Red Moscow

In the early morning of August 3rd, there were still three minutes before five o'clock.

Sokov holds a telescope in his hand and is observing the German positions on the other side of the river. It was quiet there, no one could be seen, and no sound could be heard.

Sameko walked up to Sokov, raised his binoculars and looked at the German positions on the other side for a while, then put down the binoculars and said, "Comrade Commander, the other side of the river is really quiet, but unfortunately we will soon break this barrier." There's a silence."

"Since this silence will be broken sooner or later, it is better for us to break it than for the Germans." Sokov put down his binoculars, looked at Sameko and asked, "How long is it before the shelling starts?"

Sameko looked up at his watch and replied, "Thirty seconds to go!"

"Director of the Communication Corps!" After hearing Sameko tell the time, Sokov turned to the Chief of the Communication Corps who was standing not far away and asked, "Have you connected to the artillery?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." The director of communications replied respectfully: "The two artillery division commanders are online, and you can talk to them at any time."

Sokov picked up the phone and said into the microphone: "Colonel Terenka, Colonel Bessonov, hello, I'm Sokov."

"Hello, Comrade Commander!" After the two colonels greeted Sokov, they said neatly: "The artillery is ready to shoot and is ready to shell the enemy's position at any time."

After taking a deep breath, Sokov said into the microphone: "Colonels, in order to destroy the enemy, we have to open fire on our own city. This is the price of victory. I wish you good luck!"

After speaking, he handed the microphone in his hand to Sameko who came over. Sameko took the microphone and put it close to his ear but did not speak, but quietly looked at the second hand on the watch. When the second hand pointed to the position of 12, he shouted loudly into the microphone: "Fire!"

"Yes!" The two artillery division commanders heard Sameko's voice and replied loudly at the same time: "We will fire immediately!"

Ten seconds later, there were screams in the air, and batches of shells streaked across the sky, landing on the position on the other side of the river and exploding. In an instant, the enemy's position was shrouded in thick gunpowder smoke. In the sky full of smoke and dust, from time to time, stumps, broken arms and parts of weapons could be seen flying, and scattered around like rain.

Seeing that the enemy's position was being bombarded by his own artillery, Sameko couldn't help but smile. But when he turned around inadvertently, he saw Sokov frowning, as if something was on his mind. So I couldn't help asking: "Comrade Commander, what's the matter with you, why do you look a little unhappy?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov turned his head to look at Sameko, and said with great concern: "There are still hundreds of thousands of our residents in this city. causing casualties."

"Comrade Commander." After figuring out what Sokov was worried about, Sameko comforted him and said, "Didn't you just say that we shelled our own city to drive away the enemy, and this is victory The price that must be paid. I think the first reaction of the residents in the city when they heard the shelling started must be to hide in the basement nearby, so as to minimize unnecessary casualties. If there are casualties, it can only be Blame them for their bad luck, this is war after all."

Sameko's words reminded Sokov that there are no immortals in a war. Naturally, he became indecisive just now, and he couldn't even accept a little civilian casualties within the acceptable range. How can he command troops to fight in the future?

In order to divert his attention, Sokov picked up the phone, connected to Dobrushin's headquarters, and asked straight to the point: "Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin, have your troops boarded the ship yet?"

"Comrade Commander, we have just pushed the hovercraft out of its hiding place, and it may take another quarter of an hour to start boarding."

Although less than ten minutes had passed since the bombardment started, Sokov urged anxiously: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, time is running out, let your people hurry up so as not to miss the opportunity."

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Dobrushin quickly replied, "As soon as the hovercraft is in place, I will immediately organize the commanders and fighters to board the ship. I will definitely complete the boarding operation before the shelling ends."

"How far is your attack location from the enemy's position?"

"Our commanders placed the hovercraft at a distance of 200 meters from the river." Dobrushin replied, "The distance from the enemy's position is no more than 400 meters. As soon as the shelling ends and the smoke clears, we can Ride in front of the enemy in a hovercraft and catch them off guard."

Besides, at the German position on the other side of the river, five minutes after the Soviet shelling started, the soldiers ran out of the bunker in disheveled clothes. Before they could figure out what was going on, a row of shells fell, and the ground was immediately covered with broken limbs and broken flesh. , Blood flowed like a river.

Less than a quarter of an hour after the shelling of the First and Second Artillery Divisions started, the positions along the river were basically destroyed by the rumble of cannons. There was hardly a living person in the positions, and the entire defensive position seemed to be a hell on earth.

The shelling went on for about half an hour. Sokov, who had been watching the enemy, realized that the position along the river had been completely destroyed by the shelling, and continued shelling would only waste shells, so he ordered Sameko: "Chief of Staff, Immediately call the artillery and order extended fire."

"What, extended shooting?" Sameko said in surprise: "Comrade Commander, didn't we say that we were going to bombard the German positions along the river for an hour? Why did you suddenly think about extending the shooting?"

"Chief of Staff, haven't you noticed that the enemy's position along the river has been completely destroyed by our artillery fire?" Seeing that Sameko was so ignorant, Sokov said with some displeasure: "Since there are no enemies, Then why should we waste precious shells?"

Hearing what Sokov said, Sameko finally understood Sokov's intentions, and quickly agreed: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will immediately call the artillery and order them to extend the shooting immediately."

While Sameko was calling the artillery, Sokov was not idle either. He connected to Dobrushin's headquarters again and asked bluntly, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, have your troops boarded the ship yet?"

"The boarding of the first and second battalions has been completed." Dobrushin reported on the other end of the phone: "The third and fourth battalions and the troops directly under the brigade will carry out boarding operations immediately after the hovercraft returns."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the situation has changed today." Sokov said into the microphone: "Under the cover of our army's powerful artillery fire, the enemy's positions along the river have been basically destroyed. Strike immediately. Understand?"

Dobrushin did not question Sokov's decision, but simply replied: "Understood, Comrade Commander. As soon as the artillery fire starts to extend, we will immediately launch an assault on the opposite bank."

Two minutes after the extended artillery fire, Sokov saw more than 20 hovercraft rush towards the smoking German position on the opposite bank like lightning. In the blink of an eye, the hovercraft crossed more than 100 meters of water and rushed to the opposite bank.

After landing, the hovercraft rushed forward for tens of meters and then stopped. As soon as the hovercraft stabilized, the commanders and fighters inside rushed out like tigers descending from the mountain, and then scattered around to seize favorable terrain.

After the pilot of the hovercraft waited for all the commanders and fighters on the ship to disembark, he turned around and drove back to pick up the third battalion, fourth battalion and the troops directly under the brigade on standby.

Sokov carefully observed the movement on the other side. Except for sporadic gunfire in the distance, the expected crazy firepower of the enemy did not appear. It seemed that the shelling just now had completely destroyed the enemies in this area.

Sokov picked up the topic again, connected the 84th Marine Brigade, and said loudly: "I'm Sokov, let Colonel Chuvashov answer the phone."

"Comrade Commander, I am Chuvashov, what instructions do you have?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin's troops have successfully landed on the other side, have you seen it?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander, I have seen it." Chuvashov asked curiously, "Is the boat they crossed the river the new type of river crossing equipment you mentioned at the meeting the day before yesterday? Its speed is really high." It was too fast, and I rushed to the enemy's position on the other side before I could see what it was."

"Colonel Chuvashov, you immediately take your people to the defense area of ​​Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin, and prepare to cross the river on a hovercraft." Sokov said: "When you are on board, you can slowly study this new type of weapon. What are the advantages of river crossing equipment?"

Soon after Dobrushin's second wave of troops crossed the river, Sokov heard the radio operator calling himself: "Comrade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin wants to speak to you."

Sokov walked over to take the headset and put it on his head, and then said loudly into the microphone: "Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin? I'm Sokov, report the situation there immediately."

"Report to Comrade Commander," a loud explosion came from the earphones, making Dobrushin's voice a little unclear. Sokov could only press his hands on the earphones, trying to hear every word the other party said clearly: " We have taken all the positions along the river. Repeat, we have taken all the positions along the river."

"Great, this is really great. Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin, I congratulate you for taking the lead in establishing new feats in the battle to liberate Belgorod." Sokov praised the other party After a few words, he then ordered: "Our shelling will stop soon, you immediately send troops to advance towards the city, and be sure to occupy as much territory as possible before the enemy recovers, so that our follow-up troops can Get a big enough landing field."

"I understand, Comrade Commander," Dobrushin replied loudly, "I intend to leave the fourth battalion and the troops directly under the brigade to hold the position along the river, and the rest of the troops to advance deep into the enemy's defense."

"Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin," Sokov worried that Dobrushin would be dazzled by the victory in front of him, and specifically reminded him: "Remember, the enemy in the city is very powerful. If you divide your forces and advance, It is easy to be broken by the enemy one by one, so you must concentrate your forces, rush towards a point, and try to break through the enemy's defense in the shortest time."

After assigning the task, Sokov returned the headset and microphone to the operator. After heaving a sigh of relief, he said to Sameko who was standing beside him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, we have accomplished our intended goal, and the next thing we can see is that we can wedge ourselves into the enemy's enemy before the friendly bombardment stops. How far is the line of defense?"

"Comrade Commander," Sameko raised his hand and looked at his watch with a smile on his face, "It's only been fourteen minutes since the Marine Brigade's assault, which is one hour faster than you thought at the time." Minutes. Do you think we need to report the results of the battle to the Front Army Command immediately?"

"Yes." His troops took down the German position along the river as scheduled. Sokov felt that it was absolutely necessary to report the matter immediately to make Konev happy, so he ordered the director of the communications army: "Comrade director of the communications army, Please help me connect to the Front Army Command, I want to report the results of the battle to Commander Konev."

As soon as the phone was connected, Sokov heard a familiar voice: "I am the chief of staff, General Zakharov, where are you?"

"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff, I'm Sokov."

"It's Comrade Sokov." Zakharov asked lightly, "What's the matter?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, please tell Commander Konev that my troops have successfully captured the German positions along the river. Now, except for a part of the troops staying in the captured positions, the rest of the troops are advancing towards the depth of the enemy's defense."

"What, what, Comrade Sokov, what did you say?" Zakharov was shocked by Sokov's report, and he asked in amazement: "Your troops have captured the enemy's position along the river, and now they are still fighting against The enemy's defenses developed in depth?"

Zakharov didn't believe Sokov's words at all. If he wasn't familiar with Sokov, he would definitely think that the other party was drunk or delusional.

"Chief of Staff," Konev, who was talking to Susekov, saw Zakharov panicked, got up and walked over, and asked curiously, "What happened?"

"Comrade Commander," Zakharov quickly covered the receiver with his hands, and reported to Konev: "General Sokov asked me to tell you that his troops have successfully captured the enemy's position along the river. , at this moment, some troops are developing in depth towards the enemy."

"The enemy's position along the river has been occupied, this is impossible!" After Konev said this, in order to find out what happened, he reached out to Zakharov: "Give me the phone, I want to ask Sokov personally what is going on."

"Hello, Sokov?" Konev put the microphone to his ear, and immediately raised his voice and asked, "I'm Konev. I want to ask you, the results of the battle you just reported to Comrade Chief of Staff are all Is it real?"

"Yes, Comrade Front Army Commander, it's all true."

"What's going on here?" Konev was confused: "We have less than half the time to prepare for the enemy's artillery fire, and you actually told me that your troops have successfully captured the enemy's position along the river? What the hell is going on, you are not joking with me, are you?"