Red Moscow

Unexpectedly, the communication soldier only took the microphone and listened to it, and then reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, there is no problem with our line. It should be a problem with the communication system at the headquarters."

When Sokov heard the explosion sound from the receiver, he felt a faint feeling of uneasiness in his heart, thinking that something might have happened at the headquarters. Hearing the reply from the communicator at this moment, this guess became more firm in my heart.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Ponejielin!" Sokov shouted to the side without looking back.

Unexpectedly, no one agreed to him, and Sukov felt an inexplicable anger in his heart, and called out again: "Lieutenant Colonel Bornejelin!"

This time there was finally a response: "Comrade Commander, didn't Lieutenant Colonel Ponejielin take Colonel Yakov and Victor to the 15th Regiment's defense zone?"

Sokov turned his head and saw that the person who answered his question was Lieutenant Colonel Muzichenko, a member of the advisory group, he laughed dryly, and said with some embarrassment: "I'm sorry, Lieutenant Colonel Muzichenko, I forgot in a hurry. gone."

"Comrade Commander," because Muzichenko's station was a little far away from Sokov just now, so he didn't hear who Sokov was talking to. Seeing Sokov's gaffe, he asked curiously, "Can I ask, what happened?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Muzichenko," except for Shtemenko, the rest of the command staff are his subordinates, and they are trustworthy. Naturally, Sokov will not hide anything from Muzichenko: "When I was on the phone with Chief of Staff Smirnov just now, there was a violent explosion, and then the communication was interrupted. The signaler checked our line here, and there was no problem, which means that the headquarters Something happened."

"Is there no way to get in touch?" Muzichenko turned his head to look at the communication area, and said to himself, "Even if you can't get in touch by phone, you can get in touch by radio."

One word awakened the dreamer, and Muzichenko's words reminded Sokov, "Yes, although the telephone line is broken, you can contact him through the radio."

After saying this, Sokov quickly ordered the staff officer in charge of communication: "Call the radio station of the headquarters immediately, and find out what happened there as soon as possible."

Although he ordered the staff, Sokov was still worried. He went straight behind the radio operator and listened to the radio operator's constant calls to the headquarters, but he still couldn't get in touch.

I don't know how long it has passed. Seeing that the radio operator has not contacted the headquarters, Sokov can't help feeling a little anxious: "What's going on? It's been such a long time, why haven't I contacted you yet?"

"Comrade Sokov, don't worry." Seeing that Sokov seemed a little out of sorts because he couldn't get in touch with the headquarters, Shtemenko quickly came out to comfort him and said, "I believe we will be in touch soon." Yes, wait a little longer."

Sokov, who was originally anxious, could only take a few deep breaths after hearing what Shtemenko said, trying to calm down his restless mood: "Okay, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, then I will wait a little longer. .”

"Comrade Commander," Muzichenko suddenly said again, "I have an idea. I don't know if I should say it or not?"

"Just tell me what you have." Sokov knew that after Muzichenko entered the Ministry of Internal Affairs once, he was full of hesitation when speaking, so he comforted him and said, "Even if I make a mistake, I won't blame you. "

Now that Sokov made such a guarantee, Muzichenko said boldly: "We assume the worst case, that is, the command of the Army Group was attacked by the German army, causing the communication to be interrupted. If we just wait blindly, It is not known when we will be able to reconnect with them. So, we have to find another way."

"Other ways?" Sokov looked at the other party and asked, "What way?"

"I can get in touch with the troops stationed near the headquarters and ask them to check what happened." Muzichenko said: "The closest is Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov's Infantry No. 252, I can ask him to send someone over to check."

As soon as Sokov heard that this was a good idea, he nodded and agreed: "Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Muzichenko, then you should immediately contact Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov and ask him to send someone to check the headquarters. See what happened."

When Kirillov received a call from Muzichenko, he was very surprised: "General Muzichenko, why did you think of calling me? Did the headquarters order our division to set off overnight?"

"No, Kirillov." Muzichenko said very quickly: "Something happened, and I need your help."

"Something happened?" Kirillov didn't understand what Muzichenko meant, and thought he was in trouble. After a moment of silence, he said, "General Muzichenko, where are you now? If you encounter troubles that cannot be solved, come to my division as soon as possible, and I will provide you with a hiding place."

When Muzichenko heard this, he knew that his words had caused ambiguity to Kirillov, and suddenly blushed, and quickly explained: "Kirilov, you made a mistake, I didn't encounter any trouble. It's the commander While the comrade was on the phone with Chief of Staff Smirnov, he heard an explosion near the headquarters, and then the communication was interrupted."

"Didn't you try to contact me again?"

Muzichenko glanced at the radio operator who was constantly calling, shook his head slightly, and said: "I tried, but it didn't work. The phone line is different, and the radio called, and I didn't hear any answer. I guess something happened to the headquarters." gone."

Kirillov realized the seriousness of the problem, and asked quickly: "General Muzichenko, I was awakened by the explosion and was about to send someone to reconnaissance when your call came. Tell me, what about that?" What can I do now?"

"The station of your division is the closest to the headquarters of the Army Group." Muzichenko said into the microphone: "You immediately send someone to the headquarters to check, and after you find out what's going on, report to the forward headquarters as soon as possible." He was worried that Kirillov would not take this matter seriously, and he specifically emphasized, "Comrade Commander is waiting for your reconnaissance results."

"I understand." Kirillov said firmly: "I will take someone to reconnaissance myself, so that I can report to the forward command immediately after figuring out what happened."

As soon as Kirillov put down the phone, he called a staff officer over and told him, "Comrade staff, take the guard platoon, and then the radio, and follow me."

The staff officer also asked curiously: "Mr. Comrade, where are we going?"

"Go to the Army Group Headquarters," Kirilov worried that news of the attack on the headquarters would shake the hearts of the troops and affect morale, so he didn't tell the staff truthfully, but said briefly: "I'm going to find out one thing."

Seeing that Kirillov didn't want to tell him anything, the staff officer didn't ask any more questions. Instead, according to the other party's instructions, he began to assemble the guard platoon and prepare the radio station, planning to follow Kirillov to the army headquarters.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Kirillov's convoy arrived near the headquarters, it was stopped by a temporary checkpoint.

Kirillov hurriedly pushed open the car door and said to the soldiers blocking the way: "I am Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov, commander of the 252nd Division. I have to go to the headquarters in a hurry. Please pull up the crossbar on the road."

Unexpectedly, after the soldier heard this, he said neither humble nor overbearing: "I have received an order that no one is allowed to enter the headquarters. Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please go back. If there is anything, come back after dawn."

Kirilov looked towards the headquarters, and saw several fires burning in that direction. Under the light of the fires, many commanders and fighters could be seen running back and forth. In the gunpowder smoke that filled the air, there was a lingering smell of blood.

He realized that something was wrong, and he was more determined to go in and have a look. Facing the soldiers who blocked him, he raised Sokov's name: "Comrade soldier, I have already told you that I came here to check what happened under the order of Comrade Commander. If you Blocking, and the consequences caused by it, will be solely responsible for you."

The soldiers were ordered not to let anyone pass through the checkpoint. But the lieutenant colonel in front of him said that he was ordered by the commander to come here to see what happened. Whether to let go or not to let the soldiers become hesitant.

Fortunately, an officer hurried over at this moment. Seeing several vehicles parked on the road, as well as more than 30 commanders and soldiers, he asked loudly: "What's the matter, what's the matter, these people are Where did it come from?"

Seeing the officer's appearance, the soldiers rushed to meet him as if they had seen a savior, and reported to him: "Comrade company commander, this commander of the 252nd Division is going to the headquarters. I told him that traffic is prohibited here."

"That's right, you're right. The order from our superiors is to prohibit anyone from passing." The officer asked in displeasure, "Is there something wrong?"

"But," the soldier continued, "the comrade lieutenant colonel said that he was ordered by the commander to come here to see what happened."

When the officer heard what the soldier said, the first thing he thought of was whether the other party was a liar under the banner of Sokov, so he came over to ask what happened.

After seeing Kirillov's face clearly, he quickly stood at attention, raised his hand in salute, and said in a panic, "I'm sorry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I didn't know it was you. Please forgive me!"

Seeing that the officer's attitude toward him had taken a 180-degree turn, Kirillov tentatively asked, "Comrade Captain, do you know me?"

"Yes, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." The officer belongs to the security force of the Army Group Headquarters, and naturally knows Kirillov, a member of the advisory group. At this moment, he already believed what Kirillov said, maybe the other party was really sent by Sokov to check the situation. But to be on the safe side, he decided to cross-examine: "I want to ask, why are you here so late?"

He also glanced at the soldiers standing behind Kirillov, and asked timidly, "There are still so many people?"

"Comrade Captain," Kirillov asked instead of answering the other party's question, "tell me, what happened here?"

"Not long ago, two artillery shells fell on the headquarters station." The officer was just a captain, and his rank was too low. Naturally, he didn't know about the V1 missile. The bomb exploded a meter away, while the other one landed more than 30 meters away from the headquarters and exploded, causing the house to collapse.”

He pouted his lips towards the place where the fire was shining, and said, "Here, look, the fire and the wounded are being put out there."

Hearing that the wounded were being rescued, Kirillov couldn't help but thumped in his heart, and hurriedly asked, "How are the casualties at the headquarters?"

"I don't know." The officer shook his head and said, "I just saw two people being carried out on stretchers, but they were no longer breathing. I think other people in the headquarters may be in danger."

After Kirilov and other officers finished speaking, they realized the seriousness of the problem, and he decided to report the matter to Sokov immediately so that the other party could make psychological preparations in advance.

"Radio operator!" Thinking of this, Kirillov turned around and shouted at the people behind him: "Come to me!"

Hearing Kirillov's shout, the radio operator with the walkie-talkie squeezed out from the crowd. He came to Kirillov and asked respectfully, "Comrade Commander, what instructions do you have?"

"Immediately send a report to the forward headquarters, and report what happened here to the comrade commander." After the operator was ready to send the report, he urgently dictated a telegram, reporting what happened here in detail .

After the telegram was sent, Kirillov did not continue to move towards the fire scene. He had to wait for Sokov's order before deciding what to do next.

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," the officer saw the radio operator sending a message, so he came over and asked Kirillov cautiously: "Are you still going to the fire?"

"Wait a minute." Kirillov shook his head and said, "My radio operator is sending a report to the commander. What to do next, I have to wait for the commander's order."

In this way, after waiting for about a quarter of an hour, Kirillov received a call back from Sokov: "Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov, your task is to find out the casualties of the headquarters and the situation of the chief of staff, Smirno. General Husband, whether General Gorokhov, the military commissar, is still alive. Once there is the latest news, send a report to the forward command in time."

In Safran's forward headquarters, after reading the telegram sent by Kirillov, Sokov said to Stemenko with a heavy heart: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, I have some bad news for you." You. Although my subordinate Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov reported that the attack on the headquarters of the Army Group was attacked by German artillery shells. But based on my experience, it was attacked by German missiles.”

Shtemenko couldn't help being surprised after hearing this, and then asked: "How about the casualties in the headquarters?"

"It's not clear at the moment." Sokov said: "But I have called Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov back and asked him to find out the casualties of the headquarters in the shortest possible time, especially whether the chief of staff and political commissar are still alive .”

Knowing that the casualties of the headquarters are unknown, Stemenko's expression also became serious. He seems to be talking to himself, and he seems to be saying to Sokov: "If the worst situation really happens, it means that the superior will send you a new chief of staff and military commissar."

"Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, it is said that the missile did not directly hit the building of the headquarters, but exploded nearby, and the shock wave caused the house to collapse." Sokov said: "If the house collapsed, they just hid in a safe place, Then the chances of surviving are very high."