Red Moscow

Before dawn the next day, Sokov was woken up by someone sent by Sameko.

Sokov looked sleepily at the staff officer standing in front of him, and asked impatiently, "Comrade staff officer, did the chief of staff send you here for something?"

"Comrade Commander," the staff officer said respectfully, Hu Di: "The chief of staff has just received a telegram from Klemenchug and thinks the problem is very serious, so let me invite you to the headquarters."

Hearing that there was a problem, Sokov suddenly became sober. He quickly sat up straight and asked, "What's the problem? Is the enemy attacking the landing site?"

"No, Comrade Commander, the enemy did not launch an attack." Seeing Sokov's excitement, the staff officer quickly explained to him: "It seems that General Fomenko has discovered a weak point in the German army's defense and plans to launch an attack from there. "

"What, General Fomenko is planning to attack?" Sokov was not only not happy when he heard what the staff officer said, but started to worry instead. Even if he deploys the entire army group on the landing field, whether he can expand the landing field while smashing the German attack is very problematic. Now Fomenko has only one division in his hands, and he actually wants to take the initiative to attack the German army. Who gave him the confidence? Liang Jingru?

Sokov didn't dare to neglect, and while bending over to put on his boots, he asked the staff officer, "Did General Fomenko mention in his telegram when they plan to launch an attack on the German army?"

"General Fomenko intends to attack the area at nine o'clock in the morning."

Sokov raised his hand and looked at the time. It was six o'clock in the morning, and he still had enough time to figure out what happened.

He followed the staff officer to the headquarters in a hurry. After entering the door, he walked directly to Sameko who was standing by the table and looking at the map, and asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, what happened?"

Hearing Sokov's voice, Sameko quickly stood up straight and reported to him: "Comrade Commander, ten minutes ago, I received a telegram from General Fomenko, saying that he had discovered a German defense. Weak areas, where he intends to launch an attack and expand the area of ​​​​the landing field."

Sokov came to Sameko's side, looked at the map on the table, and asked casually, "Where is the breakthrough chosen by General Fomenko?"

"Here." Sameko pointed to a place southwest of the landing site, and said to Sokov, "It's right here - the Svetlovodsk district. If our army can occupy this place, the Great Plains of Ukraine will be in front of us." , which is very conducive to the deployment of the tank force, we can concentrate our superior forces and continue to rush to the depth of the German defense.”

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov asked noncommittally, "Do you think General Fomenko's troops can break through the German defenses in this area?"

"According to the usual practice, the German army will definitely arrange heavy defense for such an important area." Sameko stared at the map and said thoughtfully: "According to the reconnaissance information provided by General Fomenko, Sweite There is only one German infantry battalion here in the Lovodsk district, and more than 20 old-fashioned No. 3 and No. 4 tanks."

Sokov couldn't help being taken aback when he heard this, and asked, "Is the German defense really so weak?"

"Comrade Commander, I was skeptical about this, so I sent a staff officer to you." Sameko explained to Sokov: "But before you come, I will send a letter to General Fomenko. A telegram was sent asking if the information he had given was true."

"How did he answer you?"

Sameko raised the telegram just received in his hand, and said to Sokov: "I just received a call back from General Fomenko, and he said that the reconnaissance team he sent is the most capable and reliable under his command. Yes, the reconnaissance information they provide is completely reliable."

"Then what do you think?"

"Comrade Commander, the train that our third echelon is on has arrived in Klemenchug an hour ago." Sameko happily reported to Sokov, "I think the third echelon can Replacing the defense sector of the 84th Division allowed General Fomenko to concentrate on commanding the troops to attack the Svetlovodsk district."

Sokov did not speak, but took the telegram from Sameko and browsed it carefully. The content in the telegram was exactly the same as what Fomenko said, but Sokov felt a little ominous in his heart. But what was wrong, he couldn't tell.

"Comrade Commander," Sameko said anxiously seeing that Sokov was silent, "Now General Fomenko is ready and waiting for your order."

"Only attack with infantry?"

"Of course it's not just the infantry attacking." Sameko replied: "The tank regiment that arrived in the early stage coordinated their attack. As for the artillery, their divisional artillery regiment is enough to provide artillery support for the attacking troops."

Sokov raised his head and looked at Sameko: "Didn't he say he was going to attack at nine o'clock? Why did he ask for our permission?"

"Nine o'clock attack is the time set by General Fomenko himself." Sameko explained: "But the specific time to start the attack must be agreed with us. After all, in the later stages of the battle, we may need the support of friendly forces. , which requires our help.”

"Okay." Although Sukov felt a little uneasy in his heart, it would be a pity not to take advantage of such a good opportunity in front of him, so he agreed to Sameko's proposal: "Call General Fomenko back, Let’s just say we agreed with him to attack the Svetlovodsk district at nine o’clock in the morning.”

Just when Sameko was about to send a telegram, Sokov stopped him again and told him, "Tell General Fomenko in the telegram that if there is anything wrong, please notify us in time."

"What's wrong?" Sameko asked curiously: "Comrade commander, do you think that there are too few German troops stationed in the Svetlovodsk area, and this seems a bit wrong?"

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Regarding Sameko's doubts, Sokov gave an affirmative answer: "You know, our landing sites on the right bank of the Dnieper River are all in forest areas, which is very unfavorable for the deployment of tank troops. We can only effectively expand the area of ​​​​the landing field if we capture the Svetlovodsk district. We can think of this problem, and the Germans should also be able to think of it. There is no reason for them to deploy such weak defenders there.”

"Maybe the enemy didn't expect us to move so quickly, and dared to choose to bypass the city before Poltava was liberated, and rushed directly to Klemenchug, and seized this city on the bank of the Dnieper River. neighboring cities."

Hearing what Sameko said, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little shaken. He waved at Sameko and said, "Okay, don't waste time, go and send a telegram."

After Sameko left, Sokov sat at the table, put his head in his hands, and thought hard: Where did the problem occur, and why did he feel unsteady in his heart? Don't look at the time when he agreed to Fomenko's attack, but before he figured out the problem, he was still uneasy.

Sameko came back from sending the telegram and continued to report to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the train will return from Kremenchug before noon, and then we can start transporting new troops."

"We have three divisions in Klemenchug today," Sokov interrupted Sameko, "but there is a serious lack of heavy weapons, I mean this time when the train returns, priority is given to transporting tanks and artillery In the past, in order to enhance the ability of the troops to attack fortifications."

Although the landing sites established on the right bank of the Dnieper River are basically forests and swamps, it is difficult to deploy a large-scale tank force, but if the infantry cannot get the support of tanks when they attack, it is necessary to send a batch of tanks there first. , Strengthen the strength of the defenders.

"I understand, Comrade Commander." Sameko waited for Sokov to finish, then nodded and said, "I will contact General Poluboyarov and ask him to send the most elite tank brigade to board first." car."

I have done everything I have just done, and the rest can only wait quietly.

An hour before the offensive began, the communications staff sent a telegram to Sokov and Sameko.

Sameko took the telegram and glanced at the signature below, with a surprised expression on his face, he said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the telegram is the deputy commander of the 84th Infantry Division and the commander of the 258th regiment. From Colonel Birkin."

Knowing that the telegram was sent by his old partner, Sokov immediately realized that something was wrong, and quickly told Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, take a quick look, what did he say in the telegram?"

After Quickly browsing the contents of the telegram, Sameko's face suddenly turned livid. He raised his head and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, if the information reported by Colonel Belkin is true, then we may have fallen into the trap of the Germans."

"A trap by the Germans?" Sokov asked in surprise: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is going on here?"

Sameko handed the telegram to Sokov: "According to Colonel Belgin's report, the enemy's garrison in the Svetlovodsk district is not an infantry battalion and more than 20 old-fashioned tanks. But two infantry regiments, and more than 80 Panther tanks, if the Fomenko division really launches an attack on the Svetlovodsk district, I am afraid it will pay huge casualties."

"Damn, this is really a hell." After reading the telegram, Sokov threw it on the table, and said a little bit dumbfounded: "Colonel Belkin also emphasized that the squad that provides reconnaissance information is the most elite and loyal team in the division. At the very top, the intelligence they provided is entirely actionable."

"General Fomenko also said the same thing." Sameko frowned: "What is going on here? Are Fomenko and Belkin talking about the same reconnaissance team? The information they obtained, How could there be such a big deviation?"

"Send a telegram to Fomenko and Belkin immediately." Sokov told Sameko: "We must find out what happened in the shortest possible time, why are there two completely different reports? "

"Okay, I'll telegraph Fomenko and Belkin at once to find out what's going on."

Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. There were only 50 minutes left before the start of the attack. It would take more than ten or twenty minutes for the telegram to come and go. The situation of the garrison in the Vetlovodsk district. Thinking of this, he called the director of the communications corps and asked him to get through to the front army headquarters for him.

Hearing Zakharov's voice coming from the receiver, Sokov quickly asked: "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, is the commander at the headquarters?"

"Yes, Comrade Sokov, he is at the headquarters." Zakharov looked at Konev who was sitting next to him, and asked tentatively, "Do you need him to answer the phone?"

"Of course, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov was eager to get Konev's help, and said very quickly: "I have an important situation and need to report it to him immediately."

"What's the matter, Comrade Sokov." Konev thought that Sokov was calling himself because of the affairs of Ponegerin and others, so he deliberately put on a pose and said: "If you want to ask Ponegerin and others I can only tell you with regret that they have been sent to Moscow, and it is estimated that they are being investigated in Lubyanka at this moment..."

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov is not in the mood to care about Ponedelin and others at this moment. He is eager to learn about the deployment of the German army in the Svetlovodsk area so that he can decide whether to launch an offensive as planned: " I need your help urgently."

Hearing what Sokov said, Konev was very surprised, and he said casually: "What is it, tell me!"

Sokov hurriedly reported to Konev in detail that the Fomenko Division was preparing to launch an attack on the Svetlovodsk District, and finally said: "Comrade Front Army Commander, now we have two Due to time constraints, we cannot send people to the area for verification, so we can only ask you to send a reconnaissance plane to the right bank of the Dnieper River to conduct reconnaissance and find out how the enemy's defenses are."

Konev attached great importance to Sokov's request, and quickly said to him: "Comrade Sokov, don't worry, I will immediately call the air force commander and ask him to dispatch the air force to the Svetlovodsk district. Above, find out the situation of the German army's defense."

"Then when will there be an answer?" Sokov asked anxiously: "You know, in about fifty minutes, the Fomenko Division will launch an attack on the Svetlovodsk district. If the German army There are really heavy troops in the area, and not only will they fail to attack, but they will even pay a heavy price."

"Don't worry, Comrade Sokov." Konev comforted Sokov and said, "At most forty minutes, the Air Force will be able to provide us with accurate information. You have enough time to decide whether the attack needs to continue."

"Then please, Comrade Commander of the Front Army."

As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he saw Sameko walking towards him and asked quickly, "Have all the telegrams to Fomenko and Belkin been sent?"

"Yes, it's all sent." Sameko said, handing over a telegram in his hand, and said to Sokov: "Our operator has not had time to send a telegram to Colonel Belkin, he first A telegram was sent, which gave a detailed introduction to the authenticity of the reconnaissance information."

Sokov grabbed the telegram and quickly scanned the contents. After reading it, he couldn't help taking a breath, and then said to Sameko who was standing next to him: "Chief of Staff, it seems that this is a conspiracy. Immediately notify General Fomenko that the attack originally scheduled to be launched at nine o'clock Pause, when to start again, let him wait for our further orders."