Red Moscow

The German army is about to attack on a large scale, so Sokov naturally will not sit still, and hastily called a meeting of all cadres above the platoon. Since the battalion command post was too small to accommodate so many people, he arranged the meeting place in a nearby shelter.

Seeing that even the platoon commanders were present, Sokov nodded at Belkin, indicating that the meeting could begin. Belkin stood up, pasted a hand-drawn map on the wall, turned to face the crowd and said, "Comrades, the reason why we notified you to hold a meeting here is because we received a report from a reconnaissance team behind the enemy not long ago. Report: The enemy dispatched two artillery companies, an infantry battalion, and a tank company to try to seize our unnamed heights..."

Knowing that the enemy was about to launch an attack, before Belkin could finish speaking, the commanders below began to whisper and discuss in whispers. Although their voices were very low, the whole house was filled with a humming noise.

"Be quiet, be quiet!" Seeing this situation, Sokov slammed the table hard and said angrily: "Look at you now, do you still look like a Red Army commander? Vegetable vendors in the market. If you have any questions, it’s not too late to ask after Comrade Political Deputy Battalion Commander has finished speaking.”

Seeing that Sokov got angry, the commanders sitting below quickly shut their mouths. Several female commanders, including Liuba, stuck out their tongues embarrassingly. Seeing that the room had returned to calm, Sokov turned to Belkin and said, "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, continue talking!"

Belkin nodded, pointed to the map and continued: "Our unnamed highland is far away from the main highway and railway lines, but because it is the only commanding height in the south of the city, it will inevitably become the target of the German army....At the beginning, in order to give The troops controlling this commanding height provided supplies, and the Germans specially built a simple road to connect their base with the unnamed high ground..."

Sokov waited for Belkin to finish his speech, stood up and continued: "Comrades, through the narration of the deputy battalion commander, everyone must understand that if the Germans want to reach Susinich by this simple road, they will We were killed by firepower from the high ground. That is to say, as long as we hold the unnamed high ground, the enemy will never pass through here... Okay, now is the time for questions, and anyone who has any questions can ask them!"

The first one who stood up to ask questions was Savyev, the commander of the third company who had been sticking to the high ground. He looked at Sokov and asked: "Comrade battalion commander, although the position on the top of the mountain has been reinforced, it is not a permanent reinforcement of reinforced concrete after all. Fortifications, how can our company reduce casualties in the event of shelling?"

Hearing Savyev's question, Sokov felt very uncomfortable. He pointed to the map behind him, and said to Savyev angrily: "Comrade Lieutenant, I remind you that the reason why I ordered you to build fortifications on the north slope of the highland is because of the fortifications on the top of the mountain. Can't stand the heavy artillery bombardment of the German army. When the German army starts shelling, what you have to do is to leave two observation posts on the position, and the rest of the soldiers retreat to the fortifications on the north slope to hide, and wait for the enemy's shelling to end. , and re-enter the position."

After saying this in one breath, Sokov thought about the air defense of the position. According to his knowledge of the Germans, before the enemy attacked, in order to destroy the defense of the Soviet army, they would not only use heavy artillery bombardment, but also send out air force bombardment, so he turned towards the direction where Liuba was sitting and said, "Lieutenant Liuba!"

"Here!" Liuba, who was sitting upright, heard Sokov call her name, and quickly stood up from her seat, waiting for the other party to give her an order.

"Comrade Lieutenant, if the enemy wants to seize our unnamed high ground, they will not only bombard it, but also dispatch the air force to bomb it." Sokov stared at Liuba and said, "Therefore, I will entrust you with the heavy responsibility of air defense."

"Comrade battalion commander, please don't worry!" Liuba replied confidently when she heard Sokov's order because she had shot down a German reconnaissance plane after entering this place: "We As long as there is still an anti-aircraft machine gun, the German planes will not be allowed to bombard our army's positions recklessly."

"Also!" Seeing Liuba was about to sit down, Sokov hesitated for a moment, but he resolutely stopped her: "If the German army breaks through the third company's position and rushes down from the high ground, I hope you can use it." They were suppressed by machine gun fire."

"What, let's use machine guns to attack enemy infantry?" Liuba thought Sukov's words were ridiculous. Anti-aircraft machine guns are used for air defense, so how can they be used to attack infantry? It's just a joke. But considering that the other party is her superior, she still patiently explained: "And saying that is also against the regulations..."

"Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov stopped her before she could finish speaking, "Our priority now is to defeat the Germans. Even if there are any actions that conflict with the regulations, the regulations should be put aside for the time being." .An anti-aircraft machine gun can not only hit aircraft, but also be used to deal with enemy infantry, buses and even armored vehicles. It is also a very effective weapon. Do you understand?"

Seeing Sokov's stubbornness, the muscles on Liuba's face twitched violently a few times, wanting to refute, but considering the other party's identity, she opened her mouth and didn't say what she wanted to say, so she could only bite the bullet Said: "Understood, Comrade Battalion Commander, I resolutely obey your orders."

After the meeting, Liuba returned to the company with the three platoon leaders. Seeing that he had returned to his territory, Sergeant Katya, the platoon leader, saw Liuba's gloomy look, and asked with concern: "Comrade Lieutenant, what's wrong with you, what's wrong?"

"It's not that I'm not feeling well," Liuba shook her head and said with a wry smile, "Didn't you hear at the meeting just now that the battalion commander asked us to use anti-aircraft machine guns to attack the enemy's infantry, and even trucks and armored vehicles? You know, doing this is a violation of the regulations. If the superior blames it in the future, who will bear the responsibility?"

"Comrade Company Commander," just as Liuba finished speaking, Third Platoon Leader Lida said, "I think the Battalion Commander must have his reasons for making such an arrangement. Let's follow his orders."

"Lida, what are you talking about?" As soon as Lida finished speaking, Katya retorted: "We can't do anything that violates the regulations. If Captain Sokov refuses to admit it when the superiors pursue the responsibility, then they will be punished." It’s not our company commander who criticizes. Comrade company commander, am I right?” What she said later was addressed to Liuba.

Liuba didn't answer her, but asked the second platoon leader Junia who had been silent all the time: "Younia, what do you think?"

"I listen to everyone." Junia replied ambiguously to the question Liuba posed to her, "Do as everyone says."

Liuba finally made a final decision after consulting everyone's opinions, and she said to the three platoon leaders: "I am the supreme commander of the anti-aircraft machine gun company, and I should have the final say on how to use the anti-aircraft machine gun. I hereby declare that, without my order, no machine guns shall be used against enemy infantry."