Red Moscow

Immediately after Asiya and others entered the Soviet position, two trucks carrying the corpses of German officers and soldiers, escorted by four three-wheeled motorcycles, went to the location where the German armored vehicles were parked.

Assia originally wanted to stay and watch the exchange ceremony, but Lieutenant Colonel Goryachkin, the head of the 546th regiment, came over and said to her: "Comrade Assia, there is going to be a war here, I will let you Someone send you back to the headquarters. I think, Comrade Commander must still be worried about your safety at this moment."

Now that Goryachkin had already talked about this, Assia knew that if she stayed, it would definitely affect the next military operation, so she nodded and agreed to Goryachkin's proposal.

Seeing that Assia agreed to return to the headquarters immediately, Goryachkin called Zhelia to him and told him: "Comrade Captain, you immediately take a platoon and escort Assia and several other health workers to the headquarters." You have to promise me that you want to take care of your own eyes to ensure their safety."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Gelia said with a vow: "I will definitely send Comrade Assia to the headquarters safely. If the task is not completed, I will not come back to see you."

"Comrade Captain, I hope you can return as soon as possible." Goryachkin said with a smile: "I also hope that you will lead your company to make more achievements in the next battle."

Asiya and the others boarded a truck without a tarpaulin and drove towards the headquarters. Along the way, seeing the oncoming soldiers and the artillery dragged behind the truck, the female health workers all excitedly discussed: "Look, it's our troops, they are moving forward, are they going to deal with the Germans? "

Hearing the discussion of her companions, Assia did not speak, but turned her head to look at Zelia who was sitting aside, hoping to get some useful information from him. After understanding what Asiya meant, Gelia said to everyone: "Girls, please be quiet! You guessed it right, we are about to launch an attack on the enemy, and now the superior is mobilizing troops."

Knowing that the army will soon launch an attack on the enemy, the girls who had just escaped from the clutches suddenly became excited: "It's really great, if we wipe out all the bad guys who captured us, it will be regarded as revenge for us. "

"Gelia," while the girls were cheering, Assia asked Gelia worriedly: "Although we are out of danger now, we were captured by the Germans after all. Will we be censored when we go back?" ?”

Hearing Assia's question, Gelia hesitated obviously, and after a long time, he said in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Assia, reviewing you is a necessary procedure, and it must not be avoided. Yes. However, you have been captured for a short time, and I believe the review will end soon."

Sokov received a call from Goryachkin and learned that Asya and several female health workers had returned to the headquarters under the escort of Zelia. From that moment on, Sokov was a little absent-minded, and he stopped his work from time to time to listen to the movement from outside. Occasionally, when a car passed by outside, he would look out the window to confirm whether it was the car that Assia was in.

Seeing Sokov's absent-mindedness, Lunev came over to him and said, "Comrade Commander, you must be tired after staying up all night. You might as well go to sleep for a while so that you can have the energy to command the battle." After waving at him, Kefu added, "Don't worry, I will wake you up when Assia arrives."

Sokov didn't have much time to sleep during this period, and what happened to Asiya last night made him even more exhausted. Since Lunev said that he would wake himself up in time, he did not insist on his own opinion, but after giving Sameko a few instructions, he went to the corner and lay down on the camp bed.

Because he was too tired, he fell asleep within two minutes after lying down. In order not to affect Sokov's rest, Sameko and Lunev both ordered the communications soldiers and staff officers in the headquarters to lower their voices and footsteps so as not to wake Sokov up.

About half an hour later, a staff officer hurried in from the outside and reported to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, according to the report from the observation post, the truck that Asia and the others are riding in will arrive at us in a few minutes." here."

Knowing that Asya's car was coming soon, Lunev was about to go up to wake Sokov up, but saw him stand up suddenly from the camp bed, and ran out of the command post impatiently. Lunev thought that according to the usual practice, all captives would be subject to a special review when they come back. Although the personal relationship between himself and Sokov is good, the procedures that should be followed still cannot be avoided. He shook his head slightly, and then walked out.

As soon as he went out, Lunev saw Sokov standing beside the truck, putting his hand under Assia's armpit, and helping her get out of the truck. Knowing that the two hadn't seen each other for a long time, he must have a lot to say, so he stopped and didn't step forward to disturb the two.

Don't see Asiya acting extraordinarily strong when she was trapped in the enemy camp, but seeing Sokov at this moment, her tense nerves were instantly relaxed. She hugged Sokov tightly, her whole body trembling like chaff, unable to speak a word.

Seeing that Asiya in his arms was still intact, Sokov finally let go of the boulder in his heart. He gently patted Assia's back and comforted her, "Assia, don't be afraid, it's all over, and you are back to me. I assure you, those who took you People, they will be punished soon."

Assia's body was still trembling. She heard what Sokov said clearly, and she was very moved. She wanted to say a few words, but she couldn't speak as if something was stuck in her throat.

"Comrade Assia," Lunev stood in the distance for a while, seeing Sokov and Assia hugging each other tightly and not separating for a long time, he took a few steps forward and coughed heavily , and then said, "It's great to see you coming back safely."

Assia heard Lunev's voice, quickly and gently pushed Sokov away, wiped the tears on her face with her hands, and said to Lunev with some embarrassment: "Hello, Comrade Military Commissar, can you I am also glad to be alive to see you."

"Comrade Assia, you have been wronged." Lunev stepped forward to hold Assia's hand, comforting her and said, "Please rest assured, we will seek justice for you soon."

"Comrade Military Commissioner," Sokov saw Lunev's appearance and realized that the other party might start the review process, so he took the initiative to say: "Asiya and the others have just returned from the enemy. According to the regulations, there should be a review. I will leave it to you to take care of it.”

"Comrade Commander, I will review Asia and the others according to normal procedures." Lunev comforted Sokov and said, "Don't worry, the review will be completed in a short time."

When Lunev took Asiya and others to the nearby area for inspection, Sokov returned to his command post. Once inside, Sameko reported to him: "Comrade Commander, both artillery divisions are in place."

"Where are the tank army and the attacking troops?" Sokov asked with his hands behind his back, "Have they all arrived at the designated positions?"

"The tank army is still on the move, and it is estimated that it will take forty minutes to an hour to reach the designated attack position." Sameko reported: "Do you need to urge them?"

"No," Sokov shook his head and said, "They can catch up with the attack."

He then asked: "Is the exchange ceremony with the enemy over?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sameko said, "We have handed over all the German soldiers who died in the field hospital to the enemy on the opposite side."

"Very good." Sokov looked at his watch and said to Sameko, "Call the two commanders of the artillery division and order them to bombard the targets given to them in fifteen minutes. "

"Comrade Commander, how long do you intend to let them bombard?"

"At least forty minutes." Sokov said: "When the shelling is over, all the tanks of the tank army should have entered the designated positions. At that time, the infantry can take the tanks and launch an assault on the enemy's defense area."

Although Sameko knew that the battle with the 19th Armored Division was inevitable, it seemed a bit too much to bombard their positions and launch an attack just after the exchange ceremony with the Germans today. He cautiously reminded Sokov: "Comrade commander, just after we finished the exchange ceremony with the enemy, is it appropriate to shell their positions and launch a ground attack? Or should we change the attack time to tomorrow? "

"Comrade Chief of Staff, have you forgotten that the last time we exchanged the body of the commander of the Sixth Armored Division for our captured personnel, the enemy also bombarded us violently after the exchange ceremony?" Sokov said. He said with a straight face: "Since the enemy can do this, why can't we use an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?"

"I understand, Comrade Commander." After Sokov's reminder, Sameko immediately remembered the exchange ceremony that took place not long ago. If it wasn't for Sokov's cleverness, he deliberately delayed the German representatives who came to negotiate. , then the troops may suffer heavy casualties. "I immediately notified the two artillery division commanders and ordered them to prepare for shelling."

A quarter of an hour later, the artillery group of the Soviet army began to show its power, and countless shells fell on the German positions and exploded. After a short time, the German positions were shrouded in smoke and fire. The German officers and soldiers on the ground moved quickly and hid in the anti-battery holes or shelters; those who reacted slowly were either blown to pieces on the spot or were shocked to death by the shock wave of the explosion.

Less than five minutes after the shelling started, Zhukov in the rear knew the news that the position of the 19th Armored Division had been severely hit by Soviet artillery fire. He quickly called Sokov and asked straight to the point: "Misha, what do I hear?" Said that you are ordering the two artillery divisions I just gave you to carry out heavy shelling on the positions of the German 19th Panzer Division?"

"Yes, Comrade Field Marshal, I am ordering the artillery to shell the German positions." Sokov knew better than anyone in this era how terrifying the strength of the 19th Panzer Division was. , Stopped on the road with a battalion of tanks, destroyed dozens of Soviet tanks like a target, and almost made a tank army lose its combat effectiveness.

He took the initiative to attack the 19th Armored Division today, just to hurt the enemy. When he meets the opponent again in the Battle of Vistula in the future, he will make the enemy feel afraid of himself, so as to reduce the casualties of the troops.

"What are your plans?" Zhukov asked.

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov reported to Zhukov, "after the shelling is over, I will order the 182nd and 384th Infantry Divisions to attack the defense area of ​​the 19th Armored Division under the cover of the 4th Guards Tank Corps. General attack. Even if they cannot be completely wiped out, they must be driven away from the Prokhorovka area to weaken the enemy's strength in this area."

Zhukov heard that Sokov didn't say total annihilation, but drove the enemy away, and he was still somewhat disappointed. But after thinking about it, Sokov is now attacking from the enemy's front. If the German army is unable to resist, they will definitely choose to retreat. It is very difficult to wipe out the enemy.

He pondered for a moment, then asked, "Misha, is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Comrade Marshal, although I can use two infantry divisions, one tank army, and two artillery divisions to provide long-range artillery fire cover." Since Zhukov took the initiative to speak, Sokov will naturally not miss this good opportunity , Said quickly: "But the enemy will definitely carry out a desperate resistance. In order to reduce our offensive resistance. I ask you to let the 81st Guards Division on the left wing of our army and General Trufanov's tank unit also launch an attack at the same time. By restraining the enemy's forces, we can easily destroy the frontal enemy."

Zhukov looked at the map in front of him. If Sokov's troops launched an attack, the 81st Guards Division on their left flank and General Trufanov's tank troops did not cooperate with each other, and Schmidt, the commander of the 19th Armored Division, would You can leave a small number of troops to monitor, and then transfer the main force to your left flank to strengthen the defense of the attacked area.

Wanting to understand this, Zhukov nodded and said: "Okay, Misha. When you launch an offensive, I will let your left wing troops also take offensive actions, and also reduce the resistance you encounter during the offensive." .”

But what Sokov didn't expect was that just after Zhukov finished talking with him, Apanashenko, the deputy commander of the front army, came back from the outside. : "Comrade Marshal, I have a bold idea that can speed up the progress of eliminating the 19th Armored Division."

"What idea?" Apanashenko's words aroused Vasilevsky's curiosity, "Let's hear it."

"My idea is that while Sokov's troops on the right attacked the 19th Panzer Division, the 81st Guards Division and the tank units on the left did not move."

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Vatutin couldn't help frowning when he heard Apanashenko say this: "If the troops on the left flank don't move, the enemy can safely and boldly draw troops from here to strengthen their left flank. In that case, Sokov's offensive troops will pay a heavier price."