Red Moscow

After receiving Krylov's order, Colonel Chepurkin, commander of the 379th Infantry Division, immediately ordered the troops to assemble and prepare to rush to the town of Bilie to assist the 41st Guards Division to retake the town.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the troops started to assemble, the division chief found a serious problem: "Comrade commander, we don't have a car, how can we get to the designated place within an hour?"

The words of the chief of staff stunned Colonel Chepulkin. It is 16 kilometers from his defense zone to Bilie Town. If all of them are walked, it will take at least three hours. Moreover, after such a rapid march, the commanders and fighters will definitely become extremely tired. Whether they will be able to fight again by then is still unknown.

Out of this consideration, he ordered several regiment leaders under him to gather the troops as soon as possible, and at the same time called the headquarters of the group army, preparing to report the difficulties he was facing.

After hearing Chepurkin's complaint, Krylov couldn't help but fell silent. He just patronized and urged the other party to rush to the designated place early, but forgot to ask the other party if there were enough transport vehicles. He still has a clue about the road conditions outside. Even if he uses a rapid march for a distance of more than ten kilometers, it may take three to four hours. When the commanders and soldiers appear on the battlefield exhausted, there is no way to recover without a period of rest. into battle.

"Colonel Chepurtin," Krylov asked after a moment of silence, "How many troops can you gather in an hour?"

"Comrade Commander," Chepurtin replied, "it is very difficult to assemble the troops because they are too scattered. In an hour, at best, a battalion can be assembled."

"What, only one battalion can be assembled in an hour?" Hearing Chepurtin's answer, Krylov felt very headache. According to the speed of the army's assembly, if there is a sudden attack by the German army, he can know it without guessing. The defense line will collapse in a short time: "Can you speed up? You know, the longer you delay, the better the enemy's preparations in Bilie Town will be, and our army will pay more when it launches an attack. casualties."

"Comrade Commander, this is how I think about it." Chepurkin thought for a while, and continued: "I can use the battalion as a unit, assemble a battalion, and send them to the battlefield by means of transport..."

"No, absolutely not." Regarding Chepurkin's proposal, Krylov immediately denied it: "To destroy the enemy entrenched in the town of Bile, this kind of refueling tactic is absolutely not acceptable, it will make the enemy take it easy Eliminate more of our vital forces. Therefore, your division must have one regiment to fight every day."

"Comrade Commander, can you give me a little more time?" Colonel Chepurkin asked tentatively: "As long as you give me enough transport vehicles, I can send a regiment to the town of Bile within an hour and a half. And assist friendly forces in launching an attack."

Krylov knew very well that he had just taken over the position of commander, and the commanders below him were not familiar with him, so there would inevitably be compromises in the execution of tasks. So much so that even if he wanted to get angry, he couldn't find a word for a while: "Okay, I will immediately ask the logistics department to arrange a convoy for you to transport the troops participating in the war."

Under Krylov's compromise, the army's logistics department sent 80 trucks to the 379th Division to transport the vanguard to Bilie Town. The head of the regiment was on the way when he saw billowing black smoke rising from the direction of Bilie Town. He knew that the battle in the town should have started, so he quickly ordered the driver to stop.

The chief of staff sitting next to him heard the commander's order to stop and asked curiously, "Comrade commander, why did you stop here?"

"Didn't you see the black smoke rising from the direction of Bilie Town?" The regiment leader pointed in the direction of Bilie Town, and said impatiently: "It seems that the friendly forces have already exchanged fire with the enemy. Such important information requires Report to the teacher immediately."

After the radio was connected, the head of the regiment reported to Chepurkin: "Comrade Commander, the battle in the direction of Bile Town has begun."

"Oh, the battle has already started?" After listening to the other party's report, Chepurkin looked down at the map and asked, "Where is your regiment?"

"It's still six kilometers away from the town of Bilie." The leader of the vanguard replied.

"Since there are still six kilometers left, let's speed up." Chepurkin urged: "The sooner you arrive at the designated place, the sooner you can go into battle."

"Comrade Master, I am calling you because I have something important to ask you."

"What's the matter, ask?"

"We are fighting with our friendly forces. Should we establish a unified command?" The head of the regiment said to Chepurkin: "After the joint command is established, who will command these two divisions, is it you or the commander of the friendly army?"

Chepurtin was stopped by the words of the head of the regiment. He remembered that when he accepted the mission, Krylov didn't seem to mention who would command the troops. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to let the matter go first, or let the troops rush to Bilie Town earlier.

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the task of your regiment is to go directly to the town of Bilie and participate in the siege of the enemy." Chepurkin said: "As for who will command the two divisions, I think the superiors will have an overall arrangement. , you don’t have to worry about it.”

After the head of the group ended the call, he immediately told his driver: "Drive, continue to Bilie Town."

On the way, the chief of staff of the regiment asked: "Comrade regiment commander, after we arrive at the place, shall we go directly into the battle, or wait for the follow-up troops to arrive before participating in the battle?"

The head of the first regiment only knew that the German army had occupied the town of Bilie, but he knew nothing about the strength of the troops and what kind of equipment they had. Therefore, he seemed very hesitant: "I think that after the troops arrive at the designated location, they need to regroup. After the regrouping is completed, the follow-up troops must arrive one after another. It will not be too late for us to launch an attack by then."

When the car was less than one kilometer away from Bilie Town, the regiment leader sitting in the jeep suddenly realized that the sound of the guns and guns outside seemed to have stopped, and he couldn't help frowning and said, "It's strange, why can't you hear the guns and guns outside?" Now, is it possible that the attack of the friendly army was repelled by the Germans?"

"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff suggested to him, "I think it's better to let the troops stop first and send out scouts to find out the situation."

The head of the regiment agreed to his proposal, so the entire vanguard stopped one kilometer away from Bilie Town, and began to assemble and prepare for battle.

Before the assembly of troops was completed, two jeeps appeared on the road ahead. Seeing this, the chief of staff quickly ordered his soldiers: "Go over and ask, which part are they from?"

A few minutes later, the soldiers sent to inquire came back in a jeep and reported to the regimental commander and chief of staff: "It's the liaison officer of the 41st Guards Division."

The liaison officer who came was Lieutenant Gelia, the commander of the fifth company of the second battalion. He came to the two lieutenant colonels, raised his hands and saluted, and said, "Hi, comrades lieutenant colonels. I am the 124th of the 41st Guards Division. Lieutenant Gelia, Commander of the Fifth Company of the Second Battalion of the Regiment."

"Comrade Lieutenant," the head of the regiment returned the salute, stepped forward to hold Gelia's hand, and asked enthusiastically, "How is the battle ahead? If you need any help, just ask, we are here to cooperate with you in combat." .”

"I'm sorry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. I don't think there is anything that needs your help." Relia replied flatly, "You are late. Our army has recovered the town of Bilie, and the commanders and fighters are cleaning the battlefield in the town. "