?"

A battalion commander replied loudly: "Report to the comrade commander. According to the report of the observation post, the enemy has been bombarding our position with artillery fire, and no trace of the enemy was found in front of the position."

"Continue to observe, and if there is any situation, please report to me at any time." After speaking, I hung up.

Unexpectedly, just after putting down the phone, Biliukov called again, and he hurriedly asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, how is the situation on your side?"

"Very bad, comrade commander." I replied with a sad face: "The enemy is launching uninterrupted shelling on our regiment's positions. Although casualty statistics are not available for the time being, I estimate that the enemy's shelling has caused us many casualties."

"I will now convey the latest order to you. Once the enemy's shelling is over and no enemy ground troops are found to attack, you will immediately lead the troops out of the position, retreat to two kilometers and establish a new defensive position to cover the river crossing troops."

I was dissatisfied with Biliukov’s changes in order and order, but I didn’t dare to complain at him. I could only say tactfully: "Comrade Commander, the casualties of the troops are too great. It is very difficult to retreat quickly. Because the wounded are transferred. It takes a lot of time. When we withdraw to the new defense area, it is estimated that the enemy's large forces will pounce on. If our regiment has no fortifications, it will not be able to stop the enemy. I suggest that the troops should stay in the existing area. In the region, continue to fight against possible attacks from the enemy, gaining precious time for the troops crossing the river."

Biliukov was silent for a moment and said: "Comrade Oshanina, there are now a group of political workers sent from the base camp by the river. They need to cross the river as soon as possible. If your regiment continues to hold on to its current position, the enemy's troops will be completely It may bypass your defense zone and head straight to the river. By then, these political workers who have little combat effectiveness will be in danger."

To be honest, I don't have any good feelings for political workers. In my mind, they belong to the role of more than success. Now I want my troops to retreat and build a new line of defense in an open place where there is no danger and cover them to cross the river. From the bottom of my heart, I am very reluctant.

It may be that I heard my delay ~www.wuxiaspot.com~Biliukov said in a more serious tone: "Comrade Oshanina, maybe you don't know the details of these political workers, then I will tell you frankly. They were gathered from the base camp from all the border regions and prefectures across the country. Among them were district committee, prefectural and municipal party committee secretaries, department heads, secretaries from collective farms and factories, and other party workers, totaling more than 500 people. Among them are the staff members of the Central Committee Kirilov and Kruglov, and the Deputy People’s Commissar of the State Farm of the Russian Federation Stubov. They came to the group army to strengthen the political department and form a strong force in the group army. The core of the party. Once something happens to them, it will be an irreparable loss for us. At that time, let alone you, even General Cuikov and I may be sent to a military court."

Biliukov's words scared me into a cold sweat. It turns out that we have to cover the people crossing the river so important that we can only execute orders unconditionally. So I bit my lip, and replied unwillingly: "Please rest assured, the commander, after the enemy’s shelling is over, I will order the forward troops to withdraw from the position and rush to a new defensive position to build a defensive position. And I, will Lead the seventh company and the guard platoon to stay and cover the troop's retreat."

When I said the number of the Seventh Company, Biliukov was silent for a moment, and then decisively said: "Well, we must build a defensive position by the river as soon as possible to protect the political workers from crossing the river safely. Finally, I wish you good luck. , Remember, you must come back alive!"