Red Moscow

"Ah, you don't know the exact location?" Kharitoyev's words made Sokov's heart cold, and he said regretfully, "That's really a pity."

"Comrade Commander, don't worry." Military Commissar Gorokhov interjected, "Although we don't know the exact location, I don't think it will be difficult to find it."

Gorokhov's words made Sokov see hope again: "Really, Comrade Military Commissioner? Can we really find the mine where our prisoners of war were held?"

"Comrade Commander, if it is true, as Lieutenant Kharitoev said, that the Germans imprisoned 20,000 to 30,000 prisoners of war in the mine, it proves that the mine is an open pit, and the area must be large to accommodate There are so many people. As long as we search for the mine according to this clue, we will be able to find the place."

Sokov turned his head and asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you know that there is such a large mine near Uman?"

"I seem to have heard that there is such a mine." After hearing this, Smirnov said thoughtfully: "I heard that the diameter of this open-pit mine exceeds 300 meters. Instead of taking a lift, we circled down the mine wall in a car."

"Then do you know where this mine is?" Sokov asked in surprise.

"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." Unexpectedly, Smirnov shook his head and said, "The name and location of an open-pit mine of this size are absolutely confidential. I don't think unless someone works in this open-pit mine People, or Uman's original leader, can know its specific location."

Sokov couldn't help but want to scold people. He finally found out that there was a place where a large number of prisoners of war were held, but no one knew the location of this open-pit mine.

"Comrade Commander, don't worry." Seeing Sokov frowning, Smirnov guessed that he was worried about finding the mine, so he quickly comforted him and said, "We have two ways to find this mine. .”

Sokov raised his eyebrows: "What can I do? Tell me quickly and listen."

"One is to notify the commanders of the divisions and ask them to ask the Ukrainian soldiers in the divisions to see who knows the location of this open-pit mine."

Before Sokov could speak, Ponegerin spoke first: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't think we can do this. You must know that the army has recruited a large number of Ukrainian recruits not long ago, and there are inevitably German spies among them. If the news If it is leaked out, maybe the Germans will kill these prisoners in order to prevent them from being rescued by us."

Sokov glanced at Ponejielin and felt that what he said was very reasonable. Although he might be able to find the location of the open-pit mine by inquiring about information from the Ukrainian recruits, it also increased the risk of leaking the secret. He nodded , and asked Smirnov again: "Chief of Staff, what is your second solution?"

Smirnov shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and continued: "If the Ukrainian soldiers in the army can't find out where the open-pit mine is, we can only take the most stupid way and send people to go deep into the area for reconnaissance. .”

"Send people to go deep into that area to conduct reconnaissance?" After Smirnov finished speaking, Sokov began to ponder whether this method should be adopted. Although I know that the huge open-pit mine is near Uman, but if I really want to send scouts to find it, I am afraid that I will need to send a lot of people and spend a lot of time thinking about it. He looked up at Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how long do you think it will take us to get the information we need if we send out scouts?"

"It will take three days at the earliest." As soon as Smirnov finished speaking, he saw Sokov frowned slightly, and quickly added: "We are more than a hundred kilometers away from Uman, no matter how fast the scouts march, It will take at least two days to reach the vicinity of Uman. Including the search time, three days is considered very fast."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, if the diameter of the open-pit mine is more than 300 meters as you said, then our reconnaissance plane will be able to spot it from the sky." Sokov felt that instead of sending scouts to try their luck, it would be better to ask With the help of the Air Force, as long as they dispatch a reconnaissance plane, it may only take an hour or two to get the answer they want.

When Smirnov heard this, it was a good idea. In the past, the air supremacy over the battlefield was controlled alternately by the two sides, but now as the situation is developing in favor of the Soviet army, the air supremacy has been firmly in the hands of the Soviet army. He nodded quickly and said, "Comrade Commander, I agree with your proposal. I suggest reporting this matter to General Konev. After he understands the actual situation, he will definitely agree to send a plane for reconnaissance without hesitation."

"Okay, I'll make the call." Sokov felt that if he really wanted to rescue the 20,000 or 30,000 prisoners of war, it would be basically impossible without the help of the Front Army Command. Even though I am commanding an army group now, it is still a bit powerless to go deep into the heavily defended area of ​​the German army to rescue a group of prisoners of war.

While waiting for the call to be connected, Sokov saw that Kharitoyev looked extremely tired, so he told Ponejielin: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I think Lieutenant Kharitoyev looks very tired, you take him to the hospital first." Rest. If there is anything, I will send someone to call you."

After Ponedelin took Kharitoev out of the headquarters, Smirnov asked Sokov: "Comrade commander, there are only more than 1,500 people who can supplement the troops. Which division do you plan to put them into? "

Just when Sokov was dumbfounded and didn't know how to answer, the director of the communications corps reported to him: "Comrade Commander, the phone of the Front Army Headquarters has been connected."

Recognizing that the person answering the phone was Zakharov, Sokov asked politely, "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, can you hand over the phone to Comrade General? I have something important to report to him."

"I'm Konev." Konev's voice quickly came from the receiver: "Comrade Sokov, what do you want from me?"

"Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov straightened his back and said respectfully: "Not long ago, we completed the exchange ceremony with the German army and returned 3,214 commanders and fighters. But most of them have Injured or disabled, there are only more than 1,500 people who can be incorporated into the army to fight."

"There are only more than 1,500 people?" Konev was somewhat disappointed when he heard this number: "It seems that our captured officers and fighters have been tortured by the enemy in the prisoner-of-war camp. You must arrange Medical staff are treating them and making sure everyone gets back to health as quickly as possible."

"Understood, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I will follow your orders." Sokov paused for a moment, then turned to the main topic: "I called you because I have something important to do and I need your help. "

"Ask me for help?" Sokov's words made Konev alert. He knew very well that the 53rd Army that Sokov accepted was a mess. , and the weapons and equipment are also very backward, not even comparable to the Moscow militia division. Therefore, when I heard Sokov ask him for help, I instinctively thought that the other party would ask me for soldiers and weapons, so I vaccinated in advance: "Comrade Sokov, the situation here is not very good. It probably won't do you much good to have a weapon without a weapon."

Hearing what Konev said, Sokov couldn't help smiling wryly, and after the other party finished speaking, he hurriedly said: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, you have misunderstood. I am calling you not for soldiers and weapons, but for other things." matter."

"Oh, it's for something else." Konev felt more at ease when he heard that he didn't want weapons and soldiers: "Tell me, what do you need?"

"It's like this. Among the commanders and fighters we rescued, there is one... an old subordinate of Lieutenant Colonel Ponejielin." Sokov originally wanted to tell Konev the identity of Kharitoyev, but the words came to his lips , He swallowed it back again, because he knew very well in his heart that a colonel who had been captive for many years must go through a long review before being rescued. It would be a good thing if he could come back after a while; but if he couldn't come back, he would not have missed a commander with rich combat experience. "He told me that there may be 20,000 to 30,000 prisoners of war from our army held in an open pit in the Uman area."

"20,000 to 30,000 prisoners of war of our army?" Konev was shocked when he heard the news: "Comrade Sokov, is the news reliable? Where is the open pit?"

"The soldier who told me the news was also told by a new prisoner of war. The prisoner who told him this was shot dead by the Germans shortly after. He didn't have time to learn more about the situation." Sokov I told Konev my thoughts: "In order to find out where the open-pit mine is, I would like to request the Air Force to send a reconnaissance plane to search near Uman to see if I can find a place."

"Well, no problem." Konev heard that he just sent a reconnaissance plane to find the mine, so he naturally agreed: "I will call General Goryunov immediately and ask him to send a reconnaissance plane to the Uman area to search."

After waiting for Sokov to put down the phone, Smirnov asked, "Comrade Commander, if the Air Force detects the location of the open pit, what are your plans?"

Sokov was silent for a moment, then replied: "Even if we know the exact location of the mine, and we send people to rescue it, obviously we don't show it. It's simply impossible to bring 20,000 to 30,000 people out without being discovered by the Germans." Impossible. The only way is to hold back the troops for the time being, and when the main force of our army launches an attack on the Uman area, we will send another force to seize the open pit and rescue the commanders and fighters who were imprisoned inside."

Smirnov also agreed with Sokov's statement. He even began to think about how to arrange the prisoners of war after they were rescued: "Comrade commander, even if there are 20,000 to 30,000 people, only 10,000 people can live there." It will be very helpful to increase our combat power if it is added to the army."

"That's right, that's right." Sokov nodded and said, "You know, these ten thousand people are all veterans. Their joining will greatly enhance our combat power. Moreover, they have fought against the Germans in the past few years. In the prisoner-of-war camp, they suffered all kinds of inhuman torture, and once they have a chance to avenge their hatred, they will explode with unprecedented superhuman combat power."

"By the way," Smirnov suddenly remembered something, and asked Sokov: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin has returned from the Artillery Command of the Front Army, and the two lieutenants Muzichenko and Kirillov Colonel, when are you going back to the headquarters?"

Sokov was taken aback, and then asked back, "One of them is in the infantry division and the other is in the cavalry division. Didn't they both do a good job? Why did you let them come back?"

"Comrade Commander," Gorokhov interjected again just when Smirnov was hesitating to speak, "These two commanders, like Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, are under the special attention of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. People, if you use them so much, I'm afraid it will cause you unnecessary trouble."

After figuring out what was going on, Sokov waved his hands and said, "It's okay. I think the two of them are quite qualified for their current positions, so let them continue to work. If the superiors want to hold them accountable in the future, I will bear it alone. "

That's what Sokov said, so Smirnov and Gorokhov naturally couldn't say anything more. "Comrade Commander," Smirnov re-opened a new topic: "Our army group has suffered a lot of casualties after this battle. If we want to replenish troops, we can only recruit from Ukraine. If there are too many recruits, the combat effectiveness will definitely be affected. Tell me, is there any way to solve this problem?"

"This is a difficult problem." Sokov was also in a dilemma: "If the superior can give us two or three months of training time after replenishing the troops, the combat effectiveness of some troops can be improved to some extent. But it is because we want to rest, but The Germans didn't give us a chance, although they suffered successive defeats, they still have the ability to attack us."

"I have an idea." Smirnov said: "The commanders and fighters we rescued today, although many of them cannot be incorporated into the army due to physical reasons. But I think they can be used to train recruits and learn what they know. The content of the book is passed on to those recruits who don’t know anything.”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, this is a good idea." Sokov said pleasantly: "Although their bodies are unable to participate in the battle, it is still possible to serve as instructors and pass on the experience they have acquired to the recruits. Call the divisions another day When the division commander holds a meeting, assign a group of people to each of them to assist in their recruit training."

At noon, when Sokov and others were eating lunch, the phone on the table rang.

Sokov was relatively close to the phone, stuffed the bread in his hand into his mouth, grabbed the receiver and put it to his ear, and asked vaguely, "I'm Sokov, where are you?"

"Comrade Sokov, this is Zakharov." Zakharov's deep voice came from the receiver: "I have some bad news to tell you."

Sokov was shocked, and his heart beat faster than expected. He quickly picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip. After swallowing the bread in his mouth, he asked nervously: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, can you tell me, what is the truth?" Is something wrong?"

"I regret to tell you that our Air Force's reconnaissance of the Uman area failed."

"The reconnaissance of the Uman area failed?" Sokov asked in confusion: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, can you tell me how it failed?"