Burning Moscow

After the troops were assembled, we continued on our way. After walking for about twenty minutes, the battalion commander who was at the front of the team sent someone to report that they had been in contact with the third group and they were waiting for us in the fortification. In order not to keep Koska and the others from waiting for a long time, I hurriedly left the queue with Pantai Lev and walked forward quickly.

When we came to the vicinity of the fortifications, Corsca greeted us with a few commanders. After listening to him briefly report the situation of the troops, I looked at the dark buildings between the two trenches in the distance and asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what are those buildings?"

After taking a look, Kosca replied to me: "Comrade Commander, those are concrete bunkers. The walls are more than a meter thick and can resist the direct aiming of 76mm artillery. You must know that this is a key national defense project, even The walls of the trenches are all concrete."

Hearing this, I looked around curiously. Although I can't see far in the night, I didn't feel any traces of fighting here, so I couldn't help asking in surprise: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, since it is important Why didn’t we send troops to stay here for the national defense project? Also, since this area is under the control of the Germans, why didn’t they send troops to this important area?"

I was stunned by the series of questions, and he was dumbfounded not knowing how to answer my questions. In the end, Bantai Leyev relieved him, and he smiled and said: "Well, comrade commander, don't embarrass Lieutenant Colonel Kosca anymore. Let me introduce you to you. The reason why I didn't stick to it in the early stage. This fortification is because the troops we withdrew from the direction of the Don River have almost all lost their organizational system, so such a key fortification was abandoned in vain. As for why the enemy did not occupy this area after occupying this area. The troops stationed in this fortification, I think it was determined by the characteristics of this fortification.” Having said that, he pointed to the front and said to me, “The main defensive direction of this fortification is toward the north, when it resists enemies from the north. Fortifications. It can still play its role. If the attacking enemy comes from the south, then the effect of this fortification will be greatly reduced. This is probably one of the reasons why the enemy has not kept troops to station here."

"Report to the commander and deputy commander." After getting Bantaiyev's relief, Kosca returned to normal. He reported to us: "After we entered this fortification. We searched carefully and found that there was a shelter in the fortification. There are signs of people living in the past. According to observations, the number of troops guarding here is not more than one squad, but I don’t know why they all withdrew.

"Someone has lived here?" Bantai Leyev asked curiously: "Can you tell whether it is ours or German?"

"It's a German." Kosca replied without hesitation: "We found a pair of discarded military boots in the shelter, which belonged to the Germans. In addition, we found bags of flour left by the Germans and other things in the trenches. Analyzing from these leftovers, it must be a German who is stationed here."

"Okay, no matter whether the people who stayed in this fortification were Germans or our own people, it is all our own people anyway." I bluntly ordered Corsgar: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. Take us to the trenches to see. ."

Under the guidance of Corsgar, we entered the trenches and watched some of the soldiers sitting on the ground to rest. The other part put the gun on the edge of the trench and vigilantly monitored the north side of the position.

Kosca led us into a bunker, and I saw five or six soldiers inside, and a light machine gun was mounted in front of the shooting hole of the black hole. Seeing us coming in, the soldiers quickly raised their hands to salute, and Ke Sijia waved. Motioned them to leave. After the soldiers left, I walked quickly to the shooting hole. He raised his binoculars and looked out, although he couldn't look too far in the dark. But we can vaguely see the open land of a map of Pingchuan outside. Seeing this situation, I couldn't help but secretly scold the German commander's head for being broken. For such a good fortification, even if you put one here, it would make us scrupulous. But that's okay, we can pass here calmly and continue northward to join forces with the Don Front Army.

Before I put down the telescope, I heard Bantai Leyev say from behind: "Comrade Commander, we have left Mamayev Hill for almost three hours. According to the advance reservation, we should receive the telegram from the political commissar. "

I put down my binoculars and turned my head, nodded, and said, "Well, let the telegraph operator come in, and I will receive the telegram from the political commissar here to find out what new changes are happening in the city. Captain, you go out and take the telegraph. The officer called in." The next sentence after me was addressed to the guard battalion commander Basmanov.

While Basmanov was out looking for the operator, I called Kosca in front of him and told him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you will leave a battalion of troops in charge of the defense here."

Before I finished speaking, Ke Sijia said in surprise: "What, leave a battalion?" He was afraid that I would not be able to figure out the current situation, and he specially emphasized to me, "Before our group set off, you Let Major Godunov and the third battalion stay. I only brought the first battalion, the second battalion and the direct troops of the regiment. If one battalion was left to guard the position, our troops northward would be weak."

"You don't need to worry about this," I comforted him: "You have left Captain Dubrovsky's first battalion, and Captain Rosenberg. I think he has not healed from his injuries and cannot adapt to the pick-up. The long-distance march that comes down, so let him stay. At that time, the battalion of the fourth regiment and your second battalion will be combined and continue northward. Even if you encounter the enemy’s troops, the strength of the two battalions can match the enemy’s strength. Compete against each other. As long as they can hold on for more than half an hour, the regiment led by Lieutenant Colonel Sergeikov should be on the battlefield."

Immediately after finishing the assignment, Basmanov came in with the telegraph operator. Pantai Lev pointed to several stacked ammunition boxes and said, "Just put the radio on this one."

Due to the long distance of the march, I didn't let Razumeyeva or Nadya come. Instead, I found a telegraph operator from the communications company. The telegraph operator seemed to be a monk halfway through, and was not very familiar with the business. It was messy to set up a machine and an antenna.

Pantai Leyev asked in a low voice, "Comrade commander, why do you want to leave a battalion to stand here. As a result, our forces will soon be dispersed? When fighting behind enemy lines, it is most forbidden to divide troops at will."

I just smiled bitterly about Pantaiyev’s concerns, and then replied: "Comrade Deputy Commander. You must have seen it too. This is the only way we can go back to Mamayev Hill. If we don’t send troops to stick to it. , Once our army is discovered by the enemy, they will inevitably send troops to occupy here and cut off our retreat. Do you think that time will come. How long can our isolated, helpless, food and ammunition force survive in the enemy’s encirclement?" Seeing the thoughtful expression on his face, I struck the iron while it was still hot and said, "Comrade deputy commander, I will leave with the comrades of the 3rd and 4th regiments later, and you will stay and wait for the group. Wait for Xie Jie After Rikov’s regiment arrived, let them rest first, and then chase us."

I talked to Pantai Leyev for a while, and seeing that the clumsy operator finally set up the radio, I raised my hand to look at the watch, and urged him: "Quickly turn on the machine and watch the political commissar and them telegram over." He also told Basmanov, "Captain. Give the telegrapher a flashlight so that he can copy the text."

Not long after we started up, Kirilov’s telegram was sent over. I took the telegram from the operator. Then the light from the flashlight in Basmanov’s hand made it difficult to identify the content on it, and saw it read: “In order to delay the German offensive and relieve the pressure of my improper defense, my artillery was right half an hour ago. The enemy tanks and infantry assembled at the "Red October" factory close to the ground and carried out fierce shelling. This caused heavy casualties to the enemy."

After passing the telegram to Bantai Leyev, I walked out of the bunker. I looked towards the red city, although I couldn't see it. But from the dull cannon sounds from time to time, I can still imagine the intensity of the battle. Looking to the east again, there was no moving figure. It seemed that Sederikov's troops might still be on a slow-moving truck and did not know when they would arrive.

I walked into the bunker again and began to issue orders: "Captain Basmanov, send someone to help the radio operator to remove the radio antenna. Lieutenant Colonel Kosca, go to convey my order, the first battalion stays, the second battalion and the regiment directly subordinate The troops set off with us. As for you, Comrade Deputy Commander, just as we have just agreed, you stay and wait for a group, and after they rest, you can chase us north."

Because I temporarily decided to leave the three regiments and one battalion behind, when we set off, the troops of the three regiments fell into chaos in the dark for a while. Commanders at all levels tried hard to gather the troops, and waited. When we set off, the shadow of a group of troops could also be vaguely seen in the east.

The troops of the third and fourth regiments united in one place. When they set off again northward, Kesijia came to my side. He said with shame: "I'm sorry, comrade commander, I really didn't expect that the troops will be after a short rest. If we set off again, there will be confusion. This is all my responsibility. I assure you that I will strengthen the training of the troops when I go back, and there will never be a similar situation again."

"Lieutenant Colonel Corsca, this is not your responsibility, so don't blame yourself." I said kindly to the old head of the Third Regiment: "After the brutal battle of the Third Regiment, there are very few veterans left. Now The regiment is full of newly recruited soldiers. Originally, there was not enough time for them to train, but now they are still organizing their march at night. It is very good to be able to reach this level."

Seeing that I didn't blame myself, Kosca became more relaxed. He then asked curiously: "Comrade Commander~www.wuxiaspot.com~ If we keep going north like this, can we join forces with the southward friendly forces?"

When I heard his question, I turned my head and looked around. I saw that they were all people I trusted. Then I lowered my voice and said to Corsgar: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, we must find a place before dawn. Be concealed. Otherwise, once the enemy's reconnaissance plane finds out, we are in danger of annihilation before seeing the friendly army."

My words shocked Corsca. After looking around, he said anxiously: "This is the prairie. If the enemy finds out, they only need to send an armored force to surround us, and we will have nowhere to go. Retreat. At that time, it will really be like what you said, not only can’t join forces with the friendly forces, but will be wiped out by the enemy.”

Thinking of the map that Akhromeyev gave me before I set off, I quickly told Kosca: "According to the reconnaissance of the previous two days, there is a hilly area ten kilometers away, which is a weak link in the German defense. In the past, we could hide the troops there. Lieutenant Colonel, you immediately send a small team to speed up and move north to confirm whether the intelligence returned by the reconnaissance team is correct."

"Okay, I'll send someone to do it." Corsca agreed, ran away from me, and ran to the forefront of the team quickly, ready to arrange manpower for reconnaissance. (To be continued)