Red Moscow

Although Zakharov didn't call his name, Sokov knew that the other party must be talking about himself, so he obediently closed his mouth and listened quietly to the other party's assignment of combat tasks to the troops.

After Zakharov assigned the task, he possessed and whispered a few words to Konev before finishing it. After a short pause, Konev asked briefly: "The chief of staff has assigned combat missions to each unit. Do you have any questions?"

After Konev finished asking, the entire meeting room fell silent. The commanders present were thinking about the tasks assigned by Zakharov, and what details needed to be added.

Soon, Lieutenant General Managarov, the commander of the 53rd Army, asked Konev about some difficulties that his troops might encounter in the area attacked by his troops.

Fortunately, the question raised by Managarov was already estimated by Konev, and he patiently gave a short and clear answer to the other party.

With the leader, everyone became active. They asked various questions to Konev or Zakharov, and got the answers they wanted from the two chiefs of the front army.

When the question was almost finished, the conference room gradually fell silent, but Kryuchenko, commander of the 69th Army, stood up and said to Konev, "Commander of the Front Army, allow me to ask questions?"

When everyone heard Kryuchenko's voice, they couldn't help showing expressions of astonishment. When Zakharov was assigning tasks just now, everyone heard that the 69th Army, as the reserve team of the Front Army, would not participate in this attack. And what is Kryuchenko's intention in raising such a question at this time?

Konev nodded at Kryuchenko, indicating that the other party could ask the question he wanted to ask.

"I want to ask, what is the mission of our 69th Army?"

Hearing Kryuchenko's question, Konev couldn't help frowning, and said with displeasure: "General Kryuchenko, were you dozing off when the chief of staff assigned the task just now?"

"No, Comrade Front Army Commander, I have been listening carefully."

"Then tell me, what mission did Comrade Chief of Staff assign to your group army?"

"Two divisions were drawn to reinforce General Managarov's 53rd Army, and the remaining troops, as a reserve of the Front Army, could go into battle if necessary."

"General Kryuchenko, you shouldn't ask such a rash question." Konev said in a stern tone: "Since you already know that your troops will serve as the reserve force of the front army, isn't such an order clear enough? ?"

Konev's reproachful tone made Kryuchenko's face turn red: "Commander of the Front Army, I was wrong. But other troops went to liberate the cities occupied by the Germans, while we stayed behind Watch the excitement, how can I explain this to the commanders and fighters?"

"You are not just watching from the back, General Kryuchenko." Konev said in a stern tone: "Once the front attack fails, or the loss of troops in some areas is too large, your army group will still be thrown into battle. As an army commander, you should understand this."

"After the two divisions of our group army are transferred away, the strength of our army will become even weaker. I worry that when it is our turn to go to the battlefield, we will not be able to complete the tasks assigned to us by our superiors due to lack of troops."

Seeing that Konev was showing signs of having an attack, Susekov quickly tugged at the hem of his clothes, restrained his impulse, and asked General Kryuchenko in a pleasant manner: "Then what do you think, you can tell me. "

"I hope that our group army can add 20,000 new recruits to alleviate the shortage of soldiers."

"Twenty thousand recruits?!" After listening to General Kryuchenko's request, Susekov shook his head with a wry smile and said, "General Kryuchenko, you should understand that our troops have just experienced a brutal During the battle, the reduction of personnel in each unit was very serious, and the supplements given to us by the superiors were very limited, I think I am afraid that we cannot satisfy your wish."

As soon as Susekov finished speaking, a commander in the crowd below muttered in a low voice: "Major General Sokov's 27th Army has just recruited more than 30,000 soldiers. Why is it our turn? Can the soldiers be replenished?"

"Slap!" Although the commander's voice was not loud, Konev, who was sitting above, heard it because the entire conference room was very quiet. He slapped the table heavily with his hand and said sharply: " Who said the sarcastic remarks just now?"

Seeing that Konev was angry, the commander who was speaking below did not dare to speak up, so he could only shrink back in the crowd obediently and did not speak. ,

Seeing that no one stood up to admit his mistake, Konev said in a stern tone: "That's right, Sukov's troops did replenish more than 30,000 soldiers not long ago, but all of them were rescued from prisoner-of-war camps. Commanders and fighters with combat experience. After these people are incorporated into the troops, not only will they not dilute the combat effectiveness of the original troops, but on the contrary, they can strengthen the combat effectiveness.

If any of you dare to stand up, pat your chest and say that you have built more meritorious deeds than Sokov's troops, and destroyed more enemies than Sokov's troops. Even if I sell everything I can, I have to gather 30,000 people to supplement your army. "

"Comrade Konev," Susekov suddenly interrupted when the atmosphere in the venue was extremely tense, "I think General Kryuchenko is right. The 69th Army suffered heavy losses during the Battle of Kursk. In addition, two divisions will be transferred from them in this campaign to strengthen General Managarov's 53rd Army. His troops have indeed become empty shelves, and it is absolutely necessary to supplement them of."

Kryuchenko, who was in a dilemma, heard Susekov's words, as if he had grasped a life-saving straw, and couldn't help but cast a grateful glance at the other party.

After listening to Susekov's words, Konev pondered for a long time, then turned to Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what's your opinion?"

Zakharov, who was staring at Kryuchenko non-stop, heard Konev asking himself, and replied after a moment of thought: "I think what the military commissar and General Kryuchenko said makes sense. It is absolutely necessary for the 69th Army to replenish 20,000 soldiers, otherwise his troops will really become empty shelves."

Konev frowned, and said in a low voice: "We have added troops to the 69th Army, what about the other troops? What should we do if their commanders also make the same request to us?"

"I think that in addition to adding 20,000 soldiers to the 69th Army, we should also add 15,000 soldiers to the 53rd Army and the 7th Guards Army, so that our offensive strength will be much richer."

Regarding the plan proposed by Zakharov, Konev only pondered for a moment, and then made a decision: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, you immediately write a report to the Supreme Command, saying that we need to add 20,000 troops to the 69th Army." People, to supplement the 53rd Army and the 7th Guards Army by 15,000 people."

"Understood." Zakharov nodded and replied, "I will write the report as soon as the meeting explains."

Konev turned to Susekov and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, I've finished my words. Do you have anything to add?"

"No more, Comrade Konev."

Since Susekov had nothing to add, Konev stood up and announced to everyone: "The meeting is over, comrades commanders, you can go back to your troops."

When everyone got up and was about to go outside, Konev added loudly: "Sokov stays."

Hearing that Konev asked Sokov to stay, Lunev approached Sokov and said in a low voice, "The Chief of Staff and I will wait for you in the car."

Soon, all the commanders who came to the meeting left the meeting room, leaving only the three of Konev sitting behind the table, and Sokov standing near the door.

Konev saw that all the people in the meeting had left, and Sokov was still standing near the door like a telegraph pole, so he said impatiently: "General Sokov, don't stand so far away, come to me." Come."

Sokov quickly came to Konev, stood upright, stared at Konev intently, wanting to hear what he had to say.

"General Sokov," Konev said, "do you really think that your troops can occupy the German position on the other side of the river within a quarter of an hour?"

"Yes, Comrade Front Army Commander." Sokov nodded and replied, "I'm sure."

Konev waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and said with a half-smile: "General Sokov, since you are so confident, I will report it to the Supreme Command as you said."

Knowing that Konev was going to report the matter to the Supreme Command, Sokov suddenly became a little less confident: "Commander of the Front Army, don't report it yet. The quarter of an hour I said to take down the enemy's riverside position is only theoretical. Yes, it can’t be done. If you really want to report it, I think it should be limited to three days. I assure you that within three days, my troops will be able to wipe out the enemies in the west of the city and firmly control the west of the city. In the hands of the army."

"Are you really sure that you can take the west of the city in three days?" Konev asked.

"Yes, Comrade Front Army Commander." Sukov remembered that the attack on Belgorod lasted only three days in history, so he replied confidently: "I am very sure that my troops can survive in three days." Within days, completely occupy the western part of Belgorod."

After chatting a few more irrelevant words, Sokov asked, "Comrade Front Army Commander, can I go?"

"Yes." Konev nodded, and said in an affirmative tone: "Go back and prepare the commanders and fighters to ensure that our attack on Belgorod can be successful."

Sokov walked out of the headquarters, and under the guidance of the sentry at the gate, he found the temporary parking lot, where he met Lunev and Sameko who were chatting.

Seeing Sokov approaching, Sameko quickly threw away the cigarette butt in his hand, walked up to meet him, and asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, what did General Konev and you say?"

"It's nothing important." Sokov shrugged his shoulders and said, "I just want to confirm whether our troops can really capture the German army's position along the river within a quarter of an hour."

"Comrade Commander, I think you are a bit hasty in what happened today." Lunev criticized Sokov: "In front of so many people, you said that our troops can take down the enemy's army in a quarter of an hour. The defense line by the river. However, if something unexpected happens after the offensive begins, preventing the hovercraft from rushing into the enemy’s fortifications as scheduled, I’m afraid they will take down the enemy’s position within a quarter of an hour, and it will become the laughing stock of everyone.”

"Comrade Military Commissar," Sameko said to Lunev with a wry smile after waiting for Lunev to finish speaking, "We have become the laughing stock of the brotherly troops at this moment. The two generals are talking about this matter in a low voice, and they all feel that your statement is simply a fantasy, and it is impossible to appear at all."

In the face of everyone's doubts, Sokov was extremely calm: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't care what other people say, we just need to do our job well. After you go back, you immediately arrange the engineering unit, and in the Marine Brigade In the defense zone, build a few bunkers that can hide the hovercraft. When the day comes when the offensive starts, we can directly place the hovercraft by the river, shorten the impact distance, and correctly take down the riverside of the German army in the shortest possible time. position."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sameko promised confidently, "I'll go to the Chief of Engineers when I get back and ask him to arrange manpower to start this work as soon as possible."

Sokov and others drove back to the headquarters more than ten kilometers away. As soon as the car stopped at the door, Samoilov, who was in charge of duty that day, ran over and opened the door for Sokov while reporting to Sokov. Said: "Comrade commander, an anti-aircraft artillery unit has just arrived. It is said that it was specially sent by the superior to strengthen our air defense force."

Knowing that there was an anti-aircraft artillery unit coming, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little joy in his heart. He felt that the air defense force here at the headquarters was too weak, and the anti-aircraft artillery unit sent by his superiors was just in time, so he couldn't wait to ask: " Where is their commander?"

"Comrade Commander," Samoilov reminded Sukov, noticing that he had just said "they" instead of "them," when he saw that Sokov had just said "they" instead of "them", "there is a women's anti-aircraft artillery unit. From warriors to women."

"What, is it the women's anti-aircraft artillery unit?" Sokov heard Samoilov's words, and the muscles on his face couldn't help twitching violently a few times. "What kind of organization are they, regiment or division?"

"None," Samoilov shook his head and replied with a wry smile, "It's just a battalion of 37mm twin anti-aircraft guns, and the battalion commander is a captain."

"Where are they now?"

"Because you are not here, I will arrange them in the lounge next to them. If you want to see them, I will call them over immediately."

"Comrade lieutenant, didn't you call me here." Lunev corrected Samoilov's statement: "Yes, please, invite these female commanders to the headquarters, understand?"

"clear!"

"Now that you understand, let's go!"