Red Moscow

Sokov didn't speak, but turned his head to look at Sameko and winked at him.

Sameko, who understood, nodded, then coughed lightly, and said to Guchakov solemnly: "Comrade Major, because of the battalion you commanded, it has now become an empty number, which means that you You can no longer serve as battalion commander, understand?"

Although Gutchakov had already guessed this ending, when he heard Sameko say this, his heart was still very heavy, and he replied in a low voice: "Understood."

"We will adjust your position, do you have any objections?"

Hearing what Sameko said, the faces of Major Bunch and Sergey who were standing aside showed surprise expressions. They thought that Sokov would find a way to replenish the first battalion, but they directly announced Guchakov was no longer allowed to serve as the battalion commander. As for whether the first battalion would be restored, there was no mention of it.

But Guchakov replied without changing his face: "I firmly obey the arrangement of my superiors. As long as I can stay in the combat unit, even if I can only be a company commander or even a platoon leader."

Seeing that Sameko was going to tease Guchakov, Sokov hurriedly waved his hand to stop him: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, stop teasing Major Guchakov, let's get down to business."

Guchakov couldn't help being stunned, the chief of staff is playing tricks on me? But, what is going on, what can I play tricks on?

"Major Guchakov," Sokov did not immediately explain to Guchakov what was going on, but asked instead: "Do you still remember the number of the troops when we entered Stalingrad?"

Guchakov grinned, "Comrade commander, how can you forget this. You know, when we were in Stalingrad, we were an invincible force that made the enemy fearful. 41st Guards Division, but I will always remember this glorious designation - 73rd Infantry Brigade."

"You are right, Comrade Major." Recalling the glory days of the past, a sense of pride rose in Sokov's heart: "The 73rd Infantry Brigade is indeed a heroic unit that has achieved brilliant results. It is indeed a pity that his disappearance."

"Strange, Comrade Commander suddenly told me what the 73rd Infantry Brigade is doing?" Guchakov murmured to himself, "Is the superior planning to rebuild this unit?"

As soon as he thought of this, he heard Sokov say: "Comrade Major, I have good news for you. I have just been notified by Commander Konev that he plans to rebuild the 73rd Infantry Brigade and put it under the command of our army group. "

"Comrade Commander, this is really great." As the commander of the old 73rd Infantry Brigade, Guchakov couldn't help being overjoyed when he heard the news, and offered to Sokov: "If the superiors rebuild the Infantry Brigade 73rd Brigade, can you send me to this unit? I still say the same thing, even as a company commander or even a platoon leader.”

"No." Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, and said with a smile: "If you are transferred to the 73rd Infantry Brigade, you will definitely not be made a company commander or platoon leader. That would be too inferior."

Before Guchakov came back to his senses, Seryozha on the side rushed to ask: "Comrade Commander, do you intend to let Major Guchakov continue to be the battalion commander?"

"No, Captain Seryozha." Sokov shook his head at Seryozha and replied, "I won't let him be the battalion commander."

Seryozha thought with a dazed expression: Let Guchakov go to the rebuilt 73rd Infantry Brigade, not only will he not be allowed to be a battalion commander, but he will not even be a platoon commander, so what should he be asked to do? Can't let a major become an ordinary soldier?

Guchakov was also stunned, thinking that it was because he wiped out all the troops this time. In order to punish himself, Comrade Commander deliberately sent himself to the rebuilt 73rd Infantry Brigade as a soldier?

"Comrade Guchakov, on behalf of the Army Group Command, I am now formally notifying you that from now on, you will be the commander of the rebuilt 73rd Infantry Brigade." Sokov said solemnly: "Your official letter of appointment, Will follow the troops to our station."

For a while, except for the beeps of the telegraph operator on the other side of the room, no sound was heard anymore. Not long after, Guchakov's heavy panting sounded like a cow in the room. Obviously, he was also stunned by this unexpected news.

Unexpectedly appointed brigade commander, the excitement in Guchakov's heart is indescribable. He originally thought that he had wiped out all the troops. After returning to the headquarters, the best ending was that Sokov arranged for him to serve as the company commander of the guard like Seriosha in the headquarters. If you want to go to the battlefield, I'm afraid you have to wait for a long time.

But now it seems that as long as he officially takes office, he will have a lot of time on the battlefield in the future, and there will be many opportunities to make meritorious deeds. After all, the role that a brigade can play on the battlefield is far greater than that of a battalion.

"Comrade Commander," Guchakov tentatively asked Sokov after he calmed down, "Is the superior really appointing me to serve as the commander of the rebuilt 73rd Infantry Brigade?"

"Of course." Sokov nodded, and said affirmatively, "Your position was personally arranged by Commander Konev. Can it be false?"

Guchakov knew Sokov's character, knew that he could not deceive himself in such a matter, and the post of brigade commander was a certainty. After confirming the news, he quickly entered the role of brigade commander: "Comrade commander, I would like to ask, where do the soldiers, weapons and ammunition of the 73rd Infantry Brigade come from?"

"You don't have to worry about the soldiers." Sokov explained to Guchakov: "Last time our army liberated many prisoner-of-war camps and rescued tens of thousands of commanders and fighters. At that time we added tens of thousands of soldiers, but Commander Konev still left a part in his hands, and organized them and recruited recruits as the reserve team of the Front Army Command. Now the designation of this reserve team has been changed to the 73rd Infantry Brigade. As for weapons and ammunition , When the reserve team was formed, it was already allocated, and when they arrive at our station, they can basically go into battle."

I learned that the rebuilt 73rd Infantry Brigade was reorganized from a reserve unit of the Front Army Command. The commanders and fighters in the unit were composed of rescued prisoners of war and newly recruited recruits. Guchakov was very satisfied. As long as the troops were not all recruits, they would soon be able to form combat effectiveness and be sent to the battlefield in the shortest possible time.

"What about the situation of the commander?" Guchakov asked, "I want to know, who are my deputies?"

"I don't know the specific situation." Sokov thought that when he talked with Konev, the other party didn't tell him at all, according to what standard the commanders in the army were arranged: "I only know that the deputy brigade The chief is a colonel."

"What, the deputy brigade commander is a colonel?" Guchakov was shocked: "Comrade commander, I am only a major, but I want to command a colonel, is this appropriate?"

"There is nothing inappropriate, Major Guchakov." Seeing that Guchakov looked worried, Sokov quickly comforted him and said, "In this world, you will always speak with your strength. Command ability, fully qualified for the post of brigade commander. As for the low rank issue, you can forget about it. You know, my rank is not as high as that of the military commissioner, but this has not affected our cooperation in the slightest."

Sukov's words made Guchakov feel more at ease. He nodded and said, "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will definitely have a good relationship with the deputy brigade commander."

"Comrade Major, I remember you just said that the first company commander, Captain Narva, and the second company commander, Captain Egor, are still alive. Am I right?"

"Yes, they are still alive." After Guchakov gave Sokov a positive answer, he asked tentatively, "Can I take the two of them to the new army?"

"Of course, Comrade Major." Sokov said reasonablely: "Since you are the brigade commander, you can be completely responsible for what kind of personnel are placed in your army."

When Guchakov heard that Sokov agreed to his proposal, he couldn't help but chuckle in his heart. He looked at Seryozha standing aside, and after thinking for a long time, he tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, Captain Seryozha fought alongside us today, and I want him to go with me to the new unit." , I wonder if you allow it?"

Sokov looked towards Seryozha to see what he thought of the matter. Seeing Seryozha's eagerness to try, he seemed very eager to go to the Guchakov brigade. He thought for a while, then shook his head and objected, "Major Guchakov, no, I can't give you Seryozha. Only with him in the guards can I feel at ease."

The reason why Sokov tried to keep Seryozha with such a lame reason is very simple, the risk factor on the battlefield is very high. If Seryozha is really allowed to take up an official position in the Guchakov Brigade, based on the intensity of the current battle, Seryozha will definitely not survive two months. So he simply denied Guchakov's request.

Seryozha never dreamed that Sokov would reject his request to go to the new army so cleanly. For a while, he felt extremely aggrieved. Although he and Sokov were good friends, in the current situation, he could only choose to remain silent, so as not to damage Sokov's prestige in the army.

Seeing Guchakov's disappointed look, Sokov added: "Those soldiers who came back from Kazakhya Compass Town with you should all be regarded as the backbone of the battle. This time, you can go with you." New units, depending on their capabilities, may be appointed as squad or platoon leaders."

There is still a reason for Sokov to arrange this way. In any case, many of the members of the rebuilt 73rd Infantry Brigade are newly recruited recruits. Having these combat-experienced fighters lead them will help the troops form new combat capabilities in a very short period of time.

Although he asked Seryozha to join the 73rd Infantry Brigade, Sukov refused without hesitation. But he was very satisfied when he heard that he could appoint the remaining soldiers under his command as the squad leader of the new unit.

After arranging Sokov's work, Sokov came to Major Bunch again, looked at the bandages wrapped around his head, arms and legs, and asked with concern: "Comrade Major, I don't think your injuries are serious. Light, do you need me to send you to the army's field hospital for treatment?"

"Thank you, Comrade Commander, for your concern." Major Bunch straightened his body and said to Sokov: "I just have some skin trauma. Before leaving Kazakhya Compass Town, the military doctor of the 188th Division treated the wound for me. As long as the dressing is changed on time every day, the injury will heal quickly."

"Comrade Major, your tank battalion has been wiped out in this battle." Sokov looked at the other side and asked, "What are your plans next?"

Major Bunch took a quick glance at Guchakov, who had just been promoted to commander of the infantry brigade, and then turned to Sokov and said, "Comrade Commander, I am waiting for your arrangement."

Sokov turned to Sameko and asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you know where there is a vacancy for this tank major?"

Sameko took out his notebook and looked at it, and then replied: "Comrade Commander, the commander of the 483rd Independent Tank Battalion directly under the Army Group Command, died outside the city of Prokhorovka during the Battle of Kursk. Now the battalion still lacks a military chief officer, and this major can be appointed as the battalion commander."

"Comrade Major, I wonder if you would like to serve as the battalion commander of the 483rd Independent Tank Battalion directly under the headquarters?" Speaking of this, before the other party could answer, he thought of a key question and said apologetically, "I'm sorry , Comrade Major, I don't know your name yet."

Seryozha quickly chimed in and said, "Comrade Commander, this is Major Bunch. The special tank battalion under his command destroyed more than 30 German tanks and more than 200 soldiers in this battle. .”

Hearing what Seryozha said, the smile on Sokov's face became wider. He turned to Sameko and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, it seems that Major Bunch is the commander of the 483rd Independent Tank Battalion. , it couldn’t be more appropriate.”

"Yes, Comrade Commander, I also think he is very suitable for this position." After Sameko expressed his attitude, he paused for a moment, looked at Major Bunch carefully, and then said cautiously: "But in Before he takes office, shouldn’t he heal his injuries first? You know, if you continue to fight with your injuries, it may lead to worsening of the injuries.”

Seeing that he was about to fly away so soon after taking the post of battalion commander, Major Bunch couldn't help being anxious. He hurriedly said to Sokov and Sameko: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff, don't look at me with all the wounds on my body." I took a bandage, but my injury doesn't matter. Really, it doesn't matter at all, and it won't affect the next battle, so please let me go back to the army as soon as possible."

Sameko grinned and asked Sokov, "Comrade Commander, what do you think?"

"Since Major Bunch is so eager to return to the army, then you should immediately draft an order to appoint him as the commander of the tank battalion, and send a staff officer later to follow him to the tank battalion."