Red Moscow

A few minutes later, Uzakov's telegram was placed in front of Sokov.

After quickly browsing the above content, Sokov said to Sameko: "Chief of Staff, call Lieutenant Colonel Uzakov and ask him to screen the rescued officers and fighters. Add to his brigade."

"Comrade Commander," Lunev hurriedly reminded him when he heard Sokov's order, "there are only 800 people left in the infantry brigade. Is it appropriate for you to replenish them with 2,000 people at once?"

"What's inappropriate?" Sokov looked at Lunev in a daze: "The strength of the infantry brigade has increased, and it can play a greater role in the next battle."

Seeing that Sokov misunderstood what he meant, Lunev quickly explained to him: "Over two thousand captured commanders and fighters, after a simple screening, all of them were incorporated into the infantry brigade. Now their number exceeds that of the infantry. Given the number of people in the brigade, don't you worry about what will happen to them on the battlefield?"

Sokov understands Lunev's statement very well. He incorporated the rescued commanders and fighters in the prisoner-of-war camp into the army. , was directly incorporated into a combat force, which seemed like a risk no matter how you looked at it. If there really was a mutiny on the battlefield, even if he had nine lives like a cat, it might not be enough.

"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov said to Lunev after organizing the vocabulary in his mind: "These commanders and fighters have suffered so much in the enemy's prisoner-of-war camps, and their hearts are full of hatred for the enemy. Armed and put into battle, I believe they will be able to exert extraordinary combat effectiveness."

"Comrade Commander, I understand what you mean." Lunev, as Sokov's partner, can naturally guess what Sokov is thinking, but out of caring for the other party, he feels that he has to say something Impossible: "Even if you want to incorporate them into the army, you should also incorporate them into the punishment camp..."

Before Lunev could finish speaking, Sokov raised his hand and interrupted him: "Comrade Military Commissar, these rescued officers and fighters are our comrades. They have suffered enough torture in the enemy's prisoner-of-war camp. If they are still under our suspicion after being rescued, it will easily chill their hearts."

Seeing Sokov's stubbornness, Lunev knew that if he continued to persuade him, there would be no effect, so he asked with a wry smile: "Then what should we do if the superiors pursue it?"

"If the superior wants to blame me, I will bear all the responsibilities." After Sokov finished speaking, he raised his hand and patted Lunev on the shoulder, comforting him with a smile: "Comrade Military Commissar, don't worry. , as long as we can win the battle, the superiors will turn a blind eye to this kind of thing. After all, the winner should not be blamed."

Without waiting for Lunev to speak, Sameko walked up to Sokov with a telegram and reported to him: "Comrade Commander, just received a telegram from Colonel Koida, saying that he found an enemy on the road." The armored forces are gathering and appear to be preparing for an attack."

Sokov knew very well in his heart that sending troops to capture Kochetovka must have stimulated the German army fighting in the Oboyan area. In order to prevent the rear road from being cut off, Huot will definitely send troops to attack the Soviet army occupying Kochetovka first, so as to clear the obstacles on the road.

"Chief of Staff," Sokov asked, "is the artillery division in place?"

"One of the artillery divisions has already set up an artillery position at the designated position. The other artillery division is still on the march." Perhaps because he was worried that Sokov would be angry, he also explained specifically: "Comrade commander, you should You know, the road is inherently difficult to walk, coupled with the low visibility after dark, it is understandable that the artillery unit could not reach the designated position on time."

Sokov did not pursue the responsibility of the other artillery division for not entering the position on time, but continued to ask himself the question of interest: "Can you figure out the specific location of the enemy's assembly?"

"Comrade Commander," Sameko asked with a smile after listening to the string song, "Do you want to bombard the area where the enemy is gathering?"

"Yes." Sokov heard what Sameko said, and understood that Koida's troops did not know the exact location of the enemy, so he ordered Sameko: "Hurry up and contact Colonel Keda and ask him to send artillery Observers, find out the exact location of the enemy, and instruct the artillery division in the rear to attack the target."

"Our bombardment must have caused great losses to the enemy." Sameko said happily: "In this way, the enemy's planned attack will be forced to be postponed."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to remind you that if you want to take the initiative on the battlefield, you cannot engage in passive defense." Seeing that Sameko still had the old concept of passive defense, Sokov reminded him: "You After sending the telegram to Colonel Koida, remember to contact the Artillery Division and the Guards Tank Corps."

"Contact the Artillery Division and the Tank Army?" Sameko was stunned for a moment, and then guessed Sokov's intention: "Comrade Commander, are you planning to let the Tank Army launch an assault on the enemy when the shelling is over and the enemy is in chaos? ?”

Sokov knocked twice on the map with his hand, and said: "If the tank army's assault goes well, then the German army attacking the Oboyan defense line will definitely stop attacking in order to prevent their rear from being completely cut off, and send an attack to the Belgian army." The Gorod defense line retreated."

"Comrade Commander, this is a rare and good opportunity." Hearing what Sokov said, Sameko's eyes lit up immediately, "We can transfer the main force of the group army to this direction and cooperate with the defenders in the Oboyan area , encircled and wiped out Huot's troops."

"Hurry up and send a telegram." Sokov did not comment on Sameko's plan, but urged him to send a telegram: "So as not to delay the fighter plane."

"Comrade Commander," Lunev noticed that Sokov was unwilling to start a decisive battle with Huot's troops near Oboyan, so he took advantage of Sameko's departure and asked curiously: "I don't think you Willing to surround Huot's troops, can you tell me why?"

"The reason is very simple. The strength of Huot's troops far exceeds our imagination." In order to prevent Lunev from having unrealistic ideas, Sokov felt that all signs of underestimating the enemy were strangled in the bud: "Voronezh It is very difficult for the two armies of the Front Army to resist their attacks with their strong fortifications and perfect defense system. If they find out that we are going to encircle them, they will definitely rush towards us recklessly We don't have solid fortifications and a complete defense system, even if we put the entire army here, we can't stop them at all, but will increase unnecessary casualties."

"Then shall we just watch the enemy fled back to Belgorod swaggeringly in front of us?"

"How is this possible, Comrade Military Commissioner." Sokov curled his lips and said with a sneer: "We can't stop them, but we can chase them from behind. At that time, the German army saw that the road ahead was clear, so they They will not fight us desperately, but try to find a way to compete with us in speed, and strive to escape back to Belgorod smoothly before we catch up with them."