Red Moscow

When it was dark, a staff officer reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, Major General Selivanov, commander of the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps, would like to see you."

Knowing that the commander of the cavalry army was coming, Sokov quickly asked, "Where is he?"

"Just outside the door."

"Hurry up and ask him to come in!" Sokov changed his mind just after saying this: "I will go out to meet him personally."

Sokov came to the gate of the headquarters and saw several strange soldiers standing outside. One of them had the rank of major general on his shoulder badge, and he should be Major General Selivanov, the commander of the cavalry army.

"Hello, commanders and comrades." Sokov greeted everyone first, then looked at the major general in his forties and asked, "Excuse me, are you the commander of the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps? General Nove?"

"Yes, I am Selivanov." After the major general gave Sokov an affirmative answer, he asked back: "Are you General Sokov?"

"That's right, General Selivanov, I am Sokov." Sokov stretched out his hand to the other party and said enthusiastically: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 53rd Army, I welcome the arrival of the Cavalry Army!"

Sokov took Selivanov back to the headquarters, introduced Smirnov and Gorokhov to him, and then asked: "Comrade General, can you introduce the situation of your army?"

Selivanov nodded and began to introduce the situation of his troops: "My cavalry army has the 11th, 13th, 63rd and 66th divisions under its jurisdiction. Each division is equipped with an artillery and mortar regiment. Eight 76mm guns and eighteen 120mm chasing guns."

"Your firepower configuration is good." Smirnov said with some surprise: "With such equipment, not only can you defend, but even attack, you can get the most adequate artillery support."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Selivanov replied with a wry smile to Smirnov's statement: "Although the artillery is equipped to increase the firepower of our army, it also brings a disadvantage. It’s just that the mobility of the troops has decreased.”

"General Selivanov, your mission this time is just to chase down the fleeing enemy. I'm afraid you won't have much chance to use artillery." Sokov said with a smile: "Not only will you not use artillery, but you probably won't have much time to use guns. , you can use the saber in your hand to send the enemy to hell."

A smile appeared on Selivanov's face: "If we only deal with the fleeing enemies, our cavalry can kill them with sabers."

"Comrade General," Sokov continued to ask after pouring a cup of hot tea for him, "I wonder where your troops are now?"

"The 11th, 13th, and 63rd Cavalry Divisions are all near the headquarters of the Front Army now, and I'm afraid they won't be able to arrive until noon tomorrow at the earliest." Selivanov introduced to Sokov: "Those who act with me, Only the 66th Cavalry Division."

Sokov knew that since the outbreak of the war, the cavalry division was the first to be reorganized. There were originally tens of thousands of people reorganized into a system of 3,000 people. It is said that it is a division, but its strength is not much more than a regiment: "I don't know if the first How many troops does the 66th Division have now?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Selivanov was silent for a moment, and then replied: "The 66th Division suffered a lot of casualties in the early battle, and now there are more than 1,400 people left in the division. , the division commander also unfortunately died in the battle."

"Comrade General," Smirnov asked, frowning, "since there is no division commander, how do you command this army?"

Selivanov replied succinctly: "I will personally command this unit until my superiors send me a new division commander."

Knowing that the 66th Division did not have a division commander, Sokov began to consider whether he could arrange for some of the students he had brought to join this unit.

Seeing Sokov contemplating, Smirnov asked tentatively, "Comrade Commander, what are you thinking?"

"Comrade General," Sokov did not answer Smirnov's question, but looked at Selivanov and asked, "If I can give you a division commander, would you accept it?"

If in normal times, someone wanted to recommend a division commander to Selivanov, it would definitely arouse his disgust. But since the person who asked the question was Sokov, he acted very calmly: "General Sokov, I want to see with my own eyes the candidate you recommended before I can decide whether he can be the commander of the 66th Cavalry Division."

"That's what it should be." After Sokov said this, seeing Koshkin standing at the door, he waved to him and signaled him to come to him.

Soon, Koshkin came to Sokov. He straightened his body and asked, "Comrade Commander, what instructions do you have?"

Sokov leaned closer to his ear and said in a low voice: "You go to Lieutenant Colonel Muzichenko immediately and ask him to come to me immediately. Tell him that this matter is extremely urgent and cannot be delayed for a minute."

After Koshkin left, Sokov smiled again and said to Selivanov: "Comrade General, I have already sent someone to invite you. I believe it will not take long before you can see the commander I recommended. .”

A few minutes later, Koshkin brought Muzichenko to the headquarters.

Just as Muzichenko was about to salute Sokov, the report said. Selivanov, who was sitting next to him, suddenly exclaimed: "General Muzichenko, is it you or your ghost."

When Muzichenko heard his name being mentioned, he turned his head and looked in the direction of the voice, and found that the person who greeted him was a major general, who looked kind-hearted, so he couldn't think of anything in a hurry time to see each other.

Seeing Muzichenko's bewildered expression, Selivanov hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Comrade Commander, you don't know me anymore? I am Selivanov. When the war broke out, I was you." Commander of the 99th Cavalry Regiment under the Sixth Army."

When the other party mentioned the number he was familiar with, Muzichenko couldn't help crying. He finally remembered who Selivanov was, so he stepped forward to grab the other party's hand and said emotionally: "So it's you Ah, Lieutenant Colonel Selivanov. I remember that during the battle of Uman, you personally led the cavalry regiment to attack the German army, which greatly delayed the time for the enemy to break through our position. But it seems that you were wounded in that battle of."

"Comrade Commander, I didn't expect you to remember this after such a long time." Selivanov said with red eyes: "I was a little seriously injured at the time, and you arranged the manpower to send me to Kiev." Military hospital. I was treated there for a while, and then I was sent to Moscow.”

Muzichenko knew very well that if Selivanov hadn't been wounded in the battle and was taken to a military hospital in Moscow, what awaited him next would either be sacrificed or captured like himself. Two possibilities. He couldn't help saying with emotion: "Lieutenant Colonel Selivanov, our troops were wiped out in the Uman area. If you hadn't been evacuated because of injuries, I'm afraid our fate is similar."

Selivanov was full of curiosity about the sudden appearance of his old superior. He was eager to know the answer he wanted to know: "Comrade commander, why did you suddenly appear here? Also, aren't you a lieutenant general? It is the lieutenant colonel's shoulder badge."

Hearing the series of questions raised by Selivanov, the muscles on Muzichenko's face twitched violently twice, and then he said with a serious expression: "I was captured by the German army in the Battle of Uman, and I was in a German prisoner-of-war camp. He stayed there for two full years, until General Sokov sent troops to capture Klemenchug, and was rescued from the prisoner-of-war camp by them."

"As for the ranks," Muzichenko explained, "I, General Ponedelin, and Kirillov were severely scrutinized after we were rescued, but General Sokov has been speaking well for us. , The review and selection of us ended in a hurry. However, it is obviously impossible to assume the original position and maintain the original military rank."

After Muzichenko's explanation, Selivanov realized that after the former commander of the army escaped from danger, he had to undergo various scrutiny and screening. He was able to return to the army alive and was awarded the rank of lieutenant colonel. , is already a very difficult task.

"General Selivanov," Sokov felt that although the 66th Cavalry Division had fewer troops, it could still be useful on the icy and snowy battlefield, so he looked at Selivanov and asked, "Your troops When can I go into battle?"

"Report to Comrade General," Selivanov said respectfully: "If the artillery is not used, the cavalry division can go into battle at any time."

Sokov was very satisfied with Selivanov's answer. He nodded and continued: "From what we know so far, the Germans will soon make a last-ditch effort. The mission of your army is to An attack on the German army on the south side of Height 239, even if they cannot be wiped out, will cause heavy casualties to them."

After listening to Sokov's very general order, Selivanov asked cautiously: "Comrade General, when should we attack?"

"Before dawn tomorrow." Sokov said: "General Selivanov, I think you also know that if you attack the enemy in broad daylight, the enemy's resistance will cause you huge casualties. And attack at night, The enemy can't see your specific location clearly, and the damage they cause to you will be greatly reduced."

"I understand, Comrade General." Selivanov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and asked respectfully: "Are you allowed to return to the army to assign combat missions?"

"Of course it is allowed, General Selivanov." After Sokov readily agreed to the other party's request, he specifically emphasized: "But as the leader of an army, it is best not to lead the troops to charge the battle yourself, understand ?"

Selivanov knew that Sokov was concerned about his own safety, so he nodded quickly and said, "Don't worry, Comrade General, besides the 66th Cavalry Division, there are three other divisions waiting for me to command. Like a company commander, he will ride a tall horse and wield a sharp saber to charge into battle."

…………

In the early hours of the morning, Muzichenko led all the commanders and fighters of the 66th Cavalry Division, under the cover of night, quietly touched the German defensive position.

Since this is the coldest time of the day, when everyone breathes, white air comes out of their mouths and noses. The same is true for war horses.

When the troops were 1,500 meters away from the German defense zone, Muzichenko ordered the troops to stop advancing and patiently waited for the intelligence brought back by the scouts.

With the order issued, the troops stopped advancing, and one after another horses began to line up on the flat ground.

Apart from the sound of hoofbeats and horses sneezing, the more than 1,400 war horses and the cavalry on their backs kept quiet and lined up silently.

Muzichenko was riding on a war horse, looking at the German positions shrouded in night fog in the distance, thinking about where to attack.

He followed Selivanov to the 66th Cavalry Division, took over the position of division commander, and arranged the accompanying students to each regiment as deputy or chief of staff, thereby increasing his ability to control the troops.

Knowing that Muzichenko was going to lead the charge in person, Selivanov was terrified. He quickly persuaded Muzichenko, hoping to change his mind.

It's a pity that Muzichenko, who was eager to make contributions, insisted on leading the cavalry to charge.

Selivanov also had no choice. Since his old superior insisted on charging with the cavalry, in order to take care of his emotions, he readily agreed and gave his best horse to Muzichenko to ride. .

As soon as the troops were in formation, a cavalry came from the direction of the German defense zone. This was a scout sent in advance. Their horses were all wearing bits, and their hooves were bound with cotton cloth to ensure that they would not make any noise during the run.

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," the cavalryman stopped in front of Muzichenko and reported to him: "Most of the Germans are sleeping soundly and have not noticed our army at all."

Muzichenko nodded slightly after listening, then waved his hand forward and said loudly: "Let's go!"

As the order was issued, the cavalry formation began to move forward slowly.

Thousands of horses moving at the same time, it looks like a wall is moving forward.

After moving for a while, the horses began to speed up, from the initial brisk walk to a small trot, and the formation also began to spread out, with a distance of five meters between each horse, and 1,400 warriors lined up in three rows. Fifty meters between each row.

When the cavalry was only 800 meters away from the German defense zone, they started sprinting from small steps, making a thunderous sound.

The cavalry on horseback put their guns on their backs, drew out their bright sabers, raised them high above their heads, and pointed the tip of the sabers obliquely forward.

The movement from the open ground naturally alarmed the German sentries. He squinted his eyes and looked in the direction of the sound. When he saw a group of dark cavalry rushing towards his position, he shouted loudly: "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!" Fearing that others would not hear his cry, he quickly raised the gun in his hand and pulled the trigger to warn the officers and soldiers who were still sleeping.

The sound of horseshoes and gunshots alarmed the Germans sleeping in the bunker. They knew that the Soviet cavalry was coming to attack, and many of them rushed out of the bunker with weapons before they even had time to put on their guns. On the edge of the trench, aim at the approaching Soviet cavalry.

When the cavalry was three or four hundred meters away from the German position, several MG42 general-purpose machine guns on the position began to shoot. The muzzle flames produced by the machine gun fire, like dark red whips in the night, slammed towards the approaching middle cavalry troops.

The few horses rushing to the front were unfortunately shot, neighing and falling down, throwing the cavalry on their backs far away. Before these cavalrymen got up, the horses that followed immediately trampled them all under the iron hooves.