Red Moscow

"Can you show me the list?" Smirnov said suddenly, "I want to know about these upcoming regiment commanders."

Although Ponegerin and Smirnov were old friends, he did not immediately pass the list to the other party, but cast a questioning look at Sokov. Seeing Sokov nodding his head slightly, he handed over the list in his hand: "This is the list of students sent to the 41st Guards Division."

Smirnov took the list and read it in a low voice: "Lieutenant Colonel Victor, Deputy Chief of the 122nd Regiment, Major Sukharev, Chief of Staff; Lieutenant Colonel Milesyev, Deputy Chief of the 124th Regiment, Chief of Staff Major Okunev, Deputy Commander of the 126th Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Grushiko, Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Kryzhuv."

After Smirnov finished reading the list, Sokov explained to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, these students are all ranked in the top 20 in academic performance. I believe they will be qualified for their new positions."

Sokov took the list and looked at it, signed his name on the back, handed it back to Ponegerin and said, "General Ponegerin, please go back and inform the students on the list to prepare for departure. We will head to the 41st Guards Division early tomorrow morning."

After taking the list confirmed by Sokov's signature, Ponejielin left the headquarters and returned to the place where the students lived.

As soon as he entered, many students surrounded him.

The students with names on the list want to confirm whether they can officially take up the post this time; while the students without names on the list take a little luck, thinking that if someone's appointment is rejected by Sokov, then they can get more a hope.

"The list we proposed has been approved by Comrade Commander." Pornegelin raised the list in his hand and said loudly, "Please stay when you hear the names, and the rest of the students can leave."

The list of personnel was announced quickly, and it was the same as the original report, neither one was reduced nor one was added. The unnamed people on the list felt extremely melancholy; while the students who were lucky enough to be appointed were ecstatic.

The most excited student among them was Lieutenant Colonel Kryzhouf. You know, when he was in the academy, he often confronted Sokov because he was the squad leader of the intermediate commander training class. Although Sokov incorporated him into his temporary headquarters later, he was always in a state of anxiety, fearing that his appointment to the 41st Guards Division would be rejected by Sokov. Unexpectedly, the phenomenon did not happen, and I could still go to the 126th regiment to serve as the chief of staff of the regiment according to the original plan.

Ponegelin gathered the students on the list, explained some precautions to them, and finally said: "Comrade Commander said that he will personally send you to the 41st Guards Division early tomorrow morning. , you guys go to bed early tonight, "

All the students returned to their place of residence. As soon as Kryzhiuf returned to his room, he found that his former attendant Vadim was staying here, so he asked curiously: "Vadim, are you doing this in my room?" What?"

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," now that Kryzhiuf has been promoted to lieutenant colonel, Vadim's address to him has also changed: "I want to ask, can you really go to the 41st Guards Division?"

"It's not true." Kryzhiuf replied: "Tomorrow I will report to the 41st Guards Division. Commander Sokov personally sent us there."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I think this is a conspiracy."

"Conspiracy?" asked Kryzhouf, puzzled. "What conspiracy?"

"The 41st Guards Division has three infantry regiments, and the heads of the other two regiments are all colonels, and the head of the 126th regiment you went to is still a lieutenant colonel." Vadim analyzed: "by It can be seen that this regiment is the least valued."

"You can't say that." Kryzhiuf retorted: "The reason why the commander of the 126th regiment is only the rank of lieutenant colonel is entirely because of personnel changes in the regiment. Strange." He pointed at Vadim's collar patch and said, "Look, haven't you just been promoted to major?"

"Also." Vadim took out a map, spread it on the table, pointed to the situation map on it, and said to Kryzhouf: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, look, the 41st Guards Division How are the three regiments deployed. The 122nd and 124th regiments are deployed in the southwest of the 239 highlands, and there are German troops stationed a few kilometers in front of them. The 239th highlands, which the 126th regiment is responsible for holding, are The other two regiments separated..."

"But Comrade Advisor also specifically said at today's analysis meeting that the enemy who is trying to break out from the north of the encirclement at this moment will definitely turn around and break out to the south after suffering failure." Kryzhiuf said: "By that time , the 239 highland defended by the 126th Guards Regiment will become the focus of the German attack, and there will definitely be a tragic battle by then."

"Are you really determined that the enemies in the encirclement have the ability to rush to the position of the 239 Heights?"

"Can't you?"

"No." Vadim said in a positive tone: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you know the comparison of forces between us and the enemy?"

"I don't know." Kryzhouf shook his head and said, "I have no way to learn about the latest battlefield situation."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I just met a staff officer of the headquarters. He happened to be a fellow of mine. We used to drink wine and fish together..."

"Don't talk about those useless things." Kryzhov understands Vadim's character and knows that this kid is sometimes a talker. If he doesn't stop him, he can talk non-stop for an hour or two before interrupting After saying what he said later, he told the other party straightforwardly: "Say the key points."

"Okay, let me get to the point." Vadim said: "According to reliable information, the German army that was surrounded has ten divisions with a total of 60,000 people, and our army that encircled them is conservatively estimated to be more than one hundred thousand." Millions. Think about it, if six people fight against a hundred people, do they have any chance of winning?"

"It's hard to say." Kryzhiuf has fought in many places before, and has seen with his own eyes the example of the Soviet army being superior in strength and equipment and still being defeated by the German army. Therefore, he does not agree with Vadim's statement. Agree: "Although the numbers vary greatly, the Germans will still choose to flee if they cannot be defeated. If they fight to the death, it is still very difficult for us to stop them."

"This is just a possibility, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. The possibility of becoming a reality is very small." Vadim continued to analyze to Kryzhiuf: "Even if the enemy really chooses to break out to the south, the 41st Guards How could the friendly troops between the division and the enemy let go of such an easy-to-obtain battle exploit? They would definitely attack the enemy without interruption. I am afraid that the enemy would be completely wiped out by the friendly army before it even got close to the 239 Heights. "

Hearing Vadim's analysis, Kryzhov inevitably had some bad thoughts: "Could it be that General Sokov still remembers what happened in the academy, so he deliberately arranged himself in a place where he had little chance to participate in the battle?" place?"

Although he had an idea in his heart, he couldn't tell Vadim the truth, lest he talk too much for a while, and it would reach Sokov's ears at that time.

Kryzhov tried to force a smile on his face, and said to Vadim: "Vadim, you are talking nonsense, how could Comrade Commander do such a thing? You must be thinking too much." He He raised his hand to check the time, and issued an order to evict the other party, "It's getting late, I'm going to report to the new army tomorrow, I need to rest early, you should go back to wash up and sleep early today."

When he set off the next day, Kryzhiuf and his future partner, Lieutenant Colonel Glushko, the deputy head of the regiment, were in the same car. When he thought about the troops he went to, he would not make any achievements in the next battle. Opportunity, Kryzhouf felt extremely frustrated.

Grushko, who was sitting next to him, saw his expression and asked curiously, "Kryzhow, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Grushiko." Kryzhov turned to look at Grushiko and asked, "Do you think our troops will have a chance to fight the enemy face to face in the next battle?"

"Why not?" Gruschko asked back: "Didn't you hear from the advisor, Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, that once the German army besieged by our army fails to break through to the north, they will turn around and go south and choose a new direction to break through. And We are about to go to the 239th Heights defended by the 126th Guards Regiment, which will be the focus of the German attack.”

"But, is this really the case?" Kryzhiuf recounted what he heard from Vadim, and finally said with some confidence: "You know, in the training class At that time, I always targeted the comrade commander, even if he wanted to place me in an unimportant combat unit, it was justifiable."

"You don't have a good relationship with Comrade Commander, that's a fact." Glushko retorted, "But I have a good friendship with him. He can't leave me idle for no reason, right?"

Kryzhouf thought about it carefully, and it seemed that this was really the case. I have a bad relationship with Sokov, but Glushko's situation is different from his own. Sokov decided that it was impossible for him to idle Glushko with himself. Thinking about it this way, his mood became cheerful again: "Comrade deputy head, so if we stick to the 239 heights, there is still a battle to fight?"

"It goes without saying, Comrade Chief of Staff." Grushko also referred to Kryzhko as his new position: "Comrade Commander accompanied us to the 41st Guards Division today to show his respect for this division." The defense area is very important. Maybe it will really be like what Lieutenant Colonel Pornejelin said, the 239th hill will become the main offensive position of the German army."

Division commander Kurishenko led the members of the division headquarters and lined up outside the division headquarters to welcome Sokov and his party.

When Sokov's jeep stopped, Kurishenko quickly stepped forward, opened the door for Sokov, and made a gesture of please.

Before getting out of the car, Sokov carefully observed the people standing at the entrance of the division command department, and found that only this one was carrying the general's epaulettes, and it was obviously Kurishenko, the commander of the Guards Division. He stretched out his hand towards the other party and asked politely, "If I'm not mistaken, you should be the division commander, General Kurishenko."

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Kurishenko stretched out both hands to hold Sokov's hand, shook it vigorously twice, and said, "I am Kurishenko."

After the two exchanged a few simple words, Kurishenko introduced his deputy to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, this is Colonel Afanasy, the political commissar of the division!"

"Hello, Comrade Political Commissar of the Division." When Sokov shook hands with Afanasy, he stared at each other's epaulets from the corner of his eyes, and thought to himself: Fortunately, at the end of 1942 and the beginning of 43, the military rank reform was implemented, and political workers were abolished. original rank. Otherwise, what I call him at this moment is not the division political commissar, but the regimental political commissar.

"This is Colonel Sidolin, chief of staff of the division."

As soon as Kurishenko finished speaking, he saw Sokov and Sidolin shaking hands first, and then hugged each other tightly. He looked at the scene in front of him in some surprise, and was still wondering what was going on. , why the commander and my chief of staff look very familiar.

After Sokov let go of Sidolin, he explained to the confused Kurishenko: "General Kurishenko, during the battle of Stalingrad, I was the commander of the 41st Guards Division, and Sidolin The colonel was my chief of staff at the time. We hadn't seen each other for more than a year, and it was an unexpected thing to meet here again."

"So that's the case." Since Sokov left the 41st Guards Division, several division commanders have changed, and Kurishenko took over the post of division commander only two or three months ago, and he has not had time to understand the situation of previous division commanders. Otherwise, he would not be ignorant of the relationship between Sokov and Sidolin. He said with some embarrassment: "I really didn't expect that Comrade Commander had partnered with Colonel Sidolin before."

After introducing the new trainees to Kurishenko, Sokov followed into the division headquarters. As soon as he sat down, Kurishenko personally brought the defense map and placed it in front of Sokov. Sokov just glanced at it, then shook his head and said, "Wrong, General Kurishenko, wrong. What I want is the defense map of Height 239, not the defense deployment of open ground."

"Comrade Commander." Hearing what Sokov said, Kurishenko replied with some embarrassment: "According to the order of the superior, the focus of our division's defense is the German army in the southwest direction, preventing them from clearing the enemy in the encirclement. Therefore, I deployed both regiments in the open field, and built a perfect defense system here."

"General Kurishenko, as a commander, we must know how to adjust the defensive deployment in a timely manner according to changes in the battlefield situation." Sokov pointed to the deployment map and said: "Look, to the south of us, is the The 21st Guards Infantry Corps and the 5th Mechanized Corps. The presence of these two friendly armies prevents the enemy from the southwest from attacking your defense zone unscrupulously, because in doing so, their weak flanks will be exposed to us. in front of friendly forces.

On the contrary, the Viking division of the German army is located in Komarovka in the northwest of you, although the distance between the two places is more than ten or twenty kilometers. But if the German army changes the direction of the breakout from the north to the south, they will break through the loosely defended encirclement of our army through a crazy offensive, and run directly to the Gniloydikic River to join the enemy stationed on the other side of the river. . "

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin still respectfully called Sokov as Commander in front of everyone: "Your analysis is correct. Once the enemy shifts the direction of the encirclement from the north to the south, the enemy in front of us will It is very difficult for those friendly forces to stop them, after all, they don't have decent fortifications, and it won't be long before their defense line will be torn open by the enemy."