Red Moscow

"No way, Comrade Commander, you can't do this." What Sokov said scared Lunev on the side, and he rushed over and cut off the phone, saying in horror: "If you take our The captured German division commander will make a mistake in exchanging Assia, and you and I will both be sent to military courts."

When Sokov called, Chief of Staff Sameko saw that he was extremely nervous and anxious, and his whole person was on the verge of collapse. This was in stark contrast to the calmness and composure when he commanded operations in the past. He couldn't help being stunned. His offer of quid pro quo was not noticed. Hearing Lunev's voice at this moment, he realized that if Sokov's reckless behavior was not stopped in time, he would cause a catastrophe.

Seeing Sokov shaking the handle at the bottom of the phone again, Sameko quickly grabbed him and tried to persuade him: "Comrade commander, please calm down, how can we negotiate terms with the enemy? Doing this, Mistakes are to be made.”

Sokov, who was held down by Lunev and Sameko from left to right, gradually calmed down after a short period of anger and anxiety. He realized that he was concerned but chaotic. It's completely messed up and I don't know how to deal with it. If it weren't for Lunev and Sameko to stop their stupid behavior in time, I'm afraid they will get into a catastrophe, and even if Zhukov comes forward at that time, I'm afraid they won't be able to protect themselves.

Sokov tapped his fingers on the table lightly, thinking to himself, if General Schmidt, the commander of the 19th Armored Division, knew about the relationship between Asiya and himself, even if he was willing to exchange Simon, he would agree to his proposal. conditions? With this question in mind, he looked up at Lunev and Sameko: "Asiya has fallen into the hands of the enemy. I can't stand by and do nothing. Do you have any good ways to rescue her?"

After a brief silence, Lunev said: "Comrade Commander, fortunately, it was the Wehrmacht who captured Assia, not the SS. This way the success rate of rescuing her will be greatly improved."

"Comrade Military Commissar," Sameko asked in a daze after hearing what Lunev said, "I don't quite understand what you mean, can you explain to me?"

"The reason is very simple. The SS is the most brutal unit in the German army. Once captured by them, no matter whether they are soldiers or civilians, they may be killed." Seeing that Sameko did not understand what he meant, Lunev said Explain to him: "The Wehrmacht is much better. For captured prisoners, they are usually sent directly to the rear camps. They will not kill prisoners casually like the inhumane SS. That's why I say , Asiya fell into the hands of the National Defense Forces, and the chances of being rescued by us are very high."

When Sameko heard it, the military commissioner made sense. If it fell into the hands of the SS, the other side would definitely massacre the prisoners on the spot, without even giving him time to rescue them. And in the hands of the National Defense Forces, there is at least one rescue time. He hurriedly asked: "Comrade Military Commissioner, what good way do you have, can you rescue Assia?"

Hearing Sameko's question, Sokov quickly turned his attention to Lunev, hoping to hear what good ideas he had. Unexpectedly, Lunev looked at Sukov and said with a wry smile: "Comrade commander, have you forgotten that not long ago, we used the body of the commander of the 6th Armored Division to exchange the body of the commander of the 6th Armored Division from the enemy's hands for a lot of people?" Are there few wounded?"

"Yes, there is such a thing." Sokov said casually, "But what does it have to do with rescuing Asia?"

"Of course it matters." Lunev continued: "Since we can use the corpse of the commander of the 6th Armored Division to exchange the wounded in the hands of the enemy; then, we can also use the corpses of the German soldiers in the field hospital to exchange Asia and the others."

"This is a good idea." Sameko gave Lunev a thumbs up as soon as he finished speaking, and then turned to ask Sokov, "Comrade Commander, do you agree with this plan?"

Using the corpses of the German army to exchange for Asiya and others sounds like a good plan, but who should be sent to carry out this task? Sokov asked hesitantly, "Who do you think should be sent to negotiate with the Germans?"

Lunev looked at Sokov with strange eyes and said: "Comrade commander, didn't you just want the scouts of the 182nd Division to contact the German commander? I think that negotiations with the German army can be done completely." It's up to them to take charge."

"Yes, yes, Comrade Military Commissioner, you have said a lot. This matter can be handed over to the reconnaissance team and let them negotiate with the German army." Sokov said, grabbed the phone on the table, and cranked it a few times Finally, he picked up the microphone and stuck it to his ear and said, "I'm Sokov, connect me to the headquarters of the 182nd Division."

After the phone call, Sokov gave Khokhlov a new order without hesitation: "Comrade Colonel, you should immediately contact the comrades of the reconnaissance team by telegram. I authorize them to communicate with the commander of the 19th Armored Division of the German Army." General Schmidt negotiated to use those German corpses in the field hospital in exchange for Asiya and others."

Khokhlov originally thought that Sokov was going to exchange Simon for Asiya, and he was beating his heart. He knew very well that if he did so, his future would be in jeopardy, and he might even be sent to a military court. Now that he heard that the bodies of the killed German soldiers were exchanged for a few captured medical personnel, he felt more at ease, and quickly replied: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will contact the reconnaissance team immediately. Let them negotiate with the Germans."

"Very good." Sokov said into the microphone: "Once the other party has a reply, let me know immediately."

When Lunev waited until Sokov put down the phone, he carefully asked a question: "Comrade Commander, if the Germans don't agree to exchange with Asiya and the others, what are you going to do?"

Anger appeared on Sokov's face. He gritted his molars and said, "If the Germans disagree, then we can only resort to force. Chief of Staff!"

"Comrade Commander," Sameko, who was standing beside him, quickly responded when he heard Sokov calling him, "What instructions do you have?"

"Immediately issue an order to the 188th Division, 384th Division and the Tank Army to move westward." Sukov said blankly: "Once the German army does not accept our conditions, they will use rockets to attack the 19th Panzer Corps." The division's defense area, conduct a round of fire coverage, let the Germans have a good look at our strength."

"The number of our new rockets is limited, and it may not be possible to replenish them on a large scale in a short period of time." Sameko did not refute Sokov, but reminded him cautiously: "If you consume too much at one time, you will lose it in the next round." In the battle, our combat effectiveness will be weakened to a certain extent."

"The two divisions I just mentioned must shoot out all the rockets in the shortest time after receiving the order from the headquarters. At the same time, the tank army will launch an assault on the enemy's position." Soko When the husband said this, seeing Sameko's surprised face, he patiently explained to him: "Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff, the Skeleton Division has been wiped out by us. The enemy outside Prokhorovka was killed by us." When it was defeated, it was no longer possible to escape from our army's defense zone, so we can safely and boldly use all the rockets to destroy the 19th Armored Division in front of our army."

"Crazy, the commander is simply crazy. In order to rescue Asiya, he actually ordered all the rockets owned by the troops to be hit on the enemy's position." Sameko slandered Sokov in his heart, but his mouth But Li said insincerely: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will accurately convey your order to the commanders below."

Sameko had just finished calling the two division commanders and tank commanders following Sokov's instructions. The high-frequency phone on the table rang. He picked it up and listened for a while, then handed it to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, it's General Vatutin's call."

"Hello, General Vatutin." Although Sokov's troops have been temporarily assigned to Vatutin's command, his title has not changed: "What instructions do you have?"

"Comrade Sokov, I heard that your wife, Comrade Asya, the assistant military doctor, was captured by the German army." Vatutin asked cautiously on the phone: "Is this true?"

Sokov was not at all surprised that Vatutin knew what happened here in such a short period of time. He has long known that in his army, there are people arranged by his superiors who will report what happened here to his superiors in a timely manner through special communication channels.

Now that Vatutin knew about this, he did not hide it, but replied truthfully: "Yes, Comrade General. The enemy attacked the field hospital of the 182nd Division before dawn and killed a large number of wounded in our army. , and kidnapped six medical staff including Asiya."

"Then what measures did you take to rescue the abducted medical staff?"

"I have authorized a reconnaissance team of the 182nd Division to negotiate with General Schmidt, the commander of the 19th Armored Division of the German Army." Sokov replied: "Negotiate the use of the German corpses that died in the field hospital in exchange for the captives. Let's go, Asiya and others."

After listening to Sokov's answer, Vatutin covered the microphone with his hand and reported the situation to Zhukov and Vasilevsky standing aside in a low voice. After listening, Zhukov said to Vatutin: "Comrade Vatutin, ask Misha what he plans to do if the Germans disagree with his plan?"

Vatutin nodded, let go of the hand covering the microphone, and asked bluntly: "Marshal Zhukov asked me to ask you, if the German army refused to exchange Assia, what would you do?"

"I have ordered the 182nd and 384th Infantry Divisions and the 4th Guards Tank Army to move west." Sukov said through gritted teeth on the phone: "Once the German army refuses to exchange hostages, I will order the infantry divisions to launch new rockets." If possible, I will seize the position of the 19th Armored Division and personally rescue Assia."

After listening to Sokov's words, Vatutin couldn't help shaking his head slightly. He felt that the other party was still too young and a little too impulsive. Did an enemy armored division say they could defeat it? He didn't speak, but looked up at Zhukov, wanting to hear what he had to say.

Zhukov did not speak, but walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, as if thinking about whether the decision Sokov made was correct. After walking for some time, he finally stopped, turned his head and said to Vasilevsky: "Comrade Vasilevsky, I remember that the headquarters sent two artillery divisions to the Prokhorovka area overnight. , where are they now?"

Vasilevsky glanced at Zhukov, and then replied: "I need to ask to find out." After speaking, he walked to a telephone, picked up the phone, dialed a number, and began to ask the other party to understand himself What you want to know.

After putting down the phone, Vasilevsky walked to the wall, pointed to the map on the wall, and reported to Zhukov: "Comrade Commander, the two artillery divisions are now five kilometers north of the Psel River. Some schedules, they will arrive outside Prokhorovka at noon today."

"Comrade Vasilevsky, these two artillery divisions are no longer needed outside Prokhorovka." Zhukov walked to Vasilevsky, looked up at the map on the wall, and said decisively : "Temporarily assign them to Misha's command."

"Comrade Marshal, why did you do this?" Vasilevsky asked inexplicably: "Isn't it a waste to put the two artillery divisions under the command of Sokov and have no combat missions in a short period of time?"

"Waste?" Zhukov turned his head to look at Vasilevsky, shook his head and said, "It's not a waste at all. Didn't Sokov say that he was planning to use new rockets to cover the defense area of ​​the 19th Armored Division? Two artillery divisions happened to be near his line of defense, and we happened to be able to help him."

"Comrade Marshal, I don't understand." Regarding Zhukov's decision, Vasilevsky looked at a loss: "Can you explain it to me?"

"Judging from Misha's intentions, if the negotiation fails, he will attack the 19th Armored Division's defense zone." Zhukov pointed to the location of the German 19th Armored Division. Kov's intention to seize the position of the German 19th Panzer Division will be realized. In this way, the 81st Guards Division on his left flank and the tank unit commanded by Trufanov can be liberated from the current defensive state , to participate in the attack on the German army.

Look at the map, as long as the 19th Armored Division is eliminated or driven away, the enemies outside Prokhorovka will be surrounded by our army. The enemy who has been completely cut off from supplies will not last long in our encirclement. In order to prevent annihilation like Stalingrad from happening again, the enemy will have to stop attacking the city and consider how to break out of the encirclement of our army. "

"Comrade Vatutin." After Zhukov explained his intentions, he turned and asked Vatutin who was holding the microphone: "Are you still talking to Misha?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Vatutin hurriedly replied, "My conversation with General Sokov is not over yet."

"Comrade Vatutin, please tell Misha that we will soon send him two artillery divisions to strengthen his coverage of the enemy's positions before attacking."

"Understood, Comrade Marshal, I will tell him immediately." After Vatutin finished speaking, he said into the microphone: "General Sokov, have you heard it?" Marshal Zhukov is going to add two more artillery divisions to you , to increase your firepower against the enemy's positions, I wish you success in your attack in advance.