Red Moscow

It is not uncommon for a company to be transferred from the guard force of the headquarters to enrich the combat force. Sokov originally thought that Sameko would have no objection to his arrangement, but as soon as he finished speaking, Sameko hurriedly said: "Comrade Commander, our guard force has only nine companies. , But from the beginning of the Battle of Kursk to the present, we have successively enriched five companies into combat troops, and now the remaining four companies cannot be used anymore. Otherwise, if something happens, we can use a little None of the troops were mobilized."

Sameko's words reminded Sokov that although there are many troops directly under the group army, if there is any danger, for example, the headquarters is attacked by the enemy, the only troops who can protect themselves are the guards around them. force. After thinking about this, he nodded slowly, and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what you said is very reasonable. I don't think about the transfer of companies from the security forces for the time being. As for the replenishment of the Guchakov 1st Battalion Soldiers, I still think of another way."

Sameko thought of his suggestion of recruiting new soldiers, but was rejected by Sokov. He was very curious about how the other party would supplement the soldiers for the reconstruction of the first battalion: "Comrade commander, how do you plan to solve the problem of soldiers?"

Sokov is not a fairy, he doesn't know how to spread beans into soldiers, and there is no good way to do it in a hurry, so he can only smile bitterly and say: "Major Guchakov and the others must be exhausted after fighting for half a day. , Let them stay at the headquarters to rest for a while. When the superiors replenish us with troops, we will immediately start the reconstruction of the first battalion.”

Sameko nodded in agreement, and then asked: "Comrade Commander, the 188th Division has entered Kazakhia Compass Town, and it is only a matter of time before the enemy in the town is wiped out. You personally report to the Front Command?"

Sokov couldn't help being taken aback, and said to himself, isn't it your job to report the results of the battle to the front army headquarters? Why did you ask me to report in person today? But after a while, he understood Sameko's intentions. He attacked October Town today without reporting to the front army headquarters in advance; Worry. I personally call Konev to report the results of the battle, and I can take the opportunity to resolve the grudge in the opponent's heart.

After the call was connected, Sokov heard Zakharov's voice from the receiver, and asked in a rude manner: "Hi, Comrade Chief of Staff, I'm Sokov, I want to find General Konev, I don't know Did he rest?"

"No, of course not." Zakharov replied: "Since the battle of Kursk, he has only slept two or three hours a day at most, and he is looking at the map at the moment. Do you have anything?"

"It's like this. The 84th Division of our army has liberated October Town, and the 188th Division has now entered Kazakhia Compass Town. It is only a matter of time before the town is liberated." Sokov said quickly: "I I just want to report our results to General Konev."

"Your troops have entered Kazakhya Compass Town?" Zakharov searched the map with his hands, and said in surprise: "Your troops have penetrated more than 40 kilometers deep into the enemy's defenses? Have you arranged any troops?" Protect their left and right wings?"

"I have sent the 84th Division that captured October Town and a tank brigade to follow up." Sokov replied: "Even if the German army reinforces Kazakia Compass Town, they are capable of defeating the enemy."

After listening to Sokov's explanation, Zakharov felt a little more at ease. He glanced at Konev who was standing at the door chatting with Susekov, and then shouted: "Comrade Commander, Sokov The Major General wants to speak to you."

Konev and Susekov walked over together, and when reaching out to answer the phone, he frowned and asked, "Is there anything he wants from me?"

When Zakharov handed the microphone to Konev, he quickly said: "Major General Sokov reported that his 84th Division occupied October Town, and the 188th Division also captured Kazakhya Compass Town. "

Konev couldn't help raising his eyebrows when he heard this, and quickly took the microphone in Zakharov's hand, stuck it to his ear, and said hurriedly: "Sokov, I'm Konev, your troops Really rushed into Kazakia Compass Town?"

"Yes, Comrade Front Commander." Sokov replied, "Although the enemy is still resisting in the town, it is only a matter of time before they are eliminated."

"What about the casualties of the troops?" Konev asked.

Sokov was wondering how he should ask Konev to ask for additional troops. Since the other party had a question, he went downhill and said: "The first battalion and the tank battalion in the town were attacked first, and the entire army was basically wiped out. Although they only There are more than a dozen left, but they are still fighting the enemy tenaciously.

Comrade Front Commander, the battalion under the command of Major Guchakov is a heroic unit. They have made great achievements in the Battle of Kursk. I feel very sad that they have been wiped out like this. I wonder if you can send us some men so that I can rebuild the battalion. "

"I don't have any soldiers." Hearing Sokov's request, Konev said displeasedly: "Don't forget, your group army just received more than 30,000 soldiers last week, and they are all veterans with combat experience. "

After waiting for Konev to finish speaking, Sokov said with a playful smile: "Commander of the Front Army, you must know that not only the first battalion is a heroic unit, but their commander, Major Guchakov, is also an excellent commander. , has a wealth of experience in command. If he can return to the battlefield as soon as possible, he will definitely be able to make more achievements. But if you can't supplement us, he may only be able to sit in my command post for a long time You know, it is a crime to let such an excellent commander do nothing in the war."

It may be Sokov's last sentence that touched Konev deeply. After a moment of contemplation, he said: "Major General Sokov, to be honest, I still have a reserve team in my hand, which was just recruited. It is composed of new recruits and those rescued commanders and fighters. But I can't give it to you directly, otherwise the commanders of other army groups will come to me for soldiers after they find out. unity among

Sokov just heard that Konev said that he still has a reserve team in his hand, and he couldn't help but chuckle in his heart, but when he heard the words later, his heart suddenly turned cold. Konev was right. If he directly recruited soldiers from the reserve team to help rebuild the Guchakov Battalion, once other army commanders found out, it would definitely cause trouble. After all, our troops have been fighting for a long time In the battle, there were many losses.

Just when Sokov was disheartened, he heard Konev continue to say: "Major General Sokov, I have been thinking about one thing these two days. The original 46th Infantry Brigade of your army group was not incorporated into the near Is there the 98th Guards Division? In this way, there will be no brigade organization in the infantry of your army group. I think it is necessary to re-establish an infantry brigade. As for the designation, use the 73rd infantry brigade you commanded before."

Hearing this, Sokov's eyes moved, revealing an expression of disbelief: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, you said that you want to rebuild the 73rd Infantry Brigade?"

"That's right," Konev replied in the affirmative.

"However," it was a dream come true for Sokov to be able to rebuild the 73rd Infantry Brigade. After all, when he was stationed in Stalingrad, the unit he commanded was the 73rd Infantry Brigade. But the most troublesome thing now is the problem of soldiers and weapons and equipment. He tentatively asked: "How to solve the problem of soldiers and weapons and equipment?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Sokov." Konev said with a smile: "I won't give you an empty number. The reserve team I just mentioned just needs to change their number. Has it become the 73rd Infantry Brigade?"

Hearing Konev's cheerful laughter from the receiver, Sokov couldn't help cursing inwardly: What a cunning old fox, no, it should be a cunning rabbit. The most cunning animal in Russia is the rabbit, and the fox is everyone's favorite. A kind animal.

He was secretly scolding Konev in his heart, but he said with a smile on his mouth: "Commander of the Front Army, thank you for rebuilding the 73rd Infantry Brigade. I assure you that this unit will definitely play a great role in the next battle. It has achieved remarkable results.”

After Sokov finished speaking in one breath, he suddenly remembered a key question: "By the way, Commander of the Front Army, I would like to ask, who is the commander of the rebuilt 73rd Infantry Brigade?"

"The deputy brigade commander is a colonel, and the position of brigade commander is temporarily vacant." Konev said: "Since you have said so well about Major Guchakov, let him be the brigade commander."

"However, Guchakov is only a major, and his deputy brigade commander is a colonel." Sukov said with some confidence: "It is not appropriate for a colonel to accept the command of a major. ?”

"There is nothing inappropriate." Konev said carelessly: "Your military commissar, Lieutenant General Lunev, isn't his military rank higher than yours? In the army, you can't just look at the military rank, but also the commander's ability. Since you have been speaking well of Major Guchakov in front of me, let him take up the post of brigade commander."

Now that Konev has already talked about this point, it would be too hypocritical to shirk, so Sokov readily agreed: "Okay, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, after the troops arrive, I will formally appoint Major Gutchakov assumed the post of brigade commander."

After Waiting for Sokov to put down the phone, Sameko asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander, what did you just say, let Major Guchakov be the brigade commander? Where are there any brigade-level units in our army?" "

"You heard me right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Knowing that the superior will send him a new unit, and at the same time, Major Guchakov, who is quite capable of commanding, will be appointed as the supreme commander of this unit. Kov was in a particularly happy mood, and he said to Sameko: "Commander Konev told me that he planned to reorganize a reserve force of the Front Army into the 73rd Infantry Brigade, with Major Guchakov in charge. Brigadier duty."

"What, let Major Guchakov serve as brigade commander?" Sameko said in surprise: "But is it appropriate to have a major serve as brigade commander?"

"There is nothing inappropriate." In any case, Guchakov is his direct descendant, so Sokov naturally wants to support him: "Although Guchakov's military rank is not high, he can stand in the way in terms of command." On the one hand, I think he is fully qualified for the position of brigade commander."

Sameko didn't know that Guchakov was Sokov's direct descendant. Seeing that Sokov clearly supported Guchakov as the brigade commander, he didn't say much, but asked curiously: "Comrade commander I wonder when the new 73rd Infantry Brigade will come to us?"

"They will set off overnight, and it is estimated that they will arrive here at noon tomorrow."

"Report!" Samoilov suddenly came in from the outside and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, Major Guchakov and Captain Seryosha are back!"

Knowing that Guchakov and his old friend Seryozha had returned, Sokov couldn't help being overjoyed, and asked repeatedly, "Lieutenant Samoilov, where are they?"

"Their convoy has just arrived and is getting out of the car." Samoilov replied, "It will probably come in in a few minutes."

A few minutes later, Guchakov, Major Bunch, and Sergei walked into the headquarters side by side and saluted Sokov.

Seeing the appearance of the three, Sokov hurriedly stepped forward to shake hands with them one by one, and beat their chests twice with his fist, and said emotionally: "I feel much better seeing you come back alive." .”

"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." Guchakov lowered his head and said sheepishly, "It's all my fault. Almost the entire battalion was wiped out in the battle."

Although Sokov learned from Koyda that there were only a dozen people left in the Guchakov camp, he still asked with concern: "How many people are left in your camp?"

"Report to Comrade Commander," Guchakov replied, "there are 37 people left in our battalion. The commander of the first company, Captain Narva, and the commander of the second company, Captain Yegor, are still alive."

After listening to the other party's answer, Sokov turned his head and glanced at Sameko with questioning eyes, as if he was asking the other party, why did the situation reported by Colonel Keda deviate?

Sameko understood what Sokov meant, and hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Major Guchakov, Colonel Koida reported to me that there are only a dozen people left in your battalion, and the company commander has died. Why is it now The company commander is still alive, and there are more than 20 people?"

"Comrade Commander, the situation reported to you by the division commander is also correct and incorrect."

After Guchakov finished speaking, seeing Sokov's confused face, he quickly explained: "When I left with the rest of the soldiers, there were indeed only a dozen of them, and the whereabouts of the company commander were also unknown. I can only think that he died. But when we were waiting for the bus, the second company commander said that he wanted to see the ruins of the outpatient building, and he had the right to say goodbye to the comrades who died. Unexpectedly, when they went there, they happened to meet Captain Narva and More than 20 soldiers under him were dug out of the basement by the commanders and fighters of the second and third battalions."

After Guchakov's explanation, Sokov and Sameko finally understood what was going on: "So it is."

After a moment's pause, Sokov asked, "Major Guchakov, what are your next plans?"

Guchakov hesitated for a moment, then replied: "Comrade commander, my troops have been wiped out in the battle. As for my next work arrangements, it is entirely up to you to decide."