Red Moscow

After Guchakov withdrew his troops, the chief of staff came out of the headquarters and reported to Koida: "Comrade Commander, Major General Malankin, Commander of the Guards Division, is going to speak to you."

"Major General Malankin?" Keida didn't know that the 81st Guards Division had been assigned to the command of the 27th Army Group. Hearing what the chief of staff said, he asked casually, "Where did the call come from? "

"It's the second line of defense behind us." The chief of staff pointed to the second-line position in the distance, and said to Koida: "Now the remaining troops of the 81st Guards Division are deployed there."

Koyda walked into the command post, picked up the microphone on the table, and whispered to his ear, "Hi, is this Mr. Marankin? I'm Colonel Koyda."

"Yes, I'm Marankin." Marankin's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Colonel, I didn't expect that our two divisions will fight side by side again not long after."

Because the two division commanders fought against the attacks of the 6th and 19th Armored Divisions together, and launched an attack against the 3rd Armored Division at the same time today, they can be regarded as comrades-in-arms in the same trench.

Hearing what Marankin said, Keida also laughed: "Comrade General, I was worried that it would be very difficult to stop the onslaught of the German army with our current strength. But now we have you as our backing." , I feel much more at ease."

"Colonel Keda," Marankin said. Although Marankin saw the new round of German attack and was repelled by the Soviet air force, he still felt that he had to remind Keda that the enemy is still very strong, so don't let it happen. Underestimating the enemy: "According to the information we have, the German troops attacking us are the so-called elite German divisions of the Wehrmacht. They are well-equipped and their soldiers are well-trained. In the face of their attacks, you must not take it lightly. .”

"Comrade General," Keida was very grateful for Marankin's kind reminder. He waited for the other party to finish speaking, and immediately added: "Don't worry, even if there are only a few German soldiers on the opposite side of us, we won't fight against you." Will take it lightly and will do everything possible to stop them."

Seeing that Keida did not become smug because of a series of victories, Marankin's heart hanging in his throat returned to his stomach again. Before he put down the phone, he told the other party: "Colonel Koida, if you need anything, please feel free to call, we will do our best to support you."

"Thank you, Comrade General. I will call you if necessary."

When Koyda put down the phone, the chief of staff came over to him and said: "Comrade commander, I think it is very inappropriate to set up the division headquarters here. One round of enemy artillery fire is enough to destroy our command system. We There are not many troops, and if we lose our unified command, we may not be able to block the enemy's attack."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Political Commissar Mashkov interrupted when he heard what the Chief of Staff said, "Then where do you think we should set up our headquarters?"

"I think the division headquarters can be set up on the second line of defense," the chief of staff said with some hesitation: "The enemy's artillery preparations before the attack all target the first line of defense, and the second line of defense is less threatened. We can command troops better there."

Koyda asked blankly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if we set up the headquarters on the second line of defense, how should we command the troops once the telephone line is blown out by artillery fire?"

"Don't we still have an announcement machine?" The chief of staff said plausibly: "Even if the telephone line is blown up, we can still keep in touch with this place."

"What if the antenna erected outside is also blown up by the enemy's artillery fire?" Koyda continued to ask: "Then how can we understand the situation at the front and convey the latest order?"

"This, this..." Hearing what Kuida said, the chief of staff didn't know how to answer for a while.

"Comrade Commander," Political Commissar Mashkov thought carefully about the chief of staff's proposal, and felt that what he said was quite reasonable. He had just seen the situation on the battlefield. Such a crude fortification is difficult to carry. Those who can withstand the heavy bombardment of the German army, once the division headquarters is destroyed, the troops standing on the ground will become a mess because of the loss of unified command. "I think Comrade Chief of Staff is right. You may wish to consider his opinion."

"No," Keida said resolutely, "Comrade Political Commissar, I understand that you and the chief of staff have good intentions and feel that the headquarters should be located in a safe place so that the troops can be better commanded. But Have you ever thought about what the soldiers would think if they saw us move the headquarters to a relatively safe place in the rear? Would it have a negative impact on the morale of the troops?"

Koyda's words stopped Mashkov. He scratched the back of his head and said with a wry smile: "This is a headache. If we stay here, our headquarters is in danger of being destroyed by the enemy; but if Move the headquarters to a safe area, and worry that it will affect the morale of the soldiers."

"Or, let's divide the command into two parts." The chief of staff suggested: "I will continue to stay here to command, and the division commander and political commissar will take part to a safe area behind to re-establish a backup command."

"No," Keida once again denied the chief of staff's proposal, and said loudly: "I am the commander of the first division, and if I want to stay, I should stay. The chief of staff and the political commissar go to the back to establish a backup headquarters."

"Master, it's better for you and the political commissar to go to the backup command post. I'll take command here."

"No, I have the final say on the affairs of the 188th Division." Koyda said firmly: "If the headquarters is to be split, you and the political commissar will go to the rear, and I will stay alone to command..."

Just when the two sides were arguing, the phone on the table rang. The chief of staff picked up the phone and listened for a while, then handed it to Keida: "Comrade commander, it's the commander."

Knowing that the call was from Sokov, Koyda hurriedly adjusted his military appearance, then walked over to take the nod, and whispered in his ear: "Comrade commander, hello, I am Colonel Koyda. Do you have any instructions?"

"Colonel Keida, have all your troops arrived at the designated location?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander, our division has all arrived at the designated position."

Sokov waited for Koida to finish speaking, nodded his head slightly, and continued, "I don't think there are many troops left in your division?"

"Including the wounded, there are more than two thousand people."

"There are only more than 2,000 people, and the number is a bit small. You must know that the enemy facing you is the elite of the German Wehrmacht. You are under a lot of pressure."

Although Koyda desperately hoped that Sokov would send reinforcements to him, he still bit the bullet and said: "Comrade Commander, please rest assured that as long as there is one soldier in the 188th Division alive, We would never let the Germans pass over our positions."

"Do you have any difficulties?"

Sokov's words were heard by Mashkov and the chief of staff who were standing beside Koida, and the two desperately winked at Koida, signaling him to ask Sokov for reinforcements.

Seeing the expectant eyes of the two, Keida hesitated for a moment, and finally said decisively: "Report to Comrade Commander, we have no difficulties. Even if there are difficulties, we will find a way to overcome them."

"Comrade Colonel, don't hold back anymore. Even if you don't tell me, I still have some understanding of your division's situation." Sokov said with emotion on the other end of the phone: "Your division has participated in so many battles. , not only the number of troops has been seriously reduced, but also the ammunition should be insufficient. But even so, you still don't want to complain to me, it's really good."

After Sokov praised Koida, he paused for a moment, and then continued: "I said, you will not fight alone. The main force of the group army is now rushing to your area. I believe that tomorrow morning Before that, a large number of troops can rush to your defense zone."

Hearing that a large number of troops will arrive at his defense zone before dawn tomorrow, Koyda couldn't help but smile, and he quickly asked, "Comrade commander, can you tell me which troops will come over?"

"You'll know when the time comes." Although his troops are rushing to the battle zone, Sokov doesn't know which troops will arrive first, so he can only be vague when faced with Koida's inquiry. Said: "Anyway, there are a lot of people, which is enough to make up for the shortcomings of your lack of troops."

Sokov looked out the window and saw that the sky was getting dark, so he said into the microphone: "Colonel Koyda, it will be dark soon, and I think the Germans may not launch a new attack. You guys Use this precious time to strengthen the existing fortifications and prepare to resist the Germans."

"Yes, Comrade Commander!" Koida replied: "From the moment the commanders and fighters of our division entered the position, they have been repairing the fortifications and digging anti-aircraft holes in important areas, so as to prevent the enemy from shelling us. Necessary casualties."

"By the way, Comrade Colonel, I have one more thing to ask you." When Sokov put down the phone, he suddenly remembered an important matter, and asked quickly, "Where is your division headquarters located?"

"Our division and troops are together," Koida replied curtly.

"It's nonsense, it's nonsense." Sokov said displeasedly: "You actually set up the division headquarters on the first line of defense without strong fortifications. This is simply nonsense. Have you ever thought that if the German army attacked you? What if the position was bombarded fiercely and was destroyed by the division headquarters? Without the unified command of the troops, can they still stop the crazy German attack?"

Sokov's series of questions made Koyda dumbfounded, and he didn't know how to answer for a while.

After a long time, he said: "Comrade commander, our three division leaders have just discussed that the headquarters should be divided into two parts, one part will stay in the position to directly command the troops, and the other part will be transferred to a safe area to establish New command. When you called, we were discussing who would stay in command."

"Has the discussion come to fruition?" Sokov asked calmly.

"Not yet." Koida replied with some embarrassment: "I suggested that I stay in the position to command, and the chief of staff and political commissar be transferred to a backup headquarters in a safe area; but the chief of staff proposed that he stay in the position to command , Let me and the political commissar be transferred to the backup headquarters. We have not argued for this matter and have not reached a result."

"Colonel Keda, you don't need to argue anymore." Sokov waited for Keda to finish speaking, and said in an unquestionable tone: "The division headquarters should not be divided into two parts anymore, and immediately withdraw to a safe place. This is an order, execute it immediately!"

"However," Keida hesitated when he heard Sokov ordering himself in such a strong tone, "If the division headquarter retreats to the back, will it affect the morale of the troops?"

"If the division headquarters is destroyed by German artillery fire, it will affect the morale and morale of the soldiers." Sokov was afraid that Koida would continue to argue with him, so he quickly said in an orderly tone: "Colonel, don't Forget that the orders of the superiors can only be executed, not for discussion. Immediately execute my orders and move the division headquarters to a safe place."

After Sokov finished speaking, he raised his hand and looked at his watch, and continued, "I'll give you an hour. When the time is up, I hope to hear that your division headquarters has moved to a safe place."

After Koyda finished talking with Sokov, he said to the chief of staff and the political commissar, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Chief of staff, comrade political commissar, we don't need to argue any longer. Comrade commander has issued an order to transfer our division immediately to In a safe place, he will make a special phone call in an hour to inquire."

"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff hesitated when he heard the order relayed by Koyda, "Is this really the order given by Comrade Commander?"

"Yes." Keida nodded, looked at the chief of staff and said, "Don't you believe it?"

"No, no." The chief of staff quickly waved his hand, defending himself and said, "I'm just worried that the transfer of the division headquarters will have a negative impact on the morale of the troops."

"Chief of staff, you don't have to worry about this." Koida said with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander said that if we insist on going our own way, we must set up the headquarters on the ground. seriously affect the morale and morale of the troops."

He glanced at the communications soldiers who were still busy, then called the communications company commander over, and told him, "Comrade Captain, the work here is suspended, we are going to establish a new headquarters elsewhere."

Naturally, the communications company commander would not talkatively ask why the headquarters was transferred, but straightened his back and replied: "Yes, I will carry out your order immediately!" After speaking, he went to greet his communications soldiers and stop the telephone line Laying and antenna erection work.

"Comrade Chief of Staff," the division is about to retreat, but before leaving, Koyda still has work to do, he said to the chief of staff: "You let the head of the 562nd Regiment be the commander-in-chief of the front enemy, and command the troops on the battlefield. All the troops. At the same time, let them find a way to lay mines in front of the positions, so that the Germans will not touch our positions in the dark."

"But, Comrade Commander, where should I tell them to look for landmines?" The chief of staff said in embarrassment: "You know, we have been attacking, and such cumbersome things as landmines are not carried at all."

"As for the landmines, you leave it to the commanders below to figure out a solution." Kuida said with a smile, "I think they will be able to find a way to get the landmines."